Confab: Clark, canvass pragmatic approach to addressing environmental pollution

Abuja – An elders statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, and some delegates at the ongoing National Conference have called for a pragmatic approach to tackle environmental challenges in the country.

The delegates made their positions known on Monday in Abuja while commenting on the report of the Conference Committee on Environment.

They underscored the urgent need for the development of the environment and the payment of compensation to communities that had suffered environmental pollution over the years.

Clark called for the cleaning of those areas, particularly communities in the Niger Delta region which had been polluted due to exploration activities.

Chibok abduction: PDP President denounces State Government approach

The National President of the PDP, Adamu Sailesh, believes that the Borno State Governor as the Chief Security Officer of his State needs to do more in the search for the more than 200 Chibok college girls.
In an exclusive interview with channels television and his first major interview since becoming the President of the PDP, feels Mr Sailesh Chibok situation that has been used as a political instrument.
The PDP Chairman talked to our correspondent, Betty Dibia in South Africa.
He has mentioned the warnings preceding the incident that should have prevented Chibok-the State Governor of the opening the school to host exams, but that he refused.
Sailesh cited warnings by the Ministry of education and the West African examination Council, WAEC, expressing their fear and the view that the school was not fit, but that the State Government met with guarantees of sufficient certainty, only for the attack can be successfully carried out by the insurgents.
He, therefore, condemned the idea of the Governor traveling abroad and foreign media organizations to speak and reveal what he saw as issues of Nigeria's governance.

Son to the partner stakeholders in approach building collapse

Standard Organization of Nigeria (son) is ready to work with producers of building materials, professionals, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders in the housing sector to address the recurring incidence of building collapse in the country.

Director-General, son, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, which was represented by an official of the Organization, Mr Adeoye Onipede, at an event in Lagos, said the joint efforts of all relevant stakeholders are required to counter the threat. He also said there is a need for a massive education and enlightenment campaigns about the dangers of building collapse and the need to adhere strictly to good ethical and professional practices.

"It is a well known fact that the strength of reinforced concrete depends on the proportion of sand, stone, cement and iron rod in it. Here, the professional bodies also have critical roles to play. The standards organization of Nigeria will continue to work with experts and stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of standardization are updated and provide a structurally safe environment to all Nigerians, "he said.

The son boss said his organization has stepped up enforcement actions, noting that most of its State offices are equipped with mobile block testing machines to guarantee the quality of sancrete blocks across the country. "Modern pieces of equipment are installed in our laboratories as effective and efficient testing facilities," he said.

Odumodu said standardisation and quality assurance play a very important role in the setting up of a permanent building that will not collapse. According to him, building collapse usually occur due to factors or a combination of factors, including the use of low quality building materials; employment of incompetent contractors; non-enforcement of existing legislation; bad work ethic of Nigerians; and the lack of adequate enforcement of relevant regulations by regional planning authorities.

Others are cost-saving tactic by building owners; unethical practices perpetuated by the professionals involved in the construction process; and poor control at the stage of construction.

He said the alarming rate of the collapse of the building in recent times in different parts of the country is worrisome for the general public as well as the professionals in the building and construction industry-Government, and particularly a burden on son for checks and balances.

"Over the years, has set the pace to son through standardisation to facilitate industrial development by focusing on improving the quality of the product and promoting the enforcement of the rules of the quality and greater competitiveness against imports on the domestic market. SON is willing to keep this fight with the support of all professionals and other government agencies that have worked with us to the objective is achieved. This, of course, include the fight against substandard construction materials, "he said.