The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, in Abuja on Tuesday called for the inclusion of water experts in the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geosciences (COMEG).

Ochekpe made the call at the ``Stakeholders forum on Mapping Fresh Water Aquifers of Coastal Nigeria”, organised by COMEG.

She expressed concern on the non-recognition of the water sector in geosciences, which she described as worrisome.

The forum was organised to present the report on salt water intrusion study in coastal areas of the country and discuss ways to tackle it.

``I have been informed that the water sector is not represented in the membership of COMEG because of its merger with the agriculture in the past.

``The non-recognition and inclusion of a major sector like water in geosciences is, therefore, worrisome to me.

``May I appeal to the chairman of the council and its members to kindly review the situation and grant water the deserved recognition and inclusion on the council.

Ochekpe, who said the challenges in meeting the country’s water needs was multi-faceted and daunting, however, praised COMEG and its registered members for their efforts in solving some of the problems.

She expressed regrets about the intrusion of salt water in fresh water, particularly in the coastal areas of the country, pointing out that this was one of the major challenges facing the country's water sector.

The FCT Independent National Electoral Commission has said that preparation is on top gear for the area council elections scheduled for March 16.

Mr Okezie Nwankwo, Head, Department, Public Affairs, Political Party Monitoring and Liaison of the commission, dropped the hint in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said, ``We have started holding meetings with various stakeholders; we have held inter-agency consultative committee meeting on election securities which the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner co-chaired with the police commissioner.

``The meeting was also held with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, Federal Road Safety, Immigration, the State Security Service and other relevant security agencies .

``We are also training and re-training staff of the commission, there will be workshops on voter education in all the six area councils of the FCT, which will include the electoral officers.

``The workshop will also involve Assistant Electoral Officers and officials of the National Orientation Agency (NOA).''

Nwankwo said the aim of the meeting was to ensure security of the electoral process and avoid violence during election.

He said that the commission would hold meetings with the traditional institutions at the grass-roots level on the rudiments of elections. (NAN)

The Police on Tuesday arraigned one Nnamdi Ezeh before an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly seizing one Austine Ochoga’s school certificate for a four million naira ransom. Ezeh of no fixed address, is therefore, standing trail for joi...

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Former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan has described Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, as an `` impeccable public officer and astute diplomat’’.

Annan stated this on the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration organised for the former Commonwealth scribe on Saturday in London.
He said in an interview with the Western Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that ``the celebrant has done a lot for the world and the Commonwealth of Nations where he gave his best for 34 years’’.

``This is a wonderful celebration for a man who has done so much for his country and the world.

``I am personally happy to be here to honour him, celebrate him, and to wish him another 30 years.

`` He is so youthful. I have never seen a younger 80-year-old man like him and I wish him sound health because the world still needs him,’’ Annan said.

Annan urged young Africans to aspire for greatness by emulating Anyaoku’s exemplary leadership.

`` I encourage young people to begin to assume responsibility, they do not have to be old to be responsible and assume leadership,'' Annan said.

``We are moving on and the next generation should be taking over.

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