Delegates drawn from across the 36 states of the federation on Sunday
started arriving in Abuja, for the National Conference scheduled to commence
today (Monday).
The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was a beehive of
activities as some delegates flew into the Federal Capital Territory amid tight
security.
Eminent Nigerians were seen at the arrival lounge just as others who had
armed security escorts, made their way into waiting private vehicles.
The entire airport was heavily guarded as plain-clothes security personnel
and a few uniformed men were sighted at strategic locations within and outside
the airport.
As is to be expected, taxi drivers were also making brisk business as a
result of the increased human and vehicular traffic, which was compounded by
civil servants and businessmen who were returning to Abuja after the weekend.
The Corps Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Jonas Agwu,
said that the FRSC was deploying 250 of its personnel to ensure a free flow of
traffic to strategic locations in the FCT.
He said “For now, the total personnel we are deploying is 250, made up
of 50 officers and 200 other ranks; we will be deploying 15 vehicles, three
bikes and two breakdown trucks.
“The conference is holding in Abuja; as much as we will emphasis on what
happens between the airport and the venue, the other parts of Abuja won’t be
left unattended to; we will consider those areas.”
He said the commission expected road users to be law abiding and exhibit
a high sense of decency and respect for rules and regulations.
His counterpart in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr.
Emmanuel Okeh, said the NSCDC was deploying 2,000 of its officers and men, as
well as 100 sniffer dogs as part of the security arrangement for the event.
The FCT Police Command said it had deployed men to all the major
hotels where delegates were lodged, adding that the venue and surrounding areas
had been placed under tight security watch.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, called on Abuja
residents to cooperate with all security agencies to ensure a hitch-free event.
He was, however, silent on the number of officers deployed.
The Justice Andrews Otutu Obaseki Auditoium at the National Judicial
Institute is wearing a new look for the inauguration of the conference.
Investigations by one of our correspondents on Sunday indicated that
some of the delegates, who arrived early, had commenced accreditation and
registration.
Special security team made up of the military, FRSC, Police anti-riot
squad, anti-bomb unit and the men of the State Security Services were busy
taking instructions from their team leaders and doing last-minute rehearsals.
Although soldiers were seen on parade, attempts by one of our
correspondents to take their photographs met with stiff resistance as they
threatened to smash his iPad.
Also, members of the anti-bomb squad were seen combing the premises and
making sure that no dangerous material at the venue.
Sources said that the existing security arrangement at the NJI had been
overhauled with hundreds of security men being deployed to man strategic areas
of the conference venue.
Officials of FRSC were also on hand receiving briefings on their
expected roles during the proceedings of the confernce.
Ambulance
buses belonging to the FRSC and the National Emergency Management Agency at the
conference venue.
A security operative said he and his colleagues had been compelled to
work round the clock without observing their normal shift duty in preparation
for the conference.
The organisers are adopting a special accreditation procedure to ensure
that every delegate, security agents, journalists and other officials were
subjected to biometric data registration before being issued with the
conference tag.
As of 6.00pm on Sunday, the number of accredited journalists jostling to
cover the event was put at 315. Accreditation for journalists ended at 2.30pm.
Among the electronic media that have started mounting their broadcast
equipment at the venue in readiness for live broadcast are AIT; South African
cable television, DSTV; and the Nigerian Television Authority.
Meanwhile, a statement from the secretariat of the National Conference,
signed by the Assistant Secretary (Media and Communication), Mr. James
Akpandem, asked delegates to arrive at the venue by 10am today (Monday) for accreditation.
According to him, the delegates are expected to report at the NJI, along
the Airport Road in the Jabi area of Abuja.
“Delegates to the conference are expected to arrive the venue of the
inauguration by 10am for accreditation in preparation for the inauguration
ceremony fixed for 4pm,” Akpandem said.
He added that all invited guests and delegates were expected to be
seated by 3.15pm. for the inauguration by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben
Abati, in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents, gave an
insight into what the President expected from the conference.
Abati urged the participants to ensure that they used the conference to
further strengthen the country’s unity.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan’s expectation was that the dialogue
would turn out to be about Nigeria and its future and not about narrow
interests.
The presidential spokesman said, “The President’s expectation is that
this conference should turn out to be an opportunity to further strengthen
national unity and that the conversation provides a platform to move Nigeria
forward.
“His expectation is that the participants will engage in very robust and
open dialogue, and that they will rise above narrow interests and focus on
Nigeria.
“It is also the President’s expectation that this will turn out to be a
dialogue about Nigeria and its future and not a dialogue about narrow
interests.”
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Politics
Well this national conference is something that is not needed fully well at the present time in Nigeria. Issue like unemployment, insecurity are meant to be the major issues of government not this. I can't still understand why 7 billion of tax payers money will be spent on this conference that is not sovereign. I support the stand of APC that it is a clear waste of time and might not achieve any new thing for Nigerian. Nigerians want jobs from govt, good road, constant light, better leadership and employment but the opposite is what has being happening for a while now. Obviously each applicant will go home with 12million after the conference. So am forced to ask this questions. Is it a money making conference? Why must it have further debate from the national assembly, won't the money budgeted from it, would have helped alievater the sufferings of Nigerians?. Well only God will help us and not Men
ReplyDeleteOur guests could not stop talking about the food here, even telling us it was the most amazing food they'd ever had at a wedding.
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