Govt Begins Arming Of Civil Defence Corps

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THE federal government has begun training and arming of members of the Civil Defence Corps.
A total of 117 male and female personnel of the corps on Friday graduated from a five-week training by the 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu.
The training is meant to provide the corps’ personnel with requisite knowledge and expertise in handling and employment of personal weapons, especially the AK47 rifle.
The Guardian gathered that another batch of about 120 personnel of the corps would be trained on use of weapons in the next couple of days.
Speaking during the passing out ceremony of the first batch of the armed squad, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigeria Army, Enugu, Major General Oluwaseun Olayinka Oshinowo, stated that the decision of government to arm the Civil Defence Corps is testimony to the insecurity that has bedevilled the country.
He said equipping the corps would greatly enhance the security of life and property, adding that the army would continue to work with sister security agencies in the quest to make the nation safe for citizens.
The GOC expressed satisfaction with performance and high-level commitment exhibited by the NSCDC officials during the training.
Represented by the Chief of Staff of the Division, Brigadier General Kaseem Ibrahim Abdulahi, he warned the officers that proficiency in weapon handling comes with continuous practice and passion to excel.
He advocated frequent training within deployed squads, including occasional firing exercises at the shooting ranges to avoid mistakes that could lead to death of colleagues and innocent citizens.
He also gave assurance of the Division’s continued support whenever it is called upon.

Nigeria To Lift Tourism With Carnival

NIGERIA is set to showcase and fast track its tourism agenda, November through January, with carnivals in Abuja and Calabar. Already, the presidency has granted a campsite on the outskirts of the federal city to host the Abuja festival that will open the season in November.

Minister for Tourism and Culture, Chief Edem Duke, speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa last week, harped on the essence of broadening Nigeria’s tourism base as government is prepared to explore even undiscovered treasures to lift the industry. The Abuja carnival package, he assured, would be first of its kind in Africa for the whole of November while the Carnival Calabar will provide further fun for December.

The occasion was the launch of South Africa Tourism month to which Duke was invited by his South African counterpart, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk. The two ministers further reiterated cooperation agreement between both countries. Duke and Schalkwyk examined Africa’s potentials and highlighted need to boost intra-African tourism. For Duke, Africa’s abundant wildlife and alluring landscapes should be complemented with the dances.

Nigeria and South Africa also agreed to accelerate the implementation of the ‘Cooperation in the field of Tourism Agreement’ signed in 2008 to deepen tourism relations between both countries and in Africa.

The tourism bilateral agreement between South Africa and Nigeria covers interactions between tourism and travel trade officials; the exchange of tourism research; statistics and human resource development.

It also includes investment, exchange programmes, joint marketing, and establishment of a joint commission, entry formalities and environmental matters between the two countries.

Tourism Month is celebrated annually in South Africa every September and was officially launched this year at the Getaway Show on August 31, 2012, in Johannesburg

Speaking at the launch of Tourism Month, Duke stressed the need “to continue to forge partnerships and working relationships between Nigeria and South Africa to further boost and grow our tourism sectors to provide employment opportunities, as well as contribute a significant percentage to the economies of our dear nations.”

“Both Nigeria and South Africa have seen a tremendous partnership and significant engagements in areas such as telecommunications, media, tourism and aviation. This has led to more than US$3 billion in trade volume between South Africa and Nigeria. And there is further rich potential for both countries not only to maintain this mutual and symbiotic relationship, but to up the ante too,” he added.

In his key note address to declare the start of the Tourism Month celebrations, South African Tourism Minister, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk stated that  “South Africa’s relationship with Nigeria is one of deep friendship, a strong partnership and a united determination to grow tourist arrivals not only to the two destinations, but to the entire African region.”

Schalkwyk said: “Nigeria is a major growth market for our destination. We saw monumental tourist arrivals growth of 37.5 per cent from Nigeria in 2011 and arrivals from Nigeria grew a further 28.7 per cent in the first four months of this year.”

This year’s Tourism Month agenda focus intensely on encouraging South Africans to travel their own country and get a better understanding of the affordable and exciting leisure travel attractions available to them at their own doorstep.

Culled: Guardian