The border closure by the Chinese government due to the COVID-19 outbreak according to NASENI has affected the training of Nigerian labor in China for the proposed local manufacturing of the First Made in Nigeria helicopter.

This was announced in Kaduna by the Executive Vice President of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna.

The NASENI chief also inspected the project soon to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Equipment Development Institute is a new institute of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as the center for NASENI’s assembly of the first helicopter manufactured in Nigeria.

The institute which is located at AFIT Kaduna is mandated to research and develop spare parts, components and systems of Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Technologies.

The NASENI team, led by the executive deputy secretary, visited AFIT authorities on Monday to finalize the acquisition and design of the site.

The visit was also to strategize on the start of construction work to speed up the project to be commissioned by the president before the end of his administration.

The commander expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration and promised to maximize it for the benefit of AFIT and the Air Force.

The head of NASENI also visited Afaka to inspect the ongoing NASENI Automotive Supplier Industrial Park.

The federal government approved three billion naira for the construction of this park in three places in the country.

The NASENI chief says that upon completion, it will unlock the opportunities in the automotive sector as well as the potentials in the manufacturing industry in order to create employment and skilled labor in Nigeria.

Once completed and fully equipped, the vehicle fleet will be self-sustaining and a source of income for the government that will put an end to the importation of spare parts for vehicles.

The project also aims to provide the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company with the necessary support in the production of Armored Vehicles.

EFCC EXTENDS OFFERS FOR SOME FORFEITED ASSETS

The sale of seized real estate assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, through sealed bids started on Monday 9th January 2023 at the premises of the National Open University, Jabi Abuja.

However, none of the properties in the three Lots (Lots 1, 2 and 3) proposed for sale through public bidding were taken because the offers were not winning.

Bidders either failed to match the reserve price or were disqualified for violating the guidelines.

In view of this development, and in line with the Commission’s commitment to the transparent disposition of assets, the EFCC is forced to reopen new offers for the assets in all three lots, as previously announced. Potential bidders for the assets in lots 2 and 3 have until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2022 to submit their bids, while bids will open on Thursday, January 12, 2023.

Bids for the assets of Block 1 will be opened from today, January 9, until 12:00 noon on Friday, January 13, 2023, and bids will be opened on the same date.

It is important to emphasize that the assets of Block 1 will be offered for sale as a single unit. Bidders are reminded that failure to include the required 10% bank draft of the bid amount will render their bid void.