Author: The Nation

The sustained presence of naval warships and boats at sea and back channels within the Southwest prevented criminals from wreaking havoc in the last one year, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Joseph Akpan has said.

The FOC spoke at the weekend while reviewing the command’s actions and activities during the ceremonial sunset to mark the Nigerian Navy‘s (NN) 67th anniversary.

Akpan said naval vessels spent 9,740 hours at sea between June 2022 and last Friday, which helped to ensure security in the area. According to him, ships and boats were deployed to tackle maritime crimes such as piracy, illegal bunkering, crude oil theft, smuggling, among others. He added that relentless patrols led to the arrest of suspects, vessels and seizure of materials.

Akpan said: “Our patrols have led to the arrest of suspects, vessels, seizures of materials, destruction of illegal facilities. These items have been handed over to relevant government agencies for further actions.

“The NN has continued to optimise the use of its assigned sea-going platforms to maintain presence in its various AOR. From June last year till date, ships were at sea for over 9,740 hours, and this helped to ensure the security of our maritime domain.

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“These measures, coupled with the efficient use of the Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) facilities and helicopter surveillance, enabled the command to curtail illegal activities significantly along the creeks and waterways.

“Significantly, in the last one year, the Nigerian Navy in Lagos area has been able to achieve some of her set targets despite some challenges, especially the just-concluded Presidential Fleet Review (PFR-2023).

“The scope of activities covered operations, training, doctrine and assessment, naval ordinances, logistics, dockyard services and other auxiliary services.

“In the midst of these challenges, the commands and establishments in Lagos area have successfully played their roles in ensuring policy implementation, safety and security of the Nigerian maritime domain, training and administration of personnel.

“In addition, provision of medical, education, infrastructure development for personnel and their families have assisted in providing welfare and boosting the morale and spirit of her personnel.”

The Rear Admiral noted that the Naval Training Command, despite challenges, had continued to provide basic and professional training of personnel as well as capacity building.

“Similarly, the continued efforts of the Naval Doctrine and Assessment Command (NAVDOC) to ensure periodic review of doctrines through assessment of operations, training and administrative procedures have added to our combat efficiency.

“Notably was their participation in all exercises and conduct of work up of ships and Professional Advancement Examination (PAE) as part of the NN advancement procedures.

“The NOD (Naval Ordinance Depot) and NDL (Naval Dockyard Limited) have provided critical services in ensuring the operational readiness and effectiveness of NN operations. Provision and maintenance of essential naval ordinances, like arms, ammunition as well as ship design, construction and refit have assisted greatly in the service delivery of the NN in Lagos area.

“Equally, the Nigerian Navy Hydrography Office has been key to naval operations, especially in the aspect of mapping our maritime domain.

“I am glad to highlight that the survey and mapping of entrances to Lagos channel – Ondo State to the Atlantic Ocean as well as Lokoja through Burutu in Delta State all the way to the Atlantic Ocean – have been carried out.

“Their activities have assisted greatly in ensuring safety of naval and commerce shipping activities.

“Also commendable and running quietly in the background but ensuring the welfare and morale of the personnel is maintained are the activities of the Central Pay Office (CPO),” he said.

The FOC also thanked sister services, like the police, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others, for their collaborations.

He specially thanked the Lagos State government and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his commitment and support to the NN in Lagos area.

Ibadan High Chief and Publisher of StreetJournal magazine, Wole Arisekola, has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider Ibadan for ministerial appointment.

   He noted Ibadan suffered neglect and marginalisation under previous All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership at federal level.

He said in the Presidential election, Oyo State gave 449,884 votes to APC, of which 204,296 or 45.5 per cent came from Ibadan land.

According to him, no Ibadan indigene is holding post in Federal Government parastatals.

Arisekola said Ibadan has accomplished and seasoned technocrats who have never been accused of looting treasury, noting there were  decent politicians of Ibadan extraction who Tinubu could choose from.

He said: “… I appeal that the minister to be appointed from Oyo State should come from Ibadan land and must be of integrity.”

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Former Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and Managing Director of Nigeria Breweries , who  chairs Beer Sectoral Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Hans Essaadi, will speak at the maiden GTpro Masterclass.

The Masterclass, with the theme: “Navigating Government and Policy Challenges for Business Success and Sustainability,” scheduled to hold on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki Lagos would have in attendance chief executive officers, top policy makers, investors, and executives of firms operating in the critical sectors of the Nigeria economy including oil and gas, telecommunications, manufacturing, fin-tech, real estate and financial services.

The Masterclass, according to GTpro has become necessary arising from the growing need for a robust government relations and public policy engagement across Africa and particularly moreso, as the continent has become the new investment destination due to the combined opportunities of its huge population, low cost of labour and a healthy consumption environment influenced by a youthful population.

Whilst the investment flows continue, the environment becomes a critical component that could either allow investors enjoy and effectively galvanize the opportunities inherent in these countries or become stiffened, simply because they lack understanding of the regulatory frameworks and policies or what the future holds.

In the last two decades, Nigeria has been amongst the top destinations for investment portfolios in Africa but witnessed a sharp drop in recent times owing to increased operating challenges, security issues and of course, stiffening government policies, causing loss in investments and creating uncertainties.

The GTPro Masterclass program, therefore, brings together an exceptional lineup of facilitators, offering participants unparalleled access to renowned industry experts and immersive, hands-on learning experiences that would provide a platform for cross fertilization of ideas among legislators, policy makers and corporate executives.

According to the Co-Founder of GTPro and a renowned turnaround expert, Dr Dakuku Peterside said attending the exclusive event will expand the frontiers of developing robust strategies and approaches in today’s thriving dynamic landscape.

Peterside, the immediate past Director Deneral of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and former House of Reps member, stressed further that “Our Masterclass program represents a unique opportunity for participants as it will provide critical insights on the cost-benefits of maintaining a strategic government relations mechanism that is sustainable; it will also help participants to access various windows that can be engaged in their stakeholder relations and engagement programmes.”

Other speakers and panelists at the Masterclass include Mr. Emeka Maduegbuna, Chairman of C & F PORTER NOVELLI; Business and Strategic Communications consultants, Dr. Samba Seye; Managing Director of Total Energies, Otunba Olakunle Olamuyiwa; Chief Operating Officer of Betway, Honourable Bimbola Daramola, Mrs Oluyemisi Busari; Senior Adviser, Government Relations of Honeywell Group and Olufemi M. Awoyemi, the current CEO, Founder and Chairman of Proshare Nigeria, amongst others.

Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Southwest has urged President Bola Tinubu to be focused on unity and revamp the economy.

Zonal Secretary, Femi Olaniyi, spoke with The Nation in Lagos.

Olaniyi, who chairs SDP in Lagos State, congratulated Tinubu, and Vice President,  Kashim Shettima, saying the administration should deliver people-oriented policies and programmes.

“I was so impressed and emotional with the speech of our President on Sunday at the inauguration gala night when he said, ‘don’t pity me, I asked for the job, I campaigned for it and will be up to the task’”.

“I will like Tinubu to use same energy in uniting the nation and engage those that contested against him to be on board for better Nigeria.

“Our economy needs attention, it requires treatment and he must be swift at addressing the suffering of the masses,” the SDP leader said.

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Youth Party (YP) has urged the Federal Government to revive the autogas policy.

It believes the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel will assist in reducing pressure on subsidies paid on public transport.

“The government should accelerate the shift to CNG by prioritising its abandoned Autogas Policy,” the party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Ayodele Adio.

While it supports the removal of fuel subsidy, YP faulted its implementation without any form of social safety net to cushion the impact on the poor.

It noted that Nigeria cannot justify spending less than N1trillion on education and health last year, but over N4trillion on fuel subsidies.

It said: “Most countries subsidise public transport to assist the poor and vulnerable. 

“This would allow the take-home pay of low-wage workers to truly take them home.

“Most importantly, we believe that subsidy on fuel should be gradually removed within a space of six months to one year to mitigate the impact on the poor.

“During the removal period, the government should subsidise public transport to reduce the effect on low-income earners and the vulnerable.

“This should be carried out by allowing public transporters to continue to buy fuel at a subsidised rate either through a weekly voucher system or exemption from certain statutory fees with an agreement to maintain transport fare at the same rates.”

YP suggested that the Federal Government should partner with the public transport interest groups like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to ensure that the removal of fuel subsidies does not affect the poor.

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It insisted that there is an urgent need for an increase in the minimum wage to assist the poor to manage the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy and the attendant increase in transportation cost.

“Employers may also need to increase their commitment to their social responsibility by revisiting their remuneration structure to protect their junior staff from the severe and dire impact of the removal of fuel subsidy. 

“More needs to be done in the societal interest.”

On the alternative, YP said: “CNG currently costs N100-110 per unit. This is below N488-540 a litre cost of petrol. 

“Using CNG as an alternative fuel will assist in reducing pressure on subsidies paid out by Federal Government on public transport. 

“It is also a cleaner and cheaper fuel. Some companies are already successfully using CNG to power their fleet.”

The party recommended that the Federal Government should enact a legal framework that incentivises gas development.

It urged the government to subsidise the conversion cost of the 10,000 petrol or diesel engines to CNG and facilitate the availability of CNG at filling stations.

The party said: “It is in light of dire fiscal realities of Nigeria that the Youth Party released its Revenue Strategy titled ‘A Bold Revenue Plan for Nigeria on 22nd March 2020’. 

“The plan contains a number of pragmatic, economically sound and well-thought-out ideas for solving, or at the very least ameliorating, Nigeria’s revenue challenge.

“The underlying philosophy of the plan is to drive an increase in our tax base, whilst reducing tax rates to attract investments and encourage tax compliance.

“Our plan details ideas that would raise $30billion within three years by improving our tax and incentive policies and through the efficient utilization of Nigeria’s existing assets.

“Specifically, we propose to drive a 100 per cent rise in corporate tax receipts by reducing the consolidated tax rate from 34.5 per cent to 22.5 per cent and expanding the base of registered corporate taxpayers from six per cent to 14 per cent within two years.

“Attract new investments in crude oil production that will drive Nigeria’s production from 1.9mbd to 3mbd (million barrels/day) within three years by implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), reducing oil taxes and issuing attractive, competitive and clear rules around Nigeria’s notoriously opaque oil industry;

“Generate $16billion from the sale of 20 per cent of Federal Government’s 49 per cent equity in NLNG. 

“Generate $S3.5billion from the sale of 25 per cent of Federal Government’s equity in NPDC.

“Ring-fence the $19.5billion generated from the two equity sales above and dedicate those funds to capital projects to rescue our broken critical public infrastructure and services.

“We would ensure effective use of those funds by domiciling them for management by a globally respected Sovereign Wealth Fund like the Norwegian or Qatar Sovereign Wealth Fund.

“Generate a $1billion annual dividend from efficient private sector management of NPDC. 

“Save over N100billion annually by reducing the size of our government.”

The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) will Monday join the rest of the world to mark the World Environment Day (WED) with a focus on solving the country’s worsening plastic pollution problem.

WED is celebrated every June 5 and this year’s theme is “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”.

The Alliance, in a statement by its Executive Secretary, Agharese Onaghise, said it had lined up a week of activities beginning Monday to reiterate its commitment towards reducing plastic pollution across Nigeria.

It explained that FBRA will spearhead events and support environmental organisations across the country.

Some of the activities include street and market sensitisation for various waste streams such as plastics, flexibles, Used Beverage Cartons (UBCs) and cigarette butts in partnership with her member companies.

Others are a documentary launch on UBCs, Extended Producer Responsibility Trainings for waste collectors, recyclers and producer/manufacturers, the start-up of her collection centres’ operations in Abeokuta at Ogun State and Ikota in Lagos State.

The pinnacle of the activities, Onaghise said, would be a beach clean-up exercise with participants from the food and beverage sector.

The events “will have in attendance members of the Alliance, and this will be a demonstration of the commitment of her members to the EPR mandate and reduction of pollution in Nigeria.”

Onaghise, who highlighted the expected impact of the events on communities, also noted the ongoing commitment of the Alliance to support the establishment of functional waste infrastructure in partnership with wastevaluechain stakeholders, out ofwhich two will commence activities during the week.

“Through these centres, the Alliance aims to create awareness and seek the commitment of communities by ensuring proper waste management practices and a circular economy,” she said.

Onaghise further emphasised that adopting solutions to plastic waste through an integrated approach “is the most effective model to achieve an efficient and sustainable waste management system.”

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