Author: The Nation

By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured foreign investors who would venture into Nigeria from now on that fiscal policies would be more favourable, predictable and measurably tilted towards creating harmonious business environment.

Buhari gave the assurance yesterday in Paris, France, while holding meetings with leaders industry leaders, urging other investors to further explore vast opportunities of human and natural resources in Nigeria.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari held meetings with Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Total, Patrick Pouyanne; Executive Vice President, AirBus, Silvere Delaunay; and Chairman of the Board of a software company, Daussault Systems, Florence Verzelen.

Others were Chairman/CEO of General Engineering and Marketing of Telecommunications Operator, Francois-Regis Teze and Chairman/CEO, Donaflex Automotive, Dr Donatus Nwokoye, a very successful manufacturer.

In a meeting with the delegation from Total, Buhari said the outlook and potentials for growth in the country have remained steadily positive, affirming the government’s commitment to scale up operating standards and policies that encourage mutual benefits.

“We are very pleased with the evolving trends in technology, which is currently driving development across the world and Nigeria. Nigeria is more a gas country than a crude oil producing country. In the 80’s we generated more from gas, than crude oil.

“In the 80’s, we were earning more from gas for some years, and had put in place structures. We intend to further explore the gas sector. I am pleased with your consistency in staying in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Buhari said investors should take advantage of the natural and human resources, pointing out that the demographics favour development, with more young people who are eager to be gainfully engaged and trained.

“We need to educate the youth and encourage more skills in technology. Technology has been most impactful in all sectors, including the oil and gas, which has witnessed rapid transformation in exploration, processing and distribution,’’ he added.

He thanked the Chief Executive Officer of Total for the company’s consistency and expansion in Nigeria since 1956, assuring that the government will enhance fiscal stability that will favour investors.

Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, said Total had confirmed long term investments in Nigeria, and had consistently exceeded targets in gas production.

He said the NNPC had already designed solutions to some of the challenges in the oil and gas sector, particularly on tax.

In his remarks, Pouyanne told Buhari of the readiness of the company to stay in Nigeria, and further expand interest in oil, gas, solar and other commodities that will directly impact the lives of citizens.

He  said investors had been eagerly waiting for the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as it will send a strong signal of more predictability.

“Total is very committed to Nigeria. We have no intention of leaving Nigeria,’’ he said.

President Buhari also received in audience the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde who came to brief him on the regional security and political situation in the Horn of Africa.

By Okwy Iroegbu-­Chikezie

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) yesterday said it had commenced the process of achieving non-motorised transportation in the state for a cleaner and healthier environment.

Speaking at an interactive session in Ikoyi, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, said the agency was working on having parks and gardens in residential areas where residents could ride their bicycles and walk without the intrusion of cars.

He said this would make for healthy living and less frequent visits to hospitals as a result of fresh air.

Speaking through the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Belinda Odeneye, he thanked   their partners that have improved the aesthetics of the state by supporting the beautification and greening of the environment. He said the state is 70 per cent water, 40 percent wetland and one tenth of Niger State in size and needs to be carefully maintained. He called on Lagosians to adhere to the state environmental law that states that 30 per cent of tenement must be beautified with flowers and trees.

Earlier, LASPARK General Manager, Mrs Adetoun Popoola said the agency has consistently pursued its mandate which is the maintenance of greener and healthier state through the creation and maintenance of functional and productive open spaces, maintenance of gardens, public parks and open spaces.

She said the agency has planted 24,125 trees so far across the state and developed 10 parks reclaimed from illegal squatters, hoodlums and street traders such as Outer Marina, Abalti Barracks to Dorman Long, Mobolaji Bank Anthony way, Oba Akinjobi GRA Ikeja, Triangular lay buys at Opebi, schools and hospitals. Others are Holy Child College Obalende, Ferry Service Mile 2, landscaping and beautification of Mother & Child General Hospital, Badagry among others.

She said: “We have also built a tech hub at Shasha Park, Akowonjo that show case the functionality of space that brings value and exposure to businesses. We also have green houses where the public can buy ornamental plants, tropical plants and flowers to plant in their homes and business places”. She encouraged the public to own the projects by helping to maintain and sustain its original ideals behind their establishment.

CEO, RF Gardens, Ikoyi, Tolu Olusoga, while commending the agency for their support and quick approvals said she was surprised that a government agency can be that professional without undue bureaucracies. She said they offer service to Lagosians by allowing them express themselves out door and reinventing their environment tailored to their needs.

Creative Director, Aby’s Greenhouse , Abieyiwa Oshevire  encouraged Lagosians to patronize and encourage their businesses for the exotic tropical plants, noting that most of the plants imported into the country are endemic  to Nigerians and Lagosians in particular.

Also speaking, CEO, Mil May, Mrs Mary Awaritefe, a University of Benin graduate of Forestry & Wild Life   and born by agriculturist parents, said she has always tinkered with plants and flowers since she was 7 years. She confirmed she has found fulfillment in running her garden. She however, asked the agency to do more by encouraging up and coming horticulturist and gardeners to succeed.

Shodex Landmark Beautification Ltd, representative, Olusola Adekoya  said the government can only succeed in making the state green by encouraging the planting of 10 million trees yearly. He further encouraged blue chip companies to engage in the business of greening their environment as their Corporate Social Responsibility.

 

By Franca Ochigbo, Abuja

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCN), Nigerian Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) chapter Chairman, Yakubu Isa Samari, has rejected plans by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Adeniyi Adebayo, to transfer NEPZA’s duty to Ogun Free Trade Zone (OGZA) .

Samari said this could not be done because OGZA is a Public- Private Partnership (PPP) and not government-owned. He added that the union was aware of the Technical Working Committee set up to ensure the process was carried out, the reason for their grievance.

The Chairman who reacted to a statement sent out by the office of the Managing Director NEPZA, Adesoji Adesugba on agitation by staff to undermine NEPZA’s status said, the union has written a petition copying the Presidency, the National Assembly on plans by the Adebayo to give power to OGZA, which should not be done, if the government does not do anything this matter will have very negative effect on the welfare of NEPZA workers.

“This same thing happened during the former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enalema before it was stopped and now the present Minister want to come and transfer power without considering the welfare of staff.

Adesugba is calming down mounting agitations of NEPZA workforce over alleged surreptitious attempt to undermine the legal status of the Authority by a report of the Technical Working Committee constituted by the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment.

The outcome of the committee’s alleged investigation was titled: “ Draft Report Performance Evaluation of Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Licensees’’.

Adesugba in a statement signed by Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA Martins Odeh stated that  it is important to realise that NEPZA is a creation of Act 63 of 1992 of the National Assembly’’.

According to him, the reformation of NEPZA is definitely not within the competence of NEPZA’s management, while explaining that the Authority was aware that there had been discussions on the remodeling of government agencies for efficiency from the time of Steve Oransaye’s Panel recommendations. These discussions as far as we are aware are still ongoing and no decisions have been made nor the enabling laws to effects such changes enacted’’, he said.

The MD added that, with respect to the said report of the committee from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, such report has not been officially communicated to NEPZA and at the right moment, the position of NEPZA will be conveyed by its board to the appropriate authorities.

The NEPZA’s CEO, however, urged the workers and the local branch of the labour union, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), to exercise restraints so as not to send the wrong signals to both operators of zones and enterprises operating in the zones.

 

By Rasaq Ibrahim, Ado Ekiti

No fewer than 12,000 farmers will benefit from the Rice Pyramid Programme in Ekiti State organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under its Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

The CBN Governor, Dr. Godwin Emefiele, who spoke while unveiling the first rice pyramid in the Southwest in Ado Ekiti yesterday, said the ABP has expanded agriculture production for 21 crops across the states.

This came as the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, his counterparts from Ondo Rotimi Akeredolu, Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun State) described the Rice Pyramid Programme as a vision that would reduce importation and make Nigeria  independent in food production.

Emefiele said over three million farmers were being financed in production of varieties of products that can improve the economy, provide jobs and increase Nigeria’s imports for foreign exchange earnings.

The CBN governor said he understood that there was prohibition of land clearing in the Southwest, saying some governors have accessed N1.5 billion each to undertake such policy in their states.

“Agriculture is profitable today in Nigeria and we will strive to make it profitable for all. We will try to make farm mechanisation readily available to our farmers. We are not only doing rice, we are supporting cocoa, palm tree. Provision of rural access roads is also part of our target. The people of the Southwest must make use of the coming wet season for bountiful harvest,” he said.

Emefiele debunked the widespread impression that some of the agriculture boosting programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari were concentrated in a section of the country.

The CBN Governor clarified that out of N700 billion earmarked for the ABP, more than N300 billion has been disbursed in the Southern part of the country, for the expansion of food production.

In his remarks, Fayemi said the rice production programme has shown that the President  Buhari-led administration was committed to tackle poverty and reduce dependence on foreign food.

He added that rice clearing, production of seedling and farm implements at low

Implements at low interest will enhance rice value chain from primary producers to processors.

“It will also help in tackling poverty and insecurity, enhance economic diversification, foreign exchange earnings and forex policy and curtail cross border banditry.

“In the past, Ekiti is recognised as a rice producing state. We want to change the narrative and restore the lost glory by moving farming from mere subsistent to profitable business, that was why we are mobilising our farmers  to benefit from the Rice Borrowers Programme.

We want to increase rice production in Ekiti from 473,000 metric tonnes  annually  to 1.5 million metric tonnes . We are doing this in partnership with JMK, Dangote and Stallion Rice Mills, their plants are already in Ekiti.

“We are directly producing 12,000 jobs for our farmers, who will in turn  provide jobs for another 50,000 persons between now and 2023”.

Governor Akeredolu, in his contributions, said Ekiti has always been known for rice production, saying this programme will return the lost glory and redirect the state to the right path of economic greatness.

“Ekiti was known for rice before Lagos,Kebbi and Ogun. But now, they are ahead of us. But Ekiti is coming with full force. We have a lot of work to do.

“We must commend President Buhari on his strides for food production. When it comes to agricultural development, give it to President Buhari. The CBN’ anchor borrowers’ programme is unrivaled.

“But our main problem down south is problem of land clearing. Please, treat us specially here,  because to clear the lands is not that easy. We will leave no stone unturned to develop agriculture in the Southwest,” he said.

The Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, said the programme will enhance food sufficiency, diversification programme of the government and good security status.

Oyetola appealed to Nigerians to patronise local foods to serve as morale booster to farmers to be able to produce more.

The Governor of Kebbi, Bagudu, said the success of the rice production was due to strong collaboration between the federal government, especially CBN and the governors.

Bagudu added that the programme has been a police guidance of the President Buhari supported by CBN to finance the agribusiness and ensure food security in rice production.

“This is a testament to the clarion call by President Buhari that all the States and Abuja are capable of growing rice. What this revolution is about is that, we should produce what we consume and still have surplus for revenue earnings.

“The government has been able to escape two economic downturn caused by the Covid 19 due to our success in agriculture.  Nigeria is a great country and this is a testimony to this .

“We will continue to reward those who are hardworking because Nigeria is blessed with hardworking people who only need support, so that they can do better. The Bureau of Statistics just released some statistics that food inflation is going down. We are having more production and processing with improved food supply”.

Renewable energy providers, Zola Electric, yesterday said constant power supply will boost growth and lead to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN) in the country.

Its Acting Managing Director, Olufemi Ashipa, who spoke in Lagos, said the solar space has come a long way from the days of using dirty and expensive power resources to clean energy sources, offering modular and scalable technology.

According to him, almost half the population has no access to electricity. The rest of the population is grossly underserved by the electricity grid.

As a result, diesel generators are the default source of power, with an estimated 100 million people currently relying on diesel generators each day.

He said the firm has launched a robust distribution scheme to drive market penetration and access to its product in its quest to provide clean, effective, and reliable power anywhere.

Already, the firm has signed into its distribution network some of the leading distributors of solar and renewable products across the country and has kept its doors opened for more.

He said while Blue Camel, a leading provider of renewable energy solutions including PV panels, solar streetlights, solar home systems and a major distributor for global solar brands, was recently signed into the scheme, Blackain, Blackbit Solar, Shokenny Solutions, Enersys Energy, Solarmate Energy, and SOSAI Renewables are already at different stages of the distribution partnership.

Ashipa said: “The solar space in Nigeria has come a long way from the days of using dirty and expensive power resources to clean energy sources, offering modular and scalable technology. Since many customers do not have existing appliances, ZOLA is able to offer a closed loop system that guarantees a certain baseline of performance and runtime. At ZOLA, we are driven by the desire to provide Africa’s most extensive off-grid renewable differentiated power solutions to people anywhere. We understand that power is pivotal to accelerating the overall socio-economic development of the continent, so we have designed the ZOLA Infinity and ZOLA Flex, for this purpose.

“The ZOLA power solutions help to provide customers with steady electricity supply in any situation. The ZOLA technology driven solutions backed with superior power storage and dynamic energy charging system, were conceived at Oxford University, and designed in Silicon Valley. They are easy to install, scaleable and help the average home or business bridge their power deficit.

“With ZOLA currently powering more than 1 million people; comprising over 200,000 homes and businesses across Tanzania, Rwanda, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria, we are poised to actualise our objective providing 24 hour clean power anywhere and help the continent realise her untapped potentials.”

Meanwhile, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has unveiled four new standards for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

According to the Agency, apart from increasing access to power supply across the country, the new standards would open up improved investments in the renewable and efficient energy sector.

It said in a statement that the solar power industry relies heavily on standardisation, adding that renewable energy has become increasingly important across the country.

The Agency has therefore unveiled new energy standards for energy meters, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, inverters, batteries and charger controllers.

Almost half the population has no access to electricity. The rest of the Nigerian population is grossly underserved by the electricity grid. As a result, diesel generators are the default source of power, with an estimated 100 million people currently relying on diesel generators each day (GTM, 2019).

According to Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the use of these generators collectively costs Nigeria’s households and businesses nearly $14 billion every year, while the Energy to Access Institute estimates that fuel subsidies for small gasoline-powered generators cost the government  $1.6-2.2 billion each year. Besides the economic costs, diesel generators entail significant health risks including lung disorders caused by emissions, as well as environmental risks including air and noise pollution.

Diesel generators produce about 29 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year in Nigeria, a total comparable to the annual emissions from 6.3 million passenger vehicles.

Signing on distribution partners will contribute significantly to help bridge the electricity supply deficit by expanding access to ZOLA’s innovative power solutions across the country.

The move by the brand, which currently serves over one million users across three continents in over 10 countries, is part of its efforts to boost its current market operation, as well as provide reliable power solutions to markets that lack energy access and make it possible for homes and businesses across Africa and anywhere in the world to generate, store and consume energy sustainably.

SON said its move is to substantially increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix under the SDGs.

Besides, the standards body stated that in a country such as Nigeria where expensive and ecologically harmful diesel generators are widely used, the unveiling of new standards would improve access to electricity in Nigeria.

SON said it would deploy a multi-stakeholder approach with consultations and inputs from relevant public-private entities to develop a more regulated and standardised market that encourages further investments into Renewable Energy (RE) and Efficient Energy (EE) sector.

To achieve this, the SON is currently being supported by the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), a technical assistance programme co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power.

SON noted that due to its flexibility and affordability, solar power has fast become the most popular form of renewable power.

SON said NESP aims to improve the framework conditions for investments in the application of renewable energy and energy efficiency and rural electrification, saying that its main objective is to provide guidance towards the achievement of the objectives of the strategy set for the implementation of renewable energy policy.

“NESP aims at enabling and fostering investments in a domestic market for Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) and improving access to electricity in Nigeria,” SON said.

According to SON, following extensive consultations, 37 standards were selected and approved in November 2020, pointing out that given renewable energy’s increasing prominence, the solar power industry understandably relies heavily on standardisation.

“Standards play an essential part in testing, energy conversion, reflectance or materials properties, fabricating arrays, integrating into the smart grid and assuring workplace safety,” SON stressed.

The agency has been enlightening consumers on how to make informed purchasing decisions on energy serving electrical products and appliances.

By Lucas Ajanaku

Low investment Information Technology (IT) infrastructure has made access a big challenge in the telecoms industry in the country, fourth national carrier, 9mobile said yesterday.

Its added that the country, like many other developing countries, remains below the required level of investment in IT infrastructure that is necessary to achieve improved efficiencies and enhanced information flow for economic growth and innovation.

Its Executive Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Abdulrahman Ado, who spoke on occasion to mark this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), said it was, therefore, critical that efforts were intensified to invest in the infrastructure that promotes quality connectivity.

With “Accelerating Digital Transformation in Challenging Times” as theme, 9mobile said in order to speed up Nigeria’s economic development and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in particular, there is a need to accelerate the country’s digital transformation.”

This, it says, can be achieved with the deployment of digital infrastructure across the country.

He restated the telcos commitment to drive the pace of digital transformation in Nigeria, through strategic investment in digital infrastructure.

Ado said:  “Today, access remains a big challenge. Nigeria, like many other developing countries, remains below the required level of investment in IT infrastructure that is necessary to achieve improved efficiencies and enhanced information flow for economic growth and innovation. It is critical that we intensify efforts in investing in the necessary infrastructure that promotes quality connectivity.

“At 9mobile we are constantly working towards bridging the connectivity gap as we work together with other stakeholders in the industry to provide innovative technology solutions that are life transforming.”

WTISD is celebrated annually on May 17 to commemorate the founding of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.

This year’s forum provided a unique opportunity for the International Communication Union (ITU) members to continue in their quest for an accelerated digital transformation agenda that is all-encompassing, by promoting national strategies on ICT development across the world.