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Tag: Actionaid

  • Actionaid, NAPTIP tackle violence against kids

    A United Kingdom (UK) charity organisation, Actionaid has entered into partnership with National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) and other government agencies in a bid to end violence against children in Nigeria.

    Speaking at a media sensitisation meeting, Maryann Obidike, the presentative of Actionaid explained the importance of protecting the children. As Assets of the country.

    She reaffirmed the organization’s efforts in the. Success of the strategy put in place which cut across five states, Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, FCT and Kuduna in order to take the message to the grassroots.

    Obidike explained that the strategy known as Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihood and house Empowerment (SMILE) is design to strengthened institutional and technical capacity of states and local government to provide, manage, and monitor integrated comprehensiveness of children and their families.

    She noted also that SMILE as a strategy will strengthen organizational and technical capacity of civil society organizations.

    Maryann said, “SMILE is using a bottom-up approach to ensure sustainability of whatever project that is carried out by the organisation, we ensure that the people whom this projects are for, benefit and own the projects.

    “The people getting help must own the programme as a way of allowing the contributions of the people make the decision of what project Actionaid will carry out in a particular location” she stated.

    Also at the meeting, Adekoye Vincent, a representative from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) charged the media to create more awareness of the dangers of child abuse through their reporting.

    On his part, the Deputy Director in the department of Social Development Service (SDS) in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Adeyemi Ajayi explained that national survey conducted in 2014 by National Population Commission shows that one in four girls and one in 10 boys experience sexual violence.

  • Actionaid empowers 200,000 women farmers

    Over 200,000 women farmers have been enrolled to benefit from credit facilities to boost food security and turn agriculture top foreign exchange earner for the country.

    The beneficiaries are from 500 cooperative unions under the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation of Nigeria (SWOFON), a project being directly funded by a non-governmental organisation, Actionaid Nigeria.

    The International Project Manager (Public Finance for Agriculture) of Actionaid Nigeria, Ms. Constance Okeke, said this yesterday in Ado Ekiti at the opening of Southwest Regional Forum of SWOFON.

    According to her, SWOFON was formed as a coalition and network of women farmers’ associations and groups across Nigeria with the support of Actionaid Nigeria, with the primary goal of advocating for and supporting rural and urban women farmers.

    Okeke explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from 31 states within a spate of four years of forming SWOFON in 2012, saying those so far captured are operating under the umbrella of 500 cooperative groups.

    Actionaid Food and Agric Officer Ms. Blessing Akhile said women farmers in Nigeria, especially those in rural areas, contributed more than 60 per cent of the nation’s food supply, but are hampered by many challenges.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman, Ekiti Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Kola Akosile blamed the backward position of women in economy on their inability to organise themselves into formidable groups to access loans.

    The Permanent Secretary of Ekiti State Ministry of Agriculture, Dare Abegunde hailed Actionaid Nigeria for its initiative towards uplifting women farmers, calling on other NGOs and multi-national organisations to take a queue.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ActionAid Nigeria hails rescue of Chibok girl

    ActionAid Nigeria hails rescue of Chibok girl

    The news that the first Chibok school girl has been found raises hope that the remaining 218 girls and others still held captive would be rescued and reunited with their families.

    ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Ojobo Ode Atuluku stated this on Wednesday while reacting to reports that one of the girls, Falmata Mbalala kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents has been found.

    “We celebrate with the family of the found Chibok girl, and commend the effort of the Nigerian Army and the Civilian Joint Task Force for their efforts at ending insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria, the Nigerian Government must intensify efforts and give them all required support to seek out the remaining girls.

    “It is important for the government to strongly advocate against the stigma and discrimination women and girls face when they return. We also expect the Victims Support Fund of the Federal Government to be accountable and give report of how women and girls and their babies are being cared for,” she said.

    According to her, Boko Haram continues to remain a huge threat to the safety of women and girls in Nigeria and It is important that all efforts are made to protect them and to allow “women and girls to live, free from fear.”

     

  • ActionAid, Oxfam make case for smallholder farmers

    International agencies, ActionAid Nigeria and Oxfam in Nigeria, have called on government to provide access to land, credit and crop insurance for smallholders’ female farmers.

    The agencies said that 60 per cent of female farmers in Nigeria lacked access to farm credit, inputs, and crop insurance.

    The Deputy Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ifeoma Charles-Monwuba, during the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day Celebration and launching of the Kilimanjaro Initiative in Abuja on Thursday, added that women were the most voiceless in influencing agricultural and land policies despite their roles in the agriculture sector.

    She added that around 55 per cent of female-headed households were landless, adding that 29 per cent of them own less than one hectare of land.

    “Women in Nigeria constitute 60 to 80 per cent of the agricultural labour force in the country. However, their access to agricultural related services of credit, inputs, training and advice, technology, crop insurance, etc is much lower than men’s.

    “The current government is also planning a land reform exercise and we all need to engage with this process in collaboration with other partners. This will include articulating a position paper that captures the interest of the smallholder women farmers for presentation to the land reform process and other duty bearers in Nigeria,” she said.

    The Head of Programme, Oxfam in Nigeria, Mr. Constant Tchona also said that despite the contributions of female farmers to agriculture, only 15 per cent owed farmlands.

    Represented by Livelihoods and Private Sector Manager, Dr. William Mafwalal, Tchona, called on government to make women leaders in the transition to sustainable agricultural and food systems.

    He added that the agency would continue to engage the Federal Government and private sector to provide secure access to land for small holder farmers especially for women.

    “There is no argument against the fact that rural women are a powerful drive for agricultural development. However, their potential is still hampered by disparities between men and women farmers.

    “They are the first victims of land and related natural resources grabbing. All these and more together threaten the capacity of communities to meet the challenges of sustainable agricultural and food systems today and tomorrow.

    “Research has shown that if women farmers had the same factors of production and opportunities as their male counterparts in the world, they would be able to increase their crop yields by 20 per cent to 30 per cent, thus helping to prevent millions of people from starving.

    “Women do not only play major roles in cash crops, staple-food production, processing or marketing, but as holders of local and traditional knowledge in farm seed conservation and natural resources management,” he said.

     

  • NLNG faults ActionAid’s claim on tax incentives

    NLNG faults ActionAid’s claim on tax incentives

    The attention of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has been drawn to a report by ActionAid, an NGO, which focused on the alleged impact of tax breaks on social services in Nigeria.

    The report made several references to Nigeria LNG Limited and purported tax losses to the government totalling $3.9 billion as a result of tax break granted to the company.

    According to the General Manager, External Relations Division Kudo Eresia-Eke, NLNG the claim is false and misleading. It is most instructive to note also, that ActionAid itself admits in its report that its figure is a ‘hypothetical’ one, he said.

    “Contrary to ActionAid’s claim, the reality is that the Federal Government’s initial investment of $2.5 billion, bolstered by the associated tax incentives, has so far yielded over $33 billion in the form of dividends, taxes and feedgas purchases for the country over the past 16 years, with an additional $5 billion accruing through corporate spending on local goods and services during the same period. The company paid $3.6 billion in Company Income Tax and Education Tax between 2014 and 2015. This is in line with NLNG’s corporate vision to help build a better Nigeria.

    “Nigeria LNG Limited was established at a period when the LNG technology was still very new in Africa. Indeed, the establishment of NLNG made Nigeria the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to possess such new technology and the second such country in all of Africa. Considering the pioneering nature of such a company in Nigeria, as well as the huge  investments required, running to several billions of dollars in foreign investments, NLNG was granted a 10-year tax holiday by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the provisions of the Nigeria LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act, CAP. N87, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (“NLNG Act”).

    “The concept of tax holidays are not unusual practice in the global business community. Indeed, Angola has notably offered as much as 12 years tax holidays to encourage investments in their LNG industry, while other countries like Oman, Malaysia, Qatar and Trinidad have offered up to 10 year tax holidays to attract LNG investments.

    “Additionally, more generous tax incentive schemes currently exist in free trade zones in Nigeria where participants are granted absolute exemption from all forms of taxes and levies chargeable by any level of government, in perpetuity. Several well-known corporations in the country have and are currently investing in these zones (in logistics, infrastructure and refineries, to name a few of such ventures) on the basis of such perpetual and overarching tax incentives.”

    He noted that NLNG’s tax holiday period was from 1999 to 2009 and, contrary to the observations in the report, is expressly provided for under Section 2 of the NLNG Act, an Act of Parliament. During that period, NLNG grew from an initial investment of two trains to six train facility, as the construction of the additional trains was funded, mainly, by approximately $3 billion of returns generated from the project during the tax break period. The current total valuation of the now six train plant is $16 billion.

    At the expiration of the tax holiday  for NLNG, the company did not have taxable profit for the 2010 to 2012 financial years due to unrelieved Capital Allowances on qualifying fixed assets acquired during the pioneer period. The Capital Allowances were duly applied in line with the provisions of the NLNG Act and Companies Income Tax Act, CAP C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, he added.

    ‘’Regardless, NLNG paid Education Tax of $65.08 million, $107.04 million and $118.59 million for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 financial years,’’ he said.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Tax breaks: NLNG faults ActionAid claim on tax incentives

    Tax breaks: NLNG faults ActionAid claim on tax incentives

    The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has faulted a report by ActionAid on the alleged impact of tax breaks on social services in Nigeria.

    The company in a statement by General Manager, External Relations Division, Kudo Eresia-Eke said the report makes several references to Nigeria LNG Limited and purported tax losses to the government totaling $3.9 billion as a result of tax break granted to the company.

    The statement reads; “NLNG wishes to state that this claim is false and misleading.  It is most instructive to note also, that ActionAid itself admits in its report that its figure is a ‘hypothetical’ one.

    “Contrary to ActionAid’s claim, the reality is that the Federal Government’s initial investment of US$2.5billion, bolstered by the associated tax incentives, has so far yielded over US$ 33 billion in the form of dividends, taxes and feed gas purchases for the country over the past 16 years, with an additional US$ 5 billion accruing through corporate spend on local goods and services during the same period. The company paid $3.6 billion in Company Income Tax and Education Tax between 2014 and 2015. This is in line with NLNG’s corporate vision to help build a better Nigeria.

    “Nigeria LNG Limited was established at a period when the LNG technology was still very new in Africa. Indeed, the establishment of NLNG made Nigeria the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to possess such new technology and the second such country in all of Africa. Considering the pioneering nature of such a company in Nigeria, as well as the huge  investments required, running to several billions of dollars in foreign investments, NLNG was granted a 10-year tax holiday by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under the provisions of the Nigeria LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act, CAP. N87, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (“NLNG Act”).

    “The concept of tax holidays are not unusual practice in the global business community. Indeed Angola has notably offered as much as 12 years tax holidays to encourage investments in their LNG industry, while other countries like Oman, Malaysia, Qatar and Trinidad have offered up to 10 year tax holidays to attract LNG investments.

    “Additionally, more generous tax incentive schemes currently exist in free trade zones in Nigeria where participants are granted absolute exemption from all forms of taxes and levies chargeable by any level of government, in perpetuity. Several well-known corporations in the country have and are currently investing in these zones (in logistics, infrastructure and refineries, to name a few of such ventures) on the basis of such perpetual and overarching tax incentives.

    “NLNG’s tax holiday period was from 1999 to 2009 and, contrary to the observations in the report, is expressly provided for under Section 2 of the NLNG Act, an Act of Parliament.”

    It also added, “During that period, NLNG grew from an initial investment of two trains to 6 (six) train facility, as the construction of the additional trains was funded, mainly, by approximately US$3billion of returns generated from the project during the tax break period. The current total valuation of the now 6- (six) train plant is US$16billion.

    “At the expiration of the tax holiday period for NLNG, the company did not have taxable profit for the 2010 to 2012 financial years due to unrelieved Capital Allowances on qualifying fixed assets acquired during the pioneer period. The Capital Allowances were duly applied in line with the provisions of the NLNG Act and Companies Income Tax Act, CAP C21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    “Regardless, NLNG paid Education Tax in the sum of US$65.08million, US$107.04million and US$118.59million for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 financial years, respectively.

    “NLNG is a good corporate citizen and believes in the payment of applicable taxes. This belief drives its commitment to dutifully discharge that obligation in accordance with Nigerian law.

    “In addition to this, NLNG has contributed to the socio-economic wellbeing of the country, impacting positively on host communities and the larger society it operates. Over the years, NLNG has, among other things, invested in the provision of amenities (24 hours electricity, roads and pipe borne water) to thousands of households and businesses in our primary host community on Bonny Island, where its plant facility is located. In addition, the company supports the improvement of infrastructure, health and educational facilities and encourages local enterprise, facilitating knowledge exchange and reinforcing local capacity in the sustainable use of resources.

    “NLNG has continued to support education in Nigeria through several capacity building initiatives and the sponsorship of The Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature worth $100,000 each in annual value to the winners.

    A recent addition to NLNG’s corporate social responsibility portfolio is the University Support Programme formally announced in 2014 and valued at $12 million. The programme involves the building/refurbishment and equipping of ultra-modern engineering laboratories in six (6) carefully selected universities from across Nigeria, as part of the company’s targeted support towards the development of teaching and research.

    “NLNG is owned by four shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC (49%),  Shell Gas BV, SGBV, (25.6%), Total LNG Nigeria Limited (15%), and Eni International (N.A,) N. V. S. a. r. l (10.4%).”

  • ActionAid charges govt on Child’s protection

    ActionAid charges govt on Child’s protection

    ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Nigerian government to prioritise protection of every Nigerian child while demanding more concerted efforts at rescuing the abducted Chibok girls.

    The anti-poverty agency, which made this call on the occasion of 2015 Children’s Day,  called on the three tiers of government in Nigeria to make more commitments towards the protection that would guarantee the rights of the Nigerian child.

    In a statement issued by the organisation, the Country Director, Ojobo Ode Atuluku, observed that In the past two years, over 100 students have been killed in different attacks on schools in the North-East, with over 1,000 kidnapped or abducted.

    “10.5 million Nigerian children of school going age are currently out of school, the highest number in the world. About 60 per cent of those children are girls and most of them live in the north of the country,” Atuluku lamented.

    Explaining further the magnitude of the out-of-school-children in Nigeria, he  added that “the implication of this is that one out of every three primary school age children is out of school, and roughly one out of four junior secondary school age children is out of school”.

    This situation is likely to get worse as she explained due to security challenges, which has resulted in numerous children currently having no access to schools in parts of the north, and particularly in the northeast.

    The ActionAid country Director also raised concern that the current quality of education in the country now poses a threat to quality adult life for the Nigerian child, especially those from poor background: “The quality of education has continued on a free fall, and this is evidenced in the performance of students in external exams such as NECO, WAEC and JAMB.

    “Of the 1,692,435 students who sat for the May/June 2014 WAEC examinations only 46.7% passed with five credits,” he said.

    The ActionAid Nigeria boss who called all tiers of government to uphold their obligation to protecting the rights of the child, as Nigerian is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, said that “it is time to move away from rhetorics and governments become more accountable on the protection of the rights of every single Nigerian child.”

  • Actionaid marches for Chibokgirls

    Actionaid Nigeria yesterday marched for the Chibok girls. The International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) marched with 219 youths, who they said represented the 219 Chibok schoolgirls still in captivity.

    Policy and Campaign Manager  Tunde Aremu, said the organisation had always been involved in girl education and belief in the right to education and safe environment for girls.

    Aremu spoke at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, where the group met with members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy who where commemorating the one year anniversary of the abduction.

    He said: “We have always been involved in issues that involve girls education. We have always believed in the right to education and safe environment is not a negotiable right for girls, we have also been close to some of the communities that have been affected, we work with the socially disadvantaged from which almost all of the Chibok girls come from and we identify with the pains, anxiety and agony of the family of these girls.

    “What we have done coming out is to ask the government to act responsibly and see to the safety of these girls, that these girls are brought back, safe and alive it is not just that they are found, but that they are found safe and brought back to their families alive. This is one of the reasons why we are out and aligning with the larger movement of #BringBackOurGirls. For us, the 219 girls symbolises for us, the number of girls whom are out of schools, the number of girls in danger in this country and the number of girls who are endangered by the failure of the Nigerian state to ensure safe environment, by the failure of the Nigerian state to guarantee safety in schools.”

    The European Union yesterday sent a press statement on the abduction of the girls.

    In a statement signed it spokesperson, the EU expressed its solidarity with the plight of the families and with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

    They stated: “A year has passed since 287 school girls from Chibok, in north-eastern Nigeria, were abducted by Boko Haram. Though some girls escaped, others have since been taken and more than 300 girls are still missing. We express our solidarity with the plight of the families and with the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign.

    “All efforts must continue to be made to rescue and reunite the girls with their families, and bring the perpetrators of this terrible act to account. The EU remains ready to assist the Government of Nigeria, including the newly elected President and local authorities, as well as others in the region in their fight against Boko Haram and all forms of terrorism and criminality.”