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Tag: Alhaji Lai Mohammed

  • ‘Nigeria compiling list of festivals to boost tourism’

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said his Ministry will soon produce a compendium of the festivals across the country as part of efforts to boost tourism and showcase the country’s diverse cultures.

    The Minister disclosed this in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday while speaking at the ongoing 3rd UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture, jointly organized by the two UN agencies.

    He said with more than 365 festivals across Nigeria, the country can organize one festival per day all year round, thus boosting domestic and international tourism.

    Alhaji Mohammed said Nigeria’s ethnic groups are rooted in their cultures, which they showcase through different festivals like Durbar, New Yam Festival, Eyo and Masquerades, just to mention a few.

    He said governments at all levels in Nigeria are striving hard to encourage the festivals in their domains, while the federal government is providing the enabling environment to showcase the various festivals.

    The Minister said the Abuja Carnival is particularly designed to enable the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory to showcase the country’s cultural diversity which he described as a source of unity among the country’s more than 250 ethnic groups.

    The conference is aimed at exploring the interplay of tourism and culture with a view to enhancing sustainable tourism globally.

    More than 30 ministers of culture and tourism from around the world are attending the three-day conference.

  • Nigeria partners UNWTO to implement tourism master plan Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said his ministry is partnering the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in the implementation of the National Tourism Development master plan in order to optimally harness the country’s tourism potential.

    The minister disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday when he declared open the Fourth Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition organized by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN).

    “Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the programmes and policies to fully harness the country’s vast tourism potential over the next one and half decades are anchored on the National Tourism Development Master Plan. In order to ensure its full implementation, the ministry sought and secured the support of the UNWTO to assist in the implementation of the Tourism Master Plan,” he said.

    The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, said pursuant to the implementation of the master plan, the UNWTO is already seeking the support of some donor agencies to assist Nigeria with funds for the execution of the project on the Strengthening of National Tourism Statistical System and the development of a Tourism Satellite Account for Nigeria.

    He said this became necessary because lack of accurate statistics on arrivals and receipts is one of the major problems militating against the development of tourism in Nigeria.

    Alhaji Mohammed said the Ministry of Information and Culture will soon inaugurate a National Consultative Forum that will review the recommendations of the UNWTO Post Technical Mission Project Document, with membership of the Forum drawn from all critical stakeholders in the Tourism Sector, including FTAN.

    He said the private sector is critical to the development of tourism in the country, hence the government’s decision to build an enduring framework for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to provide the required confidence for prospective investors.

    The minister said the government has fashioned out tourism investment incentives such as tax exemption for up to three years, export/import incentives, land at concessionary rate and work permit to foreigners with specialized skills in order to attract private sector investment.

  • ‘Deceased Kwara APC members die for emancipation of state’

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who died on Sunday paid the supreme sacrifice for the emancipation of the state.

     

    The minister stated this when he visited the families of the five deceased members in Arandun, Agbonda, Omu-Aran, Oko and Odo Owa, all in the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency of Kwara.

     

    The APC won a landmark victory at the Saturday’s bye-election where the deceased hailed from.

    A statement issued on the condolence visit was made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the minister.

    Read Also: Four Kwara APC members die in auto crash

    The minister, according to the statement promised that the APC would not abandon the dependants of the deceased who died in a road traffic crash between Omu-Aran and Oro in the state.

     

    At Agbonda, the minister and his entourage attended the funeral service for one of the five deceased members, Chief Ayobami Adekeye, an official of the party in Ajase Ward 2.

     

    He also visited the two hospitals in Omu-Aran, where those injured in the accident were being treated to personally wish them a speedy recovery.

     

    The minister was accompanied by Kwara APC Chairman Bashir Bolarinwa, House of Representatives Member-elect Tunji Olawuyi, Kwara South Senatorial candidate Lola Ashiru and other state party officials.

    NAN

  • Minimum wage: Buhari promised to study report, says Minister

    The Federal Government on Wednesday clarified the position of the President on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers saying the President will study the recommendation submitted to him by the committee before making government position officially known.

    Briefing state House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said what was presented to the President was a recommendation which he promised to study and get back to the committee.

    Organised Labour had suspended its planned nationwide industrial action after the conclusion of the work of the tripartite Committee which recommended N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage.

    While submitting its report to the President, Chairman of the Committee, Ms. Ama Pepple told the President that after extensive deliberations, the committee was recommending N30, 000 which organised labour said was a compromised figure.

    While receiving the report, President Buhari promised to send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly on the recommendation as soon as possible for consideration and approval, but he was silent on whether he endorsed the N30, 000 new wage.

    Asked to clarify the position of government in the issue, the Minister of Information said the president will study the recommendation and get back to the Tripartite Committee.
    According to him, “I think it was a recommendation. Mr. President will consider it and will make his views known in due course.”

    Pressed further, he added: “I said a recommendation was submitted. Mr. President will get back to the committee after he has studied the recommendation.”

    On whether the revenue sharing formula might be reviewed if the new minimum wage is approved to enable the states to pay, the Minister stated: “Once again, like I said, a recommendation has been made and in responding to the recommendation, all these views will be taken into consideration.”

  • FG has 69 ongoing infrastructural projects in South-East, says Minister

    The Federal Government Thursday replied south east governors, saying there are 69 ongoing projects in the region alone.

    The governors had claimed that the region has been shortchanged in the implementation of infrastructural projects by the current administration.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who issued the rebuttal Thursday in Ilorin, at a lecture by Mr. Festus Keyamo, spokesman for the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization promised to publish the full list of projects and the state.

    Read Also:FG slams PDP over infrastructural development in South East, South South

    ”While this claim may have made headlines, it is totally untrue. His Excellencies were either misquoted or they were quoted of context.

    Either way, this allegation flies in the face of available evidence,” he said, promising to publish the full list of the projects and the state-by-state breakdown.

    Alhaji Mohammed said no part of the country, including the South-east, has been left out of the massive infrastructural projects of this Administration, adding that from the proceeds of the 100 billion Naira Sukuk Bond alone, the South-east got 16.6 billion Naira worth of projects, just like any other zone.

    He listed the four projects covered by the Sukuk Bond proceeds in the South-east as Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section II (Umuahia Tower-Aba Township Rail/Road Bridge Crossing in Abia State; Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway Section I (Lokpanta-Umahia Tower) in Abia State; Outstanding section of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway (Amansea –
    Enugu State Border) and the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway Section III (Enugu-Lokpanta) in Enugu State

    The Minister said he had gone on a media inspection of the roads, as well as the Aba-Port Harcourt section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and the 2nd Niger Bridge, where the contractor has completed the first three phases of the project.

    ”In conclusion, the South-east has never had it so good in the area of infrastructure. Had the previous Administrations done even half of what we are doing now in that region, no one will be complaining today. It is alright to ask for more, but it is unfair to say nothing
    has been done,” he said.

  • NASS defection: Minister urges Kwara APC to remain calm

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has commended member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kwara state for their unflinching commitment to the party.

    In apparent reaction to the gale of recent defection at the National Assembly, the minister in a statement released in Abuja Thursday urged members of the ruling party to remain calm, saying there was no cause for alarm over the recent defection in the party.

    Read Also:‘Lawmakers’ defection not a threat to Buhari’s popularity’

    He stressed that the party leadership at the state is currently consulting with the national leadership of the party, with a view to coming up with a programme of action that will take into consideration the recent developments.

    He also assured the teeming party loyalists that the best action will be taking for the overall interest of the party.

    The statement reads: “Against the backdrop of the recent events at the National Assembly, I want to most sincerely thank all APC members and supporters in Kwara State for their unflinching commitment to ensuring that the party emerges stronger than ever in the state

    “That commitment has been reflected in the overwhelming support and solidarity that we have received, not just from our party members but also from other parties and stakeholders across the state, since the melodrama at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    “In particular, there has been an expression of overwhelming love and support for President Muhammadu Buhari from across Kwara, in the wake of the defections by federal legislators from Kwara.

    “I call on all our members and supporters in Kwara to remain calm, because there is no cause for alarm.

    “We are currently consulting with the national leadership of our great party, with a view to coming up with a programme of action that will take into consideration the recent developments.

    “Our members and supporters should have no doubt whatsoever that whatever decisions we take after the consultations will be in their overall best interest.”

     

  • FG pledges support for people living with disabilities

    The Federal Government has pledged its commitment to support people living with disabilities in the country.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the promise at the opening of 2018 Art for Development (Art4Dev) exhibition, organized by the ActionAid Nigeria and the ministry, Thursday in Abuja.

    Mohammed said rather than a biennial event, the ministry will support the project to make it annual, thus creating market opportunities for people with disabilities involved in the work of arts.

    The Minister said such supports through arts, craft and the entire creative industry is capable of reducing poverty, boosting quality of life style and promoting self-reliance among the special group and the youth in general.

    Read Also:‘Stop discriminating against persons with disabilities’

    He emphasized on the significant of art to addressing unemployment, boosting rural economy and contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Mohammed, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Deaconess Grace Gekpe, declared the exhibition open.

    “The expo is a platform to showcase, promote and develop the creative talents and skills of our local artists, especially the artists from vulnerable and excluded communities. There is no doubt that most of our youth have missed the opportunity of developing their creative talents due to lack of support and access to market.

    “Economic empowerment through arts and crafts is the only means available for these marginalized people to obtain basic human needs ….” he added.

    Earlier, ActionAid Country Director, Ene Obi described poor access to market as great challenge to promoting works of arts and the creative industry.

    She said proper support is capable of creating jobs, reducing poverty and promoting self-development.

    Obi noted that efforts are ongoing to reach-out to State governors in the 36 states stressing that some youth venture into agriculture due to poor sales of artworks despite their level of creativity.

    “Even though, some of them have access to raw materials required for production of art and crafts like tree for woodworks and raffia for weaving; they do not have access to platforms and opportunities their professional counterparts have to make their works profitable and a source of livelihood.

    “It is our belief that if these talents are properly and diligently utilized, it can become a source of sustainable livelihood, thereby lifting them out of poverty and contributing to the micro and macro economy of the nation,” she stated.

  • Minister condoles with D’banj over son’s death

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has condoled with star musician, D’banj,  and his wife on the tragic loss of their son, Daniel.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the minister said although words could never  be enough to console them, they should take solace in the outpouring of sympathy from Nigerians.

    Read Also: D’banj’s only child dies

    ”My prayers and kindest thoughts are with you and your family at this trying time.

    “May God give you the strength and the comfort that will see you through,” he said.

    Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as  D’banj and wife Lineo Kilgrow’s one-year-old son reportedly drowned at a pool in the singer’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, on  Sunday afternoon.

    NAN

  • FG hands over N3.85bn Esan Water Project to Edo Govt

    President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has handed over to the Edo State Government, the completed Northern Esan Water Project, in Ugboha, Esan South East Local government area of the state.

    The project estimated to have cost N3.85 billion, can generate two million gallons or nine million liters of water per day.

    Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, who led a Federal Government delegation, which included Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to the state, said the delegation was in the state to hand over completed projects to the Edo State government.

    Engr. Suleiman said he participated in the conception of the project in 1997, when he worked as a consultant to the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), which was then led by current President, Muhammadu Buhari. He noted that lack of fund stalled the project, until it was revived by the present administration.

    “We have finished our intervention programme and we are here today to hand over the project to the Edo State Government led by Governor Godwin Obaseki”.

    He expressed satisfaction and confidence in the quality of job done and hoped that the agencies in charge of the scheme would do a good job to ensure its sustainability.

    Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki expressed gratitude to the President Buhari-led administration for the uncommon gesture to the people of the state and Esan land, in particular.

    Read Also:Second Niger Bridge main project to gulp N210 billion

    He explained that access to potable water was a major challenge in Esan land and thanked the President for coming to the aid of the people, promising that his administration will do all it can to ensure the project benefits the people.

    “I want to assure you that as a progressive government, we align with the water policies of the Federal Government. We have been following your policy guideline to strengthen water reforms in Edo State,” the governor said.

    Obaseki disclosed that a bill to set up small town and rural water projects in the state has been passed by the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), noting that the state government has trained communities to set up their own water associations.

    He added that his administration is restructuring its urban water board. “I want to assure you that this scheme will be sustained. This is part of our plan to ensure water in all parts of Esan land.”

    The governor said his administration is working with the Niger Delta support programme, supported by the European Union (EU) to provide water, adding “We have paid 700 million naira as our counterpart fund and the EU is providing about two to three billion. We expect that all these investments will provide water in Esan land and other parts of the state.”

  • Lagos -Ibadan expressway to be ready before end of 2018 – Minister

    The Lagos-Ibadan expressway will be substantially ready for commuters before the end of the year, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.

    The Minister made the disclosure Wednesday while inspecting the N232 billion road project been handled by Julius Berger PLC and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), as part of the nationwide tour of the Federal Government infrastructural projects.

    The minister kicked start the inspection of government projects on Tuesday alongside the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, with an inspection of the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line.

    The 137 kilometer Lagos-Ibadan expressway is divided into two sections, with Julius Berger Plc handling the section one of the project worth N134 billion, which covers the Lagos-Shagamu interchange while RCC covers from the Shagamu Interchange to Ibadan worth N96 billion.

    The project which commenced in 2013, with initial completion date of 2017 now has 2018 completion date as a result of the initial hiccups and also the increase in scope of work.

    In both axis of the project, over 50 per cent completion have been achieved, something the minister said was worth commending as it has helped to ease traffic on the very busy road.

    Already, 17 kilometer of the Lagos-Shagamu road with three lanes on each side have been completed. While drainage work is ongoing.

    Speaking after the inspection of the road project, the minister noted that government will continue to mount pressure on the contractors to ensure that they deliver in good time because of the economic and security importance of the road to the country.

    He further assured the contractors that the government will on its part do everything possible to ensure smooth and timely completion of the project, while at the same time charging them on the need to maintain standard and do a thorough job.

    He said: “Both section one and two will be substantially completed before the end of the year.

    “Give and take about 53% of the projects have been completed.

    “We understand the importance of the axis to the economy and security of Nigeria.

    We are working to ensure rapid progress is made.

    “This particular section is significant and different in many instance,  in terms of traffic and capacity and scope. There are many of the churches around here and the issue of compensation, bridges and interchange, pedestrian bridges.

    “No doubt with the efforts of the contractors, travel time from Lagos to Ibadan has been cut down tremendously. People use to sleep on the road before but now you can go to Ibadan under two hours. Accident rate has also reduced tremendously and with the new amendment to the contract, more facilities such as toll plaza better drainage, flyovers.

    “Travel time has been reduced tremendously. People now travel with more comfort and even more security assurance. Armed robbery are easier when traffic are not moving, but when you see flowing traffic as we have seen today, it also improve security.

    And with the additional work, not only are we going to have the road better, it is going to go from two to three lanes on both sides, that means it can carry more traffic. Then the auxiliary facilities that have been included like toll plaza, street lights and overhead bridges will make traveling a much more pleasant journey, which is exactly the objective but most importantly, it is the economy.”

    The minister further explained that 70% of the burden of the traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is on the Lagos-Shagamu axis of the road, which explained why it has three lanes on each side as against the Shagamu-Ibadan two lanes on each side.

    He was also able to extract commitment from the contractors on timely completion of the project before the end of the year, while at the same time assuring them that the federal government will do the needful to ensure they deliver at the right time.

    Read Also: FEC approves additional N80b for Lagos-Ibadan road