The Nation Newspaper

Tag: assures

  • Saraki assures investors of attractive business environment

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday  spoke of the commitment of the  Senate to the enactment of appropriate legislations  for the creation of an  attractive business environment in the country.

    Saraki spoke when the Chairman of Black Rhino Group and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, led the Chairman and Co-founder of Blackstone Group, Stephen Schwarzman and his delegation on a courtesy call on the Senate President in Abuja.

    The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was also a part of the delegation.

    The Senate President said  the 8th Senate would concentrate on commercial aspects of  the nation’s laws having successfully reviewed the criminal aspect in the 7th Senate.

    Saraki said: “one of our priorities in the legislature  is to look at the private sector and the business environment because some of our old laws have not been reviewed and that is why we are setting up committees to look at and make it more interesting and attractive to invest in Nigeria.

    “In the Seventh Senate, we had done a review of the criminal aspect of the laws and brought them up to date and now we are dealing on the commercial side.”

    Earlier, Emir Sanusi II said his firm, Black Rhino Group, which handles Africa’s infrastructure investments, is partnering with Dangote Group to make significant investments in the country.

    The Emir of Kano said: “I am here in my capacity as the chairman, Black Rhino Group which handles Africa’s infrastructure investment and we are committed, in partnership with President Aliko Dangote, to make significant investments in power, energy and infrastructure in this country.

    Also yesterday Dr.Saraki charged the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Power to urgently work towards the resolution of all the challenges currently facing the power sector.

    Inaugurating the Committee headed by Senator Abubakar Kyari in  Abuja,Saraki  said the economic woes in the country can only be addressed when the power sector is fully made functional.

    He said the immediate concern of the 8th Senate is to use every legislative instrument at its disposal to ensure that “light replaces the darkness” in the country.

    Saraki said the economy “cannot be prosperous without us addressing the problems of the  power sector.”

    “The power sector is a key driver of the economy. Whatever we do in trying to address the problems of the power sector is essential in trying to rebuilding  economy. The power challenges that we have are real. They are serious and many.”

  • UNPAID WAGES: NFF Status/Arbitration Committee assures Eboh, Gaadi of justice

    UNPAID WAGES: NFF Status/Arbitration Committee assures Eboh, Gaadi of justice

    The Players’ Status/Arbitration Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has guaranteed that all letters written to it by local players’ over their unpaid allowances by their former clubs will be treated without favour.

    El Kanemi Warriors striker Daudu Alilu Eboh and John Gadi of Abia Warriors were part of the players that are pleading with the NFF to compel their former employers to pay up money owed them.

    Eboh and Gadi played for Sunshine Stars of Akure in 2011 season and 50% of their signing-on fee unpaid till date while faced with the same situation when played for Akwa United in 2012 season.

    According to the letter written to NFF, the players claimed that Sunshine Stars only paid 50% of seven million and two hundred thousand naira (N7,000,200) while Akwa United also paid 50% of three million and five hundred thousand naira (N3,500,000).

    ‘’We have received lots of petitions from players demanding payment of their entitlements. We have decided on some while we are still deliberating on others. We have acknowledged all their letters and we have told them that they will get justice,” a member of the panel informed SportingLife.

    “It is one after the other. We only need the co-operation of the players to present factual documents to the committee and they should be bold enough to speak up. We share the plight of the players and they should be treated well.”

    The Committee, headed by NFF Executive Committee member, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, had recently ruled on the cases affecting Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu.

    The Committee also ruled that Nigeria National League club and Crown FC of Ogbomosho must pay its former General Manager, Alhaji Fatai Olayinka, the sum of N1,104,000 only before the end of June 2015, being the club’s indebtedness to Olayinka. Both parties are also to pay five per cent of the amount to the NFF Players’ Status/Arbitration Committee.

    Also, the Committee ordered Mighty Jets FC of Jos to pay Coach Bernard Ogbe the sum of N3,900,000 before the end of June 2015, being the amount the club owed him as salary for six months. Both parties are also to pay five percent of the amount to the Committee.

    Failure of Crown FC and Mighty Jets FC to pay their indebtedness before the end of the month will attract appropriate sanctions, to be determined by the Players’ Status/Arbitration Committee.

  • Pillars’ Rabiu calms fans, assures of future victories

    Pillars’ Rabiu calms fans, assures of future victories

    Rabiu Ali, the captain of Kano Pillars FC has appealed to fans of the club to show understanding over their recent poor performance, especially in the 0-3 away loss to Sunshines of Akure in the week 12 fixture.

    Ali told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano yesterday that the team would get better as the league progressed.

    He, however, promised the supporters that the team’s next home game against the Dolphins of Port Harcourt on Sunday would be better one as they were poised to win the match.

    “It is a game, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. We are ready and we will ensure we go all the way as a team to win our subsequent matches,” he said.

    The captain also expressed concerns at the club’s declining fortunes at away games. “That is football. At times you play and you don’t get the desired results.

    “Everybody can attest to the fact that we used to play well at away matches; I can only blame the poor results to ill-luck,’’ he said.

  • Fasimoye assures Nigerians of AAG qualification in Rugby

    Fasimoye assures Nigerians of AAG qualification in Rugby

    Tunji Fasimoye, the Technical Director, Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) on Friday expressed optimism that the nation’s players to the All Africa Games qualifier in Lome would not disappoint the country.

    Fasimoye told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the players would qualify for the continental games, stressing that the selection by NRFF technical team was thorough.

    “I am confident of the players that will be called to camp, the technical team has really done a good job in their selection process.

    “I am glad that the players are also aware of what is at stake in the tournament.

    “I can assure Nigerians to expect nothing less, the team will qualify for the All African games,” he said.

    The qualifier is scheduled for June 6 to June 7 in Lome, Togo.

    Fasimoye, also the NRFF Vice President, said that with necessary support by government and private organisations, the country had the capability to rise to the level of South Africa in Rugby.

    It will be difficult to compare our rugby and that of South Africa, they are number two in the world rugby ranking and we are seventy three.

    “They have everything in place in terms of administration, it is their number one sport and it is consciously supported by the government and private organisation, they invest a lot into the sport.”

    “We have a long way to go to meet up with South Africa but with the support of the government and private organisation we will get there.

    “Nigeria has the potential to be one of the world power in rugby considering our body size and the enormous athletes we have,” he said.

  • Dankwambo assures Gombe workers of full support

    Dankwambo assures Gombe workers of full support

    Gombe – Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State yesterday assured the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state of his full support with a view to improving workers’ welfare.

    Dankwambo in a message to the Workers’ Day celebration in Gombe said that government would continue to partner with labour to promote effective service delivery that would facilitate more democracy dividends for the populace.

    Represented by the state Head of Civil Service,  Alhaji Ahmed Usman, the governor commended the workers for their commitment to a better Gombe, and promised to set aside a particular date to celebrate with the workers.

    In his remarks, Mallam Haruna Kamara, the Chairman, NLC in Gombe State, commended the governor for identifying with workers and urged him to sustain his support to civil servants.

    Kamara requested the governor to introduce overseas training for workers, so as to boost workers’ morale.

    “Training and re-training, promotion and employment should be your priority in your second tenure,’’ he said.

    He also commended the governor for increasing Gombe’s work force from 15,000 to 21,000.

    Also, the Benue State Governor-elect, Dr Samuel Ortom, yesterday felicitated with workers in the state on the occasion of the Workers’ Day celebration.

    Ortom seized the opportunity to commend the workers, particularly members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for their resilience and solidarity in the face of enormous challenges which include non-payment of their wages and other entitlements.

    He regretted that the Workers ‘ Day, which used to be celebrated with fanfare and colorful displays when the going was good, has turned into a day of nostalgia for the good old days.

    The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, however assures of partnership with workers in the public service and the organised private sector not only to restore the lost glory of workers in accordance with the dictum that the worker was worthy of his wages but also propel them forward.

    He stressed that as a recipient of several awards from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Joint Councils One, Two, and Three and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) when he was Guma council chairman. He pledged not to disappoint workers in the state.

    Ortom assured that his administration would confront the current challenges of workers in the state frontally and with their support and collaboration surmount them.

    He said it is significant that his surname means the workman and assures that he would work to justify the name and the confidence reposed in him by the electorate.

  • NLC assures president-elect of positive engagement

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has opened an important chapter in the socio-political development of the nation, saying it was prepared to positively engage the new government in defining a new agenda.

    In a congratulatory message entitled: “Nigerians as winners”, by the its president, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, said Nigerians have finally broken the jinx of transiting from one democratically elected government controlled by one party to one controlled by an opposition party.

    Paying tributes to victims of violent incidents during the elections, the Congress said the least the APC government can do is to build upon the culture of democracy it has inherited.

    It praised President Goodluck Jonathan for not only organising a credible, free and fair election, but also promptly accepting its outcome, even though he lost.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress joins millions of our compatriots in congratulating Maj.-Gen. Buhari on his victory in perhaps the most keenly contested presidential election in the history of our country.

    “We strongly believe that the election of Maj.-Gen. Buhari has undoubtedly opened a new and important chapter in the socio-political development of our nation as we have finally broken the jinx of transiting from one democratically elected civilian government controlled by a ruling party to one controlled by an opposition party.

    “We also commend the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for not only organising an election adjudged to be credible and fair, but also for promptly accepting its outcome even though he lost. This is statesmanship and is in keeping with his oft-quoted phrase that his election into the office of President is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.

    “The successfully concluded presidential election is a tribute to the patience, enthusiasm, resilience and determination of Nigerians to choose who governs them. It is a demonstration of their abiding faith in democracy and belief in their country.  It also marks the beginning of a new era in our democratic experience, where expectations are high.”

  • Fed Govt assures foreign envoys on credible polls

    Fed Govt assures foreign envoys on credible polls

    THE Federal Government has assured members of diplomatic corps on its plan to hold free, fair and credible general elections, warning foreigners to stay clear of the polling areas.

    It solicited for the support and understanding of the international community.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Aminu Wali and Minister of Interior Mr. Abba Moro spoke yesterday in Abuja during a parley with members of the diplomatic corps.

    Also yesterday, the military assured that in the next one week, Boko Haram would have been reduced to nothing.

    The ministers urged diplomats, especially from neigbouring countries, to warn their citizens to stay clear of the polling units.

    Moro, who was not forthcoming on the actual strategy put in place to man the borders during the election periods, however, said that all the agencies have been mobilised to ensure that the country’s security was not bridge.

    Wali, who solicited for the support and cooperation of the international community, also assured that the country was fully prepared for a free and fair elections.

    Justifying the February rescheduling of the elections, he noted that the achievements of the military in routing out the Boko Haram sect has proved the skeptics wrong, stressing that peace and security were very important in achieving free, fair and credible elections.

  • Ugwuanyi assures traders of appointments

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has promised to give board appointments to traders.

    But such prospective appointees must have a first degree or its equivalent.

    He said the offer would give them a sense of belonging.

    Ugwuanyi, impressed by the turnout at the Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, to welcome the PDP campaign train, noted that by this appointment, he wants to identify with traders and encourage them to contribute to the development of the state.

    He said his administration would meet the needs of the traders and create a platform to improve their services.

    The PDP governorship candidate promised to provide transformers in markets to boost electricity supply, saying traders are important stakeholders and deserve to be catered for.

    Ugwuanyi, who thanked the traders for endorsing him, urged them to campaign for the PDP and vote for President Goodluck Jonathan as well as other candidates.

    President of Ogbete Main Market Association and President-General, Enugu State Traders Association, Temple Udeh, told the PDP campaign train that Enugu markets, with the highest concentration of voters, had been supporting PDP since 1999.

    Udeh hailed PDP for deeming it fit to visit the markets to campaign, stressing that they were the first to endorse  Ugwuanyi.

    Other markets visited by the PDP train were Aria Market, Enugu, Abakpa Markets and Emene Market, Enugu.

  • Nigerian Breweries assures investors of higher returns

    Shareholders of Nigerian Breweries can look forward to better returns in the period ahead as it begins to optimize synergistic values from the recently concluded acquisition of Consolidated Breweries.

    This assurance was given yesterday by the board of the Nigerian Breweries during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

    Chairman, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu, said with the conclusion of the business consolidation, the company has started the process of integrating the new business, which would lead to enhanced operational efficiencies and maximised value for all investors.

    According to him, the enlarged Nigerian Breweries would add values to all stakeholders including increased trading activities on the NSE and opportunity for former shareholders of Consolidated Breweries, which was not quoted, to trade their shares on the floor of the exchange.

    He noted that the business consolidation would lead to improvement in the company performance pointing out that the new Nigerian Breweries has 11 breweries that are strategically located across the country as against five breweries the company had before the merger.

    He listed other major benefits from the merger also include cost saving from the consolidation of supply and distribution networks of both companies as a result of improved operational efficiencies arising from integrated operations while the products of both companies will be manufactured more efficiently through their combined operational capabilities.

    “Significant cost saving is targeted by distributing products and selling the enlarged product portfolio of the new company across the entire combined sales and distribution network of the enlarged company. The enlarged company is expected to extend market leadership, accelerate revenue growth and expand profit capacity,” Jamodu said.

    He added that the Nigerian Breweries has maintained stable growth in sales revenue and profitability in the past five years and assured that the company would continue to increase wealth for shareholders and other stakeholders.

    Meanwhile, it was a full run for the bears yesterday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as investors responded to the weekend postponement of general elections. With nearly five losers for every gainer, the market was overwhelmed by widespread sell pressure.

    Aggregate market value of all quoted companies dropped to N9.797 trillion as against its opening value of N10.005 trillion. The All Share Index (ASI), the value-based index that tracks prices of all quoted equities, declined by 2.08 per cent from 29,985.08 points to 29,360.55 points. With this, average year-to-date return mounted to -15.3 per cent.

    Nestle Nigeria topped the 36-stock losers’ list with a loss of N40.25 to close at N764.75. Nigerian Breweries followed with a drop of N7.09 to close at N134.72. Guinness Nigeria dropped by N3.99 to close at N125. Lafarge Africa lost N2.99 to close at N85 while Dangote Cement dropped by N2.69 to close at N157.11.

    On the upside, Seplat Petroleum Development Company led the eight-stock gainers’ list with a gain of N34.21 to close at N333.90. Dangote Flour Mills placed a distant second with a gain of 38 kobo to close at N4.38 while Vitafoam Nigeria rose by 16 kobo to N3.41 per share.

    Aggregate turnover stood at 364.47 million shares valued at N6.03 billion in 3,788 deals.

     

  • Maigari calls for calm, assures on Sept Elections

    Maigari calls for calm, assures on Sept Elections

    President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari has appealed for calm and assured Nigerians that normalcy will soon return to the nation’s football administration and stave off the hanging threat of suspension from the Federation of International Football Associations (NFF).

    He also assured the football community and the general public that elections into the Executive Committee of the NFF will hold before September 25 after an Extra Ordinary Congress scheduled for September 18.

    The NFF President also dismissed insinuations of crisis in the nation’s football administration, pointing out that only five persons have been trying to cause confusion within the ranks.

    “It is important that we remain calm and don’t take action or make comments that will aggravate the situation. We are very positive that those who may have inadvertently caused us to incur the threat of suspension from FIFA will retrace their steps and save Nigeria the trauma experienced these past months”, noted the NFF President who addressed over 41 Delegates and Board members earlier in the day.

    FIFA had in a letter of September 4 and signed by the Secretary General, Jerome Valcke directed Chris Giwa and others purporting to have been elected to theNFF Board to vacate the offices by 7am Nigerian time on Monday, September 8 or the country will be automatically suspended from all organized football activities.

    On the elections which FIFA directed should be held, Maigari said “we are going to hold the election before September 25 and the Extra-Ordinary Congress will hold to ratify the roadmap as requested by FIFA”.

    Giwa, the proprietor of Premier League side, Giwa FC and five others have been occupying offices of the NFF Board, insisting that they were elected at a supposed Congress held on August 26.

    According to the NFF boss, ” it is gratifying to note that we have consistently worked in consonance with the NFF, CAF and FIFA Statutes and we will not deviate from that path but urge those who have taken wrong steps to retrace and they will be accommodated”.

    Maigari said he is reaching out to constituted authorities to rein in the recalcitrant few.