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Tag: crisis

  • Jonathan wades into Ebonyi crisis

    Jonathan wades into Ebonyi crisis

    A five-member governors’ panel constituted by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the crisis in Ebonyi State met at the State House, Abuja, yesterday for hours.

    Members are Governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi); Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

    They were mandated to resolve the face-off between Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Dave Umahi, which has split the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Umahi is believed to be championing an impeachment move against Elechi, with the support of majority of members of the House of Assembly.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting in Abuja, Suswam said the solution to the crisis had almost been found.

    He said Elechi did not storm out of the meeting, but left at the end of the meeting to catch a flight home.

    Suswam said: “I don’t think he (Elechi) stormed out of the meeting. We ended the meeting properly, and I believe he had a flight to catch, so he was rushing.

    “Yes, the Ebonyi problem was one of the issues discussed. We have almost found a solution to that problem. The meeting ended peacefully. I don’t think Elechi stormed out of the meeting. I think the governor was rushing to catch a flight.”

    He said the meeting also discussed the general elections.

    The governor said PDP was sure of victory and dismissed insinuation that some candidates were campaigning for themselves without campaigning for Jonathan’s re-election.

    He said: “I don’t think that is true. People have ways of campaigning. As a senatorial candidate, there is no way I can be campaigning for my seat alone without campaigning for the President.”

    Elechi, who left the Presidential Villa with Umahi, refused to answer reporters’ questions.

    Umahi, the PDP governorship candidate in the coming elections, urged Elechi to respond to the allegations levelled against him by the House of Assembly, instead of embarking on a smear campaign.

    In a statement issued in Abakaliki yesterday, he asked the governor to defend himself on the eight-point impeachment notice and refrain from pointing accusing fingers at the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and himself.

    The statement signed by Abia Onyike, Umahi’s director, Media and Publicity, said it was clear that Governor Elechi had a running battle with the Assembly for a long time over several issues, which the House described as bordering on constitutional breaches.

     

  • Crisis in Falcons’ camp: Coach Okon threatens to dump team

    Crisis in Falcons’ camp: Coach Okon threatens to dump team

    Super Falcons’ Head Coach Edwin Okon has threatened to dump the team if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) refuses to accord him the respect  given to other senior national team coaches.

    In furtherance of his threat, the coach at the weekend prevented a NFF delegation from addressing the team during one of its training sessions.

    It was gathered that Okon’s displeasure started when he submitted his initial Falcons’ team list of 35 players to the NFF. But the NFF increased the number to 36 by including a goal keeper that excelled during the last Women Federation Cup in Lagos.

    This did not go down well with the coach and he voiced his displeasure over the inclusion of the player.

    To make matters worse, the NFF dropped one of Okon’s backroom staff for insubordination and undermining the authority of the federation.

    Okon was said to have not taken that decision lightly, and he questioned why a decision to drop his backroom staff would be taken without his consent. He was quoted as saying that the NFF should know that he is a senior team coach, and should be treated as such. He threatened to dump the team if the NFF refused to respect him as a such.

    As a way of driving home his displeasure, the Rivers Angels gaffer refused the NFF delegation led by Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma, an executive board member and Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, the opportunity to address the players in one of their training sessions on Friday.

    The delegation had arrived at the FIFA Goal Project, Abuja National Stadium  training venue of team at about 3.30pm, but waited till 5.15pm, with the coach insisting that no one would be allowed access to the team until he must have rounded up the training.

    Okon’s attitude drew the irk of the fans and journalists who were covering the training, because he directed the delegation to walk round the pitch to the extreme end  where he was seated to meet him, and discuss whatever they wanted to tell the girls

    The coach, however, called off the training at 5.20pm , five minutes after the delegation had angrily left. Nevertheless, Onyedinma still went ahead to donate N100,000 to the girls for their refreshment before leaving.

  • No crisis in Boro, Omeruo insists

    No crisis in Boro, Omeruo insists

    Despite slipping to  second on the log after their  home loss to Leeds United last Saturday, Middlesbrough’s defender, Kenneth Omeruo has insisted that there was no crisis in the camp of the Riverside club as they are all behind head coach, Aitor Karanka in the push towards premier league return.

    Before the defeat to Leeds, Boro topped the Championship table with 60 points but they have now being overtaken by Derby County who have 62 points from 32 matches but Omeruo in a brief chat through his advisor, Chika Akujobi disclosed that they were unfortunate to lose to their foes.

    He re-affirmed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back to winning ways with another home game against Bolton Wanderers noting that the loss to Leeds was only a temporary blip and that the errors they noticed against Leeds have been corrected.

    “We were all sad that we lost to Leeds at home. We had not lost for a very long time but we have to take the defeat like that and focus on the game today against Bolton. We will be ready for them because we have corrected the lapses noticed against our last foes. We are behind coach Karanka and we are very certain the premier league slot will be ours at the end of the season,” Akujobi quoted Omeruo to have said.

    Omeruo, the Super Eagles’ defender, is on a season long deal to Boro from Chelsea.

  • ‘No crisis in Benin Forum’

    The umbrella body of Bini indigenes in the country and in the Diaspora, led by the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, the Benin Forum (BF), at the weekend said those peddling the rumour that there was a crisis in the forum were enemies of the ethnic nationality.

    The Enogie of Obazuwa and younger brother to the Oba of Benin, Prince Edun Akenzua, had said those calling for the resignation of the Esogban as BF’s chairman, lacked the powers to do so because he was nominated by the Benin monarch, Oba Erediuwa.

    The forum was reacting to a publication in which some persons, who claimed to be members of the forum called on Edebiri to resign for his alleged comments that the Bini would not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.

  • ‘Poly crisis not yet over’

    The crisis rocking the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, is far from over, the major unions of the institution said yesterday.

    They faulted the claim by the management that normalcy has returned to the polytechnic, following a meeting between the Rector, Dr. Theresa Akande, and some workers. The rector promised to pay all the outstanding check-off dues.

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) are locked in a battle with the management over issues of check-off dues and implementation of CONTISS 15, among others.

    SSANIP Chairman Dr. Oluwole Ayeni said: “It is quite unfortunate that the rector is telling the public that the crisis has been resolved when she is yet to address all issues raised against her. We have said that we have no personal scores to settle with her.

    “Nobody can call the workers back except the unions, because we declared the strike in the first place.

    “The truth is there is stalemate in the polytechnic. Even, the students are not happy because when the rector told to resume there was no provision for academics.”

  • Bayelsa PDP leadership crisis deepens

    Leaders write protest letter to Jonathan

    The leadership crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened yesterday, following the decision of its leaders to send a protest letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The state leader demanded the immediate removal of the party’s State Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (retd).

    It was gathered that the decision to lodge a complaint with Jonathan followed the discovery that Inokoba was allegedly enjoying the protection of the Presidency.

    The embattled party chairman was recently suspended by the State Working Committee (SWC) for sundry allegations, including high-handedness.

    Members of the SWC and other party leaders were said to be angry that few weeks after they sent a recommendation to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) demanding the chairman’s sack, the NWC had not responded.

    The leaders threatened mass defection to the opposition, if the Presidency allegedly continued to shield Inokoba.

    It was gathered yesterday that the party leaders formally intimated the President of Inokoba’s alleged misdeeds as a sign of respect for him before dumping the party.

    The stakeholders, comprising the SWC members, the party’s chairmen in the local government areas and wards and as non-executive officials, were said to have signed up for the protest letter, calling for the sack of the chairman.

    Copies of the letter, it was gathered, would be sent to the governor, the National Chairman and the National Secretary.

    The aggrieved party leaders were said to have written the letter after extensive deliberations in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    The stakeholders were said to have concluded that President Jonathan, being the party’s leader, should be duly informed of “Inokoba’s excesses and shortcomings”.

    According to them, if not checked, Inokoba’s attitude would jeopardise PDP’s chances in the March 28 and April 11 elections.

    A source, who was privy to the decision, told our reporter in confidence that the letter outlined Inokoba’s alleged leadership excesses and failures.

    The source also said the letter contained a copy of the suspension document, which listed the party officials who endorsed the action.

    The source said: “The signed list revealed that of the 14 SWC members, 13 signed; one was absent. All the 15 non-working committee members signed the document. Going by the party’s structure, the 15 non-working committee members are like assistants to the 14 working committee members.

    “Also, the eight local government chairmen, who make up the complete structure of the party, which makes up the state executive, all signed the suspension letter.”

     

  • Another crisis looms for polytechnics

    Unless the Federal Government moves swiftly to avert the impending strike by polytechnic workers, students may be heading back home soon as the unions in the sector brace up for another round of confrontation with the government.

    The three unions (Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) are accusing the government of refusing to honour agreements reached and doing nothing to address the grievances that led to its protracted strike (11 months) which was suspended in July 2014 to enable the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, settle down and look into the issues.

    The immediate cause of their agitation is the suspension of the payment of the CONTISS (Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Scale) 15.

    A statement signed by the General Secretaries of the three unions, Usman Nda-Umar (ASUP), Monday Jegede (SSANIP) and Peter Adeyemi (NASU) and made available to The Nation in Abuja also wants the government to call the Governing Councils of the federal polytechnic, Oko and Ado Ekiti to order.

    Apart from their anger over the suspension of CONTISS 15, they also accused the government of failing to release the reports of the visitation panel to all federal polytechnics five years after the exercise, and dumping the NEEDS assessment report of polytechnics nine months after the exercise was concluded.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the unions have been drawn to a circular FME/S/66/C.2/11/270 dated 26th January, 2015 emanating from the office of Honourable Minister of Education purported to have suspended the implementation of CONTISS 15 in Polytechnics without recourse to the spirit and letters of agreement with the unions in the sector.

    “Recall that the unions in the sector were on strike throughout the preceding year following the refusal of government to act responsibly and honour agreements signed with the unions. In deference to the then newly appointed minister’s plea for time, and to his strong assurances that the thorny issues would be resolved within three months, the unions resolved to give the government a benefit of the doubt and suspended the strike in July 2014.

    “Unfortunately and sadly, six months after, and despite repeated assurances in several meetings with the Honorable Minister of Education, what we get is the suspension of a statutory salary structure (CONTISS 15) approved by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’dua, which implementation dates back to 2009.

    “Characteristically, we have maintained the highest standards of diligence, patience and due process in our engagement with government and its agencies. But let these virtues not be misconstrued for fragility.

    “We, therefore, call on the minister of education to without delay reverse the purported circular suspending the implementation of CONTISS 15 and cause the Governing Councils and management of Federal Polytechnic, Oko and Ado-Ekiti to reverse their purported proscription of the unions.

    “We strongly caution that our goodwill should not be taken for granted. Failure to reverse this retrogressive and illegitimate directive will leave our unions with no other choice but resort to the last option.”

     

  • Naira crisis: CBN stops banks from dollar resale

    Naira crisis: CBN stops banks from dollar resale

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has stopped banks from reselling dollars bought at the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) to other lenders.

    It is all to stop the scare forex from being used for purposes other than what the funds are meant for.

    Besides, the move, it was leant, is aimed at curbing currency speculation and strengthening the naira against the greenback.

    The naira on Friday gained 0.6 per cent to N204.30 per dollar but has lost five per cent over the past eight days, the most weekly basis since December 2008.

    The policy shift, experts said, is also expected to ensure that banks do not violate the Letters of Credit (LCs) by diverting the RDAS funds obtained via customers’ LCs to unauthorised purposes.

    The RDAS or official foreign exchange (forex) window allows banks and other authorised dealers to place forex bids on behalf of individual clients who qualify to buy forex at the official auction.

    Unlike the Wholesale Dutch Auction System (WDAS) scrapped in September 2013 over widespread abuse, the RDAS allows the CBN to monitor more accurately various sources of forex demand and any potential duplication of demand in the system to address speculation in the market, which has put naira under pressure.

    The naira has been under pressure in recent months as crude oil prices continue to fall. Last November’s eight per cent devaluation of the currency over falling Brent crude oil prices has not brought any stability. The CBN is, therefore, adopting a pragmatic approach to exchange rate and reserve management to protect the naira as weaker oil prices persist.

    CBN spokesman Ibrahim Muazu told Reuters the apex bank sold dollars in a special intervention on Friday and that it will continue such sales on a “need basis” to satisfy demand in the interbank market and curb speculative attacks, which he blamed for the naira’s weakness.

    Muazu said that the bank was not planning to devalue the currency again, but was studying dollar demand closely.

    “Our target is to stabilise the market in the interest of investors and the economy. We will do everything to ensure that we meet demand,” Muazu said.

    “It’s not likely we would raise the band on the naira any time soon. We are looking deep into the areas of demand. If speculators are not there then the situation would return to normal,” he said.

    The naira has crashed through the psychologically important level of 200 to the dollar last week in a rout triggered by weak oil prices and escalating tension over the postponement of a presidential election.

    The CBN tightened policy in November while simultaneously devaluing the official RDAS rate to more realistic levels (at the time). Access to foreign exchange through the RDAS window was also limited to safeguard foreign exchange reserves.

    Besides, the apex bank a fortnight ago, sold $30,000 to each of more than 2,500 bureau de change operators. The fund is an addition to the weekly sales to operators. The move is aimed at increasing dollar liquidity in the system said and bringing stability to the naira.

    Despite these measures, the naira has slumped 17 per cent against the dollar in the past three months, the most among 24 African countries.

  • Crisis hits NECO

    All is not well at the National Examinations Council (NECO).  Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) are up in arms against the Registrar, Prof Promise Okpala, over his alleged refusal to comply with Education Minister Ibrahim Shekarau’s directive to go on terminal leave, reports JIDE ORINTUNSIN from Minna.

    Can a minister exercise control over heads of agencies under his ministry? This is a puzzle the president may have to unravel following the muscle flexing between Education Minister Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and National Examinations Council (NECO) Registrar/Chief Executive Officer Porf Promise Okpala. Shekarau asked Okpala to proceed on terminal leave, but he allegedly refused to comply.

    In a January 23 letter signed by Dr. M.B Umar, acting Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Education, Shekarau directed Okpala to go on pre-retirement leave since his tenure lapses on April 9.

    The letter reads: “I am directed to inform you that the Minister of Education has directed that you should handover the management of the affairs of your office to Dr. James Ojebode, Director Finance, who is the most senior officer in your organisation.

    “Consequently, you are to proceed on your pre-retirement leave which took effect from January 12, 2015 or your accumulated and unspent leave in the course of the service.

    But, in a two-page letter to the Minister, copies of which were sent to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of State for Education, and Chairman, Governing Board of NECO, Okpala  said only President Goodluck Jonathan, who appointed him, could give such directives.

    The letter reads: “You will recall that I am a political appointee of Mr. President in the federal bureaucracy and not a career civil servant that rose through the rank-and-file of the Civil Service structure. I received my appointment from Mr. President based on nomination and neither on seniority nor by passing any examination that requires skills related to my job as Registrar/CEO of NECO in the federal Ministry of Education.

    “Based on the extant letter of my appointment signed by the SGF, my tenure as Chief Executive Officer of NECO is expected to lapse on the 9th of April, 2015. It is expected that matters relating to my appointment and re-appointment should follow the right administrative channel of Mr. President through the office of SGF”.

    Okpala also faulted the directive to hand over to Ojebode, saying he is not the most senior director in the council.

    The Registrar said: “The most senior officer in the organisation is Mr John Asuwe, the Director, Human Resources Management.”

    Following Okpala’s letter, Anyim wrote to Shekarau that the Registrar should remain in office except otherwise directed by President Jonathan.

    In the January 27 letter, Anyim argued Shekarau to withdraw his letter to Okpala.

    He said: “The term of office of the Registrar expires on the 8th of April, 2015. Prior to that date, he is not subject to removal from office on any account except by Mr. President at whose discretion the Registrar holds office.”

    A January 28 letter from Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education Dr MacJohn Nwaobiala has asked Okpala to remain in office.

    The letter addressed to the Chairman, NECO Governing Council and titled: Re: Handing over the management of the National Examination Council, reads: “…You are to put on-hold the contents therein of our earlier letter Reference No. PRT/ABJ/OP/10/248 dated 23rd January, 2015 directing the Registrar/Chief Executive to hand over the management and affairs of National Examination NECO. Thus the status quo ante should be maintained.”

    But NECO’s Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institution (NASU) is not happy with the development. The union regards Okpala’s refusal to go on leave as an affront to the Minister.

    The union insists that the minister has the power to direct Okpala to proceed on leave.

    Two weeks ago, the union called a press conference to pressure the registrar to obey the minister.

    At the briefing, held at NECO’s Conference Hall NASU chairman Comrade Abdulrasheed Rabana faulted Okpala’s refusal to comply with the directive.

    In an interview with The Nation on Monday, Rabana said the Minister acted according to the Act establishing NECO.  He argued that  Part VI section 28 (1) of the Act states “The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations generally for the carrying into effect of the provisions of this Act and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing…”

    Rabana cited Section 100238 of the Public Service rule which he said stipulated “a public office holder should go on disengagement/pre-retirement leave of three months”.

    He wondered why Okpala, who was suspended in 2008 on the orders of the then Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, for six months is now turning around to place himself above the current Minister.

    Rabana asked: “Why is it that a Minister now cannot give directive to go on disengagement leave?”

    But Okapala is insisting on remaining in office until his tenure lapses.

    “I will work till my last day here, and then I will hand over the baton to the next person. I have less than two months from now, I don’t know why all these are coming up now. I am in support of unionism, I am a grand patron of NECO NASU but it is not all their demands that I will bow to,” he said.

    There is a twist in the tale. Ojebode, who the minister asked to take over from Okpala, is now refusing to obey his boss.

    Last Wednesday, Ojebode was absent at a press conference to announce the release of the 2014 November/December Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination for external candidates.

    On Monday, he was also absent from a management meeting called by Okpala.

    Even when the Registrar addressed a press conference on Tuesday only three of the five directors – Asuwe, Abubakar Gana, director of examination administration, and Ebikibina Ogborodi, director of examination development were present.  While Dr. Ikechukwu Anyanwu, director quality assurance was said to be away on official assignment, Ojebode was absent.

    On Tuesday, The Nation gathered that Ojebode has petitioned the Minister, accusing Okpala of flouting the directive to hand over to him.

    Efforts to get Ojebode to comment failed as he refused to pick calls or reply text messages.

    Shekarau, also refused comment on the matter on Monday.

    Shekarau told our correspondent: “It is an administrative issue. I will not say more than that.”

    The three directors present at Tuesday’s meeting are supporting Okpala.

    Asuwe, who claimed to be the most senior director in the council said that he had called the attention of the Minister to the fact that he is the most senior of all the directors.

    He said: “As the most senior director, I drew the attention of the Minister to that as I was appointed director on January 1, 2012, while three others had their appointment in 2014, while the last director is in acting capacity.

    “We had a management meeting yesterday (Monday) and all the directors pledged our support to the registrar, Prof Promise Okpala. There is no crisis in NECO. You can see that everybody is going after his or her work without any molestation.”

    Ogborodi said: “In Abuja where we had an enlarged management meeting, all the directors pledged their loyalty and acknowledged Prof. Promise Okpala as our registrar and chief executive.”

    Gana said: “We all came back from Abuja with the aim of working together. We don’t know or have a acting registrar”.

    But a source, who spoke in confidence, said the struggle for power in the council was a product of betrayal and back stabbing.

    “The Registrar and Baba Ojebode were until now the best of friends. They travelled together and did things together. What we are witnessing now is good because there is a lot of rot in this council.

    “It will be wrong if anybody says there is no crisis. The registrar had done things with impunity and now that he is about to go, those who are against him now want their pound of flesh. NECO has never been this polarised,” the source noted.

    Armed policemen are now stationed at NECO’s entrance in Minna the Niger State Capital.

     

    •Additional report by Gbenga Omokhunu.

     

  • ‘Import substitution policy to ward off economic crisis’

    ‘Import substitution policy to ward off economic crisis’

    As the harsh reality of plunging crude oil prices continues to dawn on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is determined to champion the import substitution model to tackle the  country economic crisis in the country.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, who spoke during a visit to Secure ID Limited, Lagos, said Nigeria could no longer continue to be an import-dependent country.

    According to him, the nation  is wasting its foreign reserves on imported products, most of which can be produced locally.

    Dr. Aganga noted that there is need to  urgently steps in the next four years to address more of the challenges hindering economic growth. “If we do not address the import situation in the next three to four years, we will be in a very big trouble in terms of our economic development,” he warned. The minister praised the factory’s efforts at boosting industrialisation, maintaining that the country is wasting its foreign reserves importing products it can produce.

    His words: “The message of this administration is very clear. We can no longer be a country that is import dependent, especially on products we can produce in this country. There are many actors we should have developed as a country, but we relied for decades on exporting raw materials which is oil.  That era is gone and this is why the president launched the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) in 2012.”

    The Minister disclosed that under the NIRP, government’s approach is to diversify the nation’s revenue sources to boost economic growth. He said going by the plan, Nigeriaby 2018, will no longer import petroleum products into the country and this will save the nation a minimum of about $10 billion. “We spend about $3 billion importing steel; we spend about $6 billion importing cars and spare parts and also spend about $1.7 billion importing sugar where we can grow sugar cane to get sugar,” he said.

    While insisting that “Jonathan is the solution to the debacle we have had for decades and the idea is a matter of time to let him get the plan completed,” he said the falling oil price and devaluation of the naira have gotten Nigerians all surprised because for decades, the country adopted the wrong policies.

    In line with the new strategic thinking in favour of import substitution,the Federal Government had, as part of its emphasis on rapid growth of the non-oil sector for exports, listed 13 National Strategic Export Products (NSEP) meant to replace petroleum products whose prices have continued to tumble on the international market and in the process, threatening the stability of the economy.

    Aganga, during an unscheduled inspection and a meeting with the Executive Director of Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo and members of the management team in Abuja, listed the 13 NSEP in three categories including; agro-industrial- palm oil, cocoa, cashew, sugar and rice; mining related- cement, iron ore/metals, auto parts/cars, aluminium and oil and gas industrial products- petroleum products, fertilizer/urea, petrochemical and methanol.

    The Minister noted that originally 12 products were identified, but the number increased because the Executive Director of NEPC made a very strong case for the inclusion of cashew on the list. Aganga, however, charged the NEPC to deploy its capacity for kick-starting the diversification of the country’s economy in line with the government’s agenda.

    Mr. Awolowo noted that NEPC under his leadership had long recognised the need to develop the non-oil export sub-sector and had in the process held series of strategic meetings with stakeholders for the development of ideas aimed at improving the foreign exchange earnings by Nigeria through different avenues. These, he said, included the development of a 4-year Strategic Plan, One State One Product (OSOP), Nigerian Diaspora Export Programme (NDEX) and the development of new markets for new products.

    Others, the NEPC boss said, include special initiatives on the Sub regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) markets, multi-stakeholders’ engagement of the export community, especially deepening of relationship with key stakeholders such as the Manufacturers Association of  Nigeria (MAN), Chambers of Commerce, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), among others initiatives.

    Awolowo assured that the agency would do its best in collaborating with other stakeholders to ensure increasing foreign exchange earnings by Nigeria with a view to reducing the effects of the current fall in oil prices at the international markets.