The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt to attract over $3bn investment through rail transport

    Fed Govt to attract over $3bn investment through rail transport

    •Amaechi seeks passage of National Transport Commission Bill

    THE Federal Government is planning to attract over $3 billion investment to the country through rail transportation, Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi said yesterday.

    He urged the National Assembly to pass the National Transport Commission Bill (NTCB), which is before it.

    Amaechi spoke in Abuja when the Joint Senate and House Committee on Land Transport visited the ministry for their oversight function.

    The minister said with the public private partnership (PPP) planned for the rail sector, the country will harvest over $3billion.

    He said: “Warri-Ajaokuta-Baro-Abuja central railway has been properly placed on the path of PPP platform and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).”

    On what Nigeria stands to gain, Amaechi said: “When this arrangement comes through after being subjected to the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) evaluation and due process, it will draw a minimum of U.S. $3 billion in investment to Nigeria.

    “The MoUs also include the construction and expansion of Warri port and harbour, construction of deep sea port and construction of industrial park at Port Harcourt and Bonny Island.”

    He added that the ministry was working to ensure that “the road transport system is affordable, accessible, available and acceptable”.

    “Our priorities include the completion of some freight offices, including that of Seme in Lagos, Shaki in Oyo, Illela in Sokoto, Kamba in Kebbi, Jibiya in Katsina, Gamboru Ngala in Borno and Idiroko in Ogun states,” the minister said.

    He added that the interstate road transit scheme would begin.

    On the need for the passage of the NTCB, Amaechi explained that it would reposition the transportation sector for optimal performance and open windows for private and government participation and investment.

    “One of the key tools required to achieve this is the proposed National Transport Commission Bill, which is before the National Assembly for Mr. President’s accent soon.

    “The new Railway Bill will as well replace the 1955 NRC Act and enable the separation of operator from regulator. The private sector will therefore be able to operate and manage trains with others on the same corridor, including ownership of rolling stock and possibly their own tracks,” he explained.

    The minister added that for optimal performance, a section of the rail project has been concessioned and will be led by General Electric.

    “In order to free the existing narrow gauge tracks from its sub-optimal condition occasioned by under-utilisation of its installed capacity and put it on the path of becoming the desired enabler for growth in agro allied, mining and industrial manufacturing sector, the 3,505-kilometre, comprising Lagos – Kano, Port Harcout – Maiduguri and Zaria – Kaura Namoda narrow gauge rail system have been slated for concession to a consortium of international operators and financiers led by General Electric (GE) of United State of America (USA).”

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport Senator Olugbenga Ashafa expressed displeasure following the delay in the submission of the ministry’s budget performance to NASS.

    ”In furtherance of our responsibility, we are keen on scrutinising the capital expenditure/budgetary performances of the ministry at this visit and subsequent interactions you will have with our committee through the period of the 2017 appropriation process.

    “It is important that I also chip it in that we have, through our letter of October 20, requested for advance information on your budget performance and till date, we have received no response from you.

    “This is not good enough. Our disposition to your proposals in the 2017 budget would be largely guided by our assessment of your performance over this period and so, we ask for your cooperation to ensure that the process is seamless,” he asked.

  • ‘Fed Govt to end obstetric fistula’

    ‘Fed Govt to end obstetric fistula’

    •Three more hospitals coming

    THE Federal Government has renewed its commitment to end obstetric fistula.

    Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole said this while launching the guideline on Urethral Catherisation for prevention and management of obstetric fistula.

    The launch was part of the Sixth International Conference of International Society on Obstetric Fistula Surgeon (ISOFS) in Abuja.

    Obstetric fistula (or vaginal fistula) is a medical condition in which a hole develops between either the rectum and vagina or between the bladder and vagina after severe or failed childbirth, when adequate medical care is not available.

    The minister while evaluating the surgical exercise held at  the Federal Medical Centre Jabi, Abuja, in collaboration with the society urged the International Obstetric Fistula Centre Working Group to work with the Federal Ministry of Health not only to repair fistula patients but also to find lasting solution to the problem.

    The minister said: “It is not enough to keep on repairing, we must close the tap, by closing the tap, I mean we should do everything possible to stop all new cases of obstetric fistula in Nigeria”.

    According to the minister, since it is part of the Federal Government’s contributions to repair all fistula cases, the ministry has established three hospitals dedicated for fistula repair in the country, namely: Abakaliki, Ebony State; Baba Ruga, Katsina State, and Ningi in Bauchi State

    Adewole said the Federal Government would establish three more obstetric fistula hospitals by 2017 to end the cases.

    The minister reaffirmed that the Federal Government would put reasonable resources in the budget to address social welfare problem to lift people out of poverty.

    He said when people were educated and have resources, they could live well, eat well, and attend to issues affecting not only their health but general wellbeing.

    Deputy Representative, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nigeria Country Office Eugene Kongnyuy, said experts should think differently from the normal routine. He called for a robust campaign against early marriage and harmful traditional practices as female genital mutilation, which he considered the main cause of Obstetric Fistula.

     

  • Fed Govt to acquire two more satellites at $550m, says minister

    The Federal Government said at the weekend that negotiations have reached an advanced stage to procure two additional satellites for the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) at the cost of $550 million.

    Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu said the Federal Government’s team would secure funding for the satellites through a non-interest facility from a consortium of Chinese financial institutions.

    He said the procurement of SAT2 and SAT3 was necessary, considering the fact that Nigeria was losing billions of dollars every year because it had only one satellite in the orbit.

    He likened the situation to a car travelling from Abuja to Lagos without an extra tyre, describing the risk involved as enormous.

    “Nigerian companies and government agencies are patronising foreign satellite firms as a result of this risk for the safety of their data and security of other services provided by them, thereby exporting jobs to other countries at the detriment of Nigerians,” the minister said.

    The minister spoke while presenting a three-page communique issued at the end of a weeklong Fourth Regular Meeting of the National Council on Communications held at Arewa House, Kaduna.

    He told reporters that the council recommended that “stakeholders, including state governments, should henceforth purchase satellite bandwidth requirements from NIGCOMSAT Ltd only”.

    The minister said the council received a total of 76 memoranda, of which 65 were considered while it endorsed the Nigeria ICT Roadmap 2016-2019 as well as the National ICT Strategic Plan 2016-2024 for implementation.

    Shittu added that the council recommended the adoption and implementation of the e-Governance Masterplan and the creation of states computer emergency response teams as measures to mitigate cyber security threats.

    His words: “The council encouraged members from the states to adopt the implementation of the digital jobs initiative in their respective domains as a means of leveraging the opportunities for alternative income presented to Nigerian youths across the country.

    “It recommends creation of innovative hubs and ICT centres to accelerate the diversification of the Nigerian economy.

    “It encouraged federal, states and local governments to set up digital centres as a means of promoting ICT capacity-building and recommended digital literacy as a minimum requirement for employment and promotion in the public service and for implantation to be done in phases.”

    The minister noted that other issues considered by the councils were that it advised government at all levels to digitise their records and adopt only Nigeria software in the process.

    It further recommended that federal and state governments henceforth comply with the provision of the guidelines for Nigerian content in ICT.

    He said states should establish their State Information Technology Development Agency (SITDA).

    The minister added that the implementation of CCTV projects on security on highways should also be used for traffic management.

  • Fed Govt. eyes automotive industry to boost economy

    The Federal Government at the weekend said the automotive industry has the potential to grow and develop the nation’s economy.

    Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar stated this during the opening ceremony of the 18th Abuja Motor Fair held in Transcorp Hilton.

    She stated that the government was currently holding high level discussions with global equipment manufacturers to develop the Nigerian automotive sector as part of plans to diversify the economy.

    According to her, the automotive sector, occupies a critical catalytic role in Nigeria’s Economic Revolution.

    She said: “It is instructive to note that the present government has placed high premium on the automotive industry in Nigeria which has a potential to contribute immensely to the growth and development of the country’s economy.

    “The government is supporting the industry because of its strategic and catalytic role in economic development. Therefore in our present economic challenges, government is in high discussion with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in ensuring that the Nigerian automotive sector is developed.

    “This will not only facilitate the mass movement of people, agricultural products, mining, railway equipment, military hardware but will also create jobs and employment for our teeming youth.”

    Represented by the Deputy Director, Engineering Division  at the ministry, Mr. Ibikunle Adams, the minister emphasised that the ministry would strengthen partnership with the private sector to leverage and catalyse resources for development and growth.

    She added that government was also fine tuning its procurement policy to support preferential purchase of local vehicles.

    “On the part of Nigeria’s automotive industry, government is not only looking at the supply side issues but also the demand side is giving prominence. The ministry is giving all the necessary support to ensure that Nigeria Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) come up with vehicle purchasing scheme that will enable Nigerians buy made in Nigeria vehicles.

    In his address, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, stated that the government would promote the production of automobile in Nigeria.

    The minister who was represented by Director of Planning and Policy at the National Science and Engineering Infrastructure, (NASENI), Onyechi Nonyem, added that the ministry would partner with critical stakeholders in the road transport sector to ensure development and growth of the sector.

    “Agencies under Ministry, like the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), are in the forefront of promoting the production of automobiles and automobile parts for road transport use,” he stated.

    The Managing Director, BKG Exhibitions and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, stated that automotive sector had the capacity to reduce over 30 per cent of Nigeria’s job deficits and create up to two thousand industries.

  • Evolve strategies for recession, YCE tells Fed Govt

    The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has advised the Federal Government to evolve strategies to cushion the effect of recession on the citizens.

    The group, which gave the advice during a visit to one of its founding fathers, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, at his Ilupeju, Lagos, home, said the economic meltdown has increased poverty among the people.

    The Chairman of the Lagos chapter, Francis Akinnikawe, said measures adopted by the government to end the recession should be harnessed for effectiveness.

    Otunba Aremu Akindele, a former chairman of Ifako Ijaye Local Government, decried rising youth unemployment, saying a conducive atmosphere is needed to encourage local and foreign investments.

    He called on the Yoruba to take their rightful place in the scheme of things.

    Akindele observed that if the Yoruba could unite and speak with one voice on national issues they could resist all forms of oppression and marginalisation.

    He urged Southwest governors to embrace economic integration to develop the region and liberate the people.

  • ‘Why Fed Govt’s bid for $29b loan may be hampered’

    ‘Why Fed Govt’s bid for $29b loan may be hampered’

    •Lack of substantive auditor-general may be stumbling block

    The Federal Government’s bid to borrow $29 billion from external sources may be stalled by some institutional lapses and the absence of a substantive federal auditor general.

    Some senators have said such loans and grants from external sources must be accompanied by a confirmation report by a substantive federal auditor general before the funds are released.

    The lawmakers said standards set by global financial institutions, such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and African Development Bank (ADB) required a confirmation report from a substantive auditor general before the funds are disbursed to recipient countries.

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation Senator Danjuma Goje expressed doubts at the workability of the loan request during an interactive session with Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Minister of Budget Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma  last Thursday.

    “I just hope that the Federal Government will succeed in obtaining these loans with the situation on ground,” Goje had stated.

    Mrs. Adeosun, however, assured the committee that steps were being taken to ensure a smooth sail for the loans.

    Nigeria has no substantive federal auditor general since the retirement in May of Mr. Samuel Ukura. The tenure of Mrs. Florence Anyanwu, who acted in that capacity, has expired.

    The two Public Accounts committees in the National Assembly have observed lack of coordination and poor quality of presentation by the Office of the Auditor General in the absence of a substantive head.

    The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in May, directed the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to prepare to appoint a federal auditor-general.

    The memo from the SGF, with reference: 58365/S.3/11/82, dated May 25, 2016, was signed by Mohammed Bukar, permanent secretary (General Services) Office of the SGF.

    The FCSC, in July, shortlisted and forwarded names of three candidates for the position to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The candidates were Christopher Nyong, Nabasu Bako and Omoniyi Adeyeye.

    The President is said to have since forwarded their names to a seven-man committee to determine the best man for the job.

    It was learnt last week the seven-man committee submitted its report and recommendations for approval by the President, but the report is being kept in abeyance.

  • Fed Govt, states, local govts share N429b for Sept

    The federal and state governments will have to brace up for hard times again as the money shared for the month of September this year dipped to N420 billion from N510.2 billion in the previous month.

    Addressing reporters at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr Mahmoud Isa Dutse attributed the decline to the “activities of vandals in the Niger Delta in spite of the appreciation in the price of crude oil in the international market.”

    Dutse lamented that crude oil export volume decreased by 1.5 million barrels in June as a result of the activities of Nigeria Delta vandals and appealed that “we need to do everything possible to normalise things in the Niger Delta.”

    Other reasons for the decline were the force majeure declared at Bonny terminals and the subsisting one at the the Forcados terminal as well as the shut- and shut-down of pipelines for repairs and maintenance.

    Dutse added that there was decrease in the volume of dutiable imports, receipts from Joint Venture (JV) cash call, foreign companies income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT).

    For statutory disbursements in the month of September, the Federal Government got N120.351 billion; state governments received N61.044 billion; local governments were given N47.062 billion while mineral producing states got N13.729 billion.

    In addition, the three tiers of government shared a total of N61.694 billion with the Federal Government receiving N9.254 billion; state governments- N30.847 billion and local governments-N21.593 billion.

    To make up the numbers, an additional N41.402 billion exchange gains accruals and another N63.386 billion excess Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) were shared among the three tiers of government.

    Aside the disbursements, Dutse said the funds in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) stood at $2.454 billion.

    He also expressed optimism that Nigeria’s potential for growth remained high given the recent announcement by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the economy is now larger than that of South Africa. This development he said, “will make us a major destination for investors and it shows that Nigeria is on the part of growth.”

    The Accountant-General of the Federation, (ÀGF) Alhaji Idris Ahmed, attributed Nigeria’s economy overtaking that of South Africa to the massive capital investment made by the Federal Government and reiterated that “we will come out of this recession soon as all the indices and parameters point to this.”

    Edo State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman, Finance Commissioners Forum, Mr. John Inegbedion told reporters that the cost of collection deducted by revenue generating agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) were unconstitutional.

    However, he admitted that it was politically agreed by all stakeholders that the agencies should go ahead and receive cost of collection because the Federal Government was not able to fund them properly and that limited their ability to function well.

  • Fed Govt, unions differ over airport concessioning

    Fed Govt, unions differ over airport concessioning

    Why I don’t fly local airlines, by Lasun

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun yesterday decried the state of the country’s aviation industry, saying this accounts for the reason he rarely flies on local airlines.
    Lasun spoke at the first leg of a four-day public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation headed by Nkiruka Onyejeocha on a motion, titled: “Need to rescue the airline industry from imminent collapse,” after delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
    His words: “Before I round off, I want to say this. As a Nigerian, since the crash of Dana Airline, I can count on my fingertips the number of times I have taken local airlines.
    “It’s not borne out of fear; its borne out of the fact that I’m a trained engineer and I see how things are being done in Nigeria. So, it takes average of 12 hours every other week for me to travel from Abuja to Oshogbo, the Osun State capital.
    “That’s the kind of confidence some of us no longer have in that sector. It’s not a joke and not something we have to play with. If somebody like me as the Deputy Speaker refuse or has continuously refused to fly local airlines, not to talk of international airlines, then you must know that something is terribly wrong with that sector.
    “Getting to 60, I know what it means to travel for 12 hours on the road. But that is not the kind of legacy and society we want to bequeath to generations unborn.”

    THE Federal Government and stakeholders in the aviation industry differed yesterday on the plan to concession Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt airports.

    Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika said the government planned to concession the four major airports to make them better and more functional to engender quality services.

    But aviation bodies like Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) kicked against the concession.

    The minister and the union leaders spoke at the first leg of a four-day public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation headed by Nkiruka Onyejeocha on a motion titled: “Need to rescue the airline industry from imminent collapse”.

    Sirika said the concessioning would not be flawed like the one in the past.

    According to him, the process will be transparent and pass the integrity test. He said contrary to reports and speculations, there was no retrenchment in the Aviation ministry.

    The minister, however, claimed some agencies were over bloated.

    Sirika said there were over 40 general managers for 21 airports.

    On the suspension of flights, the minister said some of the airlines were structurally deficient and financially incapable.

    “The current forex exchange regime,” he noted, “is also not helping the situation.”

    Sirika said the withdrawal of services from the country by some airlines “is a commercial decision” and that no one could be forced to operate.

    The minister argued that the creation of a national carrier would help the industry.

    He enjoined the lawmakers to partner with him to sit with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to revive Aero Contractors, which he said “has served Nigeria for 57 years”.

    But ATSSSAN President Benjamin Okewu said his association was against concession.

    “If you’re leaving the zone of the known to unknown, you have to be careful so that you don’t find yourself in a pit. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) operates 21 airports but only four are viable. Coincidentally, only the four viable ones are targetted,” he said.

    Saying FAAN has N200 billion liability, he queried: “What becomes of these major liability. We’re still struggling with the N74 billion of the Nigeria Airways.”

    He revealed that “leakages in the system” was depriving FAAN about 35 per cent of revenue and that only by operating a cashless system would the leakages be blocked.

    Okewu warned that the workers of Aero Contractors were being unfairly treated and that the issue should be quickly attended to before it degenerates to a security situation at the airports.

    The NUP, in a submission signed by their National Chairman Rasaki Ope and Administrative Secretary Emeka Njoku, said: “The Minister of Transportation and the Minister of State, Aviation’s considerations to privatise, commercialise and concession out the four viable airports to his business partners or cronies is because of their quest for materialism, selfish interest and to support capitalism in the country to the detriment of Nigerians.”

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, noted that the aviation sector contributed $0.7 billion in 2014, $685 million in 2015 and supports 159,000 jobs in the country.

    He said a sector as vibrant as that should not be allowed to be in the media for the wrong reasons.

    Onyejeocha said there was need to address the situation in the Aviation industry and proffer solution without differing to any “sacred cow”.

    She refuted an online report that she collected estacode from an agency without going on the trip for which the money was meant for.

    Other stakeholders at the proposed four-day event were FAAN, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigeria Airports Management Authority (NAMA) among others.

    The hearing continues today.

     

     

     

  • Fed Govt working to kill PDP, says Wike

    Fed Govt working to kill PDP, says Wike

    Rivers State Governor  Nyesom Wike has accused  the Federal Government  of working   to kill the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The governor  spoke  yesterday  at the Government House , Port Harcourt  when he granted  audience to the leadership  of Non -Indigenes Without Borders chaired by Hon Emeka Onowu.

    He said: “We have a sad situation  where everything  is being done   at the  federal  level  to kill the PDP .  However, in the end, it is their own political  party that will die.”

    The governor  expressed dissatisfaction  with the repeated plots to rig the forthcoming  rerun  elections in Rivers State. He noted that nobody would be  allowed to steal the mandate of Rivers people, no matter  the deployment  of pliant  security  agencies .

    “They are repeatedly  shifting the date of the rerun elections, so that they can have a convenient  time to rig. Nobody  should be scared of their plan to use DSS  and police to rig  the rerun  elections .

    ” The policeman  that is carrying gun, how many  people  can he kill? In Turkey  where they resisted the Army, are they not human beings ? Nobody will  circumvent the mandate of the Rivers people,” Wike said .

    He said as an opposition  state, the people of Rivers State are aware that will have battles for survival from those who control the federal level.

     

  • Fed Govt saves N650b from reforms, says BPSR chief

    The Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) Dr. Joe Abah,  has said the various reforms put in place by the agency has saved the Federal Government N650 billion.

    He said fighting corruption should be embraced by all government agencies, urging the Fiscal Responsibility Commission(FRC) to use its platform to assist the government in fighting corruption.

    Speaking at the Lunch-Time Reform Seminar on Open Government and Transparency, organised by the Bureau in Abuja at the weekend, Abah said the time had come for total reforms that would cut across all arms of government.

    He called on the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to step up its planning processes for better achievements for the nation, adding that efforts put together by the  administration would enable institutions of government to be more accountable and transparent. He said government had demonstrated zero-tolerance for corrupt practices in all sectors of the economy.

    According to him, this was largely responsible for the socio-economic problems which the country is facing but which must not continue.

    Abbah said President Muhammadu Buhari had shown enough commitment by signing the Open Government Partnership initiatives with the immediate Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. David Cameron, during the London anti-corruption summit last May.

    ‘’It is, therefore, important that public servants are fully aware of the objectives and essential elements of the Open Government Partnership, (OGP),” he said.

    He said the BPSR considers OGP and Freedom of Information(FoI) as important mechanisms in fighting the scourge of corruption.

    According to him, the more open and accountable the government and its agenciesare to the public, the more support that government will get for its initiatives.

    “It is for this reason that we have championed this cause and BPSR was recently rated as the government agency with the most open and transparent procurement system in Nigeria,” he added.

    In his remarks at the event, Head, FoI Act Unit, Ministry of Justice Mr. Benjamin Okolo, said it was regrettable that over 500 MDAs are not compliant to the submission of annual reports to government authorities as at when due.  He warned that government would soon begin to punish erring MDAs who failed to submit their annual reports for scrutiny as at when due.

    In her contribution, the National Co-Coordinator, ‘’Right To Know” a civil society organisation, Mrs. Eneh Nwanpa, urged the government to improve the relationship between the civil society groups and all the MDAs to make the FoI Act work better.