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Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt raises panel to produce National Justice Sector Policy

    Fed Govt raises panel to produce National Justice Sector Policy

    THE immediate past Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Mr. Deji Adekunle and 15 others have been saddled with the responsibility of redesigning the nation’s justice sector architecture.

    They are to review, harmonise and integrate the various ongoing reform initiatives in the justice sector and produce a clearly articulated National Justice Sector Policy (NJSP). They have an October 14 deadline to deliver it.

    Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) stated this in Abuja while inaugurating a technical committee for the reforms.

    Malami, who was represented at the event by Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Taiwo Abidogun, said: “The policy would clearly define Nigeria’s political philosophy with respect to justice delivery and also provide a common policy direction for the justice sector stakeholders across the nation.

    “The draft policy would be presented at the stakeholder’s forum to be convened in October for input before being submitted for validation and adoption at the proposed national summit on the administration of justice, in furtherance of rule of law in Nigeria, scheduled to hold in a date in November.’’

    Other members of the technical committee are: Prof. Mohammed Tabiu (Chairman), Kefas Magaji, P.C Okorie, Mohammed Estu, Stella Anukam, E.O. Omonowa, Dayo Akpata, Larry Chukwu, Gbolahan Adeniran, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, Juliet Ibekaku, Pius Oteh, Ike Udunni, Ugonna Ezekwem and Felix Ota-Okojie (who is expected to serve as secretary).

    The committee’s terms of reference include:

    • To draft and submit a National Policy on Justice for Nigeria that sets out a common vision of a fair and effective justice system that respects the rights of all without discrimination.
    • Undertake a review of past and present strategic framework for the justice sector in Nigeria, taking into account the funder mental objectives and directive principles of state policy that are laid down in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so far as they relate to the Justice system.
    • To present the approved draft at a consultative meeting aimed at seeking commitment, further input and buy-in from a wider body of justice stakeholders; and
    • To present the revised draft to a national justice sector summit in November with a view to adopting it as Nigeria’s national justice policy.
  • Fed Govt targets $5b from cassava export

    Fed Govt targets $5b from cassava export

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said yesterday that the country is targeting over $5billion annually from cassava production in the next few years

    He stated this in Abuja  at the National Cassava Summit.

    It was with the theme: “Toward $5 billion per Annum Cassava in the next five years.’’

    Ogbeh said that the country had neglected agriculture in the last 30 years.

    He, however, added that the industry had the potential to employ more youths and improve foreign exchange.

    Ogbeh expressed concern over the very low number of farmers accessing credit facilities in the country.

    He said that the Federal Government would enhance and strengthen the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) to allow farmers access to credit facilities at 5 to 6 per cent interest rate.

    “Most of the Commercial Banks give loan to farmers at 28 to 30 per cent interest rate. How do farmers grow with such a high interest rate and make profit

    “We have to intensify efforts to address this problem in order to meet our target because earning in cassava industry is so high.

    “Rural roads need to be rehabilitated for easy transportation of our farm products to the market. Our budget is small. We cannot in the Ministry level promise of constructing all rural roads. But something has to be done fast,” he said.

    He, however, urged research institutes like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to include vitamins in cassava in the next research work to balance its nutritional content? and better consumption.

    Prof. Lateef Sani of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in a paper, said that the industry has the potential to create million of jobs across the country through its Value Chain.

    “By 2021, Nigeria cassava industry will represent over 5 billion dollars, spurs rural industrial development, generate millions of new jobs and create wealth for over 45 million people.

    “Cassava peels, grits, chips are viable as animal and fish feeds.

    “Given the large amount of Aquaculture and Livestock done in the country, this can be an interesting prospective market,” he said.

    Mr Alfred Dixon of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in a keynote address said that Nigeria was confronted with a growing population and rising urbanisation with high demand for food and feeds for livestock.

  • Fed Govt inaugurates N5.9b water project in Bayelsa

    Fed Govt inaugurates N5.9b water project in Bayelsa

    The Federal Govern
    ment yesterday in
    augurated the N5.9 billion Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa State.

    The project is expected to provide water for 130,000 people in 13 communities including Otuoke in the state.

    Otuoke is former President Goodluck Jonathan’s town.

    Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, who stated this at the inauguration of the project in Otuoke, said the project which was started by Dr. Jonathan, was completed in line with the agenda of the present administration to complete ongoing water projects in the country.

    There are about 116 ongoing water projects across the country in which the government hopes to spend about N505.6 billion to complete.

    Adamu   said the federal government is committed to completing all previously abandoned water projects so as to improve the livelihood of Nigerians, adding that adequate water supply for human and livestock production is a crucial aspect of socioeconomic development.

    He said availability water is a first step towards achieving the peoples’ wellbeing.

    Adamu said the recently launched roadmap on water resources called for immediate and long term strategies for effective and efficient delivery of water services to the people.

  • ‘Fed govt is aware of underemployment’

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is aware of the high rate of unemployment and under-employment and the need to combat it through diversification of the economy.

    Ngige, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Clement Illoh, stated this in Abuja in his keynote address at the “National Dialogue on Future of Work Initiative”. It was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    Ngige stressed that the Dialogue on Future of Work Initiative had become imperative for Nigeria to develop strategies for addressing the various challenges and changes over the years.

    Such challenges, according to him, include climate change, casualisation, contract work, information and communication technology, working from home, and outsourcing, among others.

    He said the importance of the initiative could not be overemphasised, as it had opened a window of opportunities for the advancement of ILO’s mandate for social justice through engagement of stakeholders to debate and contribute to the reflection on the future of work.

    The initiative, he added, would establish a high-level commission on the future of work that would organise activities at the 108th session of the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019, where the report of the commission would be discussed.

    Ngige said the administration was committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development, productive employment and creation of decent jobs.

    The ILO Country Office Director, Dr. Dennis Zulu, said the main objectives of the initiative were to generate a better understanding ofthe forces transforming the world of work and the implications for governments, workers and employers.

    He also said it hoped to provide a constructive forum for the exchange of ideas and information among the tripartite constituents.

  • Fed Govt floats visa-on-arrival policy for businessmen

    Fed Govt floats visa-on-arrival policy for businessmen

    THE Vice President, Mr. Yemi Osinbajo yesterday said the Federal Government has set 2017 target for removing obstacles in doing business in the country.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari gave a mandate to the Enabling Business Committee to improve the nation’s rating of the Ease of Doing Business before the end of 2017.

    He also said the government will soon introduce Visa-On-Arrival policy that will free up the process for investors and businessmen.

    Osinbajo made these disclosures in an off-the-cuff address at the public presentation and First Annual Lecture of THE INTERVIEW  at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

    He said: “One of the chief aims of the current government is creating an enabling atmosphere for doing business and some of us will be familiar with the fact that a month ago, the President inaugurated the ‘Enabling Business Environment Committee which I chair and the mandate of that committee as given to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment is that Nigeria must go up on the World Bank Ease of doing business list and I think the mandate is to go at least 50 places up before the end of 2017. Now, how will that happen?

    “The first step is to be directly involved in the private sector and the private sector lead of the project is a gentleman who is head of KPMG in Nigeria and who will be working on this project full time in the next couple of weeks.”

    He admitted that unnecessary bureaucracy has affected the Ease of Doing Business.

    He said: “The problem in most cases is that approval processes are difficult. The Bureaucrat sees the whole process as an end in itself but not a means to an end. The bureaucrat does not believe it is his duty to facilitate business. He forgets that taxes generated from businesses are used to pay his salary.”

    Osinbajo said from his experience so far in government, Nigeria has no shortage of ideas.

    He cited an instance when he was given 13 bound proposals in one day on “practically any subject.”

    He said: “There is absolutely no shortage of good ideas in Nigeria. Our problem really is never really with great ideas but the question is how to start and finish.

    “The share number of excellent ideas available to you every day are not just good ideas but they are incredible ideas.”

    He paid glowing tributes to the Editor-In-Chief of the magazine, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene for his “strength of character, ethical and professional commitments.”

     

  • Fed Govt attacks U.S. Congressman for anti-Buhari letter

    The Federal Government has described as sadly out of tune with reality a letter from United States Congressman Tom Marino to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking the U.S. to withhold security assistance to Nigeria due to some perceived infractions by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    In a statement in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed said Marino was poorly informed about the issues he commented on, wondering why he failed to get first-hand information from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, or other credible source before engaging in what is a ‘propaganda of his imagination’.

    The minister said by asking the U.S. to refrain from selling war planes and military equipment to Nigeria based on a faulty premise, the Congressman has demonstrated a poor understanding of global security issues.

    ‘’Insecurity anywhere is insecurity everywhere. Had Congressman Marino understood this, he would not have made the kind of call concerning the U.S. security assistance to Nigeria. The Boko Haram insurgency that Nigeria decisively dealt with under President Muhammadu Buhari is not just a Nigerian problem but a regional and international crisis,’’ he said.

    Alhaji Mohammed said Marino definitely did not have Nigeria in mind when he wrote that the U.S. withholds security assistance until President Buhari ‘demonstrates a commitment to inclusive government and the most basic tenets of democracy: freedom to assemble and freedom of speech’.

    ‘’An administration that operates purely on the basis of respect for the rule of law and a strict adherence to constitutional order is not one to deny the citizens of their constitutionally-guaranteed rights. This administration, therefore, does not need the goading of Congressman Marino or anyone for that matter to do what is right.

    ‘’Concerning running an inclusive government, had Congressman Marino done his home work before despatching his letter, he would have realised that no part of the country is left out in the distribution of political appointments, for example, or in the appointment of ministers, which was done in accordance with the Constitution that mandates that the President appoints at least one minister from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    ‘’Had the Congressman sought information from credible sources before engaging in a flight of fancy, he would have been presented with a comprehensive information on the appointment of CEOs for Federal Government’s parastatals, agencies and commissions that shows that the appointments were almost evenly matched along the line of the six geo-political zones in the country: With the North west having 51, Northcentral 46, Northeast 45, Southeast 41, Southwest 45 and Southsouth 45,’’ he said.

    ‘’The Congressman may wish to note that each geo-political zone comprises six states, with the exception of Northwest (seven) and Southeast (five).’’

    The minister described Marino’s observation that the Buhari’s administration’s anti-corruption effort is ‘selective’ as a tired argument that clearly shows that the U.S . lawmaker must have appended his signature to someone’s concocted line.

    ‘’That line was invented by those seeking to cause an unnecessary distraction from the administration’s anti-corruption effort, and it has been roundly rejected. Congressman Marino’s decision to exhume the dead postulation without an iota of proof is a reflection of whose side he has taken in the effort to rid Nigeria of corrupt elements. Needless to say that the anti-corruption battle will continue unhindered, irrespective of whose ox is gored. And in this fight, only the guilty needs be afraid,’’ he said.

  • Fed Govt unveils 10,000Mw transmission capacity plan

    The Federal Government has unveiled its five-year plan to boost power transmission capacity from 5,500Megawatts (Mw) to 10,000Mw in the next three years.

    The plan was meant to take off last year with specific milestones each year but the impact of the low oil price slowed down the action. However, a source told The Nation that the government said it was going ahead with implementation of the plan.

    The plan targets transmission capacity of 8,200Mw by 2018 and 10,000Mw by 2019. The transmission arm of the power supply value chain has been tagged the weakest link of the chain by operators. If the targets of the plan work were achieved, it would  boost stable electricity supply, the source said.

    “The government has undertaken to complete all suspended and abandoned transmission projects. Currently, 59 expansion projects are being worked on with the aim of wheeling 10,000Mw by 2019. Also all the transmission projects under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) are being completed. With the ongoing projects, the government certainly will be able to achieve the 1000Mw expected by 2019.

    “However, the government should ensure not just expansion but flexible transmission system. This can be achieved through breaking up the grid into regional networks. Interconnection between the regional networks will be done to guarantee the required flexibility. Also there is need for the dualisation of congested transmission networks to create relief.

    “The implementation of (Super Grid) concept (a 745kv) networks being considered by the government is imperative as it would improve the efficiency of the network,” the source added.

    Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) show that national peak demand forecast is 17,720Mw while operators of the electricity distribution companies said it is 20,000Mw, reflecting a deficit of more 14,000Mw.

    According to the data, the average daily power output this year was 3667.95Mw, which was achieved in January. This level dropped abysmally at the peak of the renewed attacks by the Niger Delta militants. Average daily generation averaged in May and June were 1791.49Mw and 1307.81Mw.

    The TCN’s data showed that the nation has installed transmission capacity of 11,165.40Mw, but available capacity is 7,139.60Mw, while  the network operational capability is 5,500Mw.

  • Fed Govt okays three-year external borrowing plan

    Fed Govt okays three-year external borrowing plan

    The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, yesterday announced the approval of a three-year external borrowing plan.

    She spoke with reporters at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    With Mrs Adeosun at the briefing were Ministers of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh; Mines and Steel Development Kayode Fayemi; Information, Lai Mohammed and Education Adamu Adamu.

    According to her, the FEC yesterday approved external three-year rolling borrowing plan.

    The plan, she said, will be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval.

    She said: “Recall when we came in we said our external borrowings strategy will be focused on confessional debts, low cost loans particularly from the multi-lateral agencies.”

    The conditions of the borrowing, she said, included concessional loans average interest rates of 1.25 per cent, four to seven year moratorium, and 20 years to pay.

    According to her, the loans will come from agencies such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), China Exim Bank, and other development agencies such as Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

    She added: “The sectors in particular that these concessional loans will go to are the strategic sectors of the economy that will help to revive the economy. There is power. Significant amount of money are located to power projects particularly transmission. This is long term money that will enable us solve some of the problems in that sector.

    “There are projects around polio. There are some money that have been allocated to us to help us do some massive immunisation, in order to control this recent outbreak. This is being provided by the World Bank.

    “There is provision for solid minerals and of course I’m very excited about the discovery of nickel. World Bank is supporting the project by the Ministry of Mines and Steel with $150 million to enable them strengthen their capacity in that area.

    “The largest beneficiary of our borrowing is agriculture because its equally strategic and we have programmes by the minister some of which he inherited and is going to restructure and reform and some are new to the ministry.

    “The balance will come from the Eurobond we had indicated.”

    According to her, the FEC sent a strong signal on the need to reach out to the National Assembly to get the borrowing plan approved as soon as possible.

    “Because a lot of this money is for developmental projects. We need this money to be made available for us. Remember these are foreign exchange coming to our country that will help our economy,” he said.

    Fayemi said the Council approved a new roadmap for mining to boost the growth and development of the industry.

    He said: “What the roapmap seeks to do is to grow the contribution of minning to the GDP on the back of the President’s vision to diversify the economy.  It is to build on the old roadmap of 2012.

    “What distinguishes this roadmap is its determination to build a regulatory agency – an independent regulatory agency in the minning sector. Stakeholders have been insisting that the ministry should not also be the regulator of the industry.

    “We will now have Mining cadastral zonal offices which issues the licenses together with the mining inspecting directorate, mining environment compliance unit as well as the nautical mining units. These are directorate within the ministry but will form part of the independent regulatory agency.

  • Fed Govt earns N677.8b in second quarter, says CBN

    Fed Govt earns N677.8b in second quarter, says CBN

    FACTS AND FIGURES

    •Forex inflow $5.89b
    •Forex outflow $6.09b
    •Banks’ assets/liabilities $31.23tr
    •Non-oil export dropped 20.4%
    •Inflation rate 16.5%

    Federal Government retained revenue for the second quarter of this year stood at N677.88 billion, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Economic Report for the second quarter released yesterday said.

    According to the report, the figure is above the receipts in the preceding quarter by 34.2 per cent, but lower than the quarterly budget estimate by 33 per cent.

    The Federation Account accounted for 47.7 per cent of the total revenue. “Other Oil Revenue”, Federal Government Independent Revenue, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Refund and Exchange Gain accounted for 30.0 per cent, 14.9 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 3.3 per cent.

    Provisional data indicated that Federal Government expenditure for the second quarter stood at N1.76 trillion, which was above the provisional quarterly budget estimate and the level at the end of the preceding quarter by 12.8 and 58.1 per cent. This was attributed, mainly, to the rise in both recurrent and capital expenditure.

    A breakdown of the expenditure showed that the recurrent component accounted for 72.6 per cent. Capital and statutory transfers constituted 19.8 per cent and 7.6 per cent.

    Of the recurrent expenditure, the non-debt component represented 73.4 per cent. Debt service payments accounted for the balance of 26.6 per cent.

    The fiscal operations of the Federal Government thus, resulted in an estimated deficit of N1.09 trillion, indicating an increase of 96.4 per cent above the provisional quarterly budget deficit of N555.49 billion.

    The CBN data also showed that foreign exchange inflow and outflow through the apex bank amounted to $5.89 billion and $6.09 billion, resulting in a net outflow of US$0.20 billion.

    Foreign exchange sales by the CBN to the authorised dealers amounted to $4.31 billion. The average exchange rate of the naira against the dollar at the inter-bank was N209.13 to dollar.

    Also, assets and liabilities of the commercial banks stood at N31.23 trillion, at the end of the preceding quarter of 2016, representing an increase of 9.6 per cent over the level at the end of the preceding quarter.

    The funds were sourced, mainly, from time, savings and foreign currency deposits, foreign liabilities and unclassified liabilities. The funds were used mainly to increase claims on private sector, acquire foreign and unclassified assets.

    The CBN’s credit to the commercial banks rose by 34.2 per cent to N1,041.73 billion.

    Banks’ specified liquid assets stood at N6.53 trillion, representing 34.9 per cent of their total current liabilities.

    The gross external reserves, the report said, stood $26.51 billion, showing a decline of three per cent and 6.5 per cent, compared with the levels in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2015. The development, relative to the preceding quarter, was due to increased sales of foreign exchange at the interbank market.

    “A breakdown of the official external reserves showed that CBN reserves stood at $19.44 billion (73.3 per cent), Federation reserves, $2.45 billion (9.3 per cent), and the Federal Government reserves, $4.61 billion,” it said.

    Provisional data showed that total non-oil export earnings stood at $576.97 million, fell by 43.2 per cent, below the level in the preceding quarter. The development, relative to the preceding quarter, was attributed mainly to the significant decline in receipts from manufactured and food products as well as minerals export.

    “A breakdown by sectors showed that proceeds from the export of agricultural, minerals, industrial, manufactured products, food products and transport sectors stood at $196.87 million, $185.51 million, $84.34 million, $79.44 million, $30.68 million and $0.12 million respectively.

    The percentage shares of agricultural, minerals, industrial, manufactured products, food products and transport sectors in the total non-oil export proceeds were 34.1 per cent, 32.2 per cent, 14.6 per cent, 13.8 per cent, 5.3 per cent and 0.02 per cent, respectively, the CBN said.

    The invisible sector accounted for the bulk (34.1 per cent) of total foreign exchange disbursed , followed by the industrial sub-sector (22.5 per cent). The contributions of other sectors in a descending order included: minerals and oil sub-sector (23.3 per cent), manufactured products (11.3 per cent), food products (6.3 per cent), transport sector (1.7 per cent) and agricultural products (0.8 per cent).

    The report said crude oil export stood at 1.09 million barrel per day (mbd) or 100.28 mb. This represented a decline of 20.4 per cent, compared with 1.37 mbd or 124.67 mb, recorded in the preceding quarter. It said supply disruptions owing to continued attacks on oil installations by vandals accounted for the decline in crude oil production.

    It said the inflation rate at the end of the review quarter, on a year-on-year basis, was 16.5 per cent, compared with 12.8 and 9.2 per cent in the preceding quarter and the corresponding period of 2015, respectively. On a 12-month moving average basis, the inflation rate was 11.4 per cent, indicating a 1.6 percentage points increase, above the level recorded in the preceding quarter.

     

  • Fed Govt destroys 15 containers of fish in Lagos

    The Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF) has destroyed 15 containers of unwholesome frozen fish in Lagos.

    The fish, destroyed at the weekend,  allegedly belonging to a company, named Food Solution Nigeria Limited.

    The containers were evacuated by FDF from Sifax Off-Dock Terminal at Trinity, on Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, to prevent the unwholesome fish from getting to the market.

    FDF ‘s Deputy Director  Mrs. Olabisi Adepegba  said a Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which shipped the containers into the country, would pay for the cost of destruction.

    She said of the company’s frozen fish-filled containers, 15 were laden with spoilt fish.

    The evacuated containers were taken  to Lagos State Waste Management Authority’s dumpsite at Epe, where the products were destroyed, after which a destruction certificate was issued to the shipping company and a copy to FDF for record purposes.

    She said the task of clearing and destroying the containers took some time because those involved were reluctant to bear the cost of evacuating and destroying the products.

    Adepegba stated that the FDF had a mandate to protect the public and prevent unwholesome fish from getting to the market.

    The  General Manager, Sifax Offdock, Oliver Omajuwa, said the consignment came in a batch of 43 containers, of which 15 were condemned and 28 had been taken delivery of and certified for consumption by the FDF.