Tag: Fed Govt

The Nigerian federal government has pledged to streamline processes for Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, accelerate infrastructure development to address existing gaps and boost economic growth.

The declaration was announced by Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), during a strategic retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.  

Dr. Ewalefoh, who introduced a comprehensive six-point policy framework as the new head of the ICRC, emphasized that this approach aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goal of closing Nigeria’s infrastructure gap.

He highlighted the extensive scope of Nigeria’s infrastructure needs, asserting that PPPs are crucial across all sectors to achieve the nation’s development objectives.

The six critical areas outlined by Dr. Ewalefoh for his leadership at the ICRC include Innovative Financing, Service Delivery Optimization, Project Categorization, Time-Bound Project Delivery, Inter-Agency Collaboration, and Strategic Partnerships.

He noted that while traditional infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and energy systems are crucial, there is an equally urgent need to optimize existing infrastructure through PPPs to maximize their impact.

“With the gap that we have in Nigeria, we need PPPs in almost every area, and PPPs go beyond building infrastructure. Service is a very key component of infrastructure building,” Dr. Ewalefoh said.

“Even if we don’t build infrastructure, if we optimize the existing ones, what we will get will be novel, and the impact we will create will be so huge. If we use PPP to optimize the general hospitals that we have, what it will give us will be phenomenal.”

A central pillar of Dr. Ewalefoh’s strategy is Innovative Financing, which he described as the core of PPPs.

He revealed that the ICRC is already engaging in discussions with potential investors to address concerns about the safety and profitability of investments, as well as timelines for project delivery.

These discussions, he noted, are essential for securing the financial resources needed to implement the Nigerian Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan (NIIMP), which identifies significant weaknesses in the nation’s infrastructure that must be addressed to revolutionize the economy.

“The nation’s infrastructure is weak and requires financing to revolutionize the economy,” Dr. Ewalefoh stated. “It is given the need for finance that the Commission will focus on innovatively building financial infrastructure.”

Dr. Ewalefoh expressed his commitment to personally leading strategic partnerships, and working closely with ministers, permanent secretaries, and chief executive officers of agencies.

He emphasised the importance of leadership in driving swift decision-making and reducing the time required to deliver projects.

“I am going to lead from the front on most of these partnerships and collaborations. When you lead from the front, you mobilize others to do the same. When I said I am leading from the front, it is because I want decision-making to be faster and to reduce the time required to deliver projects.”

Optimising the processes of the ICRC to focus on service delivery is another priority for Dr. Ewalefoh.

He stressed the importance of setting clear objectives and designing tailor-made processes to achieve them efficiently. This approach, he believes, will ensure that the commission delivers on its mandate effectively.

On the subject of existing PPP projects, Ewalefoh indicated that the ICRC will conduct evaluations of all concession contracts to ensure they are performing optimally.

This evaluation process will focus on guaranteeing that projects provide value for money and remain beneficial for both private investors and the government.

Ewalefoh reiterated his commitment to categorizing projects to ensure more efficient delivery within improved timelines.

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This categorization will be facilitated through the development of PPP project thresholds, which will guide the prioritization and execution of projects.

The ICRC, he assured, is open for business and ready to engage with stakeholders, investors, strategic partners, and all Nigerians.

The commission will work within the ambit of the law to resolve any encumbrances that may hamper the execution of projects, as long as such projects are bankable, viable, and deliver value to the Nigerian people.

Ewalefoh pledged to take decisive action where necessary to drive progress.

“I will take very bold decisions, I will,” he declared, signaling his readiness to confront challenges head-on in the pursuit of Nigeria’s infrastructure development goals.

The federal government has announced the adoption of new strategies to address the growing challenge of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee management in Nigeria.

This decision was disclosed by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, during a meeting with a delegation from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Abuja on Thursday.

The delegation was led by the Commission’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Mr. Raouf Mazou.

Senator Bagudu noted the increasing global nature of refugee crises and the internal displacement of persons, making it crucial for Nigeria to enhance its approach to these issues.

According to the Minister, the government’s new strategy will focus on improving the coordination of financing and planning efforts across the Federal, State, and Local government levels.

This approach aims to align with Nigeria’s federal structure while addressing the critical issues surrounding internal displacement and refugee management.

The Minister underscored the vital role of development partners, particularly the UNHCR and other United Nations agencies, in supporting Nigeria’s initiatives in this regard.

“This support is crucial as Nigeria confronts challenges related to internal displacement, exacerbated by regional conflicts and climate change,” Bagudu stated.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s cultural and historical values, Senator Bagudu emphasized that the nation has a strong tradition of compassion, deeply rooted in its religious and social practices. This tradition has shaped Nigeria’s approach to managing displacement and migration challenges, which have become increasingly pressing due to resource limitations and environmental factors.

“Nigeria’s historical involvement in regional peacekeeping, alongside its ongoing military and financial contributions to conflict resolution, underscores its commitment to global and regional stability. This commitment is evident in our continuous efforts to support displaced persons and refugees, both within Nigeria and from neighbouring countries,” Bagudu explained.

However, the Minister also acknowledged the need for more equitable access to capital to effectively address displacement issues. Despite ongoing efforts, he pointed out the significant challenge of transitioning from humanitarian aid to sustainable livelihood support for displaced persons, which requires increased investment and resources.

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Nigeria’s unique challenges related to cross-border migration and resource distribution, particularly in the Sahel region, were also highlighted. Senator Bagudu assured that the Ministry is dedicated to addressing these issues through cooperation with international partners and by supporting initiatives aimed at mitigating the drivers of displacement.

Raouf Mazou, the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at UNHCR, echoed these sentiments. He emphasized the need for a shift from short-term humanitarian responses to long-term development approaches in addressing forced displacement.

“Given Nigeria’s significant refugee and internally displaced populations, the growing trend of long-term displacement necessitates integrating these individuals into broader development plans,” Mazou noted.

He further suggested that Nigeria could benefit from utilizing resources and facilities provided by international bodies like the World Bank, as well as collaborating with private sector actors to enhance self-reliance and find effective solutions for displaced populations.

The federal government has collaborated with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to implement a nationwide initiative to provide digital literacy training for over 30 million Nigerian youths.

Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim disclosed this during this year’s International World Youth Day.

The minister, who was represented by the Director for Enterprise Development and Promotion in the Ministry, Prince Momoh Olugbenga, stated that the groundbreaking program sought to equip Nigerian youths with the essential skills to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

In a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Omolara Esan, the minister said through this partnership, the government has demonstrated its commitment to empowering young people with the knowledge and expertise needed to fully participate in the digital economy.

She said the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has established a volunteer community of corps members called Digital Onboarders through an ongoing partnership with Mind the Gap Nigeria.

She explained that the community was dedicated to enhancing youth productivity through the development of digital skills.

The minister said: “President Bola Tinubu is well aware that the world is increasingly relying on the digital economy. Hence, he specifically dedicates a Ministry to coordinating the efforts of the government in this regard. On our part, the Ministry of Youth Development has continued to explore partnerships and cooperation that connect as many youth as possible to the learning opportunities that would advance the skills necessary for success in the digital economy.

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“We grapple with the challenge of youth unemployment. I am aware that an estimated 75% of job seekers would stand a greater chance of securing employment within our evolving Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

“However, it is sad to note that the MSMEs have also been experiencing a downward decline in their survival rate due largely to lack of relevant skills to tap into the emerging opportunities that the unfolding digital economy presents.”

She emphasised that the ministry has taken the initiative to start the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) as a platform to teach the relevant skills that would propel the active participation of youth in salvaging businesses and partaking in the abundant opportunities in the country’s Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) market.

The Director General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, has said the Skill Up Artisans (SUPA) was created to ensure that Nigerian artisans attain international standard.

The ITF director general also said the government intended to use the initiative to close all avenues for the influx of foreign artisans into the country.

He explained that the concept around SUPA was meant to create a unified platform to accommodate intending and practicing artisans for up-skilling and certification in selected areas.

Ogun said previous governments left the artisans unregulated and unsupervised, resulting in quackery and substandard job production.

The ITF director general spoke in Abuja during a collaboration between the agency and Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN) on special certification for Nigerian artisans trained under the Skilled Up Artisans Programme.

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According to him, the remuneration for artisans are poor, considering the essential services they render.

Ogun said: “Data shows that the informal sector contributes about 60 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), and that sector is dominated by artisans. The players in this sector have over the years had to deal with grinding poverty while the overall growth of the sector has been stunted.

“My team and I carefully crafted a Framework and an Implementation Guideline for SUPA. Based on that, we further created an online registration portal (www.supa.itf.gov.ng) for registration of all Nigerians, regardless of tribe, religion, political bias or any other consideration.

“So far, ITF has registered 522,778 artisans under the 20 Trade Areas. Of this number, 319,467 are males, while 203,309 are females.

“Plateau State has the highest registration, which is 53,133, representing 10.17 per cent of all registered artisans. Kano State follows closely with 43,239 registered artisans, representing 8.27 per cent of total registration.

“By geopolitical zones, the Northwest has the highest registration with 141,378, representing 27.04 per cent of all registration; followed by the Northcentral with 137,761, representing 26.35 per cent of total registration. The Southsouth has the least registered artisans with just 35,544, representing just 6.79 per cent of total registration.

“However, ITF is currently in robust discussions with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the outcome of those discussions will significantly change this trajectory. Please, note that registration is still open and we stand by our commitment to train every registered artisan.”

The Federal Government has been urged to engage in a constructive dialogue with the restive youths and other groups agitating to go on a national protest to shelve the idea for the sake of the common people in the country.

 Allowing protest at this period when our economy is undergoing massive restructuring will be counter productive. Rising from its monthly executive meeting, a non Governmental group, Christian Conscience made the call at lkeja yesterday.

 The group’s position  was contained in a statement by the groups’ national President, Dr. Yetunde Akinluyi and the General Secretary, Revd. Kolawole Verrals .

  “We are living witnesses to how the present Government is weighing and working on various efforts and interventions at stabilizing the economy. We urge Nigerians to give the Government more time for it’s various interventions and other efforts to yield positive results for the betterment of all and sundry” the Group advised.

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 “We are aware of the hardship being experienced by all Nigerians but patience and endurance needs to be applied by all the Group urges Nigerians. However what is the motive and gain of a protest at a time like this? Any activities to embark upon, those concerned should have the outcome in mind.

There should not be room for wrong people to hijack a protest. The fatherly approach and wisdom the President applied while negotiating the issue of minimum wage with the Labour groups few weeks back should also be applied to bring the agitators to avert the looming protest.

 Also on the issue of the lingering impasse between the petroleum regulators with Dangote group, it should also be handled with care and mutual understanding. Government had always encouraged indigenous companies. We commend the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum, .Heineken Lokpobiri in resolving the issue.

The federal government has slashed the allowances of foreign scholars who are studying under the Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship and are currently stranded in Russia, Morocco, and Algeria, among others, by 12.7 percent

The government, which convened its decision to the scholars through the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), attributed the development to the current economic crises.

It would be recalled that recently, Nigerian students studying in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and other countries, on the Federal Government’s scholarship, had lamented their unpaid stipends for eight months running.

The BEA scholarship is for education exchange between Nigeria and the partnering countries, while the Federal Scholarship Board is supervising the scholarship under the Federal Ministry of Education.

The government’s decision to slash the scholars’ allowances was conveyed in a memo dated July 23, 2024, and signed by the Director of the Federal Scholarship Board, Ndajiwo H.A., on behalf of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

The government said: “After due consultations, the Federal Scholarship Board has come up with adjustments in line with budgetary provisions in the payment of BEA scholar’s supplementation allowances for the 2024 academic year.”

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According to the memo, the monthly allowances were slashed from $500 to $220; the graduation allowance from $2,500 to $2,000; and the PG research allowance was slashed from $1,000 to $500, among others.

The total amount initially payable to each student was $5,650, but it will now be $4,370 per scholar.

“The scholars’ association is hereby notified that due to the prevailing economic situation, the payment mandate for the BEA scholars’ allowances will be as per the new adjustment.

“The balances for the years 2023 and 2024 owed to scholars will be paid as soon as the funds are made available,” the government stated.

The federal government has called for urgent and comprehensive financial integration across the African continent.

This integration is seen as a vital catalyst for boosting intra-continental trade, investment, and development.

A statement from the Federal Ministry of Finance said the call was made by Wale Edun, Nigeria’s minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, during a bilateral meeting with Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

The talks took place on the sidelines of the 6th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Accra, Ghana.

Edun highlighted Nigeria’s strategic focus on economic growth and financial integration, stressing that these goals are central to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He pointed to the fiscal policy measures recently introduced by President Tinubu’s administration, which have notably improved Nigeria’s revenue position.

The measures are part of a larger strategy aimed at creating a more robust economic framework that can support sustainable development both within Nigeria and across the continent.

In response, Dr. Oramah reaffirmed Afreximbank’s steadfast support for Nigeria’s economic objectives.

“Afreximbank is fully committed to backing President Tinubu’s vision for economic growth and development. Our collaboration with Nigeria is crucial in driving the continent’s financial integration agenda,” Oramah noted.

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The bilateral talks between Edun and Oramah underscored the significance of Nigeria’s partnership with Afreximbank.

Both leaders acknowledged that collaborative efforts are essential for achieving their shared economic goals.

The discussions emphasized that financial integration is not merely a regional ambition but a necessary step towards realizing Africa’s full economic potential.