The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt urges Nigerians in Diaspora to become entrepreneurs

    The Federal Government has urged young Nigerians in the Diaspora to enrol in the Government’s youth enterprise promotion initiatives as a means of deepening the administration’s job creation efforts.

    The Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, who stated this while speaking in Dubai at a town hall meeting with Nigerians resident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), encouraged them to take advantage of the Jonathan Administration’s many enterprise promotion services designed to nurture and fund the viable initiatives of Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs.

    Assuring them that the Government was working hard to tackle the challenge of youth unemployment in the country, Yuguda stated that beyond creating the enabling atmosphere to encourage investments, the Jonathan Administration had initiated successful programmes for direct job creation.

    The Minister, who was Nigeria’s immediate past ambassador to the UAE said: “We see all of you who are based abroad as worthy partners in the business of developing our country. We know you are learning from the experience of your host nations. You are witnesses to what their youths are doing in terms of enterprise development.

    “This is part of the reason why the Jonathan Administration had designed various job creation initiatives especially the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment programme (SURE-P) which has so far created thousands of job opportunities for youths across the country with people like you in mind.”

    Speaking further, Yuguda said the enrolment process of YouWin  is online. “You don’t have to come home to file your initial application. We believe some of you may have some wonderful business ideas and proposals that require funding to come to fruition. Once you scale through the very transparent assessment process, Government would be willing to provide the funds to help you establish and employ other Nigerians,” he explained.

    The Minister reminded them that YouWin had already nurtured over 2,400 young entrepreneurs with over 22,000 jobs created in the first two rounds, while additional two rounds are envisioned.  According to Yuguda, the Government had also launched a $50 million Venture Capital Fund accessible by YouWin beneficiaries and other viable small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

    Yuguda told the audience that the Jonathan Administration has recorded substantial economic progress within a short time through successful reforms in many sectors including finance, agriculture, power, transportation and general infrastructural development as well as economic diversification accentuated by recent GDP rebasing.

    He assured them further that government’s commitment to good governance has deepened the democratic process by ensuring free and fair elections, adding that the 2015 general elections would hold as rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who was also at the event, commended the people for being Nigeria’s good ambassadors and urged them to bring home lessons of Dubai’s rapid development and spirit of hardwork.

    The Consul-General of Nigerian Mission in Dubai Ambassador Mike Omotosho commended the Jonathan Administration for lessening the burden of Nigerians in the UAE by opening the mission to handle their consular needs. In conveying the feelings of Nigerians in country, the diplomat urged the Government to make it possible for Nigerians Diaspora to vote by conducting elections in foreign missions.

  • Fed Govt probes death of Aisha Falode’s son

    Fed Govt probes death of Aisha Falode’s son

    The Federal Government may have begun the probe into  the death of 19-year-old Toba Falode, who was allegedly killed in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 16, last year, it was learnt yesterday.

    Toba, the late son of renowned sports journalist, Mrs Aisha Falode, was said to have been pushed from his 17th floor apartment on February 16, last year, by a Saudi Arabia teenager who accused  the deceased of having an affair with his girlfriend.

    Although testimonies of Toba’s friends, who were at his apartment when the incidence occurred and exhibits gathered from the scene fingered the suspect, Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser, the Dubai police investigation said Toba fell from the railings. He was said to have sat on the railings with his feet off the ground.

    Several efforts by Mrs. Falode, her lawyer Festus Keyamo and rights activist, Dr. Joe Okey-Odumakin to get the Nigerian Embassy in Dubai to prevail on the country’s police to reopen the case proved abortive.

    The situation had pushed the bereaved mother to ponder the worth of a Nigerian life and the activities of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

    Mrs Falode spoke yesterday in Lagos at Toba’s one-year rememberance at the Trinity House, Zion Centre,  Lekki,Lagos. The popular broadcaster and television host spoke of her plan to start a foundation to give succour to women who lose their children in  questionable circumstances.

    Expressing hope that Toba would get justice, Mrs Falode said the Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, had written the Dubai Government.

    She urged Nigerians to hold the Foreign Affairs Ministry accountable for the death of Nigerians abroad, especially in suspicious circumstances.

    She blamed the Nigerian Embassy in UAE for not making sufficient efforts on the incident, despite written, oral and pictoral evidence presented to it.

    Mrs Falode urged the government to ensure that her son and other young Nigerians killed in foreign lands get justice.

  • Boko Haram recruiting fighters to disrupt polls, says Fed Govt

    Boko Haram recruiting fighters to disrupt polls, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Government yesterday said the Boko Haram sect has started massive recruitment of fighters in three Borno communities – Geidam, Mairi and Dupcha.

    The government said the plan is meant to disrupt the general elections.

    It urged Nigerians to support the military operations against insurgency in the Northeast.

    National Information Centre (NIC) Coordinator and National Orientation Agency’s (NOA’s) Director-General Mike Omeri addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja on various national issues.

    The NOA chief explained that there was need for constant vigilance by security agencies and the public to effectively tackle insurgency.

    He said: “In the efforts to contain acts of insurgency in the Northeast and secure the area for the forthcoming general elections, the centre wishes to alert the public to very recent intelligence reports, which indicate a considerable movement of Boko Haram recruits from such locations as Geidam, Mairi and Dupcha (all in Borno State) to training camps within the general area.”

    Omeri stressed that previous attacks by insurgents, including the siege on Bama and Monguno military bases, were preceded by such massing up of fighters in training camps within the proposed targets.

    He said: “This recent development, which points in the same direction, has also been alluded to by the Boko Haram group in its recent boast about having a 30,000 – 50,000 strong force to disrupt elections in Maiduguri.”

    The government released emergency telephone numbers the public could call to lodge complaints and report security breaches and related issues for prompt intervention.

    These numbers include 07057274630,

    07057276432. among others.

  • Fed Govt seeks 10 per cent power generation from coal

    Fed Govt seeks 10 per cent power generation from coal

    As part of the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the sources of power generation, attention is being focused on exploiting the abundant coal deposits in some parts of the country.

    The government expects to generate 10 per cent of the power supply needs of Nigerians from coal, the Power Minister, Prof Chinedu Nebo, has said, adding that licences are being given to companies that want to invest in coal-power plants.

    Nebo, who spoke in Lagos, said: “Government is working on diversifying sources of power generation to make sure that we have a good robust energy mix. As a result  of this, more licences have been issued to companies that are interested in mining coal for power generation. We are looking at a time where about 10 per cent of our power generation will come from coal-fired turbines.  The President is determined to ensure that it happens.”

    He said the decision to veer into exploitation of coal for power generation has become imperative in view of the menace of gas pipeline vandalism, which seriously sabotages government’s efforts at providing stable power supply to the populace. He said vandalism is a thorn in the flesh of the government as 70 per cent of the nation’s power supply comes from gas fired turbines. “The phenomenon of gas pipeline vandalisation is another problem. Vandalism is taking a toll on us and it is a situation where our own compatriots vandalise the oil and gas pipelines and especially the gas pipelines. About 70 per cent of our power generation is gas-fired turbines and 30 per cent hydro. We have not been doing coal, renewable and biomass, among others, and these are areas the government is focusing now,” he said.

    Nebo also noted other areas the government is channeling resources and attention to improve power supply including existing and proposed new hydro plants. He said: “The hydro power plants including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro, the government has done much to make sure they go back to their initial capacity. For over 30 years, there has been no overhauling of the Kainji turbines but this government has undertaken that. Very soon Jebba and Kainji will be operating at capacity or near capacity. We are also working on about 12 small and medium hydro plants including Kashimbilla, which is almost ready and will be inaugurated soon. The turbines have been installed but the transmission components will be flagged off shortly. The contract has already been awarded.

    “Work has also started in Zungeru hydro power since 2013. A lot of civil works are ongoing there and on completion, the plant will be generating 700 megawatts (MW) to the national grid and the President will soon flag off the Mambilla power project that will add 3050MW when completed.

    “Licences have been issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) to companies that want to do solar power generation in Nigeria and the good thing is that there is an attraction because solar is more capital intensive but its maintenance is much less. Down through the year, you don’t have to buy fuel because God has already given the fuel, which is the sunlight. So, solar is expensive to install but costs much less to maintain along the year. For over years, you save a lot of money by using solar technology and government is working very hard to make sure it happens by giving solar the highest tariff consideration. If you are generating power by solar, you will get the best tariff in the country.

    “More independent power plants (IPPs) are coming. The Azura-Edo IPP, a 450MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) power station, which is part of a 1,500MW facility being developed near Benin City, was flagged off about two months ago. Ughelli power plant has not only doubled capacity within a year but is also trying to add another 1000MW in the next 12 to 24 months.”

  • Fashola blames Fed Govt, PDP

    Fashola blames Fed Govt, PDP

    •Governor cautions residents against violence

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola believes that with the shift in the dates of the general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal Government have succeeded in hoodwinking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Fashola spoke to reporters shortly after collecting his Permanent Voters Card (PVC) at his polling unit at Itolo Grammar School, off Eric Moore in Surulere Local Government Area.

    The governor, who was presented his PVC by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Akin Orebiyi, condemned the postponement, saying the move was to achieve the Federal Government’s and the PDP’s premeditated agenda.

    He flayed the excuse given by the security chiefs that they could not guarantee the safety of INEC officials as well as voters and election observers in 14 local governments in Northeast, hence the suggestion to shift the polls by six weeks.

    Fashola said: “The credibility of our governance is regrettably diminished. I don’t know any serious democracy in recent times that have set date and then changes them, except perhaps the last one was when a British Prime Minister backed down from elections. And you know what happened in the end; he was still defeated.

    “I think that when a country sets in motion a process like this, it ought to know that there would be political and economic consequences and that is why investors and the global community watch what is going on. I mean it’s disappointing; to put it lively.

    “When you now even hear the Presidency, the Federal Government and the PDP saying they cannot guarantee security; they say it with such relish as if they have a choice in guaranteeing security. That is the primary purpose of government.

    “And when you say it to ambush an electoral manager into not conducting an election because you are afraid of defeat; I mean it’s really a very low point for governance in this country. Because whether we go to elections or not, government will still have a duty to secure this nation. And if countries like Afghanistan, Syria and all those countries where there was war and internal conflicts have held elections, I don’t see why not here.”

    The governor wondered why elections were held in 2011, about a year after the insurgents started attacks in the Northeast.

    He urged Nigerians not to fall for the gimmick of those who orchestrated the postponement.

    “I think Nigerians can see beyond this smokescreen. But it is a deferment of the imminent date of change,” the governor said.

    Fashola, who spoke earlier at a rally organised by the Hausa speaking community in the state at the Onikan Stadium, however, urged residents to refrain from violent acts over the latest development.

    “I use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to remain calm, especially to the supporters and members of the APC.

    “This is just a matter of time and the momentum of change is already on and the momentum is Nigerian people’s momentum. But it’s just that it would have consequences for us as a nation,” he said.

     

  • Boko Haram plots to bomb polling centres, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Government yesterday raised the alarm over plans by Boko Haram insurgents to attack polling units during the  elections.

    It also alleged that the group had perfected plans to collect, buy or steal Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) of female voters, hand them over to female suicide bombers and create access for them into polling centres where they will detonate bombs and kill voters.

    The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri and security officials briefed reporters in Abuja.

    He urged Nigerians, especially female voters, to be mindful of their PVCs, to ensure they don’t get into the hands of bad elements.

    “By this information, therefore, Nigerians, especially female electors, are warned to remain vigilant, guard and preserve their PVCs to avoid the possibility of their being lost to these bad elements, who will put them to untoward uses”, Omeri said.

    Speaking on the 7,500 AU-backed multinational force, he said the force is to be composed of troops from countries in the Lake Chad Basin Commission areas.

  • Polls: Fed Govt, others meet over schools

    Polls: Fed Govt, others meet over schools

    Minister of Education Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has summoned an emergency meeting with commissioners of Education and stakeholders in education over the general elections.

    The development followed insinuations from different quarters that government was planning to close schools during the polls.

    The meeting, which is expected to begin this morning in Abuja, will deliberate on whether or not to close schools before the elections.

    Shekarau, who said this in Abuja at the weekend during a dinner with reporters and heads of education parastaters, said government would do everything possible to secure students and schools.

    His words: “I am summoning commissioners of Education and other stakeholders in the education sector to Abuja for a crucial meeting on Monday morning. And we will be discussing if there is any need to close schools and when will that be.

    “People should not carry any rumour about this as government has not taken any decision on this. There should be no tension as government will do everything possible to avoid crisis. The meeting is very important just as we did during the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) saga.”

  • Fed Govt appoints Udeme as APCON chair

    Fed Govt appoints Udeme as APCON chair

    The Federal Government has appointed the Group Managing Director of SO&U, Udeme Uffot, as the chairman of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), The Nation learnt yesterday.

    His appointment followed calls by the advertising practitioners under the aegis of the Head of Advertising Sectorial Group (HASG) to President Goodluck Jonathan to rescind the appointment of Prince Ngozi Emioma, who was said to have been appointed in violation of the provisions of the law guiding the appointment of APCON chairman.

    In a letter to the Minister of Information by the Secretary to the Federal Government dated January 28, made available to The Nation last night, the Presidency said the appointment of Uffot should be effected immediately in pursuant to the provision of Section 2 (1) (a-d) of the Advertising Practitioners Act.

    Uffot was appointed by the presidency among other contenders: Ade Akinde, the chairman of Advertising Standard Panel; Funmi Onabolu, former president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and the Chairman of Media Link, Mr. Akinbobola Babu.

    When The Nation contacted the erstwhile chairman of the council, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, he said the decision of the Federal Government to rescind the appointment of Ngozi is because his appointment contravenes APCON’s laws.

    Akinwunmi said with the appointment of the new chairman, the new council would continue the reform which created crises in the industry.

    He said the new council would key into the reform, as some of them were part of the committees that drafted the reform aimed at standardising advertising practice.

    Uffot, confirming his appointment, told The Nation that he was challenged when he received the news of his appointment.

    “Although I’ve not seen my letter of appointment, I was informed a few minutes before you called me,” he said.

    Speaking on the APCON reform, Uffot said there is a lot of work to be done, adding that it requires sacrifice.

    “I need wisdom to deal with this. With the experience of the council members, the APCON reform will continue. It’s a challenge and an opportunity to make a change. The APCON reform followed due process. We will sanitise the system,” he said.

  • Fed Govt revokes 1,200 quarry, 44 coal licences

    The Federal Government revoked 1,200 quarry licences and 44 coal mineral titles last year, the Director-General (DG), Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office, Mr. Mohammed Amate, has said.

    Amate told  the News Agency of Nigeria that the office issued over 3,000 quarry licences out of which 1,200 were revoked.

    He Nigeria has 1,800 valid registered quarry licences on its data base, and that the Office intended to issue between 250 to 300 quarry leases this year, adding that quarry was one of the major mining operations in the country. According to him, operators are expected to commence work within 18 months of issuance of a quarry licence.

    “If we discover that, after 18 months, the operator has not commenced operation, the law requires that we withdraw the lease and re-issue it to more serious investors,” he told NAN.

    The director-general said this was to ensure that committed investors had access to the mineral resources. He noted that most of the quarry licences were used in the construction industry.

    Amate said quarry was important for the nation’s economic development, adding that it accounted for the granite used for construction of roads, bridges and houses, among others. “A single quarry employs between 200 and 300 people annually. Each year, we issue nothing less than 200 to 250 quarry leases. If you multiple this, you will see that it is a major employer,” he explained.

    He said statistics available had shown that quarry employed from 60,000 to 70,000 people annually. Amate said the Federal Government made it mandatory for any foreign mining company in the country to employ 75 per cent of its workforce from Nigeria. “A lot of nationals such as Chinese and others are establishing more quarries, but we insist that a certain population on their payroll must be Nigerians.

    “We liaise very closely with the Federal Ministry of Interior so that it does not give them unnecessary waivers to bring personalities from either China or any other country,”Amate said, adding that the quarry minerals being mined included granite, marble, laterite, kaolin, limestone, gypsum, feldspars, pyrite, bentonite.

    The DG also disclosed that 44 coal mineral titles were revoked last year for being idle.

    He said in 2014 the Office issued 4,027 mineral titles, which covered exploration, mining, quarry and small scale mining licences.

  • Fed Govt’s job creation claims bogus, says NLC

    Fed Govt’s job creation claims bogus, says NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed doubts about the job creation claims of President Goodluck Jonathan. The labour union said the high unemployment level in the country did not justify the government’s claims.

    Its General-Secretary, Comrade Peter Oso Ezon, told The Nation that the figure could not be verified so it was better to treat it with the desired circumspect. He said no one was privy to the framework government used to collate figures for the employment profile during the year under review.

    He said if the Federal Government were sincere, all its policies should have employment content, adding that its three million yearly job creation target was an illusion.

    The Federal Government recently inaugurated a Presidential Jobs Board of Nigeria with a mandate to create three million jobs within the next 12 months. The board was drawn from public and private sectors.

    President  Jonathan urged the board to work out a road map that will, on monthly and on a yearly basis, create jobs for the youth.

    Government claimed  the board, which was inaugurated last year,  has generated thousands of jobs for the youths.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo has said the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) of the government is an intervention programme designed to meet specified targets in the transformation agenda of Jonathan’s administration.

    He said SURE-P has in the last three years intervened in infrastructure programmes, adding that it has justified the huge investment in the sector.

    He stated that the programme will assist to review the SURE-P programme in the last three years with a view to strategising for better performance in the future.