The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt earns $3b from non-oil exports

    Fed Govt earns $3b from non-oil exports

    Nigeria’s non-oil exports grew by 15.9 per cent to $3 billion in 2013, a data by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has shown.

    But non-oil exports from the country to other membercountries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stood at $375 million during the period, showing an increase of 20 per cent year-on-year.

    The FBN Capital Research, which gave the figures in a report released at the weekend, said inflows from the segment of the economy were encouraging.

    It said cocoa emerged as the leading non-oil export commodity, earning $759 million. Nigeria is ranked the world’s fourth largest exporter of cocoa and its by-products.

    The Nigerian Export Promotion Council Amendment Decree No. 64 of 1992 was promulgated to enhance the performance of the council by minimising bureaucratic bottlenecks and increasing autonomy in dealing with members of the organised private sector (OPS). The council has a governing board drawn from the public and the private sectors.

    The investment and research firm listed Nigeria, Angola and South Africa as the three leading exporters to the United States  in 2013 within the provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

    For Nigeria to effectively tap into the segment, the firm said export commodities should meet high standards to compete in the global market.

    The NEPC, the firm said, identified 14 key non-traditional products which offered comparative advantage. Cassava, shea products and potatoes featured on the list.

    The report said: “Equally, there are multiple challenges for non-oil exporters. These include infrastructure deficiencies, high costs of production and weak logistics.  A disturbing obstacle is the bad reputation associated with the products, which has led manufacturers in some segments to brand their goods other than ‘made in Nigeria’.”

    It said Nigerian cuisine and the film industry (Nollywood) are areas the government  intended to promote globally.

    Taking a cue from China, which has a strong global presence in the export of its cuisine, the government, the report added, would initially focus on cities, such as London, Houston, Toronto and Johannesburg, which have high Diaspora population.

    “We see sustained growth ahead in export diversification due to developments in agribusiness, the cement segment and mining. While substantial oil production losses may have raised the profile of non-oil exports, we should remember that Nigeria’s economic model is based on import substitution rather than export diversification,” it said.

    The government’s focus, the report added, was the creation of employment through import substitution, preferably in the taxpaying formal economy, and the resulting foreign exchange savings from the domestic production of, for example, food crops, vehicles and petroleum products.

    Already, the NEPC and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) are exploring new areas of development and promotion of the Non-oil Export sector.

    The council has collaborated with the UNIDO in human capital development with the establishment of leather and leather products Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Aba, Abia State; Kano CFC, on textiles and the Human Capital Development Centre (HCDC) also known as the AGOA Training School in Ikoyi, Lagos.

     

  • Ebola: Southeast governors hail Fed Govt, states

    Ebola: Southeast governors hail Fed Govt, states

    Southeast governors have hailed the Federal and state governments for containing the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

    Rising from a meeting, presided over by its Chairman and Abia State Governors Theodore Orji, the forum also sought a cargo section at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

    Other governors at the meeting were Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) and Anambra State Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke.

    Through their chairman, the governors told reporters that they would convene a meeting of the elders in the next three weeks to discuss various issues affecting the zone.

    They expressed happiness over the befitting burial given former Information Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili.

  • Fed Govt launches national policy on child labour

    Fed Govt launches national policy on child labour

    The Federal Government has launched a National Policy on Child Labour and established a national action plan on child labour.

    The policy, which will run until 2017, is expected to check the spate of child labour.

    Labour and Productivity Minister Emeka Wogu launched the policy yesterday in Abuja.

    He said the policy, which was approved last year by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), showed the government’s determination to eliminate child labour and provide the Nigerian child a future to be proud of.

    The minister explained that the government, through the ministry, had demonstrated its commitment to the elimination of child labour.

    According to him, the government, through the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), had demonstrated its commitment to tackling the socio-economic factors.

    Wogu said: “The massive employment of youth and women through the Community Services Women and Youth Empowerment (CSWYE) scheme of the SURE-P has reduced drastically the high level of poverty in rural communities in Nigeria where child labour strives most.

    “The CSWYE programme is a critical strategy for fighting poverty, especially rural poverty, which has fuelled child labour and child trafficking in the country.

    “The national policy and national action plan on child labour document came through a consultative process of stakeholders’ participation and inputs. I, therefore, have no doubt that we will bring the same passion and commitment in its implementation.

    “There is no gainsaying the fact that the approval of the National Policy and National Action Plan, last year, by the Federal Executive Council, has set the stage for effective collaboration and implementation of child labour interventions across the country.

    “The policy will help every stakeholder to operate in its area of comparative advantage. It will also facilitate the building of synergy, effective coordination and eliminate duplication of interventions by MDAs.”

    The Director, Country Office of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Ms Sina Chuma-Mkandawire said the policy marked an important milestone in the fight against the worst forms of child labour in Nigeria.

    She urged Nigerians not to relent in the efforts to eliminate child labour.

    According to her, the fact that Nigeria had ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour “leaves me with no doubt that we have gained the necessary momentum and commitment for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour”.

  • Fed Govt gives deadline on skills centres

    Fed Govt gives deadline on skills centres

    The Federal Government has given a two-month deadline for the completion of the skills acquisition centres at Oteuke in Bayelsa State and six months for the one at Ibeno in Akwa Ibom State.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Steve Oru, gave the deadline yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with the contractors and consultants handling the projects.

    A statement by the Media Officer to the minister, Stephen Kilebi, said the contractors and the consultants were summoned to Abuja because of the “poor quality of work” at the projects’ sites.

    The minister, during his tour of the sites, expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work.

    He threatened to terminate the contract, if the contractors and the consultants did not improve on the projects.

    Oru said the skills acquisition centres were meant to create jobs for the beneficiaries in the Oil and Gas industry.

    The minister said the Federal Government would not toy with the deadline to complete the projects.

    The statement reads: “The minister noted that if the skills acquisition centres were completed on time and inaugurated, more people would be trained there than the present situation where few persons are trained abroad on skills acquisition by the Federal Government.

  • Boko Haram’ll end when Fed Govt wants, says Amaechi

    Boko Haram’ll end when Fed Govt wants, says Amaechi

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the weekend said the war against Boko Haram insurgents will not stop unless the Federal Government is ready to tackle it sincerely.

    The governor alleged that some Federal Government institutions have stolen the money meant for human and infrastructural development.

    He also indicted the Presidency of inciting Muslims and Christians against one another to win the 2015 general elections by all means.

    Amaechi spoke on Kaduna-based Liberty Radio weekly programme, “Guest of the Week”.

    The governor noted that until the Federal Government tackled corruption, education and poverty, insurgency would continue across the land.

    According to him, if the Federal Government supports the military through intelligence gathering, which has combated militancy in Rivers State and other Niger Delta states, it would be the end to the menace.

    Amaechi said there is need for the Federal Government to work with everybody, especially the locals, to know who and where the insurgents live.

    The governor stressed that it was the failure of the government that caused militancy.

    Using the Niger Delta militancy as a case study, he said: “It took me just two months to deal with militancy in Port Harcourt (Rivers State capital). If a state could achieve that within that space of time, how much more the Federal Government that has everything it needs at its disposal. At least, if we did not stop militancy, it has reduced.

    “The earlier the Federal Government stopped inciting Muslims against Christians to win elections, the better for Nigeria.

    “Killing militants was not the solution to the militancy. So, we began with infrastructure and gave them economic livelihood. That’s because when they know that when they go out, they would earn some money, they would not have time to perpetrate evil of this magnitude.”

    Responding to a question on the alleged rift between him and President Goodluck Jonathan, Amaechi said: “We are not quarrelling; we just have a disagreement on how to govern the country. I have a huge respect for him. But only he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. So, he should be the only person to tell us how to bring the abducted Chibok schoolgirls back.”

    On whether or not he had the intention to run for the Presidency in 2015 on the platform of the All Peoples Congress (APC), the Ikwere-born politician said he could only do so if he had the support of at least 25 million Nigerians.

  • Fed Govt threatens to sanction foreign media

    Fed Govt threatens to sanction foreign media

    The Federal Government warned yesterday that it may take action against two international media houses for their alleged bias reports on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.

    Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu and his Information counterpart, Labaran Maku, said the two media houses had been unfair in their reports on the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria.

    Chukwu said: “It was also observed that some segments of the international media have been  unfair with their comments on the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. Little has been said about the successful containment to ensure that it does not spread rapidly as it has done in other countries.

    “Up till now, the disease is limited to only one state; all those suffering from the virus, as small as the number is, are primary contacts of the index case which came through a Liberian-American (the late Patrick Sawyer).

    “Within this week, prior to the meeting conveyed by President Goodluck Jonathan, the country had carried out so many activities on Ebola.”

    Maku said: “We have had worries from some international media, whose reports could cause panic at the international level. We have noticed too that they have particularly refused to send the true position of things in Nigeria, despite all our efforts to brief the media in a transparent way.”

    The minister decried the manner the indicted media houses portrayed Nigeria’s handling of the disease.

    According to him, the media houses portrayed the situation as if there had been over 1,000 infected persons with the virus.

    Maku wondered why Nigeria should be grouped with the three other West African countries having a high level of prevalence.

    The minister said the media houses should have considered that the disease was imported into Nigeria.

    He added that Nigeria’s case should be reported separately, with the efforts the government was making to contain the virus.

    Maku stressed that it was unfair to always cast sensational headlines on Nigeria.

    The minister said the reality is that Nigeria’s case and status were different from the three other West African nations.

    This, he stressed, is important to ensure that people do not panic.

    Maku also debunked the report that four Indian doctors were forced to threat Ebola patients in Abuja, when there was no Ebola case in the capital city.

    He said: “We will not allow a situation where any media house will use the opportunity of Ebola, which was exported into Nigeria, to begin to run down the corporate image of our country and our people. This is unacceptable. If this continues, I can tell you, we are going to take measures.”

    The minister said any media house that attempts to take advantage of the country’s magnanimity would be resisted.

    He said: “If you run down this country for any reason and you are unfair to us, we will take measures.”

    Maku said two newspapers reported that four India doctors were forced to treat Ebola patients in Abuja, whereas no such cases existed in the city.

    The minister called for the cooperation of all Nigerians.

  • Fed Govt seeks N33b for DISCOs to buy meters

    Fed Govt seeks N33b for DISCOs to buy meters

    The Federal Government is currently sourcing for N33billion soft term credit line to enable the electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) acquire smart meters.

    Vice President, Namadi Sambo who made this knowm in Abuja yesterday while inaugurating the National Council on Power (NACOP), said for the power sector to grow in line with  the Federal Government’s projection, it requires funds for the operators to bridge the metering gap.

    He said: “It is for this reason that government is sourcing various funding avenues, including opening an initial N33billion soft term credit line to enable distribution companies acquire smart meters and making them more available to consumers.”

    The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who represented him said a number of efforts are being made to leverage resources from various funding agencies to ensure that all participants in the sector have access to funds under soft conditions.

    Pledging  Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring adequate funding of the Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN) to exceed generation capacity in terms of wheeling power,  he said a total of $4.7billion (N752billion)  is already being set aside for transmission expansion in the next five years.

    Sambo said the Federal Government is committed to attracting investors to improve the country’s energy mix.

    “As available studies show, Nigeria’s coal belt covers over eight states and is capable of generating about 5,000 Mw of power if fully developed.

    “The Federal Ministry of Power and Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals  Development have therefore been directed to ensure that the first large scale coal to power project takes-off at the soonest time possible, following the model of partnership between government and the private sector,”he said.

    He said the ceremony marked the official kick-off of the development of the national renewable energy action plan,  the national energy efficiency action plan, and the energy sufficiency action plan in Nigeria.

    Speaking in his capacity as the minister, he acknowledged that the primary purpose of privatisation was to bring into play new owners with “deep pockets” who could finance and /or access financing for the rapid restoration of lost capacity and add significant new capacity to make up for negative consequences of a vertically integrated monopoly.

    Nebo said the NACOP comprise the Federal Ministry of Power as well as the commissioners of power/energy in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

  • Fed Govt finalises plan to merge aviation agencies

    Despite the controversy that greeted the proposed merger of three aviation agencies – the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) – into the Federal Civil Aviation Authority (FCAA), the Federal Government has concluded plans to implement the report of the Steve Oronsaye Committee, which proposed the merger.

    Investigation at the weekend revealed that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in a letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, dated July 14, 2014, requested the affected agencies to send a progress report on or before Monday, July 21.

    Aviation unions and industry experts, in May, protested against the planned merger.

    They said the arrangement is against international regulations, which prescribe that aviation services provision should be separated from regulation.

    They argued that vesting services provision and regulation in one body could compromise air safety.

    The Federal Government, in May, accepted the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye Committee.

    The committee said the enabling laws of the agencies be amended to accommodate the merger.

    The letter, by the Aviation Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Abubakar, to SGF Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the ministry, said the submission of the report was to enable the government merge the agencies.

    The letter said upon the receipt of the committee’s report, the government directed each ministry to set up Ministerial Technical Committees (MTCs) for the implementation of the White Paper on the restructuring and rationalisation of Federal Government agencies, corporations and commissions.

    The letter adds: “As specified in the circular, each technical committee is to undertake the detailed day-to-day implementation of the decisions in the White Paper, as may be applicable to the agencies being supervised by your ministry/office. It is, therefore, expected that your technical committee has proceeded with the implementation of the decisions of the White Paper as they affect the agencies under your ministry.

    “Accordingly, I am to inform you that the Secretary to the Government if the Federation/Chairman of the implementation committee of the White Paper on restructuring and rationalisation of Federal Government agencies, corporations and commissions has directed that each ministerial technical committees should submit a progress report on its assignment to the undersigned on or before Monday, July 21, 2014…”

  • Fed Govt launches 64-page e-passport

    Fed Govt launches 64-page e-passport

    • Jonathan advises Immigration officers at airports

    The Federal Government launched the new 64-page e-passport yesterday to reduce the suffering of Nigerian travellers.

    The new travel document will be used with the existing 32-page e-passport.

    President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo were issued their new passports yesterday after their data were captured before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting started at the State House in Abuja.

    Jonathan urged Immigration officers to be efficient in their duty.

    The President said the impression they give visitors at the points of entry, such as the airports, has some effects on the nation’s image.

    He advised the service to end the complaints of Nigerians abroad by making it easier for them to get their passports.

    Jonathan said: “I always sympathised with those who travel almost weekly, changing passport every month. At least, we have moved a step forward. The key thing is for us to have a robust relationship with key countries so that some of these frequent travellers may not need visas. That will really help us more.

    “One thing we must know today is that it is not the issue of 64-page passport that is key to Nigerians but the security. If our passport could be easily faked by criminals, then we will have problems. One thing again is that how can Nigerians get the passport easily, especially those living outside this country?

    “When I travel, there is this complaint about how to get the Nigerian passport. It’s not necessarily the issue of 64-page passport but how do they get passport. So, the ministry (of Interior) must look into this.

    “What affects every traveller is how efficient and committed our Immigration officers work at our airports. Visitors …have different impressions about our Immigration officers. So, they must improve; they are the image of this country. How they handle visitors matters so much. If they conduct themselves poorly, it reflects on all of us. So, their conduct at the airports is key, besides the passport.”

    The President urged Nigerians, including those in government, the media and the civil society, to work for the improved image of the country.

    He said: “I always say that when people continue to paint their country with all kinds of colours, that is the way foreigners will associate those colours with your green passport.

    “I want a situation that whenever you travel to another country and you raise your green passport, people will appreciate you. It should not be that when you raise your green passport, people will begin to think that that it signifies some suspicious character. We are not helping ourselves when we paint ourselves the colours that we are not supposed to bear.

    “I wish to continue to appeal to all Nigerians that we must all collectively learn how we do our things: statements that we make, to paint brighter colours for our green passport.”

    Interior Minister Abba Moro said the new e-passport is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to giving seamless service delivery to Nigerians wherever they are.

    He said: “The introduction of the 64-page Nigerian e-passport …is, to say the least, a demand-driven initiative to meet the needs of frequent Nigerian travellers. Based on some recommendations arising from the operational experiences of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Ministry of Interior recently approved some reforms concerning the Nigerian e-passport, including the newly introduced 64-page.

    “The fundamental rationale behind the reforms is to enhance the integrity of Nigerian travel documents and the image of the Nigerian traveller anywhere in the world.

    “Appropriate strategies are being put in place to sensitise the public on the new e-passport reforms to enhance full implementation after this official launch by Mr. President.”

    Addressing State House correspondents, Immigration’s Comptroller-General David Parradang said the 64-page passport would last for five years before renewal, just like the standard 32-page passport.

    Hen said the 64-page passport, which will officially be issued to the public as from tomorrow, is meant for heavy travellers.

  • Fed Govt committed to terror victims’ assistance, says Jonathan

    Fed Govt committed to terror victims’ assistance, says Jonathan

    •Targets over $500 Million income for Victims Support Fund

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said he expects members of the organised private sector (OPS)  and friends of the country to donate generously to the Victims’ Support Fund to be launched today in Abuja.

    The fund will provide more relief and succour to those affected by terrorism and insurgency.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Jonathan spoke during separate audiences with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma and the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin.

    Jonathan hoped that about $500 million will be raised through the fund in the next 12-month to alleviate the suffering and deprivation of  Nigerians living in states affected by the terrorist attacks.

    The President said his administration was committed to helping the victims of insurgency and terrorism rebuild their lives and communities.

    He said the fund, to be managed by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), will also be deployed to rebuild destroyed schools and create a safer environment for education in the affected states.

    Jonathan welcomed the pledges of support from the Commonwealth and UNFPA, made by Mr. Sharma and Prof. Osotimehin.

    The President stressed that his administration appreciated the solidarity of the international community as Nigeria grapples with terrorism and insurgency.

    He said: “We continue to work very hard to deal with the problem. It is a major challenge, and we welcome all the assistance we can get.”

    He also assured Sharma that Nigeria remained committed to the goals of the Commonwealth and would continue to support efforts to reform and strengthen the organisation for the benefit of member-countries and their people.

    Sharma told Jonathan that he was in Abuja to express the Commonwealth’s solidarity for Nigeria to overcome insurgency and terrorism.

    The Commonwealth chief said the organisation was also exploring ways to assist Nigeria in the fight against insurgency.

    Prof. Osotimehin said UNFPA was working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its civil society partners to support the families and girls in the states affected by insurgency.

    He hoped the United Nations (UN) would evolve a comprehensive programme to support the humanitarian crisis terrorism and insurgency had caused in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.