The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt directs SON to implement programme

    The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has directed the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to within six months, ensure full implementation of the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) on all locally- manufactured products.

    Speaking at a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum held at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, Ortom said the ministry is ready to support SON to put in the necessary machinery for the full implementation of MANCAP, adding that the issue of substandard products and its negative implications and impacts on lives as well as the economy of the nation should be of concern to all, particularly when such products are manufactured locally.

  • Fed Govt to stop rice importation in 2014

    To grow the local market, the Federal Government will stop rice importation next year, a Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Adebisi Buhari, has said.

    To this end, the government, he said, was facilitating massive cultivation of rice.

    The government, he said, would also stop the importation of other products that can be produced locally, adding that he is optimistic that the objective would be realised.

    Buhari said the government would work with communities and private firms to boost production in the country, adding that the government would encourage private sector involvement in the development of the agriculture sector, particularly rice production.

    Stressing that food importation was affecting the nation, Buhari said the government was collaborating with Pategi and Share communities in Kwara State to establish high capacity rice mills to boost production.

    He said the government had provided platforms for farmers to access loans and other incentives to improve crop production in the country.

    Buhari urged Nigerians to key into the transformation of the sector to because agriculture is a veritable business to boost the economy.

    The government, he said, would provide a level playing ground for prospective farmers to invest in the sector, to ensure its sustainability.

    Meanwhile, the Institute for Rice Research in Birnin Kebbi State, will produce 1.8 tonnes of rice this year.

    Its Head, Mr Phillips Ibrahim, told the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, that the institute had prepared 50 hectares of farmland in four different parts of the state for large-scale rice production.

    He said: “The target is to produce 1.8 tonnes of the commodity this year”.

    Four of the centres,he said were in Yauri local government area for rice farming and two in Zuru local government area for soya beans production.

    While commending the state government for supporting the centres, Ibrahim requested for vehicles to improve monitoring and expansion of the scheme as well as accommodation for staff.

    The institute, he said, would support farmers in the area of on modern farming techniques for high yield.

    Responding, the deputy governor said the state would collaborate with the institute for commercial rice production, using modern techniques.

    Aliyu said the support would boost the quest for food security and economic benefits to farmers.

  • Fed Govt, BUA partner on backward integration

    Fed Govt, BUA partner on backward integration

    THE Federal Government has hinted of plans to partner with BUA Sugar Refinery Limited in order to achieve backward integration in sugar refinery in the country.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga made this disclosure during facility tour to BUA.

    While commending BUA Sugar Refinery Limited, for their increased investments and commitment towards making Nigeria self-sufficient in sugar production, Aganga said the government is ready to partner with the company towards promoting backward integration.

    He said BUA has been steadfast in their operations despite the harsh business terrain in the manufacturing sector of the economy, adding that the Federal Government is committed to supporting sugar production by providing the enabling environment in order to ensure economic growth and development.

    ‘‘BUA has done extremely well in terms of sugar refinery processing. It is a long and sophisticated process because I have visited these factories myself and have seen that it requires a lot of investments and equipment. Our intention is to work closely and to continue to provide the enabling environment to ensure economic growth and development but more importantly, job creation,” he said.

    He, however, urged BUA to continue to be committed to the backward integration policy, maintaining that the policy has the capacity of doubling job employment opportunities they currently offer to the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

    “This is why the Federal Government introduced the backward integration policy and for this to be successful, we all have to work together as partners, our job is to provide the enabling environment and policies for you to do well and yours is to work with us to achieve this,” he said.

    Chief Operating Officer for BUA Group, Mr. Chimaobi Madukwe, said the minister’s visit to BUA Group is an indication of government’s enormous support for industrial growth in the country, through the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) and other relevant agencies.

    As part of strategic plans to reduce the importation of raw sugar and ensure the effective implementation of the Federal Government Policy on Backward Integration, Lafiagi Sugar Company in Kwara State was acquired by BUA in the year 2008 through the Federal Government Privatisation exercise.

    The purpose of this acquisition is to establish a standard vacuum pan factory and 50,000 hectares of sugarcane plantation. The project is to process 5,000,000 tons of cane during a 166 day grinding season to produce 500,000 metric tons of refined sugar annually.

     

  • Fed Govt targets north for wheat

    Fed Govt targets north for wheat

    The discovery of two improved varieties of wheat is expected to position Nigeria well in local wheat production, sufficient to reduce national wheat import by half in 2015, the Executive Director, Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Dr. Oluwasina Gbenga Olabanji has said.

    He spoke at the presentation of wheat bread to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina in Abuja.

    He said these varieties, due to be released in 2014, are capable of producing an “average yield of five- six tons per hectare.”

    He said the varieties, namely Norman Borlaug and Reyne 28, are expected to make Nigeria to be self sufficient in wheat production as it expands its land holdings allocated to the product, and would boost the economy of the north.

    The reality of the improved varieties, Dr. Olabanji noted, “was achieved through collaboration with CIMMYT in Mexico and ICARDA, in Tunisia.

    He said a lot has been achieved on the genetic improvement of wheat in Nigeria, adding that as at 1976, the average yield was 1.2 tons per hectare, but with the launching of the wheat transformation agenda by the Minister, “we have been able to develop some improved varieties that can give us an average yield of five-six tons per hectare.”

    He said by 2015, the quantity of wheat imported into Nigeria would be reduced by half. This is to be achieved through aggressive production in 10 states of the north, he said.

  • Fed Govt earns $69b from Shell in four years

    Fed Govt earns $69b from Shell in four years

    SHELL companies in Nigeria (SCiN) have raked in revenues worth $69 billion into Federal Government’s coffer in four years, the Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and country chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, has said.

    Sunmonu, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, said the money represents taxes and royalties remitted to the government between 2008 and 2011.

    He spoke during the launch of Shell’s briefing notes and new advertising campaign tagged ‘Let’s go.’

    Meanwhile, the Department of Petroelum Resources (DPR) has warned unlicensed marketers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that it will not be business as usual as audit of LPG marketers in the country will take place next month.

    The agency said it will sanction marketers of cooking gas that don’t have valid licences and those that don’t comply with operational safety.

    Giving a breakdown of how the financial contribution of Shell to the national economy, Summonu said the oil firm contributed $178million to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) last year in compliance with the mandatory levy oil companies remit into the commission’s coffers.

    He said additional $103million was directly invested by SPDC and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) on addressing social and economic development challenges in the Niger Delta region.

    He said SPDC and SNEPCo have paid about $635million into the Federal Government’s education fund in the last five years, adding that Shell companies awarded $2.4billion contracts to indigenous contractors last year, representing 64 per cent of the total expenditure on contracts during the year.

    Sunmonu said last year, Shell-operated ventures in Nigeria produced an average of 949,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. He said the number of spills in Shell’s operation reduced to 173 last year due to a significant reduction in the number and volume of operational spills compared to 2011.

  • Fed Govt probes Gambian Chief Justice for alleged corruption

    Fed Govt probes Gambian Chief Justice for alleged corruption

    The Federal Government is currently investigating Nigerian Acting Chief Justice of The Gambia, Justice Joseph Wowor over his role in an alleged bribery scandal.

    Foreign Affairs Minister Olugbenga Ashiru spoke yesterday in an interactive session with reporters at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat, Abuja.

    Justice Wowor was allegedly video-taped while negotiating for bribe from a party to litigation in his country of assignment, The Gambia.

    Ashiru said the aim of government’s investigation was to establish the veracity of the allegation against Wowor

    The minister said the Nigerian Government would ensure that the interests of Nigerians living abroad are protected, adding however that any of them found wanting would be held accountable.

    He said: “We believe in the rule of law and we believe in due process. That is what we even do in Nigeria here in terms of our judiciary where our Chief Justice is working round the clock to sanitise the system.

    “The case in The Gambia is being looked into and if there is any case of highhandedness or whatever, the Nigerian Government will look into it and take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of Nigeria is protected.

    “I want to make it clear that we are all living witnesses to the fact that where any government in Africa unduly takes action against Nigerian, the Nigerian Government will act appropriately. We have various ways to do that. We have done it in the past and we will continue to do that.

    “One of our own principles is that we will stand up for and defend Nigerians anywhere in the world, especially where it is a case of victimisation or injustice. But when a Nigerian willfully plans to commit crime, then he is on his own because as a government, we don’t support criminality, indiscipline or anybody going to break the laws of any country”.

     

  • Fed Govt stops project variation beyond 15% of initial cost

    Fed Govt stops project variation beyond 15% of initial cost

    The Federal Government yesterday stopped all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from forwarding any project variation and review that is above 15 per cent of its initial cost.

    The measure, which was a fallout of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, is intended to check fraud in the system.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, explained that by the decision, MDAs would be required to do their jobs thoroughly through proper planning and cost evaluation before awarding the contract.

    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) was also directed not to entertain any application for valuation of contracts that exceed 15 per cent of the original cost.

    Maku said: “Mr President gave a directive to all members of Council to henceforth not bring any augmentation to Council that is beyond 15 per cent of the original cost of the projects. The President frowned at a situation in which sometimes augmentation or variations of contracts end up being higher than the original contracts awarded.”

    He said the President is convinced that if MDA’s do their jobs thoroughly through proper planning and cost evaluation before award, the incidence of half valuation of contracts would be avoided, adding that the exception to the directive, is if that variation has the President’s personal approval.

    Maku, said the BPP was directed not to entertain any application for valuation of contracts above the said limit, stressing that Ministers and agencies of government must ensure that in awarding contracts, they verify the actual workload that is expected, do proper valuation of projects so that the existing practice is done away with.

    “So it is expected that all agencies of government who are in the process of giving awards for contracts, must make sure that they are thorough in the pre-plan for those projects and also ensure that the costing is professional to avoid variations that go very high and leave cost to the government,” he added

    Also, government has approved N22. 6 billion for the provision of roads and engineering infrastructure to the new layout and diplomatic area of the Phase II contract of the on-going Guzape Lot II District infrastructure.

    The approval was based on the memo submitted to the Council by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed.

    He said the areas were laid out and allocated in 2005 to meet the aspirations of members of the National Assembly, well placed Nigerians, Diplomatic Missions and some members of the general public.

    Mohammed said about 600 employees are projected to be engaged in the course of the construction activities following the implementation of the project.

    He said after deliberations and consideration, Council approved the contract for the provision of roads and engineering infrastructure to the New Layout and Diplomatic Area Phase II, and the on-going Guzape Lot II District Infrastructure in favour of MessrsGilmor Engineering (Nigeria) Limited, for N22.609billion.

    The contract is expected to be completed in about three months.

  • ASUU accuses Fed Govt of insincerity

    ASUU accuses Fed Govt of insincerity

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the weekend accused the Federal Government of insincerity in the implementation of the agreement it reached with the union in 2009.

    The union said the government has not shown interest in addressing the problems of the Education sector.

    It also said the government was feigning ignorance about the union’s demands.

    The National Convener, ASUU Committee on Human Rights, Dr Sola Olorunyomi, spoke on a Splash FM programme, “Voices”, monitored in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    He said ASUU’s leaders, who met with representatives of the Federal Government, were shocked when the government feigned ignorance about the strike and its agreement.

    The academic explained that it was only when the representatives were shown the government’s signature on the document that the reality dawned on them.

    Olorunyomi said: “We are resolute this time. We are prepared to go hungry. You can’t believe that the people we met first feigned ignorance about the agreement. It was not until our team brought out the memorandum of agreement and then some of them saw their signatures. It was a drama of sorts. But you can only have that in Nigeria.”

  • Adopt Delta Beyond Oil Vision, Fed Govt advised

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has suggested that Delta State’s Beyond Oil Vision policy be adopted as a national scheme.

    Its Director-General, Muda Yusuf, said the adoption of the initiative would ensure that the country no longer solely relied on oil for its revenue.

    By the policy, Yusuf said Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was already looking at the future when oil would have been exhausted.

    “It should be a national policy because we are in a very vulnerable state,” Yusuf said, adding that a situation whereby “we depend on oil for 80 percent of our revenue and 90 per cent of our foreign exchange is very dicey.”

    On what the Federal government should be doing to realise the goal, Yusuf said: “It should declare a state of emergency, by pegging the price of oil at $60 per barrel. The Federal government should also provide the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. Once the environment is right, people will become very creative and many jobs will be created in areas that you least expect,” he said.

    Emphasising the importance of a conducive business environment, Yusuf referred to the tremendous progress that has been made in the movie/entertainment industry where many young people who were hitherto unemployed are now gainfully employed, and contributing to the Gross Domestic Product. He said more Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) would spring up and thrive if government invests in the appropriate infrastructure.

    Agreeing that Nigeria ought to be planning for a future when oil will no longer be there, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, said: “Delta Beyond Oil,’ is an initiative to effect a paradigm shift from the nearly 100 per cent reliance on revenue from crude oil in driving the state’s economy. Its aim is to harness other resources in the state to create a vibrant economy away from oil which is a finite resource.”

    He listed agriculture, ICT, developing other natural resources, including solid minerals, developing the huge manpower base, and creating a suitable environment for investment as some of the areas the state would for on to drive the inititive, adding that the vision also entails the development of a strong infrastructural base, such as modern roads, efficient water transportation, healthcare system and a world class educational system, amongst others.

    Ogeah explained that Delta Beyond Oil is not a physical structure in terms of a building, but an enduring vision to prepare the state for the inevitable drying up of hydro-carbon deposits, saying the vision does not come with any cost.

    The vision recognises the fact that despite the relative significant revenue from oil, Delta is faced with huge challenges, especially in the cost of developing critical infrastructure due to its tough terrain.

    Also commenting on the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ initiative, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, Founder/CEO, Proshare Limited said, “The initiative from Delta is laudable even if it is all hype. It helps provide a contextual framework for the much needed discussion not just as a resource limitation problem, an alternative seeking imperative or a diversification choice”

    Continuing, he said, “It goes to the heart of our federalism to encourage all states to identify their core competence or revenue stream – a key fundamental to states creation we failed to tick off on”.

  • Fed Govt, SON, others raise bar on business sustainability

    The Federal Government, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other stakeholders in Lagos inaugurated ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility, Nigeria Adoption Process.

    The ISO 26000 is an international standard that gives guidance on social responsibility. It is intended to be used by organisations in public and private sectors, in developed and developing countries as well as in economies in transition.

    At its unveiling, the Director-General of SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said the event was historic as it marked the hallmark of advocating the benchmark of organisational behaviour against a set of internationally-negotiated and agreed criteria for social responsibility.

    He observed that the active participation of the country, through the process, led to the final elaboration of the standard as the business operating environment was considered alongside other developed and developing economies. Odumodu added that the strict implementation of the standards by the various stakeholders would grow the economy.

    He said: “Being a guidance standard on social responsibility, the application and implementation of the requirements of ISO 26000 standard requires deep commitment of the top management of any organisation or institution, if the benefits of the standard are to be fully derived. It is therefore imperative to call on all organisations and institutions including governments at the various levels interested in responsible social behavior, to endeavour to internalise the requirements of this standard as a benchmark for measurement.”

    He urged various organisations involved in the measurement of social responsibility behaviours of organisations, either for research or consideration for awards, to make the requirements of the ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility a major criterion in their evaluation and judgment.

    He said the diligent application of the standard, across the strata of the organisational sectors, would promote responsible social behavior that will positively affect the entire society and further underscore the goal of the SON to improve the manufacturing sector and by extension, lives through standards.

    Earlier, the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, in his address, said the ISO 26000 standards provide solutions for almost all sectors as it was globally developed and accepted, with the active involvement and participation of relevant stakeholders and interested parties.

    He revealed that the Standard took five years of negotiation among different stakeholder groups, including governments, NGOs, Industry, Consumer Groups and Labour organisations from around the world before it was formally launched in 2010.

    He commended the active participation of Nigeria in all the activities leading to the elaboration of this unique international standard through the National Mirror Committee on Social Responsibility, which membership cut across all stakeholder groups.

    Aganga who was represented by the Director-General, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Jim Osayende Obazee, said the fact that the standard has been formally adopted as Nigeria’s Industrial Standards with the active involvement of stakeholders and interested parties and approved by the Nigerian Standard Council, suggests that Nigeria is prepared to apply the ISO 26000 Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility.

    Director, PMO & Operational Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Lead sponsors of the event, Ms Ndidi Opaluba, said the firm has already implemented the standards even before it was launched in the country, stressing the necessity for companies to be responsive to the needs of their environment in order to operate successfully without hic cups.