The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Government (FG)

  • Oil price fluctuation affects budget planning – FG

    The Federal Government (FG) have said that oil price fluctuation in the international market affects budget planning in the country.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige  who made the comment said that the price fluctuation scenario also causes confusion for Nigeria in terms of projections.

    He said that Nigerians need to be encouraged to go into the mining sector especially the area of precious stones to enable the issue of oil be a thing of the past.

    Speaking in Abuja at the African Gems and Jewelry Exhibition and Seminar (AGJES2018), titled ‘mines to market, collaborating to improve industry linkages’, Ngige said that the only way Nigeria can know it has stability is through mining because the prices bearly sways.

    His words, “When you talk of the mining industry, you must talk about the workers there, unfortunately today in the industry, what we have there are illegal workers and artisinal miners who are not documented. We know that it takes just a little thing to make them formal sector miners, just form corperatives for them, we need to look into the issue of corperatives in agriculture, mining, oil and gas everywhere because it is through corperatives that we can get them well documented properly, formalized and encouraged.

    Read Also: Fire guts Forte Oil petrol station at Lagos Airport

    “We need to encourage people to go into the mining industry, especially in the area of precious stones, we should try to encourage and when we do, the oil issue will be a thing of the past. Oil i no longer envouge, infact the price fluctuation scenario causes confusion for Nigeria in terms of our projections and budgeting.

    “The only area where we can know we have stability because the prices rearly sways is in mining so we pray that God will assist Nigeria.”

    Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bwari said that the sheer beauty of Nigeria’s gemstones, makes them easy prey for smugglers.

    His words, “I am impressed by the seminar component of this event because for too long Nigeria was seen as an oil nation rather than a mining nation despite the fact that mining began here in 1902.

    “The seminars will therefore help in educating the world about the beautiful gemstones we have in Nigeria from the blue sapphires at the plains of the Mambilla to the amazing rubelite tourmaline that recently sold at 180 dollars per carat. Ironically, the sheer beauty of our gemstones make them easy prey for smugglers and money launderers. We have since began reforms in the sector with the hope of ensuring proper policing of the gemstone sector across the value chain from prospecting, to exploration, to mining, processing and marketing.

    “The central point of our gem policy is to ensure due process in our gemstone mining and marketing activities in line with international best practices. We also hope to help artisans get good prices for their gemstones while boosting our GDP by ensuring due repatriation of gemstone export proceeds through the CBN.”

  • FG completes Warri-Ajaokuta-Itakpe rail line

    The Federal Government (FG) has revealed it has completed the rail line from Warri Port through Ajaokuta to Itakpe.

    Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bwari said the completion of the ongoing works in Warri Port and the Escravos would ease access to the deep sea, and open up business opportunities for Ajaokuta and Delta steel Plants.

    Read Also:Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line 80% completed, says Amaechi

    He also said that the completion of the dredging of River Niger and almost completion of Warri port and the Escravos channel would facilitate export and import of goods through the Warri port using flat bottom vessels.

    Bwari added that the Electro-magnetic survey data for three highly prospective gold and lead zinc zones have also been acquired and are available for interested investors.

    The Minister stated this yesterday in Abuja at the 3rd Nigeria Mining Week, organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria, in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Spintelligent.

    He added that the ministry has strengthened its policy and institutional frameworks for investors in the minerals sector and daily it gets easier to do mining business in Nigeria.

    His words, “The efforts of the present administration led by President Muhammad Buhari to find alternative sources of wealth creation by developing the mineral resources of our country has led to a number of innovations in the sector.

    “We have strengthened our policy and institutional frameworks for investors in the minerals sector and daily it gets easier to do mining business in Nigeria.

    “The dredging of the River Niger has been completed while works at Warri Port and the Escravos Channel is about to be completed. These works would facilitate export and import of goods through Warri Port using flat bottom vessels.

    “The Central Corridor Railway Line linking Warri Port to Abuja through the North central, home to iron ore, steel plants, coal resource and pegmatite bearing lithium, is also under construction. The rail line from Warri Port through Ajaokuta to Itakpe is already completed. The completion of the ongoing works in Warri Port and the Escravos would ease access to the deep sea, and open up business opportunities for Ajaokuta and Delta steel Plants by paving way for the shipment of bulk goods to and from sea ports.

    “The government has released funds from the dedicated Natural Resources Development Fund for the generation and provision of necessary geosciences data to attract investors. Indeed, five exploration works contracts and consulting services for gold and platinum group metals; Rare Earth Metals; Base Metals; Barytes; and Iron Ore, were recently awarded through competitive bidding to carry out resource mapping for potential mineral prospects.

    “In a similar development, the Electro-magnetic survey data for three highly prospective gold and lead zinc zones have also been acquired and are available for interested investors.

    “The Nigerian Government has also initiated a Partnering Scheme with the private sector for the provision of infrastructure through the implementation of a National Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan. In this regard, the construction of a 3,035MW Mambila Plateau Hydro-power Plant is already under way and this will boost economic activities in that zone of blue sapphire and bauxite.”

  • Court didn’t close down Ikoyi marriage registry, says FG

    The Federal Government (FG) has faulted claims by the Lagos State Government that a Federal High Court had shut down the Ikoyi marriage registry, insisting that the report was false.

    The Ministry of Interior said that the court presided over by Justice Chuka Obiozor simply upheld the judgment of a Federal High Court delivered in 2002 which was not appealed.

    It explained that the case, Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1760/16 between Egor local government area, Edo State & 3 others Vs. Ministry of Interior & others, cited by the Lagos state government was actually struck out by Justice Obiozor in his judgment delivered on April 30,2018.

    Read Also:24 hours at Ikoyi Marriage Registry

    The Director of Legal, Ministry of Interior, Bola Odugbesan, made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, in reaction to a press statement on Thursday by the Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Bisi Olufuwa.

    Olufuwa had claimed that the Lagos state had secured a court injunction restraining the Ikoyi registry from conducting marriages.

    Dismissing the claims, Odugbesan presented a copy of the judgment by Obiozorwho described who described the case an abuse of court process and struck it out.

    He stated that Lagos State Government was not a party to the suit.

    Clarifying what transpired in the suit, Odugbesan said, “In the case, the court was invited to interprete the provisions of the Constitution conferring on local governments, the powers to register marriages.

    “The Minister of Interior, through his Counsel, Bola Odugbesan, argued that under item 61 of the Exclusive List, matters connected with marriage under the Marriage Act, issuing of marriage certificate and its registration are outside the purview of State and/or Local Governments.”

    “The Federal High Court in its judgment dated April 30, 2018, struck out the case of the Plaintiffs, ie, Egor LGA & Ors. The court held that the case is an abuse of the court process in view of the earlier judgment of the court in 2002 which upheld the sanctity of the rights of the Minister to issue licences to places of worship to conduct marriages, and the Registrar under the Marriage Act to register marriages. It is instructive to note that Lagos State was not a party in the case,” the director explained.

    Odugbesan insisted that the Federal High Court never ordered the closure of Ikoyi Marriage Registry as claimed by Olufuwa.

     

  • Expert tasks FG on renewable energy

    Expert tasks FG on renewable energy

    A Renewable Energy Expert, Mr Yomi  Kolawole, has urged the Federal Government( FG ) to create more business atmosphere that would enable the spread of renewable energy, to tackle communities without electricity.

    Kolawole, who is also Chief Executive Officer, Topain Energy Solution Ltd., Lagos, gave the advice in an interview on Friday in Lagos.

    He said that it was important to have a suitable atmosphere to accelerate the spread of renewable energy, adding that the hydro power plants had not been able to bridge the energy needs sufficiently.

    “To expedite the spread of renewable energy, government should grant five years or more tax rebates for importers and assemblers of Nigerians in the sector.

    “However, government should pass a law to compel Nigerians to patronise local producers in order to boost the sector adequately,’’ Kolawole said.

    He noted that the importance of renewable energy could not be over emphasized because of its environmental friendly nature.

    The expert added that it was disturbing that in spite the potential of renewable energy in the country, the nation’s economy could not distribute beyond 10,000 Megawatts of energy.

    “We must begin to take the immense advantage of sunlight, especially in the Northern part of the country to boost our solar energy needs.

    “Even the possibilities of wind energy are not yet harnessed enough to reduce the electricity lag in spite the potential of the sector and the presumed prospect.’’

    Despite efforts by the Federal Government to provide electricity in the country, the World Bank had said that over 80 million Nigerians had no access to electricity.

    The World Bank Country Director, Nigeria, Mr Rachid Benmessaoud, stated this at the 4th Action Learning event on Upscaling Mini Grids for low-cost and timely access to electricity.

    The occasion was organised by the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, in Abuja.

    Benmessaoud, however, said the Bank had provided $350m loan for the development of rural electrification projects in Nigeria.

    NAN

  • Ensure smooth repatriation of stolen funds, FG tells countries involved

    Ensure smooth repatriation of stolen funds, FG tells countries involved

    The Federal Government ( FG ) through Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has called on member countries of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering ( FATF )  to “ensure the smooth repatriation of proceeds of corruption to the economies from where they were stolen”.

    Osinbajo made the call at the opening of the 18th Ministerial Committee Meeting of the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa in Abuja.

    FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the Ministers of its member jurisdictions and is a policy-making body.

    The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

    Osinbajo, therefore, said that it was pertinent for member countries of the FATF to regard the objectives of the task force and make easy the process of the repatriation of stolen funds.

    “Despite numerous mutual legal assistance treaties and conventions, it is obvious that we are not making the sort of progress that we expect to see.

    “It is unconscionable, in our view, to have stolen funds in a bank within the jurisdiction of an FATF country and to have to go through a rigorous obstacle force to retrieve the funds and even when such funds are to be returned, after several years, humiliating conditions are attached.

    “It is the view of Nigeria that FATF countries must, as a matter of respect for the spirit of our collaboration and with the same efficiency and zero tolerance for quibbling, ensure the smooth repatriation of proceeds of corruption to the economies from where they were stolen.”

    He, however, commended the efforts of several countries in facilitating the fight against corruption in the country and the sub-region, adding that such cooperation contributed to the fight against illicit financial crimes.

    “We must commend the United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark for leading the way in establishing public registers of the real human owners of companies in their countries.

    “We cannot have anonymous ownership of companies’ trust and other arrangements designed to cover the ownership of assets and at the same time expect optimal results from anti-money laundering measures.”

    The vice president also called on G8 and G20 countries to initiate actions to “end corporate secrecy in some of their dependencies”.

    NAN

  • FG following investigations on death of two Nigerians in South Africa

    FG following investigations on death of two Nigerians in South Africa

    The Federal Government ( FG ) says it is following police investigations on the death of two Nigerians in South Africa.

    A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on Wednesday, signed by the Spokesperson, Mr Tope Elias-Fatile, said their death occurred in two separate incidents.

    “The mission informs that the first incident involved Mr Ikechukwu Mmanwoke Edmond, an indigene of Anambra State, who was murdered in front of his home in Marvern, a suburb of Johannesburg.

    “The second incident involved Mr Eluka Agu, who was beaten to death during a robbery alongside some unidentified persons in Olievenhoutbosch, Centurion, near Pretoria.

    “The Federal Government wishes to assure that the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg has been following Police investigations on the sad development.

    The government further commiserated with families of the deceased.

    “Meanwhile, our missions in South Africa would continue to engage their host authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerians residing in various parts of the country.”

    NAN

  • #BBOG condemns FG, Military over silence on Police women abduction

    #BBOG condemns FG, Military over silence on Police women abduction

    …Group compares governments’ reaction to that of Chibok girls

     

     

    Members of the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) advocacy have condemned the Federal Government (FG) and Military on its continues silence on the abduction of 16 Police women by Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri.

    The group says it is worried that 13 days after the reported tragedy, the federal government and military have maintained an eerie silence on the matter.

    In a statement signed by leaders of the group Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu, #BBOG noted that it was 4 days after the unfortunate claim by the terrorists and more than 1 week after the incident that the Nigeria Police Force made its first statement, denying the women.

    The group added that for them there is a painful sense of déjà vu that compelled them to issue the statement. Assessing how the authorities have handled the latest incident of abduction, to them, it appears 3 years on, another #ChibokGirls-like tragedy is happening all over again.

    The group stated, “Almost 2 weeks ago, on 20 June, the media widely reported that a security convoy of vehicles conveying military and police personnel was attacked by the terrorists 30 kilometres from Maiduguri on the Maiduguri-Damboa federal highway. Part of the convoy was said to be civilians and personnel of Nigeria police travelling for the burial rites of a deceased police colleague. In some of the reports, eyewitness accounts relayed that 16 women were abducted by the terrorists from among the burial convoy.

    “Our movement is worried that 13 days after this reported tragedy, the federal government, the military have maintained an eerie silence on the matter. The ominous silence is made more troubling when 4 days after the attack and alleged abduction of the women from the burial convoy, the Boko Haram terrorists released a video in which they took responsibility and paraded the women they claimed were the police women, victims of that attack.

    “We also noted that it was 4 days after the unfortunate claim by the terrorists and more than 1 week after the incident that the Nigeria Police Force made its first statement. In said statement, it out rightly denied that any police personnel was abducted, that the women in the released video were not their staff although the statement confirmed that two (2) of their personnel were missing.

    “For us the #BringBackOurGirls movement there is a painful sense of déjà vu that has compelled us to issue this statement. Assessing how our authorities have handled this latest incident of abduction, it does appear that 3 years on, another #ChibokGirls-like tragedy is happening all over again.

    “We recount how a little over 3 years ago when our #ChibokGirls were abducted, there was no official response from the federal government and the military for several days. Then came the news from the military that all 129 school girls (the wrong number assumed to have been abducted at that time) had been rescued with only 8 presumed missing. The military was forced by wailing affected families to recant this wrong assertion a few days after when evidence to the contrary proved that 276 school girls were abducted, 57 escaped on their own with no involvement of the military and 219 had become captives of terrorists.

    “The similarity of that 3-year old tragic episode seems to be replaying itself in that Nigeria Police statement of Wednesday, 28 June 2017 on the alleged abduction of our policewomen. When the abduction happened in Chibok in 2014, some officials of the federal government did in fact deny that the school girls existed in the first place referring to their abduction as a scam. And yet, from media reports, the policewomen were said to be on a national assignment to bury their deceased colleague when eyewitnesses to their attack saw them taken away in a truck just like it happened to our ChibokGirls on that night of 14 April 2014.

    “We recall also another unfortunate in which the Nigerian air force denied the brave and heroic 41-year-old Wing Commander Chimda Hedima after he was captured by terrorists and displayed in a video they released in 2014. It did not end well.

    “This is why we as a movement have always insisted transparency and truth in the manner our government prosecutes and communicates the terrorist war, our triumphs and losses. It is the only way to mobilise the trust, confidence and support of the Nigerian people, especially families and communities directly affected by the multiple tragedies of abductions and deaths.

    “We are worried that while the Nigeria police is issuing denials, some affected families are reaching out to our movement seeking support to advocate to the federal government to mount a rescue plan for their abducted relatives. This unnecessary confusion makes us wonder what the real facts of this alleged abduction are and how the federal government — especially the Presidency intends to resolve it speedily. This is the least respect that should be accorded the alleged abductees who in this case are those sacrificing daily to secure the rest of us.

    “We therefore demand immediate reaction of the Presidency and the federal government to the cries of families of the alleged abducted policewomen and other citizens in the burial convoy that was attacked. The federal authorities cannot carry on repeating all the wrong approaches in dealing with victims of terrorism that it should have learned to handle differently over these many years. Therefore, our federal government must immediately provide answers to the whereabouts of the missing policewomen and their civilian counterparts who were part of the burial convoy. It must also instantly convey its effort to rescue any one of the victims of that attack that is accurately established to be in terrorist captivity. Finally, it must institute a feedback platform to engage with all the families of the abducted policewomen and others thereafter.

    “We also seize this opportunity to remind the Presidency and the military that our 113 #ChibokGirls are still missing, 1176 days after their abduction on 14 April 2014. Since the return of 82 last May, we are anxious that nothing further has been communicated to the parents of those still left in terrorist captivity. We demand haste on the part of our federal government in securing the release or rescue of our missing 113 #ChibokGirls to join their 106 schoolmates that have regained their freedom.”

     

  • Bird Flu: Association lauds FG’s planned payment to affected farmers

    The Poultry Association of Nigerian (PAN) has lauded the Federal Government (FG) for approving to pay compensation to farmers affected by bird flu in 2015 and 2016.

    The chairman of the association in Plateau, Mr. John Dasar, gave the commendation in an interview on Monday in Jos.

    The Acting President Yemi Osibanjo, after he had met with the national officials of PAN in February, approved the release of N1.7billion as compensation for the affected farmers.

    Similarly, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, reiterated government’s commitment to adequately compensate farmers whose farms were affected during the 2015/2016 period.

    The minister said that the names of the affected farmers across the nation were being computed, so as to avoid omission when the payment starts.

    Dasar described the move by the government to pay the compensation as “a right step in the right direction”.

    He said that the gesture would make most farmers to bounce back to business, thereby, increasing their personal incomes and that of the government.

    “I am happy that the government is now giving us attention; we now know that it means well for the agriculture sector as it is now matching its words with actions.

    “’This gesture will go a long way to improve the individual’s income and the IGR of government, because farmers who had been out of business will now bounce back.

    “In Plateau for example, over 100 poultry farms were closed down in 2015 and 2016; and this means that a lot of farm attendants were out of job, increasing the unemployment rate in the society.

    “’So, for us in PAN, we are delighted with the way things are unfolding. Our members can now repose confidence in us their representatives as well as in the government,” said Dasar.

    The PAN boss also said that the payment would drastically reduce the fast spread of bird flu in the country.

    “This is because farmers will naturally wait on government to cull their sick birds rather than sell to desperate marketers,” he said.

     

  • FG summons meeting of Presidential Council on Tourism

    FG summons meeting of Presidential Council on Tourism

    The Federal Government (FG) has summoned a meeting of the steering committee of the Presidential Council on Tourism (PCT).

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

    The minister said the meeting, scheduled for Sept. 6, would facilitate the resuscitation of PCT to be chaired by Presidential Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the council, the highest policy and decision-making and implementation body on tourism development, was key to repositioning the sector.

    Mohammed noted that because of the multifaceted nature of tourism, its development cannot be on the shoulder of a ministry, but through shared responsibilities among organs of government and the private sector.

    He recalled that the ministry had written to the President for the urgent need to resuscitate the council to reposition the tourism sector and make it a mainstay of revenue and employment generation.

    The minister restated the importance of perception to the development of tourism and called on the critical stakeholders to work together to build good image for the country.

    He specifically called on the media to stop projecting the nation in bad light but to build the perception of safety for the country.

    He assured that government will continue to engage FTAN and other critical stakeholders in its efforts to transform tourism to another veritable source of revenue.

    President of FTAN, Chief Tomi Akingbogun, commended the minister for his efforts, drive and commitment to the development of the sector.

    He urged the government to address the challenge of multiplicity of taxes in the sector and the lack of national career to boost tourism.

  • NYSC to drive the Change Mantra- Buhari

    NYSC to drive the Change Mantra- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said on Friday that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme would be used to drive his administration’s change mantra.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the president stated this at the swearing-in of 2016 Batch `A’ of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Keffi, Nasarawa state, Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti and Gusau in Zamfara.

    NAN reports that in Keffi (Nasarawa State), Buhari, represented by Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa state, said the Federal Government (FG) placed a high premium on the NYSC scheme.

    The President’s address was read in Ekiti by Mr Odunayo Adesoye, the Director of Youths, Ministry of Information, Youths and Sports Development, who represented Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti.

    Also in Keffi, the president’s speech was read by Alhaji Ishaq Galadima, Nasarawa state Commissioner for Youths and Sports on behalf of Gov. Tanko Al-Makura,

    The president said the scheme is useful because it had proved itself over the years to be a reliable vehicle in inculcating sacrifice and patriotism in Nigerian youths.

    “My dear corps members, the National Youth Service Corps which was established four decades ago has demonstrated its ability to remain relevant in the life cycle of the nation,” he said.

    The president said the Federal Government would continue to invest hugely in the youth.

    While the president decried the dwindling economy of the country, he assured that his administration would strive hard to ensure that challenges facing the nation’s economy would be a thing of the past.

    He, however, warned the new youth corps members to shun social vices such as cultism, kidnapping, armed robbery, drug peddling thuggery, prostitution, terrorism, militancy, cybercrimes, bunkering and the get-rich quick syndrome.

    “I charge you to use the various NYSC Community Development Services platforms at the grassroots to carry out public enlightenment and mobilisation for change in behaviour, thinking, cultural orientation and outlook,” he said.

    According to the president, one of the disturbing problems inherited by this administration is increasing unemployment among the young people, and that will soon be a thing of the past.

    “Thousands of graduates from the higher institutions of learning get frustrated daily as they search for non-existing jobs.

    “This is why this administration is anxious to recover illicit wealth to channel them to productive economic venture to absorb thousands into employment,” Buhari said.

    The President also charged corps members to work with enthusiasm to better the lives of their host communities.

    In his address of welcome, EKiti NYSC Coordinator, Mr Tobechi Ibeh, urged the corps members to be hard working in order to build an egalitarian society for the nation.

    Ibeh restated the commitment of the NYSC scheme to attitudinal change that would make the youths to be self-reliant.

    NAN reports that no fewer than 1,581 corps members comprising 902 male and 679 female in the 2016 Batch `A’ were administered oath of allegiance by the Ekiti Chief Judge, Justice Ayo Daramola.

    Also, NYSC State Coordinator in Nasarawa state, Mrs Habiba Bappah, said that out of the prospective corps members who reported to camp, a total of 1,935 corps members were duly registered.

    “This number is made up of 835 males and 1,100 females ready to be sworn in today,” she said.

    She then urged the new corps members to participate actively and take various the training sessions seriously; as the sessions were mapped out to give them a better future.

    In Gusau, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara urged the 1, 600 corps members posted to the state to use the period of their service to acquire various entrepreneurship skills.

    According to Yari, who was represented by the state Commissioner of Youth, Skill Acquisition and Sports, Alhaji Abdullahi Gurbin-bore, these skills will assist them to be self reliant after the service year.

    “I call on you to use your service year to contribute to the development of our dear country by using the service period to enhance the national productivity,” he said.

    He advised the corps members to show respect to the values, culture and traditions of their respective host communities, while extending the benefits of national service to the grass roots level.

    Also, the Zamfara NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Ballama Bello, said the three weeks orientation programme was one of the cardinals of NYSC.

    However, Bello urged the corps members to be obedient to NYSC rules and regulations and avoid crimes and other social vices.

    NAN reports that the swearing-in was conducted by Justice Awwal Gummi on behalf of the state Chief Judge, Justice Kulu Aliyu.