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Tag: Federal government

  • No journalist is in detention, FG replies CPJ

    The Federal Government has debunked the report by the press freedom organisation, Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ), that a certain Nigerian journalist has been in detention for the past two years.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who issued the rebuttal in Abuja said the person the CPJ was referring to was never a journalist.

    “Let me state here, without equivocating, that contrary to the report by the Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ), no journalist is in detention in Nigeria.

    “Clement Abiri, who is being referred to as a journalist, is not one. He does not belong to any chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

    “He was arrested for pipeline vandalism and crude theft, including militant activities in the Niger Delta,” he said.

    The minister restated the commitment of the present administration
    to press freedom and gave the assurance that the media has nothing to
    fear under the present dispensation.

    “In my opening comments at the 2016 IPI Congress in Doha, I said we as a government view the media as a partner.

    “That remains true. I also said the media in Nigeria has nothing to fear from this administration, and that – if anything – we as a government are the ones who have to fear the media. Also, that has not changed.

    ”We are proud that the Nigerian media is one of the most vibrant in the world.

    “We are proud of the role that the Nigerian media has played in our long march to democratic governance.

    “This administration will continue to provide the enabling environment for the journalist to function unmolested,” he said.

    While speaking on the theme of the 67th International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress, which is “Why Good Journalism Matters,” the Minister said it will alert the government to the indispensable role of the media in the society,

    Mohammed appealed to the media to always report the government in the right context in order to give the people the opportunity to make informed decisions.

    He said the present administration had kept its promises to fight corruption, tackle insecurity and revamp the economy.

  • Court refuses to order forfeiture of funds in accounts without BVN

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a prayer by the Federal Government (FG) for the permanent forfeiture of funds in accounts without commercials banks without Bank Verification Number (BVN).

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment on Friday, said the prayer could not be granted because the Federal Government has not laid sufficient foundation for the grant of such prayer.

    The judgment was on a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/911/2017, filed by the FG and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) against Access Banks, other commercial banks and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Read Also:31.4million customers captured in BVN, says CBN

    The judge said the FG has not met the conditions provided under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, by proving that the funds in the BVN-less accounts are proceeds of crime and that they are unclaimed.

    Justice Dimgba said the interim freezing order on the accounts,  made by the court on October 17, 2017 but modified on November 15, 2017, still subsists.

    The order is: “An interim order of the honourable court stopping all outward payments, operations or outward transactions (including any bill of exchange) in respect of the accounts pending the linking of the accounts to a Bank Verification Number”.

    The judge asked the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to fulfil the conditions under Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act and ensure compliance with the October 17, 2017 order

     

  • Edo to support cattle ranching

    Edo State government is to support the Federal Government in its planned ranching for cattle rearers.

    Officials of the state government kept mum on the issue but sources said plans were already at an advance stage on the areas where the ranches will be located.

    It was gathered that grasses would be planted at the ranches.

    Another source said land in some selected local government areas has been mapped out where the ranches will be built.

    Read Also: China awards scholarships to 47 Edo students

    The source said the plans by the State Government will end clashes between farmers and herders in the state.

    Part of the plan is also to monitor inflow of herders into the state.

    According to the source, “We want a situation where we have a dedicated spot where cattle can be taken to so that you know where to go to when you want to buy cow.

    “The planned ranching will not be the type people are thinking it will be. We want a landing bay where people bringing in cattle can go.”

  • FG ready to tackle ISIS threat – Minister

    … As Dambazau presents Immigration’s curriculum, training manuals 

     

    The Federal Government has said on Wednesday that it is taking serious the report that a terrorist group, the Islamic State was sending insurgents trained in Syria to the country as part of a terror exchange programme.

    Government disclosed that report  is going through adequate examination, adding that all that is needed to be done to protect the country is being implemented.

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), who disclosed this in Abuja explained that the government will not rest on its oars in securing the country no matter the situation.

    Dambazau said these while answering questions shortly after the presentation of curriculum and training manuals for Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) training institutions.

    The minister said, “When information like this (influx of ISIS members into the country) comes, we do not take things for granted. Even if it is true or not because it is a security information.

    “Before now, we are prepared to ensure that everything we need to do security-wise is being done and such information also raises alarm and we will double our efforts towards that.”

    Speaking earlier while unveiling the training manuals, Dambazau stressed the importance of training to the security services, noting that henceforth, promotion of personnel and career progression will be tied to trainings and courses attended by the officers.

    Read Also: How Buhari is changing Nigeria, by minister

    He said, “If you travel a lot, you will see what happens in other countries. They solely focus on training and they will be sent on courses to determine your career progression.”

    “We will tie promotion to every course for every rank. There is a course that is expected that you go through for you to qualify for that rank. There is promotion exams; For progression, training is very important. It is very clear in the immigration rules. There is need for us to give that motivation. It gives you room to work hard.  This will apply to all the (security) services,” the minister added.

    The Comptroller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede disclosed that the curriculum, manuals and teachers guide were prepared by over 30 university professors and professionals.

    The documents, he explained, would be used at NIS Command and Staff College, Sokoto, Nigeria Immigration Training School, Kano, Nigeria Immigration Training School, Orlu and Nigeria Immigration Training School, Ahoada.

    Babandede said: “I strongly believe that this initiative will produce well-trained and better equipped officers and men that will reposition the NIS to contribute its quota in the change agenda of this administration. Training and manpower development is a strong foundation and pivotal to the life, continued existence, efficiency of an organization, especially one like ours.

  • FG to boost food production through automated irrigation

    In a bid to boost food security in the country, the Federal Government has introduced automated irrigation technology which enables farmers irrigate their farms with their phones.

    The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) who is the brain behind the project says the technology uses satellite to determine locations in longitude and latitude.

    Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu explained that the government is using its space science technology beyong sending people or satellite to space but to better the lives of citizens.

    Onu stated this in Abuja as he revealed that the technology is the first indigenous automated irrigation system in the country.

    He added that the agency is also working in the areas of artificial intelligence and robotics to make sure that not just agriculture but all sectors of the economy benefits from the technology.

    He stated, ” Space science and technology is not just what a lot of people think, like just sending someone to the moon, it is far more than that, arising from the knowledge that we get from space science and technology we can work on all the vital sectors of the our economy including agriculture, their is no sector that is left out, every sector benefits from innovations arising from space science and technology, today, what we have witnessed here is very important, this is the first indigenous automated irrigation system in the country.

    Read Also: JNI donates food items to prison inmates

    “What this is doing for us is that we can now have agriculture all year round and using solar to power the irrigation system, it will help make young people show interest in farming since they can now make money, by farming several times a year, by this we are going to make farming more attractive and more technology is on its way.

    “We assuring Nigerians that the National Space Research Development Agency is ready to do more, we are working in the areas of artificial intelligence, robotics to make sure that not just agriculture but all sectors of our economy benefits from technology.”

    Director General NASRDA, Prof. Seidu Mohammed explained that the technology has been tested on different soil types and it equally takes care of various crop varieties.

    He said, “We make use of signals from navigation satellite to determine locations in terms of longitude and latitude.

    “This has been tested on different soil types and it also takes care of various crop varieties, it is able to create a perfect intervention in agriculture, it makes agriculture smarter, precise and enable the young ones go back to agriculture.

    “Its a product that operates in three months, you can be at the comfort of your home and irrigate your farm, you can go to the farm to irrigate it and also be automated in such a way that on its own, without you doing anything, it waters it at a particular time and soil moisture level.

    “When the system is set between 8am and 9am for instance the system constantly checks the condition of the soil and reports on the screen ones the soil moisture gets below 15% it triggers up the pump and irrigates the whole farm and ones the soil level gets to 50% it shuts down, we don’t have to physically be at the farm.”

  • FG sign pact to deliver 10, 000 tractors to rural farmers in 774  

    ….Firm unveils plan on local tractor assembling

     

    The Federal Government Thursday signed an agreement with an international tractor manufacturing firm to provide 10, 000 tractors for rural farmers in the country.

    The project will ensure effective delivery of the tractors to farmers in the 774 Local Governments through 2,500 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHE) to be established in the LGs.

    At the pact signing among the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Nigerian Agricultural Mechanization and Equipment Leasing Company (NAMEL) and John Deere in Abuja, the Agriculture Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh said for over 30 years, the federal government repeatedly made efforts to addressing mechanization challenge in the country which unfortunately failed and contributed adversely to development of the sector.

    Describing the initiative as first segment of the AIMS scheme, Ogbeh explained that the project will be closely monitored as farm inputs are being distributed across the local governments.

    He said the solution newly invented will help increase food production with expectation to realize 1 million tractors in 15 years.

    “We have invented something because I do not see any country in Africa that wants to grow its agriculture that can avoid adopting the method Tractors Owners and Hiring Facility Association of Nigeria (TOHFAN) have perfected in the last four years. Managing to rise from five tractors to almost 600 is a feat. If you want to know how difficult it is to own and operate a tractor, try and buy one,” Ogbeh said.

    Read Also:Herdsmen kill three police officers, eight farmers in Nasarawa

    He applauded the farm equipment hiring associations for their ingenuity stressing need to improve on the relationship with John Deere.

    “In the next 15 years, we should be looking at something close to a million tractors in this country because dry season and irrigation agriculture has to grow. Not every farmer needs a tractor, not every farmer should or can afford a tractor and since the bulk of our farmers are small holders, they rely on the services you provide,” he added.

    The minister appealed to the firm to consider establishing fabrication and assembling plants in the country adding that the country had renewed efforts to fix the local steel industry.

    He argued that the population of 450 million people in 30 years is a good market for the firm to explore.

    The Managing Director in charge of Sub Saharan Africa for John Deere, Mr. Jason Brantley at the meeting disclosed plans by the firm to set up assembling plants in Nigeria and ensure technological transfer.

    Brantley said the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement is expected to ensure easy deployment of high quality mechanized equipment to the farmers with support from the AEHE .

    Through smart campaign, the partnership according to him was to expand farmers’ access to farm machines in order to improve yields and make more money.

    “On access to financing, we will offer local currency financing under 10 per cent which is almost unheard of. The reliability and support is built into the machines so that they run – tractors don’t run or feed anybody, they have to run and it takes a significant investment we prepared to make that a reality.

    “Every of these tractors will have hello tractor telematics solutions to enable efficient management, operation and maintenance. We have plans to train the operators and technicians. That’s what we are bringing to the table,” Brantley said.

    “It is part of this agreement; we will all establish assembling facility in Nigeria for John Deere equipment.  Plans are on the way to do that is quickly as possible. So we will begin assembling all the tractors and implements. They will be put together by Nigerians in the country and we will be adding value. That creates a foundation we can continue to grow as the industry grows,” he added.

  • June 12: Obaseki hails sacrifice of Abiola, CSOs, others

    …Lauds FG on declaration

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has hailed the Federal Government’s decision to recognise the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola, noting that the gesture restores hope in democratic ideals.

    In a statement, the governor said that the declaration is a turning point in Nigeria’s history as it recognises the yearnings of Nigerians for democratic society, which the struggle of Chief MKO Abiola and other civil society organisations symbolizes.

    According to him, “On behalf of the good people of Edo State, I salute the wisdom and courage of President Muhammadu Buhari, in recognising and declaring June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day to honour Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential elections.

    Read Also:Buhari apologises over June 12 poll annulment

    “The president’s declaration is a watershed in our political history, an answer to the yearnings of millions of Nigerians and honour for the sacrifices of the actors, who fought tirelessly for the actualization of his mandate and the return of power to the people.

    “I join millions of Nigerians to celebrate this day and wish all lovers of democracy a Happy Democracy Day.”

    He expressed appreciation to the president for the step taken in recognising the import of the day and struggles of pro-democracy groups, noting, “The sacrifices made by actors in the polity to sustain the ideals of democracy are responsible for the growth and development we have today.”

  • Buhari commissions flood, erosion control project in UNICAL

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned and handed over an erosion and flood control project at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

    The project was executed by the Federal Government through the Ecological Fund Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the benefit of the University and its environs.

    The President said the project was one of 18 ecological interventions across the six geo-political zones approved by him in the first quarter of 2017 and awarded by the Federal Executive Council on April 5, 2017.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said the project, which spans about two kilometres, is intended to properly channel waste and flood water into a safe discharge point, thereby preventing erosion and flooding within the University community and hence protect lives and property.

    Read Also:UNICAL lecturer, others in court over certificate forgery allegations

    He said the campus was experiencing serious flooding and environmental degradation, which necessitated prompt intervention from the Federal Government.

    He said the successful completion of the project would stimulate and restore structural integrity of the soil within the University community and reduce dangers to lives and properties associated with erosion and persistent flooding that had been experienced.

    Permanent Secretary in the Ecological Fund Office, Dr Habiba Lawal, said the project was initiated through appeals by the University authority and commenced in April 2017 with a completion period of eight months.

    Lawal, who was represented by Engr Felix Okeke, urged the University to see themselves as owners of the project for its maintenance and sustainability.

    Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Zana Akpagu, said the project was a big relief to the University, as he described the situation before as a nightmare.

    He expressed appreciation to President Buhari for the gesture, and promised to identify with his programmes.

    He said UNICAL was the only University offering compulsory course in anti-corruption at the general studies level in conjunction with ICPC.

    “The project has given us new hope to open up the university towards this axis. Before now it would have been suicidal,” Akpagu said.

  • FG rakes in N30bn from VAIDS

    The federal government has raked in nearly N30 billion from tax the amnesty scheme, the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

    Chairman Federal inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Mr. Tunde Fowler made this disclosure in Abuja Wednesday at the official presentation of VAIDS certificate of declaration to chairmen of states’ tax revenue authority,

    The VAIDS windfall Fowler said was championed by FIRS which was “responsible for the collection of 90% of the amount, while the states were responsible for the 10% collection balance.”

    The N30 billion so far mopped up from tax amnesty programme he said is N3 billion higher than previous N27 billion recovered few months ago.

    He reminded members of Joint Tax Board (JTB) that the beauty of VAIDS went beyond “financial gains but, rather its potential of expanding the tax net.” To this end he reiterated that the programme has also boosted the nation’s tax data base from 14 million to 19 million.

    Read Also:President Buhari extends VAIDS deadline to June 30

    The Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) will terminate in three weeks’ time and speaking to the success of the programme, Fowler stated that the N30billion recovered so far was from both individuals and corporate bodies.

    According to Fowler, “looking beyond the financial returns of the scheme, the impact it has had in promoting voluntary compliance is unquantifiable. One of the outcomes of the scheme, whether directly or indirectly is the growth of the national tax payer database from under 14 million pre 2016 number to over 19 million in 2018, and we are confident that these numbers will translate into a positive growth in the country tax revenue to GDP ratio when the official percentage for 2017 have been released.”

    He expressed delight that some states have achieved significant progress in the scheme’s compliance, which explained why Executive Chairmen of revenue services of such states were invited to share their experiences.

    He admonished State Revenue Chairmen to constantly engage in enlightening tax payers about voluntary tax compliance as a way of building a friendlier tax environment.

    Fowler said VAIDS tax certificate presented to states is not the same with tax clearance certificate, saying one can’t replace the other.

    Aside from VAIDS, Fowler noted that “in recent times, the incidence of illicit financial flows, aggressive tax avoidance and outright tax evasion have come into the front burner. The international community, recognized the need to present a united front against this trend, which is a limiting factor in the quest towards exploiting the inherent potentials of tax as a viable alternative to sustainable revenue generation, especially for developing and emerging economies, have designed and is implementing a number of initiatives that will leave no hiding place for the tax evader”, said FIRS Chairman.

    As part of activities lined up to ensure increased awareness of the scheme in particular and tax compliance in general, staff of JTB Secretariat in collaboration with the federal ministry of finance will take part every Thursday in tax sensitization exercises in the states until the end of the scheme commencing from 14th June, 2018.

  • 22 years after, FG delivers housing project to Bonfrere Jo

    The Federal Government will on Wednesday fulfill it’s long time promise to the former Super Eagles Coach, Bonfrere Jo for winning the Olympics football gold medal in Atlanta 1996.

    The previous administration as at the period promised a befitting housing apartment for the ex-Super Eagles Coach but it remained unfulfilled until now

    Read Also:I miss coaching Nigeria – Bonfrére

    According to the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing, Theodore Ogaziechi, the house which is located in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory is completed and already painted.

    The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola is to personally hand over the keys to the Coach Wednesday in Abuja.

    Details later…