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Tag: Federal government

  • Cattle colony: Reps suggest cattle breeding settlement

    Cattle colony: Reps suggest cattle breeding settlement

    The House of Representatives has kicked against the proposed establishment of cattle colony by the Federal government as a solution to the open cattle grazing and its attendant consequences on communities across the country.

    Rather, the lawmakers advised the Federal government to work out modalities for the establishment of cattle breeding settlements as a lasting solution to incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Mohammed Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa), who regretted that the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers have presented serious security challenges in the polity.

    He said: “It is noted that the Federal Government’s proposal to establish cattle colonies in every State in Nigeria to cater for the herdsmen and their cattle as a lasting solution to the continuous clashes which, in most cases, result in senseless and avoidable loss of lives and properties.

    “We are however concerned that the decision to establish cattle colonies in each State could be in violation of Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Land Use Act as those colonies will remain the exclusive reserve of the individual State governments and as such, would not guarantee total freedom to the herdsmen.

    “It must be said that cattle rearing is not an exclusive reserve of the Fulanis as other tribes also engage in the business and that is why we are determined to provide a lasting solution to the incessant conflicts between herdsmen and farm owners, hence modern breeding practices should be encouraged.

    “We are convinced that ranching will offer longer lasting solution to the recurring conflicts between herdsmen and farmers, if the herdsmen would be fully sensitized and educated about the benefits of the program, as it would enable them assume full ownership of those ranches”.

    In its resolution, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been urged to liaise with State Ministries of Agriculture to speedily educate  and encourage the herdsmen on the benefits of ranching.

  • What’ll solve downstream problems – Kachikwu 

    What’ll solve downstream problems – Kachikwu 

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, Tuesday, said that unless urgent solutions are proffered to the issues of pricing of petroleum products, fixing the existing refineries and encouraging private investors to build new ones, the Nigeria’s downstream challenges will not be solved.

    He urged that care should be taken to ensure that people are not made to suffer unduly, while attempting to review the prices of petrol and other commodities.

    Kachikwu, who spoke at the ongoing Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja, said, “Ultimately, the greater challenge that this country would have and still have is that of pricing.

    “Everybody wants power, available gas and freely delivered fuel with no queues, but people are not willing to make the sacrifices that are essential for these things to happen.

    “Sometimes, it is a pricing issue. We have got to get to a point where we got to deal with some of these issues in a manner that doesn’t hurt our people but at the same time create the level of efficiency as to remove arbitrages and patronages that are inbuilt in them.”

    “Refineries and local production are key. We expect a 12 to 18 months corridor of construction and hopefully, at that point, we would get our refineries back. However, if we get refineries back by 2019, does that solve the problem? No, it doesn’t. You still have to deal with the pricing issues, because nobody is going to build a refinery and sell products at a loss.”

    The challenges notwithstanding, the Federal Government would be setting parameters and incentives for building of refineries.

    According to him, this is to ensure that a typical producer, especially the small level producers are able to see enough incentives to be able to get some of their products refined in-country, then exported.

    “That is the major policy directive. There are going to be incentives for those who are doing the major practical investments in the refineries for example. There is not a dearth of opportunities in this country. I do not know of any country with the vast opportunities that Nigeria possesses,” he insisted.

    The minister argued that there was actually no reason why oil companies would do their business in Nigeria and take 100 per cent of the crude oil produced out of the country.

    “What are they doing with it? They are going to take it to refineries; they are going to crack them somewhere. If there are incentives for them to crack them here, they would do so. Ultimately, Nigeria must aim to be the refining corridor for the whole of Africa. That is becoming very critical,” Kachikwu noted.

    “If we do all that concerning the planned investments in refineries, my position is that the business has got to change. It has got to change to taking your crude oil and been able to refine. It has got to change to be a major player in the power sector. It is got to change from oil, into gas and into clean energy. We have got to look into moving incentives away from oil, back into gas and back into cleaner energy.”

  • Protect lives at all cost, catholic bishops tell FG

    Protect lives at all cost, catholic bishops tell FG

    The Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have  urged the Federal Government to protect all human lives at all costs to avoid disintegration and destruction of the Nigerian society.

    The bishops speaking through their representative, Bishop  Emmanuel Badejo, made this call at a public  presentation of two books on Thursday at the John Paul II Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

    The books are entitled: “A Catechism on Human Life: From Conception to Natural Death and A Catechism on Marriage and The Family: The Teachings of the Catholic Church”.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the province comprises of Ibadan Archdiocese, Osogbo, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Illorin Dioceses.

    Bishop Badejo of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo  said that where basic human lives were concerned, the government should be accountable by protecting them.

    He added that government had the responsibility to protect lives irrespective of ethnicity, religion and ideology.

    “The government is supposed to serve the people and everything done by the government must be of benefit to  the people, which includes protecting their lives.

    ” Government  must do this not to favour anybody, any institution or personality at the expense of people’s lives.

    “Every human life that is lost is blood crying out to God for vengeance and this can mean the destruction of a society.

    “We suffer from daily sights of killings of adults, babies and pregnant women.

    “Human life is becoming less valuable and any society that tolerates that is on the death row. In Nigeria we don’t want to be on the death row.

    “The basic duty of government is to protect human lives, all other things fade into insignificance,” he said.

    Badejo also advised the government to have respect for the traditional institution of marriage and shun laws that seek to abolish it.

    “The three main pillars of humanity in Africa are : the protection of human lives, marriage and the protection of the family.

    “What we have now are so many wayward teachings.

    “If the  family system and marriage institution  are not protected,  eventually society will disintegrate.

    “That is why God made it possible for only man and woman to procreate,” he said.

    In his remarks, Archbishop  Gabriel Abegunrin of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan  said the traditional institution of family and marriage was being challenged by ideological and economic motives.

    “There are a lot of false teachings, misconceptions about human lives.

    “It has become pertinent for the church to speak as eloquently as possible in a world where misguided emphasis is laid on mundane and material things.

    “There is no doubt that the world today needs restoration through education and social mobilisation.

    “Marriage institution still has values and worth and if you want to help the nation, you have to help the family take care of the children,” he said.

    Abegunrin urged every citizen to have complete respect for  the dignity and the sanctity of human life.

    “In this age,  people have forgotten that life belongs to God and have lost the conscience that God alone has right over human lives and no man should take it.

    “We are calling on people of goodwill to shun any practice against human life.

    “We are talking about development of the society. Human life is sacred, no other human being has the right to terminate another’s.” he said.

    Dr Julianna Olusanmi, a human rights activist, said that the family remained the root and  the building block of the human society.

    “The role of family in the society should not be underestimated. It is pertinent to societal development or its lack.

    “If you help the family, you help the nation. Bad leaders come from bad families,” she said.

    The book reviewer, Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, said that the books were written to correct misconceptions and misguided principles about marriage, conception and family that were anti-Christians and anti-Africa.

    He described the book as a moral guide to not only Christians but to all people of goodwill.

    “The two books confront misleading ideology but seek to better educate Christians about marriage and promote and protect traditional Christian values,” he said. (NAN)

  • Fed Govt: we’ll not divert capital project votes to fund election

    Fed Govt: we’ll not divert capital project votes to fund election

    CAPITAL votes in the 2018 Appropriation Bill would be strictly deployed to fund infrastructural projects by the Federal Government, Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi has said.

    She told those expressing fear that such funds may be diverted to other uses to perish the thought, saying that the era of funding elections with votes meant for capital projects was gone for good.

    The minister said the government would retain the capital projects despite the general elections next year.

    Responding to an enquiry by a member of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 26 on the use of the capital budget for the general elections, Mrs. Adeosun maintained that diverting funds meant for capital projects for election purposes was not on the card of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mrs. Adeosun disclosed that going forward, capital votes would be strictly applied  to fund infrastructural projects, particularly the completion of ongoing projects.

    A statement signed by her media aide, Mr. Oluyinka Akintunde, said the minister allayed the fears at the weekend in Abuja while representing Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at a lecture delivered to the National Defence College (NDC) Course 26 participants.

    Mrs. Adeosun was quoted as saying: “The administration remains committed to infrastructure spending at the high levels of the past two years and the completion of major ongoing projects.”

    She further reiterated the administration’s commitment to its programme of transformation, jobs and wealth creation.

    President Muhammadu had on November 7, 2017 presented a budget of N8.612 trillion to the National Assembly, with a focus on massive infrastructure development including: strategic roads, rail and power projects.

    In his address read by Mrs. Adeosun, the vice president said the improvement in economic security was vital to Nigeria’s economic growth, human security improvement and realisation of national defence and security requirements.

    He assured that the Federal Government would continue to play a key role in ensuring national cohesion by promoting social inclusion as a key state objective.

    The address stated: “Economic development is a springboard for improved national security because it comes with growth which enables more resources for a growing population.

    “National economic development means that a country can meet its national security needs without depending on outsiders for the provision of its defence and security needs. Depending on food and energy imports makes a nation vulnerable to external pressure.”

    Prof Osinbajo, who chairs the Economic Management Team (EMT), disclosed that the administration adopted the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) as a response to the recession towards restoring growth and reducing Nigeria’s vulnerability to external shocks.

    According to him, the ERGP was initiated to address macroeconomic balance, increase contribution of agriculture, manufacturing, mining and high value services to the economy, build a competitive economy through the provision of infrastructure, and invest in the Nigerian people.

    On the Social Investment Programme (SIP), Osinbajo told his audience that about 200,000 N-Power Jobs had been created under the programme while 250 million meals had been served under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

    He added that 300,000 micro loans had been issued under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme.

    Osinbajo was upbeat about Nigeria’s outlook for this year, noting that the government expects the economy to grow by 3.5 per cent, about 1.4 per cent more than the 2.1 per cent projection by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    He said: “The inflation projection of 15.74% by end of 2017 was achieved and there is good reason to believe that the EGRP target of 12.42 per cent by the end of 2018 can be achieved.

    “With regard to foreign exchange reserves, the level of $40.3 billion achieved by end January is already quite close to the amount of $43.53 billion projected in the ERGP for the end of this year. Given the current state of the oil market, this is a target that can readily be achieved.”

  • Lassa-fever: FG wants better partnership with states

    Lassa-fever: FG wants better partnership with states

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has called on State Governments to intensify partnership with the Federal Government in order to combat Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

    Adewole made the appeal at an emergency meeting of the National Council on Health ( NCH ), organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja.

    He pointed out that the federal government had not got the commensurate co-operation from the states in the fight against the epidemic.

    Read also: Lassa fever death toll hits 31 in 15 states

    “The question people often ask is, ‘did we prepare for this outbreak?’ The answer is yes, but somewhere along the line, we did not get the commensurate co-operation from the states.

    “This is because we tend to assume that all must happen in Abuja. The answer is no. In fact, much will happen at the state governments’ level and that is why we need a partnership.

    “We will also talk more about this when we will be talking about a functional partnership,” the minister said.
    Adewole advised each state to have an operation centre to cater for public health challenges.

    “We need to look at operation centre, and what we want is situation where at the states’ level we will recreate these centres,” the minister said.

    Adewole also urged state commissioners for health to brief their governors on public health challenges every week.

    “We are all in this together and we need to mobilise support towards ending the spate of outbreaks, particularly Lassa fever.

    “The National Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC ) and tertiary hospitals has done remarkably well.

    “But we need to do more by working with them. I am challenging all state commissioners to take this as a challenge.

    “I want each commissioner to talk to me once, at least, once in a week about the state of public health in his or her state,” he said.
    Besides, the minister enjoined them to improve their response and investment in prevention and control of diseases.

    NAN

  • Herdsmen/farmers conflict inimical to agricultural policy – Commissioner

    Herdsmen/farmers conflict inimical to agricultural policy – Commissioner

    The Taraba Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr David Kassa says the lingering clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country is derailing the Federal Government’s agriculture programmes.

    Kassa said this at an interactive session with newsmen in Jalingo on Tuesday. According to him, the conflict if not checked can plunge the country into a food crisis.

    The commissioner noted that the Federal Government’s appeal for people to go back to the farms in order to divert attention from oil had become counterproductive because of the lingering herdsmen/farmers crisis.

    “The Federal Government should treat this issue as a national emergency.

    Read also: I won’t stop talking on herdsmen killings – Ortom

    “People have to go to the bushes to practice agriculture, but now, millions of farmers can’t go to farm because of herdsmen attacks, and food crisis is eminent in this country.

    “Taraba and Benue are known for food production, but today millions of farmers in these states and beyond can’t go to their farms.

    “It’s a thing of concern and the Federal Government must act fast to avert food crisis in the coming year,” he said.

    Kassa appealed to the Federal Government to consider putting a legislation that would encourage establishment of ranches as permanent solution to the killings.

    According to him, the open grazing prohibition law enacted by the Taraba government is part of deliberate efforts to end the incessant clashes between herders and farmers.

    “The Federal Government, the UN and other agencies can come in and provide incentives for people to go into ranching, which is the best practice of cattle rearing all over the world today.

    “Government can do that by encouraging herders to form cooperative societies as its being done in other crop practice to make it easy for government and the international organisations to easily identify them for intervention,” he said.

    NAN

  • NPC workers’ strike “put on hold” – Union

    NPC workers’ strike “put on hold” – Union

    Striking workers of the National Population Commission ( NPC ) on Tuesday said their protest had been “put on hold’’ pending the response of the Federal Government to their demands.

    The President of the workers union, Mrs Rita Agaba, made this known in Abuja.

    She explained that the strike was put on hold following the intervention of the National Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) and Trade Union Congress.

    Agaba said the union members decided to put on hold the strike in respect of the NLC and TUC with offices reopened.

    However, the unionist maintained that they would operate a work-to-rule regime to facilitate dialogue and in anticipation of government positive response.

    Read also: Fire guts National Population Commission’s Lagos office

    The leadership of organised labour on January 29 directed the aggrieved NPC workers to suspend their strike to give room for dialogue.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) with his counterpart, Mr Bobboi Kaigama, President, Trade Union Congress ( TUC ) gave the directive while addressing the NPC staff in Abuja.

    Agaba also disclosed that the scheduled Jan. 30 meeting between leaders of the NPC workers’ union and the Secretary to Government of Federation had been postponed till further notice.

    Reports say that the NPC workers embarked on the strike in the last three weeks to protest the reappointment of their Director-General, Dr Ghaji Bello, by the federal government.

    The workers are also demanding for improved working condition and probe of the finances of the commission.

    NAN

  • NLC tells workers to vote out defaulting governors

    NLC tells workers to vote out defaulting governors

    The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has urged workers to get their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) to vote out state governors owing salaries and allowances.

    A statement signed by Ms Freda Ukpoju, Media Officer, Say No Campaign, a Civil Society Organisation ( CSO ), on Tuesday quoted Wabba as making the call at the group’s “DoroCorruption programme’’ held in Abuja.

    Wabba decried the ordeal of workers at the hands of state governments in Nigeria, insisting that the Nigerian government treat workers like slaves.

    “It is time the workers used their numbers to push back; I encourage members to get their PVCs to vote out every defaulting state governor.

    Read also: NLC rejects APC panel’s proposal on minimum wage, local govts

    “State governments owing salaries were given bailouts and different Federal Government interventions, including the Paris club funds meant to offset their debts to state workers.

    “While some have met their responsibilities and paid off, chronic debtors like Benue and Kogi states remain adamant in fulfilling their responsibilities and clearing their debts.

    “The challenge is not lack of resources but sheer unwillingness and misplaced priorities. ‘’

    Wabba said that the reality of the matter was that the problem had never been about resources, saying “In most of those states, their priority is not to pay salaries but white elephant projects.’’

    He said that before this current administration came in, Plateau owed seven months salaries but through ingenuity, the governor utilised all the money given to him to settle everybody.

    He said that many states had utilised their money, but some states, about twelve of them, including Benue and Kogi had failed.

    He, however, said that the governors should be held accountable because democracy was about the people.

    He said that if as governors, they were not able to address the fundamental constitutional issue of security and welfare of the people then the people also must be able to hold them accountable.

    “Workers and pensioners must unite to use their PVC to chase these type of people out of government; if workers, in unity, demand it and also use their power of franchise to vote them out of office,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the co-convener, Say No Campaign, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, encouraged citizens to join unions or associations and actively participate in ensuring that their collective interests were championed.

    Nwagwu said that where members noticed that leadership had been compromised or failed to promote their interest, there should be no hesitation in voting such leaders out.

    He said that the demand for accountability should begin at the  communities level, adding that only when citizens were able to hold their leaders accountable, would they have the courage to hold government accountable.

    He advised Nigerians not to be divided along ethnic or religious sentiments in the demand for accountability because citizens needed to develop the culture of giving ultimatums to government and demand urgent response to their plights.

    He condemned state governors owing workers and insisted that they were inflicting the worst kind of terror on their people by attacking their means of survival.

    NAN

  • Kogi to get $1.6m FG grant for healthcare delivery —Minister

    Kogi to get $1.6m FG grant for healthcare delivery —Minister

    For judicious utilization of previous grant, Kogi state will receive $1.6 million (N576m) from the Federal Government for health care, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has said.

    The grant is from the Saving One Million Lives(SOML) counterpart fund to Kogi State government  as “an incentive  to do more’’ towards improving healthcare delivery in the state.

    The state’s qualification for the extra grant is due to its judicious use of the previous $1.5m granted the state last year, according to Adewole.

    The Minister stated this at the Flag-off ceremony of “Health Care Plus’’  intervention programme and the unveiling of delivery kit, post-partum haemorrhage pack and hypertensive pack, held yesterday in Lokoja.

    Adewole called on other state governments to emulate the Kogi state government’s commitment  by investing in health programmes that touch their citizens’ lives.

    He also commended the Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello, for his impressive response, initiative and commitment towards the improvement of the well-being of the citizenry as demonstrated through the investments and several rehabilitation projects recorded in the health sector across the state.

    In his response, Governor Bello, said the ‘Health care Plus’ project was launched to further stem the tide of maternal and child mortality in Kogi state because of the benefit the citizens stood to gain.

    The Governor added that the project was also a fulfillment of the pledge he made to the people when he assumed office two years ago.

    He explained that the package would create a niche for itself in Nigeria as it comprises many positive peculiarities compared with similar projects across the country.

  • Chinese firm set to develop Inland Container Depot in Edo

    Chinese firm set to develop Inland Container Depot in Edo

    A Chinese firm, China Harbour Engineering Company (Nig.) Ltd, has indicated its readiness to go into partnership with Atlantique Marine Engineering Services, Edo Inland Container Depot,  known as AMES-Edo ICD on export.

    Mr Jason Wang, who led a seven-man delegation of the firm to the state on the invitation of Edo Government, dropped the hint on Friday in Benin.

    Wang and his team also visited the Gelegele seaport, the operational base of the AMES-Edo Inland Container Depot to assess the work done so far.

    Wang said he was impressed and that his firm would look at possible ways of collaborating and partnering with AMES-Edo to drive the project to its earliest conclusion and begin full operation.

    “We are impressed with the work done here so far. China Harbour Engineerng Company ( Nig.) Ltd will look at possible ways of collaboration to drive the project to its earliest conclusion,” he said.

    He said the team was in the state as a follow up to  Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s business visit to the company in China about three weeks ago where an MOU was signed by the state government and the company to develop the Gelegele Seaport.

    READ ALSO: Gelegele Seaport: China Harbour arrives Benin, commences work on project

    Dr Charles Akhigbe, Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of Atlantique Marine and Engineering Services, AMES, the promoters of the AMES-Edo inland container depot, said the organisation was confident that the proposed inland container depot would reduce the cost of export of agricultural produce and increase government’s GDP.

    Akhigbe disclosed that the port was just three steps from final approval for full operations to commence.

    He said  the project would create not less than 3,000 jobs for youths and provide the platform for exchange of knowledge between government and foreign investors.

    He also said that the container depot would emerge as the pioneer full-fledged inland container depot in Southern Nigeria to commence operation and would immediately serve the need of haulage services.

    According to Wang, the company has already commenced negotiation with the Federal Government to build modern railway lines as a primary mode for long distance haulage of cargo, noting that 75 per cent of Nigeria’s total export passed through Edo.

    “Discussion is ongoing with the Nigeria Railway Corporation to use BOT PPP mode to construct 110km short spur line from Agbor to Edo inland container depot.

    “For now the inland container depot will operate 100 per cent by road but in the next 6-10 years, 40 per cent will go by road while 60 per cent will be by rail.

    “The phases one and two of the inland container depot would accommodate 12, 000 units of 40ft TEUs and 8,000 units of 40ft TEUs with a maximum of 25,000 TEUs at any given time,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo Governor on Business Bureau, Mr. Edward Osayande, said the governor was committed to industrialising the state by encouraging public private partnership.

    He said the inland container depot was the central plank of the state government’s effort at creating jobs through industrialisation.

    He also stressed the need to bring the Gelegele Seaport, AMES-Edo inland container depot and Edo Industrial Park together to drive development in the state.

    NAN