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Tag: Federal government

  • Monkeypox hit Abuja as FG confirms six fresh cases

    Monkeypox hit Abuja as FG confirms six fresh cases

    The Federal Government has confirmed six new cases of the MonekyPox virus in the country, with one case recorded in the Federal Capital Territory.

    Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, made this known in a statement by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director of Media and Public Relations, Ministry of Heath.

    Akinola said apart from the one recorded in Abuja, two cases were confirmed each in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom while Enugu State had one case.

    Ehanire also said investigations were ongoing to see if any of the new cases has a link with the Bayelsa cluster, where the outbreak started.

    He further called for calm among members of the public, adding that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is working with all affected states to ensure case finding and adequate management.

    He added that as frightening as the manifestation of the ailment might seem, no fatality has been recorded to date. As of Oct. 25, a total of 94 suspected cases have been reported from 11 states, (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Rivers and Abuja).

    He said patients of the newly confirmed cases were already being managed by public health authorities and have been receiving appropriate clinical care.

    He said Ministry, through NCDC, was in close contact with all State Epidemiology Teams, and the health facilities providing clinical care to both suspected and confirmed cases.

    He added that State Commissioners of Health have been advised to place all health care facilities and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers on alert, to ensure early case detection, reporting and effective treatment.

    Read also: Monkey Pox victim commits suicide in Bayelsa hospital

    The minister said a National-level Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) led by the NCDC with support from our development partners, was coordinating outbreak investigation and response across affected states.

    He added the EOC included the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as experts from partner agencies.

     

  • Malabu Oil: FG begs for time to produce Adoke, Etete, others in court

    Malabu Oil: FG begs for time to produce Adoke, Etete, others in court

    The Federal Government Thursday urged a Federal High Court in Abuja to accord it more time to produce for trial, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and others charged in the controversial $1.1billion Mababu Oil deal.

    The others are: former Petroleum Minister, Duazia Loya Etete (aka Dan Etete); businessman, Aliyu Abubakar;  Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company, ENI, Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Rocky Top Resource Limited, Imperial Union Limited, Novel Properties and Development Company Limited, Group Construction Limited and Megatech Engineering Limited.

    Adoke and Etete, who are said to be currently outside the country, are accused, in the charge before the court, of complicity in the massive fraud associated with the transfer of OPL 245 earlier held by Malabu Oil to Shell and Agip Oil.

    In the charges filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the defendants are also accused of defrauding the government of $1.1 billion in a fraudulent transfer of OPL 245 ownership.

    When the case was mentioned Thursday, lawyer to the FG, Jonson Ojogbane told the court that the state was still unable to extradite Adoke and Etete for the purpose of producing them and others for arraignment.

    Ojogbane sought for more time for the government to conclude its on-going effort to have Adoke and Etete brought back to the country.

    Ojogbane said: “My Lord, my situation has not improved since the last time I came to court.

    “The process of getting the defendants to appear in court to face arraignment is very cumbersome, but it is ongoing.

    “We are hoping that very soon the process will be concluded,” he said.

    In view of Ojogbane’s request, which was not opposed by other lawyers in the case, Justice John Tsoho adjourned to February 15 next year.

    Ojogbane had, at the previous proceedings on June 13, told the court that the government has initiated the process of extraditing the two former ministers for the purpose of the trial.

    Ojogbane said “the Federal Government is doing everything within its power to bring them back to Nigeria to face trial.

    “The EFCC wants to ensure a holistic approach to the case and we want to ensure that those who are charged are tried together. All we need is some time.

    “If we are able to do this, then we’ll continue. Otherwise we take a major decision to see how we can proceed with those available for the trial.”

    When the case was first mentioned on April 3, Ojogbane told the court that the prosecution was having difficulties serving Adoke and Etete with the charges because they are outside the jurisdiction of the court.

    He applied for a warrant of arrest against both ex-ministers to compel them to attend court to answer to charges, an application Justice Tsoho declined on the grounds that the two have not been arraigned before the court.

  • Buhari assents to North-East Development Commission Bill

    Buhari assents to North-East Development Commission Bill

    President Muhammadu Buhari  has assented to the North East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2017.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters(Senate), Sen Ita Enang, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

    According to him,  the Act, establishes the North-East Development Commission.

    He noted that the commission had the mandate to receive and manage funds allocated by the Federal Government and international donor agencies for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of insurgency.

    He added that the Act  would also help in tackling the menace of poverty and environmental challenges in the North –East.

    “It provides for  offices of  Chairman, Managing Director, Executive Director (Administration and Finance), Executive Director (Humanitarian Affairs), Executive Director (Operations) and members representing the North East Zone to be rotated amongst member states of the commission.

    “The commission will among other things coordinate projects and programmes within the Master Plan for the rehabilitation, resettlement, reconciliation, reconstruction and sustainable development of the North-East Zone.

    “This will be done in the field of infrastructure, human and social services, including health and nutrition, education and water supply, agriculture, wealth creation and employment opportunities, urban and rural development and poverty alleviation.

    “The commission will also liaise with federal ministries, departments, agencies, states and development partners on  implementation of all measures approved in the Master Plan for stabilization and development of the North-East by the Federal Government.

    “It will equally assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the North-East by any federal ministry, department and agency or company that has an agreement with the Federal Government, and ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilised.

    “The commission will equally liaise with other stakeholders on  tackling of humanitarian, ecological and environmental problems and degradation that arise from natural causes, insurgency and industrial activities in the North-East Zone,’’ he said.

    Enang further said the commission would seek humanitarian, human, material, technical and financial support from development partners, local or international, and Non-Governmental Organisations, with a view to developing the North-East region.

    He pointed  out that the commission was saddled with the responsibility of co-coordinating civil-military confidence building, stabilization measures and  activities that lie within the civil-military interface especially before, during and after military and security operations.

    He stressed that one other key role of the commission was to act as the focal point to coordinate and harmonise all other interventions programmes and initiatives that the federal government was involved with in the North-East.

    The Senior Special Assistant said that  the Act as assented to, had been communicated to appropriate authorities.(NAN)

  • FG’s $406m suit against Shell stalled

    FG’s $406m suit against Shell stalled

    Hearing in a suit by the Federal Government against Shell Western Supply and Trading Ltd was stalled Monday at the Federal High Court in Lagos due to the absence of Justice Mojisola Olatoregun.

    The judge was said to be attending a conference in Abuja.

    The plaintiff sued the oil company for $406.8 million which is an alleged payment shortfall in crude oil shipment.

    Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nig. Ltd and Shell Western Supply and Trading Ltd are the respondents.

    A similar case by the Federal Government against Agip Oil was also adjourned.

    The plaintiff is claiming $406.8million representing the shortfall of money paid into the Federal Government’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The money was said to be for crude oil lifted in 2013 and 2014.

    In a supporting affidavit, the plaintiff accused the Anglo-Dutch company of not declaring or under-declaring crude oil shipments during the period.

    It said the discovery was made following forensic analysis of bills of laden and shipping documents.

    The plaintiff said it engaged a consortium of experts to track the global movements of the country’s hydro-carbons, including crude oil and gas.

    Discrepancies in the export records from Nigeria with the import records at U.S. ports were discovered, the plaintiff said.

    The defendants allegedly failed to respond to a Federal Government’s letter through its legal representative seeking clarification on the discrepancies.

    The Federal Government is, therefore, demanding the total value of the missing revenue, as well as 21 per cent interest on the sum per annum until liquidated.

    The Federal government filed similar suits against Chevron, Total and Agip before the court.

    It is praying for $12.7 billion dollars over alleged non-declaration of 57 million barrels of crude shipped to the U.S. between 2011 and 2014.

    The oil companies are among 15 oil majors which the Federal Government is trying to recover $17 billion in undeclared revenue from.

    The case has now been fixed for November 15.

  • Anti-grazing law: Ortom warns traditional rulers

    Anti-grazing law: Ortom warns traditional rulers

    Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has said traditional rulers found to be constituting themselves into criminal elements to frustrate the implementation of the anti-open  grazing law would be removed from office.

    Speaking while inaugurating local government committees for the implementation of the law yesterday at Benue People’s House, Governor Ortom said traditional rulers are expected to facilitate easy implementation of the law in their various domains.

    While emphasizing that the law protects both herdsmen and farmers, he warned that any one who rustles cattle would face the law just as any person  that trespasses into farms with livestock would be prosecuted accordingly.

    The governor said herdsmen that have been staying in Benue should not allow foreigners to come in and noted that the authorities can manage the  indigenous Fulani and their livestock.

    Governor Ortom further stated that the Fulani that can speak Idoma, Tiv and other languages should prevent foreigners from infiltrating in their own interest and explained that livestock guards are going to be trained to help in the implementation of the law.

    According to him, those skeptical of the law should Give it a chance. He made it clear that those insisting that they must graze their cattle when there is no land for grazing should go to states where there is land for such.

    He recalled that when herdsmen were killing Benue people in hundreds, he did not allow them to arm themselves because violence and chaos would not do good to anybody.

    He maintained that the people depend on farming now that salary payment is a problem and urged livestock owners, farmers and other stakeholders to  key into ranching like the Federal Government.

    Ortom made herdsmen who also attended the inauguration in large numbers to understand that cattle rearing is business just  like farming.

    Special adviser to the governor on security, Col Edwin Jando, in a remark, said a census of the Fulani  in Benue was being taken and added that six pilot ranches would be established.

    Jando said such ranches would have clinics, bore holes, police posts and other facilities and urged herdsmen in the various villages to liaise with such communities to establish ranches where they can get cheap food for their cows and themselves.

  • World Bank denies disagreeing with Adeosun n foreign borrowings

    World Bank denies disagreeing with Adeosun n foreign borrowings

    The World Bank Group, yesterday, denied that the Bank disagreed with the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, over the borrowings by the Nigerian Government to stimulate the economy and finance infrastructure projects in the country.

    A statement from the ministry said the World Bank through the Senior Communications Officer of the World Bank, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud, sent a mail to the Minister the Bank insisting that “the media misrepresented and quoted out of context the comments made by its Senior Economist for Nigeria, Gloria Joseph-Raji, at an event in Abuja.”

    According to the statement, Benmessaoud was quoted to have said that, “on October 11th, during the launch of Africa’s Pulse, the World Bank’s biannual analysis of African economies, World Bank Senior Economist for Nigeria, Gloria Joseph-Raji, was asked by a reporter to share her views on the Federal Government’s plan to increase external borrowing.

    “At no point did she mention that the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) disagree on the need to rebalance the country’s debt portfolio. Where expenditures exceed revenue, governments will need to borrow.

    “In doing so, the Federal Government is trying to rebalance its portfolio towards more external borrowing with lower interest rates and longer maturities.”

    The World Bank Senior Economist was quoted by Benmessaoud to have commended the Nigerian Government’s effort to re-balance its portfolio in order to lower the cost of its borrowing, as outlined in its 2016-2019 medium term debt management strategy released last year.

    “The use of IDA concessional financing, among others, is supportive of the FGN’s effort in this regard, with the added focus on poverty alleviation and building shared prosperity in Nigeria.

    “The latest issue of Africa’s Pulse points out that growth is Nigeria is projected to pick up from 1.0 per cent in 2017 to 2.5 per cent in 2018 and 2.8 per cent in 2019. While Government debt in 2017 is projected to rise, it remains low in Nigeria,” Joseph-Raji was further quoted to have stated.

    The World Bank spokesman expressed the Bank’s full commitment to help the Nigerian Government restore macroeconomic resilience as well as strengthen the ongoing economic recovery and achieve sustainable inclusive growth.

    The Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, who led the Nigerian delegation to the 2017 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, had in Washington on Sunday, said the Federal Government would be prudent in the management of its foreign borrowings.

    She noted that the Government adopted an expansionary fiscal policy with an enlarged budget in order to deliver a fundamental structural change to the economy, thereby reducing the country’s exposure to crude oil.

    “Why are we borrowing? Mobilising revenue aggressively was not advisable, nor indeed possible, in a recessed economy. But as Nigeria now reverts to growth, our revenue strategy will be accelerated.

    “This is being complimented by a medium-term debt strategy that is focusing more on external borrowings to avoid crowding out the private sector.

    “This would also reduce the cost of debt servicing and shift the balance of our debt portfolio from short-term to longer-term instruments. This Government will be very prudent around debt. We won’t borrow irresponsibly,” Adeosun explained.

    The foreign borrowings, which are at lower interest rates, according to her, will also prevent job losses.

    “With Nigeria’s source of revenue dropping by nearly 85 per cent, the country had no option but to borrow.  The option before the country was to either cut public services massively, which should have led to massive job losses, or borrow in the short-term, until it begins to generate sufficient revenues, she said.

    “We felt that laying-off thousands of persons was not the best way to stimulate growth. Also, when we came into office, about 27 states could not pay salary. If we had allowed that situation to persist, we would have been in depression by now.

    “So, we took the view as a government  that the best thing to do was to stimulate growth and spend our way out of trouble, get the state governments to pay salaries, making  sure that the federal government pays and invests in capital infrastructure,” said Adeosun.

  • Monkeypox: FG confirms 74 suspected cases in 11 states

    Monkeypox: FG confirms 74 suspected cases in 11 states

    The Federal Government on Wednesday said that there are 74 suspected cases of monkeypox in eleven states of the Federation.

    The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, briefed State House correspondences at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the eleven states are Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers.

    Read also: Don’t panic over Monkey pox, Commissioner urges Ondo residents

    While stressing that outbreak was confirmed in Bayelsa, he said that out of the 19 samples tested, 3 tested positive from Bayelsa 12 tested negative from Bayelsa, and 4 tested negative from Lagos.

    Against the rumors in some states, he said that the military is not involved in any monkey pox vaccination.

     

    Details Later…

     

     

  • Customs seize N30m contraband in Sokoto, Kebbi

    Customs seize N30m contraband in Sokoto, Kebbi

    The Federal Operation Unit ( FOU ) Zone `B’ of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has seized second hand clothes, rice, cooking oil and vehicles worth N30 million in the last six months at borders across Sokoto and Kebbi states.

    The Federal Controller, Mr Usman Dakingari, told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that the items were seized from April and the unit had strategies to address smuggling in all axis, including porous borders.

    Dakingari said smuggling of banned items remained customs challenge in the 11 states under the zone and urged border communities to assist customs with useful information as smuggling deprived Nigeria of economic progress.

    “The Federal Government intensifies efforts on reviving cotton, rice and soya beans cultivation to enhance indigenous textiles, rice and cooking oil processing factories.

    “The efforts will provide employment and general income to government to execute needed projects, but smuggling activities cripple the system’’ Dakingari said.

    He said that such smuggled products constituted health hazard, stressing that customs officers and men were being motivated to ensure that they lived up to expectation.

    The controller expressed the unit’s commitment to its primary duty of anti-smuggling in all forms.

    NAN

  • Rich Nigerians should pay more tax- Senate

    Rich Nigerians should pay more tax- Senate

    Asks FG to implement free compulsory education

     

    The Senate yesterday backed the Federal Government’s position that rich Nigerians should be made to pay more taxes as a way to engender wealth redistribution in the country.

    The upper chamber said that said that people who earn higher emolument should pay high taxes on luxury goods.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over yesterday’s plenary said the rich must pay more taxes, while poor Nigerians should pay less.

    He said with more money in government’s confers, more Nigerians will be lifted out of poverty.

    Ekweremadu was contribution to a motion on eradication of poverty raised by Senator Ali Wakili and 22 others to commemorate United Nations International Day for the eradication of poverty.

    Ekweremadu said, “In other countries of the world, governments make deliberate efforts to get their people out of poverty. This is the practice all over the world. Nigeria should not be different. We need to provide for our people and get them out of poverty.

    “There are so many ways we can achieve this. Government needs to implement policies that will take us out of poverty. One of them is the issue of taxation. The rich need to pay more taxes, while the poor should pay less. When the rich pay more taxes, there will be enough money to get our people out of poverty.

    “We have our able youths who are jobless, despite the fact that they are educated. This cannot continue. We need to provide jobs for our youths and take them off the streets. As a parliament, we will take the necessary steps to ensure that this is achieved.”

    Read: Nigeria loses over N15tr yearly to tax evasion 

    Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had while speaking to the press at the annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC on Sunday, insisted people with higher income must bear a greater part of the tax burden.

    Wakili in the motion noted that a recent report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), no fewer than 112 million Nigerians representing 67.1 per cent of the country’s estimated population, now live below the poverty level.

    He said that commemoration is intended to promote dialogue and understanding between people living in poverty and their communities and society.

    “It is meant to demonstrate the strong bonds of solidarity between people living in poverty and people from all works of life, and the commitment to work together to overcome extreme poverty,” Wakili said.

    Senator Shehu Sani, (Kaduna central) in his contribution lamented that more than 80 per cent of Nigerians live below the poverty level.

    The lawmaker said that successive governments have not done enough to implement programmes that will lift Nigerians out of poverty.

    Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) described poverty as a weapon of mass destruction.

    He noted that China in the last 20 years has lifted more 300 million of its citizens out of poverty.

    Barau urged the Federal Government to do more and implement social programmes to lift the living conditions of Nigerians.

    Lawmakers, after a brief debate, called on the Federal Government to declare free education at every level.

    The upper chamber said that policies and programmes evolved by the Federal Government through the Social Investment Programmes and other poverty alleviation and eradication measures be vigorously pursued.