The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • ‘FG’s N5000 stipend to poor Nigerians will reduce poverty’

    ‘FG’s N5000 stipend to poor Nigerians will reduce poverty’

    The Osun Government says the monthly payment of N5,000 by the Federal Government to vulnerable Nigerians will reduce poverty, crime and other social vices in the country.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the Governor, in Osogbo on Thursday.

    It said the Federal Government’s gesture, coupled with the Osun government monthly payment of N10,000 to vulnerable elderly persons in the state, would reduce hunger among the citizenry.

    The statement added that the implementation of the N-Power programme in which youths would be paid N30,000 monthly would reduce youth restiveness and kidnapping in the country.

    “It is germane at this stage to congratulate the federal government for the commencement of payment of monthly stipends to its successful applicants for the N-Power and the payment of monthly stipends of N5,000 to vulnerable but socially responsible poor in our society,” it said.

    The Osun government said it was also complementing the federal government’s fight against poverty and hunger by employing more than 20,000 youths under its Youth Employment Scheme.

    According to the statement, the state is also paying N10,000 monthly to 1, 602 vulnerable elderly persons while more than 252, 000 pupils in elementary public schools are being fed under the school feeding programme.

    It stressed that the nation’s many problems were not beyond redemption, adding that with the implementation of the social welfare programmes, Nigeria was on the path to recovery.

    The statement further urged the federal government to intensify efforts at achieving a nationwide implementation of the school feeding programme.

  • FG approves weapons for Aviation Security

    FG approves weapons for Aviation Security

    The Federal Government has approved that the Aviation Security personnel should bear arms to enhance the security of passengers and installations across the nation’s airports.

    The Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, stated this when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said that his ministry would partner with the Ministry of Interior and other stakeholders in the training of the affected Aviation Security personnel in arms’ handling.

    “We are very serious about aviation security, just last week the President approved that aviation security should bear arms, so we are trying to make them take the form and shape of TSA of the US with K-9 dogs, handcuffs, the guards, the batons, light weapons, etc.

    “The Minister of Interior is helping us in that regard from the directive of Mr President to partner with them and other stakeholders to ensure we keep our airports secure.

    “So, very soon you will them with uniform, doing different functions and securing our airports.

    “All these will be unveiled at the next stakeholders meeting,’’ he said.

    The minister also disclosed that the council approved N1.1 billion for the completion of the Kaduna International Airport Terminal building.

    He said the contract for the rehabilitation of the building was initially awarded in 2011 at the cost of about N500 million.

    He said the contractor noticed some structural damages to the building which necessitated the variation of the contract sum to the N1.1 billion.

    “FEC has approved the completion of Kaduna terminal building. It was awarded in 2011 and commenced in 2012.

    “During the rehabilitation of the terminal building a contractor noticed some structural damages to the building itself and then increased the scope of what to be done to put it to use and that necessitated the variation of the contract sum.

    “The cost of variation is in excess of 15 per cent, it had to go to the then President Goodluck Jonathan for approval anticipation, that was approved and they went to BPP.

    “So we brought it to council today to ratify and of course taking into cognisance the exchange rate and inflation that has increased the cost of completion of the terminal building.

    “Council has approved the completion of that terminal building and it will be completed in six months.’’

    On how to manage the closure of Abuja airport and construction of Kaduna airport terminal building, Sirika stated the rehabilitation work would not hinder flight operations.

    “There is another elaborate terminal robust enough to take the passengers for the operation of six weeks.

    “It will not stop them also from working. It may be also a bonus likely if the contractor is able to run through and finish before March.

    “But, whether it finishes or not it will not affect the operations because there are enough buildings to carry out the operations of the airport.’’

  • C’River to establish cement plant, limestone company

    C’River to establish cement plant, limestone company

    The Cross River Government has secured operational licenses from the Federal Government to establish its own Cement Factory and Limestone Quarry in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

    Mr George O’Ben-Etchi, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development,  made the disclosure on Wednesday in Calabar when he met with the newly appointed members of the state Solid Minerals Development Board.

    “We have our licenses for the state’s Cement Plant (CROSSCEMCO) and Limestone Quarry.

    “According to the governor’s plan, the two projects amongst other things, will feed the construction of Super Highway Project,’’ he said.

    The commissioner stressed the need for members of the board to work as a team with all stakeholders in the sector to realise the overall aim of the government.

    He advised the members to put aside their individual interests and work for the development of the state.

    “Everybody’s opinion should be given equal attention; make use of what is necessary today and save the rest for tomorrow.

    “Use our collective initiatives to work and not wait for the governor; you are appointed to support him and make his work of developing the state’s economy easier.

    “We have to think outside the box to be able to understand his vision.

    “I and the entire workforce of the Ministry will work with your board and any other board to achieve and maintain success,’’ O’Ben-Etchi said.

    He said that his ministry had begun sensitising the host communities on the need to guard what they have by not issuing out letters of consent to intending Quarry Operators.

    He accused quarry operators of going through the back door to get mineral deposits.

    He warned that the ministry would no longer tolerate such illegal deals by quarry companies.

    “We are saddled with finding out those who have or do not have licenses, those whose licenses have expired and have renewed or have refused to renew them in order to take them up to the appropriate authorities,’’ he said.

    O’Ben-Etchi said that efforts were being made by the government to involve the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in providing motorable roads in the mining communities.

    “Since one of the major challenges the operators are faced with is bad road network, we have started discussions on how the NDDC can be brought in to build roads to ease the movement of trucks to and from the mining sites, ‘’ he said.

    In his response, Mr Offiong Yellow-Duke the Chairman, Solid Minerals Development Board, expressed appreciation to the government for finding them worthy to serve.

    He promised that the board would do its best to work with and support the Ministry to develop the solid minerals sector in the state.

    “As a board, we will work as a team, share ideas and welcome contributions.

    “We will not move faster than our shadow and your willingness to work with us will guide the board to attaining its goals,’’ he said.

  • Minister to meet stakeholders over Abuja Airport

    Minister to meet stakeholders over Abuja Airport

    The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, will on Thursday engage the Industry’s Stakeholders on issues arising from the proposed closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for repairs on its runway.

    Sirika disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press and Public Affairs, Ministry of Transportation on Monday in Abuja.

    He said the meeting was a follow-up to the decision of the Federal Government to temporarily shut down operations at the airport for six weeks in February and March.

    According to the minister, the Stakeholders’ Forum will afford him with the opportunity to officially inform the sector’s players of the decision.

    “It is also to brief them on efforts being made to ensure that the use of the Kaduna International Airport as an alternative during the six-Week closure of the Abuja Airport is seamless and hitch-free.

    “The Stakeholders will also be expected to make their contributions and key into the plans to make their operations during the period less problematic,” he said.

    Sirika, however, emphasised that the Forum was in line with government’s belief in ventilating people’s opinions in formulating and executing policies.

    He said that government was aware of the likely high level of discomfort and inconvenience the proposed closure of the airport would cause air transport passengers, airline operators and other service providers.

    He explained that the decision was informed by safety and security concerns, saying that government would rather lose billions of dollars in revenue than to risk lives.

    The minister also disclosed that the ministry would invite other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as security agencies and the Kaduna State Government who were expected to play roles during the six-week period.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the minister had in December revealed government plans to shut down the airport while briefing newsmen on its efforts toward addressing the challenges of aviation fuel.

  • Ekweremadu tasks Nigerians on economic recovery

    Ekweremadu tasks Nigerians on economic recovery

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, has urged Nigerians to pray for the quick recovery of the nation’s economy in the New Year.

    This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja on Saturday.

    Ekweremadu, who expressed concern over the current economic hardship in the country, said the nation’s leadership needed divine guidance for right economic policies.

    He called on the Federal Government to put the right policies in place to boost investors’ confidence while spending more on infrastructure and critical sectors to ensure economic growth.

    “No doubt, 2016 will be remembered for unprecedented economic hardship for Nigerians, irrespective of social status, political, ethnic, and religious leanings.

    “Therefore, we must all join hands to seek the face of God for quick economic recovery and peace in our land.

    “Importantly, those in charge of the economy must rise to the occasion.

    “We must assemble the best hands, irrespective of where they come from, to lead the nation out of the economic wilderness’’, he said.

    The deputy president of the senate also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, and political elites to improve on electoral process ahead of 2019.

    He said, “we must restore the confidence of our people in the ballot box.

    “They must freely vote and their votes must count, devoid of all forms of intimidation, manipulation, and political excesses.’’

    He wished Nigerians a happy celebration and a prosperous New Year.

  • Nigeria’s festival calendar to be released in 2017 – Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria’s festival calendar to be released in 2017 – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Thursday the Federal Government would in the new year release a calendar of festivals across the country.

    Mohammed made this known in Offa, Kwara State at the 2016 Edition of the ”Íjakadi Festival”, a traditional wrestling event, which started in the 14th century.

    The minister said that the aim was to attract tourists and enable them to plan their trips around the festivals.

    “We believe that this is one of the best ways to attract global visitors to our festivals and help to make them viable entities,” he said.

    The minister, represented by Mr Raphael Arulogun, General Manager of NTA Ilorin, said the government was also working with the private sector to make major festivals attractive to domestic and foreign tourists.

    He said the government also planned to leapfrog the major events to the top cadre of global festivals, adding that the starting point would be to train the managers of the festivals.

    ”As you may be aware, the training of festival managers is contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that we signed with the British Council.

    “Also included in another MoU, which we signed with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is the need to ensure that festivals like Ijakadi are not just a mere jamboree but also a source of economic empowerment for the people.

    “It will help to inject foreign exchange into the economy and create jobs, especially for the communities in which such festivals are situated,” the minister said.

    Mohammed said the beneficiaries of the partnership with the private sector would include major festivals like the Abuja Carnival.

    He said the training would bring out their full potentials and become household names like the Edinburgh International Festivals, the Rio Carnival in Brazil and the Notting Hill Festival in London.

    ”Our ultimate aim is to ensure that our festivals are among the top 20 festivals in the world,” he said.

    The minister lauded Offa Descendants Union (ODU), the organiser of the ”Ijakadi Festival” for reviving and sustaining the age-long event.

    He said the festival “reinforces the community’s tradition of strength and determination and addresses the notion of equality among all the indigenes of Offa.”

    Kwara Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed also commended the organiser for reviving Ijakadi Festival, adding that it will go a long way in uniting the community.

    The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Otunba Taiwo Joseph, said the state would partner with the community to make the festival a tourist attraction.

    The National President of ODU, Alhaji Najeemdeen Yasin, said the Offa community is known with a popular slogan “Ijakadi Loro Offa’, meaning Ijakadi is the tradition of the Offa people.

    “This slogan does not translate to the ordinary meaning that the Offa people are pugnacious or that they fight for no cause, rather it depicts the struggle to achieve or excel.

    “Offa people are always on top of whatever challenges that confront them and they fight and find solutions to such problems.

    “This concept is now demonstrated in two wrestlers trying to defeat each other,’’ Yasin said.

    According to him, the festival is a forum to bring the sons and daughters of Offa together to work for the progress and development of the community.

  • Nigerians advised to regularly test their borehole water

    The Federal Government has advised Nigerians who drink borehole water to test the quality regularly to reduce its negative impact.

    Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, the Deputy Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, stated this in Abuja on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    She said the ministry was working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), to enforce the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality toward ensuring the quality of water being supplied to the public.

    “The ministry is calling on all Nigerians drinking water from the borehole and other sources to regularly test their water in laboratories across the country to reduce consuming unwholesome water.

    “We are also calling on borehole drillers to abide by the National Drilling Code of Practice”, she added.

    According to her, six new laboratories are being constructed in the six geo-political zones by the Federal Government to improve water quality and standard in the country.

    Ugoh said that the six existing laboratories were inadequate due to the country’s large population.

    “We have six operational laboratories; we are building additional six now.

    “Our target is that each state will have one, so that all together, we will have 37 laboratories in the whole federation.

    “In order to ascertain the quality of water consumed by the people, the need for more laboratories cannot be over emphasised.

    “The laboratories take care of the chemical side of testing for water, the micro-biological side where the pathogens that cause diseases are discovered.

    “When the physical aspects of water have been sorted out, the chemical aspect of it has to be taken care of by the laboratories”, she stressed.

    The deputy director said when quality potable water is made available, most water-borne diseases would be reduced, saying they accounted for the majority of tropical diseases in the country.

    “Seventy per cent of tropical diseases are water-borne.

    “If we provide potable water, all occurrences of water-borne diseases like typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, and scabies will be non-existent.’’

    She, however, said that people could prevent the diseases by using test kits to test for iron, magnesium and other essential elements.

    The deputy director maintained that laboratories were necessary for more thorough tests on water for consumption.

    She said it was a matter for regret that diarrhoea alone kills no fewer than 150,000 under-five children annually.

    According to her, diarrhoea is responsible for one-quarter of all child deaths for the poorest Nigerians as this requires collective efforts to tackle.

    “We are testing villages under our comprehensive Rural Water Surveillance Programme, for now, we are supplying the kits, we believe one day it will be available everywhere’’, she said.

    On guidelines for drinking water quality, Ugoh explained that WHO has the sole responsibility of providing guidelines.

    She, however, stated that the ministry had a National Drinking Water Standard already in place.

    To this end, she noted that the ministry was working with all stakeholders to strengthen river basins across the country to increase access to potable water for the populace.

  • ’40 SUVs recovered from perm sec’

    ’40 SUVs recovered from perm sec’

    The Federal Government said it has recovered 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from a former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos on the effectiveness of the anti-corruption strategy of the government.

    Mohammed said that government is being guided by a well-articulated strategy in its fight against corruption contrary to the misconception in certain circles that the government is fighting corruption without a strategy.

    He said the government was not just fixated on the only prosecution, but in taking preventive measures to make corruption unattractive.

    The minister stressed that the strict enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has largely reduced the diversion of government funds into secret accounts.

    He said the TSA has also reduced the constraints in fishing out ghost workers in the public service in most states in the country.

    According to him, other measures to strengthen the anti-corruption fight,  included the establishment of Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery, Asset Tracing Committee, Asset Register, and the Whistle Blower Policy.

    The Minister announced a plan by the government, through the Code of Conduct Bureau, to commence test-run of electronic asset declaration starting in 2017.

    He said the new method would facilitate compliance and enhance search and retrieval of data on the assets of public officers.

    In addition, he said, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption is working with relevant MDAs, especially the National Bureau of Statistics, to improve data collection on corruption indicators.

    ”Once perfected, the data will be shared with government periodically if possible, as regularly as government receives data on inflation and unemployment trends.

    “The data will indicate trends in corruption and influence government measures to correct the situation before it gets out of hand as we have now,” he said.

    The minister explained that the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery will meet regularly to collate reports from key law enforcement agencies on government’s anti-corruption effort.

    He said the committee would share information, intelligence and review challenges faced in anti-corruption efforts and give directives on the way forward.

    The minister added that the Asset Register has made the looting of government physical assets, notably vehicles, very difficult by political appointees, senior and middle-level officers.

    He said the recent approval of Whistle Blower policy was designed to further enhance government’s effort to recover looted funds.

    ”People who give credible and useful information to government that leads to recovery of stolen public assets will be rewarded with between 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent of the recovered fund.

    “Government will keep the identity of the whistle blower absolutely confidential,” he said.

    Mohammed said the government is finalizing the constitution of an Asset Tracing Team to work with internationally reputably bodies to trace and recover public assets in private hands.

    ”In this regard, government will also escalate the use of non-conviction-based asset recovery methods to boost revenue and diminish corruption and the perception that crime pays or criminals can keep their loot,” he said.

    The minister disclosed that the administration is collaborating with  Nigerians in the diaspora and international civil society organisations in the campaign for the return of looted assets.

  • MTN has paid N80bn fine for SIM card infraction – Minister

    MTN has paid N80bn fine for SIM card infraction – Minister

    The Federal Government said MTN had paid N80 billion of the N330 billion fine imposed on it for failing to deactivate more than five million unregistered SIM cards.

    The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the company paid the sum for the first year.

    It will be recalled that MTN was initially fined 5.2 billion dollars (N1.04 trillion) for failing to deactivate more than five million unregistered SIM cards but was later reduced to N330 billion.

    “For the first year, they paid N80 billion, after paying the initial N50 billion, and they will have to pay for three years until they will complete the N330 billion.

    “MTN does not have a choice when the law was made, it said for every unregistered SIM card in use, the fine is N200, 000, the law never anticipated that one company will be in violation to the tune of millions of lines.

    “It was inconceivable, so when the thing was added 200,000 times 5.2 million lines, it came to a trillion plus.

    “When it happened, the MTN did four things; one they accepted that they were in default, two, they apologised for that and three they committed themselves never to allow such a thing to happen and number four, they asked for remission.

    “Government had to look at a number of factors because if they have to pay this amount; they will pack up.

    “We also knew that we invited the international community to come and invest and anything that will be done which will shake the confidence of international investors in Nigerian economy, we must avoid it.

    “Consequently, we must not throw away the baby with the bath water, if they had packed up and left, let us assume all their staff are not more than 5, 000, it means all of those 5,000 will lose their jobs.

    “Also those who made an investment, who bought shares will lose their shares and the Nigeria banking sector would go into crisis,’’ he said.

    The minister said that even in the court system if one was fined and could not pay for one reason or the other, the person would ask for reconsideration either by way of appeal or bringing a motion.

  • N550m budgeted for revitalisation of 110 PHCs – Minister

    N550m budgeted for revitalisation of 110 PHCs – Minister

    The Federal Government on Thursday said it has committed N550 million to renovate 110 primary healthcare facilities in the country as a pilot programme for the revitalisation of Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, made this known while briefing newsmen after inspecting the renovation of Kuchingoro PHC in Abuja.

    Adewole said that the revitalisation of the PHCs was one of the key components of the Rapid Result Initiatives (RRI) of the government.

    He said the pilot phase comprised of 109 of the clinics across the country, stressing that we will pick one per senatorial district.

    He added that additional one centre was in Fuka village of Niger where Lassa fever case was first recorded in 2015.

    He said the government has spent N7 million on the renovation of PHC Kuchingoro in Gwarinpa Ward of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

    He added that the revitalisation of the PHCs is the cardinal agenda of the Buhari administration.

    “We want to bring the healthcare services to the door step of our people and the only way to do that is to deliver health through a network of functional PHCs.

    “We are working with the state governors and development partners to replicate it in 10,000 electoral wards in Nigeria during the second phase of the initiative.

    “When we have them working across the country we will be able to serve the majority of Nigerians and provide an improved access to healthcare services to them,’’ Adewole said.

    According to him, many of the ailments that take people to hospitals can be addressed at the PHCs, thereby decongesting the tertiary health facilities.

    He said it is a partnership between the ministry, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and General Electric.

    He said that general electric would supply the equipment such as radiotherapy machines, warmer and other accessories.

    “In addition to this, the ministry would ensure that each of the rehabilitated PHCs has a small laboratory for common investigations,’’ the minister said.

    Besides, the government would also ensure that the PHCs deliver immunisations and there is provision for living quarters for the midwife to provide 24-hour services, Adewole said.

    He said through this “we can save life and deliver essential care to reduce maternal mortality in the country’’.