The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • $16bn EPZ: FG’s delay stalling 150,000 jobs in N’Delta – Ayiri

    The Federal Government has been advised to use the prevailing ceasefire with Niger Delta militants to restart the $16billion Gas Revolution Industrial Park and Escravos Environs Power Supply Project in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    Niger Delta activist and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, Chief Ayirimi Emami, made the call in an open letter to President Muhammad Buhari, a copy of which was made available to The Nation.

    He said the move would go a long way to bringing permanent peace to the Niger Delta, stressing that delay in restarting the project is hampering 150,000 possible direct and indirect jobs in the region.

    He said, “I have never been an advocate of the use violence to attract Federal or state governments’ attention, but that does not mean that the Niger Delta Region has not been suffering neglect, despite the huge resources derived from the area.

    “But now that the so-called ceasefire has been declared by the militants and their sponsors, permit me to strongly appeal that your administration immediately initiate steps to commence work at the multibillion dollar,” he added.

    Chief Emami said the determination of the present administration to diversify our economy from over-dependence on crude oil and gas would be greatly enhanced by the projects, which he said could mop over 150,000 youths off the streets.

    “The ongoing strides being recorded by the military hierarchy (against terrorists and militants) will maximally achieve its set goals if construction work resumes at the Gas Revolution Industrial Park, GRIP, Ogidigben as well as Escravos Environs Power Supply Project.

    “All the Federal and Delta State governments need to do is to create the enabling environment, set the right policy direction as well as ensure adequate security and the project with a massive employment capacity from ready-foreign investors will take-off in earnest.

    “The over $16 billion GRIP Project billed to accommodate a major Industrial Gas Hub and Petrochemical, Methanol as well as Fertilizer Plant will create over 150,000 direct and indirect jobs at the construction stage and set the tone for the eagerly anticipated diversification of our economy.

    “No doubt, the Agricultural, Manufacturing and Solid Minerals sectors will be greatly boosted, Niger Delta militancy will be brought to non-existence and the ongoing effort to take our country out of recession will be realized,” Emami stated.

    In the same vein, the Warri chief appealed to the federal government to revisit the Escravos Environs Power Supply Project, stressing that “This mega project is a part of NGC ELPS System-A Network, which passes the host communities in the Escravos Shore, Warri South-West LGA.

    “It must be explicitly stated that 30 oil and gas host/ impacted communities will benefit in the project, which is outside the power supply and distribution network of the National Grid. This is not forgetting the communities’ huge agro-based potentials.”

    He lamented that the recent attack on oil facilities have plunged riverside communities in the region into perpetual darkness, noting that with the completion of the project, host communities would have more stake and need to protect gas facilities in their communities.

  •  ECOWAS urges FG to tackle logging, wildlife crimes

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appealed to the Federal Government to employ the services of environmentalists to tackle issues of logging and wildlife crimes.

    Mr Bougonou Djeri-Alassani, the Head of Division, Environmental Policies and Regulations of the commission, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Djeri-Alassani, explained that many citizens depended on tree cutting to earn a living, hence the need for the consultation to tackle the challenges in the country.

    He suggested that adequate financial support be given to dependents on those natural assets to encourage and enable them find alternatives to their illegal businesses.

    Djeri-Alassani said the damages which were currently done in forests at the sub-region were dangerous for the future generation.

    According to him, ECOWAS has adopted a convergence plan for the sustainable management and utilisation of forest ecosystems and a Sub-Regional Action Programme to combat desertification in West Africa.

    “Tackling issues of illegal logging and sale of ivory products are not easy to handle without adequate consultation of experts in the field.

    “If some supports can be given to the dependents of these forests, it will help to reduce illegal logging and sale of ivory produce,’’ he said.

    On the forthcoming Conference of Parties (COP 22), Djeri-Alassani said the commission had just concluded a meeting with its member states to prepare them on decisions and the adoption of the Paris Agreement.

    He said that ECOWAS member states would participate in the conference to be held in Morocco by November.

    NAN reports that during the COP 22, parties will begin preparations for entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

  • BudgIT seeks transparency in constituency projects

    BudgIT seeks transparency in constituency projects

    Civic technology organization, BudgIT Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to ensure transparency in the implementation of this year’s constituency projects.

    The organization said it observed that most of the challenges experienced in the tracking of 2015 projects are still present in someof this year’s constituency projects it had started tracking.

    BudgIT, which seeks transparency in governance and government projects, said this in a statement issued by its Program Manager for Tracka, Abiola Sosami, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    According to BudgIT, the problem of multiple provisions, lack of access to information about public projects and lack of transparency around project funds still surrounds the implementation of projects in Nigeria.
    The statement reads: “This year, there are multiple provisions labeled as empowerment program, which does not have a direct impact on thecitizens and by their very nature are also highly prone to fraud as the disbursement is at the discretion of officials.

    “A typical example is Gombe State, where advocacy, campaign and sensitization programs will gulp a whopping sum of over N225 million only. Possible duplication of a project is cited in Edo state, where the provision of equipment for women and children hospital in Otuo Owan East Local Government was captured in the Federal and State budgets for N200 million and N57 million respectively.

    “At BudgIT, we believe the lack of access to information about public projects such as the construction of roads, schools, and clinics, etc. hampers development in the various constituencies.

    “Even as we have commenced the tracking of the 2016 constituency projects, this exercise is intricate due to the lack of transparency around project funds. Although the FG has released about N 332 billion to various ministries; power, works, housing, defense and security and others for developmental projects, but the process still falls short of the requirements of open government which Nigeria recently joined.

    “The principle of open contracting must be prioritized to ensure public participation in contract awards.

    “As Nigeria operates its largest deficit in decades, the allocation of funds to public projects should remain cost viable. This project does not substantially address the destitution of the residents neither does it not reflect the present reality of our economic situation.

    “Transparency entails that Government gives a breakdown of the amount invested in each project, the full details of the Contractor, name, address with contact information, government budget benchmark, terms of the agreement, bill of quantity, etc.). All these must be made available in the public domain.”

    The organization urged the government to consider support in the community where such projects are to be sited in order to enable
    collective and socially inclusive growth.

    It stated that its 2015 report on constituency revealed that on 33 percent of such projects were implemented.

    The organization added that contract inflation, unspecified project locations, citizen’s lack of access to information about projects and over priced empowerment programs as some of the causes of underdevelopment in Nigeria.

    “BudgIT developed a comprehensive report based on the status of 2015 constituency projects in Nigeria; it revealed only 33% of the year’s budget got implemented.

    “A review of the provisions in Tracka focus states demonstrates the reoccurrence of some of the challenges stated in the 2015 report.

    “In 2016, the Federal Government has made provision of N100 billion for Constitutional projects across states in the federation. The distribution of this allocation corroborated the budget padding allegations raised against the Principal Officers in the National Assembly.

    “The unusual and over priced cost of construction in Nigeria hampers development and makes the contractors the biggest beneficiaries of the developmental projects, rather than the people,” the statement added.

  • Prosecute killer herdsmen, Sultan tells FG

    Prosecute killer herdsmen, Sultan tells FG

    ….Says, killer herdsmen are criminals

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has urged the Federal Government to prosecute killers Fulani herdsmen, saying such herdsmen are nothing but criminals and must be treated as such.

    The Sultan, who is also of the Fulani stuck, said Nigerians must stop mistaking the devilish act of the killers’ herdsmen as acting the script of the Fulani community or Muslim community in Nigeria.

    He stated this in Kaduna on Monday at the opening ceremony of the 2-Day Annual Pan-Northern Groups Summit on Security, Socio-economic and political development.

    According to the Sultan, the clashes between farmers and herdsmen are purely economic clashes and not ethno-religious as speculated in some quarters.

    “There are very terrible herdsmen who kill. But they are acting on their own, they are criminals and they must be treated as criminals. Therefore the Federal Government should prosecute them.

    “It is disheartening to hear when people say Fulani herdsmen want to Islamize Nigeria and that is why they are killing. Any Fulani herdsman who kills is not acting the script of Fulani community in Nigeria, neither is he working for the Muslim community,” he said.

    Speaking on the state of Northern Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto said, unity of Northern Nigeria is non-negotiable if the region must develop and have a common front.

    He lamented that, the North of today was not the North that Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello left behind, adding that, there is ethnic awareness among northerners now, than ever before.

    According to him, “There is more ethnic awareness now than ever before. The question is why the sudden consciousness in ethnicity and religion?

    “I will not attempt to provide answer to this question, but, we must therefore strive to re-unite the North, only then, we can have a common front and build a united and cohesive North,” he said.

    On state of infrastructural decay in the north, Sultan charged Northern Governors to pay attention to infrastructure, especially roads.

    He said, Governors should build roads, instead of using N28bn to build airport, adding that, common people will feel their impact more on roads that building airport.

  • Civil servants to FG: Review contributory pension scheme

    A cross section of the Federal and State civil servants in Yobe, have called on the Federal Government to make the contributory pension scheme more workable in order to curb corruption.

    A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Damaturu, revealed that both the Federal and State Governments’ civil servants were not comfortable with the present contributory pension scheme.

    Mr Musa Mohammed, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Education, said the contributory pension scheme was working against the interest and welfare of retirees.

    “The general arrangements and the accessibility of retirees to their savings, have been made cumbersome, thereby making the system to work against the interest of the retirees,’’ he said.

    Aliyu Mustapha, a retiree, said the new pension scheme had created more fears of uncertainty of life after service than it ought to address and it could encourage corruption in the service.

    “The experience of every pensioner has not been palatable; the scheme does not guarantee a good life to civil servants after retirement.

    “This gives rise to workers engaging in corruption to acquire property and investments by whatever means including fraudulent practices for life after service,’’ he said.

    A female federal worker, who preferred anonymity, urged the Federal Government to look into the pension scheme to make life easier for retirees.

    “It is very unfortunate that people in the army, police and civil service spend their useful lives serving the nation only to live a dejected life of beggars after service.

    “The review in military pension scheme, which showed appreciable improvement, should be extended to the civil service to improve the lives of the retirees’’.

    She said the poor pension scheme could encourage people to steal while in the service.

    “This is because of the fear of the delay or non-payment of their entitlements after retirement,” she said.

    Similarly, civil servants in the Yobe Government service, expressed fears in the delay of payment of entitlements by the State Government.

    Bukar Ali, a civil servant, said the Yobe Government had before now been trying to pay pension and gratuity of retirees but the situation had changed, perhaps due to the recession.

    “I implore Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe to give special attention to the payment of entitlements of retirees in order to improve on their welfare,’’ Ali said.

    Hassan Isa, another civil servant, said some civil servants in the federal and state services might not want to engage in fraudulent and corrupt practices but they did so for fear of the unknown.

    The respondents said that the war against corruption could only be successful with a workable pension scheme that would guarantee the future of retirees.

  • FG to establish national agency for cancer control

    FG to establish national agency for cancer control

    Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has announced that Federal Government is tinkering with the possibility of setting up National Agency for Cancer Control (NACC) in Nigeria.

    The Minister made this known during a an audience with with Director, Head of Eastern Europe, Middle East, African (EEMEA ) region, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Pharmaceuticals Division Dr. Peter HUG in Abuja.

    The minister explained that the institution when establish would be responsible for research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care for cancer patients. It will also provide leadership and technical direction for cancer control in Nigeria integrating services provided by the National Cancer Centre and in-cooperating a cluster of public and private tertiary Hospitals.

    Other functions expected to be performed by the Agency include, policy formulation, advocacy and mobilization, adopt best practices as per the Global Non-Communicable Diseases Framework to make the NACC a Centre of Excellence for cancer prevention and care. It is also believed that the Agency would develop national plan for cancer prevention and care, measure burden and impact of cancer and establish registries for routine monitoring.

    He said that the Ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders in cancer control was working hard in creating awareness at the rural areas on early detection of cancer.

    The Minister expressed government’s determination and willingness to partner with Dr. Peter HUG on cancer prevention and control in Nigeria “If you ask me what do I want from Dr. Peter HUG, I will say how we can build a strong partnership and move from talking to action, what can you bring to the table in terms of partnership that would bring reliable service to Nigerians.”

    The Minister and Dr. Peter HUG later agreed that the partnership would focus more on Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) and Breast Cancer.

    Speaking earlier, on rationale behind his visit to Nigeria Dr. Peter HUG said that they were interested in partnering with the Nigerian Government on cancer prevention and treatment.

    He said they have the facilities to support Nigeria in the fight against cancer.

  • Protesters want Shiite leader El-Zakzaky prosecuted for terrorism

    Protesters want Shiite leader El-Zakzaky prosecuted for terrorism

    A civil society organization, Sovereign Rights Coalition (SRC), has called on the Federal Government to prosecute Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky for acts of terrorism.

    The group also wants the government to cut diplomatic ties with the Republic of Iran over the role played by the country during the attack on Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Ibrahim, El-zakzaky.

    El-Zakzaky and members of Shiite were involved in a December 2015 attack on the convoy of General Buratai in Zaria, Kaduna state.

    ‎Coordinator of the group, Daniel Obaje, who led the protesters to Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, described as blackmail comments by human rights group and western media on developments in the country as its concern security.

    Obaje said: “It is pertinent for the immediate arraignment and prosecution of the leader of the sect on terror charges as deemed appropriate.

    “We have also discovered that the relationship between our country and the Republic of Iran has become cancerous and will only be beneficial if such detrimental tie is severed to prevent further damage.

    “It also chief amongst our demand that apart from ceasing all diplomatic relationships with the Iranian republic, a total removal of her embassy from Nigerian soil is pertinent and apt.

    “All blackmails by bodies including human right groups as well as western media come to an end as it amounts to an affront on the sovereignty of Nigeria.

    “It is not news that the group, Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) led by its leader Mr. Ibraheem El Zakzakky had launched an attack on the Chief of Army Staff and his convoy in Kaduna where in the course of the operation where he was arrested and a cache of arms was recovered.

    “It has been nearly a year since this unfortunate event and these debauchers have continued to exhibit this impermissible crass negligence of the nation’s sovereignty in their hooded attempts to annex the nation to form their own republic.

    “These extremists have so far been allowed to further destabilize the nation and its integrity via sponsored protests and media campaign accompanied with blackmail using international organizations and media.”

    A director in the federal ministry of Justice, Princess Okorie who received the protesters on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami appreciated their efforts and promised to channel all their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

  • FG determined to reposition tourism industry – Minister

    FG determined to reposition tourism industry – Minister

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government is determined to reposition the culture and tourism sector  to enhance economic development.

    Mohammed said this during the official opening of the 29th National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Uyo.

    This year’s edition had as theme: “Exploring the Goldmine Inherent in Nigeria’s Creative Industries.’’

    The minister was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary in his ministry, Mrs Ayotunde Adesugba.

    Mohammed said that the Federal Government had identified activities in the culture and tourism sector with a view to making them preferred areas for economic diversification.

    He said that those activities would enhance job creation as well as economic empowerment of teeming youths, women and rural populace.

    “Essentially, I desire culture and tourism should be objective-driven with specific goals and demonstrable achievements,” he said.

    The minster noted that NAFEST over the years had been a medium that brought all strata of people in the country together for economic growth and development.

    He said that globally, culture had shared heritage and greatest opportunity for peace, unity and development for humanity.

    Mohammed urged the stakeholders and state contingents to bring out their best with a view to demonstrating the undisputed fact that Nigeria was the culture cynosure of Africa.

    In a speech, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, called on investors in the industries to partner with government to develop the sector.

    Emmanuel explained that with the present economic recession, the country must diversify the economy into creative industries to promote the economy.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the opening ceremony had contingents from Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Kebbi and Katsina states as well as the FCT.

    Other contingents were from Lagos, Taraba, Ogun, Kano well as Akwa Ibom, the host.

     

  • FG floats N25bn loan scheme for mass transit sector

    FG floats N25bn loan scheme for mass transit sector

    The Federal Government has set up N25 billion revolving loan scheme for transport companies in the country to access funds for purchase of mass transit vehicles.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day national workshop for chief executives of mass transit companies.

    Enelamah said that the initiative was aimed at boosting the country’s mass transit system as well as encouraging local patronage of local vehicle assembly plants.

    He explained that the loan would be administered through the Infrastructure Bank at zero per cent interest rate.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is organised by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute for Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria.

    The theme of the workshop is “Nigeria Automotive Policy: A National Agenda for Sustainable Mass Transit Operation Development.’’

    “Government is determined to develop the automotive industry because of its extensive linkages, impact on job creation, technology transfer as well as foreign exchange savings and earnings.

    “The response by investors has been encouraging and we have brought back vehicle assembly and are now focussing on local content development.

    “Many of the new assembly plants produce buses and mini-buses. I hereby call on all Nigerians to patronise the products of these assembly plants,’’ he said.

    Enelamah urged the workshop participants to come up with innovative solutions for the development of an efficient and affordable mass transportation system in the country.

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, stated that the mass transit sector was one of the major engines driving the nation’s socio-economic and cultural development.

    He, however, said that in spite of this, the sector was facing huge challenges, including low operational capacity, broken down vehicles, obsolete facilities and poor maintenance culture.

    The minister said that a vibrant local automotive industry would significantly address those challenges while at the same time depending on the mass transit sector for patronage.

    “This workshop is, therefore, organised to appraise the mass transit perspective of the Nigeria Automotive Policy.

    “It is a platform for stakeholders to meet and exchange ideas on the effective implementation of the policy and make recommendations for realising a sustainable mass transport agenda for Nigeria.

    “The dynamic leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is poised to address the challenges facing the transport sector. The Federal Government is willing to invest heavily in this sector.

    “We are already seeing practical efforts in that regard, especially with the rail transportation system,’’ he said.

     

     

  • Federal government to revitalise PHCs, says Health Minister

    •No plan to build new ones

    The Federal Government has no plan to build new Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said.

    He told The Nation by phone yesterday that there is no truth in a media report that government planned  to build 10,000 primary health centres across the country.

    He said that on the contrary, government will “revitalize and not build new ones.”

    But it will, in doing this, “partner with states to build where the facility has been destroyed or absent.”

    “For instance, in Borno State about 60 percent of the PHCs have been destroyed while about 20 percent also suffered the same fate in Yobe and Adamawa states.

    “What we intend to do is to revitalize these and make them functional. In some other states, the PHCs are enough and we only need to make that functional and effective.”

    The minister said making these primary health centres across the country fully functional will facilitate the attainment of Universal Health Coverage and substantially reduce the pressure on secondary and tertiary health care facilities.

    Prof. Adewole added that the inter ministerial committee in charge of this project is chaired by Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

    The Committee is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a sustainable financing plan for the scheme.

    He added that the plan is to move away from the past practices where PHCs are built and not sustainable.

    “We don’t just want to put money there and it disappears,” he declared.

    He said in spite of the present economic challenges, the health ministry  under his watch has developed one of the most ambitious health programmes in Africa under universal health coverage using primary health care as the fulcrum and that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration has no plans to suspend its commitment to the uplifting of the health sector.

    He said so far 110 PHCs across the country have been selected as pilot for the revitalized project and that the inter- ministerial committee will give monthly reports of its finding to the Presidency.

    He emphasized that at no time did the federal government or the ministry of health plan to build primary health centres across the country, this he said was the clear responsibility of states and local governments which the federal government does not want to take away from them.

    Prof Adewole also said: “In fulfilling the campaign promises of the President, several active strategies have been put in place by the Health Ministry to drastically reduce the maternal and under five mortality rates and  that all hands are on deck to change the trajectory and remove Nigeria from the pariah status nation that we have founded ourselves.

    “We are committed to eliminating wastes while promoting a culture of accountability and transparency. The war against polio is being fought vigorously and we intend to make Nigeria polio free. We are also committed to placing 500,000 people living with HIV on treatment with support of our partners and will tackle the scourge of TB with renewed vigour. The FMOH will work to reduce the need to Nigerians to travel abroad for medical reasons from 2017.”

    He reiterated the commitment of the Buhari Administration the upliftment of the health of all citizens