The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • Nigeria needs $274m for polio campaign – NPHCDA boss

    Nigeria needs $274 million for polio campaign this year, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said yesterday.

    Its Executive Director Dr. Ado Mohammed who said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a pre-event press conference for Anglophone Africa peer review workshop on sustainable immunization, added that the country also need between $270 million to $440 million to buy new vaccines annually,

    Mohammed said with the introduction of new vaccines in the agency’s immunization schedule, the cost of fully immunizing a child in Nigeria would rise from N4000 to about N14, 000.

    He said: “By the time we fully introduce new vaccines in our immunization schedule, we will be moving the cost of fully immunizing a child in Nigeria from N4000 to about N14, 000. We will also be moving the cost of vaccine requirement from about $270 million dollars annually to about $440 million dollars by 2020.

    “By then, Nigeria will no longer be Garvin eligible so the subsidy we receive in terms of co financing are from Garvin and other donors will not be there. So it means that the domestic funding to immunization has to improve. We have to find how to fund the vaccines required for our children.

    He explained that Nigeria was not yet a polio free country, adding that the country needs to go two years before it is certified polio free.

    Mohammed called on the Federal Government to mount active surveillance while being vigilant to avoid any case of polio in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria as a country has made so much progress in immunization and Nigeria as a country is being commended globally for the major progress we have made on immunization, particularly on polio virus. It is over 20 months now without virus in Nigeria.

    “We have made so much progress on routine immunization. We have seen routine immunization grow very high, the highest in the last 20 years. The country has not reported any stock out of vaccines in any facilities in the last 24 months and we need to sustain those achievements.

    “We are also introducing new vaccines beyond the traditional vaccines. We have brought in pentavilent vaccines which is five in one shot. We have also brought vaccines to address the huge high burden we have of pneumonia and that will avert about 240 deaths annually,” he added.

  • Promote processed raw materials before exports – Expert urges FG

    Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria(MSN) has called on the Federal Government to increase its foreign exchange earnings by ensuring that only refined raw materials and minerals are exported.

    Prof. Abdul-Kareem Ahmed, the President of the society, made the call on Tuesday during an interview with the Newsmen in Abuja.

    According to him, the nation should be processing its raw materials into finished products and even go as far as advanced materials to maximise their usefulness.

    He reiterated that raw materials or mineral resources become advanced once they are processed into higher modification for superior performance.

    “We want government, the private sector and other stakeholders to come together and make contributions toward acquiring necessary equipment to be able to produce the advance materials from mineral resources in the country.

    “We have many raw materials in the country that can be used for advance materials.

    “When you produce advance materials, you have added a lot of values and when you now export, you earn a lot of foreign exchange.

    “Using the processed products in the country will also reduce importation, which means our currency will gain more value,” he said.

    On availability of technical know how required to add value to abundant raw materials in the country, MSN president said that increase in research funding and training would boost indigenous expertise.

    “We need to develop indigenous knowhow to be able to process these materials into advanced materials which of cause we use a lot but we import virtually all of them.

    “We also need to improve on our research funding because at the moment, our researches are not good enough because we don’t have state-of the-art equipment to carry out these researches,’’ Ahmed said.

    He said that the nation’s crude petroleum could be used to make many petroleum base materials like polyethylene resin a derivable from ethylene, a by-product of crude petroleum.

    Ahmed said that the same value could be added to iron ore in the nation, saying “our iron ore can also be refined to make super alloyed”.

    The association president said that MSN would continue to organise conferences, lectures and workshops for its members and other stakeholders in the country.

    “These workshops and trainings will increase the proficiencies of its members and make them to be more in tuned with the technical knowhow of refining raw materials locally,’’ he said.

     

  • Federal Government to revitalise commodity exchanges

    The Federal Government plans to revitalise commodity exchange in Nigeria as part of a comprehensive development programme for the nation’s agricultural sector.

    Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, made this known yesterday at the 1st National Economic Forum organised by Vintage Press Limited, the publishers of The Nation Newspapers, in collaboration with CEEDEE Resources at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Osinbajo said the government would develop the commodity exchange system to support the development of the agricultural sector.

    He said government would revitalise the Abuja-based Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX) and other infrastructure and operators in the whole commodity exchange value chain.

    According to him, a functional commodity exchange would ensure that Nigerian farmers receive good prices for their products.

    Osinbajo said government also plans to introduce a Minimum Price Guarantee scheme under which government will set floor prices at which it would buy agricultural produce from farmers.

    He noted that a Minimum Price Guarantee scheme would encourage the farmers to scale up their production to their highest capacity with the assurance that government will be ever ready to buy the farm produce at guaranteed prices.

    It should be recalled that the NCX had introduced a pilot electronic warehouse receipt system (e-WRS) in 2014. Under the e-WRS, farmers will be able to place their commodities at an NCX-accredited warehouse in different parts of the country and will be issued an electronic receipt stating details such as commodity type, quality and quantity, owner and other relevant information. The depositor will have the choice of using the receipt as collateral to obtain bank loans or for trading on the Exchange. Another option is to keep such commodities in the warehouse until their prices stabilize or appreciate.

    The new initiative would encourage the provision of standard storage facilities for operators in the agricultural value chain and make the warehouse receipts a prime tool of trade while facilitating access to finance. The e-WRS is also expected to strengthen small scale farmers and agro-allied businesses while creating jobs and sustainable economic growth.

  • FG vows to shelve doctors’ strike

    FG vows to shelve doctors’ strike

    The Federal Government on Thursday said that everything will be done to prevent the impending strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD).

     

    The NARD had on Monday given the Federal Government a 21-day notice to meet their demands or face an indefinite strike.

     

    Their demands include payment of members’ salaries till date and appropriate placement of members in states and federal tertiary hospitals across the nation, reversal of sacked members in some hospitals and appropriate funding of residency training programme.‎

     

    NARD’s President Dr. Muhammad Askira, had told newsmen in Abuja, that the ultimatum took effect from April 4.

     

    But speaking at the commemoration of the 2016 World Health Day and the flag off of diabetics screening exercise organized by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, gave assurance that there will be no strike.

     

    The focus of 2016 World Health Day campaign is on Diabetes with the theme “Beat Diabetes”.

     

    Adewole said: “I am assuring Nigerians that there will be no strike. We have received the ultimatum, we have talked and will be meeting again on Monday.”

     

    He said that with Nigeria’s sustained efforts and support from development partners, the spread of the wild polio-virus was halted and Nigeria was dropped off the infamous list of countries where the virus is still endemic.

     

    The Minister also commended Nigeria’s capabilities of meeting the health needs of a greater proportion of her population and her ability to withstand challenges of epidemic like HIV, infectious disease outbreaks as demonstrated by her response to recent Ebola virus epidemic.

     

    Quoting Wealth Health Organization recent ‎report, he said that 24 per cent of illness related deaths in the country is caused by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), with diabetes accounting for two per cent of that figure.

     

    He said: “Diabetes is increasingly becoming an epidemic especially among adolescents and young adults, partly due to the rapid socio-cultural change being experienced, and the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles and risky behaviours”.

     

    His ministry, he said, has mapped out six critical action areas to tackle the disease.

     

    He said that the action areas included adoption of the global monitoring framework for NCDs, development of a National Diabetes Plan and Policy, ‎increased monitoring and surveillance systems, engagement and rights, improved access to care and sustainable financing for management of diabetes.

     

    The Minister also urged Nigerians to be actively involved in the campaign, stressing that people must learn to identify their risk factors and take steps to avoid them.

     

    He said that some of the steps included maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthy, being physically active, avoiding harmful habit like alcohol intake and tobacco use.

     

    He urged those already diagnosed with diabetes to follow up on doctor’s advice as well as be consistent with doctor’s appointment.

     

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, warned that except Nigerians follow experts’ advice and adopt healthy lifestyle, the current adult population with the diabetes disease will increase.

     

    According to him, ‎diabetes is a disease that could be managed medically if detected early.

     

    He said that it can also be avoided if Nigerians take adequate interest in what they eat.

  • No first class flight for government officials – FG

    No first class flight for government officials – FG

    The Federal Government on Wednesday banned all top government officials from flying first class while embarking on officials trips.

    This is contained in a statement by the Media Adviser to the finance minister, Mr Festus Akanbi in Abuja.

    According to the statement, the decision is in a bid to reduce the amount being spent on overheard expenditure.

    The statement further noted that all top officials of government such as ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of Federal Government Committees, as well as Chairmen and Chief Executives of Parastatals and Agencies are to travel on business class.

    It will be recalled that before now, some government officials who should have been on business class usually travelled on first class, while many others travelled business class instead of economy class.

    Akanbi in the statement said the new directive has been captured in a circular on review of overhead expenses released by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    He said the development is one of the recommendations made by the Efficiency Unit which was set up by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, last year aimed at reducing overhead expenses.

    The unit was set up to engender transparency and reduce government’s large expenditure through procurement in the various ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

  • Make petrol available, NURTW urges FG

    Make petrol available, NURTW urges FG

    The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Niger on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to make petrol available at the approved rate.

    The NURTW Chairman in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Sarki, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

    He said availability of petrol at official rate would enable the union members to recoup their investment and review the current transport fares in the state.

    NAN reports that the state chapter of the union recently increased transport fares owing to non availability of fuel.

    The agency also reports that widespread scarcity had resulted in the sale of fuel at between N190 and N200 per litre at the black market.

    “We want the Federal Government to make fuel available at the approved price of N86 per litre to enable us revert to the old transport fares because passengers are complaining.

    “The current economic hardship is already having its negative effect on passengers then all of a sudden increase in transport fares.

    “So it has not been easy with our passengers and on our own side, we don’t buy only fuel to keep our vehicles going but we have to maintain them,’’ he said.

    He explained that the hike in transport fares had reduced the number of commuters per day.

    The union chairman said that transport fare from Minna to Kontagora, which used to be N900 was now N1,100 while Minna to Sokoto was now N3,500 as against N3, 000.

    Also speaking, Mrs Grace Ayuba, a fish seller in Shiroro, told NAN that she had reduced her shuttles to Minna for business from three to two times a week.

    She said the scarcity of fuel was biting hard while the price of fish had gone up, with customers complaining.

    Mr Abdullahi Isah, the Controller of the Department of Petroleum Resources in the state, told NAN that the fuel situation would normalise next week.

    “These queues you are seeing across the country will disappear because government is already doing something about it.

    “The Federal Government is doing something that I will not want to disclose now to ensure enough fuel supply in the country.
    “Hopefully by next week, there will be enough fuel supply in the country,’’ he said.

    Isah said that Niger, which was supposed to get 30 trucks of PMS per day, gets only two.

    “What we are doing right now in Niger state is to make sure that the small quantity available is not diverted but sold to the people at N86 per litre.

    “We need 30 trucks of PMS in the state to ensure enough supply but you can see that we have just two which is inadequate,’’ he said.

     

  • Easter: FG declares March 25, 28 as public holidays

    Easter: FG declares March 25, 28 as public holidays

    The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 25 and Monday, March 28 as public holidays to mark the Good Friday and Easter celebrations respectively.

    The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration in a statement issued by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The minister urged Christians and Nigerians in general to support and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts to build a peaceful, united and virile nation.

    He further urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for peace and unity across the nation.

    While wishing Nigerians and Christians the world over happy celebrations, Dambazau also reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the change agenda in the country.

  • MTN withdraws suit against FG

    MTN Nigeria has formally announced the withdrawal of the court case against the federal government of Nigeria.
    According to a statement issued on Friday, this is in order to pave way for continue settlement discussions with the Federal government  towards an amicable resolution of the matter in the best interests of the Telecom company and Nigeria.

    In retrospect, MTN on 24th of February 2016, announced its withdrawal of the court case and made an initial payment of N50 Billion without prejudice.

    This payment was made on the basis that it would be applied towards a settlement when one is arrived at.

    Speaking in the press statement, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman said: ‘’We have kept our promise to withdraw and we have followed through by formally doing so. This is in line with the premium we place on good corporate citizenship.”

    The formal withdrawal today at the Federal High Court, with all parties in attendance, signals further progress in the negotiations between MTN Nigeria and the Nigerian government.

    Speaking further, Moolman described the development as another manifestation of good faith and intent by MTN Nigeria. We have confidence in the equally good intentions of the Nigerian authorities and the strength of our mutual commitment to an amicable resolution.

    “The high priority that Government is giving to the sustainability of the industry assures us of a truly integrated approach amongst all parties, to the growth of ICT as a critical enabler of socio- economic development in Nigeria.’’

  • FG sanitizing NNPC, says IPMAN

    FG sanitizing NNPC, says IPMAN

    National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Obasi Lawson, has said the moves to restructure the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by the Federal Government will help in sanitising the petroleum sector.

    Lawson, who was on a two-day visit to the Calabar unit of IPMAN, said the introduction of any new policy was likely to attract opposition, which was why the oil workers embarked on strike.

    He said this when he led a delegation on courtesy visit to the Cross River State Attorney General, Mr. Joe Abang.

    The Economic Adviser to the national president of IPMAN, Mr Michael Udofia, described the problem of petrol scarcity in the country as systemic.

    “The problem of scarcity in Nigeria is systemic, and until this system issues we would still go back to the same level. Let us take for instance, we do not have any reason be importing petroleum products. Why are our refineries established in the 70s and 80s are not maintained. Why are we having these issues.

    “We have crude oil, we export that same crude oil, only to go back and import the refined product. It is a paradox. By moving out the crude oil, of course freight comes in, insurance comes in and the people that haulage this product to the different countries come in. That is a huge cost in itself. For you to go and bring these same products again, that is additional cost. So I think the time has come for us to do the right thing, because we don’t have any other country, outside Nigeria. Let us do the right thing and ensure our refineries work.

    “Two, if you feel we should import, then there is no need for the price ceiling. Sealing this price at N86.50, because what happens if a businessman brings in this product at the rate that is higher, for the mere fact that you have sealed the price, it is bound to throw up issues. So unseal it if you cannot refine it. Anybody that is able and capable to bring it, let him it in, and you find out that if you do so, with the fluctuation and almost near collapse of crude oil price internationally, the price can even come down to even below N86, because we are going to have efficiency in the system.”

    He expressed confidence the Federal Government was on top of the present situation and the problem would be addressed soon.

     

  • Bank to forfeit N150m as Russians jump bail

    Bank to forfeit N150m as Russians jump bail

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Thursday ordered Zenith Bank Plc to forfeit N150million to the Federal Government after three Russians, who it provided a guarantee for, jumped bail.

    The three are among 14 foreigners accused of dealing in crude oil without licence.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba had issued a bench warrant for their arrest and revoked the bail granted the other accused persons.

    The judge had also ordered the bank, which provided the bond for the bail granted the accused persons for N50million each, to show cause why it should not forfeit the money.

    Thursday, the court heard that the Russians could not be found and the bank could not account for their whereabouts.

    Consequently, the judge ordered that he bail guarantee be forfeited.

    Among the accused are Russians, Ukrainians, Japanese and English, namely Artur Pakhladzhian, Sergo Abbgarian, Vasily Shkundich, vitaliy Bilours, Hlarion Regipor, Laguta Oleksiy, Cadavis Gerarado, Kretov Andry, Badurian Benjamin, Chepikov Olksan, Naranjo Antero, Patro Christian, Alcayde Joel and Caratiquit Beyan.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them after they were arrested by the Navy, which last March 27 intercepted their vessel, MT Anukpet Emerald.

    The vessel was laden with crude oil estimated at 1,738.087 metric tons.

    Defence counsel Babajide Koku (SAN) said the fourth, sixth and 11th defendants could not be found as they escaped from the hotel they were staying.

    He said he contacted the Russian Embassy, but was told it did not know the accused person’s whereabouts.

    “As we speak, I do not know the whereabouts of the three. And it’s highly embarrassing to say this, my Lord,” Koku said.

    The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the court to order their arrest and to revoke the bail granted the others.

    Koku said: “The application for their arrest is definitely meritorious to secure their attendance.”

    He, however, pleaded the sins of the three Russians should not be visited on the others by revoking their bail.

    Ruling, Justice Buba held that since the three who jumped bail were the leaders of the crew, not revoking the others’ bail would be risky.

    He, therefore, cancelled the bail granted the others and ordered that all the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.

    Justice Buba said Zenith Bank should show explain why it should not lose the N150million bail granted the three accused persons who have fled.

    The prosecution said they violated Section 4 of the Petroleum Act, Cap10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    EFCC said the offence also contravenes Section 19(6) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act of 2004 and punishable under section 1(17) of the same Act.

    The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the four counts when they were arraigned and were granted N50million bail each.

    The foreigners were also charged with dealing in 1,500 metric tons of Automated Gas Oil as well as 3,035 metric tons of Low Pour Fuel Oil without lawful authority.

    Justice Buba adjourned till March 15 for judgment.