The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • Govt committed to cities’growth

    The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to the development of the aviation sector through the creation of airport cities as centres of economic growth with the aerotropolis concept.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation Reforms, Ms Anne Ene-Ita, stated the readiness of the Federal Government in a message she delivered on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan at the Airport Cities (Aerotropoli) Conference, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    The government, Jonathan said, is set to position the sector as a catalyst for the growth of key economic sectors, such as travel, tourism, agriculture, rural development, trade, commerce, manufacturing and communications technology; with all of the attendant infrastructure development critical to sustainable growth of any economy.

    She said the aerotropolis Nigeria, specifically targets a diversification of the economy through increased economic activity, technology transfer, increased trade through global partnerships, value chain development and rural transformation.

    These, he said, would come handy, especially in exploiting the country’s agro-export opportunities, employment potential, new business development and private sector investment, both local and foreign.

    The President said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria remains fully committed, in partnership with the private sector to transform Nigeria into the foremost investment destination in Africa with well connected, economically efficient; offering sustainable, secure and attractive returns on investment.”

    “We are committed to supporting private sector-driven Aerotropoli to rapidly become the commercial nexus, anchoring aviation-enabled trade in goods and services; and driving business development from the aerotropolis to neighboring cities, towns and the entire West African region”, the President declared.

     

    Meanwhile, potential investors attending the Aerotropolis Conference have continued to flock to the Nigeria Aerotropolis Exhibition Pavillion making enquiries on the business opportunities which the project portends for both local and foreign investors. They have generally showed huge interest in the projects and are receiving very useful information from the Ministry of Aviation officials who are readily on hand.

    The Airport Cities Conference (Aerotropolis) Johannesburg, South Africa 2013 has provided a veritable platform for potential investors, aviation stakeholders and the general business community to brainstorm, exchange ideas and develop contacts for the enhancement of the new airport cities concept.

    Nigeria’s delegation is led by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Aviation Reform, Ms Anne Ene-Ita.

    Other key members of the delegation include the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr George Ossi, the Managing Director of FAAN Mr. George Uriesi, amongst others.

     

  • FG woun’t be cajoled into granting amnesty to Boko Haram-Maku

    FG woun’t be cajoled into granting amnesty to Boko Haram-Maku

    The Federal Government has said that it would not be cajoled into entering into announcing amnesty to the fundamentalist militant group, Boko Haram.
    It insisted that amnesty would not be the first option in the line of action towards seeking an end to the activities of the group.
    According to the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku the issue of amnesty would only cone up after the sect might have open up discussion line  with government.
    “It can only come up in the process of discussion,”  he said noting that it would be difficult to grant  amnesty to a group that is still evasive.
    He cited the case of Borno state government which has announced a sort of ceasefire agreement entered with the group only for the group to strike few hours latter.
    He also denied any form of credible discussion with the group noting that in the last one year, ” we have not seen anybody come up to say that they can negotiate with the group”.
    He also noted that  government has done everything possible to contain the sect.
    The minister while also reacting on the call by Sultan of Sokoto calling for amnesty and dialogue with the group, said though the Sultans call was done in good fate, but it cannot be he first option.
    He reiterated that government is open to discussion with the sect, but said right now the condition for amnesty is not there, stressing that government is dealing with a group that is secretive.
    Besides, the minister noted that there is no clear one person who can speak on behalf of the group.
    He did however not over rule the possibilities of some individuals talking to the group, but insisted that, “it will be too early to say that there are credible conversation” between government and the group.
    The minister assured that government will continue to look forward to the day when  formal discussion with the group will commence, stressing  “but the condition for amnesty is not there.”
    He also claimed that the security situation in the northern part of the country is not overwhelming, stressing that the security agencies have succeeded in their strategy to contain the group, adding that what is required is the participation of the people.
    Citing the case of Niger Delta crisis, he said people came out and discussed with the militants, including the governors which explained the success recorded in the area.
    He insisted that without the support and cooperation of the people, the situation in the north will fester.
    On the failure of government ending the activities of the sect by middle of last year as promised by the president, Maku said a lot of success has been made since the president gave the assurance.
    The minister who also down played the role of corruption in the whole scenario, however admitted that issues of governance in some of the states affected may not be ruled out, but insisted that it will be totally wrong to blame corruption for the activities of Boko Haram, saying that terrorism is a global phenomenon.
    The minister also lampooned some politicians who accused of speaking on issues of national security without any sense of responsibility and patriotism.
    The minister who was apparently reacting to a statement credited to former Abia state governor, Orji Kalu that it was the government that were behind most of the bombing in the northern part of the country said, it was just unfortunate, adding that what the country, especially past leaders owe members of the security and their families are appreciations for their efforts at containing the activities of the sect.
    “the least we can say is to appreciate them (security agencies). For some one to come out to make such claim is so unfortunate and irresponsible.”
    Adding, ” there are people who we feel should guide their tongue. Government has maintained some maturity and expected patriotism.
    Once you have become a leader, there are things you cannot say.
    He also accused the media of reporting politicians and not governance and democracy.
    He explained that there are states that were making great progress yet they are not heard.

  • FG approves N12 billion macro computer lab for 59 colleges 

    The Federal Government has approved the construction of macro teaching computer laboratories in fifty-nine colleges of education across the country for N12billion.

    The Minister of Education, Professor Ruquayyatu Rufa’i made this known at the 15th Combined Convocation Ceremony of the Federal College of Education Technical, Umunze in Anambra State where no fewer than 2,800 students were conferred with Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE).

    The Minister emphasised government attention to vocational and technical education as well as teacher training in the country.

    She commissioned the College E Library and inspected others including the model home residence.

    Rufa’i restated the commitment of the Federal Government to advance Technical and Vocational Education to improve skilled manpower to operate, maintain and sustain the nation’s economic activities for rapid socio-economic development.

    According to her: “The aspiration of Federal Government is to see better funded, equipped, motivated staff and students in our institutions.

    ”Two major focal areas of the plan are Teacher Education and Development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

  • NASS, Finance Ministry clash over gas revenue

    NASS, Finance Ministry clash over gas revenue

    The Federal Government has estimated that about N359.582 billion could be realised from the sale of gas next year.

    However, this information has not been relayed to the National Assembly, a situation that may result in another round of controversy between the executive and the legislature.

    In a document sighted by The Nation in the Budget Office, it was stated that in 2013, the government expects gas income of 30 per cent of Corporate Income Tax (CIT) with gas sales projected to generate N359.6 billion.

    In 2013, the government hopes to realise N161.057 billion from the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) feedstock sales; N198.5 billion from upstream liquified gas ( broken down as ) N74.0 billion from liquified gas export and N124.5 billion from liquified gas domestic.

    The document indicated that in the new year, the government estimates to make N6.4 billion from rent, gas flared penalty and miscellaneous oil revenue broken down as rent, N0.880 billion, gas flared penalty, N2.480 billion and miscellaneous oil revenue N3.072 billion.

    All these figures are, however, absent in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework document in the public domain and the one submitted to the National Assembly.

    While the Budget Office of the Federation is insisting that it submitted the information needed to the National Assembly, the Legislature has accused the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office of withholding information concerning gas revenue and external debts in the MTEF submitted to it.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, had earlier decried the exclusion of the gas receipts/revenue in the expenditure framework submitted to the Legislature at the 2013 budget presentation by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said: “The House of Representatives has observed two critical omissions on the MTEF namely: (i)  That the Revenue from gas, running into billions of  dollars, is not reflected, and (ii) External borrowing is similarly not reflected.”

    However, investigations confirmed what the Speaker said. There was no provision for gas receipts in the document presented to the National Assembly and the one in the public domaine.

    The Spokesman for the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr Afolabi Olajuwon, denied the Speaker’s claim. He also showed the reporter a sheet of paper containing the 2013-2015 fiscal framework containing gas receipts/revenue for the period.

    Olajuwon said the ministry and the Budget Office never withheld any information from the legislators, insisting that these information, particularly the gas receipts have always been included in every budget presented to the National Assembly.

    When contacted, spokesman for the House of Representatives Hon. Zakari Mohammed stated that the House of Representatives has “not yet” received these information from the either the ministry of finance or the budget office.

    In the public MTEF document, N6,506.34 trillion is expected to be generated from oil and gas deals in 2013.

  • Govt to boost non-oil export

    Govt to boost non-oil export

    The Federal Government has set up structures to boost trade between Nigeria and other African Countries.

    The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga disclosed this during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Nigerian Non-Oil Export Conference Exhibition and Awards, in Abuja stating that the government will formalize data capturing of the country’s non-oil exports to ECOWAS counties.

    He said, ‘’This will make the country’s trade move from the current 10percent to 50percent in the next three years as part of efforts to improve regional trade.

    “One of the initiatives, which the Nigerian Export Promotion Council has done is the data capturing of the informal trade between Nigeria and other countries.