The Nation Newspaper

Tag: GOVT

  • Rice farmer urges govt to provide land for farming

    The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Delta State, Chief Silvanus Ejezie, has urged the government to provide land in the wetland for dry season farming.

    Ejezie, who spoke in an interview yesterday with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba, said the association identified wetland in the state suitable for all-year farming.

    He advised the government to procure such areas, clear and allocate them to farmers for farming.

    Ejezie said the association proposed a release of five hectares by every local government for the cultivation of rice, to boost food production.

    He said unlike in the North, there were no dams in the South to encourage all-year farming.

    “Our challenge for not going into all-year farming is because we do not have dams like our counterparts in the North.

    “Engaging in dry season farming here is a trial. But if the government encourages the 25 councils to provide land for rice cultivation, Delta will produce more rice.

    “If the government helps to clear such wetland in Ndokwa and other parts of the state, it will support dry season farming and boost rice production.

    “By so doing, the cost of farming will be reduced and we can make more progress,” the chairman said.

    He said at present, rice farmers managed to engage in dry season cultivation by irrigating farmlands with water from boreholes.

    He said the practice was challenging and expensive due to high cost of fuel to power pumping machines.

    On the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), he said participating farmers, who had been trained, were hoping and waiting for the funds to be released.

    NAN recalls that the CBN in 2016 began pilot phase of the programme with rice production in Kebbi State.

    The ABP aims at creating economic linkages between over 600,000 smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors, to increase agricultural output and improve capacity utilisation of integrated mills.

    It is also expected to close the gap between the levels of local rice production and domestic consumption, as well as complement the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture by graduating GES farmers from subsistence farming to commercial production.

     

  • Address job losses in banking, union urges govt

    Address job losses in banking, union urges govt

    The Association of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) President, Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye, has said the government’s policies are forcing banks to retrench workers. She urged the Federal Government to review policies that might affect the insurance and banking sectors.

    Speaking with The Nation, Comrade Oyinkan said: “We realised that our members are losing their jobs and it has become a tripartite issue in the sense that it is no longer the fault of the employees or that of the employers, but also government’s policy. We operate in the financial sector, not manufacturing sector, so the only thing we deal with is fiscal.”

    She also said the Treasury Single Account (TSA) has been a problem to the union. “No matter the advantages of TSA, the government cannot just withdraw all their money from the banks and expect them to survive. We are trying to take a proposal to the government that if they are withdrawing their money from the banks because of TSA, they should loan it to the banks as an investment and at lesser interest rates. This will ensure liquidity in the system because with the way we are going, there is no money in the system,” Comrade Olasanoye said.

    According to her, the government is the biggest spender, but now it has not been spending.

    “This is affecting our members. The majority of our employers have issues because the policy is making business difficult to run. We are tackling the issue this year by engaging with government on its monetary policies. We are also engaging with our employers in order to save our jobs,” she said.

    She said the situation had reached a stage where ASSBIFI could no longer insist that banks should not retrench when the policies in place were forcing them to do so. “It is not about the government coming out to say banks should not retrench, but rather to know what they are doing to make it possible for banks not to retrench,” she added.

    Admitting that TSA is a very good policy, Comrade Olasanoye insisted that there should be a human face to every policy. “That we are trying to save government expenses and income does not mean it must totally collapse the banking sector. When the government was bringing TSA, they should have considered so many things. People are saying banks are no longer doing their core business, but that they run after government investment, yes, we should go into retail banking. But before we get to that stage, there must be a foundation,” she pointed out.

    She said apart from the need to do things gradually, the government should have considered the human factor before coming out with the policy. The government, she also said, should have assigned different parastatals to various banks.

    “For example, Skye Bank could be collecting all the TSA involving Nigerian Customs Service, while Unity Bank could be collecting that of the Nigerian Army,” the ASSBIFI chief, said, noting that with such arrangement, no bank would run out of cash.

  • Experts to govt: increase oil production

    With ongoing peace talks between the Federal Government and Niger Delta indigenes, experts have urged the Federal Government to increase oil production.

    The experts, including the President, International Institute of Energy and Law, Prof Wunmi Iledare, and the former Executive Director, National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Dr Albert Okorogu, said  once government was able to substantially increase output, revenues accruing to the government would shoot up considerably.

    If government’s crude oil revenue  goes up by about 70 per cent, the foreign reserves will be expected to hit $35 billion in the next few years, they added.

    With increased revenue inflow, the government will be able to finance its budget, and meet other fiscal responsibilities, they noted.

    Speaking with The Nation on phone, against the backdrop of the rise in crude oil price to $56 per barrel, and ongoing peace moves of  Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo and his team in the region, they said growth in the oil industry, was dependent on the twin issues of peace in the Niger-Delta region and increased oil production.

    Iledare said the rise in the price of crude oil was a welcome development, urging inhabitants of the region to play a complementary role by allowing peace to reign. He said with this, the Federal Government would achieve its goal of having an improved and steady revenue from the sale of crude oil.

    He said: “No doubt, the industry is facing the twin problems of reduction in the production of crude oil and violence in the Niger-Delta region.  The issues have impacted negatively on the industry and the country, which relies on oil for sustenance. Now that the  price of crude oil is appreciating, residents of the Niger-Delta region must allow peace to reign in order to achieve optimal production of crude oil.”

    Iledare, who is the president, Association of International Energy Economists (AIEE), lamented that  breaking of oil pipelines, oil theft, departure of firms from onshore to offshore province, dwindling oil production and exploration activities, among others, had been hitting the industry.

    “For years now, the global price of crude oil has fallen steeply, resulting in the inability of the Federal Government to implement its fiscal policy. Now that the price of oil is rebounding, the problems that are associated with budget benchmark and implementation would become a thing of the past,” he added.

    Okorogu said the country was blessed with oil fields, which contained associated gas, adding that increase in production of oil would lead to a corresponding increase in production of gas.

    Okorogu said gas was the bane of the nation’s electricity industry, noting that the turbines would get gas for operation if activities in the petroleum industry improved.

    The six power generation companies (GenCos) and 10 power plants being managed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and others, would get gas and increase power generation. This means improvement in electricity supply and the economy, he said.

    They noted that Nigeria’s realisation of its 2.2 million bpd oil production budget benchmark was hinged on a peaceful Niger Delta and minimal or zero militancy. Therefore, government needed to improve ongoing dialogue with the region’s stakeholders to avoid the risk of being held to ransom due to delays.

  • Govt raises 22-man committee to tackle grazing, rustling

    Govt raises 22-man committee to tackle grazing, rustling

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday constituted a 22-man technical committee to curtail cattle grazing and rustling in Abuja.
    FCT Minister Muhammad Bello, who inaugurated the committee, directed them to build on the works of similar committees set up by previous Administrations to begin its activities for immediate impact.
    According to him, their terms of reference of include discussing with the Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDA’s) to see what plans are on ground within the FCT Administration for the proper use of grazing reserves, cater for farming communities, as well as the needs of other stakeholders.
    Other mandates of the committee, according to the minister, include: “to study the recommendations of past relevant committees and MDAs and come up with harmonised implementable action plan and template that will guide how the FCT can have a very efficient system that guarantees safe living”.
    His words: “In a way, you will notice that what your committee is doing is being done by similar committees in over the country and particularly a national committee under the Inspector General of Police. So, I expect that you would reach out to some of these committees, especially those within the North Central or even the office of the Inspector General of Police, to leverage on some of their works and some of the information available to them”.
    “At the end of the day, we want a peaceful territory, economically vibrant and a melting pot where everybody comes in and relates freely.”
    The committee is chaired by Uthman Mohammed while acting secretary of the FCT Area Council, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, is Secretary.

  • ‘Govt should treat Nigerians with respect’

    The National Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chief (Dr.) Adebowale Omotoso, has urged the government to treat its nationals with self-respect and dignity.

    Omotoso spoke at Awe town, Oyo State.

    He said, “Education should increase the consciousness level of Nigerian youths and socialise them into the national culture.  But what we have now is education without morals due to lack of power monitoring and clear-cut policies devoid of political sentiments in regulating education or meaningful development.  Ideally, politics influences education through the policies and decisions that are made by the political leadership to ensure the realisation of national, state, and party objectives.  As a result of these notions, there are many political problems that jeopardised educational management in the country.”

    He added that ‘’the society has degenerated from a community of people with high moral values and dignity to a state of near madness, collapse of moral values and tolerance of immorality’’.

  • Orji denies getting pension from Abia govt

    Orji denies getting pension from Abia govt

    Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has denied receiving pension from the state.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Eddie Onuzutike, the former governor said the report was false.

    Orji said his name was included among past governors and deputies to get pensions.

    The statement reads: “Let it be known to all and sundry that T. A. Orji is not drawing any such funds from Abia State, knowing the implications of such act.

    “As a man who went through the rungs of the civil service ladder – from Administrative Officer to Permanent Secretary – he is aware of the code guiding retirement of officers and so would not violate same.

    “It is an avowed code and the journalistic maxim that when in doubt, one should not publish. This is still applicable and should be judiciously adhered to. Reporters and media houses should investigate properly before publishing.

    “In the case above, the medium is hereby advised to apologise for the huge embarrassment from the error and desist from such publications to avoid unnecessary legal actions applicable to such misleading information.”

     

  • Govt ‘ll support SMEs, says Osinbajo

    Govt ‘ll support SMEs, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo has reinstated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration to support the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Abia and other states of the federation to grow the country’s economy.

    He stated this while flagging off the Nationwide Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Clinics for Viable Enterprises (MSME) in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

    The vice president who described the SMEs as the highest employers of labour and engine house of every great nation’s economy, said President Buhari has great interest in the growth of the SMEs and stressed that it is the intention of the administration to make the industry compete favourably and even surpass their counterparts at the global stage.

    He said the essence of visiting Aba, Kano, Nnewi, Onitsha and any other parts of the country is to interact with the people, identify their problems and as well finding a lasting way to tackle some of the challenges that are hindering them from performing optimally.

  • Govt eyes 250,000 from fertiliser plants

    •Fertilizer to cost N5,500

    The Federal Government is eyeing  250,000 jobs from the revived of fertilizer blending plants in the country.

    Only six out of 38 such plants in the country are currently operational.

    Director-General, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (Sovereign Wealth Fund), Mr. Uche Orji, disclosed this in Benin City during a visit to the moribund Edo State owned fertilizer plant and the new fertilizer line at Okpella.

    Mr. Orji said SWF was in the state as part of the Presidential Initiative on Fertilizer (PIF) to see how Edo Fertilizer Plant could be revived.

    He noted that the purpose is to ensure that farmers in the country buy fertilizer at N5,500 before the next planting season.

  • Govt woos foreign investors under fuel import model

    To boost fuel supply, the Federal Government is wooing foreigners to invest in its refineries under the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSDP) Import model.

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) introduced the DSDP in its dertermination to ensure uninterupted fuel supply.

    Under the arrangement, it will allocate crude tos elcet foreign refineries in exchange for fuel.

    In the past, the government adopted the conventional crude for products (known as swap), to bring fuel into the country. Under it, notable world oil marketing firms, such as Transfigura, and Vitol, were given crude in exchange for fuel.

    NNPC’s spokesman Ndu Ughamadu, told The Nation on phone that bringing in foreign  firms was in tandem with the government’s policy to grow the economy.

    Ughamadu said: “If, in the long run, crude oil refiners from developed economies, which would operate under the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase import model, wish to invest in Nigeria, they are welcomed. The more investors invest in refineries in Nigeria, the better for the country.”

    He said the government had been calling for more local and foreign investments, to promote growth.

    “Earlier, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Kachikwu, travelled to India to invite investors into the country to encourage the growth of the sector and the economy. The Direct Sale and Direct Purchase import is in the right direction as it is capable of improving the growth of the industry,” he added.

    He said besides Transfigura, there were other firms refining crude oil for Nigeria.

    International Institute of Energy and Law Vice President, Prof Wunmi Iledare, said the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase import model is a temporary measure to ease fuel supply.

    He said the government’s ultimate goal was to bring in foreign investors that would invest in the refineries. He said the long-term plan, which the government has for the sector, was to bring in foreign investors to invest in refineries.

    The government, Iledare said, was not ready to tamper with the plans in view of the strategic importance of the sector to the economy.

    Iledare said: “For me, the DSDP model will be a temporary initiative when one considers the fact that the Federal Government has been looking for ways to end the lingering fuel crisis and related problems with products supply and distribution. The model is a stop-gap measure introduced by NNPC to address the problems in the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry.”

    Iledare, also President, International Association of Energy Economist (IAEE), said DSDP import model was better than swapping because it would pave way for more refineries to emerge.

    He said the government could bring foreign investors, since it was unable to fix its own refineries, adding that Nigeria has no reason to import fuel being one of the largest energy entrepreneurs in the continent.

  • Sagamu awaits govt’s nod to fill Akarigbo stool

    •Five in race for vacant position

    No fewer than five princes are in the race for the stool of Akarigbo of Remo Land, even as residents of Sagamu await government’s nod to enable the ancient town pick another monarch.

    The stool became vacant following the transition of Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo on July 25 last year.

    Those eyeing the stool are Akeem Akibu, a director with Glo, Ibukun Alayo, a London-based businessman and Mutiu Adebayo, Sagamu-based mechanical engineer. Others  are 79-year-old Prof Gabriel Ogunmola, a retired professor of Chemistry and Lead University Chancellor and Victor Babatunde Ajayi, a chartered accountant and partner, Babington Ashaye & Co.

    Their interest is coming more than six months after the former monarch joined his forebears.

    It was learnt that the Torungbuwa ruling house will produce the next monarch. The family, The Nation gathered, will begin the selection process immediately after the conclusion of the rite of passage for the former royal father.

    The family is expected to route its request for an approval from the state government through the chieftaincy unit of the Sagamu Local Government  and the Ministry of Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs.