The Nation Newspaper

Tag: increases

  • USAID increases support for good governance, health

    The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced more development assistance to support achieving the development goals outlined in the bilateral Development Objectives Assistance Agreement between the U.S. and Nigerian governments signed in 2015.

    Of the new funding, $25 million will strengthen good governance by supporting state governments’ efforts to bolster Nigeria’s Open Government Partnership commitments to improve transparency and fight corruption.  An additional $1.5 million will support a healthier, and more educated population in targeted states through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), totalled at $26.5 million.

    USAID is also partnering federal and state health ministries to build stronger health systems with the aim of guaranteeing equitable access to quality healthcare services nationwide.  The additional new funding brings the total U.S. government assistance provided under the five-year Development Objectives agreement to $1.1 billion.

    “The United States believes that as the most populous country in Africa, with the largest economy on the continent, Nigeria holds tremendous influence over the future of Africa,” Acting Mission Director Erin Holleran said, adding: “USAID is committed to partnering with the government and the people of Nigeria to address its development challenges.”

    USAID collaborated with the ministries of Budget and National Planning, Health, Agriculture, Power, and Education, as well as state-level government counterparts to structure the bilateral assistance agreement, which runs through 2020.

  • Cross River increases awareness on Lassa fever

    Cross River increases awareness on Lassa fever

    The Cross River Government has increased awareness campaign against Lassa fever to prevent further outbreak of the disease.

    Commissioner for Health Dr Inyang Asibong said the exercise became necessary as the two cases of Lassa fever recorded were traced to migrants who came into the state.

    Asibong presented personal protective equipment to health workers yesterday at the Ikang Border in Bakassi Local Government Area.

    The commissioner said the state government places high premium on the health status of the residents.

    The equipment donated included disposable gowns, hand gloves, nose masks, headgears and shoe covers.

    She noted that the equipment would be useful for other forms of medical emergencies aside from Lassa fever.

    “The idea behind this initiative is to protect our health workers against contracting any disease. We have solid health team across all the land borders in the state and it is important for us to equip them.

    “This Ikang border in Bakassi Local Government borders Cameroon. Many people transit this border for leisure and business. We are here today to sensitise the border community and equip our health team with the necessary health equipment.

    “This exercise will be replicated in all border towns across the state as we are leaving no stone unturned in our drive to strengthen our borders against disease migration,’’ she said.

    Director-General, Cross River Primary HealthCare Agency Dr Betta Edu, said the state had re-activated its Emergency Response Unit, set up a task force committee as well as isolation units across the state.

    She added that community health workers across the state have been equipped to pick up patients showing signs of any endemic disease in all communities and border areas.

  • Low traffic as airfare increases by 20%

    • Aero yet to resume flights in Abuja

    The usual heavy passengers traffic associated with Yuletide at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday was not there due to the recession and hike in fares.

    Checks with various airlines showed that most flights were not fully booked, while the prices of tickets had been increased across all destinations.

    Station Manager, Azman Air, MrAbdullahi Saroke, said the traffic was low compared to the previous year, attributing the situation to the economic recession.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that many airlines were not fully booked as against the usual rush that was associated with festive periods, adding that the airlines were struggling to survive the hardship.

    He also said there was about 20 per cent hike in air fares.

    “The traffic is very low compared to last year, because the country is in recession and you don’t expect people to fly by air that much in a country that is in recession.

    “Despite the fact that our roads are not too motorable, people have decided to stay away from the airports.

  • Fayose ‘increases’ prices of gravel, sand

    Fayose ‘increases’ prices of gravel, sand

    Residents of Ekiti State will now pay more for sand and gravel, following the stand-off between Governor Ayo Fayose and members of the Tipper Owners and Quarry Employers.

    The stand-off, caused by the government’s imposition of a new tax of N1,000 per trip and a fine of N50,000 for default, was settled yesterday.

    Fayose reduced the tax to N500 per trip to take effect from January.

    The peace meeting held at Jibowu Hall of the Government House was brokered by the Founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). It was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Etop James and Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Duke Fubara.

    With the development, the price of a load of sand has been increased from N12,000 to N14,500. A load of gravel is now N28,000 ,up from N25,000.

    Fayose said a tax hike was necessary to make the state less dependent on federal allocation, adding “Ekiti is in dire need of money.”

    He maintained that all tipper owners must register their trucks and get new number plates.

    Fayose said: “For the fact that I love you and that power belongs to the masses and with the intervention of our revered leader, Chief Babalola and security chiefs, I will accept this proposal. But my position has been that you must pay N1,000 per trip.

    “I want us to come to reality that Ekiti is in dire need of money. N934 million is being deducted from our allocation monthly. But no tipper will operate in Ekiti without proper registration. You need to be aware that any illegal operator will be dealt with.”

    Fubara said: “The two parties would have to be aware of the security implications of this stand-off.

    “You just have to shift grounds for us to find a middle ground to this matter.”

    Babalola, who praised the governor’s magnanimity, told the tipper owners to continue to support the government by paying their tax.

  • NAHCO increases cargo charges

    NAHCO increases cargo charges

    Clearing agents and freight forwarders at airports nationwide are to pay more for the clearing of inbound and out bound cargoes under the new tariff  arrangement put in place by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), it was learnt yesterday .

    The  30 per cent increase in cargo charges, is a  fall out of the meeting held between the agents and officials of the cargo firm a few months ago.

    According to a source, both NAHCO and the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANCLA ) at a meeting at the firm’s headquarters on  May 11 this year agreed on the increase in cargo tariff on the day it took effect, but were still sorting out issues bordering on the prescribed percentage .

    Sources at the meeting said it was agreed that the only way to develop the industry and make the air cargo industry in Nigeria a world class is to allow a tariff review which would encourage investment in equipment and human resource.

    Confirming the development, the spokesman of NAHCO, Mr Tayo Ajakaye, said it is line with industry standards.

    Asked why some agents seem to be in disagreement with the tariff increase, he said: “You know, we did all we were required to do. We consulted everyone , body, agency and stakeholder that needed to be consulted. But of course you will agree with me that no one wants a price increase. So it is understandable if quite a few are raising dust. We should expect that.”

    The source said NAHCO had to implement review in tariff on account of the huge cost of operational equipment , which has gone up on account of the falling value of the naira.

    The source also cited other factors not limited to the huge costs of getting spare parts which are imported as well as the over 500 per cent increase in airport charges .

    The source said: ”Cost of equipment has gone up as a result of the fall of the naira. Unfortunately 95 per cent of the equipment used by ground handling companies of international repute is imported.

    “Spare parts for the equipment that are currently in service are also imported; meaning operators would still need to spend more dollars.

    “FAAN charges are hiked every year. Apron passes are increased by as much as 300 per cent or 500 per cent in some cases.

    “FAAN bills NAHCO  for power; yet we don’t get the power to use. There are times we would be on generators for two weeks non-stop.

    “FAAN bills us for just anything: including car parks, where you put your mobile toilets for use of agents.”

    The last time tariff was increased was about three years ago; since then a lot of things including the inflation rate has changed in the economy.

    During this time, Nigeria’e economy had become the largest in Africa; yet our rates are lower than in South Africa.

    Increase in rates is the only way to remain competitive and to be able to render superlative service.

    As the only Public Limited Company  (Plc) operating in the sub-sector, Nahco Aviance’ shareholders want return on investment.

    “Since everybody agrees that NAHCO sets the industry benchmark in service delivery in the sector, it is just normal for stakeholder to agree that it should also reap the benefit of its investment/labour,“ they said.

  • Conoil increases cash dividends by 301% to N2.8b

    Conoil increases cash dividends by 301% to N2.8b

    The board of directors of Conoil Plc has recommended increase in cash dividends to shareholders by 300.6 per cent.

    A regulatory filing obtained yesterday indicated that the board of directors of Conoil, at its meeting on Monday, approved the audited report and accounts of the company for the year ended December 31, 2013 including distribution of a gross dividend of N2.78 billion as cash dividends for the business year.

    A breakdown of the dividend recommendation implies that shareholders would receive a dividend per share of N4, representing an increase of 300.6 per cent on N1 paid for the 2012 business year. Conoil had distributed N693.95 million as gross dividend for the 2012 business year.

    The current dividend would be paid to shareholders on the register of the company as at August 25, 2014. Shareholders of the company are expected to approve the dividend payment at the annual general meeting on September 26, 2014, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The dividend would subsequently be posted to shareholders on October 6, 2014.

    Also, the board appointed Mr. Charles Uwaechie as an executive director with immediate effect.

    Although the details of the company’s full-year results were not available as at press time, Conoil had shown impressive earnings in 2013. Nine-month report of Conoil for the period ended September 30, 2013 showed that pre and post tax profits rose by 341 per cent and 329 per cent respectively. While sales growth was modest at 6.0 per cent, the company had leveraged on increasingly efficient cost management and financing structure. Turnover rose to N121.80 billion in 2013 as against N114.77 billion in comparable period of 2012.

    Profit before tax jumped from N699.42 million to N3.08 billion while profit after tax leapt to N2.09 billion as against N487.22 million recorded in corresponding period of 2012. With these, earnings per share stood at N3.01 by September 2013 as against 70 kobo by September 2012.

    Management of Conoil had said they expected to drive performance with projected 65 per cent revenue increase from its nationwide retail outlets, especially newly commissioned mega stations. Performance was also expected to be augmented by additional income streams from new lubricant products launched earlier in the year as well as expected 72 per cent increase in probable revenue from the fully-deregulated lubricant business.

    With its new production plant in Port Harcourt, Conoil plans to step up engine oil exports to West African markets as well as enter into joint venture partnerships with leading car manufacturing companies for the use of Conoil lubricants in their vehicle engines.  It also expects additional incomes from ancillary services including marketing of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and Bitumen, which were reactivated in the first half of 2013 and were expected to boost sales as from the second half.

    At the company’s last meeting with shareholders, chairman, Conoil Plc, Dr. Mike Adenuga, assured that the company has a robust growth strategy that places emphasis on continued investments and delivery and expansion of quality products and services.

    According to him, the future outlook of the company remains bright as it has built stronger financial position and facilities that will create enduring value for shareholders.

    “We will constantly develop strategies to sustain our position as the only marketer that always goes the extra mile for our ever growing customers, with total commitment to excellent service delivery. We firmly believe that such a robust strategy will ensure continued growth and stronger position in our core markets”, Adenuga said.

    He outlined that the company’s strategy is to provide quality products and services that will make customers want to patronize its fuel and non-fuel products adding that the company would continue its aggressive acquisition and expansion drive that aims at increasing, substantially, the number of its retails outlets nationwide.

    Adenuga noted that as part of the strategy to shore up the bottom-line, the company has strengthened and consolidated its leadership position in the aviation business with investment in the acquisition of new world-class equipment to meet the demands, on real time basis, of the company’s ever-growing local and international clientele.

    According to him, Conoil’s future is rosy because the company is constantly thinking ahead and acquiring additional capacity that is necessary for growth and profitability, despite the unpredictability of the economic environment.

  • Fed Govt increases spending on ICT tools

    TO combat the menace of insurgency, the Federal Government has increased its spending on the purchase of information communications technology (ICT) tools.

    The government had been criticised by the ICT community for failing to deploy ICT tools in checking terrorism, especially to facilitate the location and rescue of the over 200 Chibok girls abducted by the Boko Haram sect.

    In this year’s Appropriation Act, the government has approved the disbursement of N1,594,000,000 for the establishment of Public Key Infrastructure for Digital Signature Encryption (PKIDSE) for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) while approval has also been given for the acquisition of Enhanced Secured Field Communication System (ESFCS) at cost of N3,900,000,000.

    While the PKIDSE project is expected to bring integrity and non-repudiation of online transactions, the ESFCS project will enhance tracking of communication.

    The Act also made provision for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to procure security equipment worth N837,307,610; Electronic Jamming Against Bomb System (EJABS) N363,604,547 and Computer Emergency Response (CER) Centre for N2,000,000,000.

    There is also provision for Digital Forensic Laboratory with N800million; ONSA Local Area Network (LAN) expansion-N100 million and the National Information, Communication and Education Programme (NICEP) II Security Elements-Phase II-N1,242,896,000. Another N11 billion. Provision was made for what the budget termed Enhanced and Specialised Security Equipment, Gadgets and Services.

    The Directorate of State Security Services (DSSS), which is under the ONSA received budgetary approval to procure Strontium Sky Diligent Recon System at N350 million; Static and Mobile Jammers at N412 million; procure global system for mobile communication (GSM) Passive Off-the-Air Interception System-N359,000,500; Acquire Data Retention System N415 million; purchase more firearms and ammunitions for all service formations at N350million.

    Aside these provisions, there is also an unexplained N27.5billion Contingency Fund captured in the Service Wide Vote of the Federal Ministry of Finance for the year.

  • ‘Nigeria’s external trade increases to N5.34t in second quarter’

    Nigeria’s external merchandise trade total rose marginally to about N5.34 trillion in the second quarter of this year, up from about N5.098 trillion in the preceding quarter.

    The trade figures represented 4.8 per cent increase.

    The positive change, it was learnt, was the result of an increase in export value, from about N3.452 trillion in the first quarter to N3.742 trillion in the quarter under review. This represents a balance of a trade surplus of N290.8 billion, or 8.4 per cent.

    The value of imports also decreased from about N1.646 trillion in January to about N1.598 trillion in March.

    The Foreign Trade Statistics Report for this year’s second quarter, released yesterday by the Director-General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr Yemi Kale, showed that the increase in exports and decrease in imports resulted in a favourable trade balance of about N2.145 trillion in the second quarter.

    This translates to an increase of N339.3 billion, or 18.8 per cent, from the levels recorded in the first quarter of this year.

    A further analysis of the merchandise trade on year-on-year basis showed that the value of the nation’s total merchandise trade decreased by N1.743 trillion, or 24.6 per cent, while the trade balance also declined by 49.7 per cent.

    Imports increased by 13.5 per cent while exports decreased by 34.1 per cent.

    The crude oil component of the total trade stood at N2.709 trillion representing a decrease of N321.2 billion or 10.6 per cent when compared with the previous quarter.

    On a year-on-year basis, the crude oil component recorded a 23.6 per cent decline.

    The NBS report reads: “The total value of Nigeria’s external merchandise trade amounted to N5, 341.1 billion in the second quarter 2013, an increase of N242.3 billion or 4.8 per cent from N5,098.9 billion recorded in the previous quarter.”

  • Kogi ACN kicks as Wada increases tuition fees

    The Kogi State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday condemned Governor Idris Wada’s recent increase in the tuition fees payable by students of the state-owned tertiary institutions.

    In a statement in Abuja by its Chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, the party said the action would deprive the children of the poor the access to higher education.

    It noted that the government’s directive for increased fees would directly affect every household in the state.

    ACN said the new fees were contained in a recently released Kogi State Government’s White Paper on the findings and recommendations of the visitation panels to tertiary institutions in the state.

    The report covered the activities of the institutions from 2000 to 2009.

    The party urged the government to reverse the order, adding that it is capable of throwing the state into a deep crisis.

    The statement added: “Based on the approval of the Wada-led government, the tuition fees of tertiary institutions in Kogi State have been increased.

    “Students of Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, are now to pay N100,000 as tuition fees. Their counterparts in the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, are to pay N50,000, while those of the Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, are equally to pay N50,000 per session.”

    It was learnt that students of the state university were paying less than N40,000 per session while their counterparts in the college of education and the polytechnic paid less than N30,000 before nearly 60 and 45 per cent upward review was introduced.

    ACN said it is unfortunate that the Wada administration, which promised to turn around the fortunes of education in the state, now “wants to make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the parents, majority of who are down-trodden, to send their children to school.”

    The party stressed that it did not occur to the government that some parents have more than a child in tertiary institutions.

    It asked: “How then do we expect them to cope with this unpleasant development?”

    ACN also noted that some indigent students were struggling to pay their way through school.

    It added: “We, therefore, view the current action of the PDP-led government as an attempt to take education beyond the reach of the masses.

    “By the introduction of the new tuition fees, we in the opposition strongly believe that the aim has been defeated. This is because only the rich can now afford the means to send their children to higher institutions in the state.

    “We are, therefore, calling on the well-meaning people of the state, particularly the leaders and traditional rulers, to advise the state government to drop this unpopular policy now before it throws the state into a serious crisis.

    “This action has demonstrated to all and sundry that the PDP-led government has no interest of the masses at heart; as such, it should be voted out in the next dispensation.

    “We knew from the onset that the PDP-led government has nothing to offer the state, more so that they have been unable to account for the billions they have received from Abuja in their 10 years of misrule.”

    ACN urged the people of the state and Nigerians to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an alternative platform to stop the current underdevelopment under the PDP administration.

    It said: “As we are moving to the All Progressives Congress (APC), we urge Nigerians to vote en mass for the party in the next general elections.”

  • Councils’ revenue increases

    The six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory recorded an increase of N281, 174,986.71 (13.4 per cent) in their revenue allocation for February.

    Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali councils received revenue allocation of N2, 380,208,667.17 from the Federation Account for February compared with the sum of N2, 099,033,680.46 received for January.

    The acting Permanent Secretary, FCT, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed who disclosed this during the monthly FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting, attributed the increment to the improved inflow from Value Added Tax (VAT) and the arrears of January Budget augmentation.

    Ahmed, who represented the chairperson of the FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee and the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, disclosed that N1.041 billion was received for the five per cent VAT in February as against N1.007 billion in the preceding month.

    He gave the breakdown of the allocations from the Federation Account as: N731.26 million from Statutory Revenue Allocation, N56.77 million from Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and N23.10 million being refund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

    Other allocations from the Federation Account were: N250.35 million being arrears of January 2013 Budget Augmentation and N277.09 million being differential between budget and actual.

    Of the N2.38 billion revenue allocation, Ahmed stated that the JAAC transferred N894.43 million to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) for payment of the primary school teachers’ salaries in the area councils; N95.04 million to FCT Area Councils Pension Board (ACPB) being 15 per cent pension fund as statutorily required, and N23.80 million to FCT Area Councils Service Commission being one per cent training fund, also statutorily required.

    According to him, the net revenue allocation of N1.366 billion was distributed to the six area councils, with Abuja Municipal Area Council receiving the lion share of N319.58 million, as against N242.75 it received in January, 2013.

    The FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee also distributed N233.77 million to Gwagwalada Area Council, N218.94 million to Bwari Area Council, N205.91 million to Kuje Area Council, N194.79 million to Kwali Area Council and N193.92 million to Abaji Area Council.

    Gwagwalada, Bwari, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji got net revenue allocations of N190.38 million, N198.28 million, N167.92 million, N155.29 million and N157.94 million, respectively.

    On SURE-P funds, Abuja Municipal Area Council received the highest allocation of N16.77 million, followed by Bwari (N9.28 million), Gwagwalada (N8.50 million), Kwali (N7.79 million), Kuje (N7.45 million) and Abaji (N6.96 million).