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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • ‘Animation important for job creation’

    The inclusion of Nigerian content in the animation film festival will create adequate employment and contribute to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture has said.

    Mohammed said this at the opening ceremony of the 4th French and Japanese Embassies Animated Film Festival at the Institut francais du Nigeria in Abuja.

    He said, “It is worthy to note that with the inclusion of Nigerian content in the animation film festival, it will create adequate employment and contribute to the growth and development of the nation economy.

    Mohammed, who was represented at the occasion by Deacon Grace Gekpe, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said animation had the potential in promoting culture, creating jobs for youths and promote economic empowerment in the country.

    The minister described animation film as a platform to champion and support film makers to use animation in the production of unique cinematic visions and promote culture to younger generations.

    He added that economically, animation employed hundreds of thousands of artists, animators, producers and technicians to produce huge demand for diverse content in the world.

    “Artistically, the craft of animation has spurred amazing advancements in storytelling since its inception and it has proven to be one of the best forms of impacting knowledge and creative ideas to its audiences.

    “Animation industry has a great role to play in shaping the minds of our children and instilling in them our diverse cultural heritage.

    “It will be hard for us to imagine a childhood without all of the animated characters that fill our imagination.

    “The government, in its efforts to diversify the economy, has recognized the film industry as a sector of focus in its diversification agenda through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan,’’ he said.

    Also speaking at the event, Yutaka Kikuta, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria stressed the importance of culture to any society, adding that it remains the strength of a country.

    He said that Japan and French cultural collaboration had resulted in annual animation film festival aimed at promoting their cultures to Nigerian people and enhanced cultural exchange between them and Nigeria.

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    “We strongly believe that creating a deep connection with the Nigerian people in the area of cultural exchange is no less important than the area of political and economic exchange.

    “This is why we have the line-up of Nigerian short films at this animated film festival for the promotion and betterment of this growing industry in Nigeria.

    He said two Japanese animated films: Pop in Q’’ and “Doraemon the Movie; Nobita’s Dinosaur, created in 2006, would be screened at the occasion mainly for the young audience.

    He said the theme of Pop in Q is “An adventure of teenage girls“ with full of fantasy, adding that the second film, “Doraemon’’ is about Doraemon and Nobita, showing young boys who were able to travel across time, using Time Machine.

    He further explained that Nobita found himself a baby dinosaur after bringing an egg to the modern world from an ancient era.

    The festival ends on Nov.9 and is expected to showcase short and long animated films, produced by Nigerian, French and Japan Embassies in Nigeria.

     

    NAN

  • FG saves N17b from foreign trips, souvenirs-Lai Mohammed

    The Federal Government says in an effort to fight corruption, it has saved over N17 billion from foreign trips, sitting allowances and souvenir gifts usually shared during events.

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, disclosed this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Mohammed said that the present administration introduced an efficiency unit in the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the resources of government were not frittered on trivialised grants.

    According to him, the fight against corruption must not be based on the number of people that are jailed or prosecuted, but on efforts made to curtail corruption.

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    “We promised that we are going to fight corruption; people keep asking us what is your score card in corruption?

    “Our score card in corruption must not be looked at just from the view point of how many people have been arrested; how many have been prosecuted and how many have been jailed.

    “In addition to whatever achievement we must have made in that respect, I think what is most important for the main time is the efforts this government has put in place to ensure that there is transparency in governance.

    “This is to ensure that the resources of government actually go to government account and to ensure that it is actually used for the purpose of what it’s meant for.

    “And I will start with the TSA; the Treasury Single Account we did not invent it; we met it,’’ he said.

    Mohammed further said that before the present administration took over power, TSA was haphazardly implemented to the extent that about 22,000s of various government accounts were in various banks.

    “ And we were paying heavy charges to banks; not that alone, we could not know exactly how much money we had to allocate it.

    He also said that another thing the administration had done in fighting corruption was the whistle blowing policy.

    According to him, the whistle blowing policy has lead to recoveries of N13.8 billion in tax evassion; N7.8 billion, 378 million dollars; 27,200 pounds from public officials who have been targeted by the whistle blowing policy.

    “Another thing this government has achieved is that we introduced what is called an efficiency unit in the ministry of finance to ensure that the resources of government are not frittered on trivialised grants and excuses and today we saved about N17 billion from travels, souvenirs and sitting allowances.

    He noted that before now government revenue generating agencies were not remitting so much money.

  • Past governments abandoned 800 containers of power equipment, says Lai Mohammed

    Eight hundred containers of power equipment meant to help boost power generation in the country were abandoned at the ports by past administrations, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said yesterday.

    He said in a television interview that the containers were abandoned because contractors were not paid.

    But he said the Buhari administration has  retrieved  690 of the containers.

    He said the contractors have also been paid and mobilised to site. “How many hours of power did we have? When we came in all the GENCOs were generating were under 5000 megawatt, which we have been able to raise to 7000.

    “Today people who live in parts of Ondo that have not seen power for 10 years will tell you they now have power.

    “As a matter of fact, not only do we generate 7000 megawatt of power, by the end of this year we will generate additional 2000 megawatt,” he said.

    On challenges of power distribution, the Minister said the government had put measures in place to solve the problem.

    “If once in a while there is problem in distribution, it is not about generation. Yes there is this disconnect between the generation and distribution and this is where the government has come in to help the distribution companies through a programme called the Distribution Expansion Project,” he said.

    He further reiterated the effort of the present government in working to revive the Mambilla Power Project,

    According to him, going by the effort of the present government the Mambilla Plateau will generate additional 3050 megawatt of power in a few years time.

    He pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari was the only one that had summoned the courage and political will to see that the project was revived.

    “We have improved on what we inherited because we put together a payment assurance scheme of N701 billion to ease the difficulties of gas suppliers and generating companies who complained that they have the capacity to generate but the discos do not have the capacity to pay them.

    “In the area of distribution, we were distributing 2,690 megawatts of power in 2015.

    “January 2018, we distributed 5,125 megawatts. So, in every area of power we have stories to tell,” he added.

    Mohammed explained that beyond power, the Federal Government had touched the lives of Nigerians positively in other areas including education, agriculture, infrastructure and technological development.

    “The N100 billion Sukuk bond that was divided into N16.6 billion for each of the geopolitical zones is powering infrastructure of 25 critical roads.

    “The present government has invested in bridges, roads and rails and had put aside a 1.3billion dollar under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund to ensure that five critical projects did not suffer from funding.

    “Some of these projects have been there for about 40 years, such as the Mambilla Power Project, Second Niger Bridge, the East West road, the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way and the Abuja-Kano road. “There is no area that this government has not touched,” he said.

    Also speaking in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, the minister said the Federal Government is fixing the nation’s dilapidated infrastructure despite its lean resources, occasioned by the fall in oil prices.

    According to him, “Things have gone so bad in the country before the advent of this Administration and these are what we are working to fix. Before we came to power oil prices soared but nothing was done with the money.

    ”But, upon assumption of office, the price went down significantly. Even at that, we have done more with the little resources than the previous administrations,” he said.

    Responding to the Oba’s plea for the development of more infrastructure in the area, Mohammed said the contract for the Ilorin-Omu-Aran-Kabba-Lokoja road has already been awarded, adding that he would soon inspect the project to find out what is hindering its timely execution.

    He congratulated the Oba on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers and equally condoled with him over the death of the first Military Governor of Kwara State, Brig. -Gen. David Bamigboye (rtd), who hailed from Omu-Aran.

    In his remarks, the Olomu appealed to the Federal Government to establish an institution of higher learning in the community due to its rich history and population.

    He also asked the Federal Government to immortalize the late Gen. Bamigboye as a mark of honour for his patriotism and selfless service to the people of Kwara State.

    “He did a lot as a Governor of the old Kwara State in the areas of education and infrastructural development. We want the Federal Government to immortalize him by naming a street in his honour in the Federal Capital Territory,” the traditional ruler said.

    Meanwhile, the Minister also on Friday paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Gen. Bamigboye.

    Speaking during the visit, he described the late General as a statesman who laid the foundation for the socio-economic development of Kwara and Kogi States.

    “The General left his indelible marks in the sand of time, especially as it relates to Kwara State. What you have witnessed today in terms of socio-economic development is largely due to the effort of the late General,” he said.

    The Minister said despite his young age when he assumed the leadership of the old Kwara State, Gen. Bamigboye showed uncommon foresight and wisdom in governing the state.

  • Minister harps on religious tolerance as church marks centenary

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed has stressed the need for peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims in order to engender peace and unity in the country.

    The minister made the remarks in Oro, Kwara State, on Thursday at the centenary celebration of  Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church, Oro, saying that the massive socio economic development that has been witnessed in the town  over the years is largely due to the religious harmony in the town.

    He said the lesson  learnt from the 100 years of the existence of the church is that of tolerance and peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims.

    Mohammed, who hails from Oro and personally attended the centenary Mass in the church, recalled that the church was the venue, for three consecutive years, of his Annual Ramadan Lecture.

    “Not only are we witnessing 100 years of Catholicism in Oro but actually we also witnessed 100 years of peaceful co-existence between Christianity and Islam and I think to me this is the most significant mark of this particular event,” he said.

    “I think the lesson to learn is that no religion preaches violence, no religion preaches hatred, every religion preaches peace and we should all borrow a leaf from what is happening in this small town so that all Nigerians can live together in peace,” he said.

     

    Meanwhile, the minister has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to ensuring the safe release of Leah Sharibu, the remaining hostage from the Dapchi kidnap.

    “As for Leah Sharibu, our message to Nigerians is that they should appreciate that as far as we are concerned, any of our citizens, whether boy or girl, whether Muslim or Christian, is dear to us. We do not look at Leah Sharibu from the prism of religion; we look at her as a daughter of this country. We are doing our best to ensure the safe release of Leah Sharibu,” he said.

  • APC governorship candidate: Lai Mohammed hails Kwara aspirants

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has hailed the decision of the 12 governorship aspirants to work with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq.

    Alhaji Mohammed, who is the leader of APC in the state, added that such unity of purpose would ensure peace and make the party victorious in the 2019 polls.

    One of the aspirants, Alhaji Shuaib Yaman, who hails from the Kwara North Sentorial district early in the day reportedly resolved to work with the APC governorship candidates.

    The minister in company of the APC governorship candidate, was in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state to attend the centenary anniversary of St Andrew’s Catholic Church.

    He spoke with reporters at the sideline of the event.

    The minister also used the occasion to assure Nigerians that the Federal Government was working round the clock to ensure the release of remaining Dapchi girl Leah Sharibu still in the captivity of Boko Haram.

    Said he: “I think the candidate had met the aspirants. I also keep talking to the aspirants, what makes me happy is that all the aspirants agree with the candidate that the most important thing is to ensure peace. And that whoever is the flag bearer, they should work together to succeed in the election.”

    He added that “as par Leah Sharibu, our message to Nigerians is that as far as we are concerned, any of our citizens whether boy or girl, whether Muslim or Christain, is dear to us. We do not look at Leah Sharibu as a Christian.

  • FEC okays National leather policy

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday approved leather products policy for the country.
    The Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    He was with the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
    The new policy, he said, is to harness the leather resources in the country in order to export finished leather products out of the country.
    Noting that leather products have imparts in every area of a Nigerian life, he said that it was not in favour of Nigeria to export semi-finished leather products.
    He recalled that for 2013 alone, leather contributed $921 million to the Nigerian economy.
    He said “National leather products policy will enable government attract more investment into the sector. We would now harness our leather resources in a manner that will allow us make more gains instead of exporting raw leather or semi finished products.
    “We want to prepare our nation so that we can process our leather and use the leather in production of finished leather products.
    “This has application in almost every sector of our economic life, including footwear, apparels and automobile industry. There is hardly any machine that you will open without finding leather component. This is the only we can create more jobs and a lot of wealths. We would be in a position to fight poverty.
    “In any country, they always start with textiles and then leather. Here we have comparative advantage because our Labour cost is low.” he said
    As far as light leather is concerned, he disclosed that Nigeria is number two in Africa and number 8 in terms of exporting leather in the world.

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    He said “If we harness the leather we have in Nigeria and that we processed our hides and skins, we will be creating a lot of jobs and wealth because of the small scale enterprises that will spring up. You will now be having new business springing up. President Buhari is very much interest in sense ring that those who want to work can work.
    “In terms of contributions, leather contributes almost $921m to our economy, as at 2013. There was a time leather was number three in terms of contributions from the non- oil sector. We believe that leather will help us achieve much to the economy.” he said
    On health hazards associated with processing, he said “This is exactly why you have the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and we have the Leather Research Institute in Zaria.
    “This institute is conducting research in the various segments. This is the only organization permitted to offer higher train in leather industry. You use certain chemicals you have to find away to treat before you can discharge them into any water source.
    “A percentage will be in what is environmentally acceptable. They are working on that at the moment. We are very much aware of that because we have ternaries at the moment. We want to make that our people are safe.” he said
    Responding to question on the threat of the Shiites protests in the FCT, Lai Mohammed said “This came up for discussion, the Hon. Minister of FCT was asked to take up the matter with his own security committee.”

  • 69 percent out-of-school children in north – UNICEF

    United Nations Children Fund’s ( UNICEF ) has said that 69 percent of out-of-school children in Nigeria are in the North.

    The organisation, quoting the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data, said the North East had the largest number of out-of-school children followed by the North West.

    Nigeria, according to the Universal Basic Education Commission and Federal Ministry of Education’s Demography Health Survey (DHS), currently has 13.2million children out of school.

    UNICEF Education Specialist, Azuka Menkiti, said this at a two-day media dialogue in Kano to promote equity in education for children.
    .
    The event was organised by the Child Right Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information And Culture in collaboration with UNICEF.

    She urged both state and the Federal Government to raise budgetary allocation and ensure the release and utilisation of the funds in order to reduce the large number of out –of school children in the country.

    Menkiti said within the huge number of out-of-school children in the country that girls are in the majority especially in northern Nigeria.

    She said: “The latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data shows that of the 11.5 million children out of school in Nigeria, million or 69 percent are in northern states. North east has the largest number of out-of-school children followed by the North West.

    “With this number, Nigeria accounts for more than one in five out-of-school child globally, and 45 percent of out-of-school children in West Africa. Within the huge number of out-of-school children, girls are in the majority especially in northern Nigeria.

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    “The recent security threats to schools in the north east as well as other parts of Nigeria has contributed significantly to the low demand for and access to education especially for girls.

    “The reality is that children are missing education in Nigeria and a lot of them are coming from northern Nigeria and that is why our interventions are needed more in this region.

    “Everybody is worried about the huge figures of number of out-of-schools in Nigeria. Insurgency in the north eastern Nigeria has been especially damaging to the education system.

    “Budgetary allocation is the not the problem. But will they release that money? There are some states that when they allocate 15 percent to education they won’t release a kobo.”

    UNICEF added that it was important for governments at all levels to put interventions in place to ensure all children go to school in order to facilitate national growth and development.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that Nigeria’s future depended on producing children who are prepared to take their place in tomorrow’s society.

    Mr. Mohammed, who was represented by the Head, CRIB, Olumide Osanyipeju, added that investing in education and protection of the most disadvantaged, especially children and addressing inequality would ensure sustained growth and stability of any nation.

    The minister said: “Unfortunately, a large number of Nigerian children are at risk of deprivations of basic social amenities. They are situated in the rural and hard-to-reach communities. Majority of them are also living in conflict and communities under emergencies and it has been difficult taking basic amenities to them.

    “Government have come to the realisation that basic education is essential for every child. Lack of access to this basic service is an infringement on the rights of the child.

    “There is a growing evidence that investing in education and protection of the most disadvantaged/vulnerable citizens, in this case, children and addressing inequality will ensure sustained growth and stability of any nation.

    “There is need to integrate children, especially those in difficult terrain and other excluded children and focus on equitable distribution of opportunities now, as it is a giant stride towards the realisation of human rights of children.”

    Also, an Education and Development Consultant for UNICEF, Dayo Ogundimu, said there was a looming calamity in the country if the government continued to provide poor quality education and inequity in education.

    He said: “There is a calamity looming in this country if we continue to provide poor quality education and inequity in education. Every society that realizes the importance of education will not toy with the future of the children.

    “Every child, male or female, desire to have good and quality education so that we can achieve our goals as a nation.

    “We cannot afford to leave anybody behind no matter the circumstances they find themselves.”

  • No development without investment in infrastructure , says Minister

    Massive investment in infrastructure is crucial to economic growth and development, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.

    Mohammed noted that it was this realization that made the current administration to give priority to investment in critical infrastructure in the last three and half years.

    The minister spoke on Thursday in Ibadan at the 14th edition of the Special Town Hall meeting. The meeting which is also the second on infrastructure had as members of panel, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Housing, Power and Works and also Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Water Resources.

    The minister noted in his opening remark that investment in infrastructure is a fast route to development.

    He said, “This Administration, realizing that no nation develops without massive investment in infrastructure, has made such investment a priority, and it is paying off, as you will hear shortly from the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

    “Whether in the area of job creation or stimulation of economic growth, investment in infrastructure is a fast route to development.

    You cannot talk about the developed Western nations without talking about their roads, power, ports and rail system, just to mention a few. This is because these nations have invested massively in infrastructure over the years, realizing that infrastructure spurs economic growth by enhancing productivity and efficiency. The same template has also been adopted by many other countries, including China, Japan and South Korea. We are in no doubt that the solid foundation that we are laying in the area of infrastructure will be a catalyst to the much-needed economic development in our dear country.”

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    He therefore noted that the special town hall meeting which will go on till 2019 is to showcase the achievements of the Buhari administration.

    The essence, the minister said “is to provide a platform for the federal government to regularly give account of its stewardship to the people, get a feedback and inputs from them and, overall, to enhance citizens’ participation in governance.”

    This further explains why the meetings have gone round the six get-political zones of the country.

    At the end of the meeting, stakeholders commended the federal government for the massive infrastructural development in the South West, while also urging them to do more especially in the area of power, road and security across the country.

  • Minister denies issuing ultimatum to Israel over Kanu

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday denied the report that he gave Israel ultimatum over the return of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to Nigeria.
    Kanu, who resurfaced in Israel at the weekend, threatened to unleash hell on Nigerians.
    Briefing State House correspondents, Lai Mohammed said “I was in London when I heard the story about Nnamdi Kanu surfacing in Israel. I was not in a position to make any statement.
    “But before I knew it, within a few hours, I saw my picture with a story saying that I had actually given Israel ultimatum to return Nnamdi Kanu otherwise, we will send them missiles.
    “I just laughed. It speaks to what we are talking about fake news because it is probably the biggest threat in the run-up to the elections.
    “Having said that I have nothing more to add, to the issue of Nnamdi Kanu.”
    He said that the appropriate authorities in the country will speak on the issue at the appropriate time.
    He said “At the appropriate time, the various authorities will make a statement about the issue of Kanu.
    “But this has proven that all along when Kanu disappeared and the mob was asking the Nigerian army to account for the whereabouts of Kanu; I kept saying that Kanu knows where he is.
    “He was not in the custody of the Federal Government. We have been vindicated today. Any other statement will be made in due course.” he said