The Nation Newspaper

Tag: minister

  • Rule of law not intended as line of defence for corruption suspects—Minister

    Information and Culture Minister  Lai Mohammed  said yesterday that  the Buhari  Administration would continue to fight corruption within the confines of the Rule of Law, but warned that it (Rule of Law) is not in any way  intended to be used as a weapon to hamper the dispensation of justice.

    ‘’The Rule of Law is not and was never intended to be used as a line of defence for suspects undergoing trial for corrupt practices in the courts of law that are lawfully constituted and endowed with the legitimate authority to carry out same trial,” the Minister said at a symposium organised by the Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chamber of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

    He added: “In response to the ongoing anti-corruption efforts of the government, an increasing number of voices have emerged in defence of suspects being indicted for various acts of corruption by the courts of law under the banner of upholding the Rule of Law.”

    He said the Administration is a product and true advocate of the Rule of Law, and that ”there is no greater proponent of that time-tested legal principle than Mr President himself.”

    The minister said there was nothing questionable in the administration’s approach to fighting corruption, adding: ‘’The government is bound by law and is following the Rule of Law in its anti-corruption efforts. Were this not the case, the accused persons so far charged would not be having their day in court.’’

    He said each society had used methods expedient to it to fight corruption at different times in their own history, citing the example of Singapore which once fought corruption by suspending rule of law and fundamental rights.

    The government, according to him, has not requested  emergency powers to tackle corruption, even though some school of thought unequivocally believes that Nigeria is in an emergency, with high unemployment, unpaid salaries, reduced income, insurgency, reduced oil income and primitive looting of the treasury by the  immediate past administration.’’

    Rallying support for the fight against corruption, he said the battle is a constitutional imperative, and quoted Section 15 (5) of the Constitution, which says: “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of office.”

  • Minister steps up bid to renovate Lagos National Stadium

    Minister steps up bid to renovate Lagos National Stadium

    Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has come out with a bold step to ensure that the decaying and dilapidated National Stadium, Lagos is not only renovated but ranked among the best in Africa and one of the best in the world.

    He explained this to sports reporters in a press briefing at his office during the presentation of how the new-look National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos will look like by a firm that handled the project.

    Dalung who was speaking when a new template for the rehabilitation of the decayed Lagos sporting arena was presented in Abuja also maintained that no effort would be spared in ensuring that the country’s sports was returned to grassroots.

    According to the Sports Minister who equally asserted that plans are on by the federal government to implement sound youth developmental programmes enjoined various states to turn greater attention to youth as well as earmark more funds to sports development.

    “We are indeed looking outside the budget for the funding of this project because of the economic situation in the country. This government might not be able to fund the project.

    “We have opened discussion with investors on the possibility of their interest in it. We have a lot of people that have been showing interest in funding the project. So, I think funding is not going to be problem,” he said.

    He also boasted of recent sports development strides the National Sports Commission has recorded since he assumed office. The Minister said that time has passed when Nigerian sports depended on servicing sports adding that, “Some 20 to 30 years ago, our sporting attitude has changed from developing sports to servicing sports. What we have now is servicing sports architecture that only responds to needs by scouting for people whenever we have events.

    “Now we are going to have a complete paradigm shift from servicing sport to a developing sport. We are going to focus more on grassroots sports development and in doing this, the issue of inter-ministerial committee has been considered especially with ministry of Education where sport should be returned to school as it were in the 60’s.”

    An architectural company earlier on presented to the management of the ministry a structural design of how the National Stadium would look like when renovated.

  • Fed Govt to launch two new satellites into orbit, says minister

    Fed Govt to launch two new satellites into orbit, says minister

    THE Federal Government is acquiring and launching two satellites into orbit in the next two years, Minister of Communications and Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu said yesterday.

    The minister added that talks were on between the Federal Government and some foreign partners on the financing of the NigComSat-2 and NigComSat-3 satellites to support the NigComSat-1 in orbit.

    According to the minister, once the government secures funding within the next two years, it would embark on the project.

    He spoke after he undertook a facility tour of the satellite and communications infrastructure of Nigeria Communications Satellite (NigComSat) Limited and the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) in Abuja.

    He dismissed as untrue insinuations that Nigeria would privatise NigComSat Ltd, saying it will not be in the interest of the country for such institution to be sold out after the government invested billions of naira in it.

    His words: “In fact, I was astounded that we have this kind of facility, which is the only one in Africa. I have been told that Nigeria is the only country in Africa with a full-fledged satellite centre as this. No doubt it is a pioneering effort, but I’m convinced that because of paucity of funds and because over the years government has not provided the attention for Nigeria’s ICT industrial revolution, we are still at the level we are.

    “We all know that all we find here is to support one satellite in orbit. Nigeria has one satellite in orbit and this is not good enough and the analogy for you to understand the risk and the danger of having one is like a transporter who ply Lagos to Abuja, he has four tyres but he doesn’t have extra tyre and should something happens, certainly his passengers, who have paid for that trip, will also be stuck and that explains the need for us to have more than one satellite in orbit so that other countries and agencies and companies who are patronising us and paying money for satellite services will be rest assured that their investment will be secured and safe.

    ” And it is for this reason that we are making efforts since we came on board to ensure that we get foreign financiers to assist with loans to build a second and possibly a third satellite in orbit so that we can be rest assured that we have enough capacity to host Africa in regard to satellite provision.”

    The minister added: “You  see, the private sector has the freedom to put resources together and to establish satellite if it feels it needs it. This is one national treasure I don’t believe we must cede to the private sector. We must have something we can call our collective own; something that will remain our national pride. And for anybody to want to sell this national pride is merely to shortchange Nigerians and so, as long as I’m minister of Communications, I will never be party to any such unholy sale because it does protect Nigeria’s interest.

    “To have an extra satellite, you will be talking about between $250 to $300 million and certainly we are looking, and if we can get enough funding for two satellites, I will prefer that. I can assure you that two companies, including the China Exim Bank, is willing to assist us fund this new project. Once we secure funding within the next two years, we would have new satellites in orbit.”

    At the NIPOST headquarters, the minister said the Federal Government was looking at the possibility of diversifying activities of the agency in three key areas to boost its revenue and make the agency more relevant to the people.

    According to him, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will want NIPOST to play active roles in haulage of goods across the country in addition to making some of its 4,000 postal agencies in rural areas ready for financial/banking inclusiveness and GSM call centres.

  • Minister drums up support for military in war against terror

    Minister drums up support for military in war against terror

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed  has  urged Nigerians to support the military in its efforts to clip the wings of Boko Haram.

    The minister spoke yesterday at the launch of a news magazine, SI, in Abuja.

    He stressed the need to encourage and boost the morale of the military to consolidate the achievements recorded in the fight against Boko Haram.

    The minister said: ‘’Many of our troops have paid the supreme price in liberating communities hitherto held by the terrorists, to such an extent that no community today is exclusively in the hands of Boko Haram. Yes, they may be operating in one or two areas but they are doing so from a position of weakness, unlike in the past when they brazenly took over territories, hoisted their flag, desposed and imposed emirs and collected taxes.

    ‘’We owe it a duty to support our gallant military, not to condemn or second guess them.”

    Mohammed hailed the magazine for featuring in its launch edition details of the reconstruction, resettlement and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by governments in the Northeast, especially in Borno State, saying in reporting the developments, SI magazine is contributing to efforts to consolidate the peace in the Northeast.

    He praised the founder of the magazine, Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya, for her innovation and creativity and solicited support for her enterprise.

    ‘’I am glad to say that Hajiya Khadijah and her team, who conceived the idea of the magazine we are launching today, have keyed into the government’s Change Agenda. Coming up with such an innovative magazine, the type of which I am sure we have not seen in these parts, is a sure way to keep our people better informed and educated, not just about the activities of government but also about our country, its plurality in terms of people, language and culture, as well as its richness in human and natural resources.

    ‘’The uniqueness of SI magazine lies in the fact that it has leveraged technology to the hilt, thereby separating itself from the pack…The magazine packs a punch as it uses a multi-media format to bring its stories to readers. Video, audio, picture, podcast, text are employed to ensure that the reader does not miss the messages. Then the authors also went beyond the stories that grab headlines, to bring out – from the grassroots – stories that are easily forgotten in the rush to chronicle the emergent events of the times,’’ the minister said.

    Chairman of SI magazine and a popular columnist, Mr. Mohammed Haruna, said the magazine would bring to the fore unreported issues, such as the suffering of women and children in the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps and efforts to rebuild communities destroyed by Boko Haram.

    He said the magazine was leveraging on technology to zoom its lenses on the value system and promote the nation’s cultural heritage.

     

     

  • Minister cautions states against building airports

    •’It’ll serve only rich Nigerians’

    Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi has advised states to initiate projects to profit the  poor rather than pursuing ventures serving only the rich.

    Amaechi, who gave the advice at the weekend in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while fielding questions from reporters, noted that airports were  elitist projects and would not benefit the poor.

    The minister, who was on an assessment visit to projects executed by the Ogun State government on behalf of the Federal Government, added that the country has many unviable airports.

    His words: “Governors should focus on things that would improve the lives of the poor, not the rich. It’s the rich people that fly planes. How many poor people know where airport is, let alone flying an aircraft?”

    “I believe that the construction of airport should be backed by the growth of the economy. There are airports that are built just for the governors to land and take off. That won’t be the idea for me as a minister of Transportation.

    “I’d prefer that airports that are built would be backed by economic demand. We would not discourage Ogun State if you like to build an airport, but we would like to advise that they should look at the economics of an airport,” Amaechi said.

    But he promised the state  of Federal Government support, if it wants to build an airport.

    The miniser said the Federal Government would complete new terminals in four international airports in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano.

    He said he was in the state to ascertain some federal roads built by the government.

    Amaechi announced that a railway line between Lagos and Calabar as well as Lagos and Kano would begin this year.

    “I am convinced that most of the roads have been built. By the time we write the report, we have engineers, we have people from the Public Procurement Department, they would assess the cost and put it in the report,” he said.

    But Governor Ibikunle Amosun solicited the support of the minister in ensuring the completion of the abandoned airport project in Ewekoro Local Government Area.

    “It’s being built by the Federal Government.  In fact, it is the oldest airport they have in Nigeria. It was done in 1940/41; that was what they were using during the World War and that’s why we have the Commonwealth cemetery there. Somehow, after the war, nobody said anything about it.

    “But 12 years ago, Federal Government started again. Everything has been done. Contractors have even been mobilised to site before they stopped funding it.

    “Ogun State is the industrial  hub of Nigeria. There is no nation that would develop if the industries are not there. Even in the radius of five kilometres, in the United States, we have about four airports, we have examples in London.

    “But for us, it is not just for the governor to land; people would want to move their goods and services, people will want to come and that’s why we need an airport here. And in any case, the airport in Lagos, where can it expand to? It’s congested,” the governor said.

  • Minister to FIRS on N4.9tr target: don’t fail

    Minister to FIRS on N4.9tr target: don’t fail

    The Federal government has directed the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to meet the N4.957 trillion tax target for this year.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, gave the directive yesterday in Abuja during the second day of the 2016 Annual Corporate Strategy Retreat of the FIRS.

    A statement from the FIRS signed by Mr Wahab Gbadamosi, Head, Communication and Servicom Department, said she  categorically warned the FIRS that “there is no room for failure over FIRS’s attainment of its 2016 target of N4.97 trillion to the Federal Government.”

    According to the minister, “there is really no room for failure. Please ensure you deliver. The nation will depend on FIRS to fund the budget. We need the money to stabilise the economy.”

    She told the workers of the FIRS that “this is not a joke. We need everybody to do his/her beat to ensure that everybody contributes to the achievement of the target. I look forward to the excellent ideas that will improve revenue generation as you proceed in this retreat.”

    Mrs Adeosun further told the FIRS workers that “in addition to your professional pride, and the satisfaction you may derive from working for FIRS as a professional, please note that you are also building the nation by realising the target and by being professional, honest and dedicated in the way you do your work. This is what the nation needs now.”

    She acknowledged the strides the FIRS has made in the past and the successes it had attained since its new Chairman, Tunde Fowler resumed. “I know your chairman as an achiever. He did very well in Lagos. Work with him. He will do well here. He is one person who has the welfare of staff on his mind.”

    In his address,  Mr Fowler said  the Service is collaborating with state governments, tax consultants, major audit firms, stakeholders in the federation, including the National Assembly.

    He said the tax agency is undertaking a nationwide Value Added Tax (VAT) and Witholding Tax Monitoring exercise and nationwide taxpayer registration exercise anchored by the FIRS Federal Engagement and Enlightenment Tax Teams (FEETT).

  • Minister defends Buhari’s approach against corruption

    Minister defends Buhari’s approach against corruption

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani has defended the approach adopted by the present administration to fight corruption in the country, saying that the anti-corruption war was not aimed at witch-haunting anybody.

    He urged Nigerians to key into the anti-corruption war as a way of retrieving what had been stolen from them, saying free education was possible for all Nigerians of school-age except for the level of corruption and impunity in the country.

    The Minister made the remarks Tuesday while granting audience to the Executive Members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), led by its National President, Chief Musa Shehu Isiwele.

    The Minister said the Federal Government was ready to enter into strategic partnership with members of the association to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the Niger/Delta region and the north-east of the country.

    Pastor Usani said: “the federal government will like to interface with your association especially in troubled areas in the north-east and Niger Delta. Members of your association have access to information and we will want your members to give information that can help ensure peace and security of the people.”

    In his remarks, the president of the association said RTEAN had over the years embarked on projects targeted at creating job for 45,000 Nigerians. According to him, the association currently has 4,000 mass transit vehicles in its fleet.

    “For the purpose of enhancing service delivery and encouraging safety and security of Nigerians in the transport sub-sector of the economy, we are also embarking on the building of modern motor parks with modern facilities in addition to the construction of 1,000 units of houses in the 36 states of the federation including FCT, Abuja,” Chief Isiwele said.

  • Why Federal Government introduced new policy, by Minister

    Why Federal Government introduced new policy, by Minister

    •Fashola says new regime will boosts investments in power sector

    Power, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola yesterday explained why the Federal Government approved a new electricity tariff regime.

    He said the new Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) which kicked-off yesterday would correct the whole system in the entire value chain of the power sector.

    Besides, Fashola, who spoke through a statement by his media aide, Mr. Akeem Bello, said the measure remained the most viable means to attain steady power supply in the country.

    Bello quoted his principal as speaking on the site of the 2 X 60 MVA 132/33 KV Sub-Station Kukwaba Power Project in the Abuja at the weekend.

    The tour, the statement said, was in continuation of the nationwide inspection, verification and fact-finding visits to projects under the Power ministry.

    He said the acceptance of the new tariff order would not only guarantee power stability but galvanise the sector and boost investments that would in turn stimulate economic development.

    According to him, investors would only be interested in the power sector only when they have an assurance on right pricing.

    The minister noted that the on-going tour has taken his team of inspectors to two power generating plants – Geregu I & II and transmission stations in Benue, Nasarawa , Plateau, Pankshin and Abuja.

    According to him, there was need to distinguish between a  transmission and a power station, explaining that power stations generate the power while transmission stations transport power to various parts of the country.

    Pointing out that generation has become a privately-managed ommercial and private business, Fashola said: “Let’s understand that Geregu I is one of the plants that has been sold and Geregu II is one of the NIPP (National Integrated Power Plant) projects we are completing”.

    He said the government was no longer generating power “except with the NIPP plants that it is completing and handing over”

    “There are two plants, one was grey that’s Geregu I and has been sold while the other was red and white that’s Geregu II.  Geregu I have been sold, just like the other power generating plants. The sizes of those power plants are quite impressive. Smaller power plants that can do 5 ,10,20 MW are part of what we expect will come on stream as we go on but their ability to come on stream depends on ability of consumers to pay.”

    He said no one would be encouraged to invest in a business unless the investor has an assurance that he would recoup hi investment.

    His words: “That is where the issue of tariff is. So, tariff review is not necessarily government or NERC delivering an ultimatum of take it or leave it. That’s not it; that’s not the situation. It’s a practical choice and as a new administration, this is the first major policy that we have made.

    “So, all of what has happened was inherited. The option before us is to start from the beginning or repair and manage what you have. It’s like a chess game that you did not start, you are now in the middle, somebody has played the game to the half way and you must continue.

    “May be your first move you might lose your Queen or your Knight or your Rook, but if there is a game plan to ultimately capture the opponent’s King, then play on.”

    The minister, however, noted that the power sector would receive the necessary boost if the new tariff was accepted.

    “If we allow the tariff regime as now reviewed to stay, instead of two, two year tariff changes we now have a 10-year tariff. That same order that reviewed the tariff upwardsays take out the fixed charge and the same order also made provision now for willing buyer and willing seller to say if you reach an agreement to buy power at a price higher than the market tariff go and do your power.”

    According to him, the new regime would have a number of positive spin offs.

    His words: “What that will mean is that some people who can afford to even pay more will get off the Grid, do their own arrangement, whatever they take off the Grid comes back to the masses.

    “But, you can’t on one hand go to court as some people have done and say reduce the price; if you reduce the price or you don’t implement the tariff, if you succeed, which I hope you don’t, what will happen is that you are restoring fixed charge because it is the same tariff order that takes away the fixed charge which some people say they don’t want and those who don’t want it are in the majority.”

    Fashola said stopping the tariff order, would also mean taking away the willing buyer and willing seller.

    He said: “Somebody called me yesterday and said they have about 20 MW plant in the country but they were waiting for the tariff order to come into operation so that they can start closing their business. Now every power plant is going to run with mechanics, electricians and engineers. Imagine if those 20 power plants come into operation, the 20 engineers that will be there will be our children. That’s how an economy is built.

    “This tariff provides that opportunity so you can’t take the one you like and say the others should go away; if you succeed the whole tariff order goes.”

    Fashola explained that the introduction of the new tariff was not a “take it or leave it situation but a move at correcting the whole system.

    Reiterating the importance of financing, market price and recovery to the entire value chain, Fashola said: “distributors must recover; transmission must recover; GENCOS must recover and the gas suppliers too must also recover their cost.

    “If one end of the pricing is wrong it’s going to affect all; so if we solve this we have solved the problem that is common to all the participants.”

     

    He said that resolving the pricing issue would leave room for addressing the other specific problems of the sector like transmission and gas supply.

    “But, if we solve all of the specific problem and price is not right there won’t be power, I am so clear in my mind, “ the minister said.

    Promising that the Federal Government would continue to provide the enabling environment for the development of the sector irrespective of the hurdles before it, the minister declared: “investment in the power sector is a veritable source of economic development and employment for Nigerians”.

     

  • ICT’ll rescue economy, says minister

    ICT’ll rescue economy, says minister

    Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu said in Ibadan on Sunday that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will rescue the country from economic doldrums.

    He said: “Eritrea, Uganda, and Rwanda are making progress in ICT, may be because they do not have petrol. I think our petrol became a bane for us and it has affected our progress. I have met with the ambassador of Rwanda and he told me a lot on how to use ICT to turn our economy around. We shall make use of their achievements to build our own.

    “The challenge is real now because what Nigeria is realising before on crude oil has reduced by over 70 per cent, petrol has failed us, agriculture will take a much longer time to mature, and that is why I have always argued that ICT is the way alternative we can bank on to improve our economy.”

    He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would make ICT lucrative.

    “ICT is one thing that affects every Nigerian, because of 178 million Nigerians, 150 million have keyed into it. So if you make facilities of communication easier for them, the more they become interested, obsessed, the more it will make money for the country,” he said.

     

  • Minister to pay N324m to complete road

    Minister to pay N324m to complete road

    Plans are underway to complete the Apo-Karshi Road four years after the contractors started work.

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello said the FCT administration  was ready to pay an additional N324m provided the contractors would finish the work quickly.

    Bello disclosed this when he inspected the road under construction since 2011 in the company of the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, FCDA Executive Secretary, Mr Adamu Ismaila to ascertain what was hindering the progress of the project.

    He assured that his administration will make payments as quickly as possible for the matured certificate pending, but told the contractor to deliver the project.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the Minister regretted that Apo-Karshi Road, which is not more than 13.25km, has taken about four years so far, without completion; adding “what we have seen is a sign of what has been very wrong with us as a people”.

    He wondered how “a contractor that prides himself to be one of the upcoming local contractors, how it will take us four good years to construct only about 10 kilometers of road. This is absolutely amazing”.

    He said, “I have heard from the contractor and I have heard from the FCTA engineers handling this project. Based on explanations, this contract work was awarded to a contractor that was not even willing to do the job”.

    Bello reiterated, “they just gave him this contract and he reluctantly accepted”.

    The Minister said that he received a lot of complaints about the company, “and I understand they are doing about two districts – one in the city; another also on the way to the airport”.

    Bello lamented that if this company will build just over nine kilometers in four years, then it may not have the capacity to continue all the existing contracts.