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  • Minister to speak on economy, social welfare at finance confab 

    Minister to speak on economy, social welfare at finance confab 

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, is one of the dignitaries billed to speak at the Nigeria Development and Finance Forum (NDFF) 2024 Conference, a high-level gathering of public, private, social, and international sectors leaders scheduled to hold on May 8 and 9, this year, at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

    The conference is being held in Nigeria for the first time following five previous editions that have been successfully hosted in London, Washington DC, and New York.

    The theme is “The road to economic and social welfare transformation,” and it aims to provide a strong backing for a holistic and transformative reform agenda for the economy.

    CEO, Financial Nigeria International and convener of NDFF, Jide Akintunde, said the confirmation of Pate as a keynote speaker is a mark of progress as the Planning Group for the conference aims to bring together leaders who are critical to the objective of fostering fiscal reform, monetary stability, and social welfare towards achieving sustainable economic progress in Nigeria.

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    He said the minister would be speaking on “Transforming Nigeria’s Population Health: Crowding in Policy, Market, and Social Actions.”

    According to the Convener, “The ultimate goal of economic policy, either fiscal or monetary, is to enhance the welfare of citizens. Similarly, the goal of health policy is to enhance the wellness of citizens and make them productive. This insight is reflected in the naming of the ministry and the appointment of a public health specialist with a global leadership experience in healthcare financing as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.”

    “Prof. Pate’s keynote speech will x-ray the concept of population health, which encompasses not only the elimination of diseases, but also the intersecting factors that influence health, including social and economic equity.

  • 42,000mt of grains being shared to states, says Agriculture minister

    42,000mt of grains being shared to states, says Agriculture minister

    The long-awaited distribution of the 42,000 metric tonnes of grains promised by the Federal Government to ease the pains of economic reforms has started, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari, said yesterday.

    Kyari spoke during an interactive session with the National Assembly Joint Committee on Agriculture Production Services and Rural Development.

    The minister was invited by the lawmakers, led by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC – Kwara Central), to shed light on Federal Government’s plan to curb rising food costs and making it available to the poor and vulnerable in the country.

    The minister told the lawmakers that the Federal Government had kicked-off the distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains to some focal points in state capitals across the country.

    He said: “We have received directive and approval from Mr. President to distribute for immediate impact 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains free of charge to the Nigerian population.

    “This was received in mid-February, as we are speaking we have a record of the distribution being carried out, but I will want to plead with the Honorable House members and Distinguished senators that some of the movements can’t be made public but a lot of states have started receiving their grains.

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    “We are distributing to state capitals in the first instance as you all are aware the risk involved in the vandalism of foodstuff; so, we are working with the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other national security agencies.

    “Furthermore, 58,500 metric tons of milled rice from mega rice millers will also be released into the market for stabilisation,” he said.

    The minister said that the action of the government became imperative in order to cushion the impacts of hardship on Nigerians which he said, will soon become a thing of the past.

    He told the committee that his ministry was working with the ONSA and other national security outfits to address issues on vandalism of food warehouses.

    Senator Mustapha told reporters after the session that he was satisfied with the steps being taken by the Federal Government to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.

    He said: “From our interactive session, we are fully in the picture of what is happening. We are convinced that the steps being taken by the Federal Government is in the right direction.

    “All we did again is to further emphasise the need for certain things to be done on time. I think from this collaborative approach by the grace of God, Nigerians will have a better feel of the government policy on food security.”

  • Minister: we spend billions importing technicians

    Minister: we spend billions importing technicians

    Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has said Nigeria spends billions of dollars annually to import skilled technicians, even  West African countries.

    He spoke at Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, as part of arrangement between his ministry and Computer Village.

    The minister lamented the dearth of skilled and certified craftsmen and technicians, saying there are talented technicians in the country,

    “But they are not certified according to international best practices, making them lose to skilled and certified technicians from other countries, especially when the hiring company is a multinational.”

    He cited Dangote Refinery, which outsources most welding works, import welders with certifications and trade test qualifications.

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    Nnaji said: “I come here with message of hope from President Bola Tinubu, as his administration works hard to resolve unemployment and underemployment. In December, we launched a National Welding Policy as a step towards standardisation of welding practices, to ensure welders acquire relevant skills and certifications to enhance their job opportunities

    President of Computer Village Traders Union, Anthony Nwakaeze, appreciated the minister’s commitment to carry along stakeholders in the technology sector.

    Nwakaeze said: “This is the only minister to ever visit Computer Village. He carries traders along. The collaboration between the ministry and Computer Village will yield the desired results of creating employment and empowerment for Nigerians.”

  • Minister’s idea gets pass mark

    Minister’s idea gets pass mark

    National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hailed Minister of State for Youths, Ayodele Olawande, for demonstrating leadership.

    It noted and appreciated Olawande’s commitment to empowering youths.

    NANS spoke in a statement yesterday signed by its Senate president, Akinteye Afeez.

    “From the outset, Olawande recognised the need to address issues facing youths.

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    “He roled out initiatives to foster pathways to success for youths. One such is the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA).

    “NiYA is an approach to skill development, offering youths access to diverse online classes and resources. Through NiYA, participants can enhance skills, connect with experts in real-time and chart their paths to growth.’’

  • Minister seeks reduction in prices of LPG, CNG from Fund

    Minister seeks reduction in prices of LPG, CNG from Fund

    Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas) and Chairman, Governing Council, Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), Ekperikpe Ekpo at the weekend urged the fund to reduce the price of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Compressed Natural Gas (LPG), also known as  cooking gas.

    He spoke at the inauguration of the Fund’s Governing Council in Abuja.

    He described the fund as a vehicle for progress and catalyst for sustainable development.

    His words: “The MDGIF is not merely a fund; it is a vehicle for progress, a conduit for prosperity, and a catalyst for sustainable development.

     “This alignment should, in turn, lead to a tangible reduction in the prices of LPG and CNG, benefitting particularly the low-income earners in our society.”

    The minister said the establishment of the MDGIF comes at a critical juncture in Nigeria’s energy landscape.

    He added that as the country strives for diversification and sustainable development, the role of gas could not be overstated.

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    Ekpo noted that the fund’s mandate to support the midstream and downstream gas infrastructure aligns with national aspirations.

    The MDGIF, said the minister, represents not just a financial instrument, but a symbol of dedication to fostering an environment conducive to private sector participation and international collaboration.

    He described it as a testament to the  belief in the transformative power of a well-developed and efficiently managed gas infrastructure.

    The minister called on the international and foreign stakeholders to work together in line with the newly signed executive orders to unlock the gas’ potential.

    Ekpo said: “I call upon all stakeholders, both domestic and international, to join hands with us in this noble endeavour in line with the recently signed executive orders on petroleum sector reform to boost investment in the oil and gas sector.

    “Let us work together to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s gas sector and propel our nation to new heights of economic prosperity.”

  • Minister tasks private sectors on promoting uptake of policies

    Minister tasks private sectors on promoting uptake of policies

    The Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka Anite has called on the private sector to strengthen knowledge and practices that can systematically identify the gaps in implementing and promoting interactions between policy-makers and the agencies who can influence the uptake of policies and transform them into actions.

    The minister made this call at the annual conference of the Global Shea Alliance in Abuja, stating that it is a well-known fact that without bridging the gap between policies and implementation, other efforts to improve service delivery will not be effective at all.

    Anite said: “Indeed, GSA has demonstrated over the years that it is an international commodity organization like no other, with a strong commitment to offering technical assistance and market linkage, developing and implementing quality standards and best practices, community development projects and providing strong support to national associations.

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    “The Alliance has no doubt, challenged many other international commodity organizations through its capacity development programmes and its ability to provide business opportunities and market linkages to its members”.

    I want to use this opportunity to assure both the local and international business communities that this administration will continue to provide a more secure business environment and commit more to these ideals in the interest of the economic development of Nigeria.

    Speaking, The United States Chargé d’Affaires David Greene expressed pride in supporting the Global Shea Alliance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the USAID recently invested over $8 million under its Sustainable Shea Initiative to bolster the Shea industry in seven West African countries, including Nigeria.

  • FG sets aside N75bn to support local manufacturers – Minister

    FG sets aside N75bn to support local manufacturers – Minister

    As part of efforts to tackle the present cost of living by Nigerians, the Federal Government has set aside N75bn to support the manufacturing enterprises.

    This was disclosed Saturday evening by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha on the occasion of NDE’s special day at the ongoing 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

    The Minister represented by her Special Assistant, Administration, Barrister, Paul Abuluba affirmed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had embarked on urgent actions to reverse the poor trend of the economy.

    According to the Minister, “President is hinged on the commitment to explore the full potential of the Nigerian economy by focusing on job creation, access to capital for macro, small and large businesses, the rule of law and the fight against hunger, poverty, and corruption.”

    The minister also noted; “The President is not unmindful of the hardships most Nigerians are enmeshed in, however, the difficult times are indeed temporary but the benefit will be permanent.

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    To this end, she said in recent times, the Federal Government had engagements with economic stakeholders especially manufacturers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria.  “I am happy to let you know that we are tackling, with unprecedented boldness and decisiveness, each and every one of the issues. The government’s focus on foreign exchange is to abolish the unwieldy and much-abused rate regime, setting the foundation for transparent price discovery and all other elements required to attract substantial inflow into a properly run official market. 

    “The President has ordered the creation of a new single-digit interest-rate fund to provide N75 billion to support manufacturing enterprises, among other targeted financial interventions. The Central Bank, now under new management, is back to prioritizing its core mandates of inflation management and exchange rate stability.”

  • Minister: Fed Govt to get more arms for National Parks  

    Minister: Fed Govt to get more arms for National Parks  

    Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal has said the Federal Government will buy more arms for effective operations of the National Park Service (NPS).

    Lawal announced this when he visited the NPS headquarters and the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) in Abuja.

    The minister said President Bola Tinubu was much concerned about the operations of the parks because of spate of insecurity in the country.

    He said there was an ongoing collaboration with relevant agencies to rid the nation’s forest of bandits, illegal miners, and the coastal areas of oil thieves.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that

    NPS is statutorily responsible for the preservation, enhancement and protection of wild animals and plants as well as other vegetation in National Parks, and for matters connected therewith.

    Lawal urged the NBMA to be more proactive in its approaches and carry out more researches to curb the inflow of unwanted genetically modified foods.

    “If you allow these genetically modified foods to come into the markets, there will be a very fierce war,” he said.

    The minister praised both agencies for their efforts and urged them to do more in order to keep up to their mandates.

    Lawal advised the agencies to work as a team and to be dedicated and punctual in their duties for effective discharge of their duties.

    Read Also: Tinubu to University unions: prioritise dialogue to avoid frequent strikes

    The Conservator-General of NPS, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, urged the minister to review upwards the subventions of the agency.

    Goni also requested for the procurement of more arms for NPS to curb trans-banditry activities with Cameroon as well as commercialise the three parks.

    NBMA’s Director General, Dr. Agnes Asagbra, solicited the minister’s help to enable the agency have a bigger office space and more trainings for its workers.

    She also requested for machinery to fight environmental activities that impede the operations of the agency.

    NAN reports that both agencies made elaborate presentations of their operations to the minister.

    They also led the minister on a tour of NPS animal orphanage, mini-park, museum, NBMA’s laboratory before Lawal planted a tree to mark the visit.

  • Minister raises concern over open defecation

    Minister raises concern over open defecation

    Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev has expressed concerns over the prevalence of open defecation and its devastating impact in the country. 

    Speaking during a workshop on Safely Managed Sanitation in Abuja, the Minister revealed that only about half of the population (46%) has access to basic sanitation services and about a quarter are practising open defecation, with only 18% of the population having access to safely managed services. 

    He explained that according to a report from the World Health Organisation (WHO)/United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)  Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), Nigeria is the second most populous country in terms of open defecation at 48 million people at 23% of population practicing open defecation, and only 27.8% (37 million people) using safely managed sanitation services. 

    Utsev further reiterated his commitment to combat the menace of open defecation through the actualization of the Social Development Goal programme for Sanitation and Hygiene for all. 

    He said: “The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.2 for Sanitation seeks to achieve by 2030, access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. 

    “With only six years to the SDG target date of 2030, progress on achieving the global SDG Sanitation target of safely managed services is off track and regrettably among those furthest behind. 

    “This comes with high disparities in access across wealth quintiles and locations. In Nigeria, only about half of the population (46%) has access to basic sanitation services and about a quarter are practising open defecation, with only 18% of the population having access to safely managed services. 

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    “Achieving the SDG target 6.2 will therefore require us to make 5 times the current progress and triple our investment in the sector.” 

    Director, Water Quality Control & Sanitation, Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, urged all stakeholders to collectively explore innovative strategies, share best practices, technological innovations and policy framework to advance the cause of safe and sustainable sanitation for the populace. 

    “Access to safely managed sanitation is a fundamental human right, millions of people across the globe, including Nigeria with a national access of 18%, continue to lack adequate facilities, with dire consequences for public health, the environment and overall well-being,” She said.

  • Minister restates commitment to growth, job creation

    Minister restates commitment to growth, job creation

    Industry, Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anita, has spoken of Federal Government’s commitment  and support to growth of the manufacturing sector.

    She spoke after her week-long tour to Lagos and Ogun states.

     In Ogun State, she met with Governor Dapo Abiodun, emphasising Federal Government’s support for the state.

    She visited Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group, African Foundries, and Land Craft Industries, saying the steel industry is a cornerstone for economic growth.

    At  (TGI) Group, Anite opened the factory extension for West African Cubes (WACUB), noting “this project will increase GDP and create jobs.

    At African Foundries and Land Craft Industries, the minister encouraged collaboration among entrepreneurs to address infrastructural and security challenges, promising federal support.

    During a visit to Beloxxi Industries on the third day, Dr. Uzoka-Anite was impressed by youth development programmes.

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    She said:  “We need to encourage manufacturers to do the same (youth programmes), to stem vices in young people.”

    The minister’s stopped at Unilever in Agbara, GreenTech Industries, and GB Foods Manufacturing Nigeria Limited.

    Anite expressed gratitude to the companies visited, acknowledging their challenges and reaffirming her commitment to sector-wide growth. 

    Abiodun had stated his vision of leveraging the proximity to Lagos to foster a fine environment for public-private partnership.

    He said the state’s approach, encapsulated in ISEYA acronym—infrastructure, social welfare, education, youth empowerment, and agriculture—aligns with Federal Government’s objectives.