The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger

  • Niger shareholders okays N270.8m dividend

    Niger shareholders okays N270.8m dividend

    NIGER Insurance Plc shareholders have approved dividend of N270.8 million for the 2013 financial year.

    The amount represents 3.5kobo for every share of 50 kobo and will be paid on August 4.

    The company made a profit after tax of N599.4 million during the  year compared to N470.1 million in 2012, representing a 27.5 per cent growth.

    It achieved a N10.4 billion gross written premium in 2013 compared to N10.3 billion recorded in 2012 while its net operating profit stood at N674.3 million compared to N256.5 million for the preceding year.

    The Group’s profit after tax during the year under view was N627.4 million compared to N776.2 million achieved in 2012.

    Its Chairman, Bala Zakariya’u, made this known at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ilorin.

    He said the firm was looking into the possibility of doing away with any loss sustaining subsidiary so as not to impact negatively on the group performance.

    He disclosed that the total comprehensive income declined from N988.2 million in 2012 to N794.6 million in 2013 and N1.2 billion in 2012 to N822.5 million in 2013 for the company and group respectively.

    According to him, this is attributable to the stability in the value of property, plant and equipment and available for sale financial assets following the adoption of IFRS reporting format in the previous year and the recognition of the gains/loss thereof in the financial statement during the period.

    He said despite the harsh operating environment, they were able to deliver value to our shareholders noting this is a testimony that their business model is resilient enough to deliver on a consistent basis.

    Zakariya’u noted that the future of insurance business in Nigeria is bright as the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) continued to deepen the industry through various initiatives.

    He said the company is poised to grow its premium income and profitability in the coming years with the introduction of new products including a flagship annuity scheme, travel insurance and other products.

    He said: “We will also focus attention on revamping and reintroducing old products after making them more attractive to the insuring public. We will continue to strengthen our renewed strategic alliances with insurance intermediaries and clients to engender improved market share and to advance our leadership position in the industry.

    “The benefits from the implementation of our recently introduced performance improvement and organisational restructuring project have started manifesting as the speed and efficiency of our service delivery have greatly improved; thus enhancing our ability to add more value to all stakeholders.

    “Niger is also refocusing its business strategy towards retail and micro- insurance segments in view of the stiff competition and unsteady nature of government corporate businesses. In the years ahead we will focus on reappraisal of our investment portfolio with a view to maximising earnings and minimising risk thereof. The implementation of the enterprise wide Information and Communication Technology (ICT) also enabled our business process improvements which gave us sustainable growth possibilities, he said.

    On the liability on staff retirement benefit scheme, he said: “Following the enactment of the Pension Reform Act by the Federal Government in 2004, the management of the company went into negotiation with the staff union members on how to resolve and integrate the old scheme, which had become a difficult legacy issue. It is pertinent to report that management has finally reached an agreement with the staff unions regarding the liability on the staff Retirement benefit scheme. As a result the sum of N1.649bilion has been charged to the account representing the total liability of staff benefits for past services as at winding up date”.

  • Niger APC condemns clampdown on journalists

    Niger APC condemns clampdown on journalists

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State condemned yesterday the clampdown on journalists in Niger State.

    The Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Vasta, in a statement in Abuja said the government has blacklisted five journalists. The Nation correspondent, Jide Orintunsin, has been barred from the Government House.

    Vasta said: “The correspondents of Thisday, Aisha Wakaso, Leadership, Abu Nmodu, Blueprint, Aideloje Ojo, Daily Trust, Aliyu Hamaham have all been blacklisted by the Niger State government.

    “The government told the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) that it has suspended its relationship with journalists.

    “While Niger people are managing to cope with the seven years of mal-administration, seven years of misery, seven years of pains and waste of state resources, the government wants to use its remaining nine months to harass and cage journalists from expressing their freedom.

    “APC therefore urged the members of the press not to relent in the pursuit of their professional duties, no matter the amount of intimidation and blackmail.

    “Journalism is not a crime; freedom of the press is freedom of the people.”

    The statement said it is only a leader with poor records of performance and human management that will resort to harassing innocent citizens and journalists.

  • Niger Delta power firm spreads wings

    Niger Delta power firm spreads wings

    Still basking in the successful completion of the first phase of the National Integrated Power Project, the Niger Delta Power Holding is on the march again as it unveils plans to build 16 Hydro-Power Plants under the second phase of the scheme, write Muyiwa Lucas and Bola Olajuwon.

    The nation’s power sector is upbeat. This is courtesy of a wind of change currently blowing across the sector. Touted to be a hydra-headed problem that had defiled all logic, the involvement of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) in the National Independent Power Project (NIPP) appears to have restored hope of steady power supply in the country soon. This is further accentuated by the successful privatisation of seven of the 10 thermal plants it constructed, for which payments amounting to $5.7 billion, representing 80 per cent of the proceed, has been completed.

    This development has further given hope to the federal government’s promise of realising 10, 000 megawatts (MW) by December 2014, since the 10 NIPPs are expected to generate additional 5,454mw to the current estimated 4,500mw.This makes the NDPHC one of the best decisions government had made in a very long time.

    Now, riding on the back of this success, the NDPHC is set for another giant stride as it recently unveiled a proposal to set up16 Hydro-Power Plants (HPPs), in Abuja, to kick-start the second phase of the NIPP, thereby bringing another vista of relief to the nation’s power industry. This initiative, stakeholders in the sector said, is a positive step considering that the country’s existing dams such as Kanji, Shiroro and others, have descended into deplorable conditions.The HPPs, which will be in three different categories of small, medium and large, will be located in 11 states of the country.

    NDPHC’s Managing Director, Mr. James Abiodun Olotu,disclosed that the new projects had been approved by the National Economic Council for implementation. Olotu’s confidence of a successful HPP is buoyed by the experience garnered by the NDPHC in executing the first phase of the NIPP and a better understanding of the industry.

    The large hydro-power plants are Mambilla Dam HPP in Taraba State, with a capacity of 3,050 mw; Gurara II Dam HPP in Niger State, with 369mw capacity, and the only medium HPP with 40mw capacity will be sited in Itisi Dam, Kaduna State.The small HPPs, which capacities range from 0.3 mw to 10 mw, are to be constructed in Oyan Dam (10mw) and Ikere-Goje HPP in Ogun State (6.0mw); Bakolori Dam HPP, Zamfara State (3.0mw); Challawa Dam HPP in Kano State (7.5mw); and Tiga Dam HPP, also in Kano (10mw).Others are Kampe Dam HPP in Kogi State (0.5mw); Owena Dam HPP in Ondo State (O.45mw); Doma Dam HPP in Nasarawa State (1.0mw); Zobe Dam HPP in Katsina State (0.30mw); and Jibia Dam HPP also in Katsina (4.0mw).

    Others are Katsina-Ala Dam HPP in Benue State (4.0mw); Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria Dam HPP and Jado Dam in Adamawa State.

    The capacities of the last two dams is yet to be finalised.This new initiative is already generating huge interest amongst energy experts, who reason that the new HPPs will bring succour to Nigerians after unenviable history of unimpressive state of current power supply.

    Already, funding for the HPP would not be a challenge, unlike what happened in the first phase of the scheme. This is because a significant percentage of the proceeds from the $5.7 billion from the sale of the thermal stations would be used to finance the HPP. Besides, the Federal Government also assured that it would invest $10 billion in collaboration with power sector private investors to build the new hydro-power stations in the phase two of NIPP. These funding, therefore, provides a good springboard for the launch of the HPP.

    Indeed, this feat has watered down the conflicting views on the HPP by other critical stakeholders in the industry.

    While opposition to the earlier project was intense, the disposition to the new plan is subtle with those averse to the current move insisting that the country does not have the capacity to build power plants without the involvement of multinational firms.

    Such fears are however understandable given the fact that indigenous public enterprises have a penchant for failing in the discharge of their mandate to the people.

    Tomiwa Sogunro, an energy consultant, however believes that for the NDPHC to achieve its full objective, especially with regard to the HPP, certain bottlenecks must be cleared. One of this is the pending litigations over the sale of the remaining three power plants.He is right.

    Three out of the 10 power plants constructed under the first phase are yet to be concluded by way of NCP and NDPHC joint board approval on the outcome of the financial bid results.

    The delay is caused by law suits filed by certain individuals and organisations over issues which could be sorted out administratively.

    Although progress has been made in the ongoing discussions to end the legal disputes, Sogunwa is of the opinion that the issues involved should be speedily settled possibly out of the court.”Both the litigants and the courts should weigh and sway all decisions in favour of the privatisation process, which has been nationally and globally adjudged to be free, fair and transparent.

    Since the interim injunction is not a perpetual order, it needs being revisited to put the conclusion of the three transactions on course. This will ensure that the ongoing reform in the power sector does not attract negative perception and reception, which could dent the image of the country before the international community,” he appealed.

    Raymond Okeke, a businessman, said government must retain the confidence of foreign investors, especially the World Bank and other international organisations, which have keyed into the power sector reforms, so as not to lose out in the long run, and bring the efforts made so far to zero.

    But still, there are challenges ahead for the NDPHC. One of this is the inadequate supply and payment for the input by the end users, that is, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

    This is constituting a clog in the wheel of progress in optimising the capacity of the NIPPs. While assurances have been given that gas supply hiccups to the power plants are being addressed by the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, stakeholders are canvassing that since NDPHC pays commercial rate for gas used in generating power for TCN and sell at a not too profitable rate, then government should restructure the tariff arrangement to meet current realities, where TCN pays for power received from NDPHC.

    Importantly, the TCN should also be ready to liquidate its over N36 billion debt on gas to NIPP, as a further boost to encouraging investment in the sector.

    This move, it is believed, will serve as a means of restoring investors’ confidence in the process. The NIPP was conceived in 2004 as a fast-track public sector funded initiative that would add significant new generation capacity to Nigeria’s electricity supply system along with the electricity transmission, distribution and natural gas supply infrastructure.

    The initiative was dogged by the lack of confidence based on the country’s lack of experience in building thermal plants powered by gas. But government kept faith and the results are trickling in.

  • Niger to dissolve executive council tomorrow

    Niger to dissolve executive council tomorrow

    The stage is set for the dissolution of the Niger State Executive Council (exco) tomorrow. Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has sent a list of nominees to the House of Assembly for confirmation.

    The dissolution was slated for yesterday, but the executive council meeting did not hold because Aliyu was in Abuja for the three- day fidau for the Vice President’s Namadi Sambo’s younger brother. The meeting may hold tomorrow.

    In an April 28 letter, the governor sent five names for consideration and confirmation for appointment.

    His action, Aliyu said, was “in compliance with Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution”.

    The nominees include Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary Malam Danladi Ndayebo, Abubakar Tukur, the Accountant-General, Isah Liman Kantigi, Chairman, Edati Local Government Council and Chairman, Forum of Local Government Chairmen, Abdulkarim Suleiman Mazakuka and Lawal Abbas Mohammed.

    Their screening begins on May 7.

    The Nation, two weeks ago, exclusively reported that the governor had given all commissioners and special advisers till end of last month to prepare their handover notes.

    It was gathered that more names may still be sent to the Assembly as no fewer than six commissioners and four other principal officers are likely to contest for election in 2015.

    Two of them, a commissioner and a special adviser, confirmed the possible dissolution of the state executive council tomorrow.

    The commissioner said: “We had expected the dissolution last week. We had a long council meeting and everybody thought the chief servant (governor) will thank all of us and ask us to hand over to permanent secretaries. All of us have since written our handover notes before the April 25 deadline given by the governor.”

    The special adviser said: “Since we couldn’t meet yesterday and today is public holiday, we hope the council will meet tomorrow and the governor may likely dissolve the council.

    “For me and virtually all commissioners and special advisers we are ready with our hand over notes.”

  • Five drown in Niger boat mishap

    Four men and a woman on Saturday got drowned when a commercial boat conveying them capsized on River Egah in Edati Local Government Area of Niger State.

    The incident occurred at 2:30 pm when the Sofanla bound boat hit a rock and eventually capsized few minutes after it left Gbanchi village.

    It was gathered that casualty figure would have been more but for the quick intervention of some fishermen and villagers that launched a search party which led to the rescue of some passengers from the ill-fated boat.

    The bodies of the victims were recovered about three hours after the disaster.

    An eye witness, Mallam Iliyasu Gambo who spoke with newsmen at the river bank lamented that the passengers got drowned due to non-adherance to government directive of using life jackets by operators of commercial boat.

    According to him, “the passengers would not have drowned, talk less of dying in the boat mishap if they wore life jackets. The state government has told every passengers and operators of boats and ferry to always wear life jackets whenever they are travelling but these people did not that is why we can’t even save them.”

    Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu last year made usage of life jackets mandatory for operators of commercial boat service on all the water ways in the state.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Richard Oguche, confirmed the accident and said that the state Commissioner of Police had dispatched the Marine personnel of the command to the area to assist in the recovery of the remains of the drowned passengers.

    Oguche gave the names of the victims of the mishap as Baba Mohammed, Abu Yaba, Audu Saidu, Jibrin Mohammed and Aisha Usman.

  • Anti-graft agencies have failed – Gov. Aliyu

    The Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has  passed a verdict of failure on all anti-graft agencies in the country.

    He accused them of not doing enough to curb corruption in the country, insisting that corruption in the country is increasing at an alarmingly.

    Aliyu spoke in Minna on Tuesday when he hosted the Fiscal Responsibility Commission led by the Acting Chairman, Mr. Victor Chinemere Muruako in his office.

    He lamented that the efforts of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Fiscal Responsibility Commission have done little to reduce corruption in the country.

    According to him, “We have EFCC, we have Fiscal Responsibility Commission and we have ICPC but none of these agencies are doing enough to curb corruption. Today, there is no way you will not see in the media stories about corruption and there is no way cases about corruption will not be mentioned in the country for a day.”

    Aliyu also blamed the current insurgency being experienced in the northern  region of the country on corruption. According to him, “corruption brought about the Boko Haram insurgency”.

    The NSGF Chair  advocated for public education on to handle public finance stressing that, “the people should know that it is not a private or a money making venture, it is for the public, for the benefit and interest of the public.”

    Earlier, the acting Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Mr. Chinemere Muruako told his host that the commission recovered over N114 billion in operating surplus paid into the Consolidated Revenue  Fund by MDAs and Corporations in the new fiscal regime.

    “Despite corruption and reluctance at individual and institutional levels to adopt the culture of transparency and accountability,  Nigeria economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience in the years since the new fiscal regime became operational.”

    Muruako lamented that only 22 per cent of states in the country have adopted the Fiscal Responsibility Law stating that this is not encouraging considering the nation’s strength on regional government as total compliance to the Fiscal Responsibility Act will guarantee a more stable economy.

    He then appealed to Aliyu to prevail on his colleagues to adopt the Fiscal Responsibility Law and buy into the new regime of fiscal prudence in order to expedite the nation’s macro-economic stability.

  • Emir of Agaie dies at 52

    A first class Emir in Niger State, Etsu Agaie, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Abubakar Ubandoma III died Sunday at the age of 52 years.

    He died in an Abuja hospital at about 6am after a two years battle with kidney related illness.

    The  Secretary to the Niger State Government, Saidu Kpaki confirmed the demise of the traditional ruler in a telephone interview.

    According  to him, ‪” I can confirm that the Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Muhammadu Kudu Abubakar is dead and the burial is slated for 5 pm in Agaie, today (Sunday)”.‬

    Born on 15th March 1962,  Etsu Abubakar was installed the 13th Emir of Agaie on 13th April 2004 by the administration of former governor of Niger state, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure.

    In his tribute the  Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu described the late Etsu Agaie as a man of peace and a rare patriot.

    Aliyu in condolence message signed by Governor Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo said the death of the royal father was a great loss to the people of his domain, Niger State and Nigeria.

    The governor noted that Etsu’s ten years reign brought tremendous progress and modernization to Agaie Emirate, adding that violence, whether sectarian or otherwise, was a rare occurrence in his domain.

  • Police Corporal kills self with rifle

    A 30 year old mobile policeman, Corporal Tanko Usman has allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle.

    The incident took place on Saturday in an uncompleted building along Eastern Bye-pass in Minna, Niger state capital.

    The Nation gathered that Usman who until his death was attached to Squadron 12 Police Mobile Force PMF Minna shot himself in the early hours of the day with a AK 47 rifle shortly after he left his duty post in one of the second generation bank in the city.

    He was said to have parked his motorcycle by the road and walked briskly into the uncompleted building and took his life.

    An eye witness said unsuspecting people around saw the armed Police Corporal entered the uncompleted building but were later attracted by his gun shot few minutes later.

    According to one of the men around who spoke in confidence, “Nobody suspected that something awful was in the offering when the Corporal entered the uncompleted building, infact nobody challenged him, it was the gun shot that attracted us and when we got in we found the dead body of the Policeman.

    “We later reported the incident at Maitunmbi Police division from where we gathered the police mobile squadron was contacted and some of their (MOPOL) men came to evacuate the body”.

    Confirming the incident Niger State Police Command spokesman, Richard Adamu Oguche (ASP) said the commander squadron Mopol 12 and the Divisional Crime officer (DCO) of Maitumbi division visited the scene of the incident and organised the evacuation of the body.

    According to Oguche, “The fact is that this morning there was a report that a man suspected to be mobile policeman allegedly shot himself in an uncompleted building at Eastern bye-pass and it was discovered he is from 12 squadron Police Mobile force PMF, he shot himself with his service rifle which was also recovered and given back to the squadron commander”.

    He said the body has been deposited the body at IBB Specialised Hospital ’s Mortuary, Minna.

  • Diarrhoea claims 3 lives in Niger

    No fewer than three persons lost their lives, following an outbreak of diarrhoea in two Local Government Areas of Niger.

    The Director of Public Health in the state’s Ministry of Health, Dr Usman Mohammed, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.

    Mohammed said that the ministry was notified of the outbreak of the disease in Tafa Local Government Area, adding that the State Government had sent a medical team to the area for medical assistance.

    “We have received information on the outbreak of stooling and vomiting in Tafa town, we dispatch a team of medical personnel to examine the situation.

    “The report shows 36 persons have contacted the disease, one person died and 35 others are responding to treatment at a government health facility in the area.

    “The ministry received another complaint on similar outbreak in Gawu Babangida.

    “The disease had claimed two lives, while 26 others were receiving treatment at public health facilities in the area.

    “I can assure that the situation is under control, following the intervention of the medical team; no new case of the disease is reported from the area,’’ he said.

    He attributed the outbreak to the source of drinking water, adding that the affected persons were believed to have been fetching water from ponds, following the breakdown of their boreholes.

    Mohammed said the government had concluded arrangements to prevent outbreak of the disease in other parts of the state

  • Taxi scheme for Niger unemployed graduates

    Taxi scheme for Niger unemployed graduates

    The Niger State government, through the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P), has introduced an executive city taxi scheme for unemployed graduates.

    Tagged “Talba City Taxi,” it will boost intra-city transportation and rekindle entrepreneurship among unemployed graduates

    Investigation reveals that last year, the state had over 17,000 unemployed graduates despite the graduate engagement scheme introduced some years ago by the government.

    The scheme, inaugurated with brand new 100 Kia cars, will be a continuous government’s intervention to address unemployment and boost intra-state transport system.

    At its inauguration, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said government would subsidise each car with N1 million as encouragement to beneficiaries.

    A N3.4 million car was given to every beneficiary for N2.4 million, with repayment period of three years after a grace of six months.

    The scheme was advertised for interested unemployed university and polytechnic graduates to apply. Applications received were subjected to thorough screening and due diligence by the directorate of SURE-P after which100 applicants were successful for the first phase of the scheme.

    At present, the cars ply major roads of Minna, the Niger State capital driven by those who were unemployed graduates.

    For Usman Maigari a 2011 graduate of Estate Management from Federal University of Technology, Minna the graduate city taxi scheme was a dream realised.

    He said: “After the service year, I had submitted numerous application letters for employment in both public and private sectors without any success. It got to a point that I got fed up because I have what it takes to be employed but no job came my way. I even lost hope in the system. I have to depend on people around for my livelihood.

    “When I got a phone call that I was one of the successful applicants for the Talba City Taxi Graduate Scheme, I was very happy, especially when I was asked to come for my car. This scheme was all I needed to break the jinx of joblessness. Today, my status has changed from an unemployed graduate to an executive taxi driver.”

    On whether driving a cab was not too demeaning for a graduate, Maigari said: “No, it is not demeaning. I was taught entrepreneurship in the university; I know the importance of self-reliance and to be an employer of labour. Driving a N3.4 million is not demeaning.

    “As a graduate from a humble background, how would I have raised such money to buy this kind of car? I am very proud of being an executive taxi driver. I make returns to myself. I command respect even from the commuters because majority of them know that we are not just drivers but owners of our cars and they accord us some respect. The experience is awesome.”

    Commending the state government and SURE-P for helping them become self-reliant, Maigari said: “I am very grateful to the governor for coming up with the scheme. Within few weeks of operation my life has changed. I no longer look up to people for support, rather people come to me for assistance.

    “I have resolved to ensure that the car is always maintained.