The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspapers

  • Osinbajo launches initiative to boost agriculture, power, others

    Osinbajo launches initiative to boost agriculture, power, others

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has launched the Economic and Growth Recovery Plan (ERGP) Focus Laboratories on power, agriculture and manufacturing to fast track economic growth.

    Osinbajo said in Abuja on Tuesday that the newly inaugurated Focus Labs would further boost economic growth and ensure that Nigeria continued its journey of building a competitive economy.

    “The labs will operate by bringing together all private and public sector officials to achieve the ERGP’s objective of reaching seven per cent economic growth by 2020.

    “The Focus Labs are being conducted in three selected areas to accelerate investment and job creation.

    “These specific areas are agriculture and transport, manufacturing and processing and finally power and gas sector,” he said.

    Osinbajo explained that the laboratory groups were meant to bring private/public sector participants and potential investors together to think through the implementation of the specific areas of focus.

    “We believe that working together as a group we will be able to achieve these specific objectives that have been set out for us,” Osinbajo said.

    Sen. Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, said that the government was far from achieving the targets captured in the ERGP.

    Read Also: Osinbajo  didn’t meet political groups in Kano – Presidency

    He said that the government planned to improve power generation and its operational capacity to 10 Gigawatts by 2020, but  two years to the deadline, it had only succeeded in generating four Gigawatts.

    Udoma said that the Focus Laboratories would eliminate the bottlenecks that hinder private sector investment in the agriculture, manufacturing and power sector.

    He said this was important because 245.1 billion dollars was required to implement the ERGP, out of which 195.98 billion dollars was expected from private sector and 49.15 billion dollars from the public sector.

    Udoma said that the three main objectives of the initiative were to create new investment opportunities for critical projects, job creation and resolution of complex inter-agency problems that inhibited private sector investment.

    The highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Central Steering Committee which comprised all ministers, permanent secretaries of Ministries of Budget and National Planning as well as representatives of the Vice-President’s office.

    He also inaugurated the Core Working Groups for Agriculture and Transport, manufacturing and processing as well as Power and Gas Supply, headed by their respective ministers.

    NAN

  • NPS decorates 193 newly-promoted personnel in Plateau

    NPS decorates 193 newly-promoted personnel in Plateau

    No fewer than 193 newly-promoted Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) officers serving with Plateau Command were on Tuesday decorated with their new ranks.

    Decorating the officers in Jos, Mr Noel Ailewon, the Controller in charge of the Command, said the beneficiaries were among the 12, 588 personnel that the Service recently promoted nationwide.

    “Few weeks ago, our headquarters released the promotion of 12, 588 officers and men.

    “In Plateau command, 193 are part of it and this is why we are here to decorate them with their new ranks,” Ailewon said.

    He urged beneficiaries to be upright and diligent in the discharge of their duties and be good ambassadors of the Service at all times.

    Read Also: NPS   raises alarm over influx of awaiting trial inmates

    He also reminded them of the new task that came with promotion, urging them to live above board as they assumed new responsibilities.

    “Promotion comes with added responsibilities and so you must be ready to be diligent in the performance of your duties

    “You must be shining stars of the Service and stimulating force for your subordinates,” the controller said.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr John Francis, who was promoted to the rank of Deputy Controller of Prisons (DCP), pledged that the newly promoted officers would be more proactive in the discharge of their duties.

     NAN

  • Kogi commissioner hands over drug-inhaling students to NDLEA

    Kogi commissioner hands over drug-inhaling students to NDLEA

    Mrs. Bolanle Amupitan, Kogi Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, has handed over to the NDLEA; two students caught smoking banned substance behind the fence of the ministry.

    The students, aged 15 and 18, were from Bishop Delise College, Lokoa.

    The commissioner also handed over the substance to the drug agency for identification and advice on possible measures to stop children from such bad habits.

    She advised the NDLEA to rehabilitate the two students and others like them, and urged parents to sensitize their children on the need to avoid banned substances.

    Read Also: NDLEA impounds 722.469kg of illicit drugs in Cross River

    She also advised parents to monitor the company kept by their children so as to rid them of bad gangs.

    “Parents should always find time to talk to their children and know the type of people they mingle with because most of these strange attitudes are picked from friends.

    “We must join hands together to care for our children because they are the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.

    She mandated three senior officials of the ministry to carry out a detailed investigation on the matter and report back to her within the shortest possible time.

     NAN

  • Kano to produce 2m seedlings for desert control

    Kano to produce 2m seedlings for desert control

    Kano State Government has approved N12.4 million to the Ministry of Environment for the production of two million assorted seedlings as part of efforts to check desertification.

    The state Commissioner of Information, Malam Mohammed Garba made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kano on the outcome of the state Executive Council Meeting.

    He explained that the seedlings would be distributed free to farmers and other members of the general public.

    “The state executive council has on Jan. 31 approved the money to enable the Ministry of Environment produce two million seedlings for distribution to people free to enable them plant the seedlings to check desertification.”

    According to him, the council also approved the release of N185.4 million for the construction of access road in Tokarawa industrial area, and N8.6 million for the rehabilitation of Tukur Road in Kano metropolis.

    Read Also:‘Osinbajo didn’t meet political groups in Kano’

    The commissioner added that N65.2 million was approved for the reconstruction of a collapsed bridge along Jalabi-Kuluwa-Gwanare road in Bunkure Local Government area of the state.

    “The state government has also provided the sum of N31.9 million to the Ministry of Works for the construction of culvert at Darmanawa behind Hassan Gwarzo College,” Garba said.

     NAN

  • Ortom advises motorcyclists against jungle justice in Benue

    Ortom advises motorcyclists against jungle justice in Benue

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has admonished members of Benue Motorcycle Association ( BEMOA ) against taking laws into their hands during crisis describing it as `unlawful’.

    Ortom gave the advice on Tuesday in Makurdi when BEMOA members led by its President, Mr Patrick Tachin paid him a visit.

    The governor urged them to always alert security agencies in case of security breach instead of carrying out jungle justice which was unconstitutional.

    “Tackling security challenge is the sole responsibility of security agencies and not for anyone to take laws into his or her hands, no matter the circumstances.

    “I urge you to partner with the state government to fight insecurity in the state, as security is the responsibility of all and sundry.

    “The security agencies need the support of the public to succeed,’’ he said.

    Read Also:Benue’ll not succumb to any move to repeal law  – Ortom

    In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Fatai Owoseni encouraged the association to strive to register its members as another means of checking insecurity.

    Owoseni urged them to refrain from spreading fake information, adding that the command under his watch would not tolerate impunity.

    Responding, the BEMOA President, Mr Tachin pledged on behalf of his members that they would comply with the governors directive and work together to address security challenges in the state.

    Tachin appealed to the governor to provide reflective jackets for them to distinguish them from other motorcycle riders who were not registered.

     NAN

  • Delta takes measures to boost revenue from taxes

    Delta takes measures to boost revenue from taxes

    Chief David Edevbie, the Delta Commissioner for Finance, says the state’s decision to harmonise taxes and reduce tax consultants is to improve accountability and boost revenue from taxes.

    Edevbie made this known in an interview with the News men in Asaba on Tuesday.

    He said that the adoption of Electronic Treasury Receipt was helpful in eliminating time lags and minimising leakages of funds in revenue collection process.

    Edevbie said that the state government was beginning to focus on the informal sector/unregulated economy, especially the micro informal sector.

    According to him, with the introduction of presumption tax more than 500,000 people have been captured into the tax net from the informal sector.

    Read Also: Delta community, BEDC bicker over alleged N4.16m debt

    “In addition, there was tremendous improvement in revenue from land charges which increased in excess of 600 per cent in 2017.

    “Once all these reforms are institutionalised and sustained, there should be significant growth in the state’s aggregate tax collections,“he said.

    Edevbie was optimistic that the 2018 budget would be better implemented.

    “The funding challenges that were faced in the 2017 budget have reduced as monthly statutory allocations are on the rise, “he said.

    NAN

  • Kebbi distributes drugs worth N5m to 838 epileptic

    Kebbi distributes drugs worth N5m to 838 epileptic

    The Kebbi State Government has distributed drugs worth N5 million to 838 epileptic and psychiatric patients in the state.

    Alhaji Muhammad Kwaido, the Chairman of the Zakkat Board, made this known in an interview with the News men in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

    Zakkat is a body that pools funds from rich people to distribute to the needy.

    “The board has distributed free drugs worth N5 million to psychiatric and epileptic patients in the last two days and we expect to distribute more drugs worth N3 million to others in future.

    Read Also: Kebbi procures  N300m Ultra Sound machines for 14 Hospitals

    the number of patients that will benefit from the next batch because the number depends on the turnout of the patients during the exercise,” he added.

    Kwaido urged the patients to take their medication as when due for effective therapy.

    He stressed the need for people to assist the patients by taking them to hospital for effective treatment.

    The chairman also called on local government chairmen in the state to assist in transporting the patients in their areas to the Turai Yar’Adua Hospital, Zauro, Birnin Kebbi, for care.

    NAN

  • Immigration promotes 156 officers in Akwa Ibom

    Immigration promotes 156 officers in Akwa Ibom

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has promoted 156 officers in the Akwa Ibom command of the service, The News men reports that the command’s Public Relations Officer, CSI Ibishia Jaja, was among the officers promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Immigration.

    Decorating the promoted officers with their new ranks on Tuesday in Uyo, Comptroller of Immigration in the state command, CIS Livingstone Amadi, advised the newly elevated officers to be more dedicated to service.

    Amadi said promotion in service should be seen as motivation to achieve efficient service delivery and high productivity.

    “All officers elevated should stand out in the discharge of their duties; the promotion calls for dedication and more commitment to service,” he said.

    The comptroller noted that promotion comes with more expectation, advising the officers to show hard work and discipline in the discharge of their routine services.

    Read Also:  Four suspected smugglers held in  Akwa Ibom

    He urged them to thank God for the elevation and also appreciate the Nigeria Immigration Service by being diligent in the discharge of their services.

    Speaking on behalf of the promoted officers, the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, DCI Festus Korie, said they were elated, promising that they would reciprocate the gesture.

    He gave the assurance that the newly promoted officers would live up to expectation and discharge their responsibilities meticulously.

    Korie thanked God for his benevolence and also the Ministry of Interior for finding them fit for promotion in the service.

    NAN

  • Buhari appoints Tinubu to head APC reconciliatory team

    Buhari appoints Tinubu to head APC reconciliatory team

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the consultation, reconciliation and confidence building efforts toward improving cohesion within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The information is in a two-paragraph statement issued by Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity in Abuja on Tuesday.

    According to the presidential aide, the assignment will involve resolving disagreements among party members, party leadership and political office holders in some states of the federation.

    The News men reliably gathered that the Kano State APC crisis involving supporters of former Gov. Rabiu Kwakwanso and the serving Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, is one of the tasks of the Tinubu reconciliation committee.

    Read Also: Buhari’s visit:  Security beefed up in Nasarawa

    It would be recalled that the Presidency on Jan. 29 summoned Gov. Ganduje and Kwakwanso over the aborted Jan. 30 visit of the former governor to Kano to avert breakdown of law and order in the state.

    The governor, accompanied by two serving senators and two members of House of Representatives from the state met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari at the Presidential Villa.

    Ganduje, however, declined to speak to State House correspondents after the closed door meeting.

    The Tinubu committee is also expected to reconcile other APC members in Kaduna, Zamfara, Oyo, Kogi and other states of the federation.

    NAN

  • AfDB approves $10m loan to boost fund’s portfolio in Africa

    AfDB approves $10m loan to boost fund’s portfolio in Africa

    The Board of African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a 10-million dollar loan for African Local Currency Bond Fund (ALCBF) to boost its portfolio in Africa.

    Mrs Olivia Ndong-Obiang, the Principal Communications Officer in AfDB, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    She said that the ALCBF was also approved by the Bank to promote the development of domestic capital markets in Africa and had a tenor of seven years with a two-year grace period.

    The ALCBF loan, according to her, would improve access for non-sovereign issuers to long-term funding in local currency, reduce currency and maturity mismatches and increase local financial intermediation.

    “The fund will catalyse investments in critical sectors such as renewable energy, housing, health, education, the financial sector and agriculture in line with the bank’s High five priorities.

    Read Also: Nigeria ranks lowest in industrial GDP,  says AfDB

    The bank’s High five priorities are Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

    “This will ultimately help grow private sector financing through capital markets,” she said.

    The News men reports that the ALCBF was incorporated in December 2012 by German Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

    “The fund has invested in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Lesotho, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Uganda, Malawi, Gabon and Togo.

    “As of December 31, 2017, the fund had made 27 investments across 19 companies and in 10 currencies,” Ndong-Obiang said.

    NAN