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  • No controversy over status of Nigeria SEZ Investment Company – Presidency

    The Presidency says there is no controversy whatsoever about the status of Nigeria SEZ Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO), also known as Nigeria Special Economic Zones Company Limited as being speculated in some quarters.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The presidential aide, who was reacting to reports in sections of the media about the status NSEZCO, said the company was designed as a special purpose vehicle to deliver Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports), which is a Presidential initiative.

    “We wish to confirm that NZESCO was incorporated as a special purpose vehicle to deliver Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports), which is a Presidential initiative.

    “The Federal Government’s Economic Recovery & Growth Plan (ERGP) identified the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as a major strategic tool to accelerate the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP),’’ he said.

    He added that the Project MINE was envisioned by the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (MITI) to develop SEZs to world-class standards and position Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter of made in Nigeria goods and services regionally and globally.

    He said: “Indeed, Project MINE was necessitated by the following factors:

    Lack of operating competitiveness that limits the growth of the zones, despite the presence of generous fiscal and regulatory incentives.

    For government-owned SEZs, there were limited Federal budget allocations to make the required investments in infrastructure, operations and management services;.

    Others are the need to develop the skills and experience to operate and manage the zones to world-class standards of efficiency; The absence of a deliberate strategy to attract investors, create clusters or encourage the development of local value chains using SEZs, and therefore the lack of appropriate link between the industrialization strategy of government and the Free Trade Zones.

    Project Mine, therefore, seeks to achieve the following specific objectives:

    • Support structural transformation of the Nigerian economy by increasing the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 20 per cent by 2029;

    -Contribute to sustainable inclusive growth by creating 1.5 million new direct manufacturing jobs in the initial phase of Project MINE;

    -Increase and diversify foreign exchange earnings to at least US$30bn annually by 2029, by increasing manufacturing sector exports;

    -Create local models of global best practice in the provision of world-class infrastructure at competitive costs connecting SEZs to international and regional markets with transport links, uninterrupted power, ICT, water, sewage and other services to ensure smooth and efficient operation of SEZ businesses;

    • Promote the “cluster” effect to be gained by locating similar export-oriented manufacturing businesses within the same locality;
    • Attract world-class investors with strong positions in global supply chains and investors with potential to increase the scale of operations rapidly to set up operations in SEZs; and
    • Create an enabling environment for SEZ businesses by instituting best in class legal and regulatory frameworks, using technology and streamlined processes to facilitate movement of people, goods and capital and easy access to government services, approvals and permits.’’

    Adesina recalled that in June, 2018, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved NSEZCO, with the endorsement of the Economic Management Team, as the holding entity for FGN investments and proprietary interests in existing and future SEZs.

    Read also: Saraki assures of passage of police reform bills

    He said the FEC approval also provided that all current and future capital appropriations for Project MINE should be transferred to NSEZCO’s account, as soon as opening formalities were completed.

    “With the formalities completed, NSEZCO became the platform through which Federal Government’s capital budget appropriations for SEZs are converted into long term value-creating investments.

    “NSEZCO is a public-private partnership (PPP) company to operate world-class standards of governance and management, to facilitate mobilization of capital and other resources from PPP partners, in order to overcome budgetary constraints to the provision of critical infrastructure for SEZs.

    “By aggregating and harnessing FG’s investment in a strong corporate special purpose vehicle, NSEZCO will facilitate the mobilization of additional capital from development finance institutions (DFIs) and private investors. Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) is the shareholder, holding the FG’s interest of 25% in NSEZCO.

    “The balance of 75% is currently held in trust on behalf of other prospective shareholders, pending completion of investors’ diligence and documentation and approval procedures,’’ he further maintained.

    The presidential spokesman also recalled that on Feb. 8, NSEZCO signed investment agreements with three Development Finance Institutions: Afreximbank, Bank of Industry, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Ministry of Finance Incorporated for their investment in NSEZCO at a ceremony presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

    He stated that Africa Finance Corporation and African Development Bank which are still in the preliminary stages of their internal approval processes were also in attendance as observers.

    Adesina quoted President Buhari at the signing ceremony as saying that: “When we committed to the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and launched our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to fast track implementation, we had a vision of Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter to our immediate West African sub-region, the rest of Africa and indeed the World.”

    He said already, NSEZCO was mobilizing capital from the Federal Government and the development finance institution shareholders, for the development of Special Economic Zones across Nigeria.

    He disclosed that pilot projects in the first phase were Enyimba Economic City, Abia State, Lekki Model Industrial Park, Lagos State and Funtua Cotton Cluster, Katsina State.

    The presidential media aide maintained that “in addition, pre-development studies are on-going in Benue, Kwara and Sokoto States whilst studies will soon commence in Ebonyi, Edo and Gombe States amongst others”.(NAN)

  • NAF, Police, DSS plan joint action against bandits, kidnappers in Northwest

    The Nigerian Air Force, The Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) have resolved to work together to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts in the northwest of the country.

    According to the spokesman of the NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the interagency collaboration followed the visit of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed A Adamu and the Director General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar at NAF headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Air Commodore Daramola explained in a statement that besides sharing intelligence on ways to dislodge bandits and kidnappers from their hideouts, the NAF would also make available air assets in support of the other agencies to secure the affected States in the zone.

    The statement reads: “As part of inter-agency cooperation to address security challenges in the country,  especially the issue of kidnapping and armed banditry along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari axis, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reiterated its commitment to support the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies with real time ‪geospatial and imagery intelligence whilst making available its air assets for the conduct of tactical air support missions and ‪increasing the frequency of air reconnaissance in the affected areas.

    ” The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, disclosed this today, 3 April 2019, while playing host to the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, and the Director-General DSS (DG DSS), Yusuf Bichi, at Headquarters NAF, Abuja.

    ” The IGP and DG DSS on arrival at HQ NAF immediately went into a closed-door meeting with the CAS before undertaking a guided tour of facilities at the newly established, state-of-the-art Geospatial-Intelligence Data Centre (GIDC) and Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC).

    “The GIDC, which is equipped with high-tech computer hardware and software, was established to enhance‪ the acquisition, analysis,  interpretation and exploitation of imagery and geospatial information to provide actionable intelligence for the Armed Forces and other security   agencies, while the equally well-equipped SAOC is expected to greatly enhance the coordination of air operations in support of internal security operations across the Country.

    Read also: El-Rufai’s convoy foils kidnapping along Kaduna-Abuja road

    “While inspecting the facilities, the Acting IGP expressed delight and satisfaction with the cutting edge technologies and sophisticated computer software at the Centres.

    “He said the essence of the visit to the CAS was to explore possibilities of using NAF air assets and the products of the GIDC to improve the effectiveness of operations to deal with issue of kidnapping and armed banditry, especially along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway and other parts of the country including Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger and Kogi States.

    “According to him, as a result of the onslaught by security agencies against the armed bandits in Zamfara State, the criminals had moved towards the Abuja axis to carry out their nefarious activities.

    “I felt that as a security agency, we need to synergize with other security outfits. We don’t have the air capability but the NAF has them. With this we can have a joint operation to deal with this security issue”, he said.

    ” The IGP appreciated the CAS for making NAF air assets available for the operation and also availing the NPF and DSS of the capabilities of the GIDC and SAOC.

    “He also congratulated him for emplacing such facilities and making them available to other security agencies to enhance internal security operations for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”

     

  • LASPOTECH vows to punish molesters of JAMB officials

    The Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu on Wednesday said it would punish any of its non-teaching staff involved in the molestation of two officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on the school campus, as claimed by the examination body.

    The Polytechnic spokesman said in Lagos that the institution and the Lagos State Government were already addressing the issue, while the police had begun investigation into the matter.

    Recall that JAMB had alleged that two of its officials were nearly set ablaze at LASPOTECH on March 29.

    Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB registrar, made the disclosure when the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, visited some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Abuja during the mock examination.

    Oloyede said that the officials were attacked at the centre of the mock examination in the institution, and would have been set ablaze, but for a quick intervention that saved them from the attempted jungle justice.

    He said the reason for the dastardly attack had yet to be ascertained, even as the two officials had been taken to the hospital.

    Kuye, while confirming that the institution’s authorities was aware of the incident, apologised to the board and assured the JAMB Registrar that the perpetrators would be brought to book.

    “We are aware of the ugly incident of molestation of two JAMB officials and the polytechnic’s Director of ICT who were on official assignment at the institution’s Ikorodu campus, by some of our non-teaching staff.

    “While the polytechnic condemns this act of barbarism, we are using this medium to assure the JAMB registrar, and indeed the entire Nigerians, that the police is on top of the matter.

    “We therefore deeply apologise to Prof. Oloyede and the attacked officials for this unwarranted assault on innocent staff by the members of the non-teaching staff of the polytechnic,” Kuye said in a statement.

    Meanwhile, the workers have denied the allegation by JAMB, saying it was untrue.

    Mr Abiodun Awoyemi, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), LASPOTECH chapter said the protesting unions only walked the Polytechnic’s Director of ICT and the two JAMB officials out of the campus.

    Awoyemi said the officials were escorted out of the campus in full glare of many, including the police, because non-academic activities had been paralysed since Jan. 20, due to an ongoing strike by the union.

    “It was one of our union members at ICT that escorted the Director and the JAMB officials out and even our communication with the JAMB coordinator in Lagos reveals that there was nothing like that.

    “The same JAMB official alleged to be molested and hospitalised are the same people that conducted the mock examination at another centre in Ikorodu on Monday,” he said.

    NAN also reports that members of Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP) and SSANIP, LASPOTECH Chapter had since Jan. 20 embarked on an indefinite strike and continuous protest to demand reversal of an alleged de-migration of their salary structure by the institution management.

    The unions alleged that the Polytechnic Rector had de-migrated its workers’ salary structure from the CONTISS 15 migration against the Deputy Governor’s pronouncement and Court’s directive. (NAN)

  • Court jails two restaurant bosses over girl’s allergy death

    A British court on Wednesday sentenced two restaurant bosses to prison after they were convicted of causing the death of a 15-year-old girl who suffered an extreme allergic reaction to traces of nuts in a takeaway meal.

    Manchester Crown Court convicted restaurant owner Mohammed Kuddus, 40, and takeaway manager Harun Rashid, 38, of “gross negligence manslaughter’’ in the death of Megan Lee.

    The court acknowledged that Megan suffered a fatal asthma attack caused by the allergic reaction in December 2016.

    It, therefore, sentenced Kuddus to two years and Rashid to three years in prison.

    Read Also: Why I killed, slept with my mother’s corpse

    Karen Tonge of the Crown Prosecution Service said ahead of the sentencing that Lee died because the men had “failed to protect her as their customer.’’

    “Their manifest failures and complete disregard for the safety of customers was astonishing.

    “No appropriate systems or conditions were in place to protect Megan or any customer with a known allergy,’’ Tonge said.

    Another restaurant owner was sentenced to six years in prison in 2016 after the death of a 38-year-old man in a similar case in North-Eastern England.

  • Sen. Bukar dies at 63

    Senator Mustapha Bukar, representing Katsina North senatorial district, President Muhammadu Buhari’s constituency, is dead. He was aged 63.

    Alhaji Kanta Bukar, the younger brother of the deceased, confirmed the death and said that Bukar died in the early hours of Wednesday at the Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja.

    He said the deceased was survived by two wives and 12 children, including Dr Ibrahim Bukar of the Nigerian Communications Commission.

    He said the deceased would be buried in Daura today.

    Bukar described the death of his elder brother as an irreplaceable loss to the family, the state and the nation in general, stressing he was a bridge builder.

    Malam Ahmed Abdullahi, the Personal Assistant to the late senator, described him as a hard working lawmaker, who represented his people diligently.

    Abdullahi said the district would remember Bukar as one of the few lawmakers who represented the zone with commitment and dedication.

    Read Also: Efficient utilisation of resources should be govt’s priority – Bukar

    The news men reports that Bukar (APC) returned to Nigeria in March after spending one month in the UK on a medical mission.

    Senator Bukar was the second senator to die in weeks, after Senator Ali Wakili, 58, who represented Bauchi south in the senate.

    According to a biographical sketch published by National Assembly, Bukar finished his primary education in Daura in 1968, and thereafter went to Government Secondary School, Katsina. He graduated in 1973.

    He also attended School of Basic Studies in Zaria (1975), from where he gained admission to read Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University. He graduated with Bachelors in 1978.

    After the National Youth Service, he worked as project manager for the Kaduna State Water Board and later as general manager.

    He retired in 2008 as director of Katsina State Water Board.

    NAN

  • Rivers approves revolving loan for civil servants

    The Rivers Government has approved a special revolving loan scheme for civil servants in the state without collateral

    The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Emma Okah, made this known to newsmen on Thursday in Port Harcourt.

    He said that the loan would be interest-free.

    The commissioner said it would be provided to civil servants who were in need of financial assistance.

    Okah said that civil servants were not expected to provide any collateral before accessing the loan.

    He also said that the State Executive Council had declared a state of emergency on trading on major roads.

    Read Also: Over 32,000 unclaimed driver’s license in Rivers says FRSC

    The commissioner said that street trading had negatively affected the environmental sanitation of Port Harcourt.

    Okah said that street traders had been given an ultimatum of seven days to quit the roads, adding that failure to comply would lead to enforcement by the government.

    He announced the inauguration of a National Festival Committee to organise the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST 2018) scheduled to take place in the state later in the year.

    The commissioner said that the State Executive Council had also approved the inauguration of a Water Board Committee.

    NAN

  • Boko Haram membership thinning out – President Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari says the era of Boko Haram terrorism is gradually drawing to end, with the narrowing of the recruitment base of the insurgents, and renewed onslaught by the Nigerian Army.

    The President stated this when he received the Letter of Credence of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Nigeria, Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, at the State House, Abuja on Tuesday.

    Buhari noted that the terrorist group had lost appeal in its initial strongholds, necessitating a steady retreat that would eventually culminate in ending the insurgency.

    He said: “You can’t indoctrinate people who are below the age of 14 years and blow up churches, mosques, markets and you keep shouting God is great.

    “It is either you don’t know what you are saying, or you simply don’t care or believe what you are saying. It is part of our success story that Boko Haram is finding it more difficult to recruit people.

    Read Also: Baraje: Buhari should take Obasanjo’s statement seriously

    “The Nigerian Army is also not making it easy for them to grow, with more intelligence, orientation and regular, measured onslaught on their camps.’’

    The President said the ongoing effort to dismember the terrorist group, and render it completely powerless will be intensified.

    President Buhari, who described the Catholic Church as a strong partner in the development of Nigeria, noted that the church had made very significant contributions to the development of the educational and health system of the country.

    On corruption, the President said the fight against the culture of pilfering public funds would be prolonged, and would require a new orientation by re-positioning the entire educational system.

    “I am pleased that the African Union has spoken out boldly against corruption and appreciated the work that we are doing here,’’ he added.

    In his remarks, the Archbishop Filipazzi said the Holy Father, Pope Francis, had taken a keen interest on the fight against terrorism, corruption and reviving of the Nigerian economy.

    “Mr. President, the Holy Father, sends his warm greetings and he is keen to denounce corruption everywhere,’’ he added.

    The Apostolic Nuncio said he had travelled to the North East and was pleased with the efforts of the Nigerian Army in tackling the insurgents, and recovering some of the earlier lost grounds.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr. Alat Mogaskia and the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa.

    NAN

  • Woman commits suicide in Ebonyi 

    Woman commits suicide in Ebonyi 

    The body of a 40 years old woman one Nkemjika Oyibe has been found hanging on a tree in Onyemem forest in Ishinkwo Abaomege community in Onicha local government area.

    Spokesman of the Police in the state, ASP Loveth Odah confirmed the incident to our reporter.

    She said the case had been reported to the Command for further investigation.

    Odaa said a hunter first discovered the lifeless body of the deceased and reported to community leaders who later went to the forest with the elder brother of the deceased, Peter Onyibe to see the corpse.

    “But I wonder why a person should commit suicide and the family did not suspect any foul play; unless the family knew that their sister was having problem and as a result of that, they were suspecting she would commit suicide.

    “They should have also been eager to know what led to her committing suicide. There is a saying that life begins at 40, so someone taking her life at 40 sounds strange”, she said.

    The spokesman of the command further explained that the corpse has been released to the family for burial since no suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident.

    In a telephone interview the Town Union President said the family did not suspect any person in connection with the death of the deceased.

    He added that the lady hung herself and had made similar attempts to commit suicide in the past by taking drugs but she survived it.

    According to him, she had a mental problem and had disappeared on December 25, 2017 from public domain.

    The President also told The Nation that after several efforts in search of deceased, the family gave up the search only to be alerted by a hunter who went to check on his trap that the deceased corpse was dangling on a tree in the forest.

     

  • 2019: INEC assures EU, Development partners of credible elections 

    2019: INEC assures EU, Development partners of credible elections 

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the European Union (EU) and other development partners of the commission’s readiness to conduct more credible elections in 2019.

    The commission therefore sort the support of international partners INEC welcomes the in the areas of voter education and sensitization; training and capacity-building for Commission staff, officials of political parties and security agencies; the promotion of inclusivity with particular reference to women, youths, persons with disabilities and the internally displaced as well as election conflict mitigation.

    Yakubu spoke Thursday in Abuja at the occasion of the formal launch of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project.

    The EU-SDGN support programme, which was conceived under the National Indicative Programme 2014 – 2020 and funded through the 11thEuropean Development Fund (11th EDF) is aimed at consolidating democracy in Nigeria.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu also said that the electoral body will continue to ensure the consolidation of electoral processes as well as the integrity and credibility of electoral outcomes based on the will of the people and the rule of law.

    Assuring EU and other partners, He said, “Once again, let me reassure the EU Delegation to Nigeria that we will spare no effort in improving the credibility of our elections and the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. INEC will continue to welcome international election observation missions. The Commission considers the deployment of such missions as an important means of enhancing public confidence and trust in the electoral process. We have already released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019 General Elections. We hope that interested international election observation missions can commence early planning for the deployment of observers. The Commission is ready to facilitate the process in accordance with our guidelines. ”

    Speaking on the project, INEC boss said “Today’s project launch is unique. I wish to express our appreciation to the European Union Delegation to Nigeria for the formulation of the SDGN Project and it is my expectation that the implementing partners will continue to work in synergy to deliver the envisaged support to all targeted beneficiaries in order to further strengthen democratic institutions and the electoral process in Nigeria. We are all the more excited because the EU-SDGN Project being launched today is expected to be implemented from 2017-2022 which coincides with the implementation timeframe of our Strategic Plan and Strategic Plan of Action 2017-2021.”

    The strategic areas of intervention in the project, including support to INEC, he said were carefully developed in close consultation and collaboration with all relevant election stakeholders.

    He also hinted that while the basic indicators for the project was derived from the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) report on the 2015 General Elections, several national stakeholders made significant input to its formulation.

    He hailed the project describing it as yet another demonstration of EU’s enduring commitment to the promotion of the rule of law, good governance and democracy in Nigeria.

    Yakubu said, “The EU and other development partners have made notable contributions in supporting INEC to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Commission. For our part, we will continue to cooperate and work with the EU, as well as other development partners and all stakeholders, to ensure the consolidation of our electoral processes as well as the integrity and credibility of electoral outcomes based on the will of the people and the rule of law.

    “The Commission will continue to support our partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) which is saddled with the responsibility of implementing EU support to INEC. We will work with all the implementing partners towards promoting credible elections involving the full participation of all segments of society irrespective of age, gender and disability.”

  • Senator to FG: Explore diplomatic channel on Cameroonian soldiers invasion

    Senator to FG: Explore diplomatic channel on Cameroonian soldiers invasion

    The Senator representing Cross River Central, John Owna Enoh, Thursday asked the Federal Government to quickly explore official channels of communication between the country and Cameroon to protest the violation of the territorial integrity of Nigeria by Cameroon soldiers.

    Enoh said that exploring diplomatic means to deal with the issue became imperative following reports that about 100 Cameroon soldiers allegedly crossed the international border into Danare on Monday night in search of the country’s militants in a crackdown on Anglophone secessionists said to have sought refuge in Nigeria.

    The Cross River Central lawmakers in a statement recalled that the latest attack came on the heels of a similar attack on the same communities which falls within his constituency in December 2017.

    Enoh said that in swift response to the dastardly attack on law abiding citizens of Danare, he through a motion of urgent national importance on the floor of the Senate drew the attention of Nigerians and the government to the unwarranted attack.

    The lawmaker noted that he had among other prayers, called on the federal authority to deploy troops to Danare as a deterrent to stem further incursion and aggression on his constituents by Cameroonian soldiers.

    The deployment of a battalion of Nigerian soldiers in the area, he said, seems not to have deterred the incursion from Cameroonian soldiers.

    He described the latest invasion of Danare as unfortunate, condemnable and “constitutes a gross violation of the inalienable rights of my people to peaceful co-existence.”

    He insisted that “the peaceful and law abiding citizens of Danare deserve a peaceful environment in order to pursue their legitimate aspirations.”

    The incessant violation of the inalienable rights of the people, which he described as fundamental, by Cameroonian soldiers, he said, is unacceptable.

    “I therefore use this medium to call on the Federal Government to explore all official channels of communication between Nigeria and Cameroon to protest this violation of the territorial integrity of our nation,” he said.

    Enoh said that Nigerian troops who have already been deployed in Danare should live up to their professional calling in defence of the people of Danare.

    According to him, the presence of Nigerian troops reassuring as it is to the people of Danare, should not be mere tokenism but should be informed by a full evaluation of the military challenges and the consequent deployment of adequate number of soldiers who will be in the position to respond adequately to deter further attacks.

    Enoh appealed to the Nigerian soldiers on ground to continue to fully discharge their professional duties in defence of the people of Danare and the territorial integrity of the Nigerian State.