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  • FG approves N800m as budget support loan facility for states

    FG approves N800m as budget support loan facility for states

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N800 million for each of the 36 states of the federation as part of the Budget Support Loan Facility.

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo udoma, stated this when he briefed State House correspondents, alongside Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo, on the outcome of the meeting of the National Economic Council ( NEC ) in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

    Udoma said the Accountant General of the Federation reported to the Council that approval for the payment of the amount had been received by his office and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had been directed to pay the money to the states.

    “Governors expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the restoration of the Budget Support Loan Facility for July and August 2017,’’ he said.

    He said the Accountant General also informed the Council that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at Nov. 17 stood at $2,309,693,583.35

    He said the Council was also updated on the balance of the Stabilisation Fund Account (SFA), which, as at Nov. 17 stood at N6,689,072,836.11

    The minister said the balance of the Natural Resources Development Fund Account stood at N100, 314, 169, 190,23 as at Nov. 17.

    Akeredolu told the correspondents that the Council received the Report of the NEC hoc Committee on Export Promotion.

    The committee was set up in September.

    “The report dwelt extensively on an export promotion plan geared towards achieving governments’ policy on the “zero oil Plan.

    “The Committee recommended, among other things, the establishment of a National Committee on Export Promotion, chaired at the Presidency level.

    “It also recommended the setting up of a  Technical Committee involving federal and states MDAs to help provide technical information and direction to the proposed committee.

    “The Ad-hoc Committee further  recommended that Export procedures and documentation be streamlined with  the identification of existing domestic investors and engagement plan for output expansion.

    He said the committee also recommended the establishment of more laboratories and testing centres to help improve quality and standard of export and the domestication of the Office of Technical Regulation (OTR) as recommended by UNIDO.

    On market for Nigeria’s products, he said the committee recommended the deepening of commercial diplomacy, one-stop shops for export and a National Export Portal to generate global orders to link suppliers to buyers

    “On Value Chain Development, the Committee recommended the development of clusters along product value chain, market driven research and development and the provision of seeds and seedlings.

    “The committee recommended the recapitalization of NEXlM Bank, the provision of Export Development Fund in line with NEPC Act, a five-year financial window on export expansion grant and funding scheme for exporters similar to the CBN Anchor Borrowers programme.

    NAN

  • FG begins training of 182 officers, enumerators in Delta

    FG begins training of 182 officers, enumerators in Delta

    The Federal Government ( FG ) on Thursday in Asaba commenced the training of 182 officers and enumerators chosen from nine local government areas of Delta on identification of poor and vulnerable in the state.

    The four-day training programme organised by the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office ( NASSCO ) of the Vice President’s office, is under the National Social Safety Net Programme.

    The National Coordinator, NASSCO, Mr Peter Papka, said that .the prrogramme was to enable the trainees understand the concept of Community Based Target (CBT) and develop CBT plans for their areas.

    He said that the World Bank-assisted programme was aimed at having a social register of the poor and vulnerable with a view to reducing extreme poverty in the country.

    Papka said that the programme was designed to allow communities define in their own context what poverty was to them.

    The coordinator said that after the training, the participants would commence sensitisation of the various communities in their area on the registration of the poor and the vulnerable in the various LGAs.

    Papka said that the chosen nine local government areas represented 30 per cent of the 25 local government areas of the state.

    He listed the benefiting localgovernment areas as Aniocha South, Aniocha North, Burutu, Ethiope East, Ika North East, Warri South West, Warri North, Okpe and Ughelli South..

    Meanwhile, some of the participants commended the federal government for the initiative, adding that if well implemented it would go a long way in reducing poverty in the country.

    Mr Godwin Aroture form Burutu Local Government Area, said, “I must commend the Federal and the state government for this initiative and expect that it will be implemented.’’

    Also, Mrs Kate Okocha from Aniocha South Local government Area, said “I am happy with this programme like this, but my prayer is let it be implemented as promised.”

    NAN

  • AEDC denies issuing “Force Majeure” on direct purchase of electricity

    AEDC denies issuing “Force Majeure” on direct purchase of electricity

    Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc ( AEDC ) has denied declaring any “Force Majeure” over the new Eligible Customer Policy in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry ( NESI ).

    “Force Majeure “ is a contractual and legal announcement, which is used to declare the inability of a party to meet up with a contractual obligation with another party in business.

    The Minister of Power, Works, Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had on May 15, declared four categories of customers that could purchase power direct (eligible customers) from the generation companies in the NESI.

    The declaration, which permits electricity customers to buy power directly from the generation companies, is in line with the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005.

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC ) had also on Nov 6, presented  the  regulations to guide the implementation of the customer eligibility in the NESI.

    AEDC in a statement by its Head,  Corporate Communications, Mr Oyebode Fadipe, said the information in the media on declaration of force majeur came to AEDC  as a  shock.

    Fadipe said AEDC was surprised, when its name was listed in some media as one of the DisCos that declared force majeure on  eligible customer policy of the Federal Government.

    “We have neither declared any force majeure nor have we conveyed such intention to either the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) nor Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    “AEDC did not discuss   with   any other stakeholder in the Nigerian electricity supply industry nor do we intend to do so anytime soon”.

    Fadipe urged AEDC’s  customers and stakeholders to disregard the story as it had nothing to do with  the company  as a player in the NESI.

    NAN

  • I did not disregard you, LBIC MD tells Lagos Assembly

    I did not disregard you, LBIC MD tells Lagos Assembly

    The Managing Director, Lagos State Building Investment Company ( LBIC ) Plc, Mrs Folashade Folivi, on Thursday said she was surprised at being accused of disrespecting the state house of assembly.

    She spoke at the assembly when she appeared before the lawmakers who had summoned her for ignoring one of its committees.

    Mr Setonji David, the acting chairman of the House Committee on Urban and Physical Planning, had accused her of disregard for the committee.

    He made the accusation while presenting a report on a petition written by the residents of Ogba/Ijaiye Low and Medium Housing Estate.

    The residents had petitioned the House over a plan by LBIC to demolish the illegal structures in the estate.

    David said that Folivi went ahead to demolish the alleged illegal structures within the estate, when the committee had called for a stay of action.

    Folivi, who answered a barrage of questions from the lawmakers during her appearance, however, said she did not ignore any committee of the House.

    She said that the company stopped demolition of shanties as directed by the committee.

    The managing director said that LBIC never demolished any house in any estate, but was only interested in clean up of estates.

    “We want to restore the aesthetic and economic values of our estates. We don’t demolish any house.

    “Crimes are so many in the estates because there is no visibility anymore.

    “We don’t demolish houses, we only demolish shanties and illegal structures.

    “We have looked at the Master Plan because it is completely distorted.

    “We only clean up environmental infractions, we don’t demolish houses,’’ she said.

    Folivi said that the company never carried out anything without collaborating with relevant government agencies like the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as well as the Ministry of Environment.

    On an allegation of illegal rates’ collection by the officers of the company, Folivi said that such had stopped since she became the MD in 2015.

    She said that anyone with evidence should come up with it and the culprit would be prosecuted.

    According to her, the company has 1295 shareholders which include Lagos State and is being regulated by Company and Allied Matters.

    Folivi noted that LBIC is a mortgage bank that finances construction of residential houses.

    The committee chairman, David, however, insisted that the company continued with the demolition in spite of the committee’s order.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Housing, Mr Bayo Osinowo, also insisted that Folivi disregarded several calls to her from the Ministry of Lands.

    Mr Mudasiru Obassa,  the Speaker of the House, eventually stepped down the matter.

    He said that the House would have to reach a conclusion on the report of the committee on the matter.

    Some lawmakers urged the House to sanction Folivi for failing to proffer adequate explanation, to serve as a deterrent to others.

    NAN

  • NYSC registers 2,071 corps members in Niger

    NYSC registers 2,071 corps members in Niger

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) says it registered 2,071 corps members comprising 991 males and 1,080 females for the 2017 Batch ‘B’ orientation course in Niger.

    Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, disclosed this on Thursday during the swearing-in-ceremony in Paiko.

    She called on corps members to participate actively in camp activities and acquire skills that would be beneficiary to them after the service year.

    Arokoyo disclosed that the scheme would partner with the state government in the development of its agricultural value chain programme.

    She commended the state government for its support and cooperation in ensuring effective and efficient performance of the scheme in the state.

    In his remarks, Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, urged corps members to be more patriotic as the nation continue to address its socio-economic and security challenges.

    Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, said that the fight against epidemic diseases, illiteracy, pastoral crisis, poverty and collective quest for sustainable democratic governance required a collective efforts.

    “I challenge you to see yourselves as agents of change to sensitise our people towards the much-clamoured national orientation and nation building.

    “It is my belief that your education, exposure and call for national service have given you enough psychological and mental preparedness needed to fight those vices that deprive us of our deserved position in the comity of nations,” he said.

    Bello commended the corps members for their campaign against HIV/AIDS and drug abuse among youths in the state.

    He gave the assurance that corps members would be given adequate security in their respective places of primary assignment.

    NAN

  • Lalong commends NYSC skills acquisition programme

    Lalong commends NYSC skills acquisition programme

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has commended the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) skills acquisition programme for corps members.

    Lalong gave the commendation on Thursday in Mangu at the inauguration of the 2017, Batch “B” stream one.

    He was represented by his Deputy, Prof. Sonni Tyoden.

    The governor said that the programme would help the beneficiaries to acquire additional practical knowledge and skills that would make them to be more productive and useful to the society in future.

    The governor urged the beneficiaries to pay attention to the programme.

    “The scheme runs a skills acquisition programme during the three weeks orientation which I believe you will find useful in future, please, take it seriously,” Lalong said‎.

    Lalong drew the corps members’ attention to the growing unemployment rate and described the development as a major problem facing Nigerian youths.

    “Millions of youths are out there searching for non-existing white-collar jobs. Those of you with alternative skills will not join that search because you would have prepared yourselves for self-employment.

    “The initiative of the programme is make you self-reliant at the end of the service of your year.”

    He also advised the corps members to visit micro/small ‎enterprises clinic for more knowledge on small business registration and access to soft loans.

    ‎The governor assured the corps members of their safety in Plateau.

    In her remarks, Plateau NYSC Coordinator, Fumilayo Akin-Moses, advised corps members to participate fully in camp activities to prepare them for the service year.

    Akin-Moses also urged them to participate in the various skills acquisition programmes to prepare them for life after the service year.

    2,886, corps members, comprising 1,407 males and 1,479 females were registered as at the close of the exercise on Wednesday.

    NAN

  • Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    Chinese league will be tough for foreign players next season – Ideye

    The Chinese Super League has been the new pasture for many world and Nigerian football stars but Tianjin Teda of China and Super Eagles’ striker, Brown Ideye revealed that foreign players will find the league very difficult as the local players were now upping their play.

    The former junior international, who had been reported to have been in disagreement with management of Tianjin Teda said this on Tuesday in an interview on Sports Café.

    He also confirmed that he would be plying his trade away from the Chinese League next season.

    “I don’t think I will be playing football in China next season maybe Europe,” Ideye said.

    “The Chinese owners are doing their best, they are bringing more big names to the league.

    “Month by month it is really tight because most of the Chinese players are picking very fast. From next season, it’ll be a big task on the foreign players.”

    Ideye also discarded talks that he alongside Super Eagles captain – John Mikel Obi and other big stars joined the Chinese Super League because of the money.

    According to him, football was the reason he moved to China and he alongside the big names in the league were being rewarded based on their input to the league.

    On what took him to China, Ideye, said: “It is football. I’m not the only one playing there, Mikel too is playing and some other big names like Pato and Tevez.

    “They too have the same aim which is going to China and play football and enjoy every moment on the pitch.

    “People think it is that good but you have to work for it (money); nothing good comes easy. You work for it and get your reward.”

    The 29-year-old former Olympiakos player, who has been out of the Super eagles squad for over a year also added that he was looking forward to be part of the players that would represent Nigeria at the World Cup.

    He added, “I’m looking forward to Russia just like every other player looking forward to the World Cup and hoping to do their best.”

  • Chad rejects U.S. bribery allegations against President Deby

    Chad rejects U.S. bribery allegations against President Deby

    Chad on Thursday rejected allegations made in the U.S. that President Idriss Deby was paid a two million dollars bribe in exchange for providing a Chinese energy company with oil rights without international competition.

    The U.S. announced charges on Monday against former Hong Kong Home Secretary Chi Ping Patrick Ho and former Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Gadio for allegedly funnelling bribes to high-level officials in Chad and Uganda.

    “The government is indignant and questions this fierce attack against our head of state,” Chad’s government said in a statement late on Wednesday, adding that Deby had always sought transparency in the country’s natural resources sectors.

    The U.S. Justice Department alleged that Gadio received 400,000 dollars from Ho via wire transfers through New York to act as a go-between for bribes to Deby on behalf of an unnamed energy firm headquartered in Shanghai.

    Neither Ho nor Gadio, who were both arrested on Nov. 16, have commented publicly on the allegations against them.

    Landlocked Chad pumps about 130,000 barrels of oil per day.

    It ranks third-from-bottom on the UN Human Development Index and 159th out of 176 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

    NAN

  • FRSC warns drivers against use of worn-out tyres

    FRSC warns drivers against use of worn-out tyres

    The Ogun Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ), Mr Clement Oladele, has warned drivers to desist from using worn-out tyres when driving to save lives and property.

    Oladele gave the warning in Ota on Thursday at the 2017 Ember Months Safety Campaign organised by the Sango-Ota Command in collaboration with Shell Nigeria Gas.

    The campaign had as its theme: Right to Life on the highway: Not Negotiable.

    Represented by Mrs Bridget Asekhuno, Ogun Head of Administration and Human Resources of FRSC, he said the use of exhausted tyres had been a major contributor to road crashes in the country.

    The sector commander noted that safety on our highways during the ember months was a collective responsibility of all road users.

    ‘‘Safety on our roads required our collective responsibilities and we all have one role and the other to play in reducing crashes,’’ he said.

    The sector commander implored all road users to be cautious as there would be increase of vehicular movements during the ember months.

    Oladele, however, warned drivers to desist from overloading and speeding to ensure safety of passengers to their various destinations.

    He advised road users to watch carefully before entering main and minor roads to minimise accidents.

    Mr Kunle Oguntoyinbo, Sango-Ota Unit Commander of FRSC, urged drivers to ensure proper maintenance of their vehicles before embarking on any journey.

    Oguntoyinbo also warned vehicle owners to desist from driving under the influence of alcohol and avoid speeding to stay alive.

    ‘’The higher the speed the higher will be the crash which will also increase the number of causalities,’’ he said.

    The unit commander, however, advised drivers to install speed limiting devices in their vehicles to reduce speeding and crashes.

    He also urged drivers to constantly use their seat belts and desist from receiving calls on their cell phones while driving.

    NAN

  • Court remands three men over alleged cheating

    Court remands three men over alleged cheating

    An Upper Area Court sitting in Masaka, Nasarawa State, on Thursday ordered the remand of three men, David Boyi, Bulus Dio, and Ibrahim Sure for alleged cheating.

    The defendants are facing a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The Prosecutor, Frank Swem, told the court that on Nov. 15, one Ehis Erabhahilemen, of Jeun Masaka reported the case at the Masaka Divisional Police Station.

    Swem said on October 26, the first defendant Boyi, conspired with the other two and one Emmanuel Sure, now at large to commit the crime.

    Read Also: Drama: Judge compels accused to lead own defence witness

    He alleged that the defendants sold a piece of land measuring 50 by 100 ft, located at the same address to the complainant, at the rate of N1 million

    The prosecutor added that it was later discovered that the said piece of land did not belong to any of them.

    He said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 97, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

    The plea of the defendants was not taken by the presiding court judge.

    The Judge, Yakubu Ishaku, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison to serve as deterrent to others and adjourned the case until December 17 for hearing.

    NAN