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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • What AfCTFA means for MSMEs

    THE African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is going to have an impact on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) has come up with five initiatives to create more opportunities for them under the trade agreement.

    A statement on Monday by NEXIM said these initiatives would double the bank’s steps towards deepening regional trade, through which it seeks to create more opportunities for MSMEs and integrate the informal traders into the formal sector.

    The bank said it has since recognised that “more of Nigeria’s manufactured products are traded in the regional market, as a result, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, a few years ago, launched the ECOWAS Trade Support Facility (ETSF) to boost SMEs access to funds, increase formal trade and improve the payment system.”

    NEXIM added: “Arising from our participation at the MSME Clinics and the deeper insights into the operations of small businesses, the Bank has developed many initiatives towards promoting the sector and enhancing its contribution to export trade.”

    The key initiatives of NEXIM to prepare MSMEs to take advantage of the AfCFTA as well as offer them support and promote the Sector are: introduction of the State Export Development Programme , which is an intervention scheme specifically designed to catalyse and incentivise regional export investments and promote diversification and industrialisation, based on the economic potentials and resource endowments in every state of the federation. It is specifically targeted at developing and supporting the SMEs, including Startup projects in furtherance of the objective of the government’s policy under the Economic Recovery & Growth Plan (ERGP).

    The scheme is designed as a partnership arrangement with the state governments, whereby suitable projects will be identified in collaboration with NEXIM for business advisory services and funding.  The beneficiaries of the funds are however businesses from the private sector, while government’s role is to provide an enabling environment. Under this scheme, at least N1billion has been earmarked for each state of the federation from the Export Development Fund.

    Read Also: NEXIM prepares MSMEs for AfCTFA

    Another initiative is the Anchor Exporter Programme (AEP), which the bank has developed along the same line as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme. It is targeted at export-oriented projects. “NEXIM’s intervention is targeted at the entire value chain from production to export of products and is designed to incorporate Aggregators, who will create market access for the Small & Medium Enterprises”.

    Under this scheme, NEXIM has also signed an MoU with the Nigerian Incentive Risk-Based System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), towards providing risk-mitigating instruments (guarantees/insurance) to facilitate the access by SMEs.

    There is the Intervention Scheme for Women and Youth, which the bank says is its contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The Bank has earmarked about N3billion to support industries that are major employers of women and youth under a special economic empowerment scheme for the vulnerable groups. This fund will be provided at the highly concessionary rate and the key objective will be the promotion of women and youth empowerment.

    The SME Rating Agency of Nigeria (SMERAN) is another initiative, which NEXIM has developed to ensure that MSMEs in the country tap into the AfCTFA benefits. According to NEXIM, this “was conceived as a specialised institution to develop and implement a rating mechanism for the Small & Medium Enterprises in Nigeria as a way of generating requisite business information towards improving the operations of the sector and boosting access to funds. It is a collaborative arrangement between government agencies including the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Bank of Industry (BOI), the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), who have been working together and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in October, 2017 to unveil the scheme. This scheme is designed to address the issue of information asymmetry limiting access of SMEs to funds, while the collaborating parties are currently working to fine-tune the modalities towards the commencement of operations.”

    The next initiative is Promoting Factoring. In this case, NEXIM, in partnership with key stakeholders under the auspices of the Nigerian Factoring Working Group, which includes the CBN Financial System Strategy (FSS 2020), and other institutions is also promoting the introduction of Factoring as a trade finance instrument and an MSME development and financial inclusion strategy in Nigeria. Towards this objective and as part of efforts to institute a regulatory/legal framework, a draft Factoring Bill for Nigeria has been developed. The Bill passed through the first and second reading at the 8th National assembly, while the public hearing has been conducted by the House of Representatives. Consultations and engagement are on-going towards ensuring the early passage of the Bill by the National assembly.

  • The fear of Africa Trade deal

    In this report by Reuters’ Libby George and Alexis Akwagyiram, the fears of Nigerians about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are brought to the fore

     

    ADELEKE Adeleye stands in front of a bank of whirring printers spinning out dozens of envelopes a minute in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos.

    His stationery company, FAE Ltd, is thriving and will move into a larger factory nearby by the end of next year.

    But he sees trouble on the horizon in the form of a new African free trade agreement aiming to unlock a market of 1.3 billion consumers – but which many in Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, view as a threat.

    “It’s definitely not a level playing field,” he says.  Africa is forging ahead with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – a project to create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc – even as world powers such as the United States and Britain back away from multilateral trade pacts.

    Its champions – South Africa and Kenya among them – say the deal will provide a shot in the arm to trade between African nations, which accounted for just 17% of exports in 2017, and give their companies access to millions of new customers.

    But Nigeria is worried it could be flooded with cheap goods from more competitive neighbours, undermining its efforts to revive local manufacturing and expand farming to reduce dependence on crude oil exports.

    It was one of the last of 54 nations to back the agreement, only signing on last month. Just Eritrea, which did not participate in the negotiations, has not approved the deal.

    Now that Nigeria is in, however, some trade experts fear its long history of economic protectionism and tepid support for the AfCFTA will undermine the bloc.

    “If Nigeria, after signing, decides not to implement, there will be a problem. There are so many administrative ways in which Nigeria can frustrate this agreement,” said Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Lagos-based consultancy Financial Derivatives Company (FDC).

    Giant underdog?

    The size of Nigeria’s economy – a gross domestic product of nearly $400 billion and a population of some 190 million – belies major weaknesses.  Reliance on crude oil sales for around 90% of foreign exchange earnings led to neglect of other sectors. Once thriving automobile, textile and agricultural industries atrophied.

    While nations including Ethiopia and Kenya are investing heavily in railways, highways and power projects with a view to becoming manufacturing hubs, Nigeria’s infrastructure remains antiquated.

    With a population less than a third its size, South Africa, the continent’s second largest economy, produces roughly 10 times more electricity than Nigeria. South African brands, including supermarkets and telecommunication firms, are already conquering Africa.

    Nigeria garnered just 23 points out of 100 in the World Bank’s “trading across borders” scoring due to its jam-packed ports and pot-holed roads, which add significant costs and delays to trade. Kenya, by comparison, scored 68.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is working to catch up. But those efforts in many cases run counter to the spirit of free trade the AfCFTA embodies.

    Nigeria has placed import controls on a broad range of items, from rice, cocoa and tomatoes to furniture and footwear.

    Total duties – tariffs, fees and other taxes – on some imports can top 70%.

    The central bank has also restricted access to foreign exchange for imports of more than 40 items it says Nigeria should produce itself. Some of these policies have backfired.

    A cap on gasoline prices requires heavy subsidies on refined petroleum imports, and the artificially low prices mean 10% to 20% of Nigerian fuel is smuggled to neighbouring Benin, according to estimates by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

    Import controls on rice, imposed even as local farmers fail to meet demand, have kept prices artificially high and led to smuggling from Benin into Nigeria.

    Still, the measures are largely supported in Nigeria, particularly among manufacturers such as Adeleye, who says fellow stationers have benefited from a ban on imports made from a type of paper that would compete with their products.

    Read Also: Intra-Africa Trade Fair seals $27b deals

    He fears joining the African free trade area could sweep away such advantages.

    “They have to stay in place,” he said.

    ‘Something’s got to give’

    Having now signed onto the AfCFTA, Nigeria’s presidency said last month it will set up a committee of government agencies and private sector groups to chart the way forward. But it made clear that requesting carve-outs for specific economic sectors would be a part of the process.

    “We viewed this as both an opportunity and a threat,” Buhari told a group of business leaders in July.

    Analysts worry Nigeria’s attempts to reconcile its strategy of ring-fencing domestic industries with its membership in a free trade zone could pose a major obstacle to implementing the agreement.

    “Something has to give,” said John Ashbourne, senior emerging markets economist at London-based consultancy Capital Economics. “Will other African countries allow in Nigerian goods if the (central bank) is actively trying to discourage trade going the other way?”

    Nigeria’s protectionism has scuppered similar multinational initiatives in the past.

    Five years after negotiations wrapped up for an economic partnership between the European Union and 16 West African nations, Nigeria’s failure to sign the deal has effectively blocked it for the entire region.

    Its adherence to the West African bloc ECOWAS’ common external tariff regime has also been patchy.

    Any attempts by Nigeria to slow-pedal implementation of the new African free trade deal until it is satisfied it can compete with its neighbours could be similarly undermining. Overhauling Nigeria’s infrastructure could take decades.

    FDC estimates its power and transportation networks alone need 4.57 trillion naira ($15 billion) annually, an amount equivalent to 6.7% of GDP.

    However, the consultancy said Nigeria’s total infrastructure spending was just over 2 trillion naira over the past two years.

    At his factory, surrounded by stacks of brown and white envelopes, Adeleye said Nigeria wasn’t prepared for the challenges the AfCFTA would present. But he said the country had made a commitment.

    “We signed,” he said, smiling. “We have to be ready. There is no going back.”

  • Fed Govt considers review of federation allocation sharing formula

    THE Federal Government is considering the review of the federation allocation sharing formula for federal, states and the 774 local government areas, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Chairman Elias Mbam, said in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Speaking after receiving an Award of Excellence from the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) for his contributions towards workers’ welfare in the commission, the RMAFC boss said the proposed review is due to the current economic realities.

    In the prevailing formula, the Federal Government gets the lion’s share of 52 per cent, states get 26.72 per cent and local government areas get 20.60 per cent.

    Thirteen per cent of the oil and gas federally collected revenue is returned to the oil producing states and communities as derivation revenue to compensate for ecological risks of oil production.

    The formula was designed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo

    However, the RMAFC in 2013 saw the need to still review the formula for balanced development, hence, it went on a nationwide consultation to the 36 states and also met with notable figures.

    Read Also: Fed Govt begins repair of Seme road

    By December 2014, the commission had come out with a proposed new revenue formula but for some reasons, the content never saw the light of day.

    Five years after, the RMAFC chairman has again spoken of plans to raise a standing committee by next week to start work once again on the review of the nation’s revenue sharing formula.

    Mbam said that the commission would also pursue for the diversification of the nation’s revenue for a more sustainable growth and economic development.

    He said: “My agenda is to expand the sources of revenue for the federation. I will like to expand the cake that we are sharing so that people will get reasonable quantity.

    “I intend to do this through diversification in areas outside oil and gas and that includes solid minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.

    “So, we will encourage states and let them know what is available outside oil and gas so they can develop this aspect of the economy to their own benefit.”

    Mbam also emphasised on the importance of revisiting the financial autonomy of the local government areas which would enable the bulk of Nigerians at the grassroots get the best out of democracy.

  • Governors caution protesters

    GOVERNORS on Tuesday advised Nigerians to shun the pro-revolution protests slated for 21 cities.

    Democracy remains the best option for this country, Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) Chairman and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu said.

    He condemned the pro-revolution protests called by an activist group, the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy.

    Bagudu spoke in Abuja as six persons, including a lawyer, were arraigned Tuesday before an Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for alleged treason.

    They allegedly partook in the #RevolutionNow protests convened by the Omoyele Sowore-led coalition.

    The police, who confirmed that their personnel would continue their vigil on the spots identified as possible protest venues, described the protests as ill-timed.

    Also on Tuesday, the Department of State Services (DSS) approached an Abuja Federal High Court for an order to detain Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate in the February 23 presidential election, for 90 days.

    Sowore, who is the publisher of an online newspaper, “SaharaReporters”, was arrested last Saturday by DSS operatives for making inciting statements.

    Condemning the protests, Bagudu said: “Any call for disorder in a democratic setting is condemnable because democracy, as the saying goes, is not the best form of government, but it is the best that we have, because it gives opportunity periodically for the electorate to exercise their mandate in affirming or rejecting leaders.

    “We have just come through a general election in march this year where Nigerians embraced the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and he has been elected for a second term with a little more votes than they have in 2015. Also, governors were elected in different states, a lot of them second termers and a number of them first termers.

    “We have first termers defeating second termers and, in the case of one state, the Supreme Court exercising their rights as the highest court in the land to determine what should be and it is respected by the government.

    “So, to celebrate the evolution of our democracy, we are progressing from one mandate to the other. In the last few years, Nigeria has faced economic downturn, which has been occasioned by changes in global economy.  In 2008, the world began to witness recession which affected many countries and in 2011, Nigeria had a wage increase, so you have economic downturn in the world and you have a wage increase, which is commendable but the effect of the two continue to hit hard and then in 2014, we also had another economic crisis.”

    In his view, there are better ways of channeling grievances, instead of calling for a revolution.

    The PGF chair said: “We have institutions that have been created to express discontent and once people take the law in their hands rather than expressing it through the right channel…” We all have representatives why don’t they go in front of the House or office of their representatives so that they can raise the point and demands to their representatives, whether councillor, House of Assembly or National Assembly members; but where people decide to take the law into their hands, other people whose peaceful conduct is being affected are entitled to be protected and to the extent that it involves authority showing restraint and that did not go out of hand, it is the proper thing to do.”

    The governor also noted that there were pointers to the fact that the calls for the revolution were instigated from overseas.

    Bagudu said: “Well developing countries have generally been worried about conspiracy from the Western world. Historically, Walter Rodney and others have always been worried about effect of foreign actors and; more so, we are not alone.

    “There is still a raging debate in the United States (U.S.), which is more advanced than us, as to whether the Russians have influenced their election. We have seen the intrusion of the social media, which we don’t control. So, there is suspicion because of the way the world is evolving, one cannot dismiss such suspicion.

    Read Also: Governors row over Ruga

    “But what is even worrisome is that the response that you don’t see in other countries… As we speak, Greece has suspended payment to anybody who has money deposit in banks, but yet we don’t have people who are saying let us create a confusion. They will wait for election circle. That is the beauty of democracy.

    “You will have the opportunity, particularly in Nigeria where we have seen it working, where people who are in office, who ought to be elected, have been defeated.”

    Police spokesman Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), described the #RevolutionNow march as ill-timed.

    He warned the protesters to shelve the idea, reminding them that the march has treasonable felony and acts of terrorism written all over it.

    Speaking during a morning programme on television monitored in Abuja, Mba admitted that law enforcement was becoming challenging.

    He said: “I can’t but agree with you that law enforcement has actually become increasingly challenging. The globalisation of the world as well as the strong impact of internet, ICT, social media and the rest of modern technology has made it more complicated and more challenging.

    “For us, beyond the fact that this protest or movement started out as revolution march;  we also figured out that for people who are very sensitive to national unity, for those who are sensitive to peace and order, the timing is also suspect.

    “We just came out of a situation in Abuja where there were back to back protests by a particular sect that led to massive damage of public property.

    “An agency like National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that is statutorily charged with providing emergency relief; should there even be a protest and one of the protesters gets injured, NEMA is an agency that will attend to the protesters, but the violent protesters chose NEMA as a soft target and set ablaze its outpost and ambulance that could have been deployed to assist them, should any of them fall and that shows the senselessness of such protest.

    “The protesters also attempted to forcefully invade the National Assembly. The parliament, for me, is actually the biggest and most visible symbol of democracy worldwide.

    “Once you are able to squeeze the parliament out of existence, then there is no democracy and, in an attempt to do that, they damaged lots of property, attacked and injured so many law enforcement agencies.

    “The peak was when an unarmed DCP, who tried to engage them, got killed. A Youth Corps member was also killed. We are still trying to get over these complications and then someone is calling for a revolution.”

    Mba went on: “The timing is very poor. The use of the word ‘revolution’, the kind of statements that were issued subsequently, the threats and the intensity of the threats, these are all factors that we reviewed holistically, including other intelligence at our disposal, and so, these were the reasons why we initiated some of the proactive measures that we used.”

    On how long Sowore would be in detention, Mba said: “You know clearly that the DSS said he is in their custody. So, I won’t be speaking for them, but I also know that they would proceed with this case expeditiously. I am sure that the DSS will not want to make him become the kind of celebrity he is craving to be and his matter will be dealt with expeditiously. I am sure they are working on that.”

    Mba told The Nation that the Police  would continue their  core mandate of maintaining law and order, protecting public peace and infrastructure.

    He said: “The police will continue their duty of maintaining law and order. The task of maintaining law and order, protecting public peace, public infrastructure are part of core responsibilities of the police.

    “We will continue to undertake operations in furtherance of this mandate. We are not out because of anybody in particular. We are out doing our job and we will continue to do so.”

    In Lagos, the police warned “trouble makers” to keep off because they were ready to give them doses of it.

    “Lagos is a peaceful state. Lagosians are accommodating and so, we welcome all peace lovers but those seeking trouble should stay away because the enforcement continues and we will give trouble for trouble,” said Bala Elkana, the Lagos Police Command’s spokesman.

    DSS has applied for permission to further detain Sowore for 90 days pending the conclusion of its investigation.

    The request formed the main relief in an ex-parte application filed by DSS, which was argued its lawyer, G. O. Agbadua.

    After listening to Agbadua’s argument, Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned until tomorrow for ruling.

    Justice Taiwo said he needed time to examine the exhibits filed along with the application, which include two copies of digital video disks (DVD), before he could form his opinion on the issue.

    The DSS said Sowore was arrested on account of the  #RevolutionNow protest which he had spearheaded.

    On Sowore, activist-lawyer Femi Falana said Nigerians are entitled to peaceful protests.

    According to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the government is clamping down on the protesters because of the use of the word “revolution”.

    Falana said: “If you are going to detain a citizen like Sowore, you can’t detain him for more than 24 hours in a place like Lagos.

    “If you are going to detain Sowore beyond 24 hours, you must go and get a court order.”

    It moved Sowore to Abuja Sunday morning. He is in the custody of the DSS.

    In Lagos on Tuesday, a lawyer and five others were taken to a Magistrates’ Court at Ebute-Meta.

    Ehis Omoshomio, 35; Gabriel Ojumah, 51, Juwon Sanyaolu, 22; Stanley Anobi, 28; Elias Ozikpu, 30; Kenechukwu Ukachukwu, 25, were arraigned by the police on a two-count charge of unlawful assembly and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

    The State Criminal Intelligence and Information Department (SCIID) Panti alleged that the defendants unlawfully assembled themselves “in such manner as to cause fear and disturb the public peace”.

    Prosecuting counsel Anota Oluseye said the defendants committed the offence on August 5 at 10am, at Surulere Stadium, Lagos.

    He alleged that the six defendants assembled at the National Stadium Surulere to protest, adding that the gathering was unlawful and caused fear to the public.

    The offences, the prosecutor added, infringed on sections 44 and 168(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The defendants all pleaded not guilty.

    Following a bail application by their counsel, Mr. Stanley Imhanruor, Chief Magistrate  A.O. Komolafe admitted Ojumah, a lawyer, to bail on self-recognition and the other five defendants to N100,000 bail each with two sureties in the like sum.

    Komolafe adjourned further proceedings till September 26.

  • Reps set up panel on NARD’s N26.5b, others

    THE House of Representatives Joint Committee on Healthcare Services and Health Institutions on Tuesday set up a sub-committee to resolve resident doctors’ N26.5 billion arrears, among other issues.

    This followed a meeting with stakeholders in the Health sector and related ministries.

    The sub-committee, comprising officials of the ministries of Health and Finance as well as the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors (CCMDs/MDs), was given a week to resolve all issues and report back to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

    The lawmakers convened a meeting on Tuesday with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and other stakeholders in the sector to stop the proposed strike by the association.

    They went immediately into a closed-door session.

    Read Also: Power Probe: APC, PDP Reps may clash over Obasanjo

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, said the meeting was a continuation of the earlier one called by Gbajabiamila on July 29.

    He said: “There were three issues in contention at that meeting: One is the issue of shortfall of salary that amounted to N3.5 billion, which is to be paid to practising doctors.

    “I think that has been successfully resolved as both the Budget Office and Ministry of Finance clearly told us that a provision was made to ensure that within this month, at least that will be paid.

    “Secondly, we also have issue of skipping arrears totalling about N23 billion, which was strongly debated. Mr. Speaker is of the view, as at the conclusion of that meeting, that the claim is a genuine one.

    “Because all evidence before the meeting as at that date shows that the Federal Government, through the agency of Federal Ministry of Health, has gone into an agreement to pay the skipping arrears. This is all in the available documents that were tendered to the sub-committee.

    “That the issue of skipping was in court, could not be substantiated by the documents tendered before that meeting.”

    The Chairman of the Committee on Health Institutions, Pascal Obi, said: “Based on the fruitful deliberation we’ve had here today, I’m convinced we will not be talking about strike again.”

    NARD President, Dr. Olusegun Olaopa, who addressed reporters on the outcome of the session, said: “We’re trying to let the government know that it’s not as if we’re unreasonable. We’re doing everything possible to show reasoning and continue to negotiate with the government.”

     

  • IBB urges Fed lawmakers to remain steadfast

    Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has urged members of the House of Representatives to remain resilient and not give up on the complexity of the country.

    Babangida spoke on Tuesday at his Uphill home in Minna, the Niger State capital, when the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Minority Caucus of the House, lead by Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu, visited him on an appreciation visit.

    The former military leader hailed the leadership of the House of Representatives with all its members for carrying out their jobs honourably and diligently.

    He said they represent the wishes of the people on the floor of the House.

    “I am passionate about observing what is going on in the country. I develop a lot of interest in the goings-on across the country and I think the leadership of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, the opposition leadership and everyone; I think you are all doing well.

    “You represent the people and it is what the people wish that you take up. I want to commend you for doing your job honourably and urge you not to give up.

    “The country is complex and difficult, because in Nigeria, there are as many opinions as there are people. Nigeria is a very vibrant society. But what is important is the determination. You have to remain very resilient in everything you do for the benefit of the country.”

    Babangida assured the group of his blessings and support.

    Read Also: IBB greets Osoba at 80

    The former military leader expressed joy that they survived the initial hiatus before becoming minority leaders.

    “it is time to settle down to do a lot of good work for your constituency and for the country,” he said.

    Elumelu said the minority leaders were in Minna to introduce themselves and thank the former military leader for the role he played in their victory.

    “We are here to ask for your fatherly advice. The country is facing challenges, especially insecurity. We think coming here will give us the ample opportunity of getting fatherly advice on the way we will pilot the affairs of the House.”

    Elumelu, who prayed for continued good health of the former military leader, pledged to provide good governance to Nigerians.

    “We pray God to keep you. We need you with us because the wisdom and understanding that you have garnered over the years are needed by us to ensure that there is peaceful co-existence in the country,” he said.

    Members on the entourage included Minority Whip Gibbion Gwari and Deputy Minority Whip Adekoya Adesegun.

    Others are: Efe Afe, Kpam Jimin Sokpo, Robert Tyough, Soyinka Anjola, Femi Bamishele, Benjamin Mzondu and Samuel Onuigbo.

    The group arrived the Minna International Airport at 1.30 p.m and departed at about 3 p.m.

  • FRSC deploys 35,000 personnel, 736 patrol vehicles

    THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has begun deploying 35,000 regular and special marshals, 736 patrol vehicles, 120 ambulances, 25 towing trucks and 204 bikes during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    In a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, the Corps Public Education Officer Bisi Kazeem said the massive mobilisation is aimed at ensuring safer road environment during the festive period and beyond.

    He said: “With the declaration of Sunday, August 11 as the Say of Eid-el-Kabir in Nigeria, the FRSC has begun massive mobilisation of its personnel for the Sallah special patrol aimed at ensuring safer road environment during the festive period and beyond.

    Kazeem said the deployment will begin on August 9 and extend to August 16.

    He added: “The Corps Public Education Officer stated that the special patrol operation has become necessary, following the Corps’ commitment to its 2019 Corporate Strategic Goals of reducing road traffic crashes (RTC) by 20 per cent and fatality by 25 per cent.

    “FRSC has a tradition of always organising special patrols during festive periods as a way of averting the chaos that characterises the road during the celebrations. As such, this year’s Eid-el-Kabir will not be an exemption. Motorists must endeavour to avoid traffic violations and remain conscious of their safety to avoid not only arrest and prosecution by members of the Corps but falling prey to avoidable road crashes.”

    To ensure the effectiveness of the operations, Kazeem said the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, directed commanding officers in various formations across the country to ensure that the 52 corridors are properly manned throughout the period of the operations.

    Read Also: FRSC: accidents claim 49 lives in Lagos

    He said: “The Corps Marshal also directed that the operatives pay first-rate focus on effective traffic control, wrongful overtaking, use of phone while driving, drivers licence violation, lane discipline, removal of rickety vehicles on the road, driving with expired/ worn-out tyres and without spare tyres, among others.

    “To achieve this fit, the Corps has deployed operational equipment in the categories of radar guns, breathalysers to put a check on drunk driving, operational logistics materials are also to be fully deployed for this exercise. More so, the Corps Marshal has equally directed that all zebras must be active 24/7 and be responsive to calls within the minimum FRSC response time to crashes reported.

    “Kazeem noted that among the 52 corridors to be covered are: Akwanga-Lafiya-Makurdi, Jos-Bauchi-Gombe, Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor, Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, among others.

    “In line with the foregoing, the patrol is to run in shifts as follows: 0600hrs – 1400hrs, 1400hrs – 2000hrs, 2000hrs – 2200hrs, and Night Rescue teams to be on standby at all operational Commands.

    “The Corps will go into the exercise with the friendly collaboration with military units en route or resident, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Services (DSS), state-owned/NGOs’ ambulance service providers, National Network on Emergency Rescue Services (NNERS) and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).”

  • Don’t drag NNPC into politics, Kyari warns public

    The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, has urged the public to be wary of attempts to drag the corporation into politics in the guise of requests for information under the Freedom of Information law.

    The GMD made the call during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio, to the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

    A press release by the corporation’s spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted the GMD as saying that though the corporation was committed to transparency and accountability to the Nigerian people, a line must be drawn between genuine requests for information and malicious attempts to drag it into politics using the FOI law as a cover.

    “As you are aware, sometimes the requests are brazenly malicious, and they are laden with political undertones. NNPC finds it difficult to respond to such requests because it is mindful of falling into the trap of being drawn into politics or maligning others”, the GMD explained.

    He disclosed that in keeping with its commitment to be accountable and transparent, the corporation would publish its audited accounts soon.

    On the disclosure of contracts and contractors as requested by the NEITI boss, he said the biggest contracts in the corporation’s portfolio currently are the products supply contracts under the Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme, adding that details of the contracts and the contractors would also be made public within this month.

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    He promised to make the monthly financial and operations reports more accessible by publishing the soft copies of the reports from January to May, 2019.

    On his part, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr. Waziri Adio, congratulated Mallam Mele Kyari on his appointment, saying: “This is a big opportunity you have been given to shape the direction of this country in a positive way and I believe you have the capacity to do that”.

    He said he was particularly impressed with the corporation’s robust deployment of modern information and communication platforms, especially the website, which he noted could be used as a transparency tool through pro-active disclosures.

    He said he was committed to working with the NNPC because of the GMD’s track record of integrity.

    “The GMD is somebody we can vouch for, he is a transparency champion and I can’t remember any GMD’s appointment that has elicited as much goodwill as your appointment has generated”, he said.

     

  • Nigeria to become global food basket soon – Osinbajo

    Committed to development of a thriving agro-industrial sector, the Federal Government will welcome partnerships and initiatives that would make Nigeria actualize its potential of being the food basket of the world

    This was disclosed on Tuesday by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    He spoke while receiving a delegation of Chinese investors and officials from the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the Presidential Villa.

    Prof. Osinbajo, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said “I think that Nigeria is a place where there is tremendous opportunity. We have the 9th largest arable land in the world and most of that is still largely untouched.

    “We have a tremendous potential of being the food basket of the world but a lot of that will depend on how we are able to get high quality inputs, seedling and others, and how we are able to use technology especially the benefits of industrial agriculture to our advantage.”

    Referring to the interest of the Chinese investors in the agro-allied sector, the VP noted that “we believe very strongly that this partnership is the one that will deliver the kind of growth, the kind of quantum leap we are looking forward to. We think that with your partnership with us, especially the agro-allied aspect of it, if it works very well, we can achieve a lot.”

    Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo said “this is the reason why we are engaging at this (presidential) level of government alongside the AfDB, to ensure that our investors have no trouble at all in being able to operate their businesses and do their businesses efficiently.”

    Read Also: Nigeria’s future bright – Osinbajo

    The Chinese investors are in the country at the instance of the African Development Bank to commence the processes of investing in Nigeria’s agricultural sector under an initiative known as the Agro-Industrial initiative with focus on crop production, forestry, fishery, and livestock production.

    Speaking earlier, Prof. Zhao Zhihai, the leader of the Chinese delegation, said a consortium of Chinese investors were committed to the development of Nigeria’s agro-processing zones and especially the agro-allied sector.

    In his own remarks, Prof. Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, the head of the AfDB team at the meeting, said the framework of the initiative is to develop a programme that leverages Nigeria’s comparative advantage in key areas of agricultural production.

    According to him, “the overall investment, under the initiative, amounts to between $16 billion to $25 billion over a period of four years with a strong government support and private sector leadership.”

     

  • Makinde approves N500,000 each to Oyo indigenes at Law School

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday approved the sum of N500,000 each  as bursary to the 120 Oyo State indigenes in the Nigerian Law School.

    Makinde, who received an audience of the Law School students in his office, charged them to persevere in the face of ongoing economic challenges.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary(CPS) to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that he was approving the sum of N60 million to cater for the 2019/2020 backlog of Oyo state indigenes in the Nigerian Law School.

    He stated that his decision was aimed at assisting the students to achieve greatness and encourage them.

    It would be recalled that the last time Oyo State indigenes in the Law School received a bursary of N100, 000 was in 2012.

    The governor told the student forum led by Mr. Olaniyi Ogunlade to ensure that they come back home to make contributions to the state after their studies.

    He noted that the state has made an investment on the Law School students by the bursary award and would love them to make returns, urging them not to be carried away by the allure of Lagos and other cities.

    Makinde stated that as soon as the ongoing rail project is completed, it would become easy to work in Lagos and live in Ibadan and vice versa.

    Read Also: Makinde hails Ajimobi’s education policy

    He also charged the Law School students not to lose hope whatever the challenges they might be facing, adding that “life is not just for those who work hard but those who persevere.”

    Ogunlade appreciated the governor, promising that he and his colleagues will come out with the best result in the history of Oyo State students in the Law School. He added that they would be proud to present the results to the governor.

    He also made a promise that the beneficiaries of the bursary award would return to contribute their quota to the development of the state.