The Nation Newspaper

Tag: seeks

  • NIMASA seeks speedy trial of maritime cases

    NIMASA seeks speedy trial of maritime cases

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has appealed to judicial and legal officers to aid the agency through timely prosecution of persons involved in illegal activities in the nation’s territorial waters.

    The Director-General of the agency, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi spoke while declaring open the Fifth Strategic Admiralty Seminar for Judges, organised by the agency in Lagos.

    In a statement by NIMASA’s Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, Akpobolokemi said NIMASA had made several arrests of illegal bunkerers, oil thieves and pirates, who are yet to be prosecuted because challenges in the system.

    He, therefore, called on the judiciary and other legal officers to assist the agency in its relentless fight against maritime crimes.

    He also said NIMASA had been collaborating with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to curb crimes at sea, noting that their gains could only become tangible when the judiciary plays its part effectively.

    On training, the NIMASA chief said significant gains had been recorded through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).

    He said: “We have embarked on a conscious effort at developing manpower for the maritime sector with the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme.”

    To further advance the capacity development initiatives, Akpobolokemi said the agency had received approval from the Federal Executive Council to establish maritime institutes in four Nigerian universities. These are: University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State; and Niger Delta University, Amasomma, Bayelsa State, in addition to on-going plans for the establishment of a Nigerian Maritime University.

    He pledged the agency’s commitment to fund the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, noting that partnership with the institution would be strengthened.

    NIMASA also restated its commitment to the welfare of the seafarers aimed at sustaining the industrial harmony in the industry.

    Akpobolokemi made the commitment when the agency hosted a sensitisation seminar for stakeholders on the Implementation of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 as domesticated by Nigeria.

    He was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development; Capt. Ezekiel Agaba, who said the seminar is part of the processes towards compliance and enforcement of the MLC, 2006 in Nigeria.

    Agaba said: “Under this present administration, we have committed huge resources towards the training of cadets through various programmes including the NSDP.

    “We have also recently given approval for the training of over 300 seafarers on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) to enable them update their mandatory certification while continuing our efforts to ensure that seafarers get placement on both Nigerian and foreign flagged vessels.”

  • Chamber seeks more FTAs to boost agro exports

    THE Federal Government has been urged to explore Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to boost agricultural exports.

    Speaking with The Nation,the Chairman, Southsouth Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Hyke Ochia, urged the government to continue to pursue an ambitious pro-trade plan, saying that good free trade agreements will open opportunities for farmers.

    He explained that Free Trade Agreement would create jobs; open new markets and unlock growth opportunities for producers across every region of the country.

    Ochia urged the government to work with other countries to ensure mutual prosperity within the region, stressing that free trade agreement should include provisions for market access for goods, cross-border trade and services, investment and government procurement.

    He said the government must be ready to work with industry to support market growth and enhance competitiveness for grains, pulses and oilseeds.

    In addition, Ochia said the government should continue to improve the performance of the supply chain for crops, with a focus on innovation, capacity, and stakeholders collaboration.

    He said Nigeria’s participation in major international agro trade shows is a key component of market development.

    Ochia said Nigerian farmers have bright future in open markets where they will be able to respond to demands by being innovative with their farming and processing practices, and where they will be rewarded with premium returns.

    He said there are markets with enormous growth opportunities and where significant barriers to trade in agriculture still exist but whch have strong outcomes for the agricultural sector.

    Ochia stressed the need for the government to revisit its strategy of FTAs, bring greater transparency and involve more effective administrative processes in their design and implementation to make FTAs more beneficial for the nation.

    Considering the negative impact, the expert suggested that trade agreements should be ‘self-regulatory’ and provide ‘safeguard measures’ so local producers will not be exploited.

  • Expert seeks usage of renewable energy

    Expert seeks usage of renewable energy

    Allowing farmers to use renewable energy technology on their farmers will help the nation meet its future food and energy needs, Director Africa Region, Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA), Dr Kola Adebayo has said.

    By generating on-farm electricity, he said farmers would be able to cut the costs of producing food and more likely to remain in business.

    He said farms could be encouraged to explore renewable energy generation at any level or scale, as some have the land and the capacity to install those renewable energy schemes.

    He said some farms have all the conditions necessary to generate power from renewable sources to support economic growth and development.

    He stressed however that government needs to carry out extensive enlightenment campaign on the benefits of renewal energy.

    He said most of the wastes generated in the country were biodegradable and could be harnessed for power generation to support the industry and economic development.

    He said farms could overturn the unsustainable practice of dumping waste into the sea and explore opportunities for establishing a cyclical system to make waste management regenerative and eco-friendly.

    He said running a farm business with rising costs and fluctuating returns was very unstable.

    He added that sharp rises in the cost of energy were difficult to absorb, especially for farmers operating on tight margins but “wind energy is where you can get ahead of that curve.”

    He said farmers could also be in the business of renewable energy. He added that if generating renewable energy helped a farm to remain in business then it also helped maintain food supplies and food security.”The idea of farmers diversifying into ‘pure energy’ as well as food energy makes a whole lot of sense.

    He said the government could help jobs creation in rural communities and encourage the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy production from wind, solar, biomass and biofuels in farms and rural businesses.

    He said there is need to preserve investments in programmes that provide beginning farmers with education and training, access to credit, and access to affordable land.

  • Community seeks Fashola’s help on flooding

    THEIR road is virtually submerged during the rainy season because of flooding.

    Accessing their homes during the period is difficult. Their children cannot go to school.

    Ahead of the next rainy, resident of Aluminium Village in Dopemu Agege, a Lagos suburb, are appealing to Governor Babatunde Fashola to come to their rescue.

    They asked him to reconstruct the water channels in the area to stop the flooding.

    The Secretary/Spokesman, Dopemu Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Seyi Lasisi, told The Nation: “We have been subjected to hardship as movement in and out of the community is usually hampered by the deplorable state of the roads, especially anytime it rains. The worst affected is Ifelodun Street, the major road connecting the community to Oshodi, Ikeja, Iyana-Ipaja and the Lagos/Abeokuta Express Way. Government should take advantage of this dry season to effect the reconstruction of the drainages and roads before the rains set in again to compound our woes.”

    He noted that the village, which comprises over 30 streets with thousands of law-abiding, tax-paying residents, had been suffering in silence for several years because of flooding, bad roads and other associated problems.

    Properties worth millions have been destroyed. The government should make use of this short dry season to repair the drainages and the bad roads, he pleaded.

    Lasisi added: “The main cause of the flooding the community suffers is that whenever it rains, the water being channeled from Pen Cinema, Agege, Oke-Koto, Ogba, Alfa Nla, Orile-Agege and other adjourning areas, go through our community to link up with the big canal in Valley Estate at Cement bus stop.

    “The old drainage system in the community, which is over 20 years old, has broken down completely. The rain water that should pass through the channels remain within the community is there for days and weeks causing us serious health and economic problems. At such times, our children take ill often because of mosquito bites. It is really a bad situation and we have been living with this ugly situation despite out efforts to get the government to come to our aid over the years.”

    He said there had been cases of unannounced death during such flooding that go unannounced. “When it rains and everywhere is flooded as usual, people especially strangers passing through or coming to the community often fall victim,” he said.

    To attract government attention, the community said it had sent letters to the office of the Governor, the Ministries of Environment, Works and Infrastructure; Rural Development and Special Duties since April.

  • NNPC seeks review of tribunal’s ruling

    NNPC seeks review of tribunal’s ruling

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to review a ruling by the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT), Lagos Zone, on a dispute over an oil mining lease (OML) 118 Production Sharing Contract (PSC).

    It said the tribunal wrongly assumed jurisdiction in the dispute.

    Parties involved are the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deep Water) Limited, Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited and Total E & P Nigeria Limited, joined as second to sixth respondents.

    NNPC sought a declaration that TAT, Lagos Zone (the first respondent) lacked the competence or jurisdiction to entertain or adjudicate over rights and obligations conferred on parties to the Bonga PSC.

    It said the tribunal cannot determine contractual disputes arising from the different interpretation of the various parties to the contract.

    Shell, Esso, Agip and Total had sought declaratory reliefs at the tribunal over the determination of tax incidences of parties in PSC involving NNPC.

    The tribunal, in its July 3 ruling, assumed jurisdiction in the case. It held: “The tax assessment challenged in this appeal is within the remit of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.”

    But NNPC urged the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, to declare that the tribunal’s decision “ultra vires, illegal, wrongful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”

    It sought an order of certiorari (order given by a superior court), urging the court to take over the tribunal’s proceedings, determinations and directives and to quash them, as well as the ruling.

    NNPC prayed the court to make an order prohibiting TAT, Lagos Zone from further hearing and making any interim or final decision in the case of Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production Company Limited and others vs, FIRS and another, numbered TAT/LZ,001/2012, among others.

    It sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the tribunal (first respondent) from adjudicating on the declaratory reliefs sought by the third to sixth respondents.

    NNPC said the tribunal erred when it assumed the powers ordinarily conferred by Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution on the Federal High Court to entertain and determine matters relating to government revenue.

    It claimed that by the provisions of the OML 118 (Bonga) PSC, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents are not tax payers known to the FIRS and as such are unable to successfully maintain an action before the tribunal against FIRS.

    NNPC added that the reliefs before the tribunal is such that when determined, will have direct impact on Federal Government’s revenue and the contractual relationship in Bonga contract.

    NNPC, the concession owner and holder of Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 212, executed the Bonga PSC dated April 19, 1993, with Shell as contractor to the operations of OPL 212.

    Shell, Esso, Agip and Total constitute the “contractor” apparently through a joint venture in the Bonga contract, which sets out parties’ rights and obligations.

    By the contract’s provisions, NNPC files Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) returns on behalf of itself and the contractor.

    According to NNPC, the contractor was to prepare accurate PPT returns and submit to the corporation, which in turn files the returns to FIRS.

    The applicant said in 2010, Shell and others prepared “incorrect” PPT returns for 2009 assessment in respect of Bonga license and forwarded same to the NNPC.

    NNPC alleged that the returns it received from the contractor was “inaccurate, incorrect and non-compliant with contractual terms of the PSC.”

    It claimed it was compelled to file accurate tax returns with FIRS, which resulted in a disagreement with the contractor.

    Subsequently, the oil firms instituted an appeal at the tribunal.

    They sought “a declaration that although chargeable tax for the year is USD2,042, 706, 851, however, by virtue of the overpayment of PPT in previous years of assessment, the PPT for the Bonga Contract Area in the 2010 year of assessment is nil.”

  • Community leader seeks support for Anambra election

    Community leader seeks support for Anambra election

    A leader of the Ogidi Community in Idemili North Local Gov ernment Area, Anambra State, Chief Sam Anyanwutaku, has urged political parties not to boycott the supplementary election in the interest of democracy.

    Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, he said such a step will not advance the development of democracy in the country.

    He said: “Those who called for the boycott of the election have not considered the overall interest of the country. If they carry out their threat, it would amount to a waste of resources.”

    “We heard that is it only in two local governments that there was problem. I don’t think there is any reason to cancel the entire result because there were no visible problems in other local governments.”

    He said being a stakeholder in Ogidi community, it was important his people’s position in the election process is respected because Ogidi community was already bracing up for the election.

    “As a progressive citizen, who has knowledge about how Anamabra State is governed, I took time to study the parties and their candidates vying for the governorship election and came with the conclusion that Ogidi people will return the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state.”

    He maintained that the people of Ogidi have not had it so good, except under the Obi administration in the state. “Since the creation of Idemili Council, no indigene has been appointed chairman of the council, but this was possible under Governor Peter Obi.”

    He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must do all within its power to live above board by conducting transparent elections.

    He commended the governor for its education, health, security and social welfare services.

  • PDP seeks China’s Communist Party’s help on training

    PDP seeks China’s Communist Party’s help on training

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approached the Communist Party in China to train its political public office holders.

    The training is targeted at PDP members holding office at the federal level with emphasis on economic management.

    Aides to the PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said Tukur was in China to meet with the leadership of the Communist Party.

    An e-mail statement said the Communist Party would be expected to deploy Chinese experts in Nigeria to train PDP members on party supremacy, governance and management of the economy.

    Effective development and management of infrastructure as well as better life for the citizenry is also part of the training.

    The statement added that Tukur and his entourage were made to understand that the success of governance in China was rooted in sound training.

    Tukur reportedly said serving members of the PDP would undergo the training.

    Also listed for training are federal and state lawmakers, governors, as well as ministers.

    The statement said: “Vice Headmaster of the Party School in Shenzhen, China, Mr Zhu Dijian, told the PDP entourage that it is compulsory for high cadre officials of the Chinese government to undergo training in the school every three years to develop their dialectical thinking.

    “According to him, the CPC members in government must receive training on leadership, administration, development of infrastructure, science, technology, foreign Affairs, party philosophy and spirit.

    “The trainees, he said, must also learn how to apply the knowledge to develop the grassroots, a reason he said almost all parts of China are equally developed.

    “Dijain said the development of China stemmed from qualities demonstrated by government officials at all times.”

    The statement quoted Chinese officials as saying that some African countries had shown interest in the training.

    It cited some executive members of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) as beneficiaries of the training.

  • Nedbank seeks 20% share of Ecobank for $500m

    Nedbank Group Limited, the South African lender controlled by Old Mutual Plc (OML), plans to exercise an option it has from next month to buy a fifth of Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI) in a deal valued at more than $500 million.

    Bloomberg report said Nedbank intends to take up its right to convert a $285 million loan made to Ecobank in 2011 into an estimated 11 per cent stake, said Mike Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Johannesburg-based lender.

    A second subscription right allows Nedbank to increase its holding in Togo-based Ecobank to as much as 20 per cent, he said, without giving a timeframe for the plan.

    “It is our current intention to exercise our rights,” Brown said adding that the bank hasn’t taken a formal decision to proceed. “We have always anticipated that the total cost to get to a 20 per cent shareholding will be greater than the original loan.”

    Ecobank, which trades on three African exchanges and operates in 33 nations on the continent, reported last month that profit increased 65 per cent to $250 million in the nine months through September as its business in Nigeria and Ghana expanded.

    While Ecobank has the reciprocal right to buy a stake in Nedbank, CEO Thierry Tanoh said in May that the lender may delay taking this option to focus on its African businesses.

    Nedbank has a 12-month window, starting in December, to convert the loan into Ecobank shares. Nedbank formed an alliance in 2008 with Ecobank. The Togolese lender, founded in 1985, also operates in France and has representative offices in Beijing, Dubai and London.

    The Public Investment Corporation, which manages more than 1 trillion rand ($99 billion) mostly on behalf of South African government workers, bought almost 20 percent of Ecobank in April last year, making it the lender’s biggest shareholder.

  • Loans: MAN seeks single digit interest rates

    Loans: MAN seeks single digit interest rates

    The Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun State branch, Dr. Dolapo B. A. Ogutuga (MON), has said that a major challenge facing manufacturers in 2013, especially small and medium scale industries, is the difficulty in accessing long term loans at reasonably low interest rates.

    Addressing the 28th Annual General Meeting of the Ogun State branch in Ota, Ogutuga said this challenge informed the theme of this year’s AGM which is, ‘Single Digit Lending: Pathway to Nigeria’s Industrial Competitiveness.’

    “We strategically crafted this theme to draw government’s attention to the need to create funding windows to access long term loans at single digit interest rates,” he said, adding that the manufacturers’ operating environment had been beset with challenges in the areas of electricity supply, flooding in some parts of Nigeria which disrupted the flow of businesses, and the decay in infrastructural facilities like road maintenance.

    He said power supply which tended to improve early last year, dropped drastically towards the end of the year, adding that statistics available to MAN indicated that power supply to industries hovered around 30 per cent.

    MAN President, Chief Kola Jamodu (OFR), described the single digit lending rate as capable of increasing industrial output, capacity utilisation, advance competitiveness and increase export of manufactured products.

  • NCS seeks MTN’s partnership to develop ICT sector

    The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has sought the partnership of MTN Nigeria to tackle the myriad of problems besetting the nation’s information communication technology (ICT) sector.

    President of the group, Prof David Adewumi, represented by his deputy, Prof Adesola Aderounmu during the group’s visit to MTN Corporate Headquarters, in Ikoyi,Lagos, said the body has identified with the telco adoption of innovative, technology-driven solutions both internally and externally.

    “The GSM revolution in which MTN played and still plays a major role has created jobs in significant numbers as well as a value chain of suppliers, while providing the backbone for other major areas of the Nigerian economy,” NCS president said.

    He lamented that in spite of the progress recorded so far, the technology sector still faces major challenges of low broadband penetration, multiple taxation, power challenge, insecurity, inadequate local capacity and low awareness of innovation opportunities.

    “The need to accelerate the pace of ICT development in Nigeria and ensure long-term sustainability of the sector is imperative. We are here to extend our hand of fellowship to MTN to achieve our development goals and attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Partnering strategically with NCS could identify and support innovations efforts, build capacities and help realise the huge potential in the fledgling local content market,” he added.

    According to him, with the antecedent of the telco in the deployment of technology solutions, NCS believes the time has come for MTN to take a leadership role and fully join NCS and share experience in enriching the larger technology community.

    MTN Corporate Services Executive Akinwale Goodluck, who led other management officials to welcome the NCS delegation thanked the group for visiting MTN, commending them for their efforts at developing the ICT sector.

    Goodluck said local content was important to telcos, adding that it has made significant strides in that area.

    He said MTN has contributed immensely to the development of the economy through payment of taxes and investing heavily in corporate social responsibility which cut across every strata of the economy, from health to education and others.