The Nation Newspaper

Tag: spend

  • Rivers to spend N400m on WBC activities

    Activities for the Port Harcourt World Book Capital (PH WBC) 2014 are billed to begin in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital on April 23, with the initiative expected to cost the state more than N400 million to host.

    The United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) named Port Harcourt the World Book Capital in 2012 after a keenly contested bid with three other cities of the World including those of Europe and America. It will hold the position for one year, between April 23, 2014 and April 22, 2015 when it will hand over to Incheon, a city in South Korea.

    Speaking at a briefing in Port Harcourt (PH), the Project Director, Mrs Koko Kalango, said the programme may cost more than the estimated amount.

    “It is a bit difficult to place a cost on the event now, but when we started we expected that N400 million will do it, but we are no longer sure of that, when the events will properly kick off. This is because of our partnership with different spheres and organisations that would do so many other things for us free of charge, especially in the area of publicity.

    “We cannot place money value on all that our partners, Nigerians have agreed to do for us to ensure that this dream is delivered.”

    She noted that despite the ‘Port Harcourt’ nomenclature attached to it, it is a project Nigerians and Africans ought to be proud of.

    Speaking on the activities for the year, Mrs Kalango, who runs the Rainbow Book Club, said programmes would include reading time with dignitaries, including President Goodluck Jonathan, at the book clubs in various schools.

    “Members of the PH WBC 2014 Celebration committee, made up of mostly members of the state cabinet, and headed by the state Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru, would work with 100 primary and secondary schools in Port Harcourt and a total of 200 book clubs set up across schools to revive the reading culture among pupils within the one year period.

    “President GoodLuck Jonathan and other Nigerian celebrities, including Nollywood actors have been scheduled to come at different days to read to Port Harcourt children,” Mrs. Kalango said.

    She said 300 teachers from urban and rural schools have already been trained for this project, which will also feature a ‘reading tree’ – a graded reading series for primary school pupils which ensures children read one book a week, and book club meetings to instil proper values in the children.

    She expressed optimism that the events would assist in curbing insecurity, maternal deaths and teenage pregnancy among others. She added that reading would be proven as a tool to redirect the minds of youths from delinquent activities.

    Mrs Kalango is excited that Port Harcourt is the first city in Africa to win the WBC through competitive bidding. She explained that Alexandria (Egypt), had earlier held the position, but emerged by selection.

    “This is an incredible opportunity for this city (Port Harcourt), to make history, considering that that the honour comes soon after Port Harcourt celebrated its 100 years and Nigeria is celebrating hers.

    She maintained that the glory of the victory was not just for Port Harcourt alone but Nigeria and Africa in general.

  • Budget 2014: Govt to spend N11b on national dialogue, World Economic Forum

    Budget 2014: Govt to spend N11b on national dialogue, World Economic Forum

    WHOEVER says talk is cheap has not seen details of the Federal Government’s budget for next year.

    The government is to spend N11 billion to host the national dialogue and the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Abuja.

    This figure is contained in the details of the 2014 budget breakdown, which states that N7 billion is to be spent on the national dialogue.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on January 18, 2005, requested the approval of N932 million to fund a three-month National Political Reform Conference scheduled to begin mid-February of the same year.

    In the breakdown, Obasanjo said delegates would earn N21.68million as sitting allowance and N650. 25 million as allowances in lieu of accommodation. Also included was N1.7million for return tickets from London, Washington, Beijing and Johannesburg, in addition to N28,800 for return flights to Abuja for the inaugural session and subsequent conference meetings.

    Delegates, he noted, would be given N14,400 for airport taxi and local transportation within Abuja. There was provision for, at least, two CVU long wheel cars to be hired and fuelled at N2.9 million.

    However, in the case of the Dr. Jonathan administration’s national dialogue, there is no breakdown of how the N 7 billion will be spent.

    Besides, N4 billion is to be spent on hosting the WEF in Abuja.

    These figures are captured under the Service Wide Vote of the Federal Ministry of Finance for 2014, with other expenses submitted for appropriation to the National Assembly. They include N35,409,859,962 to fund the presidential amnesty programme for the reintegration of transformed ex-militants; N546,300,000 for the presidential amnesty programme for the reintegration/transition safety allowances for 3,642 ex-militants (third phase) and N3,699,933,814 as operational cost for the programme.

    Besides, the fund allocated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections, N21 billion is voted by the Ministry under its service wide vote for election logistics support. There is also N7 billion proposal for payment of outsourced services.

    Under the miscellaneous heading of the ministry’s service wide vote in 2014, N27.5 billion is proposed to be spent on unexplained contingency funding; N5,149,600,000 is set aside for adjustments to the recurrent budget and N5 billion for capital cost adjustments.

    The capital expenditure of the ministry’s service wide vote is estimated to cost N433,584,612357. From this amount, N100 billion will go to finance constituency projects for legislators of the National Assembly; N62.8 billion for special intervention; N8 billion for national job creation scheme; N30 billion for the sinking fund for infrastructural development; N14 billion for Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) and N16 billion for the bulk trader.

    In the budget, N5 billion is budgeted to be spent on “2011 election violence and civil disturbance (damage done to public property and places of worship) and N12.6 billion on special intervention Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 1 and 2).

    About N10 billion is to be returned to a special account (not specified) and another N10 billion to fund the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) under the electricity provision programme. The government, through the ministry is asking for N25 billion to pay off maturing domestic bonds and N5 billion for payment of local contractors’ debts; N16 billion for Development Finance Institution (DFI) and N4,060,000,000 to fund galaxy backbone infrastructure.

  • Govt to spend N15b to guard oil installations

    Govt to spend N15b to guard oil installations

    About N15 billion would be spent annually by the Federal Government and International Oil Companies to check the increasing wave of pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the country.

    Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President NamadiSambo at the Presidential Villa.

    He said oil production has improved following progress made by the military joint task force deployed to the region to protect the nation’s oil installations.

    He said that NEC has received an updated report from the Delta State Governor’s Committee on the criminal incidence of crude oil theft in the Niger Delta Region, and approved the provision of the fund as logistics’ support for the security agencies to achieve their obligation of arresting crude oil theft in the country.

    Obi said government has made substantial progress in tackling crude oil theft in the region, leading to substantial improvement in crude oil production level, adding that oil production has now stabilised at 2.4million barrels per day, as against about 1.7 million barrels a few months back.

    He said: “The security agencies are professionals, well trained Nigerians, laying their lives for you and I that we should get revenue. If you know some of the activities that happen in the Niger Delta area, I know some of my personal friends have died.”

    “Now the oil production as at today, is 2.4 million barrels per day, but there was a time it went to as low as 1.7 million barrels per day.”

    From the report, he said most of the oil is allowed to be spilled into the ocean when the pipelines were vandalised and that the activities of vandals have also led to stoppage in production activities.

    “Most of the oil  is not stolen. When you vandalise the lines, they cannot produce. When the lines are broken, if you try to pump,  you pump into the sea, oil companies will not produce under that condition,” Obi explained.

    “So that oil is called deferred oil. It is there, not stolen, but you cannot produce. Once you cannot produce, you cannot sell it. But a lot of repairs have been made and we are making sure that the level we are is sustained, that is why the facilities that are needed have been approved. We are going to spend about N15 billion over the year and that is what we loose in just few days.”

    The Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, John Jonah, said with the security situation in the oil producing region, the government has a responsibility to equip Security agencies operating in the area.

    “So what we are trying to do is to ensure that we buy the necessary equipment for them to perform their duty in the areas that we have identified gaps. We also want to make sure that more personnel are available. The terrain is a very difficult one,” he added.

  • Drivers spend 99 days stuck in traffic, says report

    DURING their lifetime the average British motorist will jump 87 red lights, drive 269,296 miles, swear 323 times at other motorists and hoot a total of 62 cyclists.

    According to Press Association, they will fill-up with petrol 2,214 times and get stuck in traffic nearly ten thousand times a study has found.

    Researchers revealed over the course of our driving life we will spend 99 days stuck on gridlocked roads, will make 1992 phone calls and will check our smartphone for emails or texts over a thousand times.

    The details of 2000 drivers’ habits emerged in a study commissioned by Skobbler, developers of iPhone sat nav app GPS Navigation 2, and revealed we will get lost 371 times.

    Whilst behind the wheel we spend 384 days listening to the radio and 337 days playing our own music which means on average we sing 4104 times in the car.

    Marcus Thielking, Co-founder of Skobbler said: “There is no excuse for behaviour such as jumping red lights, tailgating fellow motorists or cutting people up.”

    “Being a motorist involves a lot more than just driving and whilst we all try to be sensible drivers it would seem we are all guilty of a few misdemeanours, whether it’s speeding or using our phones illegally.”

    “This research shows we do spend an awfully long time in the car and many motorists will conduct a lot of their other business in their vehicle.”

    The study also found that the typical adult will share 680 kisses in the car and will have sex four times from the age of 17 and upwards.

    But on the contrary the average adult will have a whopping 2974 rows with a partner whilst they are behind the wheel. The kids are bearing the brunt too as they get 5520 tellings off. We will suffer from 2 flat tyres, breakdown twice and tot up a total of 51 speeding tickets in addition to 62 parking tickets.

    The stresses of life have got so much that the average person has resorted to having a good old cry 76 times whilst in their car. And other extra-curricular activities include eating in the car (897 times) and applying make-up (319 times).

    Car maintenance such as checking oil and tyre pressure will take place 233 times and we will top up with screen wash 185 times in our driving life time.

  • NFF to spend $30m next year

    NFF to spend $30m next year

    Officials have disclosed that Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has proposed to spend N4.8 billion (about $30 million) next year.

    General secretary of the Federation Musa Amadu told the House of Representatives committee on sports on Wednesday NFF plan to spend N4.8 billion in the coming year even though they have been handed an appropriation of 1.8 billion.

    “We made a proposal of N4.8 billion for 2013, but we got an envelope of N1.8 billion and out of which N1.5 billion is for sporting activities,” he said.

    Amadu also declared that the NFF in 2012 prosecuted 54 international matches, won 33, drew 11 and lost 10.

    The NFF are expected to return to the house with detailed copy of their 2012 expenditure and 2013 proposal next Tuesday after the committee on sports ordered them to do so.

    The committee has also asked the football federation to produce a detailed breakdown on how they intend to spend the N1.8 billion appropriation for 2013.

    “We want you to go back and re-present a very detailed submission. And your submission would tell us the breakdown expenditure that you incurred in the 54 matches you have played so far,” house committee on sports chairman Godfrey Ali Gaya demanded.

    “We need you to add whatever sponsorship you have got so far plus what was appropriated to you as a total amount available to you. And for that total amount show us a thorough breakdown of expenditure match-by-match, let it include your ticketing, the bonuses or allowances of players, number of officials taken to the matches. We want to have it within the next seven days.”

  • Jigawa to spend N15b on roads

    the Jigawa State Executive Council (Exco) has approved over N15billion for the construction of five major roads.

    The Commissioner of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Babandi Ibrahim, addressed reporters in Dutse, the state capital, on the outcome of the Exco meeting, which was presided over by Governor Sule Lamido.

    Giving a breakdown of the projects, the commissioner said the 33.4-kilometre Limawa-Warwade-Jidawa-Dutse Road was awarded to Brono Broni Construction Limited for over N2.9billion.

    He said the project would be completed within 14 months.

    Ibrahim said the 31-kilometre Unguwar Mani-Koriyal-Gwiwa Road and the asphalt overlay of some portions of the road would cost N3billion and completed in 16 months.

    Others include the 16-kilometre Danladin Gumel-Hammado-Sule Tankarkar Road, awarded to Gerawa Global Construction for N1.3billion. It is expected to be completed within 10 months.

    The 33.5-kilometre Babaldu-Wurno-Jangargari-Buji–Sagu Road, which was awarded to De-Pacific Investment Limited for N2.7billion, is expected to be completed in 14 months.

    Ibrahim added that the 56.8-kilometre Sukunlifi-Kale–Gunka-Kuka-Harbo–Tsakuwawa Road, which was awarded to Trianta Nigeria Limited for N56.8billion, will be completed in 18 months.

    The commissioner explained that the government hired five consulting firms for engineering and consultancy support for the projects.

    He said the Exco approved the release of N63million and N38million to the Ministry of Water Resources to upgrade and buy generating sets for Gwaram, Sule Tankarkar and Kirikasmma towns to improve water supply.

    According to him, the council also approved the phase three dedicated line of New Dutse Market.

    Ibrahim said the ministry would rehabilitate and upgrade water schemes in Albasu, Sabon Garin Yayari, Kwarin Kalgo, Sara, Kwamawa, and Ruba, Kantimari.

    The commissioner said the council also approved the release of N46million to the Ministry of Water Resources for the rehabilitation of overhead water tanks in 30 communities and others.

    He added that over N200million was approved for the construction of 9.2kilometre drainages, culverts and surface dressing in Sara, Gujungu and Maigatari Markets.

    According to him, the council awarded a N34million contract to Yamusa Nigeria Limited for the rehabilitation of Maigatari Motel.

    Ibrahim said the council approved the relocation of Maigatari Export Free Zone’s police station to Border Troupe for N63million.

    The commissioner said the council approved the contact for the 1.25kilometre asphalt overlay to Dutse GRA at the cost of N487million as well as 1.73kilometre and 10.11kilometre roads in Yadi Dutse.

  • Presidency to spend N2.8b on residential buildings

    Presidency to spend N2.8b on residential buildings

    The Presidency plans to spend over N2.8 billion to “rehabilitate and repair” residential buildings for the President, the Vice President and their entourages next year – going by details of the budget.

    Besides, the Presidency estimates that it will spend N733,893,900 on refreshments and meals, foodstuff and catering materials supplies for both the president and the vice president, according to a document stating the ABC of the budget.

    The Presidency, comprising the offices of the president and the vice president, intends to spend N2.96 billion on local and international travels next year.

    Under the capital expenditure of the Presidency, the Villa, as it is popularly known in Abuja, the capital city has proposed to spend N2,879,000,000 on residential buildings.

    A breakdown of the expenditure shows that N2.6 billion is to be spent on the upgrading and maintenance of Villa facilities. No details were given as to which facilities the cash will be spent on.

    About N120,000,000 will be spent to model the new guest house at 41, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro for the Vice President. Besides, N120,000,000 will be spent on the completion of the rehabilitation of security quarters at Mpape Artillery, Asokoro.

    Just like last year, the Presidency plans to spend N10 million to rehabilitate the presidential and ministerial chalet at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja, N89 million will be spent to rehabilitate the State House Medical Centre (SHMC) service quarters and N30 million for the SHMC infrastructure.

    On food stuff and refreshments for the Villa, there was a slight reduction in the figures for 2013. The President’s food stuff and catering materials supply is to cost N294,238,969. The Vice President’s is estimated to cost N112,500,000.

    For refreshments and meals, the President wants to spend N203,752,432 while the Vice President is asking for N123,402,499.

    The vice president wants an additional N40,784,248 in 2013 for the printing of non-security documents.

    According to the details of the 2013 budget figures The Nation stumbled on last night, the President plans to spend N1,289,624,428 on his foreign travels and N1,035,319,145 on local travels. The Vice President is seeking for N387,219,988 for international travels and N249,775,990 for local travels.

    A simple but symbolic task of budget presentation by the President has become the subject of a big row between the executive and the legislature.

    The Presidency responded with anger yesterday to what it described as scathing remarks by the Senate President David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal during the presentation of the 2013 budget estimate by President Goodluck Jonathan to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

    Mark, after the presentation, described the budget proposal as mere estimates and warned the President not to expect the National Assembly to rubber stamp the document.

    Tambuwal criticised the executive for the poor implementation of this year’s budget, stressing that the assessment by members of the House was not impressive.

    Apparently miffed by the reaction of the leaders of the legislature, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs Dr. Doyin Okupe, decried what he described as “unfair treatment of the President” by Mark and Tambuwal.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, Okupe took exceptions to Mark’s description of the budget as “mere estimates”, saying the Senate President was derisive in his remarks.

    According to him, the budget, as presented by the President, is a product of rational thinking and not mere estimates, as Mark stated.

    “In a democracy, there is useful idea about deliberations, until useful conclusions are reached. Referring to the budget as mere estimates is unfair and does not speak well of the entire process.

    “President Jonathan and his administration do not see the National Assembly as a rubber stamp. The President does not expect the National Assembly to be a rubber stamp,” Okupe said.

    The President’s aide faulted the Speaker’s non performance verdict on the 2012 budget, saying the document was signed into law only in April and that there was no way the budget could have done better under the circumstance.

    Okupe maintained that despite the late signing of the 2012 budget, the executive has released N711 .6 billion for capital projects to the various MDAs.

    This, he said, represents 53 per cent of capital release in just six months into the life of the budget.

    The aide disagreed with Tambuwal over inadequate release of funds to the MDAs, saying that many of them did not utilise a substantial chunk of their quarterly budgets. There is no sense in releasing more money to them when they did not exhaust the previous one.

    “The Speaker should know that the era of releasing funds without due process is over and government cannot continue to play Father Xmas with budgetary allocations,” Okupe said.

    He described the move by the legislature to fix the budget benchmark at $80 per barrel for the 2013 budget as uncalled for.

    Citing other oil producing countries, such as Algeria, Angola, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where the benchmark is far below the $75 proposed by the federal executive, Okupe said the $80 benchmark proposed by the legislature was unrealistic.

    Okupe accused Tambuwal of being dictatorial and over authoritative, saying that the National Assembly and its leadership should not be seen to be playing to the gallery.