The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Stakeholders

  • Stakeholders endorse CDA polls

    The chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan has been praised for introducing democratic principles in the choice of members of Community Development Associations. The commendation was given by stakeholders in the council area.

    The stakeholders who are mainly active members of the 75 CDAs in the council area gave the endorsement at a forum organised by the council at Fadu Town Hall, where the chairperson of the electoral body set up by the council to conduct the forthcoming elections. Mrs Huntonu Mary addressed the CDAs on the level of preparedness and modality for the elections.

    Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC), the umbrella body for all the CDAs in the council area, Chief Sharafadeen Alimi at the occasion praised the council chairman for showing the courage and determination to inculcate the principles of true democracy among the people at the grassroots.

    The community leader added that the idea would allow the people to freely elect representatives who they believe can truly champion their cause in a selfless manner before local and state governments. Chief Alimi urged the CDAs members to rally round the administration of the Bamigbetan in its efforts to bring development to Ejigbo.

    Chairman, Killa Community Development Association, Prince Ayo Shajuyigbe said that the conduct of election into executive positions of CDAs, as it is being introduced by the council chairman is a welcome development.

    He said that it is high time people at the grassroot embraced the culture of democracy as a way of life. He explained further that he is a two-term CDA chairman and he would be willing to step aside to allow others come on board to contribute their own quota to the development of their communities.

    The electoral body chairperson, Mrs Huntonu informed the CDAs members that the date for the election has not been fixed, but when it is time for the election, it will be held on a single day in all the 75 CDAs.

    She added that members who are interested in vying for any of the executive positions will purchase election forms for a token of N500 at the information unit of the local government at a date to be announced.

    In attendance at the forum are the council chairman, Kehinde Bamigbetan, his vice chairman, Alhaji Monsurudeen Bello-Obe and other members of the council’s executive arm.

  • MAN seeks stakeholders, others’support

    The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called

    on the government and other stakeholders to work for the rapid industrialisation of the country.

    Speaking at the yearly general meeting of MAN’s Southwest zone, its Chairman, Dr Michael Daramola, said growing the manufacturing sector was fundamental to sustaining economic development.

    “The manufacturing sector remains the soul of every economy because it creates jobs, improves living standards and helps to grow domestic wealth,  especially when they are export-driven.

    “A strong manufacturing base is expected to also help to prevent or minimise huge import tendencies.

    “No major nation has managed to transform itself from a poor nation to a rich nation by relying solely on import of raw materials without a vibrant industrial sector,’’ Daramola said.

    The guest speaker, Prof. Sunday Otokiti said significant effort must be placed on manufacturing for the country  to achieve its  objectives.

    Otokiti,  in his lecture titled: Re-Evaluating manufacturing potentials in Southwest Nigeria, said: “Manufacturing has proved to be a driver and core instrument adopted by the developed countries.

    “To grow our industries, we need to look inwards on ways of producing our needs without necessarily outsourcing for them.

    “The highest priority should be given to technologies that expand the availability of raw materials.’’

    Ekiti State Governor Dr Kayode Fayemi, who, was represented by the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Innovation Mr Debo Ajayi  said the government was creating an investment-friendly environment for businesses to thrive.

    “The southwest regional integration project,  when fully implemented,  will improve the economy of the region and  improve living standards through cooperation among the states.

    “We need to work together to bring about the transformation we desire.

    “To effectively do this,the organised private sector must be included in policy making processes and decision making,’’ he said.

    Fayemi added that the government’s intention in  providing infrastructural development was aimed at realising the objectives of the  transformation agenda.

  • Govt, stakeholders work on roadmap for listing telecoms

    The Federal Government and other stakeholders have started discussions on a roadmap that would lead to listing of the telecoms companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as part of efforts to support the development of the stock market.

    Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, spoke on efforts by government to ensure major companies in key sectors of the economy list their shares on the NSE during a visit to the stock exchange at the weekend.

    Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said government has intensified efforts to get more companies, especially those in the telecoms and oil and gas sectors to be listed on the NSE.

    According to her, the government shares the vision of making Nigerian stock market the premier stock exchange for Africa.

    She said stock market must develop in tandem with national economic growth noting that as Nigerian economy overtakes other economies, the stock market should also become the main market for the continent.

    Mrs Johnson outlined that discussions were ongoing on the roadmap for the listing of telecoms companies noting that most telecoms appreciate the need to list their shares on the NSE.

    “We have had very good discussions with the telecoms companies; they understand why they should list. What we are doing now is to prepare the plan for them to list because there are a number of things that need to be sorted out; these are very large companies. I think the difference here is that we have a plan and we would work that plan to ensure that we get the telecoms companies to list,” mrs Johnson said.

    She restated the support of her Ministry for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the NSE in their quest to bring the Nigeria capital market to where it was meant to be.

    She assured that efforts had gone beyond just calls for more companies to be listed as ongoing plan is being driven through collaboration of many stakeholders.

    “We have spoken a lot about the technology and I am so impressed with the amount of technology I see here today. It has been a tremendous improvement. The other reason that I am here is to bring more companies unto the stock exchange. The information and communication industry contributes 8.5 per cent to GDP, it is the fastest growing sector of the economy and we need to ensure that companies in the sector are listed on the stock exchange,” Omobola said.

    Okonjo-Iweala said that although market operators and regulators still have a lot to do to bring the market to its pride of place, government would remain key supporter of efforts to develop the market.

    “You have been and you are a key pillar of the Nigerian Economy. Different studies have shown that the way and the direction the stock market goes is very predictive for the rest of the economy and that is why this administration is very supportive of what you have done,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

    She said the government had demonstrated its resolve by standing by the market during the recent recession noting that government gave forbearance to margin traders and also took measures to eliminate capital gains and VAT taxes, which are currently being put into the gazette prior to implementation.

    President, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said stakeholders were anticipating the listing of the firms in the ICT industry because of the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

    He said the visit by the Ministers was a proof that the government was fully in support of the stock exchange.

    Responding on behalf of the stockbrokers, Doyen of the brokers and chief executive officer, Trust Yield Securities Limited, Mr. Ola Yussuf, commended the Ministers for their supports.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Stakeholders seek more wards, constituencies

    The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola has said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is poised to make the 2015 general elections better than that of 2011, even as he said that Lagos may have more wards and constituencies if INEC criteria for such are met.

    Dr Ogunmola stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting the commission held for residents of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area and Oriade Local Council Development Area held at the INEC office in FESTAC Town Lagos.

    Soliciting for continued support to the commission in order to make the electoral process more meaningful, he disclosed that INEC has adopted a system of getting everybody involved in the electoral process.

    He maintained that the essence of the stakeholders’ meeting was to make every Nigerian contribute to the success of the electoral process in the country.

    He further said that INEC had rolled out a strategic plan covering 2012 to 2016 which aims at ensuring that INEC becomes one of the election management bodies in the world.

    “Towards this end, we’ve lined up series of activities that would ensure that 2015 elections are better than 2011 elections. We want to embark on continuous voter’s registration which will start in September. The continuous voter’s registration will be different from 2011 voter’s registration in two aspects.

    “The 2011 registration exercise was held within two weeks. This time round, we are not going to give a specific time frame. Once we start, it will continue for a long time to stop just few weeks before the elections.

    “Again, we are not going to have the registration in all the polling units. We will have designated registration centres within each local government. The essence is to register our children that have matured into voting age. We also want to capture in our database those who were not able to register for the 2011 elections. Those who successfully registered in 2011 need not register again because what they need is the permanent voter’s card from INEC,” he said.

    He therefore advised the electorate to ensure that they go to the polling booths with their own cards to avoid embarrassment during the voting process.

    Responding to requests for creation of more polling units by the chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area Hon. Ayodele A. Adewale, and Hon. Adio Olatunji Sekoni, the INEC Commissioner assured that more polling units would be created.

    He said: “We know since 2011 election that there was need for creation of more polling units in the two area councils. This time round, as against creation of satellite polling units during the 2011 elections, we are going to create permanent polling units. We are more than convinced that there is need for creation of more polling units.

    “Our people will go out to the field to determine which areas met the criteria for creation of extra polling units. I assure you that the election of 2015 will witness more polling units for Lagosians.

    “The commission is reviewing the number of constituencies in the country. There are 360 senatorial districts in all the states of the federation. The constituencies that are operating now were created in 1996 by the military. Based on this, a review of the constituencies is long overdue. So, INEC wants to embark on constituency delineation.”

    He, however, noted that the constraint INEC is experiencing is the constitutional provision that each state of the federation must have three constituencies; adding that as the figures were well spelt out in the constitution, INEC might find it somewhat taxing to go beyond the stipulated figures.

    Dr Ogunmola said what the electoral body would do is to seek an amendment of that particular section of the constitution, a memorandum to that effect, he said, INEC is planning to present to the National Assembly.

    He noted that if INEC succeeds in getting approval from the National Assembly for that particular section of the constitution to be amended, it would be easier for it to carry out its function of constituency review and delineation.

    Admitting that there are glaring cases of inequality in some of the constituencies in terms of population and representation, Dr Ogunmola said Alimosho Local Government Area is a clear case of under-representation of its people at the National Assembly.

    Dr Ogunmola said: “The 2006 population figure puts Alimosho Local Government Area at above 1.2 million and it has only one federal constituency. One person is representing 1.2 million people in the Federal House of Representatives.

    “There are other local governments in Lagos State and other states that have population of about100, 000 and they have one representative each. I believe that the people here are being short-changed. This is why we want to carry out constituency delineation.”

    Earlier in their addresses, the chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, Hon. Ayodele A. Adewale and one-time chairman of Oriade Local Council Development Area, Hon. Adio Olatunji Sekoni had demanded creation of more local government areas, wards and federal constituencies in Lagos State.

    Some of the dignitaries that attended the stakeholders’ meeting were the Administrative Secretary of INEC in Lagos State, Mr Isaac Itagboje, chairman Oriade Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi, member representing Amuwo-Odofin State Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Sultan Adeniji, Oriade council chairman of ACN Hon. Moshood Badmus, Head, Public Affairs and Protocol of INEC, Mr Femi Akinbuyi and the Alamuwo of Kuje-Amuwo, Oba Olayemi among others.

  • SEC, stakeholders to brainstorm on capital market financing

    SEC, stakeholders to brainstorm on capital market financing

    The Securities and Exchange Commission has said it will collaborate with the National Planning Commission to host an infrastructure roundtable aimed at finding remedy for Nigeria’s inadequate infrastructural stock.

    A statement by the Communications Adviser to the Director-General, SEC, Obi Adindu, said the roundtable would highlight the role of the capital market in Nigeria’s development and how to raise $360bn needed to solve the infrastructural deficit.

    According to the statement, the roundtable, scheduled to take place from August 5 to 6 in Lagos, will involve professionals from the public and private sectors.

    The Director-General, SEC, Ms. Arunma Oteh; the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; the Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen; the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, and the Director-General, Bureau for Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, as well as the Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, are all expected to speak at the event.

    While Usman will present the National infrastructure master plan at the event, the roundtable is also expected to witness a review of comparative global trends in resolving infrastructure challenge.

    The statement read in part, “The relevance of the capital markets in providing sustainable funding for the infrastructure needs which would have been given definition by the infrastructure ministers will be examined by a panel featuring largely principal officers of multilateral financial institutions such as the African Development Bank and International Finance Corporation.

    “Participants on this panel will include a representative each of the Rand Merchant Bank, Infrastructure Concessions Regulatory Commission, ARM Infrastructure Fund and Perchstone and Gray, an infrastructure finance specialist law firm.”

    In addition to this, capital market operators are also scheduled to discuss climatic and environmental factors which would encourage investment in infrastructure.

    The SEC added that the event would review legal issues and structuring and financing options.

  • Apapa model city plan: Lagos, stakeholders make input

    Lagos State Government has assembled stakeholders in Apapa and presented a draft of the Model City Plan for their input and harmonisation.

    This followed the planned re-modelling of various parts in the state to meet its mega city status.

    Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, Mr. Toyin Ayinde, said the vision of the Model City Plan is to create a modern Port City that is functional, conducive and well integrated with other parts of the state.

    According to him, the idea is to create a modern city, which promotes integrated, well- connected and sustainable community that is conducive for habitation and business as well as attractive to recreation, tourism and commerce.

    He said the plan covers the southern part of the state comprising Apapa Local Government, Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), parts of Eti-Osa West and Oriade LCDA.

    Ayinde said the Model City Plan, among others, would provide an effective framework for residential, industrial, commercial and institutional development in addition to facilitating inter- modal transport system, social cohesion, steady economic growth and live-able aesthetic environment.

    The commissioner said the plan, when implemented, would bring investment opportunities in commerce and tourism with a unique and pragmatic plan to effect efficient security systems.

    Apapa GRA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Aremu Vaughan Olushola, decried the frequent change of use of buildings in the area. He said at the last count, about four brothels, 18 hotels and four markets have sprung up in the area, causing a nuisance to residents.

    He urged the government to stop such action in the model city to encourage orderliness and harmonious living. Olushola frowned at the non- implementation of a judgment in favour of the residents against Okada riders compelling them to stop plying their trade in Apapa.

     

  • Stakeholders disagree on zoning in Rivers PDP

    The ex-leader of the Niger Delta Vigilance Movement, Ateke Tom and an Ogoni leader, Justice Peter Akere (rtd) have disagreed on zoning in the Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Akere, who is also the President of KAGOTE (Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme – the four Ogoni councils), an umbrella organisation of Ogoni people, said:”As far as the PDP is concerned nationally, zoning is the main plank of its policy.

    “It did not start today and it is not going to end too soon. “When the PDP discusses zoning as its policy, it is the National Executive Committee (NEC) that will take the decision and pass it down to the states, local governments and wards.

    “No state chapter has any decisive voice on the matter (zoning), unless it is directed by the NEC.

    “It is therefore surprising to hear Felix Obuah, the Rivers PDP Chairman, say that zoning is no longer applicable in Rivers State.

    “By the zoning policy of the party, which is still in force, the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District is the next zone to produce the governor. “So, it is anti-party to suggest that the zoning policy of the party has seized to be operative.

    “The Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, is introducing new elements in the principle of zoning.”

    But Ateke said: “The governor, in 2015, can come from any of the three senatorial districts. No to zoning. We need good governance.”

    The duo called on President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to end their rift.

  • Lagos, stakeholders urge action on cyber safety

    Stakeholders at a conference on cyber safety has called for a decisive intervention of governments at all levels to put in place measures which will protect, and rescue internet users, especially the most vulnerable-children and teenagers from on-line predators.

    In a statement the Director of Press and Public Relations, Lagos State Ministry of Science an Technology, Tunde Awobiyi, stated that stakeholders, who met at a conference put together by the Ministry and FB Innitiatives in Ikeja, included public and private school children, polytechnic and university students, educationists, policy makers and parents in the state. Concerns were raised about cyber safety, especially cases of predators taking advantage of the innocence of the children and teenage population on juvenile pornography, bullying, human trafficking and exploitation through extremism and child abuse.

    The Chief Executive Officer of FB Innitiatives, Mrs Funke Babatola, said the stakeholders have resolved to collaborate with the government to reverse the inadequate provision of legislation specific to children on-line protection, adding: “It is our duty to ensure that children are protected in the enjoyment of their basic rights and liberties.’’

  • Wike to open NECO stakeholders’ forum

    Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike will on Friday declare open a Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the National Examinations Council (NECO) for the Southwest Zone in Lagos.

    The theme of the Forum, “Repositioning NECO for more Effective Service Delivery: A Collective Approach” is aimed at involving stakeholders in the task of taking the council to the next level.

    Chairman, NECO Governing Board, Dr Paddy Njoku, in an interview said stakeholders expected at the forum include all the Southwest Governors and their Commissioners for Education, the National and Southwest Chairmen of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), as well as the National Parents Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN).

    Others include the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), secondary school principals under the umbrella of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and pupils, particularly those in SS 2.

    Njoku further disclosed that NECO Registrar, Prof Promise Nwachukwu Okpala, Prof Pai Obanya and Prof Nuhu Yakub are among the eminent scholars speaking at the event.

  • Stakeholders laud extension of BRT lanes to Ikorodu

    Stakeholders at the second expanded meeting called to assess the work done on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension from Mile 12 to Ikorodu yesterday praised the Lagos State government for the project.

    They gave kudos to the supervisory agency, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and the contractor, Messrs China Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), for keeping with the engineering designs and working towards its timely completion.

    The 13.5km project will add two BRT lanes to the road.

    Estimated at N29 billion, the World Bank assisted project, which began last August, is to be completed by December, next year.

    The meeting was attended by the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, who was represented by the Odofin, Prince Kayode Shotobi; Baales of communities on the corridor; community leaders; former Commissioner for Information Ayodele Elesho; Chairman, Ikorodu Exclusive Club, Chief Seye Akansipe and Chairman, Ikorodu Oga Development Association, Alhaji LAmidi Gbadamosi, among others.