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Tag: FG

  • Diversify Economy By Focusing On Untapped Sectors- Stakeholders Urge FG

    Diversify Economy By Focusing On Untapped Sectors- Stakeholders Urge FG

    Stakeholders from various sectors have called on the Federal Government, FG, to diversify the nation’s economy by focusing on all untapped sectors such as tourismoand also make a significant U-turn from over reliance on petroleum resources.

    The call was made by the executive director, Advocacy for Good Ethics and Accountability Development, AGEAD, Mr. Henry Thomas at its 2nd legacy summit, held, during the week, in Abuja.

    They emphasized that Nigeria possesses vast arable land, a large labour force, and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit, which could be harnessed to drive growth and create employment opportunities.

    Thomas addressing newsmen, said: “The year 2023 has been a very challenging and difficult year for almost everyone in the country. Nigeria, as a country, has no business with poverty. The country has rich natural and human resources.

    “Nigeria was a leading producer of many sectors such as the apparel, garment, arts and crafts, cosmetics, and the beauty industry and agro-commodities contributed immensely to the growth of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “However, the discovery of oil in 1956 marked a major setback to other important productive sectors of the country’s economy. Oil has been almost like a national anthem ever since my existence, but it is quite unfortunate that leaders have come and gone without a solution. It is on this note that it is imperative to think and proffer solutions because the only way is to know the problem and the solution finds its way.

    “The message I’m trying to pass is that our adventure and expedition into oil for the past 60 years hasn’t led us anywhere and it is time for us to make a U-turn back to where we are coming from, let’s go back to Agriculture, let’s go back to mining, let’s go back to culture and tourism, let’s go back to technical education and production.”

    Speaking on the need for the country to tap into the wealth of the creative industry, the Rector Federal Polytechnic Auchi Edo state, and former Director of Performing Arts, National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Sam Agbi said: “Tourism goes for a reason, there must be an attraction. Without attraction, there is no tourism.

    “You leave your house for a purpose. You don’t just travel just like that, there must be a reason and so you marry tourism and culture. But, in the case of Nigeria, it is only cultural tourism that we have a comparative advantage.

    “Nigeria has no comparative advantage when you say you want to develop beach tourism. Which mountain do you have that you can compare with others in the world? Is it wildlife? Is it conferences, I don’t know for now. So, the only tourism we can market is cultural tourism and if we develop that aspect of cultural tourism, Nigeria has to have a huge amount of money in terms of foreign exchange and arrivals.

    “One of the qualities of this creative industry for instance is that some of them are a royal economy, they stimulate the royal economy because they are residing with the people. Whenever I tell my children that I want to travel home, they will say ok because there is a policy of you have to follow me to know your home.

    “So, what I am saying is that the incentives at home are not favorable. Nobody would want to stay in the village and not have facilities but those with wealth, those with creative industries, most of them are in the village, they reside with the people. If you don’t develop it, you’re not developing the rural economy. If a government really wants to develop that aspect of the economy, it is helping to generate income for the people that dwell in that environment.”

  • Resolve strike within 2 weeks or risk nationwide strike- NLC warns FG

    Resolve strike within 2 weeks or risk nationwide strike- NLC warns FG

    Following the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government in resolving issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Lagos State chapter, on Tuesday, issued a two-week ultimatum to the former.

    The Lagos NLC chairperson, Mrs Agnes Sessy during a protest in Ikeja, urged the government to act or risk another #ENDSARS protest.

    The NLC and other university unions took to the streets of Lagos to protest the ongoing ASUU strike on Tuesday.

    She said: “If the Federal Government does not resolve the strike within two weeks, there would be a nationwide mass protest. In fact, the ENDSARS protest would be a child’s play.”

  • FG’s plans to increase oil, gas reserves on course – DPR

    FG’s plans to increase oil, gas reserves on course – DPR

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says the Federal Government’s plans to increase the nation’s oil and gas reserves, are on course and being boosted by strategic policies and programmes.

    Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Osu said the national aspiration of Nigeria was to increase its reserves from 36.91 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels, in the short to midterm.

    He said the government was also targeting increasing Nigeria’s proven gas reserves from 206.53TCF to 250TCF.

    According to him, the strategic focus for Upstream includes bid rounds, reserve growth, increased production and reduction of production cost per barrel.

    Osu said majority of the companies that won the bid for the nation’s 57 marginal oilfields, had paid their signature bonuses to the Federal Government.

    He noted that about 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day, would be added to Nigeria’s production volume within the next few years, when the fields begin production.

    Osu said the government was also looking at increasing frontier exploration activities, which had been given a boost by the recent signing of the Petroleum Industry Act, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    In terms of increasing production, he said the DPR had initiated the Maximum Economic Recovery ( MER) strategy for the oil and gas industry and would be rewarding deserving individuals and companies.

    Osu said plans to reduce cost of production to $10pb was still being implemented and was achievable, in order to attract more investors to the sector.

    He said the DPR would continue to create opportunities for investors and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, as well as enable the successes of businesses, using its service instruments of licences, permits and approvals. (NAN)

  • Withdraw suit against striking doctors, NMA urges FG

    Withdraw suit against striking doctors, NMA urges FG

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Enugu State has urged the Federal Government to withdraw the case instituted against the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to bring about amicable resolution.

    Chairman of NMA Enugu State Branch, Dr Jude Onyia, made the call in Enugu while speaking to newsmen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ministry of Health, and the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour approached the National Industrial Court through an ex-parte motion praying for order of interlocutory injunction restraining NARD in all States of the Federation from further continuing with the industrial action embarked on Aug. 2.

    Onyia noted that at no time had court suits brought amicably settlement of industrial disputes.

    ‘For a harmonious settlement to be reached, dialogue is the only answer”.

    ”Resident doctors have remained the main professional workforce in tertiary health institutions in the country. They constitute over 50 per cent of the workforce,” he said.

    The chairman noted that the medical consultants might be working but it might not be effective; and the number of patients to be attended to would be reduced as well.

    He noted:“the striking doctors are enjoying the sympathy of the general public”, adding that it would be in the best interest of all for amicable settlement and plights of doctors looked into objectively.

    “The National Executive Council of the NMA will be meeting on Wednesday, in Benin, where we hope to discuss the strike extensively but the Federal Government must withdraw the suit against NARD.

    “The government needs to also withdraw the circular by the Head of Service removing House Officers and NYSC doctors from the scheme of service.

    “There should be relative atmosphere of peace for dialogue and round table discussion, which is the needed negotiation to take place,’’ he said.

    He lamented the insensitivity of the paltry N5,000 given to doctors as hazard allowance in the face of their exposure to dreaded diseases such Lassa fever, Ebola and COVID-19, which had claimed the lives of some doctors already.

    “The government and entire nation have to rally round our doctors to check their exodus from the country, which portends more danger for the health sector and well being of the entire citizens.

    “If, the current number of doctors still giving service in the country, is further reduced, it will surely tell on the health system of the country and the burden will be enormous.

    “The capacity of the medical system to have good number of doctors to attend to unforeseen nationwide health emergencies would be hampered,” he warned.

    NAN reports that NARD began its strike on Aug. 2, over what it called the failure of the government to meet its demands after they entered a memorandum of action in 2014.

    One of the demands was for the withdrawal of the circular by the Head of Service removing House Officers and NYSC doctors from the scheme of service.

    NARD also wants the federal and state governments to address the issues of welfare, training and service delivery. (NAN)

  • FG partners Hungarian coy on aircraft assembly, manufacturing plant

    FG partners Hungarian coy on aircraft assembly, manufacturing plant

    The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to partner the Magnus Aircraft Manufacturing industry in Hungary to establish an assembly plant in the country.

    The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, said this in a statement by the ministry’s Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu, in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Sirika had expressed the interest of the Federal Government when he paid an inspection visit to the Magnus Aircraft Industry in Pogany, Hungary on Monday.

    He said: “if we venture with them, we may start with assembly plant and later manufacturing in the country.

    “Magnus aircraft is an aeroplane that is good for military training, has capability for aerobatic maneuvering and is made of fully composite materials with high strength and very light weight.”

    Sirika said he was satisfied with the features of the aircraft and was willing to facilitate the production of the aeroplanes in the country.

    The minister added that one of the significant features of the Magnus aircraft was that it used normal car petrol and outperformed any training aircraft of its kind.

    He said the proposed partnership with the aircraft manufacturer would be subjected to further analysis to verify the market and government’s willingness to partner with a significant amount of money and logistics.

    Sirika emphasised that the local production of aircraft in the country would facilitate the growth of Nigeria as a regional aviation super power.

    According to him, this will also come with maintenance and repair facilities that will attract patronage from neighbouring countries.

    The minister said the present administration had created an attractive environment for international investors in the country, especially in the aviation sector.

    He said this included the ongoing implementation of the development roadmap, which placed emphasis on public private partnerships. (NAN)

  • Dangote, MTN others to build 794km road with tax credit – FG

    Dangote, MTN others to build 794km road with tax credit – FG

    The Federal Government says about 794kms of road have been priotised for construction by eligible companies through Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

    The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this in Washington DC during his on-going engagement with various global media outlets, global think tanks and influencers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the engagement is to enable the minister put across the correct narratives about what is happening in Nigeria, showcase government achievements and present challenges facing the country.

    During his respective interaction with Reuters and Washington Post, the minister said, so far, 11 states covering all the six geopolitical zones would benefit from the road project scheme made possible by Executive Order No. 7.

    He identified the companies that had taken the advantage of the initiative as Dangote Industries, Unilever, Julius Berger, MTN, BUA Group of Companies, Access Bank, Transcorp, Lafarge and GZI Industries.

    Mohammed said the companies would engage in providing big roads and bridges in exchange for tax credit.

    NAN reports that the completed 43km Obajana-Kabba road in Kogi, which is the Nigeria’s longest concrete road, was constructed by Dangote through the tax credit scheme.

    The minister also told the media outlets that the western world should looks into helping developing nation like Nigeria in developing their infrastructure,

    He sad by doing so, it would help in employing more people, particularly youths, and make it difficult for ideological group like Boko Haram to recruit them.

    He said the areas where Nigeria needed a lot of partnership and support was in the power sector.

    “We have embarked on a very ambitious programme of providing 3,000mw of electricity at the Mambilla Hydro power project which will cost about 5.8 billion dollars.

    “We have been able to secure a loan from the Chinese and they are ready to secure 85 per cent of the cost while we provide 15 per cent.

    “When the project is completed it is going to be a game changer in terms of providing power for Nigerians,’’ he said.

    The minister said the government had also intervened in not less than 28 road projects through Sukuk Bond. (NAN)

  • FG trains castor farmers on new production techniques in Kano

    FG trains castor farmers on new production techniques in Kano

    The Federal Government has trained castor farmers drawn from the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kano on new production techniques and good agricultural practice.

    The training, which was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), was held on Thursday in Kano.

    Mr Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, FMARD, said the training was part of efforts to attain food security and self-sufficiency as well as improve the livelihood of castor farmers.

    According to him, government’s creation of awareness on castor farming was geared towards achieving set objectives.

    He noted that castor was the most versatile plant, used in over 10 different industries for various products.

    “The seed contains between 40 to 70 per cent oil, which is unique among vegetable oils because it is the only commercial source of a hydroxylated fatty acid.

    “The demand for castor oil has kept on increasing in the international market assured by 700 users, ranging from medicine and cosmetics, to biodiesel, plastic and lubricants,” he explained.

    According to him, the FMARD, through the value chain, has so far distributed over seven million kilogram of breeder foundation castor seeds as palliative to castor farmers in order to cushion the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    Umakhihe, who was represented by Mr Ukattah Bernard, Deputy Director, Tree Crops, noted that the capacity building, was coming at a crucial moment of the country’s recovery from a difficult spell of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He said that the current administration was determined to turn around the nation’s economy, including agriculture, through its unwavering support for farmers and empowerment of women and youths.

    The permanent secretary enjoined participants to take advantage of the opportunity to address food insufficiency and insecurity in the country.

    The Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Muhammad Faguci, said the training was aimed at building the capacity of castor farmers.

    According to him, Nigeria imports castor oil to the tune of about N30 billion annually, noting that the capacity building was one of the efforts to bridge the gap.

    He noted that through the training, the country would be self-sufficient in castor oil production and even export it for commercial purposes.

    Earlier, the Coordinator of Prestigious Bridge Institute, Dr Aisha Yusuf, urged the participants to ensure that their castor seeds were of the quality and standard that would compete in the global market.

    Yusuf added that the workshop would improve the farmers’ technical know-how in castor farming as well as improve their business.

    The Chairman, Castor Farmers Association, Kano Chapter, Malam Muhammad Buhari, who spoke on behalf of the participants, commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for organising the training.

    He promised that castor farmers in the state would make judicious use of the knowledge received from the training, as well retrain others.(NAN)

  • FG to build 3 new custodial centres

    FG to build 3 new custodial centres

    The Federal Government will be constructing three new custodial centres with 3,000 capacity to ease congestion in correctional homes in the country.

    The Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, made this known on Friday at the inauguration of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Osun State Command Headquarters Complex, in Osogbo.

    Aregbesola said the new custodial facilities would be cited in Karchi in Abuja, Kano, and Bori in Rivers.

    According to the minister, each of the facilities will have courts for the trial of inmates.

    He said the Federal Government’s plan was to extend the construction of such capacity custodial centres to the six geopolitical zones in the country.

    The minister disclosed that the custodial project in Kano was near completion.

    Aregbesola said when the custodial projects were completed, they would help to ease congestion considerably and enhance the capacity to manage facilities for corrections of inmates.

    The minister explained that the national custodial centres currently had the capacity to accommodate 57,278 inmates.

    “But as of the last count, earlier in the week, there is a total population of 68,747 inmates, indicating an overpopulation capacity of 18 per cent,” he said.

    He said the government had been addressing the challenges of congestion.

    The minister noted that at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministries of Interior and Justice initiated a presidential pardon and amnesty programme for inmates.

    According to him, some federal offenders benefited from the programme and got reprieve, while the state governments got recommendations and guidelines for the release of their own convicts.

    Aregbesola said that over 5,000 inmates had so far been released under the programme.

    Also speaking, Mr Haliru Nababa, the Controller General of Corrections, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), commended President Muhammadu Buhari for extending his magnanimity to the NCoS, regarding budgetary allocation.

    Nababa said there had been significant improvement in infrastructural intervention with several projects undertaken and completed for use between 2015 till date.

    He thanked the Interior Minister for his pragmatic leadership and support that had greatly encouraged the NCoS to thrive beyond expectations.

    Nababa assured the government that the service would justify the huge investments put in place saying that officers would put in their utmost best in discharging their statutory duties (NAN)

  • Buhari urges stronger synergy with States to develop infrastructure

    Buhari urges stronger synergy with States to develop infrastructure

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on state governments to build stronger partnerships with Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies to provide infrastructure that will meet the growing needs of Nigerians.

    The president also urged the National Assembly to pass the National Water Resources Bill.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman in a statement, said Buhari made the calls while inaugurating the Zobe Regional Water Supply Scheme in Dustin-ma, Katsina State.

    The president said the water project was initiated by a previous administration in 1992, and the Federal Government had to work in collaboration with the state to ensure completion.

    “I am particularly delighted to be physically here today for the commissioning ceremony which has been on hold for over one year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    “As you all know, the implementation of this very important project that commenced in 1992 suffered neglects under past administrations primarily due to lack of attention that resulted in poor funding and ultimate abandonment.

    “It is therefore gratifying to note the positive efforts made by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to salvage the project leading to its completion and eventual commissioning today.

    “I have also noted the effective collaboration between the Ministry and Katsina State Government for execution of different components of the project as enshrined in the Memorandum of Understanding entered into by both parties way back in October 2017 when the project was resuscitated,” he said.

    Buhari enjoined other sectors to emulate the good practice of federal and state governments’ partnership to accelerate infrastructure development.

    The president said the administration would work towards ensuring that all Nigerians, irrespective of location in the country, have access to adequate potable water supply and sanitation facilities as enshrined in the SDG target.

    “However, for this national aspiration to be realized, we need to mobilize funds from all sources including the private sector.

    ”This is where the need for quick passage of the National Water Resources Bill that made provision for the National WASH Fund, as well as regulatory environment for private sector involvement in the sector, become relevant.

    “I therefore call on the National Assembly to give attention to the Bill towards its passage into law as soon as possible,” he added.

    The president noted that from the inception of the administration there had been a serious commitment to the development of the water sector through various efforts.

    “Approval of the National Water Resources Policy by the Federal Executive Council in September 2016.

    ”Approval of a 15-year Roadmap developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in 2016.

    ”Approval and Launching of Partnership for Expanded Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Program in November 2016.

    ”Approval of the National WASH Action Plan for the revitalization of the sector and declaration of a “State of Emergency” on the sector in November 2018 and Launching of the “Clean Nigeria Campaign” in 2019 to make Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2025.”

    He said Executive Order Number 9 was signed in support of the Clean Nigeria Campaign Implementation and improved funding of the sector from special sources.

    According to him, the transformation being witnessed in the sector under the above listed efforts is highly commendable.

    ”I enjoin the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to continue the good work towards meeting our national aspirations as well as meeting the targets for water supply and sanitation under the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” he said.

    He urged Gov. Aminu Masari, who signed an agreement to take over the project from the Federal Government, and community leaders to operate the facility efficiently, and jealously guard against vandalization.

    In his remarks, the governor said the Federal Government had shown strong commitment to the development of communities.

    He pointed out that the Zobe Regional Water scheme would address a major concern by supplying water for households, businesses and farms.

    Masari said the project had to be separated into two phases in 2016 to enable completion, noting that by 2018 the first phase had been completed to provide more than 50 million litres of water to some communities in the state.

    The governor called for more partnership to develop the state, adding that the government would keep providing the enabling environment.

    Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said 106 water projects were left uncompleted by various administrations.

    He, however, pledged that the Federal Government would ”keep working hard to ensure that Nigerians get adequate supply of water”.

    He said the Zobe multi-purpose dam would provide the needed water that would be treated to meet acceptable national and global standards.

    Deputy Governor of Katsina, Mannir Yakubu, who is the Chairman of the water project scheme and Emir of Kastina, Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, thanked the president for his intervention.

    “He who gives water gives life,’’ the Emir said. (NAN)

  • Expert advises FG on mineral value addition

    Expert advises FG on mineral value addition

    A Metallurgical Expert, Mr Kehinde Olabusuyi, has advised the Federal Government to pay more attention on adding value to every mineral extracted in Nigeria.
    Olabusuyi gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
    Nigeria has a wealth of extractive resources. However, most of its minerals are extracted and exported in their raw state.

    The processing of its minerals into higher value output and products is most often done elsewhere.

    Hence, the country is not only earning the minimum amount from its resources through the export of unprocessed ores but also restricting opportunities to diversify the economies, thereby leaving the country vulnerable to the fluctuations of global resource markets.

    In many countries, extractive industries operate as enclaves separated from other economic activities. Inherently capital intensive, they provide few opportunities for host country suppliers, assemblers or manufacturers.

    Olabusuyi said that adding value to minerals would help create more jobs for the youth, boost our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and promote export of finished mineral products from the country.

    According to him, it will help to prevent our minerals from being exported in raw form in a manner that Nigeria crude oil is being exported.
    “Value addition on mineral is a way to prevent what has happened in the oil sector from happening in the mineral sector, so that our raw minerals will not be taken out, refined and sold to us at exorbitant rates like oil.
    “If we add value on our minerals they will sell at higher prices, government will make more money as well as creates jobs to our teeming youths,” he said.
    He said that without a legal backing, value addition would not be achieved, urging the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to make corrections on its mineral value addition policy draft, that was rejected by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
    According to him, the Federal government is making efforts to revive Ajaokuta Steel Company but trying to avoid repeat of past mistakes. (NAN)