Aso Villa Reads for 02/10/2020

Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday in Abuja approved a budgetary proposal of N13.08trillion for the 2021 fiscal year. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, made this known when she briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting. She explained that the total aggregate revenue projected for the 2021 budget was N7.89 trillion with a deficit of N4.48 trillion. According to the minister, the total capital expenditure projected in the budget is 29 percent of the aggregate expenditure, saying the 29 per cent is an improvement over the 24 percent projected in budget 2020. “We have a total aggregate revenue of N7.89 trillion and also an aggregate expenditure of N13.08 trillion for 2021. There’s a fiscal deficit of N4.489 trillion, this represents 3.64%, slightly above what is required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 3% and also to report that the total capital expenditure that is projected in the Budget is 29% of the aggregate expenditure.” The minister disclosed that the performance of the 2020 budget, as at July for revenue, was 68 per cent, while its performance for expenditure was 92 per cent. The minister disclosed that the performance of the 2020 budget, as at July for revenue, was 68 per cent, while its performance for expenditure was 92 per cent.[Guardian]

The $1.6bn Lagos-Ibadan railway project will be completed in December this year or early January 2021, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, announced on Thursday. Amaechi, who disclosed this during a live television programme that also had the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in attendance virtually, said he would work with Fashola and the Lagos State Government to move heavy duty trucks away from roads. During the programme, which was monitored by our[Punch] correspondent in Abuja, Fashola, while responding to a question, insisted that Nigerian roads would not last without the construction and usage of functional rail lines. Amaechi said the transfer of cargoes to rail would start majorly with the Lagos-Ibadan rail line, adding that the line should be completed this December or early January next year. The minister stated that in two to three years, the Ibadan-Kano rail line would have received a lot of work, adding that more cargoes would move on the rail line.

The federal government has shared the sum of N993, 450, 000 under the Conditional Cash Transfer programme (CCT) to 24,929 beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom State. The cash was handed over when the programme was flagged off yesterday by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, at the Holy Child Primary School at Nung Udoe, Itak, Ikono Local Government Area. The minister said the 24,929 beneficiaries were drawn from nine local government areas or 30 percent of the states. The local government areas that benefited from the cash transfers are Eastern Ibolo, Mkpat Enin, Nsit Atari, Nsit Ubium, Onna Ukanafun, Uruan, Orukanam and Ikono. She also commended the people of the state, particularly the women, for excelling in virtually all areas of human endeavours in spite of mounting odds. The minister stressed that other social protection schemes such as the CCT, the Youth Employment and Social Support Operations, Community and Social Development Programme, were established under the coordination of National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) to implement the federal government poverty alleviation initiative programmes.[This Day]

The Nigerian government on Wednesday said it had agreed to lift the ban placed on Emirates Airlines from operating into and out of the country based on the undertaking by the authorities of the United Arabs Emirates (UAE). According to the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, the commencement of the airline’s operations would however depend on the commencement of visa issuance by the UAE. Sirika, in a statement by Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, James Odaudu in Abuja, said that UAE had written to state that they agreed to issue visas to Nigerians, consequently decision had been reached to allow Emirates to fly into Nigeria. He noted, “commencement of the Visa issuance is condition precedent. Please bear with this unusual situation.” The statement further read: “Minister appreciates the understanding of everyone who has been negatively affected by the recent policy decisions which forbade some airlines from operating into the country when Nigeria reopened its air space to international flights.” Sirika added that the decisions were taken to protect the interests of the nation and its citizens who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, same way Nigeria treats other nationals.[This Day]

The Federal Government on Friday announced that all Unity Schools in Nigeria should resume with effect from October 12. The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, stated this during a press conference in Abuja. According to the minister, schools across the country, are at liberty to fix resumption dates and ensure adequate safety measures. Adamu warned that schools who fail to adhere to outlined COVID-19 safety protocol, risk closure if there is an outbreak from such institutions. He said, “We have consulted widely with all stakeholders in the education sector. Our eyes and ears are opened to the international media. I’m glad to report that there has not been any single case of COVID-19 in all Unity Schools. No single fatality among the students. We have come to the conclusion that we have to review our decisions. After consultation with PTF, we have resolved that our Unity Schools be opened on October 12, 2020.”[Punch]

As the nation marked its 60th independence anniversary on Thursday, the Military High Command said on Friday that following its several operations against criminal elements in the country, troops successfully neutralized 869 bandits, terrorists and kidnappers, militia and cattle rustlers in the last three months. It said a total of 321 kidnapped victims were rescued a total of 1,708 arrests were made as well as recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition. made this known in Abuja just as he noted that a cumulative total of Nine Million, Forty Thousand, Three Hundred (9,040,300) litres of stolen AGO and Thirty Three Thousand Five Hundred (33, 500.00) litres of DPK were recovered from anti-crude oil and anti-bunkering operations. “Also, a cumulative total of Thirty Seven Thousand One Hundred and Seventeen (37,117) barrels of stolen crude oil was recovered. Additionally, a cumulative total of Nine Hundred and Fourteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seven Thousand (914,707) litres of stolen PMS was recovered.” He said gallant troops immobilized a total of 70 illegal refining sites, 66 dug out pits and 134 metal storage tanks within the period. Giving details of the operations, General Enenche said, “In the North-West zone of the country, between 1 July and 30 September 2020, a total of 3,829 livestock, 6,830 rounds of ammunition and 93 assorted rifles were recovered from the armed bandits by the gallant troops in the zone. Furthermore, within the period under review, a total of 91 kidnapped victims were rescued and 312 armed bandits were killed in action. In the same vein, a total of 391 arrests were made in the zone including high profile armed bandits, gun runners and bandit’s collaborators. A total cash of Four Million, Eight Hundred Thousand naira (N4, 800, 000.00) was recovered from armed bandit’s informants in the zone. In the North-East zone of the country within the period, 66 kidnapped victims were rescued by the gallant troops of operation Lafiya Dole.”[Vanguard]

The success of the Itakpe-Warri rail line project, which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, is a clear testimony of the president’s resolve to provide and improve lasting infrastructural amenities that impact positively on lives of citizens across the length and breadth of Nigeria, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has said. Lars Richter, managing director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, said this in a goodwill message for the inauguration of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri railway facilities. Richter, who was represented by Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi, Julius Berger’s executive director (Administration), congratulated the president as well as the minister of transportation on the success of the project. The further expanded scope of work included the construction of a section of railway formation and laying of tracks from near Agbarho to Delta Steel Mill at Ovwian/Aladja; completion of 20 overpasses and bridges; and construction of level crossings, hydraulic drainage structures and associated works, he said. He announced that the 22km track-laying work from Ovu to Aladja has been completed and the overbridges and overpasses have also been successfully accomplished. The completed railway and railway service facilities, he said, include the maintenance workshop and warehouse, the vehicle maintenance depot and workshop; the railway trucks refuelling station; first aid station, and the furnished railway station offices.[Business Day]

Bell Oil and Gas Limited has broken ground on a pipe threading and valve assembly project in Lekki Free Trade Zone. The integrated facility will provide a range of piping and tubular services for the nation’s oil and gas industry, according to a statement on Sunday. The company said the facility would also have a valve assembling plant, maintenance workshop, testing plant, a composite fabrication facility and also serve as a befitting fabrication yard in general. The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr Simbi Wabote, was quoted as saying at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday that the project would reduce the country’s dependence on importation of threaded pipes into the country. Wabote, who was represented by the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, NCDMB, Mr Tunde Adelana, described the establishment of a facility that would make it possible to assemble threaded OCTG pipes and valves in-country as a welcome addition to the list of existing assembly plants in the country. “Nigeria deserves more of such initiatives in the oil and gas sector,” he said.[NIPC]

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