Aso Villa Reads for 09/09/2019
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The recent closure of Nigeria’s borders has significantly led to a reduction in the smuggling of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, out of Nigeria, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said. In July this year, Punch reported that smugglers of PMS smuggled the commodity to as far as Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire. But the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mele Kyari, tweeted that the closure of Nigeria’s borders towards the end of August this year, as well as other interventions, had helped in reducing the smuggling of petrol. “Significant drop in PMS evacuation from fuel depots noted since August 22nd. May be connected to border closure and other interventions of the security agencies aimed at curbing smuggling. We will contain smuggling of PMS,” Kyari stated.
According to Punch, the Bureau of Public Procurement has said it saved more than N26.86bn for the Federal Government in 2018 after revising inflated contract sums submitted by government contractors. BPP said this in its 2018 annual report, which was obtained from the bureau by News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja. The bureau reviews contracts awarded to contractors by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government before issuing a certificate of ‘No Objection’, which allows the establishments to proceed with the projects. The report explained that the BPP saved the amount in the course of undertaking the review of contracts.
Federal Ministry of Health has said that it has disbursed over N1.8 billion for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition in 18 States in the last two years. Dr Chris Isokpunwu, Head Nutrition Division, who made this disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, noted that the fund was disbursed between 2017 and 2018. Isokpunwu said in 2017, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with UNICEF for the counterpart contribution for the procurement of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food, RUTF. “Between that 2017 and now, the ministry has contributed and disbursed about N1.8billion as counterpart contribution for the procurement of the commodity. Punch reported.
According to ThisDay, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the promotion of fiscal transparency, improved public procurement, citizen engagement and empowerment as part of current efforts at strengthening anti-corruption reforms in the country. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), reinforced the government’s commitment over the weekend while addressing participants at a Validation Retreat on the 2nd National Action Plan (NAP) for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Nigeria. Malami, who also doubles as the Coordinating Minister, OGP, Nigeria, disclosed that within the next few months, a service-wide circular will be published to set out the modalities for the establishment of the OGP Units in MDAs, adding that efforts are on to ensure the domestication of the OGP by all states of the federation.
As reported by Guardian, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has solicited the support of the World Bank in establishing an effective medical emergency transportation network in rural communities. Ehanire, who made the appeal in a statement issued by Mrs. Enefaa Bob-Manuel, Head of Press and Public Relations of the ministry on Sunday, in Abuja, said this would help in addressing challenges of medical emergencies in Nigeria. Bob-Manuel said the minister spoke when he received a World Bank team on a mission for the Multi-phased Programmatic Approach (MPA): Improved Child Survival for Human Capital, Nigeria State Health Investment Project (NSHIP) and Polio. He said plans were underway for the establishment of an emergency response outfit by the ministry to tackle emergency cases towards curbing preventable deaths due to abject poverty.
