Aso Villa Reads for 10/09/2019
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
According to Business Day, Nigeria’s crude oil exports rose to 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, the highest this year, according to Bloomberg tanker-tracking data, showing that rising sabotage of oil infrastructure has not significantly marred production. Another survey by oil markets analytics firm, S&P Global Platts, found that Nigeria which has often pumped more than its cap hits its highest production level since January 2015 of 1.98 million bpd. Production was 1.93 million in July. The oil sector posted a real growth rate of 5.5% as compared with the corresponding ones from a year earlier, says the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics.
Business Day reported that Nigeria and South Africa at the weekend reached an agreement to work towards permanent solutions to end recurring xenophobic attacks on migrants, including Nigerians in South Africa. This is the outcome of the visit by the Special Envoy sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to South Africa in the wake of recent xenophobic attacks on migrants, including Nigerians according to a statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Monday. President Buhari has also given instruction for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians who are willing to return home.
The Federal Government is committed to resolving the challenges facing the power sector and ensure improved power supply to Nigerians. According to Vanguard, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipreye Sylva, made this known on the sidelines of the 24th World Energy Congress (WEC), taking place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In a statement issued by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mr NDU Ughamadu in Abuja, the minister said: ”energy is always at the heart of our prosperity because, in Nigeria, oil is central to our national development. Power today has become very central to everything we do.” The Minister, who described as apt the Conference’s theme: “Energy for Prosperity”, maintained that addressing Nigeria’s energy needs would go a long way in Nigeria’s march towards industrialization.
The federal government, Tuesday unveiled the draft 2020–2022 Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) with a projected total budget of N9,789,243.466 for 2020. It expressed concern that the country faces significant medium term fiscal challenges, especially with respect to revenue generation and rapid growth in personnel costs. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who unveiled the 2020–2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) in Abuja, Tuesday, stated that the 2020 budget would be predicated on a lower oil production of 2.18 million barrels per day (mbpd) and lower benchmark oil price of $55 per barrel. This Day reported.
According to This Day, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Shadrach Usman Haruna as the new Secretary of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA). He replaces Mrs. Roli Bode George whose tenure as NDLEA Secretary lapsed in June 2018. The appointment is with immediate effect. Spokesman of the agency, Jonah Acheme said according to the NDLEA enabling Act, CAP N30 LFN 2004, the “Secretary shall be appointed by the President and shall be the head of Secretariat of the Agency, charged with the responsibility of administrative duties, keeping the books, setting agenda and implementing decisions.” Acheme said Haruna is an accomplished national and international law practitioner.
Minister of the FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has called on civil servants in the FCTA, to be transparent and eschew all acts of corruption in the discharge of their responsibilities and to also work as a team to meet the mandate of the FCTA. He stated this while being briefed by the FCTA Department of Treasury in his ongoing meetings with heads and management staff of Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) of the FCTA. As reported by Daily Trust, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the treasury department, especially the prompt payment of salaries and emoluments of workers, as well as contractors and pensioners.
