Aso Villa Reads for 10/12/2019
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
According to Business Day, Sale Mamman, the Minister of Power, has urged state governments to invest in power generation and distribution to supplement the efforts of the Federal Government, assuring that they would enjoy maximum support from the apex government. The minister made the call after inspecting two power projects embarked upon by the Cross Rivers State Government in Calabar, a statement issued by the Ministry on Saturday said. The 26MW diesel-powered plant is almost completed while, a 23MW gas powered project at Tinapa is at over sixty percent completion. The minister lauded the efforts of the Cross Rivers State Government for its huge investment in the power sector and urged other state governments to emulate this effort. Sale in the statement noted that there was enough space in the power sector for states to participate in other to provide adequate Power to Nigerians. He assured that the Federal government was ready to collaborate with and support every state willing to invest in the power sector and pledged to assist the Cross Rivers State government in its current endeavour.
President Buhari on Monday launched the financial transparency policy and open treasury portal to deepen fight against corruption in Nigeria. According to the president, the policy is in furtherance of his commitment to improving governance and his presidential mandate to facilitate the fight against corruption. “In facilitating the fight against corruption, it is crucial that transparency is not only encouraged but also enforced at all levels. In order to demonstrate transparency and accountability to the public and its cooperating partners and build trust in government”. Tayo Alasoadura, Minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs representing the President at the launch of the federal government financial transparent policy in Abuja, said that the policy is aimed at enabling timely availability of financial information to the civil society organization and the public at large by all MDAs of the federal government”. He explained that policy requires the office of the Accountant general of the federation and all MDAs to publish the daily treasury statement, daily payments report, and monthly budget performance reports within 7 days of the end of the month, quarterly financial statements by MDAs. He said “The financial transparency policy publication requirements and transparency thresholds includes; audited financial statement for the federal government and all public sector entities within a month or the end of the first quarter of the following year”. Business Day reports.
As reported by People’s Daily, the Dangote Group has reiterated its commitment towards partnering various tiers of Governments in the country, in building sustainable, and inclusive economy for the benefit of all Nigerians. In this regard, the Group said it has concluded plans to scale up investment in the agricultural sector, in response to the on-going public policy focus of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Group made the disclosure on Sunday in Kano, during a ceremony organised to mark it’s ‘Special Day’, at the on-going 40 th Kano International Trade Fair, noting that it particularly, intends expanding its sugar industry. Mansur Ahmed, Group Executive Director, strategy and governmental relations, who represented the President/CE, Aliko Dangote at the Special Day, hinted that as part of the Company `s support to the development of agric sector, the 3 million ton per year Fertilizer Plant it is developing is set for commissioning early next year. Aliko said that the Conglomerate also intends kick-starting the developing of six Large Scale Rice Milling Plants to be situated in six northern states namely Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi, and Sokoto, with a combined total milling capacity of 1.5 million per annum.
President Muhammadu Buhari has recommended a multilateral approach to combat terrorism in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States. Buhari made the call during the plenary of the ninth Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the ACP Group of States in Nairobi, Kenya. Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said terrorist activities continue to cause serious threats to both human security and international peace, maintaining that without an assurance of global peace and sanctity of lives and property, the ACP will be impossible. As reported by Sun News, Buhari said: “Today, terrorist activities continue to pose serious threats to human security and international peace. Without assured global peace as well as sanctity of lives and properties, the ACP of our dreams would be a mirage. “The ACP Group of States is well-positioned to recommend multi-lateral deterrent measures and future readiness mechanisms that would discourage the spread of terrorism through advancement of the rule of law, human rights, democratic values, tolerance and inclusiveness as articulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10 and 16 in the Post Cotonou Agreement.”
The Federal Government has initiated moves to secure a $500 million African Development Bank (AfDB) fund for technology innovation, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Richard Adebayo, has said. Adebayo, said this in an opening address at the 11th meeting of the National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment in Uyo on Monday. He said the FG would also work towards the realisation of one agro processing zone in each senatorial district to encourage farmers in the country. He also expressed committment to ensure credit access to 10 million Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) at single digit rate and fully activate the private sector six special zones in Lekki, Enyimba, Funtua, Ibom, Kano and Benue. Adebayo explained that the policies were meant to boost FG strategy towards the realisation of taking 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years. He said that the ministry had already initiated and implemented the One Local Government One product Programme expected to generate over 4,900 new jobs and had established three facilities to help revamp MSMEs in Sokoto, Aba and Minna. Daily Times reports.
