Aso Villa Reads for 14/05/18
Every day, we bring you the best stories the media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria.
According to Punch, “the Nigerian Air Force on Sunday deployed 150 personnel of its special forces to its newly established 23 Quick Response Wing in Nguroje, Sarduana Local Government Council in Taraba. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who addressed the troops in Jalingo before their departure, urged them to partner other security agencies to support Taraba in containing insecurity. Other Quick Response Wings established by NAF in the North-Central geopolitical zone are located in Doma, Nasarawa State and Agatu in Benue.
“$5.6 billion has been peeled off emerging market equity and bond markets in the last two weeks of April, according to data from the Institute of International Finance, confirming fears that the rise in the 10-year U.S. bond yield to 3 percent and a resurgent dollar would trigger a sharp downturn in portfolio flows to emerging markets”. Business Day reported that “as markets like Argentina counted loses Friday, Nigeria seemed shielded from the storm, as data released on the same day by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that foreign portfolio flows hit $4.56 billion in the three months through January to March 2018, the highest since the third quarter of 2014, before global oil prices halved amid a supply glut. External reserves have shot up by about 85 percent since October 2016 to US$47billion at May 2018, according to central bank data.”
“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority has announced the suspension of the Air Operators Certificate of FirstNation Airways indefinitely. The NCAA said on Sunday that the suspension was conveyed to the airline via a letter with reference no. NCAA/DG/CSLA/RM/1–06/18/2304 dated May 11, 2018, and signed by the Director-General, Capt. Muhtar Usman. In a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, the regulator stated that the suspension was sequel to the flagrant and continuous violation of the terms and conditions of the issuance of its AOC by the carrier, thereby carrying out unauthorised and illegal operations. Adurogboye stated that when the AOC of FirstNation Airways expired, the airline did not have at least two airworthy aircraft capable of servicing its approved schedule as required by Part 9.1.1.6(b) (2) (ii) of Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation (Nig.CARS), 2015.” Punch reported this.
“Africa’s richest man and Nigerian business magnate, Aliko Dangote has outlines a five year investment plan that will spur industrial and economic growth in the country. Dangote who disclosed this at a presentation to business leaders/CEO’s at the Lagos business school last week, said the group has planned over $20 billion investment for Nigeria that will help drive key infrastructural growth and improve economic activities.” According to Business Day Newspaper (Monday, 14th May 2018, Front Page), “Dangote Group has an investment pipeline of over $23 billion fro Nigeria. Rifinery, gas pipeline (EWOGGS), fertilizers, upstream oil and gas, rice production, sugar backward integration, cement projects and power are expected to gulp certain percentages of the investments. Dangote stated that the group is growing rapidly with revenues expected to grow by more 7 times in the next 5 years from $4 billion to $30 billion.”
Business Day reported that “the Federal Government on Thursday, said the World Bank has given Nigeria about $90 million to assist the country handle disease outbreaks. Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole announced this while briefing journalists in Abuja, on the current status of Lassa fever in Nigeria and on the nation’s preparedness to prevent Ebola outbreak.” According to the report, “the Minister also announced the end of emergency phase of Lassa fever. He stressed that the Lassa fever outbreak provided an opportunity for the country to review and strengthen the public health system across disease preparedness, detection, surveillance and response. He added that the ministry is working very closely with WHO to strengthen research activities on Lassa fever including new diagnostic approaches and improved treatment options. Reacting to the recent out break of Ebola in Congo, he said the Federal government has a national working group that is assessing and managing the risk to Nigeria.”
“Stakeholders in the Nigeria tomato industry have agreed to hold annual tomato investment roundtable, as part of the initiative to build–up more investment required to stimulate active production along value-chain in the country. Scaling–up investment in the sector, is believed would go a long way in generating activities that will address the current trend in which over 45 percent of tomato cultivated in the country are lost due to poor post-harvest management”. According to Business Day, “the stakeholders made this submission at a maiden edition of the Nigeria Tomato Investment Roundtable, held during the week, in the Dutse, Jigawa State. The discussants drawn from various segment of the tomato value–chain, unanimously agreed that there is the need for the stakeholders to invest building the capacity of small- holder farmers, who are the major producer of the commodity.”
“United States of America last week, donated $90 million towards the proposed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), survey in Nigeria. At the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct the Nigerian HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Assessment Survey, NAIIS, in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole who signed on behalf of the government said the survey is expected to determine the true extent of HIV epidemic in Nigeria. He noted that in this moment all Nigerians have a chance to help make the survey to succeed. The Director General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Sani Aliyu said that the agency is poised to make the survey work, as the MoU is a major landmark for HIV response in Nigeria.” So writes Business Day Newspaper (Monday, 14th May 2018, page 45).
“The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said it has developed new border protection strategies to tame increasing levels of illegal migration and curb trans-border crimes across the country. The Comptroller General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, in a statement by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Sunday James, has directed the border patrol Corps to intensify round-the-clock surveillance. He said persons entering and leaving the country, will be granted passage only when they have valid documents. He added that the Comptrollers of 36 States of the Federation and FCT has been directed to strengthen border control and intensify public enlightenment campaign against irregular migration.” According to Business Day “the Border Patrol Corp have been tasked to intensify patrol along the border flanks while all officers at land, sea and air control post are directly to ensure that all persons entering and departing Nigeria do so with a valid document and through a recognised port.”
This Day reports that “the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Sunday disclosed that it is making good progress with its repayment of the $5.1 billion negotiated cash call debts to International Oil Companies (IOCs) in Nigeria, stating that both the National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal Executive Council (FEC) are aware of the progress it has made so far.” The story said that “the key point with the repayment plan was that the arrears would be repaid from incremental production over a five-year period so that base production would be preserved. This arrangement was translated into a repayment agreement which was further endorsed by the governors at National Economic Council and approved by Federal Executive Council.”
