Aso Villa Reads for 14/11/18
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
New Telegraph reports that “the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that a total of N794 billion suspected to have been stolen from public treasury was recovered in the last three years. Also within the period under review, the commission said $261 million, 1,115, 930.47 Pounds, 8,168, 871.13 Euros as well as 86,500 CFA were recovered and returned to the coffers of the Federal Government. The Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, made the disclosures yesterday in Abuja, at a press conference to project his achievements in the last three years. Magu, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 11, 2015, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate as substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency. Apart from the cash recoveries, Magu also noted that 407 mansions had been seized from suspects and accused persons. While 126 have been forfeited finally to government, 281 others are under interim forfeiture. It is on record that about 90% of all recoveries in Nigeria are through the EFCC. “Following court orders which granted our prayers for interim and final forfeiture of looted funds, the recoveries under my watch between November 2015 and today are as follows: “Over N794 billion and $261 million have been recovered. The Pounds Sterling recovered stands at 1,115, 930.47 while the Euros recovered in the period stand at: 8,168, 871.13.”
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned the public and healthcare providers against misuse of antibiotics. WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti gave the advice in a statement to mark this year’s World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Dr Moeti said from being miracle life-savers, antibiotics were becoming ineffective against resistant infectious which could affect anyone, of any age, in any country. “I urge everyone to think twice and seek advice from a qualified health professional before taking antibiotics,” she advised. She said antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to the active ingredients in these medicines. “These resistant bacteria may infect humans and animals, making infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis and gonorrhea harder to treat.” According to her via Daily Trust, “the reasons for rising antibiotic resistance include overprescribing, misuse by patients who don’t follow the advice of healthcare professionals, overuse in farming, poor infection control, and a lack of new antibiotics. We can help by seeking advice from a health professional before taking antibiotics. They are a precious resource,” Dr Moeti said.”
“The federal government on Wednesday advised Nigerians who are planning to migrate to make use of the newly created Migrant Resource Centres (MRC) to get adequate information relating to their destination countries. The government said the centres where established in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to stem the tide of irregular migration by Nigerians. NAN reports, via Premium Times, “that the federal government inaugurated the MRCs in Abuja, Lagos and Edo. Segun Afolayan, Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), made the disclosure in Lagos while receiving a fresh batch of 116 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Libya. Mr Afolayan noted that migration was a fundamental right of every human being but must be done in ways that would not violate the laws of the host nations. According to him, the government is concerned about irregular migration by some young Nigerians which led to the establishment of the centres domiciled at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment offices at Benin, Lagos and Abuja. “The centres are opened to all Nigerians who wish to travel outside the country. They can access detailed information on their intended country of destination. Such information includes the types of employment and educational opportunities, counselling on the right and safe routes to travel as well as the security level of the expected country”.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has begun distribution of relief materials worth N90 million to some communities ravaged by flood in the Niger Delta. Murphy Ganagana, the Special Assistant (Media) to PAP Cordinator, Charles Dokubo, said in Abuja that the distribution which started on Monday, will last throughout the week.” Business Day (Wednesday 14 November, 2018 page 15) reported that the Coordinator “listed items being distributed to include rice, beans, indomie noodles, groundnut oil, maggi cubes, tomatoes, detergents, bathing soaps, disinfectants, and medicals.” According to the report, “among the communities benefitting from the gesture are Bomadi, Oboro, Okpokuonu, Esanma, Akugbene, Ogodobiri, and Ezebiri,” and many more, all in Delta State. Other communities I Bayelsa State are also benefiting from the relief materials.
Daily Trust reports that “the federal government has tasked the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to ensure that the Distribution Companies (DisCos) begin to embrace innovative ways of metering to quickly end the agitation of customers over unmeasured electricity bills. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola who was represented by the Permanent Secretary (Power) in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Louis Edozien said this yesterday in a keynote address at the second NEMSA Stakeholders’ Forum in Abuja. He said: “There are new ways, innovative approaches to metering. It is not the same industry it ways five years ago. There are new opportunities that are made possible by mobile networks.” Harping on the mandate of NEMSA to enforcing technical standards and meter testing, he urged the DisCos to key into safe practices in their networks’’.
“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have intercepted gold worth about N211 million being illegally transported through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. EFCC Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Tony Orilade, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. Mr Orilade said the consignment was en route Dubai. He said “following intelligence reports, the operatives on Nov. 9, 2018 uncovered the gold weighing about 35kg just at the point of departure of a suspect currently in the EFCC’s custody.” He said that investigations were currently ongoing to unravel the accomplice behind the illegal movement of the item. “Meanwhile, the suspect is cooperating with operatives. It will be recalled that the EFCC also in March 2017, intercepted bags containing a total of N49 million cash being illegally transported out of the country through the Kaduna International Airport,” Orilade said.” This is according to Premium Times.
“In order to promote the activities of Terminal Operators as concessionaires in all the nation seaports, the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has directed that henceforth all such operators would be encourage to take full participation in Trade Fairs and Exhibitions. The Managing Director NPA Hadiza Bala gave this indication in Lagos yesterday while declaring open the “NPA Special Day” at the on-going Lagos International Trade Fair. According to Hadiza Bala Usman the presence of the terminal operators in trade fair arena would enable them to showcase their activities to the numerous visitors to the fair and educate them on their services. It could be recall that under the current concession regime there are currently 26 terminal operators operating in the six seaports in the country.” The Nigerian Ports Authority reported that “the terminal operators are responsible for the loading and off-loading of cargo in the ports Hadiza whose speech was read by Alhaji Abubakar Umar the Port Manager, Rivers Ports also informed invited guests at the fair that the Authority has started aggressive efforts aim at attaining the ISO 9001 complaints and certification in the nation’s seaports. She expressed the strong optimism that the attainment of the ISO 9001 certification will improve the financial performance of the Authority, ensure quick turnaround time, improved traffic and business process in the ports. She disclosed that already the Management has directed all the relevant divisions and departments in the identified critical requirements needed to ensure the successful attainment of the project.”
According to Daily Trust, “the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Tuesday reiterated that access to the airport terminal building is free for passengers and all airport users. It was gathered that the authority made the clarification against the backdrop of allegation that some officials were demanding for money to allow entrance into the airport. A Nollywood actor, Aremu Afolayan, had caused a stir at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) last week when he posted series of video clips calling out airport authorities for allegedly demanding money before rendering services to him. The artist also expressed anger that his family members were being allegedly asked to part with money before they were allowed to see him off. However, in line with the standard and recommended practice at the airport, only passengers holding valid travelling documents were usually allowed entrance into the terminal building apart from airport and airline staff. But in a notice sent out today, FAAN which is the custodian of 22 major airports in Nigeria urged passengers not to give money to anybody to access the terminal building. It asked passengers to report any official demanding for money before allowing them to access the terminal.”
“A Company known as Dutch African Agricultural Projects based in Netherland has declared its readiness to invest the sum of $400m into various Afro allied products in Kogi state. The Coordinator of the project, Mr. Bert DeJong said they were in Kogi state to invest the sum of $400, 000 in dairy ranch programme; milk production, onions, sesame seed, rice and others. According to Mr. DeJong, sixty percent of the agricultural products produced by farmers in Nigeria waste out of lack of preservation adding that the effort will address wastage and shortages experienced by most framers.” Blue Print reports that “receiving the Netherlands team led by Senator Smart Adeyemi yesterday in Government House, Lokoja, and Governor Yahaya Bello said the team’s vision in the area of agricultural investment was in tandem with his administration’s agricultural revolution. Governor Bello stressed that the project was a welcome development and that his administration will go all out to support the team to make the project a reality adding that Kogi state was safe for investments of all sorts as insecurity was no longer an issue of concern in the state.”
“The Debt Management Office (DMO) says the federal government will auction by subscription N115 billion worth of bonds on November 21. The DMO said in a circular on its website on Tuesday in Abuja, that the five-year bonds of N35 billion to mature in April 2023 was offered at 12.75 per cent. The seven-year bonds, also of N35 billion, is to mature in March 2025 and would be auctioned at 13.53 per cent. The circular added that the 10-year bonds of N45 billion, which would be due in February 2028, would be auctioned at 13.98 per cent. According to the DMO, units of sale is N1,000 per unit, subject to a minimum subscription of N50 million and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Nigerian Government, with interest payable semi-annually to bondholders, while bullet repayment will be made on maturity date. Nigeria issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit”. Premium Times reported this.
Daily Trust reported that “the solid minerals sector contributed a total sum of N43.22billion to government coffers in 2016, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) said in a report yesterday. A breakdown of the figures showed that taxes collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) accounted for N40.38 billion or 93.43 per cent of the total revenue, while fees collected by the Mining Cadastral Office stood at N1.15 billion or 2.66 per cent. The Mining Inspectorate Department (MID) recorded N1.64 billion as royalty payments, an increase of 30.15 per cent over the N1.27 billion reported as royalty payments in 2015. The amounts are some of the highlights of the 2016 audit report of the solid minerals sector released in Abuja on Tuesday by NEITI.” According to the report, “the audit conducted under the EITI principles and standard reconciled payments made by mining companies in terms of taxes, royalty and rents against receipts of such payments by relevant government agencies. From the report, total minerals production for 2016 was 41.87 million tons valued at N34.09 billion, representing 33 per cent increase on the N25.56 billion reported in 2015. However, tax collection and payment of other fees for 2016 reduced by 32 per cent when compared to the figure of N63.98 billion for 2015.”
“The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts in India has stated that plans are underway to increase the volume of business in the fashion industries between Nigeria and India to about $300 million in the next two years. The Chairman of the council, Prakash Prahladka, stated this on the sidelines at the Nigeria Interior and Gift (IGF) Fashion Expo 2018 organised by Clarion Events West Africa in Lagos. He said India currently does over $60 million worth of business in Nigeria, expressing optimism in the Nigerian fashion industry due to its huge size and potential.” Guardian quoted him as saying: “We have in our association, more than 10,000 members and more than seven million artisans working and producing lifestyle products for home furniture, house ware and fashion. We have come here to explore the West African and Nigerian market. We are doing a business of about $110 million in West Africa and out of that, we are doing $60 million business with the Nigerian importers and in the next two years, we want to raise it to about $300 million. This is the reason why we are here and also to meet people to see what more can be done in a bid to support our Africa trade mission,” he said.” The report continued: “Also speaking at the event, the Event Manager, Bunmi Aliyu, the three days expo is expected to find IGF’s edit of global brands and exciting new talent across home, gift, fashion and ready to wear, with product selections and thoughtfully new lines.”
