Aso Villa Reads for 19/06/2020
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled plans to release a framework for the integration of non-interest window in all its intervention programmes, particularly the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) and the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) to support households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic . The Bank also plans to fund the value chains of nine commodities to the tune of N432 billion in the 2020 wet season. These were disclosed by the duo of the Bank’s Director, Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor and Yila Yusuf, the Director, Development Finance Department, who jointly represented the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at a stakeholder meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2020, to review the successes recorded under the ABP and the strategies for the 2020 agricultural wet season. Okorafor said the Bank, in the 2020 agricultural wet season, was committed to aggressively fund its agricultural programmes and spur farmers along select crop value chains to prevent the country from sliding into a recession, as is currently being experienced in some major economies of the world. Speaking on the Targeted Credit Facility (TCF) of the Bank aimed at alleviating the impact of the coronavirus on individuals and small businesses, Okorafor noted that the Bank was determined to push the economy to ensure Nigeria does not experience consecutive quarters of negative growth. Accordingly, he said that the Governor, Mr. Emefiele, had directed the Development Finance Department of the Bank as well as the NIRSAL Micro-Finance Bank (NMFB) to fast-track the approval process of loans, which he stressed were to help restore businesses and livelihoods. Business Day reported.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said it’s projecting to generate nothing less than N1billion in revenue per month from the operations of its newly acquired multi-million dollar floating dockyard. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday to mark the first 100 days in office of the new management of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, director-general of NIMASA, said to actualise this, the agency has opened discussions with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the intending managing partner to begin operation of the dockyard. As reported by Business Day, he said NIMASA is also expecting a job creation of about 350 Nigerians under five segments of the operation which is expected to provide employment to about 75 workers per department. According to him, NIMASA has also signed a memorandum of understanding with International Oil Companies (IOCs) that are doing business with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to be taking their ships to NIMASA’s dockyard for dry-docking when the dockyard begins full operations. On maritime security especially as regards Deep Blue project, Jamoh stated that NIMASA is presently at 75 percent stage in the acquisition of the platforms required for the complete take off the project, adding that it is only the local content aspect of the project that is remaining, which was delayed by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Friday, disclosed that the Federal Government has released N4.5bn to 31 federal teaching hospitals and medical centres nationwide. He said the sum covered hazard and inducement allowances of striking doctors for April and May. Ngige disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly after he, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo, briefed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors. He said, “Just this morning, before we went to see Mr President, the Ministry of Finance reported that as at this morning, 3 am, they have paid the allowances for hazard and inducement to 31 teaching and Federal Medical Centres and specialist hospitals of the Federal Government service and they have expended close to N4.5 billion on the payment because we are paying them the arrears of April and May. “The payment for June will also be done immediately these ones are sorted out. Punch reported.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, says the Federal Government has designated seven of the country’s strategic minerals to unlock the potential in the mining sector. The News Agency of Nigeria reports the minister said this on Thursday in Abuja at a webinar organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. According to Punch, Adegbite named the minerals as coal, iron ore, bitumen, gold, limestone, lead-zinc and barite. He noted that the country was endowed with over 44 different mineral resources occurring in over 500 locations across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. The minister said, “Seven of these minerals have been designated strategic to unlock the enormous potential in the sector. They are coal, iron ore, bitumen, gold, limestone, lead-zinc and barite. “Alongside the seven strategic minerals, the ministry is also looking into key minerals to fuel the future.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Nigeria free of wild polio, following the completion of documentation for the free status. The UN health agency disclosed this on its regional office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, official twitter account @WHOAFRO. “Today, Nigeria’s complete documentation for Wild Polio virus free status was accepted by the Africa Regional Certification Commission for polio eradication (ARCC). “It is a historic day for Nigeria, Africa and the Global Polio Programme,’’ WHO said. Meanwhile, Dr Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director and CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in a tweet at @drfaisalshuaib described the documentation as historical. “Amazing moment in history to have had our polio-eradication documentation accepted by (ARCC); the Nigeria team led by NPHCDA and partners demonstrated evidence of our polio-free status. “Nigeria achieving a Wild Polio Virus-free status today, is significant on multiple fronts. I look back at the incredible leadership that has brought us here. Apart from President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the two most important people who have made it possible due to their financial and technological contributions have been Mr Aliko Dangote and Mr Bill Gates. Thanks for this unquantifiable gift to Nigeria,’’ he said (NAN). Vanguard reported.
