Aso Villa Reads for 23/10/2019
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued 11 licences to data protection companies. Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this at a one-day Media Executives’ MasterClass on Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, organised by the agency in Abuja. Inuwa, who was represented by a director at NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said the agency took the initiative to ensure maximum protection of Nigerians from possible breach and to ensure that Nigeria is not blacklisted from the rest of the world in doing genuine business. As reported by Nigerian Tribune, he stated that out of the 11 licensees, six had started recruiting staff for the commencement of work in line with government policy of building capacity and job creation. Inuwa said additional 16 licences had been approved by the agency and would soon be made public. He said the agency recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Union (EU) Data Protection Council, making Nigeria the first African nation to take such a step.
Malam Muhammad Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has restated the administration’s commitment to completely eradicate polio in the territory. Bello gave the assurance in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, on Tuesday in Abuja. He also said that campaigns would be intensified and partnership sustained against polio to guide against re-infection. Bello also said that his administration would not relent on its efforts, as Nigeria was about to be re-certified a polio-free country. “We have come so far and fought so hard over the years, so much so that failure now is not an option. “We intend to sustain the network of partnerships we have built against polio and maintain watch against re-infection. Nigerian Television Authority reports.
The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) is perfecting plans to commission two dry ports in Jos and Funtua between December this year and January 2020, Hassan Bello, executive secretary of NSC, has said. According to him, the Council recently had meetings with promoters of Funtua and Jos — and gave them timeline to work and see to it that things are done for the two dry ports to begin operations. Business Day understands that there are two applications for industries to be located near the Jos Dry Port. Meanwhile, the Shippers Council has planned to ensure that the port complies with the provisions of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. “We are talking with companies like Smelters to see what could be done. This whole idea is that we could reach Europe from Jos faster than South Africa. It is about five hours to Europe, Germany, and Britain and so on,” Bello said. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos recently, Bello said a lot of progress has also been made with Kaduna Dry Port amid slow movement of containers from the seaports in Lagos to the Kaduna dry port using rail. Bello, who stated that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) now takes containers from Lagos to Kaduna, said there is need for frequency and certainty as regards the capacity of the railway to move containers to the Dry Port in Kaduna.
Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika disclosed that Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, undergoing rehabilitation will be ready for use by April 2020. The minister said for this to happen, he will be relocating his office to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu temporary to directly supervise the rehabilitation of the airport which he said will be completed before the end of April 2020. Sirika who spoke while defending his ministry’s budget before the House on Aviation said with the approval of N10 billion for the Enugu Airport by the President, the contractors are expected to mobilise to site as soon as possible, adding that the President has already directed all agencies associated with the smooth work on the airport to work together to ensure it was delivered on time. According to Business Day, the Minister disclosed that the rehabilitation work on the Enugu airport will be done in such a way that the airport will be the best in the country, adding that all houses located close to the airport may have to give way for increased safety. He said that the Enugu state government has given assurance that he will swing into action to ensure that a conducive atmosphere is provided for the rehabilitation of the airport and ask the lawmaker to always visit the airport to access the progress of work. The Minister also announced that the new terminal building for the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano will be ready before the end of the year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)said the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) towards controlling inflationary pressure is the way to go in bringing down inflation rate. Abebe Selassie, director, African department, IMF who said this at the ongoing IMF/ World Bank annual meetings in Washington, D.C. said adjustment to the very high inflation that seen on the exchange rate was still playing out. “I understand also there’s been some, you know, shocks related to food prices, and the like. I think, frankly, just keeping on what the Central Bank has been doing over the last couple of years, continuing to bear down on inflation, to make sure that it can gradually decline, as the way to go,” he said. Speaking during the African department press briefing, he said, “we don’t think that monetary policy is badly calibrated; far from it. So, I think just continuing, giving time for deflation to decelerate is what’s needed”. Business Day reports.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, received the 2019 Compliance Report of the Presidential Executive Order 001 on the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesman, in a statement, said the vice president expressed optimism that the reforms would bring dramatic changes to the Nigerian economy. Osinbajo said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would continue its determined pursuit of reforming Nigeria’s business environment until the full attainment of the objectives. The report was presented by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, and the Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Dr Jumoke Oduwole during the meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). “We will keep updating ourselves on the progress of the ease of doing business reforms while noting some of the progress already recorded in the last three years since the commencement of the ease of doing business reforms.” Punch reports.
Nigeria, Wednesday in Sochi, Russia, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia for the modernisation, development of railway infrastructure, rehabilitation of the existing Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) rolling stock-fleet and upgrading of workshops across the country. The MoU involves two Russian firms: Russian Joint Stock Company Russian Railway (JSCRR) and Transmash Holding, a private rolling stock manufacturing company. Signing the agreement on behalf of the Nigerian government, Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, stated that the move was to boost and fastrack the construction of the rail manufacturing company at Kajola, Ogun state. Amaechi, signed the agreement with CEO/Chairman, Joint Stock Company Russian Railway, Oleg Belozerov, during the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, Russia. The Minister, in a statement exclusively obtained by This Day, noted that the coming of the Russian government is to expand the rail activities and also facilitate the quick completion of all railway project across the country.” The minister, had in August, hinted that it had set a September 2019 date for the groundbreaking ceremony of the University of Transportation Daura, Katsina State even as it noted that it would be closely followed by the establishment of a factory in Kajola, Ogun State, for the manufacturing of some of the materials for the construction work of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan rail project.
Following the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, the federal government has restated its commitment to ensure the implementation of the Early Warning Signal mechanisms recently signed between both countries in South Africa, as part of the efforts to curb xenophobic attacks. It was reported on Tuesday that South African citizens resumed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in Mpumalamga area of the country. However, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued Wednesday by NIDCOM Head of Media Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, insisted that the Consul General in South Africa, Godwin Adama, was on top of the situation. According to her, “The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and South Africa will ensure implementation of the Early Warning Signal mechanisms recently signed between both countries in South Africa, as part of the efforts to curb xenophobic attacks.” Dabiri-Erewa noted that developments at this stage would be taken up at the ministerial level, between the two ministers of Foreign Affairs of both countries. She added: “The Consul General, Godwin Adama, is currently in Widbank, Mpumulanga, where the crisis happened. He is at a meeting with the highest police authorities there. This Day reports.
This Day reports that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Richard Adebayo has inducted 152 inspectors to facilitate weights and measurement of standards in the Nigerian trading space. He charged the inspectors to be professional in their dealings and ensure standards of trade facilities are maintained The minister said: “Today the ministry is inducting 152 weights and measurement inspectors in line with the provisions of Section 9 of the weights and measurement act which states that non one shall attain to weighing or measuring by all means, except he holds a certificate from the superintendent that he has sufficient knowledge and skill for the proper performance of duty. “Therefore to enhance standards, you’re task is to ensure compliance and adherence to metrological and measurement standards as you’re now certified inspectors and legal metrology officers of weights and measures.” Metrology otherwise known as the science of measurement is adjudged to be critical for meeting the country’s development aspirations, particularly the acceptance of its exports by the international markets.
