Aso Villa Reads for 25/1/18
Every day, we bring you the best stories the media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria.
Due to the “incessant complaints received from consumers of indigenous IT devices bordering on the standard and quality of products manufactured in” Nigeria, the Federal Government has ordered “existing and potential local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their foreign counterparts to pass through a more stringent and rigorous certification and re-certification exercise with the government.” According to New Telegraph “the new move, which is intended to bring about a reorganization of the nation’s Information Technology (IT) industry, shall be implemented by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).”
According to Business Day Newspaper (Thursday, 25 January 2018, page 1, 34), “Nigeria yesterday itched towards the realization of the $16billion Egina project as its Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO), the largest in the country and indeed in Africa arrived Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) where the integration of six locally fabricated modules will take place over the next few months. It is the largest investment project currently on-going in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. The project is expected to be completed in Q4 2018 within the initial budget. The FPSO which left the South Korea 31th 2017 landed at about 12 noon Nigeria time yesterday and is designed for 40 years of operation.”
In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to concentrate on provision of more infrastructure this year for Nigerians, Leadership reports that the “Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Thursday said the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge line has begun daily express train service from Abuja to Kaduna”. According to the report, “the express trains were the first and last trip from Monday to Saturday at about 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Idu and 6.40 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Rigasa without stopping at other stations. She said that based on the new additional coaches, the timing and performance had improved to meet up with the passengers demand.” Also, “they run four round trips from Monday to Saturday from Idu station to Rigasa, with two round trips on Sundays”.
Business Day Newspaper (Thursday, 25 January 2018, page 1) reports that “Nigeria yesterday began a campaign to bring the potentials of its textile and garment industry to a global audience with a view to attracting more private investment into the country”. The paper reports that at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ministers of Budget and National Planning Udo Udoma and Industry, Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah, “played up the huge attractiveness of Nigeria as a strategic investment destination for textile and the garment manufacturing industry.”
“The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended period for the free e-dividend registration to Feb. 28, to encourage more shareholders participation in the initiative. The commission in a statement in Lagos indicated that the extension was part of its developmental role. It said that the extension became necessary to encourage more shareholders mandate their bank accounts. The statement said in reviewing the progress of the e-Dividend Registration after the Dec. 31, 2017 deadline, there was still a great influx of shareholders desirous of mandating their Bank accounts for payment of dividends electronically”. Today.ng reported this.
Business Day Newspaper (Thursday, 25 January 2018, page 35), reports that “in spite of the deep impact of recession on Nigeria’s retail business, the country led the rest of Africa in total retail sales put at $109 billion in 2017. Though this shows a 12 percent reduction on the $125 billion recorded in 2016, it is still very much higher than that of its close rival, South Africa”. The report referenced “a recent report by North Court Real Estate on Nigeria Real Estate Market, which disclosed this, that South Africa which is one of Africa’s leading retail destination, ended the year with $94 billion”.
OAK TV reports that the Federal Government has released $1m for the free distribution of contraceptives to Nigerians. This move, they said is aimed at enhancing “quality family planning among Nigerians”. The report revealed that “Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, who made the disclosure at the end of yesterday’s FEC meeting, said procurement for the implementation of the plan led by a committee chaired by a director in the ministry had equally been secured. The minister who highlighted the pursuits of the Ministry of Health so far, said the ministry had submitted nine proposals which had equally been approved by the council since 2016.”
Business Day reports that “the world and historically acclaimed International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is now in Nigeria. ISIC is an identity card that entitles the holder to enjoy discounts on goods and services in around 130 countries. ISIC was created in the early ninety fifties by the Norwegian and Dutch union of students. What basically ISIC does is that it affords ISIC holders the platform to enjoy benefit and discount on services and products provided by participating companies and organization recognized by ISIC partners.”
