Aso Villa Reads for 26/02/2020
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The World Bank has approved Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem project along with five others, aimed at assisting the country to empower citizens, especially marginalised groups, to access welfare-enhancing services. The National Digital Identity Ecosystem Project, approved recently in Washington DC, United States, is focused on enhancing the national Identity system’s legal and technical safeguards to protect personal data and privacy. The World Bank approved the six projects to support Nigeria’s development priorities, focused on improving immunisation, providing an enabling business environment for private sector, expanding the digital economy to promote job creation and increase capacity of public and private sector on governance, social and environmental safeguards. World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, said, the World Bank is ramping up its support to Nigeria in its efforts to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. Vanguard reports.
The Federal Government has pledged to support efforts of the Organised Private Sector geared towards the development of the mining industry. The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Ikechukwu Ogah, gave this assurance while on a courtesy visit to Lafarge Africa Plc in Ogun State. Ogah said the government was committed to maximising the potential of the sector through collaboration with the private organisations. He disclosed that the government had intensified efforts to curb illegal mining in the country. The minister commended Lafarge for its adherence to international best practices and impact on the sector. He said the government would continue to create effective policies aimed at providing an enabling environment for operators. A statement from Lafarge quoted him as saying, “The Federal Government is doing a lot to attract investment into the mining sector. Incentives are being given to miners to bring them into the country. “Our focus is on improving the ease of doing business index with emphasis on collection of licences, provision of accurate data on available mineral resources in Nigeria, as well as proper guidance.” The Company Secretary and General Counsel, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mrs Adewunmi Alode, was quoted to have said that Lafarge would work with the ministry to achieve meaningful development in the mining sector. Punch reports.
According to Punch, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has just inaugurated new members of the National Assembly Service Commission. Two of them were former personal aides to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege. Those inaugurated were Ahmed Kadi-Amshi, Chairman, and Lawan’s former Chief of Staff (Yobe, North East); Babagana Modu; (Borno, North East); Abubakar Tutare (Taraba, North East); Hakeem Akamo (Lagos, South West); Tunrayo Akintomide (Ondo, South West); Atanomeyorwi Francis (Delta, South South). Francis used to be Omo-Agege’s campaign director. Others were Bassey Etuk (Akwa-Ibom); Bailyaminu Yusuf Shinkafi (Zamfara, North West); Sani Saidu Kazaure (Jigawa, North West); Julius Ucha (Ebonyi, South East); Nnamdi Anyaechie (Imo, South East); Auwalu Aliyu Ohindase (Kogi, North Central); and Muazu Is’haq (Nasarawa, North Central). Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, and cabinet ministers witnessed the ceremonies which took place shortly before the opening of the Federal Executive Council meeting.
