Aso Villa Reads for Monday, Feb. 8th, 2021
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
World Bank has approved $500 million to support Nigeria to improve its electricity distribution sector. The bank, in a statement on Friday, said that the project will help boost electricity access by improving the performance of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) through a large scale metering program desired by Nigerians for a long time. It explained that financial support would be provided to private distribution companies only on achievement of result in terms of access connections, improved financial management and network expansion. [Premium Times]
Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said on Friday in Asaba, that the bank was partnering government at all levels and the private sector to provide sophisticated health facilities in the country to address healthcare needs of the people. He also disclosed that the Monetary Policy Committee was working to sponsor research into pharmaceuticals on different diseases, and would in addition give funds to private sector participants in the health sector to build pharmaceutical plants in the country. [Vanguard]
With great focus on global emission of greenhouse climate change concerns, the federal government has set 2025 target to ensure that 30 percent of locally manufactured and assembled vehicles are electric powered. Jelani Aliyu, the director general of the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC gave this policy direction targets at the official unveiling of ‘Hyundai Kona’ which is Nigeria’s first locally assembled Nigeria Electric car by the Stallion group. [Business Day, Page 24]
The Management of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Terminal 2 says it has spent $500,000 importing a sizeable number of X-ray machines to enhance and accelerate the screening of passengers and cargoes. The Group Corporate Affairs Manager of BASL, Mikail Mumuni, in a press statement, said: “Massive resources are also being deployed to upgrade our air conditioning system for the comfort of passengers as we always treat our customers as kings and queens.” Bi-Courtney Limited was granted a concession by the Federal Government of Nigeria to design, build and operate MMA2. Punch reports.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has called for the overhaul of the African Union for relevance in intergovernmental processes. According to a statement on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President made the call in an intervention at the ongoing two-day 34th summit of the AU being held virtually. The President also appreciated the support of Heads of State and Government of the AU in the election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security. [Punch]
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, promised that Nigeria would continue to partner with the World Health Organisation and other countries to ensure accelerated development and manufacturing as well as unhindered supply of safe and effective coronavirus vaccines to all Africans. Buhari made the promise in his remarks while participating in the virtual 34th ordinary session of the African Union from the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He added, “In my capacity as ECOWAS Champion on Coronavirus, Nigeria has provided logistics support, including the freight in of critical COVID-19 medical supplies distributed to other ECOWAS member states.” [Punch]
The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has reopened application for young entrepreneurs through a partnership with Tiimafrica which would provide a $5,000 grant to 100 businesses. According to a statement by the Minister’s Media office, “After careful examination of all applications submitted, applicants who met the stated criteria were less than 50, as opposed to the intended 100. As a result, a supplementary application process will be opened for more applicants to access.” [Vanguard]
National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, yesterday, began distribution of relief items to victims of 2020 flood disaster in Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West Local Government Areas of Delta. Some of the items distributed included 311 bags of 12.5kg rice, 311 bags of 25kg beans, 311 bags of 12.5kg maize, 121 kegs of vegetable oil, 26 cartons of tomato paste and 52 cartons of seasoning. Others were 622 blankets, 622 mosquito nets, 622 mattresses, 622 pieces of wax prints cloth, 900 bundles of zinc roofing sheets, 900 bags of cement, 300 packets of zinc nails and 100 bags of “3” nails. [Vanguard]
Contrary to reports, Nigeria has not been disqualified from accessing Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility. Clarifying the position in Abuja on Saturday at an emergency press briefing, the World Health Organisation, WHO, country representative in Nigeria said the agency has not disqualified any country from accessing vaccines from the facility. The WHO said it was assisting Nigeria and other African countries to start accessing the Astrazeneca vaccine as from February, as soon as it received clearance for emergency use. Nigeria has been granted the largest allocation of 16 million doses of the vaccine from the COVAX facility, WHO confirmed. [Vanguard]
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