Aso Villa Reads for Thursday, May. 27th, 2021
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The Federal Government has said it is expecting most of the marginal fields, which investors bid for in the recently concluded bid round, will achieve first oil starting from next year. The Director/Chief Executive Officer, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr Sarki Auwalu, said this. The DPR had said in February that the government was expecting to generate at least $500m in revenue (N189.5bn) from the marginal field bid round. [Punch]
The Federal Government on Wednesday handed over 40 operational vehicles for distribution to coordinators of the State COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus known as NG-CARES. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, said the vehicles were procured by the Federal Project Support Unit of her ministry, for distribution to states and the Federal Capital Territory. [Punch]
As part of efforts towards actualizing the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has unfolded new standards for the renewable energy sector. According to the Director General, SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, apart from increasing access to power supply across the country, the new standards would open up improved investments in the sector. Salim explained that the solar power industry relies heavily on standardisation, adding that renewable energy has become increasingly important across the country. [Punch]
The Federal Government has begun construction of 37 “smart schools” across the country to boost Information Communication Technology (ICT). Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC), made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja. Bobboyi said that extensive work had been done in 20 of the 37 schools to be built, while work would begin fully on the remaining 17 soon. According to him, the initiative has become necessary to ensure that Nigeria competes favourably in the present world of technology. The executive secretary emphasised that one of the best ways to achieve the milestone was to introduce children to e-learning from the moment they enrolled in school. [Guardian]
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has received a boost as National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) have agreed to work together. Sambo harped on the Scheme’s commitment to ensuring that all Nigerians in the public and private sector have access to affordable and quality healthcare, maintaining that the Scheme had begun the implementation of a ten-year strategic plan that will birth UHC in 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).[Tribune]
Businesses operating within the designated special economic zones (SEZs) of four international airports in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt are expected to enjoy incentives such as tax cuts, while customers from air passengers to hotel guests could be looking forward to lower prices. In air travel, taxes and levies form a significant part of air fare and with airlines getting reliefs typically associated with special economic zones, the ripple effect will be felt by travellers. With company income tax between 20 and 30 percent of profit. [Business Day]
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