Aso Villa Reads For Wed. Mar 23, 2022
Every day, we bring you the important stories the media is reporting about the Federal Government of Nigeria
The federal government has declared that Nigeria is becoming a fast destination for mining investments courtesy of the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Project (NIMEP). This was announced by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, at the Nigeria Mining Summit, which was organised yesterday by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Adegbite said that the country is attracting attention from both local and foreign investors while the financial sector has also begun to support activities in the mining sector.[This Day]
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday declared that Nigeria’s dependence on imported products in the agriculture sector will soon be a thing of the past with the inauguration of Dangote Fertilizer Plant, which has an installed capacity of 3.0 million metric tonnes of Urea per annum. Speaking at the commissioning of the plant in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State, the President said the plant will further advance Nigeria’s drive towards achieving self-sufficiency in food production, create jobs, increase the inflow of foreign exchange and accelerate economic growth. [State House]
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has commenced routine training for Health Education Officers (HEOs) towards ending cholera outbreaks in Open Defecation Free (ODF) Local Government Areas (LGAs).The Desk Officer Hygiene in the ministry, Mrs Ayaba Kogbara, said this in an interview. Kogbara said that the ministry was concerned that open defecation free LGAs were still reporting cholera cases. She said the situation necessitated the immediate deployment of its personnel to carry out hygiene training in communities in the local government areas.[The Sun]
Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD), says N142.6 million was shared among 14 tertiary institutions in Nigeria to conduct research on mineral deposits. Adegbite said this at the Stakeholders Validation Workshop on Research Collaboration with 14 tertiary institutions on Tuesday in Abuja. He said that the sum was shared for the beneficiary institutions for research development in various areas relating to mapping and evaluation of particular mineral deposits. [The Sun]
The Federal Government, yesterday, rated itself high in the areas of poverty alleviation, job creation and drastic reduction of unemployment through the National Social Investments Programmes (NSIP). Government, through the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Johnson, gave the assessment in Abuja at the first humanitarian open house and launch of the IDP Policy. She explained that, under batch C stream 1 of the N-Power, “510,000 currently enrolled and benefiting from the programme while an additional 490,000 will be enrolled following Presidential approval to increase the number to one million. [The Sun]
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, says the Federal Government remains committed to the development of education in the country through the provision of quality infrastructure. He spoke in Kano on Tuesday while handing over a 1.06 km internal road, including the construction of reinforced concrete culverts and drains at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano. Fashola was represented by the Federal Controller of Works in Kano State, Mr Yahaya Ali. [Guardian]
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has disbursed over N1.3 trillion to support the provision of power supply to Nigerians in the last five years. The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, made the remark at a news conference following a meeting of the Bankers Committee in Abuja on Monday. Emefiele further said that the bank had disbursed N11.11 billion to power sector players under the Nigeria bulk electronic trading payments assurance facility, bringing the cumulative disbursement under this facility to 1.28 trillion naira. ‘’The sum of N12.64 billion was also released to Discos under Nigeria electricity market stabilization facility phase two line two.[Guardian]
The federal government, Tuesday, said it has begun clampdown on illegal colleges of education across the country. The Executive Secretary of National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, who said this at a pre-press conference on a two-day national summit on the future of NCE programme in Nigeria,reiterated government’s commitment to revamping teacher education in the country. Okwelle, also disclosed the need to review the laws establishing both the NCCE and the federal colleges of education. [Vanguard]
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the linkage of the Lekki Deep Seaport to the railway network. The president, who stated this after inspecting the ongoing work at the port in Lagos on Tuesday, also commended the minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the massive work done. The president also directed the minister to consult and bring up a memorandum to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to link the facility with the railway network.[Leadership]
Federal government has commissioned 80 housing units under the National Housing Programme, Phase 1, in Sokoto State. The houses are 48 units two-bedroom, 28 units three-bedroom and four units one-bedroom bungalows. They were commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the minister of police affairs, Muhammadu Dingyadi. The president said the completion of the housing projects was in fulfilment of his development agenda of addressing housing needs in Nigeria. The contracts were awarded in November 2016, at a total cost of N763,609,032.32 while contracts for infrastructure was awarded in May 2017, at a total cost of N509,818,387.57. Roads, drainages and asphalt finishing was done at N341,989,222.07; Electricity supply and installation of 500kva transformers cost N79,462,163.00 while, motorized borehole was done at N88,367,002.50.[Leadership]
The federal government yesterday launched the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) policy as part of efforts to address the root causes of the challenges bedeviling them in the country. Minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Sadiya Umar Farouq disclosed this during the launch of the First Humanitarian Open House and the Launch of the IDPs Policy in Abuja yesterday. Farouq stressed that the initiative will provide a blueprint to guide its work, and help to provide assistance to IDPs in a coordinated way.[Leadership]
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of N92,123,175,305.77 for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.The approval came during the council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday. Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed the approval to State House Correspondents after the FEC meeting.[Tribune]
The Federal government has revealed that efforts are currently ongoing to ensure that the Badagry seaport in Lagos gets approval to commence construction before May 2023. Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos after the inspection of Lekki Deep seaport, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi said it was important for the government to utilise other ports in the country in order to avoid congestion in one port. We are fast-tracking that of Badagry so that they can also get their approval.[Tribune]
