Aso Villa Reads For Wed. Feb 23, 2022
Every day, we bring you the important stories the media is reporting about the Federal Government of Nigeria
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed on Tuesday received the National Savings Scheme Report from the Working Group, with a pledge to collaborate with stakeholders in implementing the recommendations. The working group was constituted virtually by the minister in May 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its responsibilities were to study the National Savings Strategy Paper and advise the Federal Government on the feasibility of the proposals and/or recommend changes.[Punch]
As the scarcity caused by the withdrawal of methanol-blended petrol into the country eases off, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd has released details of how it distributed a total of 387.59 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit in one week to bridge the gap. According to NNPC, the petrol distributed through retail filling stations from February 14 to 20, 2022, represents an average daily distribution of 55.4 million litres. A breakdown of the NNPC weekly national evacuation report released on Wednesday showed that 80 per cent of all the PMS took place at 20 high loading depots, while 20 per cent took place at the other loading depots.[Sun News]
President Muhammadu today swore-in six national Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which took place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Present at the inauguration of the Commissioners were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila. Secretary to Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President Prof Ibrahim Gambari and some ministers also attended the inauguration of the INEC Commissioners.[Sun News]
The Federal Government on Tuesday presented a training manual for agricultural extension agents and farmers to boost cocoa production in the country. Speaking during the presentation on cocoa production update and manual by researchers, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, expressed optimism that the initiative would boost cocoa production in Nigeria.[Sun News]
The federal government has approved the construction of 1,564.95 km roads in three years under its Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme (RITCS). The scheme commenced in 2019, with the President’s approval of 19 Road projects covering 769.16 km and located in 11 states across the six geopolitical zones. The initiative was introduced to leverage private sector capital and expertise to construct, repair and maintain critical road infrastructure in key economic corridors and industrial clusters in Nigeria. Since the inception of the RITCS, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved 14 additional roads, bringing the total to 33 Road projects, covering a total length of 1,564.95 km as of 2021, minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed said at a townhall meeting on the government’s achievement on infrastructure development.[Leadership]
The federal government has declared its intention to invest and focus attention on natural gas exploitation in the country. Addressing the 6th GECF Summit in Doha, Qatar, yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented at the event by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources Chief Timipre Sylva said “the recent enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) is an indication of our commitment to derive more value from natural gas by providing the required governance, regulatory and fiscal framework to support the growth of the industry”.[Leadership]
Federal government is currently handling over 1,000 roads and bridges construction contracts in various parts of the country, the minister of works and housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by the minister of state for works and housing, Mu’azu Sambo, described the contracts as unprecedented, adding that the construction works were done despite limited resources, in Abuja at the inauguration of Dr Olufunmilade Akingbabohun as the 15th national chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers. [Leadership]
