Aso Villa Reads for Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday inaugurated a 13-member ministerial task force to drive the Digital Switch Over process in the broadcasting sector. He said the recent decision of the Federal Executive Council to approve the release of the outstanding payments of N9.4bn to key stakeholders had removed what had constituted a roadblock to the entire process in the past three years. The minister said the process was capable of creating over one million jobs over the next three years. [Punch]
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity and malnutrition across Nigeria. She also noted that the implementation of the National Food Summit Dialogue was critical to the achievement of the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) and Nigeria’s Agenda 2050.[ThisDay]
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has commenced the implementation of its Search Rescue and Surveillance Programme (SeRAS) initiative in a bid to renew investors’ confidence and make Nigeria a destination for oil and gas investments. SeRAS, which is one of the five units of the Department’s National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) launched by President Muhammadu Buhari early in the year, is expected to increase the level of safety; achieve cost efficiency while bringing about value addition across the oil and gas industry value chain.[Guardian]
The Federal government, yesterday stepped up efforts at diversifying the nation’s economy with a groundbreaking ceremony of the Gold Processing Cluster, located in Mopa, Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, who led the Federal government’s team for the event, said the project was part of the government’s efforts at refocusing the economy from heavily depending on oil. He said the gold processing cluster would also cater for other gems stones and solid mineral mining activities in the North Central.[Vanguard]
The Federal Government, yesterday announced securing €400,000 grant to kick off National Livestock Transformation Plan, NLTP, in four states. In a statement by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Project for Agricultural Coordination and Planning, PACE, President Muhammadu Buhari, secured the grant from the Dutch Investment Agency, RVO, after approval of the grant, which Buhari signed an Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, during his visit to the Netherlands. The states for the NLTP include Nasarawa, Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe. [Vanguard]
Over 5000 Independent Monitors in Nigeria, were trained by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, to access implementation of the various National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP). Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development, said in Kaduna on Tuesday,that the essence of the training was for the monitors to keep an eye on the national investment programmes of the Federal Government.[Vanguard]
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged the National Security Adviser (NSA) to adopt a new cybersecurity coordination strategy. It said the new approach must focus on exploring the internet for economic growth opportunities, enhancement of knowledge and mitigation of crime. He added that the country is also witnessing a rapid surge in its adoption of the internet and social media for almost all aspects of its daily life. The internet/cyberspace, he said, is now central and indispensable to our national development. [Nation]
Mr. Sarki Auwalu, Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), says the Federal Government is committed to reactivating all moribund oil and gas support facilities across the country. Auwalu said this was part of the government’s effort to increase domestic refining capacity and gas utilization in order to curb unemployment and poverty in Nigeria. He said this on Monday during an assessment visit to Kaztec Engineering Ltd. Fabrication Yard, Ilase Village, Snake Island, in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State. [Dailytimes]
To subscribe to our Newsletter, click HERE.
