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  • 25 ships carrying various products expected at Lagos ports — NPA

    No fewer than 25 ships expected with petroleum products, food and other goods will arrive at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports between Tuesday and June 30, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says.

    The authority noted in its “Shipping Position” bulletin in Lagos that
    eight of the 25 ships would sail in with petrol, while a ship would bring in aviation fuel.

    The remaining 16 ships are carrying buckwheat, base oil, container carrying different goods, frozen fish, soya beans, bulk fertiliser,  steel and empty containers.

    According to NPA, 11 of the ships have arrived at the ports waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, bulk urea, buckwheat, diesel and petrol. (NAN)

  • NNPC restores ruptured pipeline, gas supply to generating plants – TCN

    NNPC restores ruptured pipeline, gas supply to generating plants – TCN

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Tuesday in Lagos said gas supply to generating stations had built up gradually after the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) restored a ruptured pipeline.

    Mrs Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs of TCN, said within a day power supply would be restored to normal.

    Mbah said an indication that gas supply had improved was the increase in power generation into the National Grid to 3,876.9 Megawatts as at 17.00hrs on Monday, as reported by National Control Centre (NCC).

    “TCN wishes to use this opportunity to commend NNPC, especially Nigerian Gas Corporation (NGC) for the quick intervention.

    “The company also appreciates the Ministry of Power, Generation Companies (GENCOs), Distribution Companies (DISCOs) and electricity customers for their cooperation during the crises period,” she said.

    According to Mbah, as soon as the gas build up is completed, the affected generating stations would resume normal generation into the National Grid.

    The general manager said through the implementation of Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme, TCN was building new substations as well as upgrading existing ones and transmission lines all over the country.

    “This is expected to further stabilise the Grid and also put necessary flexibility and redundancy in line with N-1 capacity.

    “TCN will continue to count on all Nigerians for support and understanding as it continues to expand the nations’ grid,” she said in a statement.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TCN said on June 15, that rupture of a major NGC pipeline had scuttled the delivery of gas to six power plants.

    It said this led to a drop in power generation by 1,087 megawatts and compelled the company to embark on load-shedding.

    It stated that the load-shedding was adopted to maintain stability of the national grid, thus avoiding total power system collapse.

    The affected power stations included Ihovbor, Azura, Omotosho gas, Geregu gas, Olorunsogo gas, Sapele and Egbin Power Station, which has managed to generate 60MW only on each of its units, losing a total of 211MW.

    Also, Afam VI power station was shut down to enable Shell resolve its gas well issues and commence gas supply to Afam VI power station. (NAN)

  • Terrorism: FAAN beefs up security and surveillance at major airports

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has beefed up security and surveillance at the major airports in the country following a recent report that terrorists were sneaking into Nigeria from Syria.

    The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the move was aimed at forestalling anything untoward from occurring at the airports.

    Yakubu said special attention was being given to the Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt Airports which services international passengers and were gateways into the country via air.

    According to her, FAAN Aviation Security (AVSEC) is working with other sister security agencies to maintain surveillance on the perimeter fence, the cargo area, the runway and other restricted areas.

    She said: “We have sent alert to all our aviation security at the airports to ensure that they improved on security, especially screening of passengers to make sure unauthorised persons don’t gain access into our terminals.

    “The airside patrol is being done through the military joint force and AVSEC. They do it round the clock. There are vehicles that are parked on the airside and they escort arriving and departing passengers.’’

    Yakubu said FAAN had deployed modern equipment to screen passengers and baggage before entering the terminal.

    “Our Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in the terminals and the airside are all functional.

    “The Anti-Bomb Squad are deployed behind the screening machines at the terminal alongside the AVSEC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). They carry out further checks on any baggage that they suspect,’’ he said.

    Yakubu also disclosed that the periodic simulation exercises to sensitise travellers and other airport users on how to manage emergency situations at the airports would soon be conducted following the fresh terrorism threat.

  • Ajayi-Kadiri DG MAN commends FG for adopting ease of doing business

    The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadri, has praised the Federal Government for adopting measures to improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business rating.

    Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, Ajayi-Kadri said the improved rating would assure investors that Nigeria remained the place to go for investments.

    He, however, advised the government to adopt policies that would engender industrialization and reflate the economy to retain its position as Africa’s biggest economy.

    The MAN chief also called on government to consider paying some tokens as interests to contractors on the monies owed contractors over time.

    He argued that unpaid debts to manufacturers, who often borrowed at high rates was causing distortions on investment projections.

    “The cost of funds does not wait for when you are to be paid to execute your contract.

    “As a result, manufacturers and suppliers suffer greatly because of these delays many of which run into years.

    “I think it is desirable that paying interest should be given positive consideration so that we can generally impact on productivity.”

    Ajayi-Kadri also argued that giving interests to investors would re-assure them that they would not go bankrupt after committing huge funds on investments.

    The Federal Government recently approved the issuance of promissory notes and bonds to settle debts owed local contractors from 2006 to 2015. (NAN)

  • FRC says only N1.2trn cash backed for capital expenditure in 2016

    FRC says only N1.2trn cash backed for capital expenditure in 2016

    The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), says out of the N1.58 trillion allocated for capital expenditure in 2016, only N1.219 trillion was cash backed.

    According to the commission’s 2016 Annual Report and Audited Accounts obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, the cash backed amount indicates 97.75 per cent performance.

    It said that in comparison to the 2015 capital budget, the N1.58 trillion appropriated in 2016 was N1.03 trillion more than N557 billion appropriated in 2015.

    NAN reports that of the N557 billion appropriated for capital expenditure in 2015, N387.3 billion was released and cash backed as against actual utilisation of N362.3 billion, indicating 65 per cent budget performance

    The 2016 budget which was tagged ‘Budget of Change’ was projected at N6.06 trillion.

    The 2016 FRC report stated that according to the Budget Implementation Report (BIR), N436.22 billion, N156.85 billion, N64.42 billion and N27.26 billion were released in the first, second, third and fourth batches respectively.

    It also said that N487.75 billion was released as Authority to Incur Expenditures (AIEs).

    The report said that the analysis of the BIR revealed that as at May 5, 2017, N1.191 trillion of the annual appropriated amounts released and cash backed had been utilised by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    It said that of the amount, N173.40 billion was disbursed as at Dec. 31, 2016, while N1.017 billion was disbursed between January and May 2017.

    “Out of the 40 MDAs reported upon by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), 24 had utilised more than 97.75 per cent of the amount cash backed.

    “This is more than the overall average utilisation rate. Five out of these utilised 100 per cent of their cash backed funds.

    “Sixteen MDAs, however, utilised below the average utilisation rate of their cash backed funds.’’

    The report said that implementation of the 2016 budget experienced some constraints which resulted from late passage of the budget and revenue shocks.

    Other constraints were uncertainty in the international market and fall in oil production as a result of militancy in the Niger Delta region.

    It added that some MDAs experienced delays in their procurement processes or were unable to access their funds.

    In all, it said that the capital budget achieved 75.03 per cent performance which when compared to previous years was quite laudable and should be sustained.

    It, however, said that to improve on the level of capital budget performance, contract budgeting and award should be consistent with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

    This, it said, was to avoid inconsistency in budgetary provisions for budgets which leads to abandoned projects in the country.

    It also said that selective capital expenditure releases in the implementation process should be adequate to ensure meaningful project execution.

    NAN reports that the FRA 2007 was enacted to promote prudent management of the nation’s resources as well as ensure long term macro-economic stability and transparency in fiscal operations of the national economy. (NAN)

  • Court stops AUPCTRE-IST from embarking on strike

    The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Tuesday stopped the  Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE) branch of the Investment and Security Tribunal (IST) from embarking on any strike action.

    Justice Sanusi Kado, who gave the order, held that the order will be subsisting pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice before the court.

    Kado gave the order after listening to the submissions of Chiesonu Okpoko, SAN, in an ex-parte motion he filed on behalf of Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST), some of whose staff are union members of AUPCTRE.

    Kado said ” in considering whether or not an interim order should be issued, this court takes into consideration not only the competing rights of the contending parties, but the effect of its order or its refusal to the larger society.

    ” I am convinced that if an interim order of injunction is not granted and the defendants went ahead with their threat and embark on an industrial action.

    ” The cases pending before the tribunal in its various Divisions which are connected with economy, may suffer.

    “In the long run, the strike will affect the economy of the nation and the general public will be affected,” he said.

    IST, in the motion prayed the court to give an interim order restraining the defendants themselves, privies, associates, agents and members from embarking on any strike action.

    Joined as respondents in the suit are the AUPCTRE-IST branch chairman and branch secretary .

    Okpoko said that AUPCTRE- IST branch through a letter gave IST management seven days ultimatum to either comply with their demands , or they embark on strike action.

    He said one of the defendant’s demand is the implementation of Management-Labour Agreement signed on March 13.

    The counsel also said another of their demand is over an alleged non-payment of severance allowances to retired staff.

    No date has been fixed for hearing of the motion on notice (NAN)

  • 15m Nigerians connect to internet daily, say foundation, Google

    15m
    Nigerians connect to internet daily,  say foundation, GoogleConnectivity

    Abuja, April 29, 2018(NAN) Mimshach Obioha, Programme
    Director, Ventures Capital Foundation (VPF) says an average
    of 15 million people use social media in Nigeria but laments
    that many don’t go beyond sending messaging and making
    calls.Obioha said this on Sunday during an interview with the News
    Agency of Nigeria(NAN) Abuja.

    NAN reports that VPF in collaboration with Google West
    Africa and OC&C Consult recently launehed a report
    titled    ‘Tech Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Research
    –Nigeria’ to help develop technological sector of the
    economy.

    ‘ “In the process of gathering data on challenges and
    prospects of Nigerian technology sector, it was discovered
    that about 15 million Nigerians go on internet daily.

    “We also discovered that most online users in the country
    use the basic messenger and phone eall services, while there
    are other benefits of internet like banking, learning
    shopping, trading,  healthy living, etc.

    “The next gold after oil is human minds which means that
    countries with large population has large  resources .

    “It also means that every person has potential of becoming
    a complete refinery all by oneself.

    With computer programming and literacy, one person can
    actually build an empire,” he said.

    Obioha said Examples the nation had potential of producing
    many “Bill Gates, Mark Zukerberg “ if there was adequate
    focus  to harness human resources in such area.

    “It is really important that our country, as a matter of
    policy figures out ways to improve and encourage this
    development,” he said.

    On the significance of the report, Obioha mentioned key
    critical components that it provided adequate data on their
    prospects and challenges with recommendations on development
    to global height.

    “That can be done through incentifying investment in
    startups; creating regulatory frameworks that make it easier
    to build companies in the country,” he said.

    “ There is need to improve Digital skills components in
    order to catalyse the market, it helps to create more people
    that can be creators of technology.

    “There is a market activation component. This is important
    for a nation of over 180million people but not all of them
    are ready markets for digital products.

    “There is also need to ensure that more people have access
    to internet through affordable means and provision of
    infrastructures especially, power,” he said.

    Similarly,  Mrs. Titi Akinsanmi,Head,Public Policy and
    Government Relations,Google (West Africa, said the nation
    was a potential technology giant if it could fill identified
    gaps.

    “Nigeria has capacity to become giant in technology
    development because of its huge human capacity, all that is
    required is to fill existing gaps in its technology
    development components”

    NAN reports that the report was launched in Abuja on
    Wednesday with the representatives of Federal Ministries of
    Science and Technology; Trade and Investment in
    attendant.(NAN)

  • Police deny shooting 4 persons in Kano

    The Kano Police Command has denied a media report alleging that its officers shot four persons at Shoporite located in Ado Bayero Shopping Mall Kano on June 17.

    The denial is contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Magaji Majiya  and issued to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.

    “The attention of Kano police command is drawn to a media publication by Solacebase media that police on guard duty allegedly shot four persons at Shoprite Kano on June 17.

    “The reporter did not verify nor balanced his story but went on to publish.”

    According to him, ongoing construction works from Dangi round about to Zoological Garden along Zoo Road in Kano had created heavy traffic flow forcing the closure of recreation centres in the area.

    He however said that some youths protested over the closure, throwing stones and vandalising public and private properties, a situation that necessitated police intervention to restore order.

    “Police would not fold it’s arms and watch while law and order is broken,” he stressed, insisting that when the stampede occurred the police acted professionally and never shot at anyone.

    The command’s spokesman further insisted that that the police neither used firearm nor even teargas.

    “Minimum force was used to disperse the protestants, while children and properties were professionally safeguarded by the police and sister security agencies working at the place and peace was brought under control within shortest time.”

    Majiya stressed that the people of Kano enjoyed peaceful Sallah celebration with many trooping to other recreation centres to celebrate Eid-El-Fitr.(NAN)

  • Alleged N16.4m: Absence of Judge stalls trial of former I-G

    The absence of an Abuja Federal High Court judge, Justice Silvanus Oriji, on Tuesday, staled the trial of former Inspector-General of Police Sunday Ehindero, and a former police commissioner, John Obaniyi.

    The Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), arraigned the duo before the Judge on a five-count charge bordering on fraud and conspiracy.

    The prosecutor, Mr O.G. Iwuagwu, had told the court that the duo are being tried for alleged N16.4 million fraud.

    Iwuagwu told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offence between May 2006 and November 2006, when they allegedly conspired and used their positions to place N500 million in two fixed deposit accounts.

    He told the court that the money was part of the N557,995,065 donated by the Bayelsa Government to the Nigeria Police Force for the purchase of arms and ammunition.

    The prosecutor alleged that the said N500 million placed in fixed deposits yielded N16.4 million interest.

    The defendants had denied the charges.

    At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the matter could not be heard due to the absence of the Judge and the case was adjourned to June 26, for continuation of hearing. (NAN)