New Hajj Commission Chairman, Jalal Arabi Assumes Duty With “TSA” Mantra

October 18, 2023

The newly appointed Acting Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi has assumed office with what he called TSA Mantra. He explained the Mantra to be “Trust, Sacrifice and Allah knows best.”
Jalal, who took over the rein at the Hajj Commission today, October 18, made it clear that he had come to rigorously persue the vision and mission of the commission with the sole aim of seeing to the interest of the pilgrims.
He said that he regarded his appointment as a call to services, saying that he is fully out to achieve his goal by improving the service rendered to the pilgrims.
“My appointment was a privilege. I am lucky to be called upon to serve the Guests of Allah, knowing fully well that the reward for serving the guest of Allah will be both Here and Hereafter.
“I know, like all establishments, we have our mission, vision and it is being pursued vigorously before now but certainly there is always room for improvement in whatever endeavour. Of course, without prejudice to what we intend to achieve through our vision and mission, I have come with three nouns that will be so cardinal and of course will be laying on the tripod. I call them ‘TSA’ and my definition is entirely different from the TSA you know.
“Let me start with my T – trust. I know most of us, if not all, know the burden of trust and responsibility on any Muslim that is so charged to carry that trust.
“My ‘S’ is sacrifice. Whoever is entrusted with trust knows that he or she makes sacrifice and my A is Allah. Allah knows all.”
Earlier, Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakasai, congratulated Jalal Arabi on his appointment, reminding him that the task ahead are enormous and very challenging.
“We congratulate you for your appointment. The outgoing chairman would have wished to be here but due to some reasons beyond his control, he couldn’t make it. But I believe he will be here in the afternoon or when he will be able to meet you.
“Apart from that, I just want to mention that you are coming in or stepping into the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria at a critical time, at the time when all the preparations for Hajj are supposed to start or have already started and unfortunately, this time around the period or time given by the Saudi authority is different from the traditional ones where we have sufficient time to do whatever we want to do or arrange but unfortunately you have a very short time.
“The assurance I will give is that you have capable staff here that can assist you to succeed and it is our hope and prayers that you succeed.”
He solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the staff in order to make things better.
“Our train is moving, we need to re-position the commission to be able to perform our job better and we shouldn’t do anything to slow it down.
“We shall try to address some of the complaints that have been made. We therefore need to work as a team.”
He also promised to build a well-disciplined, professional and highly motivated staff, but said they must earn it. “Therefore, I urge you to re-dedicate ourselves to our duties.”

We Must Ensure Nigerians Have Access To Affordable, Reliable Broadband Services – New NCC Boss

Greenbarge Reporters

October 18, 2023

The new Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has said that as part of the refocusing of the Commission, Nigerians will be made to access to affordable and reliable broadband services.
Dr. Maida, who spoke to the Senior Management team of the Commission at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja yesterday, October 17, said that there is a need to ensure that the NCC strategically focuse on ensuring that all Nigerians have access to affordable and reliable broadband services.
Part of this is to ensure “effective broadband infrastructure diffusion across the length and breadth of Nigeria.”
Dr. Maida said that the pursuit of improved quality of service on the networks will be one of his priorities, as well as supporting the vision of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Communications’ Innovations and Digital Economy.

“Considering the fact that many people are going more digital and virtual in everything they do, the telecom infrastructure is now under much stress. “President Tinubu’s vision emphasises the need to build more robust broadband connectivity that will not only facilitate seamless digital transactions but also serve as the bedrock for e-governance and other socio-economic initiatives.
“As such, we would align with this aspiration to increase broadband penetration to 70 per cent and to cover 90 per cent of the population by 2025. Therefore, we need to build a reliable telecom industry with impressive quality of service (QoS) indicators with quality of experience (QoE) as our watchword and ultimate goal.
“This also requires us to address a number of issues such as the Right of Way (RoW) challenge, ensuring security of our telecom infrastructure, among others. Efforts must be made to significantly improve service delivery by ensuring the NCC is performance-driven.
“Mr. President has a very clear agenda from which all of us are going to take our direction. The two major areas are job creation and enabling the digital economy. Where we are going in a nutshell is; everything that we do in this Commission has to align directly with the Strategic Plan of the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr.vBosun Tijani and ultimately to the Renewed Hope agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We would not deviate from that.
“We would not entertain anything that deviates from this direction because my key performance indicators (KPIs) are fed into the Minister’s KPIs and the President KPIs come from the electorate that put him into power.
“The Hon. Minister has said clearly that he is ready to build a robust digital infrastructure and empower three million Nigerians digitally and we have to do our best to support him in this regard.”
Dr. Maida said that in the Strategic Plan of the Minister, there is a plan to empower three million Nigerians in digital skills and entrepreneurship, adding that this will require the Commission to support Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) as a digital training institution, to be well positioned in driving the government’s agenda on youth empowerment.
The EVC also emphasised the importance of effective spectrum management and utilisation in supporting the envisioned digital connectivity agenda, which is critical to service deployment to the generality of Nigerians and businesses in the country.”
Dr. Maida appreciated his predecessors and the entire staff of the Commission for the laudable role being played in digital transformation of all sectors by stimulating the deployment of baseline telecom infrastructure, even as he called on the staff of the Commission to join his leadership with a sense of purpose as a team towards advancing the actualisation of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda, which, he said, recognises a thriving digital economy in achieving sustainable development and quality of life for all citizens.

Local Content Is Africa’s Route To Economic Development, Says NCDMB Boss, Wabote

Editorial staff

October 17, 2023

African nations seeking to achieve economic prosperity must develop local capabilities to process, utilize and export their resources as a means of powering their growth and development, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engineer Simbi Kesiye Wabote has said.
The Executive Secretary made the submission in his presentation at the ongoing 2023 Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa.
He regretted that most African nations lacked requisite local capacities in key areas of the oil and industry such as Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Fabrication, Installation, Commissioning, and Operation, and that resulted in the loss of job creation opportunities, revenues, skills acquisition, and other aspects of national development.
He said that the negative impact is that those broad categories take a significant proportion of the oil and gas industry expenditure, hence it is expedient for oil-producing nations to develop local capabilities that would ensure that those financial outlays are retained in-country.
Wabote advised on the strategy for enhancing local content capacity in African nations, saying that one important plan is to make local content a national agenda and back it with the appropriate legislation or legal framework in their respective jurisdictions.
He said that this would make it clear to all and sundry that local procurement, fabrication, and manufacturing is a national priority such that all institutions, businesses, decision-makers, investors, and citizens will buy into the vision.
Wabote recalled that Nigeria started with policy directives to deepen local content practice in the oil and gas sector before enacting the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010, thereby eliminating the possibility of companies complying with local content requirements in the oil and gas sector on ‘best endeavour’ basis’.
He listed other strategies for enhancing local content capacity as establishing factual data on current capacities in-country and carrying out gap analysis between current realities and the national vision.
He said that periodic gap analyses are essential to determine gaps that need to be closed and the progress being made in the target areas of interest.
He insisted that local content is not ‘copy and paste’, hence local peculiarities must be factored into programs aimed at enhancing local capabilities.
The NCDMB boss identified other enhancement tools to include Structured Capacity Building interventions to close identified gaps and funding and incentives, describing them as essentials to implement local content programs, develop infrastructure, attract new investments, and keep existing businesses afloat.
Wabote highlighted the importance of patronizing in-country capacities and capabilities, saying that all policies, capacities, and individuals will become frustrated if there is no outlet to engage them and receive rewards for sustainability and growth.
He explained that the Board ensures patronage of local goods and services by using the ‘right of first refusal’ principle contained in the Nigerian Content Act and various project certification and compliance monitoring tools.
The Executive Secretary said that NCDMB commenced the implementation of a 10-year Strategic Roadmap in 2018, with the goal of raising the level of Nigerian Content in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry to 70% by the year 2027.
He said that various initiatives were put in place under five strategic pillars and four vision enablers.
”As at end of year 2022, and five years into the 10-year journey, we have achieved 54% Nigerian Content level against the target of 42%.”

We Can Only Lift Millions Of Nigerians Out Of Poverty If They Cooperate – Tinubu

Editorial staff

October 17, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has made it clear that the objective of his government is to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
“Yet, this will only be possible with the cooperation of the people we seek to help. Let Us continue to work together to achieve our collective goal of eradicating poverty in Nigeria.”
President Tinubu spoke today, October 17, while flagging-off the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer programme for 15 million Households, targeted at uplifting poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
He asked Nigerians to ensure that they key into all the available programs because they are here to help.
According to Tinubu, it is only via a sustained collaborative approach that the war against poverty in Nigeria and the world at large can be won
Part of the speech of President Tinubu goes thus:
It’s my pleasure to welcome you all on this day, the commemoration of the international Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Today is a significant day for us in Nigeria and for my administration for it brings with it an opportunity for me to restate my administration’s commitment to poverty alleviation as expressed in my 8 point Agenda.
Our plans for food security, ending hunger, poverty eradication, economic growth and job creation are all means by which we shall fight poverty and help the most vulnerable members of our society. In this vital pursuit, we have already taken several important steps, including:
1. restructuring of the Ministry of
Humanitarian Affairs to include Poverty Alleviation and providing the policy framework for an aggressive poverty alleviation drive in Nigeria;
2. developing the Renewed Hope Agenda for Humanitarian Response and Poverty Alleviation which is a 7-Year roadmap for Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria;
3. expanding the National Social
Register to capture Nigerians living below one dollar per day, via a phased approach;
4. restructuring the National Social Investment Programme and repositioning it for quick and efficient delivery that is transparent and accountable in line with our commitment to fight corruption; and
5. partnering with the World Bank Group and other development partners to implement conditional cash transfers, business grants and other forms of support for the most vulnerable households via the National social safety net expansion program.
The theme of this year’s commemoration;
“Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting dignity in practice for all” is no doubt in perfect alignment with the Renewed Hope agenda. My government will lead from the front in seeking to ensure that all Nigerians have opportunities decent for dignified work and sustained social protection.
Today, my administration is launching the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Program for vulnerable groups as an immediate intervention to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal and other economic shocks.
However, the government is working to develop and deploy several more solutions and interventions to help Nigerians of all walks of life. These include:
* Investment of N100 Billion to purchase 3000 units of 20-seater Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered buses for cheaper transportation;
* Investment of N200 Billion to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmland to improve food security;
* The release of 2000 metric tons of grains from the strategic grain reserves to households across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory;
* The distribution of 225,000 metric tons of fertilizer and seedlings to farmers committed to the nation’s food security;
* The release of 75 billion to support 100,000 SMEs and start-ups;
* Renewed Hope Shelter Programme for the Poor, Refugees & Internally Displaced Persons targeted at one million households;
* Renewed Hope Business Grants & Loans for Vulnerable Market women, farmers, and traders to expand their business (GEEP) targeted at 2 million beneficiaries;
* Renewed Hope support to MSME to cover 1 million MSMEs;
1. Renewed Hope Skill Acquisition Programmes for young Nigerians who express interest for different clusters targeted at 5 million Nigerians over 5 years;
The Renewed Hope National Home Grown School Feeding Programme providing school meals for 10 million school children;
K. The Renewed Hope Alternate School Programme to provide transit learning education for 10 million out of school children who are oUt of school following
internal displacement or issues of insecurity;
L. Renewed Hope for At-Risk Children Programme;
M. Renewed Hope Community and Social Development
Programme for community grassroot projects;
N. And Renewed Hope Job Creation Scheme amongst
other people centered initiatives; Permit me, finally, to use this opportunity to call on you all to continue to contribute your own quota in partnership with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Former State House Permsec, Jalal Arabi, Becomes NAHCON Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2023

Former Permanent Secretary in the State House, the Presidency, Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi has been appointed as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Information reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that his appointment has been approved by President Bola Tinubu.
This is even as the President directed the outgoing Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, to proceed on 3-month pre-retirement leave as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243 with effect from October 18, 2023, leading to his eventual retirement from service on January 17, 2023.
The new Chairman/CEO of NAHCON will assume office in acting capacity on October 18, 2023, and will continue to serve in substantive capacity for a fresh term of four years, beginning on January 17, 2023.
President Bola Tinubu also approved the dissolution of the Board of NAHCON.

Gov Zulum Orders Demolition Of Brothels In Maiduguri, Asks Prostitutes, Others To Leave

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2023

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has ordered the demolition of brothels and other black spots in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Governor Zulum gave the order during a visit to ‘Bayan Quarters’ a settlement around Railway staff quarters believed to be habouring criminals, prostitutes and illicit drug traders.
The governor expressed concern over the rise in criminal activities associated with brothels and directed government agencies to dismantle them within 72 hours.
He said that the activities are posing a threat to the security as hoodlums perpetuate social vices that undermine the well-being of communities and the dignity of the individuals involved.
The Governor said that while the settlement which harbours criminals and minor girls engaged in commercial sex activities would be demolished within 72 hours, the illegal brothels have 12 hours to vacate.
“The government has been duly informed of the activities that are going on here; this settlement is completely illegal. People are killed here, this place serves as a breeding space for insurgents.
“I have directed that everybody should vacate the place.”
Governor Zulum also announced the revocation of the land titles where such criminal activities are perpetuated, pointing out that the titles were initially approved for the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“I understand that this land was approved by the Borno Government to be used by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), but it has been rented out illegally with all forms of criminal activities taking place.
“For this reason, the government has revoked the earlier approval; henceforth, the land belongs to the Borno Government.”

Source: NAN.

ECOWAS Director General, Edwin Harris Jr. To Deliver Realnews Anniversary Lecture In Lagos Nov 7

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2023

The Director General of the ECOWAS Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Senegal, Edwin W. Harris Jr. is scheduled to deliver the Realnews 11th Anniversary Lecture in Lagos on November 7.
This year’s lecture will be on “Threats of Illict Funds Flow to the African Economy.”
A statement today, October 17 by the management of Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited, publishers of Realnews Magazine Online said that the ECOWAS Director General accepted to deliver the anniversary lecture because of his interest in the theme.
The statement quoted Edwin W. Harris Jr. as saying in the acceptance letter: “With the immense interest I have generated in illicit financial flow from Africa and its negative impact on the governance, economies and other social facets of the African people, I am pleased to confirm my participation and graciously accept your invitation.”
It said that Harris Jr. has over 16 years of progressive experience in the public sector and in non-profit structures with in-depth knowledge and skills in governance, transparency and financial crimes.
“He has relevant skills on issues relating to governance, in the fight against money laundering, in the formulation of policies and the implementation of anti-corruption strategies.
“From November 2019 to July 2022, he was director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Liberia. Under his tenure and to his credit, he, among other things, successfully coordinated the validation and publication of Liberia’s National Risk Assessment (NRA) report.
“Until his assumption of duty at GIABA, Harris Jr. was a Lecturer at the University of Liberia.”
The statement said that the lecture will be chaired by Mohammed Bello-Koko, managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and that he will also moderate the panel session.

The statement recalled that the 10th Anniversary lecture in 2022 on “Drug Abuse among Youths in Africa: Implication for Nigerian Economy and 2023 Elections” was delivered by Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) while the 9th Anniversary Lecture was delivered by Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board on “Nigeria in the Unfolding Integration of the African Market: The Oil and Gas Perspective.”
It added that the 2020 Eighth Anniversary Lecture was delivered by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 on Managing COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: The Nigeria Experience while former President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana gave the 2019 Lecture on Beyond Politics: An Economic Narrative for West Africa even as Professor Mahmood Yakubu spoke on Political Transitions and Africa’s Economic Development: Preparations for Nigeria’s 2019 General Elections at the 2018 Lecture.
“The 2017 Fifth Anniversary Lecture on African Leadership in a Turbulent Era was delivered by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of Education and former World Bank Vice President.
“The 2016 Fourth Anniversary Lecture on Security and National Development in Plural Democratic Society was delivered by Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative to West Africa and Sahel; the 2015 Realnews Third Anniversary Lecture was delivered by Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November 19, 2015, under the theme: It’s The Nigerian Economy, Stupid?
“The Second Realnews Anniversary Lecture on Nigerian Democracy: Getting it Right in 2014 was delivered by Professor Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The statement said that Realnews is a general interest magazine and is an online publication that thrives on investigative journalism.

President Tinubu To Present N26.01 Trillion 2024 Budget To NASS Before End Of 2023

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2023

President Bola Tinubu will present to the joint sessions of the Senate and House of Representatives, the nation’s 2024 budget of N26.01 trillion before the end of 2023.
The budget, according to the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, October 16, is based on oil price benchmark of $73.96 and 21 per cent interest rate.
He said that the budget would be presented to the National assembly before the end of the year since President Bola Tinubu is already engaging with the legislative arm towards getting their buy-in.
He said that the budget is expected to consolidate on the various economic reforms initiated by the present administration aimed at improving the standard of living of Nigerians and attracting investors.
Bagudu said that assumption of the budget is based on the various diplomatic engagements by the president and other government functionaries that are expected to improve inflow and boost exchange rate.
This was even as the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi said that FEC approved the use of concrete for road projects across the country, including those of new ones, depending on the level of completion.
“FEC was also informed on the on-going projects and to mitigate so much inflation and variation of the projects, to have some of the projects that have attended completion to be redesigned on concrete and going forward for new projects to be done on concrete.
‘’FEC approved that concept that most of the on-going projects should be designed on concrete pavements depending on the level of completion and if you’re doing Asphalt there are also conditions for that.
‘’FEC also approved the coastal road running from Phase 1 which runs from Lagos to Port Harcourt to Calabar. Phase 2 runs from S4 tearing off from this stretch to Sokoto and to Ogoja.
“It was approved to be done on Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Financing.
‘’Eight roads that were started in the past administration for concessioning that have gone through all the processes were also approved and that the financial closure should be reached November.’’
Umahi said that a 24-hour approval would be given to any state interested in taking over road projects in their domain, while particular conditions must be met for the agreement to take effect.
He said that the project by the states must conform to the standard of the Federal Ministry of Works as well as meet the tolling system through which they would recoup their investment.
The minister said that FEC approved the NNPC and FIRS road projects, which they oversee and fund across the country.
Source: NAN

Nigeria Launches Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2023

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy has launched the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Scheme.
The scheme is aimed at funding 45 consortia of startups and researchers that will allow them explore further opportunities to deepen their work and build a sustainable AI ecosystem in Nigeria.
The Ministry, in a statement today, October 17, said that it is inviting researchers and startups working in AI to apply for up to N5 million grant.
“The initiative is aimed at fostering a vibrant and sustainable AI ecosystem in Nigeria by providing financial support, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among individuals and organisations in the AI industry.
It advised interested people or groups to apply via airg.nitda.gov.ng/#
The statement said that application closes on 15th November, 2023.

Senate President’s Aide, Eyiboh, Tongue Lashes Dethroned Senator Abbo For Attacking His Principal

Greenbarge Reporters

October 17, 2023

Honourable Eseme Eyiboh, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and the official Spokesperson to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has vent his anger on Senator Elisha Abbo for accusing his principal of being responsible for the judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked him from the Senate.
Eyiboh, in a statement today, October 17, “strongly rejected” the claims of the dethroned Senator, even as he expressed shock at the assertions of the former Adamawa North senator.
The Senate President’s spokesman described the claims by the dethroned Senator as “delinquent, provocative and unbecoming of a Distinguished Senator.
“It is only a diseased and uninformed mind that will not believe that the outcome of any court proceeding is a function of the evaluation of facts and evidence within the province of the rule of law.
“It is uncharitable for Senator Abbo to pour his frustrations on Senator Akpabio or anyone else and his action betrays the bile he has for Senator Akpabio.
“Democracy is founded in the rule of law, so for anybody to accuse one of the strong agents of democracy and governance in the mould of Senator Godswill Akpabio, such an individual must be a monument of self-pity and his swansong a discordant escape from reality.”
Eyiboh stressed that Senator Akpabio has no ill-will towards any of his colleagues and had said in the past that the embers of the leadership election have been buried and replaced by the fraternal bond of nation building he shares with the overwhelming majority of senators.

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