FG Declares Monday, May 2 And Tuesday, May 3 Public Holidays

April 28, 2022

The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd May, 2022 as Public Holidays to mark this year’s Workers Day and EIdul-Fitr Celebrations.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration today, April 28 on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated workers across the country on this year’s celebration.

Ogbeni Aregbesola commended workers for their hard work, diligence and sacrifice, saying that their efforts are largely responsible for the greatness of the country and the respect Nigeria now commands in the comity of nations.

“Labour is the very essence of humanity. We are alive because we work and only the dead is incapable of working.”

Ogbeni Aregbesola called on the workers to imbibe the culture of productivity.

“The end of work is productivity. It is productivity that leads to satisfactory provision of goods and services and wealth creation. It is therefore the path to national and individual prosperity.”

He urges workers to raise the bar of their trade in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s drive to rev up the vehicle of governance and make all the people of Nigeria derive maximum benefit from the nation.

The Minister also congratulated all Muslims for the successful completion of the Holy month of Ramadan.

Ogbeni Aregbesola called on all Muslims to imbibe and practice the virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, self-denial, sacrifice and good neighbourliness, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

“The self-restrain, self-denial, sacrifice and deep spiritual consciousness that accompanied the fasting period should not end but be maintained and improved upon, in order to be a better person and true worshipper.”

The minister expressed confidence that the security challenges in some parts of the country will soon be a thing of the past, noting that the government is putting determined efforts and all necessary measures in place for Nigerians to enjoy unfettered peace all round.

Ogbeni Aregbesola assured Nigerians that the administration of President Buhari is fully committed to the security of life and property of every citizen and foreigners alike.

The Minister commended all security agencies for the successes recorded in the fight against criminals across the country and the peace that has returned to the formerly embattled places.

He urged Nigerians to be part of the nation’s security architecture by being vigilant and reporting suspicious individuals and activities to law enforcement agencies nearest to them, noting that security is everybody’s responsibility.

Ogbeni Aregbesola wished all Muslims a happy Eidul-Fitr celebration and prays that the peace, blessings and favours of Allah be with you all. Ameen.

The statement was signed on behalf of the minister by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. M.L. Shuaib Belgore.

NCC Studies 78 Companies On Colocation, Infrastructure Sharing Market Segment

Editorial staff

April 28, 2022

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the process of conducting a study on 78 licenses for the purpose of assessing the current level of competition in the colocation and infrastructure sharing (CIS) segment of the Nigerian telecommunications sector.

The study, according to a statement today, April 28, by the NCC spokesman, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, is to enable the Commission to have insightful and evidenced-based facts to glean the dynamics at play and ensure the continuous growth of the CIS segment of the telecom market.

The statement said that the Commission takes this issue as priority in view of the critical role played by the colocation and infrastructure sharing segment of the telecom ecosystem in ensuring robust services.

It said that already, the Commission has engaged the services of Messrs. Price Waterhouse Cooper (PwC), one of the world’s reputable consulting firms, to conduct the study on its behalf, in exercise of NCC’s regulatory functions as provided in the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003.

The study, according to the statement, is expected to be concluded between April and July, 2022.

Speaking at the NCC’s stakeholders’ forum, organised in Lagos on the commencement of the study, the Director, Policy, Competition and Economy Analysis (PCEA) at NCC, Yetunde Akinloye, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, said the forum was hosted to intimate operators in the CIS segment of the telecom market on the study and to secure their buy-in and cooperation with the consultants undertaking the study.

Akinloye said that in line with its mandate of creating an enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services, the NCC periodically conducts studies to assess the level of competition in the industry.

“Having successfully conducted competition assessment studies in 2005, 2010 and 2013, the Commission had issued determinations based on the findings of the studies while outcome of such studies has also enabled the Commission to come up with various regulatory interventions and initiatives to continuously provide a level-playing field for the interplay of market forces. These procedures are emplaced by the Commission to ensure fair, efficient and sustainable competition in the Nigerian telecom industry,” Akinloye said, adding that since the successful completion of the 2013 study, there had been significant development and activities in some market segments of the industry that had necessitated the conduct of another competition study.

For instance, he said, at the time the 2013 study was conducted, the CIS market segment was still at embryonic stage and as such, much emphasis was not placed on it. “The CIS segment has however recorded significant growth and transformation over the years having about 80 licensees, operating in the segment while its performance and activities continue to impact significantly on other segments of the Nigerian industry.”

The Director PCEA said that activities in the CIS market has also attained the targets set out in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020-2025).

Akinloye declared that the overarching objective of the study is to provide current insights into the level of competition in the CIS market segment and articulate strategies to enhance opportunities in the market, as well as ensure the deepening of competition which will ultimately support the provision of innovative services for the benefits of both market players and the consumers at large.

“Therefore, in line with NCC’s participatory approach to regulation, this initial stakeholders forum has been convened to formally introduce the project and the appointed consultants to the industry.”

Akinloye said that the forum provides opportunities for stakeholders to gain an understanding into the objective, scope and methodology of the study, as well as to ensure that questionnaire or Request for Information (RFI) developed by the consultants to access the level of competition in the market are well understood.

He asked the stakeholders to see the forum as an opportunity to seek and receive clarification based on presentation delivered by the consultant and to make comments on issues relating to the study.

He advised all participants to commit to the objectives of the study, by providing complete, timely feedback to questionnaires.

Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity at NCC, Bako Wakil, also joined Akinloye in seeking the full cooperation of licensees in the CIS segment of the telecom market whenever they are approached by the consultants for relevant information either through the instrumentality of the RFI or through one-on-one sessions with consultants in the course of the implementation of the study.

Wakil said that the study is in the interest of the CIS licensees, other players and the consumers, adding that it would also provide the Commission with useful and evidenced-based insights necessary to ensure healthy competition and a level-playing ground in the CIS segment and ensure sustainability in the growth of the telecommunication industry.

“Also, be rest assured of the confidentiality of any information provided to the Commission in the course of this study, no matter how sensitive.”

Earlier in her presentation to telecom stakeholders, Partner at PwC, Mary Iwelumo, stressed the objectives of the study and urged them to cooperate with the firm in providing accurate, timely and adequate responses to the RFI or the questionnaire that would be administered, which she said, would ensure that appropriate information are to obtained to address the challenges in the sector.

Iwelumo said that the study is to analyse the structure and operations of the collocation and infrastructure sharing segment of the telecoms market, draw out insights and advise the Commission on necessary regulatory interventions required.

Iwelumo listed three major tasks of PwC in the execution of the study to include: gathering data, reviewing and analysing information that would be sourced from the Commission, the operators, other jurisdictions for benchmarking; engaging identified stakeholders to get feedback and suggestions after the completion of market assessment; and finally to make recommendations and prepare the study report.

“Operators are very critical to the success of the study. Therefore, they would be involved in this critical assignment, as important sources of information, as provider of technical inputs, and finally, help to validate the findings of the study.”

Minister Attributes Resurgence Of Kidnapping, Banditry In Abuja To Intelligence Failure

Editorial staff

April 28, 2022

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Ahmed Tijjani, has attributed the resurgence of kidnapping and banditry, to what she called “intelligence failure.”

The minister, who spoke at the sixth security meeting with area council chairmen, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the territory today, April 28, advised that security agencies not wait until attacks are launched on residents before embarking on fire brigade missions

A statement by her spokesperson, Austine Elemue, quoted the minister as calling on the traditional rulers and other stakeholders to evolve new methods of tackling insecurity in the nation’s capital.

She said that the directive became imperative in view of pockets of reported kidnapping cases and the forthcoming Sallah, stressing that there is the need to re-strategise and strengthen areas of needs.

The statement reads in part: “In view of recent reports from area councils like Gwagwalada, Kwali and Bwari, there is every reason for us to come back, re-strategise and ask what is happening, where we are failing and where we need to strengthen. We need to do an analysis of where our strength lies and where we need to fortify.

“In our expanded FCT security meetings, we have all adequate committees in place, and we have sub-committees that are overseeing the affairs of security and intelligence gathering in the federal capital.

“Despite all these, we are still having reports of people invading communities and our peace, especially in the satellite towns where the terrains are difficult.

“Therefore, the royal fathers who are the custodians of the people should come up with new strategies that will put an end to this menace.”

The minister further said the FCTA was doing everything possible in ensuring that jobs were created for the teeming youths and women in rural communities across the six area councils.

Atiku Bows Before Ayu At PDP Headquarters

Greenbarge Reporters

April 28, 2022

Former Vice President of Nigeria and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar bowed to greet the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, when Atiku met with members of the PDP’s National Working Committee at the party’s secretariat in Abuja today, April, 38.

Federal, States, Local Governments Share N725.57 Billion Revenue For March

Editorial staff

April 28, 2022

The Nigeria’s Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N725.571 billion to the federal government, states and local government councils as March 2022 Federation Account revenue.

The Director of Information, Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Henshaw Ogubike, who announced the sharing today, April 27, after a virtual meeting of FAAC, said that the N725.571 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N521.169 billion and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N204.402 billion.

The total deductions for cost of collection amounted to N44.411 billion, while the total deductions for statutory transfers, refunds and savings stood at N382.826 billion.

He said that from the total distributable revenue of N725.571billion, the federal government received N277.104 billion, state governments received N227.201 billion, while the local government councils received N167.910 billion.

He said that the total of N53.356 billion was shared to the relevant sates as 13 per cent derivation revenue.

In the reference month, gross statutory revenue of N933.304 billion was received which was higher than the N429.681 billion received in the previous month by N503.623 billion.

The sum of N35.631 billion cost of collection and N376.504 billion being amount for transfers, refunds and savings were deducted from the N933.304 billion gross statutory revenue, resulting in the distributable statutory revenue of N521.169 billion.

From the N521.169 billion distributable statutory revenue, the federal government received N246.444 billion, states received N125.000 billion and the local government councils received N96.369 billion.

The sum of N53.356 billion was shared to the relevant states as 13 per cent derivation revenue.

Also in the month of March, the gross revenue available from the VAT pool was N219.504 billion, which was higher than the N177.873 billion available in the preceding month by N41.631 billion.

The sum of N6.322 billion allocation to NEDC and N8.780 billion cost of collection were deducted from the N219.504 billion gross VAT revenue, resulting in the distributable VAT revenue of N204.402 billion.

From the N204.402 billion distributable VAT revenue, the federal government received N30.660 billion, state governments received N102.201 billion, while the local government councils received N71.541 billion.

Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), oil and gas royalties, import and excise duties, Companies Income Tax (CIT) and VAT recorded tremendous increases in March.

The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $35.372 million as at April 27, 2002.

Death Penalty For Kidnappers, 15 Year Jail For Ransom Payers, In Senate Bill

Editorial staff

April 28, 2022

Nigeria’s Senate has passed a Bill with death penalty for kidnappers and 15 year jail term for anyone who pays ransom to kidnappers to secure the freedom of someone so kidnapped.

The passage of the Bill today, April 27, followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at plenary.

Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), said that the bill sought to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for release of persons who have either been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped.

According to the lawmaker, the overall import of the bill is to discourage the rising spate of kidnapping and abduction for ransom cases in Nigeria, fast spreading across the country.

He said that in the memoranda presented to the committee, plethora of issues relating to the subject matter of terrorism and terrorism financing in line with global best practices were raised.

Senator Bamidele assured that the amendment bill would set standards and regulatory system intended to prevent terrorist groups from laundering money through the banking system and other financial networks.

He said that having policies in place to combat financing of terrorism would either reduce or eliminate privacy and anonymity in financial and other sundry transactions as it related to the subject in the society.

The lawmaker said that the need to comprehensively review the Terrorism Prevention Act arose from the unfavourable ratings of Financial Act Task Force (FATF) recommendations of Nigeria’s Mutual Evaluation Report.

“And the consequent placement of Nigeria in FATF’s International Cooperation and Review Group Process with its impending sanctions on Nigeria’s economy.”

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that the bill would complement the Federal Government’s efforts in the fight against insecurity when signed into law by the President.

“It is our belief here in the Senate, that this bill, by the time it is signed into an Act by the President, will enhance the efforts of this government in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping and other associated and related vices.

“This is one piece of legislation that can turn around not only the security situation in Nigeria, but even the economic fortunes of our country.

“We have done so much as a government in terms of infrastructural development across all parts of this country but because security situation is not the kind of situation that we all want, this tends to overshadow all the tremendous and massive developments in our country.

“It is our belief that the Executive will waste no time in signing this bill into law.”

The Senate, thereafter, adjourned plenary until May 10, for Sallah break.

The bill will be debated in the House of Representatives before it is sent to President Buhari for his assent.

Festival Of Resignation Hits Sokoto: Deputy Gov, SSG, Chief Of Staff, Others Involved

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2022

Sokoto State is currently contending with resignation of its top officials and appointees of Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
The State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manir Dan’iya, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Malam Saidu Umar, and 11 other key political office holders in the state turned in their resignation today, April 27.
A statement by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, listed others, who have tendered their resignations to include the Chief of Staff to the governor, Mukhtar Magori as well as Commissioners for Finance, Environment, Youths and Sports and that of Lands and Housing, Abdussamad Dasuki, Sagir Bafarawa, Bashir Gorau and Aminu Bala respectively.
Others are Commissioners for Commerce, Works, Water Resources, Solid Minerals, Religious Affairs and Careers and Security, Bashir Gidado, Salihu Maidaji, Shuaibu Gwanda-Gobir, Abubakar Maikudi and Abdullahi Maigwandu and Retired Colonel Garba Moyi respectively.
No reason was given for the mass resignation.
Source: Daily Post.

AfDB Pampers Nigeria With$ 540 Million To Develop Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones

Editorial staff

April 27, 2022

The African Development Bank (AfDB) appears to be giving Nigeria special attention with its planned support for the development of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, as part of the quest for food security in the country.

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the Bank and a former Nigeria Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi, who made this known in Abuja, said: “we have decided to mobilize $540 for the program. The African Development Bank has approved a total of $210 million. The Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have approved $170 million, and $160 million respectively, towards the program.”

The AfDB President said that the processing zones will initially be rolled out in seven States, including Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kwara, Imo, Cross River, and the Federal Capital Territory.”

Buhari Govt Moves To Bring Back Ajaokuta Steel, Itakpe Iron Ore To Life

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2022

The Muhammadu Buhari’s Federal Government has embarked on a renewed effort at bringing to production, Ajaokuta Steel project as well as Itakpe Iron Ore in Kogi State.

Today, April 27, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its weekly meeting, presided over by the President, approved the engagement of transaction advisors for consultancy services for the concession of Ajaokuta Steel Company limited and also the National Iron ore mining complex in Itakpe in favour of mrses. CPCS Transform Consortium in the sum of N853,266, 644.4, inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said that the concession move has nothing to do with Russia which is now at war with Ukraine.
“I don’t think the war between Russia and Ukraine has anything to do with this. To the best of my knowledge, I went through this memo and all the consultants are Nigerian companies.”
The minister believed that with the new development, “we would have made significant step in bringing back to life both the Ajaokuta and the iron ore companies in Itakpe and move forward the industrial revolution of Nigeria.
“When these two complexes begin to function, then, not only are we going to save money in terms of foreign exchange, but we are going to see a lot of industrial development and also technology transfer.”
Lai Mohammed recalled that the contract for the Ajaokuta Steel complex was awarded in 1979 to a Russian company, called TPE.
He said that by the end of 1983, the contract had reached advanced stage, and that, regrettably, since then it has been suffering and by 1994, TPE demobilized from site and 1996, the contract was determined. “Subsequently, various administrations have tried to revive the Ajaokuta steel complex without much success. “However, you will recall that Mr. President was on a state visit to Russia on the 22nd and 24th October 2019 and, here it was resolved that Ajaokuta steel complex, which the Federal Government has made massive investment must be resuscitated.
“Regrettably, COVID-19 has slowed down the efforts of the ministry of mines to bring this to fruition.”

Airtel Nigeria Too, Acquires Banking Status

Editorial staff

April 27, 2022

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted Airtel Nigeria a full super-agent license, coming six months after the company announced that it had secured the license in principle.

In a statement by the Company’s Secretary, Simon O’Hara, Airtel now has a full super-agent license to operate as an agency network. Super agents are businesses that have been licensed by the CBN to recruit agents for agency banking, which involves providing financial services to communities on behalf of banks in order to increase financial inclusion.

According to the CBN’s regulatory framework, super agents are responsible for monitoring and supervising the activities of agents, including the volume and value of transactions for each type of service they offer, as well as monitoring effective compliance with set limits.

The statement filed with the NGX reads, “Further to our announcement of 15 November 2021, Airtel Africa, a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, today confirms that the Central Bank of Nigeria (‘CBN’) has awarded its subsidiary, Airtel Mobile Commerce Nigeria Ltd, with a full super-agent licences.”

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