A Nigerian boxer, Onoriode ‘Godzilla’ Ehwarieme, has defeated his United States’ opponent, Jeff Holcomb in the first round of their scheduled six-round bout in Cleveland, Tennessee.
It was the second fight for the Boxing Federation (WBF) champion for Ehwarieme, who has been described in the boxing world as “knockout specialist.”
The hard fighting Nigerian relocated to the United States of America late last year.
After receiving some hard punches from the Delta State-born boxer in round one, Holcomb gave up the fight.
“He couldn’t come out after the end of round one. He said he couldn’t continue with the fight,” Ehwarieme said shortly after the fight.
The tall, dark-complexioned boxer, who is now managed by a new team in the United States, started his professional career on a sound note on arrival in the U.S., beating America’s Rodolzo Damahi Lewis in a six-round bout in South Carolina.
With the latest victory, Ehwarieme, has extended his Knockouts to 19 in 21 fights.
A former Revenue Officer with the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, Mrs. Dorothy Chigozie Amalili, has been sentenced to three years in jail for defrauding the hospital of N4.6 million.
Mrs. Amalili, who was jailed by Justice K. Okpe, of the Enugu State High Court, was accused by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of diverting N4,644.030.00 belonging to the hospital into personal use.
The Commission, in an amended 6-count charge, had accused her of knowingly furnishing false statements in respect of money received in order to conceal her actions while performing official duties as a revenue officer.
ICPC Counsel, Enosa Omoghibo, averred before the court that her offences which were committed between February 2017 and December 2018, were contrary to Section 16 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
The convict, while performing her duties would write the actual amounts collected from patients on the original copy of the receipts, while writing lesser amounts on the duplicate and triplicate copies of the same receipts kept in the Accounts Department for audit purposes, which enabled her to remit lesser sum of money than the actual amount collected to the hospital, thereby fraudulently retaining the difference. She, through this deceitful means, was able to defraud the hospital of N4,644.030.00, over a period of time.
Justice Okpe, at the conclusion of the trial, found her guilty on all six counts. He therefore, sentenced her to six months imprisonment for each of the counts which will run concurrently.
The convict was also given an option of a fine in lieu of custodial sentence by the trial judge for being a Person Living with Disability (PLWD).
Her right leg had been amputated due to a diabetic foot ulcer.
The jail term includes the fact that the convict should make a refund of the entire sum she embezzled to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu. She will refund the balance of N4,544,030.00 to the hospital after an initial repayment of N100,000.
The money will be taken from her Pension Funds domiciled with IBTC Pensions into the ICPC Recovery Account under the TSA as recovery for and on behalf of the Hospital.
No fewer than 100 Nigerian youths have commenced training in the vocational skills programme sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and facilitated by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
The training covers eight skills areas, including Information and Communication Technology; Electrical/Electronic Technology; Industrial Automation and Mechatronics; Instrumentation and Process Control; Mechanical Services and Maintenance; Mobile Phone Repairs and Troubleshooting; Residential Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Maintenance and Building Technology.
According to a statement from the spokesman of the Content Development Board, the training would last for six months.
The statement said that this is the second time the Board is collaborating with the ITF for the training of Nigerian youths.
It said that the first edition was concluded in 2021 and 254 youths were trained and equipped with tools and resources that should enable them to start their own enterprises.
The statement said that the Executive Secretary, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote expressed delight that many participants from the first programme have started their own businesses, and that some of them have got formal employment to support the economy.
The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the General Manager, Capacity Building Division, Dr. Ama Ikuru, explained that the design of the training is to ensure that beneficiaries end up as successful artisans, entrepreneurs, and employers of labour.
This, he said, is why emphasis will be placed on entrepreneurship and practical skills.
“With our 60:20:20 training policy, we insist that at least 60 percent of our beneficiaries will have a clear line of sight to gainful employment and or are equipped to start their own businesses.”
The beneficiaries were selected from the Board’s NOGIC-JQS platform, with representation from different zones of the country. Selection exercises were also organised for the trainees, involving tests and oral interviews in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Wabote said that human capacity development is one of the key mandates of the Board and each year the agency trains over 2000 Nigerians in various skill areas, either through direct intervention or through the project-based training executed by contractors and operating companies.
“Over 3000 Nigerians benefitted from the Board’s sponsored or facilitated training programmes in 2021, and a higher number is expected in 2022 to cushion the effect of COVID 19 and the challenges being faced in the wider economy.”
He said that the objective is that Nigeria will have adequate and competent human capacity to run the economy and achieve a high level of domiciliation and domestication of activities in key industries, including the oil and gas industry.
He confirmed that the Board’s human capacity training programmes have been aligned with the rapid advancement of technologies and the digitalization in the oil and gas industry and the Board will increase the number of training programmes in digital science, analytics, and digital coding.
He listed other areas of the Board’s capacity building interventions to include the renovation and upgrade of some technical and vocational education training schools (TVETS) across the country, with modern industrial equipment and strengthening engineering departments in selected tertiary institutions to ensure that their graduates are trained ready for the challenges of the modern industry.
In her remarks, the Director-General of ITF, Sir Joseph Ari commended NCDMB for its commitment to the empowerment of Nigerians and for collaborating with the institution. He submitted that “this kind of synergy is vital to actualize our respective mandates and effectively address most of the problems confronting the country, especially unemployment and poverty and their effects on national life.”
Represented by the Head Corporate Planning, Mrs. Yinka Shodunke, the Director-General suggested that Nigerians who are equipped with requisite skills will be better disposed to take advantage of numerous policies designed by the Federal Government to boost the economy and improve the standard of living of the citizens.
Domestic airline operators have increased airfares on domestic routes by 100 percent with effect from March 1 2022. This is as a result of high cost of Aviation fuel and inadequate supply of Dollars with which they transact businesses. Information said that aviation fuel now costs above N410 in Lagos, N422 in Abuja and Port Harcourt and N429 in Kano per litre, while the dollar, which sells for between N580 to N600 is in short supply. The airlines also expressed anger at the Unavailability of Forex for spare parts and maintenance. Airlines carry out most of their activities in dollars which today sells for between N580 and N600 and is in short supply. Nigeria’s domestic airlines are in a ‘life and death’ struggle to secure the Forex they need to acquire their spare parts to maintain their aircraft. ”This is a major influence on how quickly a grounded aircraft can be fixed and restored to its flight schedule, which in turn has a huge impact on the schedule reliability of the domestic airlines,” AON said. The decision reached by all the domestic operators shows that the least economy ticket will from March 1 sells for N50,000, instead of the previous N22,000 for an hour flight. Indications are that some of the airlines have already fixed some of the fares that will come into effect on March 1. A survey of airline ticketing shows that an economy class domestic ticket on Max Air outbound Jos to Abuja sells at ₦50,000, while Green Africa Airlines’ Lagos to PortHarcourt goes for ₦35,000 as opposed to its current ₦16,500 fare. Green Africa will sell its Owerri to Abuja flight tickets at ₦35,000, while Air Peace Lagos to Abuja will sell at ₦50,000. Equally, Air Peace will sell Lagos to Benin return ₦105,000. Azman Air flight from Abuja to Kano will sell at ₦50,000, while Overland Airways Akure to Abuja will go for the same ₦50,000. Other airlines, namely, Dana, Ibom Air, Aero Contractors will also raise their ticket prices by 100 percent. The airlines, under the aegis of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), had issued a statement complaining about the current high cost of aviation fuel. The civil aviation regulatory authority, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has not issued any statement on the new fares. However, a source within the authority said that airfares have since been deregulated by NCAA, leaving market forces to determine price. NCAA only intervene when an airline fixes ridiculously low airfares that can compromise safety standard as operations of any airline is capital intensive.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has directed the setting up of a joint committee of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the FCT Administration to tackle issues surrounding the 5G broadband deployment in the Territory.
The Minister, who spoke when he received a delegation of the NCC, led by its Chairman, Professor Adeolu Akande in his office, said that all pending issues concerning the deployment of telecommunication facilities within the Territory, including the payment of appropriate charges by telecommunication companies should be resolved with the collaboration of all parties.
He said that the joint team should be made up of the Executive Commissioner (Technical Services) of NCC, the Executive Secretary in the Federal Capital Development Authority, (FCDA) as well as the Chief of Staff to the Minister.
The team, he added, should be mandated to harmonise and resolve all outstanding issues.
According to Muhammad Musa Bello, it is expensive to provide infrastructure within the Capital City even as he assured that provision has been made for the easy deployment of telecommunication facilities, as part of its extensive road network.
The Minister acknowledged harmonious relationship existing between the NCC and the FCTA and expressed appreciation for the NCC’s educational support to schools in the capital city.
The Chairman, of the NCC’s Governing Board, Professor Adeolu Akande had disclosed plans by the NCC to deploy infrastructure to accommodate 5G broadband in the FCT.
He for a partnership with the FCTA to increase the number of possible technology deployment sites in the Territory.
This was even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta commended the Minister and the management of the FCTA for the infrastructural development.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote
The implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act has created over 50,000 direct jobs in the local economy over the past 11 years and retained $8 billion annually in the oil sector.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote made this known at separate breakfast meeting wit editors of newspapers and broadcast stations.
According to him, the level of Nigerian content in the oil industry hovered around five percent before the enactment of the NOGICD Act in 2010, adding that the implementation of the Nigerian Content Law had resulted in an increase to 26 percent in 2016 and 42 percent as at December 2021.
Wabote explained that NCDMB had launched the Nigerian content 10-Year Strategic Roadmap in 2017 with a target to achieve 70 percent Nigerian content by 2027.
“As part of this goal, the Board would catalyze the creation of 300, 000 direct jobs in the oil and gas industry and linkage sectors, enable the retention of $13 bn out of the estimated annual $20 bn spend in the oil and gas industry and establishment of major fabrication yards and manufacturing hubs in-country.
He said that a pointer of the marked improvement in Nigerian content implementation is that the local economy used to retain little or nothing from the annual oil industry spend of $20 billion before the NOGICD Act, 2010 but is now able to retain more than $8 billion in-country per year.
He said that the improvement is because of the development of critical capacities and assets by local oil and gas service companies and increased domiciliation and domestication of industry operations, he said.
According to the NCDMB boss, Nigeria has also moved from near zero participation in the operations side of the oil and gas sector “to the point that our indigenous operators such as SEPLAT, AITEO, EROTON, and others are now responsible for 15 percent of our oil production and 60 percent of our domestic gas supply.”
Other major accomplishments of Nigerian content implementation include the establishment of two world-class pipe mills and five impressive pipe coating yards, the ability of Nigerian firms to fabricate more than 250,000 tonnes of steel per year and ownership of more than 40 percent of marine vessels used in the oil and gas industry by Nigerians.
The Executive Secretary said that over 10 million training manhours have been delivered via the Board’s Human Capacity Development Programs, adding: “ it was no surprise that our indigenous workforce was able to sustain oil production at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.”’
Providing details of the Board’s provision of credit facilities to the oil and gas industry, Wabote said that NCDMB had inaugurated a $50million Nigerian Content Research & Development Fund to drive basic research, commercialization of research breakthroughs, establishment of research centers of excellence, and to sponsor university endowments.
“The Board floated a $50m special loan product for women in the oil and gas business to enable empowerment of the womenfolk in the industry and established another $30m Working Capital Fund to support oil and gas service companies. Both the Women and Working Capital funds are managed by Nexim (Nigerian Export-Import) Bank.”
He said that NCDMB recently secured the approval of its Governing Council to set up a $50 million fund for NOGAPS Manufacturing Product Line, to be dedicated to companies that would operate in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks, being constructed by the Board in Bayelsa and Cross River States. “Beneficiaries of the NOGAPS fund would have to be engaged in the manufacturing of equipment components used in the oil and gas industry and linkage sectors.”
Giving reasons why the NCDMB convened the breakfast meetings with the leadership of the media, the Executive Secretary said that the agency wanted senior members of the media to understand the importance of Nigerian Content to the national economy and to continue to advocate for the implementation in all spheres of the Nigerian economy. He added that the COVID-19 pandemic made humanity to realize that every economy needs to develop local capacities and capabilities in the core sectors, hence, all hands must now be on deck to push the local content narrative.
He charged media practitioners to uphold the ethics of their professionalism, saying that Nigerians depend on the media for their news and information, hence practitioners must strive to retain their audience’s trust and not fall for the temptation of propagating fake news and carrying out unwarranted attacks on innocent Nigerians.
He regretted that some online media platforms were undermining the Federal Government’s noble intentions of bringing in technocrats and professionals to serve as appointees through targeted and unwarranted attacks under the cloak of investigative journalism and challenged the publishers and editors to condemn and weed out the bad eggs in their profession, and our society generally.
In his remarks, Manager Corporate Communications NCDMB, Esueme Dan Kikile said that media practitioners are key partners in the implementation of the NOGICD Act and their role is clearly spelled out in section 70 (n) of the Nigerian Content legislation.
He solicited the support of senior media practitioners to curb the incidence of fake news and libelous publications perpetrated by some news organizations.
He assured the media of the Board’s continuous partnership and support of their operations and advancement of the national economy.
Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva has apologized to Nigerians over the scarcity of fuel that had lingered in the country for days now. In a statement today, February 20 by his spokesman, Horatius Egwa, the Minister described the situation as “regrettable.” He said that this time, the scarcity is not because of the absence of supply of products “but due to inspection failure, which allowed adulterated products into the country.” He also expressed appreciation with the NNPC for showing so much concern to the plight of Nigerians by coming forward with an apology. “This is unprecedented and shows that we on the government side are not afraid to take responsibility.” The Minister stressed that the Federal Government is in sympathy with the citizenry over the hardship, occasioned by the scarcity. “Let me once again appeal to Nigerians to be patient with government in finding lasting solutions to the crisis. “The Mid
A professor of security history, conflict resolutions and International Studies, Professor Adam Okene Ahmed has been appointed as Provost (equivalent of Vice Chancellor) of the Apex Military training institution, the Nigerian Defence College (NDC). His appointment, which has been approved by the Minister of Defence, retired General Bashir Magashi followed some processes, including competitive interview in which eight other top Professors, including Vice Chancellors competed for the post. The Chief of Naval Staff and the College Commandant had made the recommendation to the Minister for the choice of Professor Adam Okene, after emerging overall winner of the processes for the top job. Adam Okene Ahmed is going to NDC with huge experiences, high profile, expertise and global visibility in Defence, Security Leadership and international studies. He had before now, headed the Department of History and War Studies at NDA Kaduna. He transformed the Nigerian Defence Academy’s Postgraduate School where he served meritoriously for seven years, giving the school high level standard and impact. Adam Okene also acted for some months in 2020 as Academy Provost of the Nigerian Defence Academy. Before his current appointment, which he accepted only yesterday, February 8, he was the Academy’s Director of the Directorate of Linkages and Collaboration where he created several military related programmes and attracted funds to the Academy. He had involved in almost all academic activities, including chairing several NUC accreditation panels to Universities. Professor Adam Okene was the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Kogi state University for three years where with other chairmen of the state tertiary Institutions, brought sanity to the Institutions of the state. For academic and security reasons, he was in the UK, USA, Malaysia, South Africa among others. Professor Ahmed Okene chaired XX Team of the 2012 NEEDS assessment to public Universities. He was a member of the Presidential Research Ctt during President Obasanjo’s regime and a member of the President Musa Yar’adua’s Presidential Police Task Force that established Nigeria Police Academy at Wudil, Kano State in 2009. Professor Adam Okene Ahmed who is resuming at the Apex Strategic Military Institution at the time of its transition into Defence Postgraduate University is expected to bring his wealth of accomplishment to transform the College’s Centre for Strategic Research and Study which is a centre of excellence for peace support operations for ECOWAS and AU.
The African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has confirmed that Nigeria has recorded tremendous successes in infrastructure development and agricultural revolution during the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, Princess Gloria Akobundu, at a news conference in Abuja said that the country also recorded successes in humanitarian services and fight against corruption. The APRM is governance arm that NEPAD established in 2003 by Heads of States and Government of African Union as a unique accountability method for African countries to review each other’s governance. She said that the country was highly commended at the 31st APR forum on Feb.4.
“The review report was far-reaching and encompassed various segments of the socio-political economy and highlighted the developments recorded since the first peer review in 2008. The President has assured that the government will effectively implement the National Programme of Action (NPoA),’’ she said. Sen. Abba Ali, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the APRM, said the process sought to entrench good governance practices in participating states. Ali said that being peer reviewed for the second time was a great step toward the growth and development of the country.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and AUDA-NEPAD, Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani, commended President Buhari for his support and commitment in reforming NEPAD to AUDA-NEPAD. Nnamani, represented by Sen. Adelere Oriolowo, said the National Assembly would give unequivocal support to AUDA-NEPAD in entrenching democracy and promoting good governance for sustainable development. “The NASS will ensure the domestication of the NEPAD Act through the passage of its draft bill, increased funding and effective partnership in promoting regional integration,’’ he said. The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on AUDA-NEPAD, Mohammed Bago, said the NASS would also support the agency in the implementation of the National Programme of Action (NPoA). The APRM is an innovative and bold attempt by Africa to improve governance and well-being of all citizens. The objective of the APRM is to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that will lead to political stability, high economic growth, accelerated regional and continental economic integration. The second peer review came 13 years after the first one which was conducted in 2008.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said that the Finance Act 2021, through collaboration with taxpayers and key stakeholders, will enable the Service to ensure adequate funding of the country’s budget.
The Executive Chairman of the Service, Muhammad Nami, who spoke at the KPMG’s Webinar on Nigeria’s 2022 Budget and the Finance Act 2021, in a lecture, said that the Act had provided a framework for equitable treatment, automation and deployment of ICT infrastructure, a single agency for tax collection, taxation of the digital economy among other critical interventions for improved tax administration.
“In the past, situations abound where certain goods or services streamed into Nigeria by non-resident companies, especially to consumers (B2Cs), were not subject to VAT. This raised the issue of equity, as goods and services offered by domestic companies are subject to VAT.
“With the amendment of Section 10 of the VAT Act and our publication of the ‘Guidelines on Simplified VAT Compliance Regime for Non-Resident Suppliers’, there is now a mechanism for applying VAT on such goods or services, affording the same tax treatment to both local and foreign supplies.
“Similarly, Companies deriving income from Nigeria without physical presence can now be assessed, like other companies with physical presence, on fair and reasonable percentage of their turnover in line with Section 30 of CITA.”
The FIRS Executive Chairman said: “with the amendment of Section 25 of the FIRS Establishment Act, the Service can now deploy either proprietary or third-party developed technologies for tax administration. Those that may still stand in the way of achieving this objective will now be liable to a daily penalty of N25,000.
“With the extension of secrecy and confidentiality requirements to other persons, like service providers, vendors and consultants of the Service, the fear of taxpayers are further allayed on the secrecy and confidentiality of their commercial and other information.”
Muhammad Nami said that with the amendment to Section 68 of the FIRS Establishment Act by the Finance Act, complaints from taxpayers about multiple agencies of government demanding payment of tax from them had been addressed.
“This unfortunate situation is not in line with the national tax policy thrust and was causing confusion for our taxpayers and increasing their cost of compliance. However, the amendment to section 68 of the FIRS Act by the Finance Act 2021 has made it clear that FIRS is the only agency responsible for tax assessment, collection and enforcement. As such, taxpayers are to expect a streamlined tax administration regime going forward.”
Nami stated that the Service will deploy compliance and enforcement strategies, and will leverage on intelligence and strategic data mining and analysis, to provide intelligence and information to enhance its audit and investigation functions, while also reducing the prevalence of tax abuse in incentive management in the country.
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A Nigerian boxer, Onoriode ‘Godzilla’ Ehwarieme, has defeated his United States’ opponent, Jeff Holcomb in the first round of their scheduled six-round bout in Cleveland, Tennessee.
No fewer than 100 Nigerian youths have commenced training in the vocational skills programme sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and facilitated by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has directed the setting up of a joint committee of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the FCT Administration to tackle issues surrounding the
The African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) has confirmed that Nigeria has recorded tremendous successes in infrastructure development and agricultural revolution during the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
