Avoid ‘Digital Sin,’ IT Expert, Nweke, Cautions Online Publishers At GOCOP Confab

October 13, 2021

Group executive editor of ITREALMS Media group, Remmy Nweke has cautioned online publishers against what he called “digital sin” through ‘hotlinking’ of images.
Nweke who spoke at the two-day 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) at Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, stressed that it is a ‘digital sin’ for a publisher to consciously link images from another online news medium directly in order to save his own bandwidth.
“It’s like taking rent on another person’s website.”
He said that when viewing a website, it’s not always immediately clear that an image is hotlinked because it blends seamlessly into the page, but that the bandwidth of the real host is in use.
Nweke advised, who is also the Lead consulting strategist of the ITREAL News median, advised GOCOP members to ensure they have standard image sizes which must align with their medium online.
He advised further that Publishers need to know what should be embedded, the cost as regards the financial inflow of the advertisements placed on the platforms so as to aggregate the return on investment.
“You will most certainly decide on how to market your product which is your online platform; basically entrepreneurs think about making profit to sustain the publication.”
According to him, though their deadlines are self-imposed, they must stop clicking on Google Ads on their websites from same internet protocol (IP) address.
“You will ultimately be prepared to incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life by engaging in a series of training designed to build more productive habits. So, please take your health seriously. Health is wealth even in the digital age.”

To Attract More Foreign Investment, Okonjo-Iweala Harps On Improved Security, Lowering Cost Of Business

Editorial staff

October 13, 2021

“Improving security and lowering transaction cost for foreign investment, even for domestic investment, would be necessary.

“Nigeria is part of a group of countries negotiating an agreement on investment facilitation at the WTO.

“Once this agreement is negotiated, ratified and is being implemented, it could be instrumental in attracting additional trade-oriented investment.

“To complement investment facilitation, Nigeria has to cut down on trade cost, infrastructure cost, linkage cost, regulatory cost, customs cost, basically, all costs associated with moving goods from tie factory or farm gate to the final consumer.

“Nigeria’s trade costs are too high. According to the World Bank-ESCAP trade costs for 2019, trade costs for African countries are on the average equivalent of a 304 per cent tariff and for Nigeria, it’s even slightly higher at 306%.

“These numbers are one and half times higher than trade cost in high-income countries. Such high costs are not conducive to forming a regional value chain.

“Congestion, capacity constraints and high costs in our ports make life difficult for anyone seeking to build supply chain operations in Nigeria and hence, expand trade from there.”

These views were expressed by the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala while speaking to President Muhammadu Buhari and his team via a video link on the second day of the Mid-term Ministerial Performance Review at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Okonjo-Iweala, who was minister of Finance in the government of Present Goodluck Jonathan, stressed that Nigeria must cut down not only on trade cost but also infrastructure cost, linkage cost, regulatory cost, customs cost and all costs associated with moving goods from the factory to the final consumer to complement investment facilitation.

Abia Partners With France To Train Abia Youths On Agriculture, Agro Allied Processing

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2021

The Abia State government and the French Government have struck a deal to develop a stronger economic cooperation with special emphasis on agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as the Enyimba Economic City in Abia State.
At the end of discussions between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the French Minister of Trade and Commerce, France Riester at the Livestock Summit organised by the French Embassy in Nigeria, the governor said that the partnership would involve vocational training for Abia youths who are willing to engage in agriculture.
The youths, he added, would also be exposed through training, to aquaculture, processing and export of agricultural products as well as support for the development of the MSMEs in the state with particular reference to those engaged in the export of made-in-Aba brands.
Governor Ikpeazu, who sought for stronger partnership between Abia and France in order to give the needed push to economic activities in the state also requested for greater engagement in the areas of livestock farming with a specific focus on Efi Igbo (the local breed of cattle found in Southeast zone).
The governor described his recent trip to France as “highly successful” and that his administration will continue to seek partnerships that will ultimately ensure a better life for the people of Abia state.
“Our focus remains to bequeath a better Abia to the people of the state who entrusted us with their mandate and this trip is one of many such efforts.
“We are hopeful that a lot of positives will come out of the engagement.”
The visit, which was facilitated by the French Embassy in Nigeria also reviewed the planned establishment of a Technical Vocation Education Training (TVET) Village at Nsulu in partnership with Schneider Electric of France.
Other areas that were discussed for possible cooperation with France include the Waste to Energy project, Bamboo plantation, production and its value chain, Solar electricity generation, and solar street lighting.
The delegation Governor Ikpeazu led to the Livestock Summit included the Coordinator of Abia State Education for Employment (E4E) Agency, Ndubuisi Endi Ezengwa, Commissioner Nominee and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Ikpechukwu Mgbeoji, Coordinator of Abia Livestock Farmers Association, Uchenna Onyeizu, agricultural expert, Nonso Ogbunamiri, a member of Abia Livestock Farmers Association, Okey Ahaiwe.

NNPC Rallies Stakeholders To Rebuild Some Nigerian Roads Under Tax Credit Scheme

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2021

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has rallied critical stakeholders in a move to find lasting solutions to the road network challenges and other lingering issues in the country.
This is part of its effort to sustain the current smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide within the festive period and beyond.
A statement by the Group General Manager,
Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad recalled that following NNPC’s intervention over the weekend, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) called off a planned strike action, agreeing instead to accept the dialogue option proposed by the Corporation.
According to him, such development had sustained smooth supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.
The statement said that the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mallam Mele Kyari, took a decisive step yesterday, October 12, hosted a major stakeholders’ meeting at the NNPC Towers.
It said that the meeting was attended by the NNPC, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
The statement said that during the meeting, the NNPC boss announced that stakeholders have agreed on a framework for NNPC’s intervention in critical road rehabilitation through the Federal Government Tax Credit Scheme.
“We are committed to utilising the Federal Government’s Tax Credit Scheme to rebuild some of the affected roads in line with Mr. President’s Executive Order 7. Upon our fruitful deliberations today, the NNPC has pledged to support the PTD and NARTO in carrying out quick intervention fixes on some strategic bad spots identified to enable unhindered movement of trucks for transportation of petroleum products nationwide,” Mallam Kyari was quoted to have said.
“Established under the Federal Government’s Executive Order 7 of 2019, the Road Trust Fund Policy/Tax Credit Scheme gives private sector operators an opportunity to fund critical infrastructure with the government.
“Stakeholders also agreed to enforce mandatory installation of safety valves in all petroleum product trucks in the country effective February 1, 2022 with full commitment given by NARTO.
“The meeting also frowned at the abuse of axle load or tonnage limits, with the NNPC agreeing to engage the Nigerian Customs Service for enforcement of preventing the importation of tanks that exceed 45,000 litres capacity.”

Senate Okays Electronic Transmission Of Elections, Direct Party Primary

Greenbarge Reporters

October 12, 2021

The Nigeria’s Senate has reconsidered the electoral act amendment bill and has empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the ‘best mode’ in the transmission of election results.

The red chamber also approved that all political parties must use the direct primary mode in picking candidates.

The senate approved four clauses in the electoral act amendment bill.

Electronic transmission of election results is a position that was contained in the Conference Committee report submitted to the chamber.

The electronic transmission of election results which is a proviso in clause 53 of the Electoral amendment act places on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the right to transmit results without subjecting their discretion to any other organ as was firstly captured that generated controversy.

ICPC Insists Ex-Presidential Aide, Obono-Obla Forged Certificate To Read Law, Goes To Court

Editorial staff

October 11, 2021

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned the former Chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property (SPIP), Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla, over allegations of certificate forgery.

The Commission, in a two-count charge filed at the Jos Judicial Division of the High Court of Plateau State, maintained its allegations that the former SPIP head presented a fake result with a credit pass in English Literature to the University of Jos, with which he secured admission to read law.

The charge filed before Justice C. L. Dabup, revealed that while Obono-Obla did not seat for the Ordinary Level, General Certificate Examination (GCE) in English Literature in 1982, he presented a result of the same GCE to the University of Jos, in 1985, containing Credit 6 from Mary Knoll College, Ogoja.

He was alleged to have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State.

Obono-Obla entered a not guilty plea on each of the two-count when they were read to him, following which his counsel, M.A. Agara, filed an application praying the court to grant him bail on self-recognizance.

Agara had earlier filed a motion contesting the jurisdiction of the court on the matter as well as accused the prosecution of bringing a defective charge before the court and prayed the court not to allow the charge to be read to the defendant.

ICPC’s lead Counsel, Henry Emore, who opposed the motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court, submitted that the defendant was brought before the court because the offense of certificate forgery was allegedly committed in Jos where the court seats.

He however did not oppose the bail application, but urged the court to admit him to bail on stringent terms.

Justice Dabup, in her ruling on the bail application, admitted Obono-Obla to bail in the sum of N1 million with one surety in like sum. She ruled that the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit an affidavit of means including a tax clearance certificate showing evidence of payment for three years.

The case has been adjourned to November 25 for trial.

Anambra Poll: INEC Discovers 62,698 People With Double Registrations

Editorial staff

October 11, 2021

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the discovery of 62,698 persons who were already registered voters in Anambra State and still went ahead to register again.

Speaking today, October 11 at an emergency meeting with stakeholders, the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu said that such double or multiple registrations are invalid by law.

“We have archived these registrations and will not print new PVCs for them. “Their old PVCs remain valid and they can use them to vote at the Polling Units where they registered and probably voted in previously elections.”

Professor Yakubu recalled that before the end of the First Quarter of the CVR nationwide, INEC devolved the exercise to the Wards or Registration Areas in Anambra State.

He said that the end of registration was followed by the cleanup of the data to remove the names of ineligible registrants before the printing of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

“In Anambra State, a total of 138,802 citizens completed the registration, including applications for transfer and requests for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs as required by law.

“However, in the process of cleaning up the registration data, we discovered that many previously registered persons re-registered afresh. This is a testimony to the effectiveness of our new system for checking double and multiple registrations.”

The INEC boss said that the same cleaning up exercise is going on nationwide and that as soon as it is over, the Commission will provide further details to Nigerians on the situation in other States of the Federation and action to be taken on the matter.

“Let me remind all Nigerians that the law prohibits double registration. The Commission appreciates the fact that the deployment of technology, including the online pre-registration, has simplified the process and made voter registration in Nigeria easier.

“However, the same technology has also made it easier for us to detect multiple registrations.

“Consequently, the number of valid registrants in Anambra State at the end of the First Quarter of the CVR exercise on 5th September 2021 is 77,475. This figure has been added to the existing register of 2,447,996 eligible voters used for the 2019 General Election. “Accordingly, the number of registered voters in Anambra State now stands at 2,525,471. We shall provide a detailed breakdown of the figure for public information in the days ahead.

“I am glad to report that we have already completed 10 out of 14 activities in our Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Governorship election. Only yesterday, we published the final list of candidates in our State and Local Government offices in Anambra State and simultaneously uploaded the same information to our website and social media platforms.”

Professor Yakubu said that all the 18 political parties participating in the election have been issued a soft copy of the updated register of voters at a meeting held in Awka.

“We are presently working on the printing of the PVCs. We shall use various channels, including e-mails and text messages, to contact the new voters to collect their PVCs before the election.”

He said that INEC had almost completed the recruitment of ad hoc staff for the election.

In all, he said, about 26,000 election duty staff are required even as he admitted that there are still some minor shortfalls.

He believed however that the Commission will complete the recruitment in time for their training scheduled to commence on 19th October 2021.

According to him, the training of other categories of staff, such as Electoral Officers (EOs) and Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) has been completed, while the training of Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) will commence soon.

Joint Security Forces Kill 2 Leaders Of Fleeing Bandits, 30 Others In Niger State

Editorial staff

October 11, 2021

Nigerian joint security forces have killed 32 armed bandits, including two of their leaders who were fleeing from Zamfara State.

Security sources confirmed: “at least 32 of the bandits were killed, including their leaders: Karki Buzu and Yalo Nagoshi, while another kingpin, Ali Kawaji sustained serious gun wounds.”

It was learnt that the killing came after the bandits attacked a security post, and shot dead five policemen who attempted to confront them.

The incident was said to have occurred at Bangu Gari in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

Sources said that the armed bandits, who fled Zamfara State due to the ongoing military operation, had earlier wreaked havoc on the community.

“The bandits came in their large number with sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers after fleeing their camps at Danjibga and Munhaye in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“They stormed the police station at Bangu Gari in Rafi LGA and killed five policemen during the exchange of gunfire.

“Immediately a signal was received and a detachment of joint security forces was despatched. The troops on reinforcement successfully ambushed the marauding bandits while attempting to escape through Tegina axis.”

Source: PRNigeria.

COVID19 Vaccine: Dr. Adesina Challenges Nigeria To Build World-Class Local Pharmaceutical Industries

Editorial staff

October 11, 2021

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Femi Adesina has challenged Nigeria to build quality health care systems that will protect its population, today and well into the future in the face of far too low vaccination facilities against COVID19 that is ravaging the world.

“Nigeria must also build world-class local pharmaceutical industries, able to effectively tackle the production of therapeutic drugs and vaccines.

“Nigeria must revamp its local pharmaceutical industry and launch strategic investments for local vaccine manufacturing.”

Dr. Adesina advance is backgrounded on the current situation in the world where in the United States of America, 54 percent of the population had been vaccinated against COVID 19, and 75 percent of the population of Europe had similarly been vaccinated while only 2 percent of African population had been vaccinated.

According to him, while developed countries are receiving booster shots, African countries cannot get basic shots.

“Africa should not be begging for vaccines; Africa should be producing vaccines.

The African Development Bank will invest $3 billion in support of local pharmaceutical industries in Africa, including in Nigeria.”

Dr. Adesina cautioned that the world is still bugged down with the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which he said has caused so many deaths and upended global economic growth.

“Due to COVID-19, Nigeria’s economic growth rate declined to -1.8% in 2020. This mirrors the pattern across Africa, as the continent posted a -2.1% growth rate in GDP, its lowest in two decades.

“The African Development Bank responded rapidly in supporting African countries. We launched a $10 billion Crisis Response Facility to support countries.

“We provided $289 million in budget support to Nigeria.

“The GDP growth rate for the continent will recover to 3.4% this year. We project Nigeria’s economic growth rate will rebound to 2.4% this year and reach 2.9% by 2022.

“The recovery will depend on two critical issues: access to vaccines and tackling debt issues.”

He advised Nigeria to decisively tackle its debt challenges even though he acknowledged that the issue is not about debt-to-GDP ratio, “as Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio at 35% is still moderate. The big issue is how to service the debt and what that means for resources for domestic investments needed to spur faster economic growth.

“The debt service to revenue ratio of Nigeria is high at 73%. Things will improve as oil prices recover, but the situation has revealed the vulnerability of Nigeria’s economy. To have economic resurgence, we need to fix the structure of the economy and address some fundamentals.

“Nigeria’s challenge is revenue concentration, as the oil sector accounts for 75.4 % of export revenue and 50 % of all government revenue.

“What is needed for sustained growth and economic resurgence is to remove the structural bottlenecks that limit the productivity and the revenue earning potential of the huge non-oil sectors.

“Nigeria should significantly boost productivity and revenues from its non-oil sector, with appropriate fiscal and macroeconomic policies, especially flexible exchange rates that will enhance international competitiveness.

“Infrastructure is critical for unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s economy. Nigeria will need $15 billion a year for investment in infrastructure.

“Financial innovations should be prioritized as governments alone cannot afford these huge financial costs.

“The private sector should be given incentives to invest in infrastructure.

“The Federal Government’s 15 trillion Naira Infrastructure Fund is a good idea, so is the initiative for tax credits for private sector investment in infrastructure.

“To be sustainable and more efficient, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) should be accelerated to finance major infrastructure across Nigeria.

“Nigeria’s institutional investors, especially the pension funds, should invest in infrastructure. Governments can also implement ‘Infrastructure Asset Recycling models, where existing infrastructure assets on government books can be turned over to the private sector, freeing up financing for governments to invest in new infrastructure needs.

Here is the lesson: sustainable financing approaches such as PPPs and infrastructure asset recycling will allow Nigeria to attract significant private sector investment into infrastructure.”

Stakeholders Move To Establish Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks In Africa

Editorial staff

October 11, 2021

Stakeholders are putting heads together to establish Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks in the countries of Africa.

The banks will form new financial institutions, run by young, professional, and highly competent financial experts and bankers, to develop and deploy new financial products and services for businesses and ventures of young people.

“Several African countries have already indicated their readiness to establish Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks.”

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akiwunmi Adesina, who dropped the hint today in Abuja, Nigeria, said that time had come when African governments “must unleash the potential of the youth.”

He said that today in Nigeria, over 75 percent of the population is under the age of 35 and that more decisive actions are needed to turn this demographic asset into an economic dividend.

“A young, productive, youthful population, with access to education, skills, social protection, affordable housing, and medical care, will power Nigeria’s economy, now and well into the future.

“We must move away from so-called ‘youth empowerment programs.’ The youth do not need handouts. They need investments.

“That is why the African Development Bank is currently working with Central Banks and countries to design and support the establishment of Youth entrepreneurship investment banks.”

Dr. Adesina said that Nigeria should make its youth the drivers of the new economy through the creation of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks, that put new financial ecosystems around them to fully unleash their potential.

On the industries that will dominate the future, Adesina said it is the FinTech industry.

According to him, by 2030, 650 million Africans will have smart phones, and 50 million will have 5G phone networks. Digital payments, mobile money accounts, savings, credit, and money transfers will revolutionize businesses.

“Nigeria’s FinTech is surging as one the leaders in Africa today. Google recently announced plans to invest $1 billion in Africa.

“That tells you something: they see the demographic and mobile tech growth and how this will rapidly change the future of e-commerce, trade, health, and finance.”

He said that the African Development Bank will support the Federal Government efforts, being led by Vice President Osinbajo, on the Digital Nigeria.

“The Bank is preparing investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (I-DICE) program, a $600 million investment to be co-financed with several partners, which will promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the digital technology and creative industries.

“Nigeria should take the FinTech industry as a major driver of the economy and invest heavily in digital infrastructure.

“An economically resurgent Nigeria must be a more peaceful and secure Nigeria. “Today, more than ever, several African countries are spending a significant share of their budgets on security, displacing the resources needed for development.

“Increasingly, the investible space in many parts of Africa, including Nigeria, is shrinking due to insecurity and insurgencies.

“Yet, resources are not there to enable countries to cope with these rising challenges. We must recognize the strong linkages between security, investment, growth, and development.

That is why the African Development Bank is working on developing Security-Indexed Investment Bonds to help African countries and Regional Economic Communities to mobilize resources to tackle these challenges.

“The Security-Indexed Investment Bonds will raise funds on the global capital markets to support countries to upgrade their security architecture, rebuild damaged infrastructure in conflict-affected areas, rebuild social infrastructure and protect zones where there are strategic investments.

Here is the lesson: without security there cannot be investment, without investment there cannot be growth, and without growth there cannot be development.

“The African Development Bank stands ready to help Nigeria in the design and implementation of Security-Indexed Investment Bonds to raise more resources to tackle its security challenges.”

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