The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that the capital city, Abuja, is now over-stretched with a population of about six million
The minister, who received in audience today, March 17, top officials of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in his office in Abuja, explained that the FCT currently has an approximate population of six million people as against the 2.5 million envisaged by the master plan.
“So, everything is grossly overstretched and that’s why the FCT Administration, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, decided that we continue to emphasize on completing ongoing infrastructural projects in the road, rail and water sectors.”
He stressed that Abuja is one of the fastest growing cities in the world with an annual population growth of between seven percent and nine percent.
Malam Musa Bello said that with the number of infrastructural development projects currently going on in the FCT, funding remains a challenge.
He appealed to the body to work out a specific funding mechanism for the FCT to enable its Administration meet its infrastructural development objective for the city.
“As the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, it is your national duty to create a special funding mechanism that is not against the constitution that makes sure that these works in progress are done because as you know, we are considered under section 299 of the Constitution as if we were a state.”
This was even as the leader of the delegation, Dr Chris Akomas told the Minister that they were on an advocacy and sensitization visit to seek the cooperation of the FCT Administration to enable it discharge its duties, one of which is the collation of accurate and reliable data.
“We are visiting all these places because we are talking of data and we are looking forward to data integrity”.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said that he is not excited over the approval of $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The governor, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today said that it is not the first time the Federal Government is making promises, many of which he said were yet to see the light of day.
“We have had a lot of promises, we have had a lot of talks and nothing has materialized,” Wike stated.
Governor Wike said that the news was nothing to make anyone jubilate, adding that promises of this nature are only pointers to the fact that elections are around the corner.
“We have heard these promises and nothing has happened.”
“If the refinery is going to work, it will improve a lot of economic activities, there will be employment for the people of the state. We will be happy but I am saying that we have had these promises and promises and nothing has happened. So, I don’t want to begin to say hallelujah. Let us wait and see what will happen based on the approval and the statement made by the minister of state, petroleum. We will hold him accountable for it.
“We know, even before the (APC) government came into being, they have promised a lot of things and later they come up to say because of these challenges and that, they are not able to fulfill them.
“We are going into 2023, so many promises will be made, so many approvals will be made.”
The governor said that rather than jump in excitement regarding the approval by the Federal Executive Council, Nigerians must wait and see how the government acts on the rehabilitation exercise as promised.
The Federal Executive Council today, March 17, approved the plan by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt Refinery t the cost of $1.5billion.
Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has advised Nigeria’s Central Bank (CBN) to embrace digital economy and the opportunities it provides, as according to her, digital economy has come to stay.
The WTO boss, who spoke when she visited the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele at the apex bank’s headquarters in Abuja today, March 16, said that digital economy provides particularly the young people the opportunity to move forward.
Okonjo-Iweala, who is Nigeria’s former minister of finance, said that Nigeria has enough resources and opportunities to exit the recession, while encouraging the apex bank to use the opportunities presented by the digital economy as remedy, as opposed to banning.
“I think we have what it takes in the country, particularly our young people to do the necessary which is to move forward as to how we are going to create jobs and move this economy in the direction that would support our youths in the future,” she said.
“There are opportunities that can be used in improving trade so that our economy can climb out of this pandemic recession that we are in faster than would have been the case.
“WTO has what we call trade remedies. Without banning things we can be able to protect our industries against dumping and cheap imports if we use those remedies. We can use those remedies as a tool to help our industries.
“Digital Economy has come to stay and people are doing well there. We need to support our young people to make use of the digital economy.”
Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that conversations must start in that direction and also the creative industry should not be neglected as it creates more jobs for the youths.
The CBN Governor responded by saying that the local industry should be given the room to grow as it would create more job opportunities, given the rate of high unemployment
He said that Nigeria is open to business in any part of the world.
A lecturer at the Department of Business management at the Covenant University Ota, Dr. Stephen Ukenna has been alleged to have raped a 17 year old student of his department on top of table in his office.
The Lecturer was said to have invited the student to his office to take part in a surprise birthday party he was organising for one of his friends but allegedly raped her on a table in his office.
According to the report, the young lady immediately reported the incident to her parents on phone subsequent upon which a complaint was lodged at the at Ota Area Command by the parents.
Oyeyemi explained that the Area Commander, Muyideen Obe, deployed his team to the school where the lecturer was arrested and later confessed to the crime.
“The 41 years old lecturer was arrested following a complaint lodged at Ota area command by the parents of the victim who reported that their daughter called them on phone from the school that she was invited by the lecturer to his office on the said date under the pretence that he wanted to plan a surprise birthday party for her close friend.”
“But on getting to the lecture’s office, he locked the office door and forcefully had sex with her on top of the table in his office.”
“Upon the report, the Area Commander Ota, Acp Muyideen Obe swiftly deployed his JWC team to the school where the randy lecturer was promptly arrested.”
“On interrogation, the suspect admitted having carnal knowledge of the victim, but was unable to give any reason for his action.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and diligent prosecution.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has made it clear that it is still in charge of stamp duties collection, as against the news that went round in social media that the Finance Act 2020 has stripped it of the collection functions on behalf of the Federal Government.
A statement today, March 16 by the Service’s Director, Communications and Liaison, Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, the FIRS said that it remains the only federal agency permitted by law to collect Stamp Duties on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Therefore, the FIRS urges all taxpayers to disregard the aforementioned fake news and continue to pay their Stamp Duties charges to the FIRS nationwide.”
The statement called on taxpayers, tax practitioners and the general public to ignore what it called: “this unfortunate attempt to cause confusion by twisting the Honourable Minister’s speech.
“The attention of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been drawn to false publications in some newspapers and electronic/social media platforms misquoting a recent speech by the Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy on the administration of Stamp Duties in the country.
“For the avoidance of confusion arising from such publications, the FIRS hereby informs the general public, especially taxpayers, that the Honourable Minister was misquoted as saying that the administration of Stamp Duty was granted to NIPOST by the Finance Act 2020. The speech attributed to the Honourable Minister was definitely, and unfortunately, quoted out of context.
“For the record, the Honourable Minister merely stated that NIPOST would henceforth produce the ADHESIVE STAMPS required by FIRS to denote Stamp Duties. This position is in line with Section 2 of the Stamp Duties Act (as amended by Section 46 of the Finance Act 2020).
“The Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, is a patriot with unarguable passion for the rule of law and stability of the country.”
Eleven young enterprising Africans, among them two Nigerians, who have been named Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for 2021, are to benefit from the Aliko Dangote Fellowship endowed to support African Young Global Leaders.
The beneficiaries are among 112 persons under 40 years of age, selected as Young Global Leaders by WEF, from across 56 countries.
The two Nigerians, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, founder, 54gene and Obi Ozor, the founder of Kobo360, joined the ranks of past Nigerian winners, Ambassador Debo Adesina, former Editor-in Chief of the Guardian Newspapers and current Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, and Mr. Simon Kolawole, CEO of Cable Newspapers Ltd.
While announcing the winners, the WEF confirmed that the African YGLs will benefit from the Aliko Dangote Fellowship, made possible by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF). Till date, 73 Young Leaders from Africa have benefitted from the fellowship.
The aim of the fellowship is to increase the quality and quantity of young African leaders by supporting the engagement of African YGLs in the community, such as those from small enterprises or the non-business sector. The fellowship, WEF added, supports YGLs from Africa to participate in global YGL and Forum events.
The YGL award, according to WEF, “is to recognise and create a platform for a dynamic community of exceptional people with the vision, courage, and influence to drive positive change in the world.”
“We are excited to welcome 112 Young Global Leaders for the Class of 2021. From a gender justice and human rights activist to a multi-award winning artist and advocate for indigenous literacy, to a celebrated leader from the world’s youngest country as well as leaders from business, civil society, healthcare and government.”
Giving a breakdown analysis of the winners, the WEF said among the 56 countries represented in the award, eleven leaders hail from Africa and their work brings the promise of a brighter outlook at a difficult time. “They join a group of Nobel Prize recipients, Pulitzer winners, Heads of state and chief executive officers committed to improving the state of the world”, it noted.
Chief Executive of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), Zouera Youssoufou, congratulated Ene-Obong and Ozor for this accomplishment and urged them to continue raising the Nigerian and African flags.
She said ADF was pleased to have worked with 54gene and Kobo360 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when CACOVID partnered various organisations for collaborative efforts to complement the government’s intervention to fight the pandemic.
“We are very pleased to see Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong and Obi Ozor recognised in this way given the remarkable work they and their young team have been able to accomplish recently and especially in this past year. 54Gene and Kobo360, have been integral part of the national rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic displaying exemplary professionalism, efficiency, dedication, and patriotism. Truly inspirational and further proof that Nigerian and African youth are capable of anything given the right opportunities”, Zouera enthused.
Many of the past winners have gone ahead to prove their leadership and enterprising ability in their various fields of endeavour to justify the essence of the award and the genuineness of their nomination.
A past recipient, Ambassador Debo Adesina said, “I am delighted to have two more Nigerians on the Young Global Leaders list of the World Economic Forum. This is a great honour and I trust that my compatriots appreciate the responsibility this laurel carries as well as the duties that come with it. Of course, it is a recognition that challenges them to be better at whatever they do, given the illustrious cast of honourees before them.
“In my 2005/2006 class of YGLs were accomplished young men and women who, afterward, went to greater heights by expanding the frontiers of excellence in public service, academia, the professions, innovations and all sorts of fields. I was inducted on the same day with Daron Acemoglu, the cerebral economist-academic who co-wrote the best-selling book, ‘Why Nations are Poor,’ Sergei Brin and Larry Page who both founded Google, Ndidi Nwuneli of LEAP Africa, Brian Molefe in South Africa and Prince Harkon of Norway. Gavin Newsom was Mayor of San Francisco then. He went on to be Lieutenant Governor and is now Governor of the State of California in the USA. There were many more across the world in that class and in the years after who are still working hard to make our world a better place. I welcome the new inductees and urge them to keep the light shining for all.
“There is, indeed, no better time than now for all young men and women all over the world, especially these awardees, to commit themselves anew to the goal of charting a clear course of service to humanity and be veritable tools for global development.
Another recipient in 2012, Mr. Simon Kolawole while reacting to the latest list expressed happiness that more Nigerians are being recognised at the international level for good reason.
“I had a most rewarding experience as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in every sense of it. I gained incredible knowledge from attending short courses at topmost universities and participating in conferences. I interacted with YGLs from diverse cultures and professional backgrounds. The entire experience has helped in shaping my professional career.”
To underscore his nomination, WEF said Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, 54gene, has quietly been making waves at the head of one of Africa’s foremost health technology companies, working in the field of gene technology. 54gene was created in 2019 and its stated mission is to understand the genetic factors that lead to disease in Africa.
The African genome has been understudied and misunderstood, according to 54gene, which addresses a vital gap in research and new healthcare solutions. 54gene’s work is included in Time Magazine’s list of the 12 innovations that will change healthcare in 2020.
Ene-Obong was also listed as one of the 30 most innovative entrepreneurs on the African continent in 2019 by Quartz Africa. Prior to 54gene, he worked in a range of pharmaceutical companies and research organisations. He gained a doctorate from the University of London, holding a PhD in Cancer Biology. He also has a Master’s in human molecular genetics from Imperial College London and a Master’s in Business Management from Claremont Colleges, California. As Africa starts punching its weight in science and technology, Ene-Obong is sure to lead the charge for gene-based innovation.
On his own part, Kobo360 floated by Obi Ozor, is a logistic technology company that aggregates end-to-end haulage operations to help cargo owners, truck owners, drivers, and cargo recipients to achieve an efficient supply chain framework.
With only a click of a button, cargo owners can simply request for any truck of their choice and have their goods picked up and delivered to the required location through an all-in-one robust logistics ecosystem. Kobo360 raised $30 million USD in 2019, backed by Goldman Sachs, an impressive feat for a startup.
It would be recalled that the Forum of Young Global Leaders was founded in 2005 by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, to create a world where leaders take responsibility for a sustainable future while meeting increasingly complex and interrelated challenges. There are 1,400 members and alumni from more than 120 countries till date.
Huawei has continued its leadership in the global wireless infrastructure market, increasing its market share by three per cent to 31 per cent.
Analysts at the Dell’Oro for telecommunications infrastructure, who disclosed this in a report cited by Financial Street today, March 15, added that the global wireless infrastructure market grew seven per cent in 2020, its fastest annual growth for a decade.
The group said that Huawei grew despite the decisions by the United States, and governments of other countries, mostly in Europe, to force their local carriers to exclude the Chinese group.
Areas monitored included mobile core and radio access networks, broadband access; microwave and optical transport; SP router and carrier Ethernet switching, the researchers further stated.
Commenting on Huawei’s achievement, the Vice President and Lead Analyst at Dell’Oro, Stefan Pongratz, was quoted as saying that the rankings remained stable between 2019 and 2020, with Huawei leading the big seven.
These included Nokia, Ericsson, ZTE, Cisco, Ciena and Samsung, which accounted for between 80 per cent to 85 per cent of the whole market, Pongratz stated.
He hinted that the total telecom equipment revenue was put at between $90bn to $95bn with a roughly equal split between the wireless segments and fixed access.
Pongratz said revenue shares had continued to be impacted by the state of the 5G rollouts in highly concentrated markets.
“While both Ericsson and Nokia improved their RAN positions outside China, initial estimates suggest Huawei’s global telecom equipment market share, including China, improved by two to three percentage points for the full year 2020,” he added.
Huawei’s 31 per cent share more than doubled that of its rivals, Ericsson and Nokia combined, said the analysts who were optimistic about this year for telecoms gear, projecting the total global market will grow by between three per cent to five per cent.
The researchers also estimated that Huawei and ZTE collectively gained around three to four percentage points of revenue share between 2019 and 2020.
Huawei’s revenue share of the market, excluding China, however, fell by two per last year, from at some 20 per cent, the analysts.
The Chinese group also lost its briefly-held top position in smartphone sales last year, partly as a consequence of US sanctions on key components.
“Between concerns on starting new optical builds during the start of the pandemic and aggressive plans on 5G deployments that required a larger share of a service provider’s capital budget, the spending on optical transport dramatically slowed by the end of 2020,” said Jimmy Yu, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group.
“It was a really dramatic drop in optical equipment purchases in the fourth quarter. While we anticipated a slowdown near the end of the year due to concerns around COVID-19, we were surprised by a 29 per cent year-over-year decline in WDM purchases in North America as well as a 12 percent decline in China,” the analysts added.
Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, has said that the federal government has engaged more women in various positions now more than at any other time in the past.
According to the FIRS boss, the Service has been “supportive of women and mothers in their respective desire to become professionals in their chosen careers.
“Today, there are more female directors in the Service than any other time before now. This is our own way of empowering the women and mothers to be able to provide care and support to their families and the society.”
Muhammad, in a statement today, March 15 on the occasion of this year’s International Mother’s Day, said: “the Federal Government has equally appointed more women into positions of authority than any previous administration. This is heartwarming considering the enormous potentials with which the women are endowed.”
He commended Nigerian mothers and their counterparts globally for their untiring contributions to family stability and national development, with particular reference to Nigerian mothers for their “tenacity of purpose and leadership in situations of distress” like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
He regretted with sadness that mothers have become the carriers of the burdens of the society, especially in times of insecurity, wars, pandemics, and other socio-economic eventualities.
“Women and mothers to continue to be positive role models by weaning their children off negative vices such as kidnapping, thuggery, thievery, drug abuse, and other forms of criminality. Our women and mothers have a great role to play in bringing an end to the spate of insecurity in our dear country.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigerian music star, Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, whose entry won the “Best Global Music Album” category in the 2021 Grammy awards.
In a statement today by senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari said that Burna Boy had made notable contributions in the field of music which the world has come to recognize.
“Congratulations to Burna Boy on being conferred the 2021 Grammy, the world’s most prestigious musical awards. He has made notable contributions in the field of music which have brought glory to Nigerians at home and abroad. We are proud of his path-breaking achievements.”
The President also congratulates Wizkid who emerged as a joint winner of the Grammy Awards in a different category.
President Buhari acknowledges the efforts of forerunners, like King Sunny Ade and Femi Kuti whose creative exertions earned them Grammy nominations, paved the way and brought Nigerian music to global reckoning.
The President said that the record breaking musical achievements are a recognition of the Nigerian creative talents and the awards will open doors to other aspiring citizens.
The newly appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has promised President Muhammadu Buhari that the organization under her leadership will do more to help Nigeria overcome its many economic challenges.
She said, when she paid a thank-you-visit to the President today, March 15, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja: “WTO will do more to help Nigeria, but we need to add value to our products in order to trade more. We should exploit all the opportunities in front of us.”
She narrated the numerous opportunities for Nigeria in the global organization, as well as the challenges, even as she thanked President Buhari for the pulsating support she received from her own country in the race for the position.
“You nominated me, you wrote hundreds of letters, called up hundreds of world leaders. Without your personal and direct intervention, it may not have worked. The people of Nigeria also supported me massively. The youths were wonderful, always encouraging, backing me up on social media.
“Mr. President, the world recognizes what you have done. Since its establishment, only men have led the WTO. Now, a woman has emerged for the first time, and she’s a Nigerian. We are so honoured.”
Dr Okonjo-Iweala said that the support and leadership of President Buhari will help her a lot in her position as DG.
Responding, President Buhari acknowledged that the new WTO leader earned the position, adding: “we are happy you made it, but you earned it with your record of performance both at home and abroad.”
He also acknowledged that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala had put Nigeria more on the world map and added: “I congratulate you, as well as the country. I know you will represent us so well.”
President Buhari lauded Nigerian women once again, pointing to key positions they hold like Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and many others.
He said that the same way, government would encourage the youths, “so that they can be ready for the challenges of the future.”
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala assumed office as the first female WTO Director General on March 1, 2021.
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Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has advised Nigeria’s Central Bank (CBN) to embrace digital economy and the opportunities it provides, as according to her, digital economy has come to stay.
Eleven young enterprising Africans, among them two Nigerians, who have been named Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for 2021, are to benefit from the Aliko Dangote Fellowship endowed to support African Young Global Leaders.
Huawei has continued its leadership in the global wireless infrastructure market, increasing its market share by three per cent to 31 per cent.
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigerian music star, Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, whose entry won the “Best Global Music Album” category in the 2021 Grammy awards.
The newly appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has promised President Muhammadu Buhari that the organization under her leadership will do more to help Nigeria overcome its many economic challenges.
