All posts by Salisu Sani Idris

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has urged its members to be law abiding when conducting their lawful activities in 774 Local Governments in the country.

The association’s Deputy National President, Administration, Amb. Muhammad Bishara, made the call in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He reiterated the association’s total support and commitment to peaceful co-existence in the country.

“The attention of the National Executive council of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has been drawn to publication circulating on some online Newspapers.

“The publication alleged that the leadership of the RTEAN in Anambra state threatened to shut down its services in the state if the State Government does not consider its heavy taxation on transporters.”

He said that the position expressed by the leadership of RTEAN in Anambra state did not reflect the modus operandi of the association.

He added that the stands of the leadership was not in line with the Article five (d) , six A2 (f-i) and article 12 (e) that stated only National Executive of the RTEAN had legal and moral justification to make such a decision.

Bishara, therefore, urged the leadership of RTEAN in Anambra state to followed due process and report all matter to its National Headquarters for redress.

“The alleged heavy taxation and harassment of drivers by the Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue should be channels of the RTEAN headquarters for amicable resolution, instead of going to press to voice his angers, ” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Salisu Sani-Idris

President Bola Tinubu says Africa holds a significant portion of the world’s mineral reserves, including 92 per cent of global platinum, 56 per cen of cobalt, and 54 per cent of manganese, yet underdevelop.

The President attributed the continent’s underdevelopment to the fact that, the resources were primarily extracted and exported to foreign countries for refining and manufacturing.

Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima, stated this in a keynote address, during the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) meeting, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

A statement on the event was made available to newsmen in Abuja by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, the spokesperson of Vice-President.

In the statement, the President noted that extracting raw minerals in Africa had continued to keep the continent in a state of poverty

According to him, the extraction of raw minerals without local processing only deepens Africa’s underdevelopment and prolongs its economic challenges.

Tinubu, therefore, stressed the urgent need for the continent to break free from the dependency.

“This has left the continent at the mercy of foreign markets, forcing it to repurchase finished products at much higher prices.

“A situation in which the raw minerals are extracted from our countries, exported, refined, and sold to us as finished products merely consolidates the foundations of our misery and pushes us further down the depths of underdevelopment,” he said.

The President called on African nations to adopt a new agenda that prioritised local value addition, which was essential to industrialising the continent and providing sustainable economic growth.

On the evolution of lithium-ion technology, Tinubu noted that the development had enabled the swift production and manufacturing of portable consumer electronics such as laptops, computers, cellular phones, and electric cars.

“We live in a world of electronic mobility in which lithium-powered batteries provide higher specific energy, higher energy density, higher energy efficiency, longer cycle life, and longer calendar life.

“The global need for new battery technology has triggered a new scramble for Africa’s critical minerals.

“Africa possesses 92 percent of global reserves of platinum, 56 per cent of Cobalt, 54 per cent of Manganese and 36 per cent of Chromium.

” These are the minerals employed in the manufacturing of the new batteries. In short, the world needs Africa today more than ever,” he said.

Tinubu further emphasised Africa’s determination to move beyond the historical exploitation of its resources, advocating the localisation of the entire mineral value chain within the continent.

He assured of his administration’s commitment to adding local value to Nigeria’s mineral resources as part of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group’s (AMSG) vision chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake.

Tinubu drew attention to Nigeria’s vast market of over 226 million people, adding that the success of the country’s 10 billion dollars telecoms market is a proof of its growth potential

” This is evident in the manufacturing of Lithium batteries, concentrates and components to set up their business and domesticate the value chain from extraction to production in Nigeria.”

He affirmed that the AMSG was focused on transforming Africa from a supplier of raw materials into a global mining industry stakeholder.

On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who spoke in his capacity as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, laid out the group’s vision to transform Africa’s mining industry through local value addition and industrialisation.

The minister criticised the traditional model of mineral extraction in Africa where raw materials are exported for processing abroad.

This, according to him, resulted in loss of economic opportunities and jobs on the continent.

He maintained that the pattern of trade had left African nations vulnerable, as they were forced to import finished goods at inflated prices.

Alake proposed a shift towards local value addition – processing raw minerals into finished goods within Africa – as a strategy for enhancing the continent’s economic independence and contributing more significantly to its GDP.

He acknowledged that, although the continent faces significant developmental challenges, Africa’s natural wealth provides a pathway to prosperity if leveraged correctly.

The General Secretary of AMSG, Mr Moses Engadu, called for a new vision and political will among African leaders to ensure value addition becomes a sacrosanct condition to granting mineral license to any investor.

The roundtable had representatives from investors, development partners, multilateral institutions and major financial institutions in attendance. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has urged regulatory agencies to eliminate overlaps and align their activities with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda for economic growth and enhance ease of doing business in Nigeria.

Shettima said this on Thursday during the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Regulators’ Forum to build an effective Regulatory Impact Framework (RIA) for Nigeria, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that President Tinubu’s administration was committed toward streamlining the regulatory environment in the country.

According to Shettima, the move is crucial in driving the coordination, transparency and global competitiveness required for the nation’s economic transformation.

He noted that the administration’s journey toward a regulatory system built on trust, consistency and collaboration was ongoing.

He said that it was a journey that required all and sundry to remain committed.

“Our duty to the private sector is clear: to listen, process their concerns, and develop solutions that drive growth.

“In recent months, there have been pockets of complaints regarding certain directives from our regulatory agencies.

“I have personally intervened on several occasions to ensure we are not hampered by conflict, but instead move forward with unity and purpose.

“The success of this forum today does not solely depend on our ability to collaborate, share knowledge, and align our regulatory actions with the broader national agenda,” Shettima said.

He said President Tinubu had reassured the business community of his commitment to easing any bottlenecks they might encounter.

“And each regulator here must adopt the same mindset in their dealings with private enterprises.

“The work of PEBEC, particularly through initiatives like the Regulatory Reform Accelerator, has been pivotal in reducing the obstacles faced by businesses.

“Today’s forum offers an unparalleled opportunity to address these issues head-on and chart a new course towards regulatory cohesion.

“This is not merely an event – it is a defining moment for us to reflect on the duties we owe our nation,” he said.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, outlined PEBEC’s 2024 outlook.

Hadejia highlighted Nigeria’s business and investment climate reforms through its five strategic pillars, comprising regulatory, judicial and legislative reforms, among others.

He said deliberations and actions at the forum would be aligned with national economic goals that could make Nigeria a more attractive destination for business and investment.

“Through your participation and active contributions, this forum will play a pivotal role in transforming Nigeria’s regulatory landscape, ensuring that it enhances our global business competitiveness.”

The Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Alhaji Aminu Maida, thanked the vice-president for bringing all regulators together for the good of the nation.

“I think this is a very productive meeting and it is a very simple concept for one that will prove extremely effective because often we don’t realise how our actions which might seem to be very insignificant send a signal to the outside world.

“So, I think by the conveying of this forum, we as regulators in Nigeria, we are able to sit down and talk to each other rather than being cut unaware and ending up fighting fires which in the long run hampers investment into the country.

“Which I believe is exactly what President Tinubu wants to do to make Nigeria a destination for investment in the world,” Maida said.

Also, Special Adviser to the President on PEBEC and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, noted that regulators must act as enablers, evolving to support and nurture the very ecosystem they oversee.

“Regulators should be assessed based on the health of the businesses under them. If the businesses are dying, the regulator should be concerned.

“I want us to be the first government in modern history to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation rather than increasing it.” (NAN)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Amina Ahmed

The Nigeria COVID-19 Action, Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), says it has disbursed N625 billion to the 36 states since inception of the programme.

The National Coordinator, NG-CARES, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje, stated this during the peer learning and experience sharing exercise, on Thursday in Bauchi.

NG-CARES is being implemented by the Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank and the 36 state governments, to mitigate the negative social and economic impacts occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also aimed at addressing other shocks through the provision of grants and basic social infrastructure services to poor and vulnerable communities.

Obaje described NG-CARES as one of the most successful World Bank’s intervention assisting more than 5.3 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

He said the programme had been restructured to accommodate victims of flood and other related shocks.

Mrs Elizabeth Egharebwa, Chairman, Federal CARES Technical Committee, said the programme had been working with communities and agencies to alleviate burdens of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians in the last three years.

She was represented by Adamu Gizos, Director Special Duties and Projects, Federal Ministry of Labour.

Egharebwa, who is also the Director, Economic Growth, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, said that: ”while we are proud of what we have accomplished thus far, we know there is still much work to be done.

”That is why this peer learning event is so critical. By convening diverse perspectives and experiences, we can collectively identify solutions to the complex challenges we face.”

Also speaking, Mr AbdulAzeez Olorunshola, represtative of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said the exercise was designed to encourage sustainable collaboration between the states.

This, he said, would ensure better understanding for effective peer learning methods among the states
Gov. Bala Mohammed, lauded the NG-CARES over its food security, small businesses and social intervention programmes.

Represented by Prof. Simon Yalams, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mohammed said the intervention encouraged application of Information Communications Technology (ICT) in the provision of infrastructure and basic services to the people.

He urged the people to protect and ensure effective utilisation of the facilities provided in their communities for sustainable social and economic development in the country.

“The peer learning and experience sharing exercise is coming at a time when the phase one cycle of the programme is about to terminate.

”This will therefore provide an avenue for participants to articulate and consolidate all the strategies, techniques and skills applied and used in the implementation of the programme in the country.

”The lessons learnt would serve as a guide in the conception of development of future programmes, especially the 2.0 whose concept and framework has almost been developed,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

By Yahaya Isah/Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has sought for partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the effective coverage of its activities in its quest to deliver on its mandate.

The Executive Secretary of the fund, Mr Tosin Adeyanju, made the request when he led the management team on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the mandate of NLTF is to intervene on good causes such as education, sports, water, disaster management, as well as vulnerable Nigerians.

“We have intervened in several causes in over 365 projects by impacting lives across the country.

“Since I came on board, we have continued the drive to make sure that we intervene in critical sectors of the country, and support the “renewed hope agenda” of President Bola Tinubu.

“Therefore, we need the cooperation of NAN to drive home all our interventions and activities across the country,” he said.

Adeyanju said that there was practically no alternative to NAN in terms of coverage and publicity, because of the agency’s reach and presence globally.

“So, we deemed it necessary to be here to partner with you on areas that have to do with good courses,’’ he said.

He further said that with such collaboration, people would feel the positive impact of what the government had done so far and still doing.

While noting the significance of information, Adeyanju said that a lot had been done by Tinubu that was under reported, hence the need to partner with NAN for adequate reportage.

He expressed confidence that the partnership would go a long way to impact positively on the activities of NLTF.

Responding, the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali M. Ali, said that NAN prides itself as the biggest news content provider on the continent of Africa.

“We have over 500 reporters spread across the country, and beyond. We have offices in some selected African countries, and even in Europe.

“Right now, we are the only resident news agency or wire service from the West African coast in the UN.

“We also have offices in South Africa, Abidjan, Addis Abba, and some other places.

“So, with a work force like this, we welcome the partnership. Your people and my people will sit down and discuss how we can partner for better,’’ Ali said.

The NAN boss also highlighted other services rendered by the agency with the recent being the introduction of Hausa News portal while that of Yoruba and Igbo would follow shortly.

“For instance, we have started the news portal in Hausa language, being one of the three major languages in Nigeria; so the next will be Yoruba and Igbo languages in that order,” he said.

Ali explained that all these efforts were geared toward ensuring that activities of the Federal Government were properly covered.

“Your request for partnership is a welcome development, and we wish you a successful tenure in office,’’ he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has called for a formidable alliance among key players in governance to wriggle Nigerians out of poverty and enhance the quality of lives of all citizens.

Shettima spoke on Wednesday during the 144th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also emphasised the need for those in the business of governance to collaborate to create an environment where every Nigerians have the opportunity to thrive.

Shettima, however, acknowledged that Nigerians are in urgent need of quick and impactful measures, which President Bola Tinubu was solving through the implementations of long-term solutions.

“Our commitment to alleviating poverty and enhancing the quality of life for all Nigerians will never materialize if we do not align with one another.

” We must strive to create an environment where every Nigerian has the opportunity to thrive.

“This includes not only addressing immediate needs but also building sustainable systems that empower our citizens to become self-reliant and prosperous.”

He commended the efforts of development partners, particularly the co-chairman of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates.

He also applauded the Chairman of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who were at the NEC meeting.

He described Dangote and Gates as “two distinguished individuals whose commitment to Nigeria’s progress is unparalleled”.

He said that the two have invested enormous resources into the welfare of Nigerians, spanning critical areas such as health, nutrition, agriculture, and education.

” Their philanthropy is not seasonal but a steadfast commitment that continues to shape our nation’s future.

” We did not survive the lowest points of our journey as a nation by the proactivity of the government alone; we did so because we remained partners in rain and sunshine.

“So, permit me to once again extend the nation’s deepest gratitude to our guests, whose empathy has always shone through whenever they are needed.

” Mr Gates, in particular, has been a steadfast friend of Nigeria, contributing immensely to our nation’s inclusive economic growth and the well-being of our people in both tumult and tranquility.

” The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recently approved a significant investment—the Nigeria Cassava Investment Accelerator (NCIA).

” This initiative, championed by my office and hosted by the Lagos Business School in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group, sets out to revolutionize our cassava industry, an essential pillar of our economy and food security.”

Shettima described sub-nationals in the federation as stakeholders in redefining the future of Nigeria.

” We are gathered here because none of us can fulfill the goals of guaranteeing the survival of our people in isolation.

” Whether by expanding access to quality education, improving healthcare, or offering skills training and job opportunities, it is clear that each one of us has the power to influence policy and decisions at various levels.

” Our success relies on recognizing the socio-economic threats that have pulled us down the development index and, more importantly, on our resolve to walk the talk.”

Shettima expressed delight with the efforts and reforms made so far by state governors to boost agriculture.

” However, we must not overlook the state of nutrition in our nation, which has led to stunting and other health challenges.

” This is a crisis that demands our unified attention and action. The future of this nation hinges on the health and well-being of our children,” he added.

On his part, Mr Gates reiterated his bet on the incredible potential of Nigerians, noting that “Nigeria’s economic leaders have done some difficult, but necessary things, like unifying the exchange rate.

“The next great hurdle is raising revenue. I understand this is a politically sensitive area where Nigerians are struggling. Incomes have fallen.

” Prices have soared. And like in many other countries, people are protesting.”

He described Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda as ambitious.

Gate, however, said the Nigerian leader has assembled a cabinet ready to meet the challenge, adding that “with limited resources, putting the funds to the best possible use is key”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Accountant General of the Federation provided the council with an update on the Excess Crude Account.

According to him, the account currently stands at $473,754.57, the Natural Resources Fund has a balance of N3,451,078,538.57, and the Stabilisation Account holds N33,875,398,389.75. (https://www.nannews.ng)(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz