By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu said on Friday that the reforms embarked upon by his administration would make Nigeria competitive.

He said this when he received a delegation of the international energy company, ENI, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Claudio Descalzi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He commended the company for its proposed new investment in Nigeria and reiterated his vision of making the nation more globally competitive and an investment destination.

The president said his administration’s reforms would reposition the nation’s economy by exploring the possibilities of innovative thinking, strategic planning, new technology and research into best practices.

“ENI, we welcome your team again. Claudio, it is an honour for me to welcome you back to your second home, Nigeria.

“Welcome back after many years. Nigeria has improved and I am glad that you noted that we are making changes, not because of anything else but because of a very long-term vision on our investment strategy.

“We are determined to champion changes or take ourselves ahead of those changes and make reform a priority,” he said.

He said his government had to continuously be intellectually inquisitive and reform its way of doing things.

“We count on your efforts and we see the effects of your belief in our partnership; not for exploitation but for investable development.

“Africa is not in a begging mode but in an accelerated mode to compete and take its place with the rest of the world,’’ he stated.

Tinubu also said the reforms embarked upon by his administration would be sustained for the mutual benefit of investors and Nigerians.

“I have seen the need for us to continue to be leaders in this reform and create opportunities for attracting investments because the basket is getting bigger and the participants are getting larger and more resilient.

“The fossil fuel problem is there; science and technology are taking over.

“We will still continue to assure you that we are going to be the global investment destination, and I will encourage you as one of the progressive leaders in the industry on what our reforms have achieved.

“Please, put a timeline on that investment strategy. It will be a stimulant for the rest of the world when you put a timeline on it,” said the president.

Tinubu commended ENI’s confidence in the country over the years and for diversifying into other areas such as agriculture.

“We are open; we are ready. We are working hard on infrastructural development and to make arable land available for planting.

“And we are ready to partner with you in every aspect of that and innovative research,” he stated.

In his remarks, Descalzi said the energy company would invest more in the country, particularly in the agricultural sector.

“First of all, there are lots of reasons to thank you.

“The first is that after nine years, you allowed me to come back to my country. It is quite emotional.

“Secondly, not only because you found time to stay with us, but especially because you promoted a new era for Nigeria.

“You want us to attract investment, and I think you are following the right track with your leadership,” he said.

He promised his company would return to Nigeria to disabuse the saying of someone in Europe that everybody was leaving Nigeria.

“We want to be the champion of this new era.

“We want to stay close to you to learn and to help you in your endeavour and renew our efforts to create again a new Nigeria for everybody.

“We trust you and want everybody in Europe, in different countries and everywhere to trust you and your leadership.

“You know that we work everywhere, and we can be a good ambassador of Nigeria; not just in Europe but other countries,” Descalzi said. (NAN)

Edited by Moses Solanke

By Chiazo Ogbolu

Mrs Blessing Onuh, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Land Transportation, has pledged to give the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) the needed legislative backing to boost the rail sector.

Onuh made the pledge when the committee paid an oversight visit to the NRC on Friday in Lagos.

She said the proposed bill to unbundle the NRC had gone through the first reading and hopefully it would come up in subsequent reading .

“This is a proposed bill to unbundle the NRC to allow companies to come in, allow public private partnership, so that they can invest in the sector and that will enhance development.

“We are here to perform our duty, an oversight function on the Nigerian Railway Corporation. We started in Lagos State and stopped over at the assembly plant to see how things are being done and moved to Ibadan.

“It was a smooth and wonderful ride with comfortable coach and when we get back we will ensure that we see things start to work in the sector.

“This is because the rail transportation is very vital to the development of any nation and when these things begin to work, the prices of food will crash automatically, things will get better and transportation will be a lot cheaper.

“I saw a magnificent building in Lagos State and we went through the ticketing section, operations room and their working is over 95 per cent completed and so far it has been impressive,” she said.

She said that the rail sector needed attention for it to work very well.

She noted that for the rail transport system, both the poor and the rich love to use the train, “so it does not matter if one had the means or not.

“However, there is a need to ensure that we make things work for the rail sector in terms of funding, encouragement in legislature and others.”

Also speaking, the Managing Director, NRC, Mr Freeborn Okhiria, said final installations would take place at the ticketing section in the next two weeks.

“The ticket barrier at the station has just been installed, it’s at the last phase of installation, the civil and mechanic work are being completed and soon they will commercial it and commission it to the public.

“This will ensure that tickets will only permit one to the departure hall and also allow one on arrival to leave the platform.

“On the central control, once it is switched on, we don’t hope it will be switched off, so we are trying to get the appropriate power.

“ They are working on the power supply because that is the Operations Control Centre (OCC) for the entire Nigeria that will cover every train movement, control and the cameras,” he said.

The NRC boss added that they are working with Eko Electricity Distribution Company, on a dedicated and reliable line and at the same time working on alternative power.

He said the corporation was working on the RedLine, stating that the line would be running on the national rail with stations at Oyingbo, Yaba and Mushin.

On transition to the Chinese, Okhiria said that all operations had been handed over.

“We have an agreement that they will provide technical services for three years and they have been providing that. What is remaining is for them to handover the OCC.

“They proposed to hand over but we want to wait until the power is on to test it before we accept the OCC. Also, they have finished absorbing what the Nigerian government ordered from them,” he said.

On rail patronage, he noted that there were peak and non-peak periods like Fridays.

“At Mobolaji Johnson station, one could see surge, people returning from Lagos to Ibadan.

“If you come here on Monday, it will be the opposite. We should not forget our target of running an hourly train. We are working on that and the cost to ensure that it is obtainable.

“We need to ensure adequate resources, we need to pay for cleaners, security and provide diesel, power, and others. Nothing stops us from running every hour if we have the source to move,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

REdited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Angela Atabo

The House Committee on Housing and Habitat says increasing the budgetary allocation of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to N500 billion will reduce housing deficit in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin, made this known during the committee’s oversight function to the ministry on Thursday in Abuja.

Jibrin said that the budget, when increased, would enable the ministry to deliver more houses to Nigerians.

“I believe that I have the total support of my committee members for us to be able to increase their budgetary allocation to N500 billion.

“Let me also say that the increment is in line with the housing policy thrust of the present administration of renewed hope agenda.

“When you have a ministry that is targeting, in the immediate, some 10,000 to 20,000 housing units per year and want to move it up to about 50,000 units, you will know even without being told what the overhead will cost,” he said.

Jibrin pledged the support of the legislative arm to the housing ministry in getting certain exemption, residential waivers and some of the regulatory issues that might hinder the delivery of houses.

He said the committee was seriously concerned about building collapse cases in Nigeria due to lack of compliance with regulation or failure of enforcement of those regulations.

He tasked the ministry to come up with measures to monitor the level of regulatory compliance and enforcement in the housing sector

Earlier, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, said the ministry had a dual challenge of inadequate housing supply and sub-standard houses.

Dangiwa said that addressing the housing challenge in Nigeria would involve a combination of urban renewal, slum upgrade and building of new houses.

He listed some of the challenges in the housing sector to include: review of Land Use Act ,unpaid liabilities of over N300 billion, inadequate budgetary allocation and shortage of manpower.

According to him, Nigeria requires about 550,000 units of houses over the next 10 years to meet the housing deficit, which will gulp about N5.5 trillion per annum.

”We are aware that all these cannot come from the Government; we are working on Public-Private-Partnership and other sources of housing finance to bridge the gap.

“However, we must do more as government in terms of budgetary allocation to Housing and Urban Development.

”In the 2023 supplementary budget we got N100 billion; in the 2024 budget, we received approval for about N80 billion. This is a far cry from what is needed to make a difference,” he said

Dangiwa said that to enable the ministry and the current government to deliver on housing there was need to increase the housing budget to N500 billion annually.

He noted that the N500 billion would be a profitable investment that would not only help the government to deliver on its mandate to enhance access to decent shelter, but also create jobs and boost economic development.

”In fact, the houses will be built, sold and the money would be returned to government over time, ” he said. (NAN

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Lydia Ngwakwe
The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency (LSMTL) says it will partner the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) to improve engineering education and building safety in the state.

The General Manager, LSMTL, Mrs Olayinka Abdul, made the assertion when a delegation led by the Dean of the College of Engineering, LASUSTECH, Dr Yakubu Bankole, paid a courtesy visit to her.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the partnership goal is to establish a material testing office at LASUSTECH, Ikorodu, to provide students with practical experience in testing materials such as soil, steel, concrete, water, cables, and plumbing.

Abdul emphasised the importance of practical experience for engineering students, saying the partnership would enhance student learning and lead to safer building practices.

She said, “this collaboration is a learning process on the job to pattern the wealth of knowledge acquisition towards development that is at par with International best practices.

“This impactful initiative will invoke a form of professionalism that will stimulate consistent research ideology towards a total rebranding of our processes for optimal customers’ safety in averting buildings collapse.’’

Abdul said that the agency would implement stricter measures to stop low-quality steel from entering Lagos State as measures to curb episodes of building collapse across the state.

Earlier, Bankole expressed the belief that engineers in Lagos State would work together to create a more advanced and prosperous state where everyone would access the benefits of engineering and democratic progress.

He argued that as different parts of Lagos develop, there was a need for the government to invest in long-lasting infrastructure.

He emphasised the importance of training a new generation of engineers through research and collaboration to ensure these structures are properly maintained and continue to benefit the state.

Bankole, therefore, praised the initiative of the LSMTL, saying the programme would take students out of the classroom and into a real-world engineering setting.

He said, “by learning from real-world examples and working with practical tools, students gain valuable hands-on experience that complements their theoretical knowledge.’’ (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Salif Atojoko

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, says he is exploring new collaborations to accelerate the country’s drive for blue hydrogen investment and development.

He said  in a statement, on Thursday, that he held insightful discussion with Mr Joseph McMonigle, Secretary-General of International Energy Forum (IEF), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

He said he also met with Mr Tony Okpanachi, the MD/CEO of the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) and his team, and congratulated them on becoming the first Nigerian financial institution to be accredited by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

He said this opened a new vista of climate financing for important projects nationwide.

“Furthermore, we discussed how to partner in advancing the priority areas of President Bola Tinubu’s administration within our green industrial growth acceleration programme,” said the envoy.

Ngelale said he also held a 90-minute discussion with lead climate negotiators representing 119 other countries in a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) virtual meeting on the just transition.

“I also hosted the Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD), Mr Xavier Muron and his team, alongside the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) leadership.

“We deliberated on the various pathways to economically benefit decarbonisation in the context of maximising our natural resources to fund the energy transition.

“There are many exciting economic opportunities that will result from this deepening partnership,” he said.

Similarly, Ngelale on Thursday engaged virtually with a team from the Canada-based Alberta Carbon Market Collaboration.

He said he exchanged views with the NCCC leadership on Nigeria’s value chain localisation agenda and the evolution of a carbon market ecosystem that favors the Nigerian economy and citizenry above all else.

“Following this on Thursday evening, I held a high-level virtual discussion with leaders from the NDC Partnerships Group.

“We followed up on Nigeria’s update to the NDC framework, and deliberated fruitfully on converting the aspirational NDC framework into a business-tailored, project-driven plan that details in specificity the bankability of critical projects across the nation,” said Ngelale. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

By Salif Atojoko
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday increased the Federal Government’s offer on the national minimum wage from N62,000 to N70,000, with an assurance that it will be reviewed after three years, instead of five years.

Tinubu said he had to intervene in the negotiations, knowing the economic challenges faced by many Nigerians, and the need to provide urgent succour.

He said this at a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.

“I have heard all your presentations. You came here with the intention to get something on behalf of your members. It has been tough globally. And if you review my track record, I have never been found wanting in ameliorating the problem of workers.

“I belong to the people and to all of you in leadership. Without you, this job is not interesting,” the President said, in statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his spokesman.

He said the labour leaders challenged the thinking faculty of leadership, “and we have reviewed the position. I have consulted widely, and when the tripartite committee submitted their reports, I reviewed them again and started to think and rethink.

“Last week, I brought the workload to you because we have a timeline. We have a problem, and we recognise that you have a problem too.

“We are in the same economy. We are in the same country. We may have different rooms, different addresses, and different houses; we are just members of one family that must care for each other.

“We must look at the parameters of things. Here, I have a speed limit, and I must pay attention to traffic warnings; slippery when wet, curved roads, and be careful not to have an accident. That is why I went as far as having this meeting today.”

He said the government and labour leaders were driving the economy together.

“Let us look at the tenure of review. Let us agree on that, and affirm three years. Two years is too short. We affirm three years. We will review.

“I am going to move from the tripartite committee. I am going to edge a little bit forward, looking at the review that we have done.

“Yes, no one in the federal establishment should earn less than N70,000. So, we are going to benchmark at N70,000,” he said.

Tinubu explained that renewing the hope of Nigerians extended to providing infrastructure that would improve their livelihoods and create an inclusive economy that all could participate and benefit.

The President said the government was committed to reducing the cost of transportation with the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses, which would be cheaper and efficient.

He also assured the labour unions of providing buses that would be deployed across the country.

President Tinubu also said the entitlements of members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions would be considered.

He  urged the Ministries of Finance, and Budget & Economic Planning to look at the possibilities of clearing the backlog.

At the meeting, Sen. George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, thanked the President for his consideration of issues as the “Father of the Nation” and scheduling two meetings to resolve the initial impasse.

“Mr President, at the tripartite meeting, and the resolutions of the government, Organised Private Sector and labour unions; we were all united as one family to promote and grow our economy, and deepen our democracy, by implication to the benefit of all.

“Basically, that is what we are saying today. We have a listening President here,” said Akume.

Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, and Comrade Festus Osifo, his TUC counterpart, thanked the President for creating time to host two meetings on the review of the national minimum wage.

The two labour leaders acknowledged that at the last meeting, the President directed the rescheduling of an official trip in order to attend the second meeting.

The labour leaders also expressed their appreciation to the President, applauding him for his clear show of commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja called for the enhancement of the economic value of bilateral relations between Nigeria and partner nations.

The president spoke when he received Letters of Credence from the Ambassadors of Portugal, Jorge Adao Martins Dos Santos; the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Biu Quoc Hung; and the State of Kuwait, Salim Khalifa Mohammed Almuzayen, at the Presidential Villa. 

Tinubu expressed his appreciation for Nigeria’s long-standing relations with Portugal and the shared interest in the areas of trade and culture, as well as partnership in oil and gas, which had translated into gains for both countries.

“It is good to have you in Nigeria. I am happy you are familiar with Nigeria and the environment.

“I believe that with your presence, our bilateral relations will be further improved. I am happy you are also present in other West African countries. 

“I have been informed of your economic interest in Nigeria. We need to work together for more localised productions as regards mineral deposits.

“I have an open-door policy, and you can always reach me through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my Chief of Staff, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila,” the president said. 

To the Ambassador of Vietnam, President Tinubu said the manufacturing sector in Nigeria was ready to benefit from the automating skills and technology of the Asian country.

“Thank you for coming to work in Nigeria. We share a lot with Vietnam in terms of diversity and values. 

“We really value our bilateral agreements with your country, Vietnam, especially in the area of technology. We look forward to adding more value to the partnership with you in terms of collaboration for development,” he said. 

President Tinubu also thanked the ambassador of Kuwait for his country’s long-standing good relations with Nigeria and extended his appreciation to the Emir and the Crown Prince. 

“I am glad we are pulling strings to enhance the value of our relationship. We are both committed to the development of our people and will explore opportunities for economic ties. I have an open-door policy so you can always reach me,” the president said. 

In his response, the Ambassador of Portugal said investors from his country had a keen interest in Nigeria, and that the trade with Nigeria on gas predated the war between Russia and Ukraine, and would be sustained. 

“I will work on our agreements on improving economic relations. There is no shortage of interest in the areas of development where we can be partners.

“We are one of the highest buyers of gas from Nigeria, and we remain grateful for the supplies. 

“Portuguese companies are also handling the rail line construction from Kano to Niger Republic. It will be ready in two years,” the Portuguese Ambassador said.

His Vietnamese counterpart said: “Under your leadership, I see Nigeria overcoming most of her challenges and taking its place among the happiest people in the world.”

Hung added that he was in the country to strengthen relations and improve economic ties. 

The Ambassador of Kuwait assured President Tinubu that he would do his best to strengthen bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of both countries. (NAN) 

By Victor Okoye

The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan-Enoh, on Thursday said that the Federal Government had approved more than N12 billion as the budget for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Paris Olympics, which is its 33rd edition, is scheduled to hold from July 26 to Aug. 11 in France.

Similarly, the Paralympics is expected to hold from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.

He said, ”We have a budget of over N12 billion which has been approved by the federal government.

”The budget is divided into two parts; N9 billion for the Olympics, while over N 3 billion has been earmarked for the Paralympics.

”There are various provisions for the athletes and their welfare in the budget and before the team leaves for Paris I am going to have the opportunity of visiting them.

”Just as I did in Accra, Ghana, during the African Games, I am going to let them know from A to Z all what their entitlements are.”

He also said that the Team Nigeria were still at their training camp in Germany, adding that the team’s Captain to the Olympics would be unveiled shortly before their departure.

The Minister also said that his target was to ensure that the team surpassed the achievements of the 1996 Olympic Games, which he described as the best outing of Team Nigeria till date.

NAN reports that the 1996 Olympics remains Nigeria’s most successful games, with six medals won in total.

Chioma Ajunwa won gold in the Long Jump, while the U-23 male football team also won their event.

The quartet of Falilat Ogunkoya, Bisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf and Charity Opara won silver in the 4×100 meters relay.

Ogunkoya also won a bronze medal in the women’s 400-meter race, Mary Onyali also won a bronze medal in the women’s 200-meter sprint.

Also, Duncan Dokiwari earned a third-place finish in the men’s Super Heavyweight boxing event.

He said that he had tried to put forth ”a leadership that is personal and engaging on a constant basis” in order to motivate the athletes and get them to feel appreciated by the country.

”As the Sports minister, my aspiration is to surpass records that were earlier set.

”I am not talking about the Olympics of the last four years, but we are taking it from the Olympics of 1996, which remains our best ever performance.

”We are working really hard, both in terms of the arrangements and preparations by my performance team that have been in Germany ever since the camp opened.

”They have been working with the athletes and I am getting positive reports about what the team is able and ready to achieve,” he said.

He also expressed his appreciation of President Bola Tinubu as well as other stakeholders for their commitment and support for the team.

He said that the House of Representatives yesterday (Wednesday), announced the sum of N100 million as their support for Team Nigeria.

He also thanked the media for their support to the team and in ensuring that all the ministry’s activities and achievements in the last one year were highlighted and given adequate coverage.

”We went for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire where the Super Eagles gave a good account of themselves, finishing as runners up in the tournament.

”We also went to the 13th African Games where Nigeria performed brilliantly, finishing second out of 53 participating countries in Ghana, with 47 gold, 34 silver and 40 bronze medals.

”There have also been in-between competitions involving our different sporting federations where our athletes gave a good account of themselves.

”We are immensely grateful to the media for your continuous coverage and reportage of all these events, in spite of all the challenges,” he said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)