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X-raying Wike’s first year as FCT minister

By Philip Yatai, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Shortly after assuming office as FCT minister on Aug. 21, 2023, Mr Nyesom Wike announced short, medium, and long-term plans to restore the Abuja Master Plan.

Wike, along with FCT minister of state Mariya Mahmoud, explained that overhauling the FCT would reposition it to be among the best cities in the world in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

He added that emphasis would be placed on infrastructural development, taking one project at a time, to restore the city to its glory.

The minister said that development would also be extended to the six Area Councils as part of strategies to decongest the city and open rural economy.

Sadly, Wike was confronted with the sight of abandoned projects that characterised the capital city.

The minister noted that FCT had, over the years, witnessed foundation laying ceremonies of several structures worth billions, only to be abandoned midway or at advanced stages of the construction.

While assessing them, he pointed out that some of the contracts were awarded in 2007, some in 2011, while others were awarded between 2015 and 2017, with all abandoned.

Confronting the challenge, Wike said that revenue leakages would be blocked so as to mobilise the needed resources for infrastructural development in the FCT.

“I will ensure that Abuja gets the best. You will see projects upon projects, and projects that will be completed and not abandoned.

“I am not a party to abandoned projects. I start a project when there is money as such we will look into our finances before we begin any project,” the minister had said.

Innovatively, Wike got most of the contractors back to site after agreeing on a payment plan with money from the FCT Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and 2023 Supplementary Budget.

To improve IGR, the minister inaugurated a Task Force on the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy for mass housing developments and the recovery of land use contravention fees in the FCT.

He equally introduced innovations and enforced the payment of outstanding ground rents and other taxes in the FCT, a decision that increased the territory’s revenue generation significantly.

This is evident with the recent declaration of N126.54 billion collected and remitted between January and June by the FCT Internal Revenue Service.

The then acting Executive Chairman of the service, Mr Haruna Abdullahi, said that the figure was 53.5 per cent higher than the N82.46 billion collected in the first half of 2023.

The minister also secured the approval of Tinubu to withdraw FCTA from Treasury Single Account, to enable the administration to access funds from financial institutions to fund projects.

These initiatives paid off, as nine months later, the Wike-led FCTA announced the completion of numerous projects which were inaugurated in May to celebrate Tinubu’s one year in office.

Some of the projects included the official residence of the Vice President, the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system, Inner Southern Expressway from the Outer Southern Expressway to the Southern Parkway.

Others are full scope development of about 6.7km of 10 lanes Outer Southern Expressway from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road 1 Junction, and construction of Southern Parkway from the Christian Centre to Ring Road 1, named after President Bola Tinubu.

Equally inaugurated were the completed B6 (Constitution Avenue)/B12 (Independence Avenue) roads in Central Area, and Wuye interchange bridge.

The full scope development of the Arterial Road, N-20, from Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway to Murtala Mohammed Expressway, was also partly completed and named after noble laurel Wole Soyinka.

Another milestone of the Wike-led FCTA was the completion of engineering infrastructure in Guzape District Lot II, and the resurfacing of 189 roads covering 57 km within Abuja city centre among others.

He assured that other ongoing projects would be completed by December 2024, including the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 366 roads in Wuse, Garki, Asokoro and Maitama Districts, covering 117 km.

Also ongoing are the rehabilitation of District Hospital Gwarimpa, Cottage Hospital Gwagwalada and District Hospital Utako, Greater Abuja Water Supply Project and rehabilitation of 19 public primary and secondary schools across the territory.

The minister also recently inaugurated the construction of three bus terminals in the FCT to ensure a secure and convenient travel experience for commuters in the FCT.

He also inaugurated the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal Complex to strengthen the administration of justice.

Road users and residents described the feat as unprecedented, saying that Wike was the best thing that had happened to FCT.

“I have been living in Abuja for 16 years but never witnessed a speedy delivery of road projects until Wike happened.

“Look at the road to Asokoro from Apo, which was under construction for several years, but Wike delivered it in just eight months,” said a resident, Mr Andrew Moses.

Similarly, Mr Shuabu Yunusa, a taxi driver said, “It is now seamless going to Asokoro from Apo. The Tinubu-led administration is really working and deserved our commendation.”

In keeping to his promise not to leave rural communities behind in the development agenda, the minister has inaugurated the construction of rural roads of more than 42.2km across the six Area Councils and promised to complete them by December.

Similarly, the minister has also handed over Staff of Office to four newly coronated Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, as part of measures to strengthen traditional institutions and improve governance in communities.

According to him, the traditional rulers are expected to draw the attention of the government to any development, security and other issues that require government attention and response.

Beyond infrastructural development, stakeholders said that Wike has carved his name in gold by ensuring the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC), 2018, against all odds.

The minister, on Oct. 13, 2023, announced President Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of CSC for the FCTA, in line with the provisions of the law.

This, he said, was to allow career progression for civil servants in the Administration, from director to permanent secretary and, hopefully, Head of Civil Service.

On March 12, Wike announced Tinubu’s approval for the appointment of Mr Udo Atang, as pioneer Head of Civil Service of the FCTA.

Mr Emeka Ezeh was also appointed Chairman of the Commission’s Board, along with six others as commissioners, representing the six geopolitical zones.

Similarly, 10 other directors in the FCTA were appointed as pioneer Permanent Secretaries for various Secretariats of the Administration.

The excited pioneer head of FCT civil service, described the development as a demonstration of the reality of the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu-led government.

Commending Tinubu and Wike for renewing the hope of FCT workers, Atang said: “the staff of the Administration have never had it this good.

“In the new FCTA system, every member of staff is a potential permanent secretary and head of service.”

To ensure gender equality, as well as women and youth participation in governance, Wike, within one year in office, has created Women Affairs Secretariat and Youth Development Secretariat.

This has increased the number of secretariats in the FCTA from eight to 10 with a view to ensure inclusive governance.

On security, the Wike-led FCTA has supported security agencies, including vigilante groups, with motorcycles and operational vehicles, fitted with modern communication gadgets.

This, according to him, is to enable security agencies to navigate hard-to-reach communities in rural areas and improve security operations within the city.

Wike equally inaugurated a Joint Task Force, consisting of all security agencies in the FCT, to curb the menace of “one chance” and another to curtail the activities of arm rubbers, kidnappers and all forms of crimes within the FCT and its environment.

While assessing the performance of the Wike-led FCTA on security, Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, argued that the impact was impressive, considering the reduced incidents of security breaches.

Sharing Gwary’s view, Prof. Kailani Muhammed, Director-General of the Confederation of All Progressives Congress said that FCT had become a safe haven where residents could afford to sleep with their two eyes closed.

Despite the laudable feats within one year in office, stakeholders have stressed the need to invest more on people-oriented projects such as provision of clean water, quality health services and transportation system.

This, according to them, will impact significantly on the lives of the common residents of the FCT. (NANFeatures)

** If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

Economy/Business

RMAFC seeks closer ties with EFCC to recover lost revenue

By Vivian Emoni

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has advocated stronger collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to ensure recovery of unremitted revenues to the appropriate government coffers.

The Chairman of the commission, Mr Muhammad Shehu, stated this during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ola Olukoyede, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Shehu said such collaboration would help to discover the areas of revenue leakages and ensure effective recovery.

“We are calling on EFCC for more collaboration, not only in the area of enforcement but also intelligence gathering and data sharing with respect to government revenue from any source.

“The collaboration with your organisation in the area of enforcement served as an impetus to the success recorded in our recovery exercise.

“It is therefore important to bring to the fore that the collaboration between RMAFC and EFCC is crucial in addressing the challenges of unremitted revenue to the federation account,’’ he said.

Shehu also sought the assistance of the EFCC in respect of capacity building for the staff of RMAFC, especially in the area of forensic investigation.

He said that his organisation had observed that many Revenue Generating Agencies, described as Government Owned Enterprises (GOE) by the office of the Accountant General of the Federation are allowed to generate revenue.

He added that, “such agencies also spend from it and remit the balance as operating surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

“This is not known to the constitution as all agencies are constitutionally mandated to remit the revenues generated in gross to the federation account as prescribed in section 162 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

“The constitution states that the federation shall maintain a special account to be called, The Federation Account into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation.

“Except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry or Department of Government charged with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.’’

The chairman said that the collaboration between RMAFC and EFCC in 2013, helped the commission to recovered unremitted and under-remitted revenues.

He said that the revenues were collected and deducted from the third party by the banks to the federation account covering a period from 2008 to 2015, where N74 billion was recovered.

He also disclosed that in 2021, the RMAFC engaged another set of consultants in synergy with EFCC and expanded the scope of recovery to include the public sector as well as oil and gas sector for a period covering 2016 to 2019.

“The exercise has so far recovered over N216 billion to the appropriate government coffers and it is still going on”.

He said the RMAFC was established to ensure effective and efficient management of the nation’s revenue.

Responding, Olukoyede stressed the need for effective collaboration between the two organisations to ensure proper management of government revenue.

“Nigeria can only move forward, when there is transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.

“Nigeria will be better if the right steps are taken.  There are things we have been able to do together within the scopes of our mandate and your mandate as well.

“Transparency and accountability should be embedded in our public life as a nation. That’s the only way we can move forward.”

According  to him, “one of the things the two agencies are supposed to focus on more now besides recoveries is our systems.

“There is nothing fundamentally wrong with us as Nigerians but with the system that we run here, if you bring in the people that make things work in their own countries to our system here, they will be corrupt.

“There is an entrenched system here that encourages people to steal and it will appear as if nothing will happen. Let’s look at our system of revenue generation, the system that allows leakages in mobilisation and appropriation of funds.

“If we don’t look at the system, we will continue to chase shadows. Let’s get our priorities right. I see no reason why a ministry that has no business with project execution will be awarding contracts.

“We should look at these areas and scale up our surveillance. In all of these let’s support the President in all his efforts to reposition this country.

“The president relies on you and me and all the people he has put in a position of trust and responsibility,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

 

 

Defence/Security

Seme Customs command generates N2.63bn in 5 months

 

By Raji Rasak
 The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command says it generated N2.63 billion between January and May.
Comptroller Timi Bomodi, the Area Controller disclosed this on Tuesday during a media briefing in Seme, Lagos. State.
According to him, in the period under review, a total sum of N2,634,190,645 was collected.
The controller said that the amount surpassed that of 2023 for same period by 272 per cent.
He said that the command facilitated 143, 468 Metric Tonnes of export produce, with FOB value of ₦35, 199, 971. 097, which is equivalent to $38, 461, 397.39.

Bomodi said that the enforcement unit sustained anti-smuggling momentum in all nooks and crannies of the command.

“This onslaught translated into 474 interceptions of various contraband items within the period under review.
“These items include 12,448 Jerry cans and 30 litres of petrol, which is equivalent to eight tanker loads.
“Others are 6,467 bags of 50kg of foreign rice, which is equivalent to 10 trailer loads, 15 fairly used vehicles and 1,251 parcels of cannabis sativa.
“They also include 20 live parrots, two honey badgers, 2 pelican birds and 404 live tortoises, 3,023 general merchandise, 149 packages of codeine and 45 pieces of unused tyres,” he said.
Some seized 50kg bag of foreign rice seized by Seme customs on displayed on Tuesday.
He said that all the seized items had a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦840, 003, 646.
‘We note that there has been a marked increase in the illegal importation of Cannabis from Ghana and different methods have been used by criminals in their effort to beat our officers, all of which were neutralised,” he said.
Bomodi said that a total of 18 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
He added that 11 of them were granted administrative bails and three were handed over to NDLEA for further action.

 “One was handed over to the Nigeria Police, while four suspects are still in Customs’ custody.”

He said that the command had  set-up a complaint desk to address issues concerning the molestation of females in the command.

“We strongly frown at any act endangering the health and well-being of the vulnerable population of border stake-holders, who go about their normal and legitimate businesses daily.

 “Stringent action shall be taken against any officer of any agency found guilty of molestation of any female on this corridor,”  he said.
30 Jerry can of seized petrol on displayed in Seme command on Tuesday.

Bomodi appreciated the cooperation of other government agencies in ensuring the peace, safety and security of the nation’s borders.

“Special mention will be made of the effort of officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Air Force and Navy, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in this battle.

“Their unwavering support is crucial and we applaud their patriotic efforts,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Edith Bolokor/Oluwole Sogunle
Wood products
Business

Wood industry can enhance Nigeria’s revenue diversification efforts – Expert

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Mrs Ngozi Oyewole, Chairman Wood/Wood Products Sectoral Group, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), says the wood and wood products industry can significantly contribute to the nation’s revenue diversification efforts.

Oyewole, also the founder of Noxie Ltd., made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

To maximise the sector’s potential, Oyewole said it was important to give it the necessary visibility and support.

She noted that the sector deserved attention in the form of policy support, infrastructural and skills development, market access and research as well as innovation.

She suggested that the federal government could provide policy support by creating a conducive business environment for the wood sector, including incentives for investment and development.

The wood expert added that improving infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water supply in areas where wood production is concentrated could boost the sector’s growth.

Oyewole stressed the need to invest in training and capacity building for workers in the wood industry to enhance productivity and quality standards.

She said that facilitating access to local and international markets through trade agreements and promotional activities could help wood products reach a wider audience.

“By implementing these strategies, the wood and wood products sector in Nigeria can realise its full potential and contribute significantly to economic diversification and growth,” she said.

Oyewole, however, noted that several challenges faced the wood and wood products sector in Nigeria such as illegal logging, poor infrastructure, lack of access to finance, and inconsistent government policies.

Others, she said, were competition from imported products, limited value addition and sustainability challenges.

“Illegal logging poses a significant threat to the sector, leading to deforestation, environmental degradation, and loss of revenue for legitimate businesses.

“Limited access to finance for investment in modern equipment, technology, and capacity building constrains the sector’s growth and modernisation.

“Addressing these challenges will require concerted efforts from both the government and industry stakeholders to create a more enabling environment for the wood and wood products sector to thrive and contribute effectively to Nigeria’s economic development,” she added.

Oyewole stated that addressing
the challenges facing the wood and wood products sector in Nigeria could lead to several benefits for the economy.

She said the sector’s development could contribute to economic diversification by reducing dependence on oil revenue and creating new sources of income and employment.

Oyewole added that developing the wood industry could generate employment opportunities across the value chain, from forestry and logging to wood processing, manufacturing, and marketing.

She explained that a thriving wood sector could also generate significant revenue through exports of value-added wood products, contributing to foreign exchange earnings and economic growth.

“Promoting sustainable forest management practices in the wood sector can help conserve natural resources, protect biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts.

“Investing in the wood industry can spur industrial growth, encourage innovation and technology transfer, and enhance the competitiveness of Nigerian products in domestic and international markets.

“Enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the wood sector can uplift rural communities dependent on forestry activities, reducing poverty and inequality.

“By addressing the challenges facing the wood and wood products sector in Nigeria, the country can unlock these benefits and create a more sustainable and inclusive economy for future generations,” she said.

Oyewole further said that while the wood industry had traditionally been perceived as male-dominated, there was a growing recognition of the valuable contributions women make to the sector.

She, however, said that gender balance remained a challenge and that there was still a significant gender gap in the wood industry, which required several actions.

She encouraged companies in the wood industry to promote gender diversity and create inclusive work environments that support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in various roles.

Oyewole called for training programmes, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities for women interested in pursuing careers in the wood sector, including technical skills training, business management, and leadership development.

“We must raise awareness about the opportunities available for women in the wood industry through targeted outreach, campaigns, and partnerships with women’s organisations and educational institutions.

It is important to establish support networks, forums, and platforms for women in the wood sector to connect, share experiences, exchange knowledge, and access resources for professional growth and empowerment.

“We must also identify and address barriers that prevent women from fully participating in the wood industry, such as cultural stereotypes, limited access to finance, lack of childcare support, and unequal opportunities for career advancement,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

Business , Economy/Business

Paying tax not burden, but investment in collective future- Expert

 

By Vivian Emoni

Paying taxes should not be a burden but an investment to collective future, Mr Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi, an expert on Taxation and Revenue, said on Wednesday.

Opeyemi, Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue to Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He emphasised the need to make the country’s tax system more transparent and accountable to Nigerians to boost confidence and voluntary compliance.

He said that Nigeria needed a tax system that incentivised investment, job creation, and economic diversification.

According to him, we should not see paying of taxes as a burden and stress, rather we should see it as an investment or contribution to our collective future.

“I want to use the opportunity to encourage our people to contribute their quota in order to assist the government to fulfill their developmental goals as promised.

“We want to take tax system to the next level, by investing heavily on infrastructure and sustaining the autonomy of Lagos internal revenue service.

“We also want to ensure that we deepen the technology used in monitoring revenue collection from all sources.

“An example is, integrating all revenue in generating unit which we call Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) into sharing data, intelligence and the likes,” he said.

Opeyemi said that the efforts would make the revenue a great deal as well as supporting the government to achieve its goals.

He said that the state was trying to widen the tax length to accommodate people that were not hitherto in the tax length before now.

He encouraged the taxpayers to have a change of mindset, adding that taxes play crucial role in building a better Nigeria and for generations to come.

“Tax payers need to see that their contributions are being used effectively for public services and infrastructural development.

“We are doing very well. We have doubled our revenue and are moving closer to our target,” he said. (NAN) (www.nan.ng)

 

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd.
Oil & Gas

More revenue will be generated from gas businesses – Kyari

By Lucy Ogalue

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), says the country’s gas sector is now well positioned to help businesses in the country generate more revenue.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Mele Kyari, said this when he spoke with newsmen on Wednesday in Owerri.

He spoke on the sidelines of the presidential inauguration of three critical gas infrastructure in Delta and Owerri.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the ANOH-OB3 CTMS gas pipeline and ANOH gas processing plant in Assa, Ohaji/Egbema in Imo.

Tinubu also inaugurated the expansion of the AHL gas processing plant 2 gas project in Kwale in Delta.

The projects are being undertaken by NNPC Ltd. and partners in line with Tinubu’s commitment to significantly leverage gas to grow the economy.

According to Kyari, the Tinubu-led administration is ensuring a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the country.

“There’s ample fiscal environment today. The laws are good. It encourages gas development and taxation is lower. Businesses can make more money from gas in this country.

“And that is why we are seeing renewed interest in taking investments in the floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNGs) that is already happening.

“We are already progressing massively on one other LNG product, and there are a number of other floating LNG projects that are now ongoing,” he said.

According to Kyari, the inauguration of the various infrastructure is an evidence of a gas revolution in play.

“what this means to our country is that enormous resources are being put into domestic market.

“It will provide gas for power, gas for industries, gas to chemicals and to the value chain.

“It will create jobs and everything that you can imagine of a typical gas countries should benefit from.

“And this is becoming very apparent because you do need the backbone infrastructure to deliver on all this. And this is what Mr President has pushed, and we are delivering on them.”

Kyari said the speedy realisation of the gas projects was proof that Nigeria could transform its gas resources into value.

“And we are already seeing this value. And I believe that in the very near future, the prosperity from gas will become very much.

“As the president has said, from gas to prosperity, and this is very important,” he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of AHL, Mohit Barot, commended the president in his effort towards revitalising the gas sector and boosting the business environment in the country.

“We from the private sector look forward to contributing more significantly to the nation’s economy by providing more jobs, advancing technology in our sector and ensuring exemplary citizenship.

“We will continue to ensure environmental sustainability and economic resilience. And I thank you for your leadership and support,” Barot said.

Also, Sen. Udo Udoma, the Chairman of Seplat, reiterated the company’s commitment towards supporting the government’s drive for industrialisation and economic growth.

“The plant being inaugurated is a clear example of what can be achieved through an effective collaboration.

“This project aligns with Seplat’s mission of leading Nigeria’s energy transition with accessible, affordable and reliable energy for social and economic prosperity,” he said.

NAN reports that the event was attended by senior government officials, partners and stakeholders in the sector. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) logo
Business , Economy/Business

Revenue drive: FCT-IRS restates commitment to support relevant agencies in FCT

By Vivian Emoni

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has restated its commitment to support relevant agencies of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in its drive to boost revenue generation in the territory.

The Acting Executive Chairman of the Service, Mr Haruna Abdullahi said this while handing over office furniture and desk computers to the Department of Development Control in Abuja.

The items were handed over through the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Mr Felix Obua.

Abdullahi said discussions had been ongoing with the Development Control in terms of how the service could support them to enhance their operations and further strengthen the collaboration between both organisations.

“We feel it is high time we start. We have to begin with a step and this small number of computers we are presenting to you is nothing compared to what we intend to do.

“This is very little in terms of what we hope to be doing to boost revenue in the territory.

“We are glad to be here and it is also an opportunity to meet you personally to congratulate you on your recent appointment as the Coordinator AMMC,” Abdullahi said

The AMMC coordinator, while receiving the items, expressed appreciation to FCT-IRS for the kind gesture.

He pledged to continue to work in synergy with the service to enhance revenue generation in the FCT.

Abua said he was delighted to receive the FCT-IRS team and also happy to be in partnership with an organisation like FCT Tax Authority.

According to him, the donation of the items will go a long way in making their work easier.

Also speaking, the Director, Department of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, thanked the service for fulfilling its promise.

Galadima said that the doors of the department were open for a continuous collaboration with the FCT-IRS.

He said with the new leadership they have, he was certain that the revenue generation would be boosted.

According to him, there are a lot of untapped resources at the satellite towns in the FCT that needed to be harnessed.

“They have been challenged in terms of human and technological resources.

“With a collaboration like this, it will help in no small measure to boost their revenue and by extension enhance the revenue of the territory,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

General News

Ministry partners NIPSS on digital economy for youth employment

By Franca Ofili
The Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, says the Federal Government is making  efforts to harness the potential of  digital economy in empowering the youths.

Olawande communicated this on Tuesday in Abuja when the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 46, 2024, of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos, visited the ministry on a study tour.

The minister said that synergy with NIPSS would go a long way in capacity building for young people in digital economy.

According to him, with more than 50 per cent of its population below the age of 30, Nigeria has a significant demographic advantage in the digital age.

Olawande said that the year’s theme was “Digital Economy, Youth Empowerment, and Sustainable Job Creation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.’’

According to him, Nigerian youths are tech-savvy, innovative and eager to contribute to the country’s economic growth.

“However, they face numerous challenges, including limited access to quality education, skills training, and job opportunities.

“The digital economy offers a unique opportunity for Nigeria to leapfrog traditional development challenges.’’

The minister said that with the rise of e-commerce, digital payments, and remote work, the youth could access global markets, skills training, and job opportunities like never before.

He said that the country must address the issues and challenges hindering the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria.

“These include limited digital literacy and skills training, inadequate infrastructure, including internet penetration and electricity supply.

“High cost of data and limited access to funding; cybersecurity threats and data privacy concerns; limited government support and regulatory frameworks.’’

Olawande said that in order to overcome the challenges, the ministry had implemented various initiatives, such as digital skills training programmess for youth; focusing on areas like software development and, data analytics.

He also listed digital marketing especially in the NYSC-Galaxy Back Bone partnership to improve infrastructure including internet connectivity and alternative electricity supply.

The minister said that other things were funding opportunities, such as grants, loans, and venture capital, to support startups and small businesses with the launching of the National Youth Investment Fund.

“We recognise that sustainable job creation is critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and stability.

“Our goal is to create an ecosystem that supports innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities for our youth.’’

According to him, the ministry seeks collaboration in areas like policy development, providing insights and recommendations for policy development in areas related to the digital economy, youth empowerment and sustainable job creation.

He requested for assistance in the development of strategic plans for agencies, private sector organisations, and civil society groups working in those areas.

“Capacity building–offering training and capacity building programmes for the youth to enhance their skills and knowledge in the digital economy and related fields.

“Research and analysis–conducting research and analysis on various aspects of the digital economy, youth empowerment and sustainable job creation; providing data-driven insights to inform decision-making, among others.

“As we move forward, it is essential to prioritise digital literacy, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while addressing the issues of infrastructure, funding, and regulatory frameworks.

“By doing so, we can unlock the potential of the digital economy to create sustainable jobs and empower our youth to drive Nigeria’s economic growth and prosperity,” Olawande said.

Speaking earlier, the leader of NIPSS delegation, Ms Nima Mann, said that they were in the ministry to research, proffer solutions, recommendations and strategies to help government chart its course for the year.

“We are in the ministry to listen to what you are doing to help the youth; how you are doing it; strategic plans and way forward as well as how we can use the digital economy to chart the goal for sustainable job creation,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Economy/Business

National Single Window project will facilitate national, regional integration- Tinubu

By Ismail Abdulaziz
President Bola Tinubu has said that the introduction of the National Single Window (NSW) project would facilitate national and regional integration.

Tinubu said this during the inauguration of the National Steering Committee of the NSW on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that Nigeria would key into the global revenue enjoyed by other global financial systems benefiting from the single window initiatives of ease of doing business.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the single-window system or single-window concept is a trade facilitation concept which allows an international (cross-border) trader to submit information to a single agency.

It reduces having to deal with multiple agencies in multiple locations to obtain the necessary papers, permits, and clearances to complete their import or export processes.

Tinubu pledged to provide the needed conducive environment for the project to succeed in the face of the challenges, adding that he would empower the committee to break all barriers.

“The national single window is a game changer that will revolutionise the way we conduct trade by simplifying government trade compliance through a digital platform. We unlock the doors to economic prosperity, and all other opportunities.

“This initiative will link our ports, government agencies and key stakeholders by creating a seamless and efficient system that will facilitate trade like never before.

“The benefits of this initiative are immense. Paperless trade alone is estimated to bring an annual economic benefit of around 2.7 billion US dollars. Countries like Singapore, Korea, Kenya and Saudi Arabia have already seen significant improvement in trade efficiency after implementing the Single Window System,” he said.

Mr Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and chairman of the Steering Committee, said Nigeria stands to gain more than seven per cent growth of Gross Domestic Product annually from the use of the NSW.

He said that the initiative would also engender collaborative business information sharing among various stakeholders involved in the imports and export business.

“This initiative will serve as a catalyst for achieving an average GDP growth rate of 7% annually and propel Nigeria to new islands of prosperity. The national single window is not just a technological advancement.

“It is the gateway to a more connected, efficient and transparent system by linking our ports, government agencies and key stakeholders,” he said.

 

 

Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said that the NSW is an initiative that would aligns all trade documentation in one single platform for ease of doing business.

He said that the digital platform would accelerate process of trade, ease interactions and allow relevant stakeholders to share necessary data instead of the current manual paper works.

“So, we are trying to unify this information in such a way that we fill as little as possible and all related government agencies that need information of import or export processing should be able to pick the information they need from there,” Bello-Koko said.

Mr Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), said that the new initiative would improve trade security and ease doing business in the country and region.

He said that the single window was not all about realising revenue but a system of facilitating investment into the country through digital platforms accessible to all stakeholders.

“Part of the obligations of the Trade Facilitation Agreement includes the deployment of technologies. So single window is one of those tools that signatories to the agreement undertook to deploy for them to facilitate trade. It will also help us to manage revenue but better.”

Members of the NSW steering committee are representatives of the Federal Ministries of Finance, Marine and Blue Economy, Transportation, and Industry, Trade and Investment.

Others are representative of the federal Inland Revenue Service, NCS, Nigeria sovereign Investment Authority, Central Bank of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Maritime Administration on Safety Agency, NPA and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
edited by Sadiya Hamza

Economy/Business

Nigeria Customs Service generates N1.3trn in first quarter 2024- C-G

By Martha Agas

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it generated more than N1.3 trillion revenue in the first quarter of 2024.

The Comptroller General (C-G) of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, said this while briefing newsmen on its activities in the first quarter of 2024, on Wednesday in Abuja.

“The total revenue collected during this period amounted to N1,347,675,608,972.75.

“The collection for the first quarter represents a substantial increase of 122.35 per cent compared to the same period last year, where N606,119,935,146.67 was collected,” he said.

Adeniyi explained that the month-by-month analysis illustrated the service’s impressive growth trajectory in Jan. 2024, where it recorded revenue of N390,824 billion, an increase of 95.6 per cent compared to that of Jan. 2023 of N199.81 billion.

He added that in February, the service recorded 138.68 per cent growth and in March, 132.76 per cent compared to 2023.

The C-G said that the service, within the quarter under review, recorded 572 seizures of various items valued at N10.59 billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV) and 22 suspects were arrested.

According to him, rice constituted 39 per cent of the seizures, followed by petroleum products at 26 per cent, with motor vehicles and textiles accounting for nine and six per cent respectively.

He said that the service was determined to address smuggling and harassment of its personnel during operations in border communities through strengthened anti-smuggling strategies with innovations such as Geographic Information System.

“One notable initiative is the integration of geospatial technology alongside the utilisation of satellite imagery and Artificial Intelligence tools and techniques.

“These efforts were initiated upon my assumption  of office to combat the longstanding issue of smuggling and enhance the NCS’s enforcement capabilities for effective monitoring of our extensive 4,000 km borders.

“Additionally, this initiative will establish a Command and Control center to monitor activities along our borders comprehensively,” he said.

Adeniyi noted that even though customs recorded a decrease in the volume of import transactions in the first quarter, it was working toward streamlining its trade processes to address bottlenecks and optimise its efficiency across ports for seamless trade transactions.

He said that the service also recorded several systemic challenges related to non-compliance with regulations, infrastructure limitations, and significant fluctuations in exchange rates applied in the clearance of consignments.

The NCS boss explained that in the first quarter 2024, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directed 28 rates, and such fluctuations resulted in an average applied exchange rate of NGN 1,314.03 per one dollar in the clearance of customs goods during the quarter.

He explained that the fluctuations affected and disrupted the activities of its stakeholders and the potential of its revenue.

Consequently, Adeniyi said that the NCS, with the support of the Minister of Finance, has initiated periodic consultations with the CBN to mitigate the potential impact of exchange rate fluctuations on import activities.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Ukpoju