Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State verbally attacked fiery Muslim preacher, Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello, at a prayer session in Ado-Ekiti.
The cleric had courted the governor’s venom by urging him to show more decorum in his public utterances.
The altercation took place at the weekend during a prayer conference and award ceremony organised by the Southwest branch of the Ansar-ud-Deen Muslim Society of Nigeria.
The Governor was in attendance at the event, which had as highlights prayers for the country and the honouring of deserving Muslims with awards, when the outspoken preacher offered his advice.
Those at the event said the preacher told Fayose that as the number one citizen of the state, he needs to be more cautious in his public utterances.
The unsolicited advice apparently did not sit well with the governor, they said, as he responded with abusive words at the preacher, who attempted to reply him but was restrained by some of the elders in attendance. His microphone was disabled.
The elders also appealed to the governor to leave the venue, having already performed his role, but he bluntly refused, an action that led to a three-hour disruption of the programme.
The governor subsequently left the event, which ended on Monday morning. Attempts to interview the cleric, who was present until Sunday, proved abortive.
Mr. Lere Olayinka, Special Assistant to Fayose on New Media, expressed the view that the cleric deserved the insults the governor drenched him in.
The King’s College Old Boys’ Association Centenary Committee recently signed agreements with Glendora International Limited and FedEx Red Star Express, to distribute copies of the history of King’s College, titled ‘Floreat Collegium 100 Years of King’s College, Lagos’. This contract took place recently in Lagos.
The Contract permits Glendora to handle the sales and distribution of the books, while FedEx Red Star Express handles the delivery of the books to interested buyers nationwide.
This means the books are now available at all Glendora Bookshops at Jazzhole,168 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Ikeja City Mall, MM2 & Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Arrangements have also been concluded with FedEx Red Star Express to provide information and distribute copies of the book through all 165 outlets nationwide.
According to Chairman Centenary Publication, Prince Tola Sotinwa, “The book is of deep historical value not only to past and present staff and students of King’s College, but to all Nigerians. So significant have the achievements of the College been throughout its existence, that in 2009, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), thought it fit to celebrate the Centenary of King’s College, Lagos. The celebration was flagged off at the UNESCO’s 34th General Assembly held in Paris, France in 2007 and was the first time a secondary school in Africa would be so honoured. In affirmation of the primacy of place of the institution, the 100th Foundation Day Lecture was delivered at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Campus of the College by the then Director General of UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura”.
Also speaking on behalf of FedEx Red Star, the Marketing Manager of the company, Mrs Ngozi Ochokwu, “We are glad to have been part of this. Red Star is committed to safe and proper delivery of goods, and in this case we will ensure the centenary books are properly handled till they get to interested buyers nationwide. We will make them available at all our outlets for easy purchase. With this partnership, we hope to support Glendora and Kings College Old Boys Association impressively.”
Red Star Express Plc, is a premium logistics solution provider in Nigeria in area of revenue, network coverage and market share in the domestic and international market. It enjoys a domestic strength of 169 offices in Nigeria, delivers to additional 1,500 communities, over 1400 highly trained personnel and over 500 vehicle fleet. It operates as the Nigerian licensee of FedEx, which is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories around the world.
The immediate past Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Ife, Rt. Rev. Oluranti Odubogun, have noted that “if the Federal Government does not map out economic strategy to forestall further scarcity of forex, there is a grave danger of increase in unemployment as organisations will begin to lay off workers. This was stated at a news conference on the state nation in Lagos.
He also added, ” let the government provide Forex on the basis of needs that are genuine and imperative for incremental value to the economy. Categorization is also important.”
Odubogun, who is also a former business administrator, advised that the government could tap into the Forex it generates from other sources.
He also stressed that,“There are other sources through which foreign exchange is earned. If they are properly managed and harnessed, they could more than mitigate against the drop in direct oil sales,” he said.
“There are sources through which foreign exchange is earned in this country. There are services being provided, and there are other areas where government earn Forex,” he noted.
While backing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy banning importers of some 41 items from accessing Forex from the official window, Odubogun said that Forex would continue to be scarce until government created the conducive business environment that encouraged local production and exportation.
Following early last week, Banks have recorded near zero foreign currency deposit inflow from high net-worth individuals indicating that their domiciliary account customers are staying cautious on the reversal of foreign currency deposit ban by Central Bank of Nigeria.
Dr, Dayo Adeyanju, Ondo State Commissioner for Health
The aggrieved nurses have made the announcement on Monday they would not resume work until their outstanding salaries, entitlements and bonuses were fully paid by the State government shortly after a meeting called by the Chairman of the Ondo State Health Management Board (OSHMB), Niran Okunrinboye, which was almost disturbed by some of the protestors.
According to reports, One protesting nurse said that they would continue to strike and block the entrance to the facility until the State government pays their salaries and benefits. It was also reported that some of the health workers had supposedly ignored the”negotiating meeting” arranged by Mr . Okunrinboye.
It was also repported that, the visiting government team condemned the actions of the Account Manager of the hospital for defrauding the health workers but asked the nurses to resume work in the interest of sick patients.
“The government team was led by the Chairman of Ondo State Health Management Board, Niran Okunrinboye, and a Secretary from the Board, Ikuomola Ayotunde. Both of them expressed bitterness over the fraud,” the source said.
“The Chairman specifically described the actions of the Account Manager, who has been arrested, as ‘too wicked’ during this period of economic downturn.”
According to another protestor, she said, “They begged us to come back and start work at the hospital, but some of our leaders told them the stolen salaries must be refunded before anyone could be allowed to work freely inside the hospital.”
Another reported was also added that, the State government should find another way of paying the nurses’ salaries rather than attempting to recover the stolen funds from the Account Manager, Aminu Kamilu, who was arrested after running away with the nurses’ salaries.
The Account Manager, together with officers of Heritage Bank Plc, conspired to divert about N10m of health workers’ salaries into a personal account. Mr. Kamilu is currently in police custody in Akure.
A police source stated that the arrested Account Manager was already cooperating with the police and giving clues about other financial crimes that have been committed at the hospital.
The police officer also added that,“The accountant is cooperating with officers and is also giving us clues to other forms of corruption that have been done in the past at the facility”.
Arsene Wenger has “no doubt” he would still be the manager of Arsenal next season despite pressures from the club’s supporters to end his 20-year stay with the north London side.
A run of just two wins from their last nine games in all competitions has seen the Gunners knocked out of the Champions League last-16 for a sixth successive season and exit the FA Cup in the quarter-final, losing to Watford at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s dismal form has severely dented their hopes of ending their 12-year wait for the Premier League title, as they trail leaders Leicester City by 11 points with a game in hand.
“I have no doubt because I am committed. When I do something, I do it 100 per cent. I’m always committed to give my best as long as I am at the club… That’s all I focus on,” Wenger told British media when asked if he would be Arsenal manager next season.
“What is the most important is that I give my best every day… I don’t worry too much about all the rest, what people say. My future is my future. I don’t master that more than you.”
Wenger, who has a year left on his contract, would hope his side can pick up back-to-back league victories for the first time since mid-February when they host Watford on Saturday.
The 66-year-old would start the final year of his current contract at the end of the season, but with Arsenal sitting in third in the Premier League table and having experienced recent elimination in both the FA Cup and Champions League, Wenger is facing increasing pressure from fans over his future.
Some have resorted to bringing signs and banners to matches calling for Wenger to leave, while others have booed the team during their recent dismal run of one win in eight matches.
The foreign exchange liquidity problem that has affected importation of goods into the country, and raw materials for local manufacturing, is also taking its toll on the automobiles industry.
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) estimates annual imports at about 400,000 vehicles with 50,000 units as new cars valued at N679.65 billion ($3.45 billion). Some stakeholders have attributed the massive decline to the federal government’s re-launched automotive policy while others opine it was mainly due to the challenges with foreign exchange liquidity.
According to the latest national accounts (Q4 2015) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it showed that the motor vehicles & assembly segment of the manufacturing sector contracted by 13.0 per cent year-on-year, compared with 24.3 per cent growth recorded in the corresponding period in 2014.
“Based on our estimates, the CBN is only able to meet about 15 per cent of their domestic foreign exchange requirement, resulting in manufacturers having to source most of their foreign exchange requirements at a premium from the parallel market. We believe local auto assemblers are facing challenges with importing their completely knocked down (CKD) and semi-knocked down (SKD) inputs.
“We gather that Sterling Bank has partnered with Innoson Motors to provide auto finance to prospective customers at an undisclosed rate. It is likely that the government will retain the automotive policy. However we expect a revised version tailored to the country’s current economic situation,” said FBN Quest.
The industry received the needed boost recently when Sterling Bank Plc partnered a local vehicle manufacturer, Innoson Motors, to finance the purchase of locally made vehicles produced by the company.
After 16 years of dormancy, pumping of petroleum products has returned to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) deports in Aba, the Abia State capital.
According to the the Executive Director of UTM Offshore Ltd, Kennedy Azodeh, petroleum supply to the area, which had been suspended due to pipeline vandalism, resumed two week ago, with about five million liters of petroleum products successfully pumped to the deports.
He attributed the resumption of operations to the relentless efforts of his company, in collaboration with the joint military task force, police and vigilante groups, claiming that 70 percent of pipeline vandalism has been curtailed by his company so far. He assured that it would be further eliminated, if relevant laws were put in place and effectively enforcement.
Azodeh reiterated that if the pipelines are secured the way his company and five others are currently doing, regular pumping of products through the pipelines, rather than use of road tankers to transport them, would make the products readily available.
“It will also reduce the price at which the products are being sold to the public, especially as any kobo spent on transporting the products by road, which takes longer time, would be added to the final cost of the products.
After about two years of considering the idea of developing an automobile assembly hub in Nigeria, the Kewalram Chanrai Group has introduced a manufacturing plant in Lagos with the revealing of its first Foton truck.
The Deputy Managing Director, Kewalram Chanrai Group, Mr. Victor Eburajolo, said at a press conference preceding the inauguration that the auto assembly hub had been built with installed capacity to roll out 198,000 vehicles and motorbikes annually.
Eburajolo gave the breakdown as 12,000 units of trucks; 30,000 units of cars and mini-buses; 36,000 units of three-wheelers (tricycles); and 120,000 of two wheelers (motorcycles).
He also stated, “Today, we’re launching an auto assembly hub; we are going to start with Foton trucks. We’ve already completed one that will be delivered today.
He added,“We are also going to produce Izuzu mini-buses. In due course, we shall assemble Chevrolet cars and SUVs. We have also signed agreements to assemble three wheelers, and of course, two wheelers. The bike is a Hero brand; while the three-wheeler is a Piaggio brand.”
The company would be starting with the Foton truck assembly, which would run on two shifts, according to him.
” We can go on three shifts if its necessary. We will wait for the demand to grow to increase our capacity. And if it grows, we can have four gangs of three shifts,” he added.
The policy, announced in the last quarter of 2013, favors auto companies assembling or producing vehicles locally with zero to 10 per cent import tariff on vehicle components. But importers of fully built vehicles without assembly plants in Nigeria are to pay 70 per cent duty on cars. The rate was raised from 22 per cent.
According to him, the decision to go into vehicle assembly is in compliance with the auto policy of the Federal Government.
A governorship aspirant on platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, stated that if given the chance, he would ensure that the state enjoys stable electricity by 2018.
Obaseki hinted that with the Azura power generating project and other power projects, which his team has wooed to the state, the issues of power outage would soon be a thing of the past.
He said that the only way to achieve the dream of stable power supply in the state is to support a candidate with the vision of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in developing the state.
He said, “If you have taken note of what is happening in the state, before Adams Oshiomhole, there was nothing on ground. They said Edo was a poor and civil service state and so they couldn’t build roads, schools or factories. But in the last seven years, the picture has changed.”
SF Markets, an investment company has unveiled Scottfree Markets Nigeria Equity Index Series known as SFNG Equity Index Series, which is made up of SFNG Mid Cap 40 Index, SFNG Small Cap Index, SFNG Micro Cap Index, SFNG Broad Share Index and total Share Index.
The company launched the indices after commencing on research across the country on the Nigerian Equity indices in other to make full information available for both local and foreign investors to guide them on their investment decisions in the various economic sectors in the country.
During the launch of its website in Lagos, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Adebusoye Sotinwa, explained that the new platform can present detailed information about bonds and equities of all sector within the country.
He also added that, there is need to create the platform for investors to get detailed information about the business they are interested in investing on in the country instead of running away for the fair of unknown circumstances.
Sotinwa explained, that the investors could get indices about each sector as well as each business on the stock market on daily basis as well as weekly or monthly basis, or as demanded by the investors depending on what information and data requested.
He later noted, that the SFNG index series has been designed to provide an independent insight into the performance of Nigerian equity market, adding that the indices would serve as a neutral reference for both local and foreign investors to access the economic development of the Nigerian economy or certain segments of it.
He concluded by saying that,“Investors can access these packages through various means which include File Transfer Protocol, FTP, email communications, directly from the SF Markets website, Solactive AG and select data vendors. Data files are available daily, monthly, periodically and as one-offs”.
German champions Bayern Munich would continue to reap the benefits of manager Pep Guardiola’s coaching even after the Spaniard leaves the club at the end of the season, midfielder Xabi Alonso has said.
Guardiola, who has won numerous trophies with Barcelona and then Bayern, would take over as head coach of English Premier League side Manchester City from July.
The Spaniard, who will be replaced at Bayern by Italian Carlo Ancelotti, looks set to lift his third successive Bundesliga in his final season and Alonso has hailed the manager’s influence.
“Pep is ahead of his time. He is very demanding of himself and his players, but once you get to know it (the style), then it is the way we like to play,” Alonso said.
“During his time here he has built something, a style of play, I think many players would have learnt a lot and improved and for sure those fundamentals would be very useful in the future as well.”
Bayern hold a five-point lead over Borussia Dortmund with seven games remaining and host second-bottom Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola takes charge of the Manchester City, one of the oldest sides in the premier league.
City have struggled to keep pace at the top of the table under Manuel Pellegrini’s and its currently sitting 15 points behind leaders Leicester City.
Since starting the season in terrific fashion, City have taken just 35 points from the last 25 matches – form which has left them out of the title picture and battling simply to finish in the top four.
Guardiola needs to reinvigorate his side, and will be handed the cash to do just that this summer. Chief priority on his list is a new central midfielder, someone who can dominate and impress upon the side the possession-style of play that the Spaniard craves.
Here are six targets who could do just that:sell midfielder Toni Kroos (Real Madrid); Borussia Dortmund star Ilkay Gundogan; 23, Swiss playmaker Granit Xhaka currently playing for Borussia and 19 year old Riechedly Bazoer of Ajax; 23 years french midfielder an, Paul Pogba of Turin might be the biggest buy (70 million pounds) for Pep. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Schalke.
The Ekiti State government has reaffirmed its determination to boost cocoa farming and embark on a massive reafforestation of the state.
According to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe, the state would distribute 263,442 cocoa seedlings and raise about another 228,000 seedlings to rekindle the forest reserves and boost the revenue generation capacity .
Mr.Babajide Arowosafe, who disclosed this at a meeting with cocoa farmers in Ado-Ekiti, said that the state government was fully committed to reviving cocoa plantations in the state.
He said state Government was set to distribute 263,442 cocoa seedlings to farmers as part of efforts at boosting cocoa production in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment Mr. Bisi Kolawole, also speaking at the event also explained that the government intended to utilize the heavily endowed forests that abound in the state to improve its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Mr. Kolawole said it has become important for states to sought for alternative sources of income in the face of the current global reduction of business activities and the diminishing revenue from oil.
He told the gathering that the state government would no longer allow chaotic felling of trees which had stripped the state of its much needed revenue, and warned that any forestry officer or guard caught conniving with timber contractors to commit illegalities would be made to face the wrath of the law.
The Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka had earlier condemned the activities of timber contractors fond of attacking Forest officers and guards in the course of performing their official duties.
He also advised officers and guard to always abide by the civil service rules when enforcing compliance with the forestry laws and assured them of their safety.
Dr. Faseluka also reiterated that anybody arrested for attacking government official in the course of carrying out their lawful duties would be dealt with.
Nasarawa State government has finalised arrangements to provide employment for about 30, 000 unemployed youths in the state through a robust skills acquisition programme partnership with Institute of Technical Education (ITE) from Singapore.
The state government has also taken delivery of 28 containers of assorted training kits worth over N350 million, while the group of expatriate trainers are expected in the state in the coming weeks.
Governor Tanko Al-Makura pledged his administration’s commitment to provide technical schools across the state with all the necessary equipment that would enable them compete favourably, globally and to as well produce made in Nigeria goods that will stop Nigerians from patronizing foreign material.
“Very soon we are going to receive the Singaporean experts that will come and stay here in Assakio to put the buildings up, install the equipment, train the trainers”.
“The essence of this is that we are giving holistic approach to technical education, so that every student that go through the system will have both the practical and theoretical knowledge to live on their own, our target is to make the state a centre of artisans for Nigerians” Al-makura said.
He noted that the specialist will train people on many skilled acquisition skills, which will include; electricians, technicians, welders, tailoring, POP specialists fand masons, among others.
Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has guaranteed that the verification of workers in the state through the presentation of Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and the proposed biometric exercise will end delay in the payment of workers salaries.
He added that through the presentation of the BVN, salaries of local council workers and State Universal Basic Education teachers, which had been a major challenge, would become a thing of the past.
Ahmed stated that with the approval by the Debt Management Office of the N20 billion bond to be secured by the state, the pace of development of infrastructure in the state would be faster.
He revealed that some of the projects tied to the bond, includes the expansion of some major roads in the state capital, construction of two new campuses of Kwara State University in Ilesha-Baruba and Osi in Baruten and Ekiti local council areas respectively.
“With increased internally generated revenue, youth empowerment and employment programme of this administration would also improve tremendously,” he said.
Ahmed called for greater unity among the people of the state, stressing that; “our strength is in our unity as it creates better understanding and development.”
The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, took a swipe at Governor Ayodele Fayose, deriding him of being in the habit of promoting shady deals, among other wrongdoings, above the collective interest of the state.
According to APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, accused Governor Fayose of running a government built on his personal image, stating that this misinterpretation had “robbed Ekiti people the quality leadership with the right mindset to see governance beyond the figure of self-glorification.
APC stated, “This failure to see governance beyond personal appeal of the governor is costing our state good governance for the growth of our people and her deserved place of honor in this country. “That is why the governor is wasting state resources on helicopter charter to ferry an accused person, Akanni Afolabi, from Abuja to Ekiti after which he took six pages of several newspapers on frivolous adverts to publish court records on the accused’s bail application and topped it with the donation of a new car to same Akanni, who is still under police investigation over several criminal cases.
“Governor Fayose is overwhelmed with promoting shady deals with several alleged crimes hanging on their necks far above Ekiti academic pride of the century, Ayodele Dada, who bagged the best graduating student award at the University of Lagos with a record 5.0 GPA. “We are not surprised at the governor’s beatification of crime in this instance because you can only give what you have and gold is usually sold to the person who knows its value. That is why Fayose would prefer to celebrate thugs and roughnecks to celebrating the Ekiti golden boy that has put Ekiti State on the map of academic honor at the University of Lagos.”
Cabin crew and passengers aboard an EgyptAir plane flying from Alexandria to Cairo that was forced to land in Cyprus on Tuesday can now breath a sigh of relief they have been freed and unharmed ending the hijack.
The motive of the hijacker remained a mystery, meanwhile, he gave up himself for arrest.
Eighty-one people, including 21 foreigners and 15 crew, had been on-board the Airbus 320 flight when it took off, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.
Conflicting theories emerged about the hijacker’s motives, with Cypriot officials saying early on that the incident did not appear like a terrorist but the Cypriot state broadcaster saying he had demanded the release of women prisoners in Egypt.
After the aircraft landed at Larnaca airport, negotiations began and everyone on-board was freed except three passengers and four crew, Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fethy said.
Soon after his comments, Cypriot television footage showed several people leaving the plane via the stairs and another man climbing out of the cockpit window and running off.
The hijacker then surrendered to authorities.
“Its over,” the Cypriot foreign ministry said in a tweet.
Speaking to reporters after the crisis ended, Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said the hijacker was an Egyptian national but that his motives remained unclear.
“At some moments he asked to meet with a representative of the European Union and at other points he asked to go to another airport but there was nothing specific,” he said, adding that the man would now be questioned to ascertain his motives.
Cypriot foreign ministry official Alexandros Zenon told reporters during the crisis that the hijacker appeared to be “unstable”.
Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said the plane’s pilot, Omar al-Gammal, had informed authorities that he was threatened by a passenger who claimed to be wearing a suicide explosives belt and forced him to divert the plane to Larnaca.
Photographs shown on Egyptian state television showed a middle-aged man on a plane wearing glasses and displaying a white belt with bulging pockets and protruding wires.
Fethy, the Egyptian minister, said authorities suspected the suicide belt was not genuine but treated the incident as serious to ensure the safety of all those on board.
“Our passengers are all well and the crew is all well… We cannot say this was a terrorist act… he was not a professional,” Fethy told reporters after the incident.
In the midst of the crisis, witnesses said the hijacker had thrown a letter on the apron in Larnaca, written in Arabic, asking that it be delivered to his ex-wife, who is Cypriot.
But the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) said the hijacker had asked for the release of women prisoners in Egypt, suggesting a political motive.
EgyptAir also delayed a New York-bound flight from Cairo onto which some passengers of the hijacked plane had been due to connect. Fethy said it was delayed partly due to a technical issue but partly as a precaution.
The plane remained on the tarmac at Larnaca throughout the morning while Cypriot security forces took up positions around the scene.
The Cypriot Foreign Affairs Ministry also identified the hijacker as Mustafa.
Passengers on the plane included eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch, two Belgians, an Italian, a Syrian and French national, the Civil Aviation Ministry.
Cyprus has seen little militant activity for decades, despite its proximity to the Middle East.
Egypt said it would send a plane to Cyprus to pick up stranded passengers, some of whom had been traveling to Cairo for connecting flights abroad.
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has recommended that the speed limit device proposed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) must not be limited to commercial vehicles alone but extended to all categories of vehicles, including the private ones.
The National President, RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Shehu Isiwele, described limiting the speed limit device to commercial vehicles alone as ”witch-hunting” and a ploy to further stifle the contribution efforts of commercial vehicles to nation building.
Isiwele said: “The commercial vehicles have continued to contribute to national development. It has created jobs for thousands of Nigerians and it has continued to be relevant in the transportation of goods and services across the length and breadth of Nigeria during favourable and unfavourable conditions. All of these must be appreciated by the people and the government, then for somebody to say it is only the commercial vehicles that are reckless on the highways and therefore are the only ones that should carry the speed limit device as proposed by the FRSC is to say the list, unfortunate.”
He stated that in as much as his association is supporting the FRSC on the project, the proposal must include all vehicles across the country.
“We are saying that we expect the FRSC to allow RTEAN, NURTW handle issues affecting commercial vehicles. They should have called all unions to go and produce the speed limit device for their members. This is because we don’t want to have an unknown organisation that will sell brake pads or useless tyres for us. Presently, they are saying they will register some organisations that will collect the monies and fix the speed limit device. We are not comfortable with this arrangement, they should allow us as union to make arrangement for ourselves,” he noted.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grow the agricultural sector by encouraging the youth to pick interest in agriculture. He further stated that agriculture was the best way to boost the potentials of the Nigerian youth population for their inclusive and beneficial participation in the task of economic diversification
Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said good initiatives were not enough as implementation had always been a recurring challenge in virtually all the countries, adding countries had produced world-class blueprints aimed at addressing key challenges in the past which had produced mixed results.
The IFAD president, Dr Kanayo Nwanze, noted that the hopes and dreams for the future of the continent rested in the hands of the young people, who are the continent’s untapped resources, adding that the money Nigeria is using to import more than $6 billion agricultural products annually should be invested in producing food locally and creating employment and wealth in Africa.
Nwanze, however, urged government to introduce policies that would encourage investment in the agro-industrial sector at every point along the value chains, saying these policies must encourage inclusive and transparent partnerships, so that poor rural people were not left behind, exploited or excluded.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation has described the progress and development of the sector as satisfactory after an 11-day Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme conducted on Nigeria’s aviation industry.
The auditors disclosed this during the presentation of the preliminary audit result and their assessment of the aviation industry at the closing meeting of the ICAO USOAP. The report was presented by the leader of the four-man team of auditors, Mr. Jean-Claude Waffo..
Members of the team gave their assessments on all the laid out areas: legislation, organisation, accident and incident investigation, air navigational services, aerodrome and ground aids.
Sam Adurogboye, the General Manager, Public Relations, of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, said that the auditors consistently expressed satisfaction with the level of improvement in Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He said,“The auditors were highly impressed with the preparation for the audit by all concerned and this made the programme a huge success”.
The final audit report is to be produced and sent to Canada for review and final assent. This will be done only when comments on the draft report have been received from Nigeria.
Waffo said: “Draft results will be produced 90 days after today’s presentation. Thereafter, Nigeria is expected to produce a corrective action plan, which will provide room for comments and observations within 45 days.”
The final report is only to be expected and produced after 30 days of receipt and acknowledgement of comments.
After the presentation, the auditors were said to have applauded the Director-General, NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, as well as chief executives of other aviation parastatals and the Nigerian team that worked with them during the audit.
Usman expressed appreciation for the devotion and high sense of responsibility with which the auditors carried out their assignment.
He also assured them that all open items that were pinpointed would be closed and adequately communicated in the CAP to be forwarded by the NCAA as required.
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Saleh Dunoma, made a promise that all areas that needed to be improved upon would be attended to as soon as possible.
Fidelity Bank Plc and Heritage Bank Plc have at the different fora disclosed their plans to increase lending to Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (MSMSs).
Fidelity Bank planned to raise N30 billion bond to finance Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises while, Heritage Bank Plc. would launch N500 million to support a youth empowerment program targeted at students and young entrepreneurs.
The Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo has revealed that the bank was determined to increase its lending to Micro, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) by 50 percent 2017.
Okonkwo disclosed that 80 percent of the net proceed of the N30 billion corporate bonds it hoped to raise through the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would be used for the purpose.
He said, the net proceeds of the bond would be used to fund the MSMEs which have been peddled as the next cash cow.
Meanwhile, Heritage Bank Ltd. also revealed that it had boosted its entrepreneurship support with the launch of a N500 million Young Entrepreneurs and Students (YES) Grant.
According to the Managing Director, Mr. Ifie Sekibo, the initiative was a partnership with the Nigerian Youth Professional Forum (NYPF) aimed to support students and young entrepreneurs toward socio-economic freedom.
Sekibo said, the bank’s support for the program arose from the fact that the initiative aligned with the bank’s vision, which is to help create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.
He added that the bank would also support the project in terms of training the beneficiaries, disbursement of the grant, monitoring and evaluation of project’s milestones agreed with the beneficiaries.
The two banks are quoted on the floors of The Nigerian Stocks Exchange.
