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N34 Billion Fraud: Tompolo Asks Appeal Court to Dismiss Arrest Warrant

Embattled ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, (alias Tompolo), has told the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos to set aside the order of a Federal High Court, Lagos, which issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
It will be recalled that on January 14, 2016, trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court, Lagos, issued a warrant for Tompolo’s arrest following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
EFCC had filed a charge against Tompolo and nine others, over allegation of money laundering and stealing of about N34 billion belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

But on January 27, 2016, Tompolo filed an application before the court, to set aside the said warrant of arrest. On February 8, 2016, the said application was argued and dismissed by the court.

Tompolo, thereafter, filed an appeal against the ruling of the lower court, on February 18, 2016.

Tompolo, in the appeal by the law firms of Tayo Oyetibo, SAN and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, is complaining that the learned trial court erred in law, in refusing to set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him, when there was no evidence to show that he had been notified of the summons and the criminal charge pending against him, before the court.

Tompolo also complained that the trail court should have ascertained that the EFCC duly complied with the order of the court for substituted service, by posting the charge at the correct address as contained in the order of the court.

According to him, the application leading to the issuance of the warrant of arrest was not competently placed before the court, as the counsel that signed and filed it on behalf of the EFCC failed to affix his seal thereto, as required by law.

Tompolo is thus asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the warrant for his arrest and vacate all subsequent proceedings emanating from the flawed process of the criminal charge.

He is further seeking that the charge against him should be transferred from the current judge, to another judge of the Federal High Court.

He added that he is a law abiding citizen who is only demanding that  the Federal Government should show compliance with the rule of law and due process, in the filing and prosecution of any crime that may be alleged against him.

He also wants the relevant law enforcement agencies to be notified with the details of the appeal, so that they may be well cautioned from taking undue advantage of the criminal charge to wreck havoc upon Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State or to harass the family, relatives, friends and well his wishers.

N6.07 Trillion 2016 Budget Will Not Be Reduced or Inflated – Reps

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas on Sunday insisted that the N6.07tn proposed 2016 budget would not be altered.

Speaking in Abuja, Namdas said, “No, we will pass the budget size of N6.07tn.”

Namdas explained that all National Assembly committees needed to do was to move funds around within the various sub-heads while still retaining the total figure. He stated that there were funds located in certain sub-heads where they were not needed.

According to Namdas, there were sub-heads where such funds would be useful but they were starved of money.

“Thus, in cleaning up the budget, these are the considerations that will come up.

“The committees are busy working; we want to allocate resources to where they will be needed.

“The provisions in the budget will no longer be the same by the time the document leaves the National Assembly; money will go to where it is needed, though we will retain N6.07tn,” Namdas said.

FG to Retract Unsubstantiated Mineral Titles

The federal government in its effort to check the activities of illicit miners across the country, has said it would revoke all unsubstantiated mineral titles in the next one week.

The Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, lamented that the activities of illegal miners had become a most worrisome development in all parts of the federation.

”this is a worrisome development but not something we are not aware of,while the illegal miners are only concerned about the minerals that will earn them some little money,it has great health and safety hazards in the long run”.

 “it was unfortunate that despite the gold being mined from various parts of the federation,there was no record of gold in the nations federal inland revenue service(FIRS),leading to the fact that all gold taken out was sold for peanuts and yielding no tax or revenue to the federal government”.

“Under our watch we will bring this to a stop and restructure and formalise illegal mining to meet health and safety standards,” he said.

The Minister stressed that “it was the desire of government to provide employment for its teeming youths and urged the illegal miners under the Artisanal and Small Scale Mining (ASM) department of the ministry to get formalised.”

 

 

OIL & GAS JOBS | AOS Orwell Nigeria Fresh Job Recruitment 2016

AOS Orwell, an integrated indigenous oilfield services company in Nigeria and Ghana offering well construction and engineering services to the oil and gas sector, has the following vacancies below for a suitably qualified persons to join its Process Management Division.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW JOB DETAILS AND APPLY

MANUFACTURING JOBS | Graduate Project Monitoring and Evaluation Intern at British American Tobacco (BAT)

British American Tobacco (www.bat.com) is a market leading, global organisation with a long, established history and a bright and dynamic future. Thanks to our people we have continued to deliver growth and exceed expectations in an increasingly complex and challenging marketplace.

Our aim is to become the leading tobacco company in each of our markets by providing excellent products with confidence and responsibility expected of global consumer brands.

If you have the talent and motivation to help us succeed you’ll find we are equally committed to helping you reach your full potential too.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Monitoring and Evaluation Intern

Job number: 10191BR
Location: Lagos
Appointment type: Fixed term

Job Purpose and Key Deliverables

  • The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will be responsible for overseeing activities under the Project Management component of the Project which pertain to tracking and evaluating implementation performance.
  • Under the overall guidance of the General Manager and direct supervision of the Project Team, the M&E Officer will be responsible for the monitoring and ensuring high quality and timely inputs, and for ensuring that the project maintains its strategic vision and that its activities result in the achievement of its intended outputs in a cost effective and timely manner.
  • The M&E officer will be responsible for designing and implementing the M&E activities of the Project; assisting the Project Manager in preparing Quarterly/Annual reports on project progress and will monitor the project activities on a regular basis and will be responsible for the collection & analysis of different data in relation to the project activities.
  • The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer works in close collaboration with work closely with project team and collaborators and partners, operations clusters, Government officials, private sector, non-government and civil society organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities
The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer will have the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Develop and strengthen monitoring, inspection and evaluation procedures
  • Monitor all project activities, expenditures and progress towards achieving the project output;
  • Recommend further improvement of the logical frame work;
  • Develop monitoring and impact indicator for the project success;
  • Monitor and evaluate overall progress on achievement of results;
  • Monitor the sustainability of the project’s results;
  • Provide feedback to the Project Team on project strategies and activities;
  • Suggest strategies to the Project Management for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the project by identifying bottlenecks in completing project activities and developing plans to minimize or eliminate such bottlenecks;
  • Report monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual progress on all project activities to the General Manager/Project Team;
  • Conduct capacity assessment on existing monitoring and evaluation indicators and the monitoring strategy for the project;
  • Provide inputs, information and statistics for quarterly, annual and other reports to Project Management Team;
  • Participate in annual project reviews and planning workshops and assist the Project Team in preparing relevant reports;
  • Support monitoring and evaluation of the effects and impact of the project;
  • Assist in coordinating across the available components of the Project to ensure effective implementation of M&E;
  • Assist the project personnel with M&E tools and in supporting them in their use.
  • Perform other duties as required;

Measurable Outputs and Performance Indicators:

  • Preparation of monthly M&E reports;
  • Assist the Project Team in preparing other relevant reports;
  • Organize and conduct training on M&E for Project IPs and government staff
  • Assist Project Team in the preparation of reports on the findings and lessons learned from project innovations;
  • Provide input and update information related to project outcomes;
  • Assist Project Team in preparing monthly and quarterly reports on project progress based on M&S reports on project activities;
  • Prepare Issues Log and Risk Log for the project;
  • Develop M&E system for the Project and for the government counterpart/stakeholders;
  • Prepare and maintain data base.

Essential requirements
Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the BATNF values and ethical standards
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of BATNF
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

  • Organises and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and multiple reporting relationships
  • Plans, coordinates and organises workload while remaining aware of changing Priorities and competing deadlines
  • Establishes, builds and maintains effective working relationships with staff and clients to facilitate the provision of support

Knowledge Management and Learning:

  • In-depth knowledge on M&E and development issues
  • Excellent knowledge of monitoring and the application of methodology: Good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies; excellent ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities;
  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
  • Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioural/ attitudinal change.

Self-Management:

  • Focuses on result for the team
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
  • Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure
  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
  • Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view
  • Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behaviour

Desirable Requirements

  • Agricultural student or Student in an Agriculatural related course in the 3rd or practical year of a recognised Nigerian University or Polytechnic 2:1 equivalent
  • Candidates should be at least 18 years of age
  • Excellent numerical and writing skills

Application Closing Date
3rd March, 2016.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidate should APPLY

MANUFACTURING JOBS | Production Technician at Nestle Nigeria Plc

Nestle Nigeria Plc with a presence in more than 130 countries and factories in more than 80 research centres
brings many global benefits. We believe in long term career development and appreciate how challenges and motivation will help you reach your potential. Nestle Nigeria Plc upholds the principle of Non- Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities in its recruitment processes.

Application are hereby required from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacant position below at Flowergate Factory, Sagamu:

Job Title: Production Technician

Location: Sagamu, Ogun

Job Description

  • To operate and carry out autonomous maintenance on the production line under his responsibility to meet up with Safety, Quality and Output requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Carry outline operations in accordance to operating instructions and parameters.
  • Achieve required quantity of products and of right quality as per specifications.
  • Carry out autonomous maintenance, CIL of assets under his/her control.
  • Update necessary records of operations as at when due.
  • Comply with safety, health, environment and food safety and quality procedures
  • Other tasks as assigned by superior officers.

Requirements

  • OND/City & Guilds/NABTEB (Technical) in Electrical / Mechanical Engineering.
  • Minimum of five (5) credits including English language and Mathematics in SSCE/NECO or its equivalent.
  • Must have at least 1 year experience in a reputable manufacturing organisation.
  • Computer literacy.
  • Good communication skills (oral and written).
  • Good interpersonal skills.

Application Closing Date
3rd March, 2016.

How to Apply
Qualified and interested candidates should send their details in the “MS Excel format” below only to: flowergate.recruitment@ng.nestle.com (also attach your CV) on or before

Excel Format
Title | Surname | Other Names | Age (as at 1st Feb. 2016 | Basic Qualification (e.g SSCE/NECO) | No. of Credits |Other Qualification(s) e.g OND | Years of Experience | Phone No l

Note: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

OIL & GAS JOBS | Bourbon Interoil Nigeria Fresh Job Recruitment (6 Positions)

Bourbon Interoil – As international leader in marine services, “Bourbon” offers to the most demanding oil & gas clients worldwide a full line of innovative, safe, high performance and new generation vessels and an expanded offer of offshore oil & gas services delivered by 11 000 experienced and competent employees across 45 countries. By joining “Bourbon” you will be “Under the flag of excellence”.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW JOB DETAILS AND APPLY

NIBSS, Banks Expend N400million on Electronic Payment Incentives

The Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS, and banks in the country have spent over N400 million to provide incentives to promote adoption of electronic payment in the country.

Managing Director of NIBSS, Ade Shonubi disclosed this on Monday, February 22, while addressing a press conference on the forthcoming Efficiency Award organized by the company to reward and recognize outstanding stakeholders in the promotion of electronic payment.

He said: “The banks have spent over N400 million as incentives under electronic payment incentives scheme. “The electronic payment incentives scheme (EPIS) is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bankers Committee, and the banks in Nigeria to promote electronic payment in Nigeria.”

“There were series of activities around it that started over a year ago. One of the first thing is when we were refunding cash back to people, and at the end of the month, you receive some amount of money for using your PoS, and then we had adverts.”

Commenting on the impact of the electronic payment incentives scheme on the level of epayment transactions in the country, Shonubi said, “In the month of December we had 18 million transactions on our platform.”

“That is just for one month. On the average we do about 15 million transactions in a month. Before now it was much lower than that. So clearly the numbers are moving up.”

 

“Manufacturing Firms to Close Down on Raw Material Scarcity” – MAN

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, has expressed worry that many of its member companies will close down production at the end of the first quarter of 2016 as a result of raw materials scarcity.

President of MAN, Frank Udemba Jacobs, said that since the introduction of foreign exchange restrictions policy by the apex bank almost eight months ago, their members find it difficult to import their raw materials.

“The recent policy statement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has not really augured well for manufacturers. To an extent, we seem to agree with the reasons behind the decision of the CBN, mainly the dwindling crude oil price in the international market but sometimes, the policy seems to be like throwing the child out along with the bath water, in the sense that our members raw materials could not be purchased or sourced.

The policy denied them foreign exchange to import their raw materials and we are concerned that before the end of this quarter, it is possible that many of these companies will be out of business, because by then, they would have run out of their raw materials, most of them have come to make presentation to us that they are going to close down unless there is a change in the policy from the CBN,” he said.

According to him “the recent statement by the CBN that money deposit banks can now receive foreign exchange into domiciliary account of customers; it’s cheering news in the sense that some of the smaller industries might be able to transfer money in order to buy their raw materials.

“The decision also to stop the funding of the exchange is again a good decision, it’s a step in the right direction, we are hoping that that same funds that are saved should be channeled into the productive sector by allowing the real sector to get their foreign exchange to import their raw materials, that is one of their major challenges.”

“We are also faced with the challenge of change in government, because normally when government is changed like it happened in Nigeria last year, it takes a long time for new policy thrust of the new government to come out especially with the long delay in the appointment of the cabinet, all those things throw the economy into a state of uncertainty for a very long time and it becomes difficult for my members to predict the economy to be able to plan their businesses.

NSE Index Sheds 0.04% As Equities Traded in Red Zone

The Equity market activities closed on a negative note on Monday, February 22, as the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE All Share Index (NSE ASI) slid marginally by 0.04% to close at 24,423.37 points. Year-to-date (YTD), it depreciated by 14.73%.

Consequently, the Market Capitalization depreciated marginally by 0.04% to close at N8.399trn, compared with the appreciation of 0.70% recorded last Friday to close at N8.402trn.

The depreciation recorded in the share prices of UBA, Zenith Bank, Nigerian Breweries, GT Bank, and Oando were mainly responsible for the loss recorded in the Index.

The total value of stocks traded on the floors of The NSE today was N5.99bn, up by 547.31% from N925.39mn traded last Friday. The total volume of stocks traded was 3.45bn in 2,432 deals. Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc accounted for 67.95% of the total valued traded today.

The three most actively traded stocks were: Tiger Branded (3.28bn), Unity Kapital (37.70mn) and FCMB (31.25mn). The most actively traded sectors were: Consumer Goods (3.28bn), Financial Services (132.68mn) and Industrial Goods (15.19mn).

FG Proposes N1.2billion in 2016 Budget to Complete Zik’s Mausoleum

The federal government has proposed a total of N1, 281,127,089 in its 2016 budget to complete and furnish the abandoned Zik’s mausoleum which is the burial site of Nigeria’s first indigenous president, the late  Nnamdi Azikiwe in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The mausoleum has reportedly remained in ruins for years now as works on it had stopped and as such, the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has included to spend N1,143,575,058 in its 2016 budget, to complete the structure while N137, 552,031 would be used to furnish it.

The document containing the ministry’s budget proposal for the mausoleum and library complex was obtained from the internet webpage of the ministry of finance Monday in Abuja.

According to reports, the government of Anambra, Azikiwe’s home state had before now considered taking over the project from the federal government in view of its national significance and the iconic standing of Azikiwe.

The state governor, Willy Obiano, had repeatedly called on the federal government to show more commitment beyond what obtains to the project.

Works on the mausoleum which from the ministry’s description will have a library complex, was awarded in 1997 after Azikiwe died in 1996, but it has since remained unfinished.

 

Crude Oil Price Soars by Over 6%

 

Crude oil prices on Monday, February 22, climbed by over six per cent after the world’s oil consumer body, the International Energy Agency, IEA, said it expected United States shale production to fall in 2016 and 2017.

Reuters reported that a bounce in global stock markets and the after-effects of a fall in the US oil rig count last week also supported prices.

However, as the IEA’s forecast provided some glimmer of hope of a price recovery in the medium-term, it is the near-term that was of paramount importance to President Muhammadu Buhari when he departed for Saudi Arabia yesterday to meet with leaders of the kingdom in order to consolidate on the oil output freeze aimed at pushing up prices.

The world’s two largest oil producers, Saudi Arabia and Russia, agreed last week to keep oil output at January levels – the first cooperation among OPEC and Non-OPEC producers in 15 years – in order to boost prices.

The problem, however, is that the attempt to cap output could be scuttled by Iran, which has hurriedly increased output since US-led sanctions were lifted after it agreed to stop its nuclear programme.

Iran has “welcomed” the oil freeze, but made it abundantly clear that it would not cap output.

Its position also reflects the political tension in the Gulf between Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and its allies in the region, and Shia-led Iran.

 

Yesterday, however, US crude (WTI) futures rose above $31 a barrel, gaining $1.95, or 6.6 per cent, to $31.59 a barrel.

The March contract expires at the end of the session. US crude for April delivery traded at a higher volume and was at $33.46.
Also, international benchmark Brent was up $1.49 or 4.5 per cent at $34.50 a barrel.

IEA, the energy advisor to 26 industrialised countries, said in its medium-term outlook monday that US shale oil production was expected to fall by 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) this year and another 200,000 bpd in 2017.

This fed into data released late last week that showed US drilling rig numbers had fallen to the lowest level since December 2009.

The IEA also said in its report the global oil market would begin rebalancing in 2017.

“Today’s oil market conditions do not suggest that prices can recover sharply in the immediate future,” the agency said.

In the US, record crude stocks of 504.1 million barrels were also weighing on markets, countering a proposed production freeze at January levels by Russia and OPEC.

Russia and OPEC both pumped oil at near-record volumes last month, with Russia reaching another post-Soviet high of 10.88 million bpd.

OPEC member Iraq said yesterday it planned to raise oil output levels to more than 7 million bpd over the next five years, and to export 6 million bpd of that. Oil production in Iraq hit a record high of 4.775 million bpd in January.

 

Stock Market Trading Opens Week With N4billion Marginal Loss

 

Transactions on the Nigerian Stock market flagged off the week on a bearish trend with N4 billion loss.

The first trading day of the week indicated that the NSE All Share Index depreciated by 0.04 per cent to close at 24,432.37 basis points, compared with the 0.70 per cent appreciation recorded previously.

Market turnover closed positive as volume moved up by 2.92 per cent against 44.46 per cent uptick recorded in the previous session.

Tiger Brands Plc, Unity Capital Plc and FCMB Plc were the most active to boost market turnover. Tiger Brands Plc and Lafarge Africa Plc topped market value list.

Neimeth Pharmaceutical Plc led the list of active stocks that recorded impressive volume spike at the end of the trading session.

 

“Oil Market Set for Rebalance in 2017” – International Energy Agency

The International Energy Agency, IEA, on Monday, February 22, said that the oil market will begin rebalancing in 2017.

IEA in its medium-term report released on Monday noted that while oil prices should start to rise gradually once the market begins rebalancing, the availability of resources that can be quickly tapped will limit the scope of the price increase.

However, the report points to the risk of an oil price spike in the later part of the outlook period arising from insufficient investment.

“It is easy for consumers to be lulled into complacency by ample stocks and low prices today, but they should heed the writing on the wall: the historic investment cuts we are seeing raise the odds of unpleasant oil-security surprises in the not-too-distant-future,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, said while launching the report.

“Discos Still Have Backlog of 2million Meters to Distribute to Electricity Consumers” – Amadi

The former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi has said that the last regulatory audit of the metering gap in Nigeria’s power sector showed that up to two million electricity consumers are yet to be provided with meters by the electricity distribution companies, Discos.

Amadi stated in an interview in Abuja that the metering audit by the NERC was done in December 2015 preparatory to the conclusion of the new tariff review.

He however noted that the gap can be bridged through multiple creative means, which include government subvention and private investments.

According to him, such subventions or investments in bridging the metering gap would have to be backed by the regulator.

Amadi said: “We still have like two million meters backlog by the last assessment. The metering gap can only be closed by investments mandated by the regulator, recovered through tariff but spread out over the years. But government can help now by making investments.”

 

Naira Gains On Dollar Overflow in Parallel Market As Reserves Soars

Naira unaffected by Trump’s victory
The naira gathered strength at the parallel market on Monday, February 22, as an overflow of dollars chased the local currency.
The value of the naira had leaped to around N367 to the dollar causing panic in the money market and the economy at large.

Bureau de Change operators as well as street hawkers sold the greenback between N367 and N37. While the pounds sold at around N496 to N499. As at last week Friday, the value of the naira stood at N370 to the dollar and N500 to the British Pounds.

Also the official rate at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rose in value to N196.5 to the dollar, even as the external reserves of the country rose slightly for the first time this year. The reserves which had dropped to $27.789 billion rose slightly to $27.793 billion as at February 19, 2016.

Last week the value of the naira had dropped to an all time low of N398 to the dollar and N520 to the pounds.

Shell Declares Force Majeure on Forcados Lifting

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, has declared force majeure on Forcados lifting.

he Forcados terminal has the capacity to export 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

According to a statement issued by the company, the force majeure was declared on Sunday, following the disruption in production caused by the spill on the Forcados Terminal subsea crude export pipeline the previous day.

The spokesman Precious Okolobo said  the oil company is intensifying efforts on containment and oil recovery from the February 14, 2016 spill, while also finalising repair plans.

 

CBN Sanctions Four Banks Over Non-reversal of ATM Cash Dispense Error

Four commercials banks were in 2015 sanctioned for non-reversal of ATM cash dispense error within the specified 48 hour timeframe given by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

However, Nigerian banks in the past year paid out almost N400 million as cashback on the use of point of sale terminals.

CBN Assistant Director, Payment Policy and Oversight, Banking and Payment System, Shola Agboola, who spoke  with newsmen on Monday, February 22, at a press conference organized by the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), noted that following the issuance of a circular directing banks to install and automize auto reversal, the apex bank had found four banks wanting.

“When we carried out our oversight function on the banks to ensure at they have done what they were asked to do, four banks were penalized and sanctions last year, he stated adding that “a situation whereby customers will have a problem, they go and complain and the bank will not attend to them can no longer continue.”

The cashback was introduced in 2014 as an incentive for customers to use their cards for payments and to drive the usage of PoS, customers are paid back 40 per cent of the 1.25 per cent that merchants are charged on POS usage.

 

Anambra Govt, Cargo Firms, Arik Air, Others, Partner on $5.2billion Agro Export

Anambra State government has partnered with a courier and cargo company, ABX World, to facilitate the export of about $5.2billion worth of agro-allied products to European countries yearly.

ABX Anambra, World Chief Executive Officer Captain John Okakpu, who made this known, listed others in the deal as Arik Air and Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), adding that it would facilitate the packaging and air freighting to European countries.

Okakpu described the partnership as part of the state government’s efforts to lead the way in its commitment to developing agriculture. The gesture, he said, is capable of generating jobs, eliminating poverty and restoring investor’ confidence in the state.

He said the state had become a trailblazer in this regard, as “different state governments, realising their dwindling fortune in the wake of falling oil revenue, are now interested in the agro-allied exports.” He said Anambra State was leading the way through serious commitment to agriculture , adding that the state is far ahead of others in grassroots structure and technology deployment to aid farmers.

He said: “When we entered into agreement with them, we discovered that they have gone very far. For instance, the state has over 1400 corporative societies and they have gone to the extent of training most of the farmers and also the certification of the corporative societies.

“The next step was the geo-mapping of the area for easy identification of the farmlands from any part of the world. This is a sure step to curb the incessant rejection of agro-allied produce from Nigeria at the European and the rest of the world markets.

“The EU certified trainers were in Nigeria about three months ago. So, after that training and certification programme, the participants were guaranteed of three years contract to supply agro-allied produce to Europe and can use it for the rest part of the world.

“This is the real capacity building we are talking about. There is no other better way to fight poverty and encourage farmers than to provide markets for them.”

Okakpu added that they are working with other partners, Arik Air and SAHCOL to ensure that about 75 farm products of which Ugu-pumpkin leaf tops the list, are exported from Nigeria to Europe and rest of the world.

He expressed optimism that the project will create millions of jobs in the country as more states queue-in into it.

He said that ABX World will use its partnerships around the world to make a difference, “create agricultural revolution whereby we bring in the off-takers to take agricultural products as long as they meet the international standard and requirements.”

 

Ethiopian Airlines, Bombardier Seal $63million Aircraft Deal

Ethiopian Airlines and Bombardier Commercial Aircraft have sealed a firm purchase agreement for two additional Q400 turboprop aircraft, that will bring the airline’s Q400 aircraft fleet to 19 aircraft.

The transaction is valued at approximately $63 million.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines,Tewolde Gebremariam, said: “We are continuously working to have the right fleet with agility, optimal range, load and passenger comfort which is critical for us to keep our leadership position in the market.”

“The Q400 aircraft continues to be an integral part of our expansion strategy in Africa.Through our strategic partnerships with ASKY Airlines in Togo and Malawian Airlines in Malawi, the Q400 airliner has played a vital role in availing convenient connections, as well as increasing frequencies to support air travel growth in Africa and successfully create a missing link.”

”The Q400 aircraft is also our core fleet to our domestic and regional destinations, thereby ensuring excellent passenger experience, operational flexibility and economics. We continue to work with Bombardier to support and maintain the aircraft through our approved Q400 Authorised Service Facility and our Q400 aircraft simulator,”Gebremariam added.

 

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