L-R: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, DG, ICRC and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have opened talks for the revitalisation and commercialisation of Federal Government properties abroad.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Manji Yarling, the Acting Head, Media and Publicity, ICRC, in Abuja on Sunday.

Yarling said the move, which was at the instance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was part of efforts to get alternative funding sources to maintain the nations missions abroad.

It is also to develop or acquire new properties for newly set up missions.

She said the discussions began on January 31, between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and his team and the Director-General, ICRC, Michael Ohiani and his team.

Yarling said the talks continued on February 3, with the inauguration of a Public- Private Partnership (PPP) Unit in the ministry.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting, Onyeama said that funding had become a major problem for the ministry with many of its properties being undeveloped, underutilised or poorly maintained.

He said that over the years, the properties had continued to depreciate while some had even been lost due to the inability of the ministry to develop them in line with the laws of the host nations.

If you go on a tour to some of our facilities, what you see will make one want to cry. So we have been trying to find some kind of solution to the challenges.

According to Yarling, the minister say some of the issues that has put the countrys properties abroad in such dire situations include funding, reduction in staff and change in layouts.

She said Onyeama gave an example of how one of Nigerias diplomatic buildings was now in a commercially busy area with a nightclub right in front of it.

He said, we want to turn those prime properties into money-making ventures, so we have been looking for partners to come on board.

We have to come up with a business model that works and is sustainable.

We really have to do something about these properties that we own and have an inventory of all our assets.

Yarling said Janet Olisa, who oversees the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, said that the ministry wanted to use proceeds from the PPP initiative to maintain its missions and properties abroad.

According to Olisa, we have properties but we do not want to sell, we need the revenue generated from these properties to take care of the properties that we are using.

We want to be able to do a PPP arrangement where the ministry brings in the property while the private investor brings the funds to revitalise the properties.

She said Ohiani informed the ministry that the ICRC was set up to regulate such infrastructure development and management using private-sector funding.

We reviewed the situation about our properties abroad and taken into consideration the economic losses, diplomatic embarrassment and security risks.

We have come up with ideas to bring them to optimal utilisation.

The ICRC as part of its regulatory functions monitors the entire PPP procurement process and also conducts due diligence on the private sector investors to ascertain their capability for any PPP project.

Yarling said Ohiani assured the minister of the commitment of the commission to see the proposed projects to fruition.

Ohiani said that a team from ICRC would be ready to work with the newly inaugurated PPP unit to actualise the goals of the ministry.

With the inauguration of the PPP unit and the first training, all is now set for the technical aspects of the proposed PPP arrangement to commence. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

Umar Abubakar, holding his certificate and cheque presented to him by CCAPAD

By Polycarp Auta

Umar Abubakar, a 30 year-old Person with Disability (PWD) in Jos, has explained why he rejected street begging and acquired shoe-making skill.

Abubakar, a resident of Bauchi Road community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, narrated his story in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.

Abubakar was a beneficiary of the empowerment programme recently organised by a non-governmental organisation, Centre for Community Action for Peace and Development (CCAPAD) for 60 youths in Jos North Local Government Area.

He explained that he came down with polio at age two, adding that he started learning shoe-making since 2001.

I came down with polio since when I was two years old and so, I couldnt go to school or do anything meaningful.

But in 2001, I decided to join someone who repairs and makes new shoes opposite our house to learn because I dont want to be idle.

Even when my friends will convince me that we should go for street begging, I usually reject the temptation because I know such ventures wont help me

I have a family who love and care for me without reservation, and I felt i should also do something that will enable me contribute toward the growth of the family and to also be useful to myself, he said.

Abubakar thanked CCAPAD for the training and starter packs presented to him, adding that it would enable him improve on his work for better service delivery.

This is the first time Im receiving any help since I started learning shoe making and so Im grateful to this organisation.

I want to assure them, my family and indeed my entire community that I will do my best to put these items and the cash donated to me into good use, he promised.

On his physical disability, Abubakar advised parents to ensure regular immunisation against polio for their children to avoid the spread of the disease in the country.

He also advised those already living with disabilities to engage in meaningful ventures instead of street begging or idling around.

Mr Ahmed Salihu, the Executive Director of CCAPAD, said that the initiative was supported by the European Union through the British Councils Agent for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT).

He explained that the gesture was part of its project entitled: Strengthening the Culture of Resilience Among Children and Youth in Jos.

Salihu further explained that the project was implemented alongside three other organisations, namely; Centre for Peace Advancement in Nigeria (CEPAN), Community Aid Workers Initiative (CAWI) and Gangare Youth Forum (GYF).

He said that the beneficiaries were drawn from Bauchi road, Anguwan Rukuba, Anguwan Jarawa and Naraguta communities, all in Jos North Local Government Area.

The beneficiaries are largely direct victims of the various Jos crises and so the project is aimed at addressing the conflict consequences.

Some of the beneficiaries are youths that are out of school, drug addicts and those who are into prostitution and all kind of vices.

So, we brought these youth together and first deradicalise them, made them select the kind of skill they want to do and we funded it, he said.

The executive director added that the rationale behind the project is to make the beneficiaries self-sufficient and economically viable, adding that such move would promote peace and tranquility in the society.

We believe that by doing so, are will pull out these beneficiaries of the street and make them better persons.

That once they are can earn a living and support their loved ones, it will be difficult for anyone to induce them with money to indulge in crime, Salihu added.

He further said that the beneficiaries were trained in the areas of shoe making, hairdressing, interior decoration, petty trading and cosmetology, among others.

Mrs Omotunde Clement, the Focal Person of the project in Plateau, said that the initiative aimed at empowering its partners to access funds that would strengthen their capacity to engage effectively and influence development in sectors such

She said that the project was currently being implemented in 10 states of the federation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Source: NAN News

FRSC

By Gami Tadanyigbe

Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised motorists in the country to obey all traffic rules and regulations throughout the electioneering period, to forestall accidents.

The Kuje Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr Eugene Nwabuike gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kuje.

Nwabuike spoke on the sidelines of a sensitisation workshop with the drivers in the area.

He said that some of the drivers were still violating the established traffic laws by driving above the approved speed limit in spite of repeated warnings and cautions.

According to him, the unit has put in place more personnel and operational vehicles to combat envisioned traffic gridlocks arising from political activities, ahead of the general election.

I am appealing to motorists, particularly the campaign drivers in Kuje, to desist and have attitudinal change while driving throughout the campaign period.

The drivers must be conscious while driving and avoid reckless speeding, especially at crowded areas, to avoid any form of road accident.

We will continue to enlighten the campaign drivers, because the lives of our people is more important to us.

We, therefore, call on other major stakeholders to join hands with the FRSC to save lives especially throughout the campaign period, he urged. (NAN)

Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Source: NAN News

Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has described as victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Supreme Court Judgement affirming him as Yobe North APC Senatorial candidate.

He stated this while briefing newsmen on Monday, in Abuja, after the judgment was delivered by Justice Centus Nweze of the apex court.

Lawan while thanking God for the victory, said: Let me start by thanking God for his blessing and of course, what had happened today in the Supreme Court.

The judgement on Yobe North particularly, is a victory for APC in Yobe and generally APC across the country.

What happened was democracy at work and the courts gave their various judgements and of course the supreme court gave the final judgement.

I want to at this point, commend the supreme court and of course, the judiciary generally for making this kind of judgment to strengthen our democracy.

This is because it is not only for politicians to work and strengthen democracy it is all of us and all the institutions have their roles to play. So I commend them.

He further thanked the APC for taking this matter to the supreme court.

So today, it is a victory for all of us involved. I am the symbol but the victory is for our party the APC and for democracy.

Lawan also thanked his colleagues in the Senate for the support, love and for the partnership.

He said: I want to recommit myself that I will lead well.

We will always be appreciative of our colleagues who gave us the mandate to lead the ninth National Assembly.

We will be looking at Feb. 25 when the Presidential and the National Assembly elections will take place.

By the Grace of God, Nigerians will vote APC once again. On the 25th, the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu will be voted in as President of Nigeria by the grace of God along side Sen. Kashim Shettima, who is the Vice Presidential candidate.

When it comes to the senatorial and House of Representatives, you know what it will be. It will be a landslide majority for the APC and the same thing for the House of Representatives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the supreme court on Monday affirmed Lawan, APC senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

In a majority judgment delivered by Justice Centus Nweze, the apex court allowed the appeal filed by the APC against Bashir Machinas candidature.

NAN recalled that Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, who presided over a three-member panel of the appellate court, gave the affirmation in an appeal by the APC challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu.

Justice Aminu of the Federal High Court had on Sept. 28, 2022, declared Machina as winner of the primary election organised by the party on May 28, 2022.

However, having lost the APC presidential primary to Bola Tinubu, the party opted for Lawan to replace Machina.

But Machina insisted that he would not withdraw for the Senate President.

In the face of the controversy, the APC submitted the Senate Presidents name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

Not satisfied with the decision of his party, Machina headed to court to seek redress.

Specifically, Machina in his suit, asked the court to declare him as the validly elected senatorial candidate of the APC for Yobe North Senatorial District.

Justice Aminu had nullified the parallel primary election that produced Lawan on June 9, 2022, insisting that the National Working Committee of the APC conducted a valid primary election on May 28, which was won by Bashir Machina.

Consequently, the trial judge ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary election for Yobe North. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Source: NAN News

By Aderonke Ojediran

Access Bank has unveiled several discounts and mouth-watering freebies on its retail products and services to celebrate its customers in this season of love.

The Valentine season campaign, tagged Love is More, will run from Feb. 1 to March 11, 2023.

Mr Robert Giles, Senior Retail Advisor, Retail Banking, Access Bank, said at the campaigns debut that the initiative was introduced to demonstrate love and appreciation for its customers.

Valentine season provides us with another opportunity to demonstrate our love and appreciation for our customers for the years of loyalty and support for the bank.

We are using this opportunity to thank our customers for their commitment to Access Bank.

We value our customers and non-customers who rely on our services and products to conduct seamless banking activities, and we wish everyone the best of this season, Giles said.

Also speaking, Njideka Esomeju, Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access Bank, said that the campaign was unveiled to appreciate its customers during Valentine.

In the spirit of the season of love, we have unveiled several amazing offers to appreciate our customers during this month of love.

Our customers who sign up for the XclusivePlus annual plan this month of February will not only receive a 10GB of data to share great moments with loved ones but will also get a 10 per cent discount off their total purchases on Konga.

This season, when our women use their W branded debit card at Beacon Health Diagnostics, they will receive a 20 per cent discount on cervical cancer screening. Ladies, you can get your W debit card today from any Access Bank branch close to you, she said.

Esomeju said customers who transact five times every week this February on AccessMore or *901# would qualify to win a N500 top-up on *901# and N1,000 worth of data on AccessMore.

She said that the bank would also provide customers with free vehicle registration when they acquire a brand-new or pre-owned vehicle from one of our registered dealers nationwide.

Salary account holders with Access Bank are not left out, as they can access a bouquet of loan offers and enjoy a five per cent interest rate reduction in the first month of the loan repayment.

We are offering these and so much more to show how much we appreciate our customers consistent patronage.

To join the reward train, dial *901# or download and log onto the accessmore app to open a new account.

You can also visit any Access Bank branch near you to reactivate your account, and then start transacting immediately to enjoy the Valentine season campaign benefits, Esomeju said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

By Vivian Emoni

The Lift Humanity Foundation (LHF), an NGO, has called on all relevant stakeholders to support and intervene on those vulnerable communities, youth and women, affected by climate change and other environmental crisis across the country.

The Executive Secretary of the LHF, Pius Oko, said this at Post-COP 27 and Pre-COP 28 Consultative Workshop, on Thursday in Abuja.

Oko said that the collaboration of the relevant stakeholders would help to pressurise developed countries to redeem their financial commitment and other support.

He said that such intervention would aid to address environmental crises for those vulnerable communities, the youth and women, thereby assisting in promoting smart agriculture and other activities in the country.

According to him, we want all stakeholders to come together and ensure that the voices of the vulnerable, those that have been suffering from the impact of climate change is heard.

It is not a discussion for policy makers, it should be a decision that concern people at the grassroots, so let us come together and make sure that voices are being heard through strong advocacy.

Yes, we strongly need more of advocacy and sensitisation, especially to those climate deniers who have refused to understand the impact of climate change in our environment.

Climate change issues are too important to be left in the hands of deniers.

So, we need to educate them to let them know that the climate change we are talking about is real and it is impacting us negatively.

Oko said that in 2022, floods claimed lives of Nigerians, displaced millions of people and washed away hundreds of farms and farm lands across the country.

He said that the issues would continue in frequency and magnitude, if the present trend could not be reversed to build climate resilience.

He urged stakeholders to strongly put more strategies that would support in the implementation of programmes and decisions taken in 2022 at COP 27, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

He, however, called on Nigerians to intensify more action, especially at the community levels, to ensure that the environmental crisis was tackled effectively.

The Chief of Mission to Nigeria, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Laurent de Boeck, said that climate change, environmental degradation and disaster were reshaping contemporary human mobility patterns around the world.

Boeck said that extensive array of international agreements and frameworks attest to urgency of addressing climate change and human mobility together.

He said that Nigerians should integrate climate risks into humanitarian response plans and programming to ensure response to climate-related displacement.

The Executive Director, Education as a Vaccine (EVA), Toyin Chukwudozie, said that the organisation had a discussion with women and girls in various states affected by climate change and other environmental impact.

After the discussion, we recommended that there should be a guarantee equitable participation of women and girls in all their diversity in climate change policy process, programming and decision making at all levels.

There is a need to be a gender balance and inclusion in selection of decision making bodies such as the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and other relevant committees.

Chukwudozie said that women and girls should be involved in conversations about the climate change issues to enable them make solution on how it can be tackled. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Source: NAN News

The Ijegun-Egba Tank farm owners and Operators have resolved to sell the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to marketers at ex-depot price of N172 beginning from Monday.

This is to ensure that filling stations across the country sell the product at the government approved price and to reduce the hardship faced by Nigeria in accessing it.

In a communiqu by Mr Adebowale Olujimi, Chairman of the group, the owners said they are working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve an uninterrupted distribution by Monday of the 127 million litres of its February allocation.

We will utilize our storage networks to supply and distribute petroleum products to various part of the country to ensure that Nigerians have Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) for their daily operations. We are also committed to maintaining our transparency in this respect.

That our Tank farms will continue to sell and load at the government regulated price of N172 Ex Depot to all marketers. All our members retail outlets across the Nation will continue to sell petroleum products at the government approved price.

We consider ourselves as an integral part of petroleum product supply chain in ensuring product supply, energy stability and energy security. We have played and will continue to play significant roles in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the nation.

Our members are committed to ensuring efficient petroleum product distribution, and by extension ensuring energy security in line with the Federal Governments policies and regulations.

The tank farm owner further reiterated their resolve to contribute to National economy, energy security and play significant roles in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the nation to ameliorate adverse effects the current challenges have on business and commercial activities.

It also restated its members commitment to continue to contribute to governments effort in building a robust business environment to stimulate economic growth, especially in making petrol available to Nigerians.

The association is an umbrella organisation of all the oil companies currently engaged in the operation of petroleum storage tank farms and facilities at Ijegun Egba, Satellite Town, Lagos, along the Ojo Creek Channel.

They are A.A. RANO Nigeria Limited, JGold Nigeria Limited, Chipet International Limited, Emadeb Energy Services Limited, First Royal Oil Nigeria Limited, MAO Petroleum Company Limited, Menj Oil Limited, Ocean Pride Energy Services Limited, Stallionaire Nigeria Limited, Wosbab Energy Solutions Limited and Rainoil Limited.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Source: NAN News

Inflation curve

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Economic experts have urged Nigerians to diversify their asset classes and investment portfolios to hedge against the countrys inflationary pressures in order to enhance profitability.

The spoke at the Nairametrics economic outlook for Nigeria in 2023 webinar with the theme: 2023 Economic Opportunities to Mitigate Impact of Headwinds, on Saturday.

Mr Kalu Aja, a certified financial education instructor, observed that the countrys current inflation rates averaged 20 per cent.

He said that to get returns meant making profits above 21 per cent; a difficult phenomenon.

Aja opined that to make returns in Nigeria, a combination of portfolios and a better handling of the current insecurity situation which trigger food inflation was very critical.

He added that businesses or individuals looking to invest in the country must come together, raise capital to take advantage of commercial papers in the capital market.

Aja noted that the youthful population must invest and build their portfolio over time to get returns in the long-term.

To address the countrys debt situation, Aja said that some percentage of Nigerias assets must be sold to pay off the debt principal as well as foreign debts.

If we can have a handle on insecurity, it would drive inflation down and help to make a real rate of returns.

Investments must be diversified and if you have the means to earn foreign currency risk free; embrace it. You can also do a dollar fund in Nigeria.

Investing in Nigeria now should be very flexible and short term and one must spread risk by having more people invest with you, he said.

Mr Andrew Nevin, the Chief Economist, PwC Africa, noted that Nigeria currently was operating a harsh business environment characterised by multiple taxation, weak purchases and other macroeconomic challenges.

Nevin, however, stated that the real estate environment had improved massively due to the professionalism of the players in the sector and the fact that land held real value that does not depreciate.

The economist said that the best investment class was the brain and charged Nigerians to up-skill and invest in themselves to beat the headwinds.

Nigeria must also expand exports in fields of exports, technology and others against manufacturing or physical goods to fully engage the more youthful and growing population going forward, he said.

Mr Cheta Nwanze, Lead Partner, SBM Intelligence, affirmed that all states in the country particularly Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Anambra, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, and Abuja offered opportunities for investments.

Nwanze stressed the need for better integrate Lagos to Onitsha with road infrastructure to harness trade and commerce activities worth billions of dollars across the region.

Nigeria has been a net exporter of people for many years now as our economy never generates enough jobs to accommodate the unemployed hence the Japa syndrome.

People need to up-skill as quick as possible to match up technology advancement and disruption and Nigeria needs to take advantage of its proximity to Europe to export apparels and other things but we must create quality to be accepted.

Customs must not be solely focused on the unrealistic revenue target set for them and a reform is needed to unleash the countrys potential, he said.

Nwanze advocated the importance of a phased out petroleum subsidy removal spread across the next four years against the once-and-for-all-style to mitigate the impact of inflation and the standard of living of people.

He also stressed the need for transparency in the use of the removal proceeds to gain the trust of the people.

Mr Ugo-Dre Obi-Chukwu, Founder, Nairametrics, projected that the socio-political challenges facing Nigeria in 2023 included fallout of the general elections, fiscal and debt crisis, corruption, inflation, migration, subsidy removal, protests amongst others.

Obi-Chukwu stated that the outlook for 2023 would be characterised by likely rejection of electoral outcomes, partial implementation of budget and uncertainty in making critical business decisions.

In 2023, Nigerians should expect to pay more taxes as government plans to leverage taxes to boost non-oil revenue and investing in technology to ensure compliance, he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Source: NAN News

NEMA Hq, Abuja

By Ruth Oketunde

Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has approved the promotion of 229 staff members of the organisation who were successful in a recent promotion exercise.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Manzo Ezekiel, Head, Press Unit, NEMA, on Sunday in Abuja,

Ezekiel said the newly promoted staff were elevated to various ranks which include one substantive director on salary grade Level 17, one deputy director on grade level 16 and eight assistant directors on grade level 15.

Others are 37 staff members promoted to grade level 14 and 55 officers to level 13.

Also, 45 officers were elevated to grade level 12, 29 officers to level 10, 9 officers promoted to level 9 and 5 were promoted to level 8 and 39 others were also promoted to grade level 7.

Furthermore, one staff member was converted from clerical to executive cadre and another from executive to administrative cadre respectively. Also, 10 drivers were converted to works superintendent cadre.

The promotion exercise was conducted in line with the extant provisions of Public Service Rules.

The Management of NEMA approved the outcome of the exercises, which was ratified by the Senior Staff Establishment Committee that included representatives of the supervising Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, he said.

The director-general congratulated the newly promoted staff and urged them to justify their elevation with more commitment to duties and actualising the mandates of the agency.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

Buhari on Katsina vigilantes attack

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday condemned the attack on vigilantes at Yargoje Forest in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, where many lives were lost.

The insurgents ambushed a convoy of vigilantes in the forest as they went to recover stolen cows.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, the president paid tributes to the vigilantes and their family members.

He said the sacrifices of the brave men who were working to prevent and punish crime in their communities would not be forgotten.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families in this difficult period. May Allah repose the souls of the deceased, the president said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Alli Hakeem

Source: NAN News