AfDB

By Mustapha Sumaila
The African Development Bank (AfDB) says its COVID-19 emergency packages have reached five geographic regions in Africa.

The AfDBs Communications and External Relations Department made this known in a statement on Saturday.

The bank explained that before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, West Africa was home to at least four of the continents fastest-growing economies, and it had felt the impact of the disease hard, as borders remained closed and economic and social distress deepened.

Gambia, Mali and Niger will benefit from an ECOWAS support package to bolster national health systems in response to the pandemic. Much of the funds to this region will seek to address shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and other emergency equipment.

The support will also enable governments to provide shortfall cash to the millions of people who have been affected by mass layoffs or are unable to work because of lockdowns.

In the packages, Nigeria has 288.5 million euros, Senegal 88 million euros, Cote dIvoire 75 million euros, Cabo Verde 30 million euros and ECOWAS 22 million dollars.

In the North African region, the worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 60,000 cases as at 12 June. The disease has already triggered a sharp drop in household incomes in North Africa, as export and tourism earnings suffer.

The region will be assisted with a series of emergency operations to boost containment measures and help to ensure the supply and distribution of laboratory tests and reagents. The package will also support national and regional coordination mechanisms.

In the region, Morocco will get 264 million euros, Tunisia 180 million euros and Egypt 500,000 dollars.

In East Africa, the continents fastest-growing region economically has been simultaneously struck by the coronavirus outbreak and an infestation of desert locusts, a double whammy for the regions farmers and economies.

In a region of climate change and water scarcity, post-harvest losses and poorly developed agricultural markets could threaten the promise of economic reforms and investment.

Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda are the top-performing countries, which have all seen a sharp fall in tourism revenue. Kenya has 188 million euros the bank said.

AfDB disclosed that measures had been taken across the South African region to contain the pandemic, which had affected millions of people, many of whom work in the informal economy.

It added that assistance to this region came in the form of preventive and protection measures as well as financial assistance to the vulnerable beyond the end of the epidemic.

According to the bank, Mauritius will get 188 million euros while Zimbabwe receives 13.7 million dollars.

The AfDB stated that in Central Africa, the package approved for this region, was 13.5 million dollars, which would target the provision of PPE, testing kits and healthcare and laboratory facilities.

It said the beneficiaries were Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic, which is among the countries with the least number of ventilators on the continent and CEMAC/RDC had 13.5 million dollars.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bank announced a COVID-19 Response Facility that would provide up to 10 billion dollars to African governments and the private sector to tackle the disease and mitigate suffering from the economic downturn and job losses.

Source: NAN News

ECONOMY

AGRICULTURE

The Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP)of the Central Bank of Nigeria, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, has made available more than 200 billion Naira in funding to more than 1.5 million smallholder farmers of 16 different commodities (Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, Cassava, Poultry, Soy Beans, Groundnut, Fish), cultivating over 1.4 million hectares of farmland.

The ABP has substantially raised local production of rice, doubling the production of paddy as well as milled rice between 2015 and 2019.

Between 2016 and 2019, more than 10 new rice mills came on-stream in Nigeria. Many of the existing Mills have expanded their capacity; several new ones are under construction.

More than a billion dollars of private sector investments in the production of Rice, Wheat, Sugar, Poultry, Animal Feed, Fertilizers, etc, since 2015.

Federal Executive Council approval (2020) for a National Agriculture Mechanization Programme, the Green Imperative, in partnership with the Government of Brazil and multilateral financing institutions.

The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative:

Launched in January 2017, as a Government-to-Government agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco

More than a million metric tonnes of fertilizer produced since 2017. This translated to distribution of more than 18 million 50kg bags of NPK fertilizer in the first three years of the PFI)
22 blending plants resuscitated (combined installed capacity of more than 2.5m MT)
Price reduction from 9,000-11,000 per bag, to 5,500
FX savings of m annually through the substitution of imported components with locally manufactured ones
Subsidy savings of 50 billion Naira annually

Making Business Work

Support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: The Administration has launched a series of funding and capacity development initiatives designed to support MSMEs:

The new Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has finally taken off, with initial funding of US.3 billion (N396.5 billion); to provide medium and long-term loans to MSMEs.

Since 2017, the DBN has disbursed a total of N100 billion through the banks 27 Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) impacting more than 100,000 MSMEs.

52% of loans disbursed in 2019 were to youths and women owned businesses.

Bank of Industry has disbursed more than N400 billion in loans to large, medium, small and micro enterprises since 2016.

It has also established a N5 Billion Fund for Artisanal Miners, as part of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Developments Programme to boost Mining activities in Nigeria; as well as a million Fund to support young technology entrepreneurs in Nigeria

The MSME Clinics, which bring relevant Government Agencies together with small businesses operating in various cities across the country, to enable the Agencies provide direct support to these businesses. The interactions allow the Agencies better understand the issues facing small businesses, and provide a platform for speedy resolution.
The Ease of Doing Business Reform Programme (see below)
The Government Enterprise and Empowerment component (GEEP) of the Social Intervention Programme (SIP)

Ease of Doing Business Reform Successes:

The work of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (inaugurated by President Buhari in August 2016) and the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) has resulted in Nigeria moving up 39 places on the World Banks Ease of Doing Business rankings since 2016. In the last 3 years Nigeria has twice been adjudged one of 10 Most Improved Economies in the Rankings.
The Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) in 2017 completed a long-overdue revision of the list of activities that can benefit from Nigerias Pioneer Status Incentive, which grants beneficiary companies a 3 to 5-year tax holiday. The revision, done more than 10 ten years after the last one, has modernized the List, expanding the tax holiday incentives to qualifying companies in E-commerce, Software Development, Animation, Music, Film and TV.
NIPC published a Compendium of all Investment incentives in Nigeria, making it easier for existing and potential investors to have equal access to the information.
Some of the specific Ease of Doing Business Reform achievements are as follows:
Assent by President Buhari to the Finance Bill, 2019. The Finance Act, 2019 is the first time Nigeria is accompanying the passage of a Budget with complementary fiscal and business environment reforms legislation. The 2020 Budget is also the first time in 12 years that a Federal Budget has been restored to the January-December cycle.
Creation of a National Collateral Registry (NCR). A NCR or Movable Assets Registry was established by the Central Bank of Nigeria, in May 2016. The NCR allows small businesses to get access to loans using movable assets machinery, livestock, inventory as collateral. As of the end of June 2018, the NCR online portal had registered 630 financial institutions. Between inception in 2016 and April 2020, these financial institutions had recorded a total of 65,370 moveable assets on the portal, belonging to 165,456 borrowers, and valued at 1.26 Trillion Naira
Automation of business name reservation, submission of registration documents, payment of registration fees, generation of Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), and filing of federal Taxes.
Implementation of functioning Visa-on-Arrival system for Business Visitors and AU nationals.

PENSIONS

In January 2019, President Buhari launched Nigerias Micro Pension Scheme which allows self-employed persons and persons working in organisations with less than 3 employees to save for the provision of pension at retirement or incapacitation.
The Buhari Administration is prioritizing the payment of pension arrears owed staff of current and privatized/defunct Federal agencies:
N54 billion released to settle outstanding 33% pension arrears (the 33% pension arrears date back to 2010 when the minimum wage was increased to N18,000).
Delta Steel Company (liquidated in 2005): 3,542 pensioners have now been placed on the payroll, ending a 13-year wait for their entitlements.
NITEL: 9,216 pensioners payrolled, after more than a decade of neglect
Retired Biafran Police Officers (dismissed by the Federal Government in 1971, after the Civil War ended, and pardoned by President Obasanjo in 2000): President Buhari approved the payment of the pensions, unpaid since their pardon in 2000. N571.56 million was paid to a total of 174 beneficiaries in October 2017
Nigeria Airways: President Buhari approved the release of N24 billion in September 2018, for the settlement of 50% of workers disengaged when the airline was liquidated in 2003/4.
Recoveries: The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has recovered cash and non-cash assets totaling N16 billion previously trapped in various insurance companies and underwriters managing the pension funds of Federal Parastatals and Universities.

MONETARY, FISCAL, TRADE, IMMIGRATION, CONSUMER PROTECTION REFORMS

Tax

Launch of a new Tax Identification Number (TIN) Registration System in 2019. For the first time Nigeria has a consolidated, unified database of all taxpayers (individual and corporate), across all States.
This new System is the product of increased collaboration between FIRS and States Inland Revenue Services (through improved sharing of information, and an integration of databases, among others)
The new TIN Registration system leverages on existing taxpayer data available from databases of multiple organizations like Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Banks through Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identity Card Management Commission (NIMC) and others.
The improved collaboration between FIRS and the various SIRS has resulted in an increase in Nigerias Tax Net (number of paying and non-paying individuals and companies in the Tax Database) from 13 million as at December 2015 to 35 million at the end of 2018, and a projected 45 million by the end of 2019.

Trade

Establishment of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations by the Economic Management Team (EMT). The NOTN has produced Nigerias first Annual National Trade Report, and is compiling, for the first time in Nigerias history, a comprehensive database of Nigerian Trade Deals and Agreements.
The Renminbi-Naira Swap Agreement between the Peoples Bank of China and the Central Bank of Nigeria: On April 27, 2018, the CBN signed a 3-year bilateral currency swap agreement with the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC), worth Chinese Yuan (CNY) 15 billon equivalent to N720.00 billon or US.5 billion.

Budget:

Budget proposal submission, which used to be done manually (submissions in hard copy and flash drives) has moved to an online platform, the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), since 2018. The new Budget Submission System significantly improves the transparency and efficiency of the budgeting system.
Restoration of Federal Budget to January-December cycle, with the 2020 Budget, for the first time in 12 years.

Immigration:

Installation of the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) a global travel security standard in 5 Nigerian International Airports, commencing in late 2019, with the support and collaboration of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
MIDAS is linked to Local and International Criminal Dabatases / Watchlists (INTERPOL etc), and achieves real-time synchronization of data between all of Nigerias International Airports and the NIS Headquarters in Abuja. It ultimately creates a faster and more efficient airport experience, while also ensuring that persons crossing Nigerias borders through the Airports do not pose any threats to national and international security.
Accompanying the installation of MIDAS, is the launch of a New Visa Policy, 2020 by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), as part of a broader 5-year Border Strategy Reform (2019 2023).
The new Visa Policy incorporates the following reforms:

Expansion of Visa Categories from 6 to 79, to reflect and cater to the full range of realities and scenarios for intending travelers to Nigeria.
Introduction of eVisas, which carry biometric information of visa holders. The eVisa issuance system is linked to MIDAS.
Automation of Visa Issuance and Payment to reduce human contact and associated corruption.
The Visa on Arrival Policy expanded to all holders of African Passports starting January 2020.
Consumer Protection:

President Buhari in 2019 assented to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) Bill, the first legislation in Nigerias history focused on curbing anti-competition practices; and the establishment of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Debt Management:

Between 2017 and now, Nigeria has issued its first ever:

Diaspora Bond, in the International Capital Market. The Diaspora Bond was US million with a tenor of 5-years. The proceeds were used to partfinance the 2017 Budget.
Sukuk Bond (1st Tranche 100 billion Naira in 2017; 2nd Tranche of 100 billion Naira in 2018 and 3rd Tranche of 150 billion Naira has just gone on sale in May 2020). The Sukuk Bond proceeds are being used to fund major road projects across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
The Buhari Administration has issued Nigerias first ever Sovereign Green Bonds.

Domestic Borrowing Costs:

Through the CBNs policies and directives, Treasury Bill rates which represent domestic borrowing costs for the Government have fallen from 16-18 percent per annum in 2017 to 2-6 percent per annum in 2019/2020.

FISCAL SUPPORT TO STATES

The Buhari Administration has extended more than N2 Trillion Naira in bailout packages to State Governments, to enable them meet their salary and pension obligations, especially in the face of dwindling oil revenues in the first 3 years of the Administration. The support has come in the form of the following:
Budget Support Facility (Total of N614 billion extended to the States.
Paris Club Refunds (.4 billion)
Infrastructure Loans
Loan Restructuring for Facilities with Commercial Banks: In 2015, the DMO restructured Commercial Bank loans with a total value of N575.516 billion for 23 States to reduce the debt service burden on the states. In exchange for their loans to State Governments, the banks were issued 20-year FGN Bonds at a yield of 14.83% per annum. The Restructuring Exercise benefited the States through:
Reduction in the monthly debt service burden of States from between 55% to 97% for various States;
Interest rate savings for the States ranging from 3% to 9% per annum;
Longer repayment period for the loans now converted into Bonds; and,
Freeing up of needed cash to run the machinery of Government.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS

The Buhari Administration has, since 2017, issued a number of landmark Executive Orders:
Executive Order (001) on Improving Efficiency in the Business Environment
Executive Order (002) on Promoting Local Procurement by Government Agencies
Executive Order (005) on planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology
Executive Order (008) on the Voluntary Offshore Assets Regularization Scheme (VOARS)
Executive Order (007) on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme
Executive Order (010) Implementing Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary

INFRASTRUCTURE

The Buhari Administration has demonstrated a single-minded commitment to upgrading and developing Nigerias Transport, Power and Health Infrastructure.
Three major rail projects inherited from previous administrations have been completed and commissioned: Abuja Metro Rail and the Abuja-Kaduna Rail, and the 327km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail, started in 1987, have been completed in 2020.
A fourth Rail Project, the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project, kicked off in 2017, and is due to be completed in 2020. The tracklaying for the main component of the project was completed in March 2020.

In May 2018, the Federal Government launched the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), under the management of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority. The PIDF kicked off with seed funding of US million, and has already disbursed funds for three critical road projects: Second Niger Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Expressway.
Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in March 2018 invested USm to establish a world-class Cancer Treatment Center at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), which commenced operations in 2019.
Work is ongoing on two USm Diagnostic Centers in the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.
Abujas Light Rail system has been completed; it connects the city center with the Airport, and the Abuja-Kaduna Railway Line.
New Abuja and Port Harcourt International Airport Terminals completed, in Q4 2018. New Lagos and Kano International Airport Terminals scheduled for completion in 2020. All were inherited from the previous administration at various stages of completion, and in some cases required project redesign and revision.
The Buhari Administration successfully completed the reconstruction of the Abuja Airport runway within the scheduled six-week period (March April 2017), and will complete the reconstruction of the Enugu International Airport Runway in 2020.
The following Water Supply Projects and Dam/Irrigation Projects have been completed by the Buhari Administration:
Central Ogbia Regional Water Project, in Bayelsa
Sabke/Dutsi/Mashi Water Supply Project, in Katsina
Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, serving Ugboha and Uromi communities of Edo State.
Kashimbila Dam, Taraba State
Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Delta State (Actual Dam completed and reservoir impounded in 2016; also spillway discharge channel completed).
Shagari Dam Irrigation Project, Sokoto State
Mangu Dam and Regional Water Supply Scheme in Plateau State
Completion of Phase 1 of Galma Dam, Kaduna
Rehabilitation of Ojirami Dam Water Supply Project, Edo State

The 25 Road Projects being funded by the Sukuk Bonds:
Construction of Oju/LokoOweto bridge over River Benue to link Loko (Nasarawa state) and Oweto (Benue state) along route F2384
Dualisation of AbujaAbajiLokoja Road section I (International Airport link road junctionSheda Village)
Dualisation of SulejaMinna Road in Niger State Phase II (km 40 000-km101 000)
Dualisation of AbujaAbajiLokoja Road: Section IV Koton KarfeLokoja in Kogi State
Dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road: ObajanaOkene in Kogi State
Dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road linking KanoJigawaBauchiYobe
Dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road linking KanoJigawaBauchiYobeBorno States. Section III (AzarePotiskum) in Bauchi
Dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road linking KanoJigawaBauchiYobeBorno States. Section IV (PotiskumDamaturu road) in Yobe
Dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road linking KanoJigawaBauchiYobeBorno States. Section V (DamaturuMaiduguri)
Dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road linking KanoJigawaBauchiYobeBorno States. Section I (KanoWudilShuari) in Kano
Dualisation of KanoKatsina Road Phase I, Kano Town at Dawanau roundabout to Katsina border in Kano
Construction of Kano Western Bypass as an extension of dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road Section I
Construction of Kaduna Eastern Bypass
Rehabilitation of outstanding section of OnitshaEnugu Expressway: AmanseaEnugu border
Rehabilitation of EnuguPort Harcourt dual-carriage Section I: LokpantaUmuahia in Abia
Rehabilitation of EnuguPort Harcourt dual-carriage Section II Umuahia towerAba Township Rail
Rehabilitation of EnuguPort Harcourt Road Section III: EnuguLokpanta
Rehabilitation of EnuguPort Harcourt Road Section IV: AbaPort Harcourt in Rivers
Dualisation of Yenegwe Road JunctionKoloOtuokeBayelsa Palm in Bayelsa
Dualisation of LokojaBenin Road: Obajana JunctionBenin Section II Phase I: OkeneAuchi, Kogi/Edo states
Dualisation of LokojaBenin Road: Obajana JunctionBenin Section III Phase I: AuchiEhor in Edo
Dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana junctionBenin Section IV Phase I: EhorBenin City, Edo state
Reconstruction and asphalt overlay of BeninOfosuOreAjebandeleShagamu dual-carriage Phase IV
Reconstruction of outstanding section of sections of BeninOfusuOreAjebandeleShagamu dual-carriage Phase III
Dualisation of IbadanIlorin Road. Section II: OyoOgbomosho Road in Oyo

Power Sector:

The Federal Governments Energizing Economies Programme is a public-private partnership led by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), to deliver stable power supply to markets and economic clusters across the country. The initial phase is ongoing in Ariaria Market in Aba, Abia State (32,000 shops), Sura Shopping Complex in Lagos (1,000 shops), Shomolu Printing Community in Lagos (4,000 shops) and the Sabon Gari Market in Kano (12,000 shops). The Sura Shopping Complex project was completed in August 2018, and commissioned by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in October 2018.
Launch of a 1.3 Trillion Naira Payment Assurance Programmedesigned to resolve the liquidity challenges in the Power Sector by guaranteeing payments to Generating Companies and Gas Suppliers.
Implementation of a Willing Buyer, Willing Seller Policy for the power sector, which has opened up opportunities for increased delivery of electricity to homes and industries. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has also recently issued an Order capping estimated billing by DisCos.
More than 90 Transmission Projects completed or ongoing since 2016.

Oil and Gas:

NNPC is set to commence construction of the 614km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) natural gas pipeline, which will traverse Kogi, Niger, FCT, Kaduna and Kano, and feed power plants and industries along the corridor. NNPC has paid the 15 percent counterpart funding for the .9 billion project, while the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the issuance of a sovereign guarantee to cover the rest of the funding, coming from the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation.
Nigeria LNG Limited concluded Final Investment Decision (FID) on its Train 7 project at the end of 2019, and signed an EPC contract for the project in May 2020. A financing arrangement worth 3 billion US dollars was also concluded, the largest financing deal in Africa so far in 2020. NNPC owns a 49 percent stake in NLNG, on behalf of the Nigerian Government.
Controversial Offshore Processing Arrangement (OPA) has been cancelled and replaced with a Direct Sales and Direct Purchase (DSDP) scheme with reputable offshore refineries.
The Passage of the long overdue Deep Offshore and Inland Basin PSC (Amendment) Act, 2019, which will deliver increased revenues to the Federation.
Negotiation of the billions of dollars in arrears of Cash Calls we inherited when we assumed office, resulting in an agreement for a significant discount of .7 billion. Since 2017 the NNPC has commenced payment of the arrears to the Oil Companies, with a view to clearing the backlog. As at Q4 2018, about billion of the .5 billion arrears had been cleared.
Removal of the fuel subsidy regime and replacement by a market-led price modulation mechanism.
The Modular Refinery Initiative of the Buhari Administration has delivered 3 completed private sector-led projects, in Rivers, Imo and Delta States, and several others are in progress. Eminent persons like former President Olusegun Obasanjo have publicly commended the success recorded in that sector by the Buhari Administration.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE

The SIP is the largest and most ambitious social safety net programme in the history of Nigeria, with 12 million direct beneficiaries so far:
500,000 N-Power beneficiaries currently enrolled and have been deployed and are receiving N30,000 in monthly stipends. Additional 40,000 are at various stages of enrolment.

Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP):

36.9 billion so far disbursed in interest-free loans ranging from N50,000 to N350,000 to more than 2.3 million market women, traders, artisans, farmers across all 36 States of the country and the FCT, under GEEP, using locally developed and implemented technology solutions (More than half of the loans have gone to women).
In terms of advancing the financial inclusion goals of the Buhari Administration, GEEP has led to the opening of 2,023,145 new mobile wallets for beneficiaries.
In November 2017, GEEP was chosen as the pilot programme for the Bill

The Federal and Kwara State Governments had spent N1 billion on procurement of vaccines and solar power cold chain equipment.

Dr Michael Oguntoye, the Director, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ilorin.

Oguntoye disclosed that the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) was also involved in the procurement of the vaccines equipment.

The director said that vaccines cold chain equipment that would be operating on solar direct drive in Kwara had been installed across the 117 electoral wards in the state.

This 117 is just the first tranche of the cold chain equipment, another tranche is coming as the second batch.

By the time the second tranche comes before the year runs out, all the other wards that dont have cold chain equipment will have.

So the strategy is that in every ward, across the state, there should be at least one functional cold chain equipment that can be used to store vaccines.

This is to make vaccines available and make potent and efficacious vaccines available to the end users, he said.

According to him, the vaccines equipment has been deployed to primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in wards.

Oguntoye said that the equipment would offer solutions to challenges of insufficient vaccines as well as gap in supply chain, and make vaccines readily available to children and communities in the state.

This will in turn help prevention of vaccines preventable diseases and by extension reduce out of pocket expenditures on the part of parents and caregivers, he said.

The expert in epidemic diseases said that the state government and its partners had found the need to increase performance, efficiency and coverage in reaching every eligible child for immunisation.

He added that apart from the normal vaccines, new vaccines were being introduced, which had additional challenges on the existing cold chain capacity.

Oguntoye said that new vaccines needed to be properly stored under ideal condition, adding the storage had to do with specialised equipment powered by electricity.

According to him, electricity in the country is a challenge, coupled with the fact that cold chain equipment are very expensive, not readily available and required a lot for maintenance.

This is the reason why the state government and partners procured the equipment, in order to equip primary healthcare centres and wards including secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, he said.

Source: NAN News

Plane Crash

The police aircraft, which was en-route to Marsabit in northern Kenya, crashed at Kaithe Kithoka in Meru after developing mechanical problems.

Police Air-wing Commandant, Rodgers Mbithi, said the pilot in the ill-fated chopper and himself left Wilson airport in Nairobi with two choppers heading for the meeting.

I have talked to the pilot and he, with the others, who were on board are okay and are in stable condition, he said of the aircraft, which carried six people including the pilot.

Mbithi, who was on a different aircraft, said he managed to fly to Garissa and Wajir in the northeast region to pick up his team.

It is not clear if the meeting will go on.

Witnesses said the chopper hovered over the same spot before crashing minutes after it had taken off from an airstrip.

Police said the injured were rushed to the hospital in the area in stable condition and there were plans to transfer them to Nairobi.

The scheduled meeting was to solve a number of security issues in the Marsabit region which is prone to cattle rustling and inter-communal conflicts.

The crashed chopper is an AgustaWestland AW119 and is among the new fleets acquired by police.

It is suspected that bad weather caused the crash.

Aviation officials have launched investigations into the incident. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

UN-Secretary-General-Antnio-Guterres

By Harrison Arubu

He reiterated his call for an immediate end to the fighting in Libya in order to save lives and end civilian suffering.

Source: NAN News

National Open University (NOUN)

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has matriculated 15, 000 students admitted into 78 study centres in the country.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Adamu, has called on the students to rise up to the challenges of the modern world and join government in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

Adamu made the call in an address to new students during the universitys 19th matriculation ceremony, which was held online on Saturday through Zoom application.

A statement issued by Mr Ibrahim Sheme, Director, Media and Publicity, NOUN disclosed that Adamu urged the students to assist government in eradicating future diseases like the current coronavirus.

The VC urged them to see any challenge they encounter in their quest for knowledge as a building block.

One block at a time, and you will erect a mansion, he said, adding, You are in the best position to do this because your learning is powered by your personal desire to learn.

Adamu noted that while many students enter higher institutions in order to become educated and get jobs, the matriculating students at NOUN already had jobs and occupations.

According to him, NOUN has optimised its online facilitation exercise such that students can easily interact directly with their lecturers because technology has become a commodity.

He pointed out that the university was the only one having a Directorate of Learning Content Management System (LCMS) which in due course could become a full-fledge online university.

He added that all the academic programmes of the university were fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in order to ensure their integrity.

Our programmes, quality assurance and delivery mechanisms are, therefore, more solid than those of many conventional universities who keep coming to us to see how we work this technological magic.

Adamu, who informed the students that his tenure of five years would end February 2021, noted that the 19th matriculation would be his last with the university.

I want to meet you in the next four years, during your graduation, not as Vice-Chancellor, full of knowledge and ready to take on the world as a result of your studentship in NOUN.

I want to proudly watch you graduate with flying colours as simply the best of the best, he said.

The matriculation oath was administered online on the students by the Registrar of the university, Mr Felix Edoka.

It ended with exchanges between the vice-chancellor and some of the students, who joined from remote locations as the event was beamed live on the social media and NOUN platforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NOUN is the only single-mode open and distance learning university in Nigeria and the largest in West Africa with 580,000 enrolled students spread in 78 study centres across Nigeria.

Source: NAN News

EFCC, key player in preserving democratic governance in Nigeria official

By Ifeoma Aka

Mr Johnson Oshodi, South East Zone, Deputy Head of Operations, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) said the commission was key in preserving democratic governance in Nigeria.

Oshodi stated this at a press conference organised to commemorate this years Democracy Day on Friday in Enugu.

He said that establishment of the anti graft agency in 2003, brought new lease of life to a country acknowledged as a cesspool of corruption among the comity of nations.

This, he said, led to the country pariah state in the 1990s.

The activities of EFCC has helped in sustaining the gains of democracy by saving the country billions of naira from the hands of corrupt public offices, he said.

Oshodi said that the commission in South East zone had the following modest achievements recorded between January 2019 and May 28, 2020.

During the period under review, a total of 730 petition sourced from intelligence gathering, complainants and through the commissions executive chairmans office for investigative were approved and assigned for investigation, Oshodi said.

He said that the zone had always been pro-active in intelligence gathering and carried out several raids beyond its area, including Awka in Anambra, Enugu and in Benin, Edo.

This led to the arrest of over 200 cyber criminals and secured several convictions, the zonal boss said.

He further said that the zone had recovered looted funds and assets in public and private dealings of about N400 million within the period under review.

He noted that the commission had also seized 61 different brands of exotic cars which were registered with the exhibit keeper.

The zone is investigating some cases of public interest mostly involving high profile personalities and politically exposed persons such as INEC ad-hoc officials from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Enugu states.

These people are involved in diverting state funds running into billions of naira.

The zone has successfully concluded and secured 113 convictions for the period under review.

It has equally charged 180 cases to court for various offences during the period, Oshodi said.

He decried the debilitating effect of cyber crime in the south east zone, noting that it was leading the pack of perpetrators in the country.

Oshodi commended the judiciary for making the commissions job easy and urged them to put more effort in quick dispensation of justice in the interest of the country.

The deputy head of operations called on indigenes of the zone to take up the challenge of curbing cyber crime. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, First Bank PLC, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan and Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the presentation of 20,000 E-Learning devices for Lagos State Schools by First Bank at the Lagos House, Marina

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government says it is collaborating with First Bank Plc, to boost e-learning among students in the states schools.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State noting that technology/e-learning was a way to go in the education sector.

He spoke during the presentation and hand over of 20,000 e-learning devices by First Bank to the Lagos State Government at the State House, Marina,

Sanwo-Olu said his administration was passionate about education and technology, as these would help to define the next generation.

He said that a year ago, nobody thought COVID-19 would define the way people live, hence, the need to use technology to define the education system.

According to him, First Bank has helped to actualise the vision of the state government to use technology as the way to go.

COVID-19 has made us to fast-track our vision, and we are at a level not just to talk; we need to actualise it and it is interesting that we have found a real partner in First Bank.

Our Permanent Secretary, Tutor-General and students should ensure that this is not put to waste, because that is the most important thing.

Technology cannot speak for itself, it is the use you put to it that matters; it is when you activate it and use it that you can give it in the real life.

So, at the end of the day, it is the learning and the skills that are required of these things to come to reality.

It will amount to waste if we dont see the output and outcome in the number of distinctions that we see in our students; in the number of the quality of tomorrow that we want to begin to build for these students and in the number of ability to which they use technology as a strong enabler for their tomorrow, he said.

The governor said that everyone had a role to play, and it was only when everybody worked well that a system that was enabling and sustainable could be built.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, said the donation of the e-learning devices was a major milestone in the journey to provide good quality online education for students.

Adefisayo said that the 20,000 devices were a step toward the provision of one million e-learning devices for students.

We are extremely grateful; this is the picture we must ensure our children are part of in the global movement, she said.

The Managing Director, First Bank, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, said the bank had always taken it upon itself to be part of where it operated.

Adeduntan said the bank was in business not just for profit, but for economic growth of the country and development of neighbourhood.

A representative of the students, Miss Sherifat Umar, a SS2 student of Elegbata Senior High School, Lagos Island, commended Sanwo-Olus efforts and administrative acumen in ensuring their future was structured.

Umar promised that the e-learning devices would be properly used, toward enhancing their education. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of 2020 Democracy Day.

Sylva believes that a healthy democracy guarantees a greater nation.

He made this known in a statement signed by his media aide, Julius Bokoru, on Friday in Abuja.

The minister described June 12 as a moment of national pride and introspection, noting that a virile democracy was a veritable platform for entrenching national integration and greatness.

He acknowledged that Nigerias democracy has had its share of hiccups and setbacks, but expressed optimism that the country would come out stronger and better.

Sylva advised Nigerians on the need to guard the hard earned democracy jealously and shun deeds capable of undermining it.

He praised the people for embracing democracy, their love for country and sense of patriotism.

The minister also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the tenets and values of democracy.

He said this had enhanced and strengthened the current democratic experience.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

By Nicholas Obisike

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Friday inaugurated projects in Nsukka including at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in commemoration of the Democracy Day.

The projects included modern complex of eight magistrate court halls, complex of two High Court halls and one Open Registry at Nsukka Judicial Division, located at the GRA, Nsukka.

The governor also commissioned some road projects in the University town of Nsukka.

Inaugurating the court buildings, Ugwuanyi stated that the event marked another significant milestone in his efforts to reposition the states judiciary.

He said the inauguration was also to perform his administrations mandate of ensuring the concordance of the society with all extant laws and tenets of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Inaugurating the Nsukka town roads, Ugwuanyi said that the projects were in fulfillment of his administrations inaugural address to create more urban areas.

The governor said it was also to boost economic growth, equip and to modernise the Nsukka University town.

He added that the roads would enhance connectivity and access to homes and business premises as well as economy of the city.

The governor recalled that his administration had in its first term delivered the 11.6km Opi-Nsukka dual carriageway with a spur to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) gate.

He said that the carriageway enhanced movement in and out of the University.

This road also provides the much needed infrastructural services to the University and showcased the first underground functional drainage system in this part of the world, he said.

Empasising on his administrations procurement policy, the governor said that the contracts for the internal roads were awarded to competent contractors.

The contractors are with proven and verified track records on road construction, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the contractors are Ferotex Construction Company Limited, Marcico International Alliance Limited, Eketeson Nig. Ltd and Usmomen Nig. Ltd

In her address, Justice Ngozi Emehelu, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, described Ugwuanyi as Gods gift to Enugu State, thanked and congratulated him for inaugurating the projects.

Emehelu told the governor that she was overwhelmed with joy by the love, attention and support the judiciary of Enugu State had received and still receiving from his administration.

The event was attended by Deputy Gov. Cecilia Ezeilo, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Centus Nweze, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Edward Ubosi.

Others includes were Chief Judge of the State, Justice Emehelu, and the President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice George Nnamani.

Also the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Prof. Godfrey Onah, the State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Augustine Nnamani, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Greg Nnaji, among others. (NAN)

Source: NAN News