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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • Lekki Port: Nigeria to regain maritime business loss to Togo, Ghana – Lai Mohammed

    Lekki Port: Nigeria to regain maritime business loss to Togo, Ghana – Lai Mohammed

    The Federal Government says with the completion and operation of Lekki Deep Sea Port by September, Nigeria will regain maritime business lost to ports in Togo, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this on Wednesday after a tour of the Lekki Port, with a team of journalists.

    Newsmen reports that the port located in the Lagos Free Zone, Epe is the deepest seaport in Nigeria and West Africa with unique advantages, covering a land area of 90 hectares.

    Mohammed said when the port begins operation in the last quarter of the year, it would be a big boost to Nigeria in its quest to take advantage of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

    He said the port, a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer concern would be a pacesetter and game-changer in the economy landscape of the country.

    “I called it a game-changer because of the impact it will have on the nation’s economy and the jobs it will create among others.

    “The investment is huge: 1.53 billion dollars on fixed assets and 800 million dollars on construction.

    “But the aggregate impact has been put at 361 billion dollars in 45 years, which will be more than 200 times the cost of building it,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said in addition, the port would create 169,972 jobs and bring revenues totalling 201 billion dollars to state and Federal Governments through taxes, royalties and duties.

    He said the direct and induced business revenue impact of the port was estimated at 158 billion dollars, in addition to a qualitative impact on the manufacturing, trade and commercial services sector

    The minister said the port would transform Nigeria into a transhipment hub and the revenue currently being lost to neighbouring countries would come back.

    “As you know, this project is being done in phases. Phase 1 has reached 89 per cent and will be completed in September this year.

    “The facilities here are first class, we have seven ships to shore cranes and 21 RTG cranes.

    “No port in Nigeria currency has this. The excellent equipment is why this port can do 18,000 tons, which is more than four times the number that can currently be handled by our other ports,’’ he said.

    According to Mohammed, the project is self-sufficient in required electricity as it is currently generating 10 mega watts from a total capacity of 16 megawatts

    He said the port was another example of the first-class infrastructure being developed across the country by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Whether it is roads, rail, airport terminals, gas pipelines, housing, ports, just name it.

    “And at this stage, I want to appeal to our colleagues in the media to play up these developmental efforts instead of concentrating energy on negativity.

    “That is why we embark on these tours with a large retinue of journalists..

    “Let the world know that Nigeria is not all about kidnapping, terrorism and banditry. It is also about massive developments that are unprecedented,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Port, Mr Du Ruogang said the project which would be completed before the end of the year would change the economic landscape of the country.

    He said that the multi-purpose deep seaport would be one of the most modern ports in West Africa, offering enormous support to the burgeoning commercial operations across Nigeria and the entire West African region.

    Ruogang assured that multiple modern cargo evacuation mechanisms would be put in place at the port to forestall congestion and other challenges being experienced in other ports in the country.

  • Nigeria safe to host maiden global tourism conference – Lai Mohammed

    Nigeria safe to host maiden global tourism conference – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has stated that the country is safe to host the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry scheduled for Nov. 14 to Nov. 17 in Lagos.

    Mohammed said this when he featured on a phone-in programme of the Radio Nigeria monitored by newsmen in Abuja.

    Newsmen reports that Nigeria was given the hosting right for the maiden global event by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at a meeting held at the organisation’s headquarters in Madrid Spain on April 19.

    Mohammed said the insinuation in certain quarters that participants and tourists would not attend the conference because of stories of killings and kidnappings in the country are erroneous.

    “The security challenges Nigeria is facing did not start today and I must say the Federal Government is rising very stoutly to it.

    “We cannot say just because we have insecurity challenge, other sectors of the economy should not be developed.

    “The entire world is aware of the challenges we are facing, yet we were singled out for the hosting of the very first global conference and that speaks volume.

    “That is why Nigerians should get out the negativity and look at the positive aspect of it,’’ he said.

    The minister said that insecurity is a global challenge and countries with a worse situations than Nigeria were developing their tourism potential.

    “Britain for instance, for more than 40 years, was in the grip of the IRA and that did not prevent the country from hosting global events.

    “I recalled that even before the call for peace process in June 1997, Britain bided for the world cup 1996 which, though they lost.

    “During our meeting in Spain, there was no issue raised on insecurity in Nigeria as a barrier

    “On the contrary, the UNWTO was even expanding the scope of the conference and they did not make a mistake in choosing Nigeria to host the maiden conference,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said “what we are saying is that, we have security challenges which we are facing squarely, but it is not enough reason why we should not develop the areas of the economy where in particular we are making waves.

    “The Whiz Kid of this world, the Burna Boy, Davido and Tiwa Savage have really shown the world that Nigeria is a hub of the creative industry.

    “Hosting this conference is an affirmation of huge Nigeria’s contributions to the creative industry and the recognition that Nigeria is the hub of the creative industry in Africa,’’ he said.

    The minister also countered the argument that the government was not developing the nation’s tourism potential enough.

    According to him, one of the most important areas of developing the tourism industry is by building infrastructure.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration can beat its chest that as a government, it had done very well in infrastructure development.

    “We have constructed many roads, renovated, remodeled and upgraded our airports and we have for the first time revived the rail sector.

    “All these will help interconnectivity and for people to move from one place to the other.

    “We have also made a lot of milestone in providing regulations and policies that will aid the promotion of tourism sector.

    “For instance the Revised Broadcasting Code is to give Nigeria a pride of place in the film and Music industry,’’ he said.

    Mohammed reiterated the readiness of Nigeria to host the event come November at the National Theatre in Lagos, currently being renovated at a cost of 100 million dollars made available by Bankers’ Committee and Central Bank of Nigeria

  • Insecurity: Military cannot go out in full force against bandits – Lai Mohammed

    Insecurity: Military cannot go out in full force against bandits – Lai Mohammed

    Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed has explained why the military cannot pull its full weight and bomb bandits in their hideouts.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mohammed gave the explanation on Saturday, saying military bombing of the bandits would result in the death of innocent people.

    Mohammed, who featured in a radio programme on Bond FM, admitted that the fight against the bandits pillaging communities in states in the North-West was very difficult.

    Kicking against the use of foreign mercenaries to fight the criminal elements, he urged Nigerians to join hands in the fight against the terrorists.

    “We cannot just go with full force to bomb them or else the innocents living around them will be killed and we don’t want that to happen. The fight against the bandits is a difficult one because of the terrain.

    ”We are also pleading with Nigerians to join in this fight because they have a lot of roles to play in tackling this insecurity. This is because these criminals called bandits are living among us; they interact with the people as well.

    “Who are the ones supplying them with food? More so, they also have landlords. People should expose these criminals and then, the various efforts of the government will be effectively complemented and we will see the results.

    “We have been trying our best in the fight against the bandits by equipping our security apparatus. The government has purchased aircraft so that they can fight alongside the soldiers. We have not rested on our oars.

    “The welfare of the police is also given adequate attention and very recently, this administration recruited 25,000 constables and deployed them to their home states. This will go a long way in community policing.

    “It will be easier for the newly-recruited constables to work effectively. There are lots of work in progress in the security infrastructure and personnel.

    “Governor El-Rufai spoke out of deep concern about the situation. He might have spoken out because of the circumstances at which the bandits are emboldened to operate.

    “If we employ mercenaries to fight the bandits, we should have it at the back of our minds that they are only mercenaries and not our security personnel who will return to wherever after their task is done.”

  • Buhari signs Executive Order 11 on maintenance of national public buildings

    Buhari signs Executive Order 11 on maintenance of national public buildings

    Executive Order 11 on the maintenance of national public buildings has been signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    President Buhari signed the document Wednesday morning before the commencement of the cabinet meeting holding at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.

     

    Speaking shortly before signing, the Nigerian leader directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government (MDAs) to set up maintenance departments in line with the provisions of the new Executive Order.

     

    He said the order now gives legal backing to the country’s national maintenance policy, following its earlier approval by the Federal Executive Council.

     

    He added that government had already started utilising the policy to give face lift to some of its buildings like the federal secretariat, Abuja, and 24 others spread across the country.

     

    “Since the approval of the policy by the Federal Executive Council, the federal government has consciously started the implementation of maintenance of strategic facilities like the federal secretariat Abuja and federal secretariats in 24 states of the federation, where at least 40 people are now daily employed in each of those 24 secretariats.

     

    “The office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation has approved the establishment of a department of federal public assets maintenance as a vital step in support of the implementation of this national policy, which is unprecedented in our history and approach to maintenance.

     

    “In order to ensure the fullest implementation and impact of the policy, it is my pleasure to sign this Executive Order that ties maintenance direct to our economy. By this Order, I expect Ministries, Departments and Agencies to set out and ensure the operation of their maintenance departments and make necessary procurements for their maintenance in accordance with the provisions of the public procurement act,” he said.

     

    After the signing, President Buhari presided over the cabinet meeting. Among those who attended the meeting are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President Ibrahim Gambari, and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Folashade Yemi-Esan.

     

    Others are the Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; Women Affairs, Pauline Talen and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu.

  • Lai Mohammed advocates more devolution of power to local govts

    Lai Mohammed advocates more devolution of power to local govts

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja advocated greater devolution of authority to local councils to enable them to perform optimally.

    The minister made the call while addressing participants of Senior Executive Course 44, 2022 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, near Jos, who visited him on a study tour.

    Participants on the study tour are researching into “Strengthening Local Governance in Nigeria: Challenges, Options and Opportunities’’, a topic assigned to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The minister observed that local governments are critical to entrenching democracy and bringing about rapid development at the grassroots.

    He expressed regrets that the third tier of government had remained inefficient and ineffective because of challenges, particularly that of the lack of full autonomy.

    “There are issues and challenges that have over the years limited the capacity of local governments to execute their constitutionally assigned roles and responsibilities as a unit of administration with defined powers and authorities.

    “State governments have covertly abused the provision of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution which empowers them to make legislation for the functioning of local governments,’’ Mohammed he said

    The minister added that there is ambiguity in the powers conferred on the states by the 1999 Constitution to legislate on the organisation and structure of local governments.

    Speaking on financial autonomy for local councils, the minister, a lawyer, noted that the 1999 Constitution provided for allocation of funds to local governments from the federation account, thus giving them financial autonomy.

    He said in contrast, the same Constitution made provision for the establishment of the “States Joint Local Government Account’’ through which local governments would receive their allocations.

    He noted that many state governments took advantage of the joint account to deprive local governments of vital funds, and thus incapacitating them.

    The minister also faulted the inconsistency in the tenure of elected local government council officials compared to what obtains at the state and federal levels.

    “In many cases, elections are not conducted and caretaker committees are allowed to function for periods even longer than the tenure of elected councils.

    “This is a setback and has created political instability for the councils to focus on the real task of governance,’’ the minister said.

    He added that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari encouraged and supported policy initiatives and legislative interventions aimed at strengthening local government system.

    He said Executive Order 10 signed by the president was intended to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, the legislature and local governments.

    Mohammed said though the Executive Order was voided by the Supreme Court it had not diminished the commitment of the president to ensure a better structure for the third tier of government.

    Responding, leader of the delegation, Dr Ibrahim Choji, thanked the minister for the presentation stating that it was one of the best outings of the team.

    He said the minister’s presentation would assist the team in writing its reports and recommendations to the president.

    Newsmen reports that one of the highlights of the visit was the presentation of awards and plagues to some members of the group and to the minister.

  • Insecurity: Buhari’s govt. not overwhelmed – Lai Mohammed

    Insecurity: Buhari’s govt. not overwhelmed – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday, said that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is not overwhelmed by the security challenges in the country.

    Mohammed said this on a TVC programme, “This Morning,” monitored in Abuja by newsmen.

    The minister, who condoled with the families of the victims of a recent train attack, cited the various Federal Government’s efforts in tackling the security challenges in the country.

    According to him, the government is fast-tracking the installation of some security gadgets on railway tracks to ensure adequate surveillance.

    “The Federal Government is working toward ensuring that such incident does not reoccur.

    “One of the things that the government wants to do is to fast-track the installation of a surveillance and monitoring system, not just on the Abuja-Kaduna rail track.

    “But also on the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe rail tracks to ensure that at any given time we will be able to monitor from the control room,’’ he said.

    Mohammed further said that in spite of the security challenges, the military and other security personnel were doing their best and have recorded successes in their fight against terrorism.

    “ We must give kudos to our military; you know that we are not fighting a conventional war but terrorism, hence the need for everyone to support the security agencies so as to win over the menace.

    “The Federal Government has also given the military the enabling environment to continue in the fight against terrorism and banditry,’’ he said.

    The minister also assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that every state is secured.

  • Just In: PDP plotting another #ENDSARS, FG alleges

    Just In: PDP plotting another #ENDSARS, FG alleges

    The Federal Government has alleged that the main opposition party in Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party PDP is plotting to stage another #ENDSARS protest to heat up the polity.

    The FG also alleged a grand design to sabotage the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and overheat the polity.

    It claimed that the opposition was trying to trigger another EndSARS protest in the country.

    It also faulted attempt by the opposition to declare the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) illegal.

    It queried why the opposition cannot wait till 2023 poll to test its popularity.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, who raised the alarm at a briefing in Abuja, asked the opposition not to promote anarchy.

    Mohammed said: “As you know, the folks on the other side have been doing everything in recent times to overheat the polity, distort the achievements of our Administration and spread misinformation.

    ” Yes, it is very cold out there for the hungry and desperate opposition, but every indication is that they don’t even want to wait for the 2023 elections before testing their popularity or acceptability at the polls.

    ” How else does one explain their court case seeking the declaration of our convention as illegal? How do you explain their threat of another EndSARS that pushed Nigerians to the brink? How do you explain their glaring misinformation regarding the nation’s state of affairs?

  • Some observations and nuggets for the NBC Board – By Okoh Aihe

    Some observations and nuggets for the NBC Board – By Okoh Aihe

    By Okoh Aihe

    My phones were ringing nonstop last week, like a lone tap in a village square at a remote end where some politicians have demonstrated some high end benevolence to the people by way of assuaging their error of judgement in ever trusting a politician. The taps in the village square, where they still exist, run nonstop. Such fate befell my phones for no convenient reason.

    Messages were also pouring in. Have you heard? Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture has appointed a lackey to chair the Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Some were ready to talk about the relationship between the Minister and Alhaji Lateef Bolarinwa, the newly appointed Board chairman, whom he has used to disaggregate, albeit unsuccessfully, the concourse of politics in his native Kwara State.

    Why would anybody ever serve me this kind of information at a time this nation should have declared emergency in nearly every area of life – security, economy, aviation, the power sector, petrol, diesel, cooking gas and please don’t add kerosene, because that is for the ordinary people who enjoy nobody’s love and care.

    I can agree that I have kept track with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) since it was created in 1992. I have also followed closely some of the Ministers of the Information and Culture Ministry which houses the parastatal – Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Chief Dapo Sarumi, Prof Jerry Gana, Mr Chukwuemeka Chikelu, Dr Frank Nweke Jr, and Prof Dora Akunyili of blessed memory. Quite a number of them with their own style of politics, predilections and governance style that could at once be irritating but also very attractive and exciting. In all their weaknesses and strength they built a broadcast sector that is unfortunately panting for more help today.

    Alhaji Mohammed has been the Minister of Information and Culture since the inception of this administration. Whether by a trait in persona or in the fault lines of this administration, he has managed to roil the skin-deep peace of so many people to the extent that even his good deeds become poison in appreciation.

    On this matter of the appointment of the Board Chairman, I do not blame him. You may say that the Board positions have been vacant for over a year, why is he just acting now? My little answer: this government has never been known to act with speed otherwise, the nation wouldn’t be in such a dire and decrepit state.

    I want to observe here that the fault is in the law setting of the NBC, National Broadcasting Act CAP N11, which concentrates lots of powers in the hands of a serving and supervising minister and also creates instability for the board. It will take a minister of high sense of calling and discipline not to take advantage of the provisions of the Act. Quite a number of politicians in our national space have never been known to enjoy such attributes.

    Under the Composition of the Commission, the Act states as follows:

    “The chairman and other members of the Commission shall be persons of proven integrity, experience and specialised knowledge in the broadcasting industry or who by reason of their professional or business attainment are on the recommendation of the Minister and with the approval of the President capable of making useful contribution to the work of the Commission.”

    And also, “the Chairman and other members of the Commission shall be citizens of Nigeria who shall be appointed by the President on the recommendations of the Minister.”

    For a long time the board appointment has really not taken cognisance of the finer details of the Act; for the appointees to have track record in business, broadcasting, law, engineering and other professions. Especially under this minister, the last board headed by former Minister of State for Communications, Alhaji Ikra Aliyu Bilbis enjoyed no peace or prestige. It was a cocktail of misunderstandings between the board and the minister until their tenure expired and were sent away with scant respect.

    It is a matter of morality who the minister decides to appoint but such action must leave a space for the judgement of history that may confine present messianic heroes to the realm of opprobrium. It is also in the interest of such appointee to find a good space in such history for his sake and the health of the society.

    While I am really not too bothered about the residual past of Alhaji Bolarinwa I will want to bring the following points to his urgent attention. They are as follows:

    • The NBC used to be a flagship parastatal with the workers always walking with a swagger while wearing a smile. But in the past seven years the NBC has suffered a deficit and decline. It will be the responsibility of the new board, working with the Director General, Mr Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, to reinvent the system and bring smiles back to the faces of loyal workers who have almost become a shadow of themselves. The healing process must star immediately. The workers need to find their happiness again and be given the opportunity to do their job professionally.
    • The new board must bring life back to the flagship project of this administration, the Digital Switchover (DSO), which has nearly hit rock bottom in spite of efforts to resuscitate it. The process missed the first switchover date from analogue to digital transmission in 2015 and another in 2020. I am sure as the coming of tomorrow that this administration will not complete the process but let there be some milestone achievements. The new board must lead the drive.
    • The present Broadcasting Act creates instability in the broadcast sector in that it gives only three years to board members as tenure. The Act says “the Chairman and other members of the Commission shall hold office for three years renewable for one further period of three years only.” This is rather steep. I had pointed this out when I spoke to a sub committee during the review of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. For instance, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 prescribes four years for the board while also creating two Executive Commissioners that can bring legacy experience into the industry. The new board should encourage a review of the Act.
    • There are insinuations that the new Code suffers serious conflict of interests because of certain personalities who tried to smuggle some harmful clauses into it. As I write, those clauses remain and industry operators are afraid that at some point some individuals could be in a position to corner the broadcast industry or ruin it entirely. The new board should do necessary due diligence and act on such claims.

    Broadcasting, just like other genres of media practice, is very sensitive and should be handled with some tact and brilliance. My little counsel, though unsolicited, is for the new board chairman to hang his political paraphernalia in his state and get down to work so that the industry can begin to breathe some fresh air. Two opportunities are open to him: to take actions that will undermine the broadcast industry or do a damn good job and write his name in the record books. I suggest the latter.

  • President Muhammadu Buhari approves new NBC board [Full list]

    President Muhammadu Buhari approves new NBC board [Full list]

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the Governing Board of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), following the expiration of the tenure of the former board.

    In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the board has Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa as Chairman.

    According to the minister, members of the board represent various interests as stipulated by the NBC Act.

    They are Mr Wada Ibrahim, Mr Iheanyichukwu Dike, Mrs Adesola Ndu, Mr Olaniyan Badmus, Mr Bashir Ibrahim, Mr Obiora Ilo, Mr Ahmad Sajo and Mr Bayo Erikitola.

    He said a representative of the State Security Service, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture as well as the director-general of the Commission are also members.

    The board has a three-year tenure, the minister stated.

  • Lai Mohammed clarifies purpose for town hall meetings by federal ministries

    Lai Mohammed clarifies purpose for town hall meetings by federal ministries

    Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the Town Hall Meeting series being organised by his ministry is not a campaign strategy for 2023 elections as being insinuated in certain quarters.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the 21st edition of the town hall meeting focusing on the achievements of the Federal Government in Infrastructure Development.

    The event featured presentations by Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning Hajia Zainab Ahmed, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of State for Power, Jeddy Agba.

    Responding to a question on whether the town hall meeting was because the 2023 elections were approaching and a strategy to campaign for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the minister said the motive behind it was different.

    “This is the 21st Town Hall Meeting under the present administration since 2016 when we kick-started the first one in Lagos.

    “Nobody should accuse us that it is only now that the election is approaching that we are holding the programme.

    “The whole idea of the town hall meeting is to afford people the platform to hear the scorecards of the administration and at the same time exchange ideas.

    “It is also a platform to showcase what the administration has done because more often than not what we hear is the negative aspect of governance,

    “That is why I am so glad with the approach of the ministers in their presentations by giving testimonies of citizens who have been impacted by the provisions of several infrastructure projects from power, bridges, roads,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said he was equally happy with the presentation by the Minister of Finance who linked what the government was doing with the money generated internally or borrowed.

    The minister said they had slated six Town Hall Meetings for the year to showcase the achievements of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, as it gradually winds up.

    “Because of the massive infrastructure development of the administration, the first two in the series for 2022, including today’s, will be dedicated to infrastructure.

    “The second edition on infrastructure will feature Ministers of Transportation, Aviation, Water Resources as well as Communications and Digital Economy.

    “The third Town Hall Meeting will also be dedicated to infrastructure, but this time, infrastructure development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),’’ he said.

    He said the other town hall meetings scheduled for the year would focus on the administration’s strides in the area of the National Social Investment Programme, fight against corruption, insecurity, national unity and the economy.