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Tag: MoU

  • Dangote, Niger Govt sign $450m MoU on sugar production

    In another bold move for self-sufficiency in sugar production through the government’s backward integration policy, the Pan African Conglomerate, Dangote Group on Wednesday in Minna, Niger State signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government for the establishment of a jumbo $450million state-of–art and fully integrated sugar complex.

    On completion, according to the President of the Group, Aliko Dangote, the project would generate over 15,000 jobs in the state and bring about a complete economic turn-around for the state.

    The $450million pact which was signed at the Government House will see the company producing raw sugarcane on 16,000 hectares of land at Lavun Local Government through an out-grower scheme.

    The company, which is currently operating out-grower scheme in rice production in a number of states, has Africa’s largest sugar refinery in Lagos and a sugar cane plantation in Numan, Adamawa State.

    Mr. Dangote said his investment was informed by his company’s firm belief in the potentials of the Nigerian economy, adding that the new outlay would add value and create jobs for Nigerians.

    He commended the State Governor, Alh. Abubakar Bello for his foresight and efforts to woo investors to Niger State, noting that “the Dangote’s Integrated Sugar Project in Niger State will also include the establishment of integrated sugar mills, generate power, produce molasses, ethanol fuel, biomass and produce animal feeds.”

    In his remarks, Governor Bello said the deal would revolutionize agriculture in his state and Nigeria, expressing joy that the MoU was signed during his own administration, while describing Dangote as the liberator of the Nigerian economy and a dependable partner.

    The governor then urged Dangote Group to explore other investment opportunities available in the state, just as he announced that the state was opened for multi-sectoral investments.

    Representative of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Alhaji Aminu Bisala said Dangote is the biggest private sector supporter of the Nigerian economy, and Federal Government policies.

    He said the Federal Government was comfortable with the numerous investments efforts of the Dangote Group.

    Also speaking, Chairman of the Niger State Traditional Council, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Abubakar Yahyah said he was elated about the huge investment coming to the state, while praying God to bless the Dangote Group more.

    Just last week, the conglomerate had sponsored an investment summit in the State, which was attended by former Presidents Abdulsalami Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo and the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, who described the private sector as key to the country’s economic development.

    Group Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Plc, Engr. Abdullahi Sule stated that the MoU would be a game changer for Niger State economy and Nigeria as a whole.

    He said the integrated sugar mills would have the capacity to produce 160,000 metric tons of raw sugar.

    According to him, the Dangote Sugar Refinery is developing a sugar backward integration plan through the production of 1.5MT/PA in ten years in Nasarawa, Adamawa, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba and Niger states respectively.

    The Group’s Executive Director Stakeholders’ Management and Corporate Communication Ahmed Mansur had also announced that the Group was investing over $1billion in the agricultural sector in the country, specifically in rice, sugar, tomato and dairy productions.

    Niger State Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry Rahmatu Muhammad Yar’Adua said that the deal with Dangote Group would help grow the agricultural sector and create direct and indirect jobs in the state.

    It would be recalled that the Group’s foray into sugar business began in 1981. It has injected over $104million into the Savannah Sugar Company Limited it acquired from government in 2003. Savannah Sugar this year alone, produced 20,000 metric tons of raw sugar from its plantation.

     

  • Nigeria, China sign MoU on Information, Media Cooperation

    Nigeria, China sign MoU on Information, Media Cooperation

    The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China on Friday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance friendly cooperation in Media and Information Exchanges.

    The MoU was signed between the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture of Nigeria and the State Council Information Office of China

    Speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who signed on behalf of Nigeria said the MoU was a very important milestone in diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.

    The minister said that the MoU would also enhance friendly cooperation and interaction between government media agencies of the two countries,

    He said it would facilitate news exchange, joint coverage, mutual visits including wider coverage of economic, cultural and social news and other events in the respective mass media.

    In addition to the wide areas covered by the MoU, the minister requested capacity building cooperation programmes for Resident Information Officers in his ministry and media practitioners in general.

    Specifically, he requested that China should offer training to Nigerian Journalists, Broadcasters, Media Practitioners, Social Media Practitioners, as well as Community Radio, Television and Newspapers.

    Mohammed said that his ministry was also interested in co-operation pogrammes mutually beneficial in the area of animation and co-production of films which project the culture of both Nigeria and China.

    The minister said the cooperation should extend to film distributions as well as collaboration between the National Films and Video Censors Board and the Chinese Censors Board to eradicate piracy and production of fake and adulterated films

    He called for partnership to address infrastructure deficit in Nigeria creative industry, particularly in the area of building community cinemas across the country.

    The minister also called for strengthening of the existing MoU between the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and its Chinese counterpart, XINHUA

    He said the partnership would go a long way in addressing the problem of fake news.

    “This is significant because we are in the era of fake news and unlike China, the social media here is unrestrained.

    “It is important you get your news from official source, the News Agency of Nigeria and the Ministry Official App created for the country,’’ he said.

    The minister seized the opportunity to clarify that contrary to lies being peddled in the social media, the government “is working assiduously to redeem its electoral promises’’.

    “We have succeeded in nursing a very sick economy and very soon we will get out of recession.

    “Our fight against insecurity is yielding fruits and our fight against corruption is focused.

    “We are resolute that we will fight corruption until it goes down,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said he was optimistic that both countries would work to ensure a thorough implementation of the MoU for the benefit of their peoples.

    In his remarks, Mr. Guo Weimin, China’s Vice Minister of the State Council Information Office said the signing of the MoU marked a new beginning in the relations between the two countries in the area of media and cultural relations.

    He said staff training and programme exchanges would further solidify the cultural ties between both nations.

    Weimin said his ministry would scale up the broadcast of news about Nigeria in China and appealed to the minister to reciprocate the gesture.

    The Chinese Vice Minister acceded to Mohammed’s request for the training of the Resident Information Officers and said the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria would fine-tune the capacity building engagement.

    Weimin was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian to the signing of the MOU.

     

     

    NAN

  • Customs, Rice farmers sign MoU to end smuggling

    The Nigeria Customs Service and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to stop rice smuggling through the land border into the country.

    Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, President Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), disclosed this on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said even though the importation of rice through the land borders was banned since April 2016 with an extension to the restriction of rice into the Nigerian market from the Export Processing Zones (EPZ), yet smugglers still engaged in the unwholesome act.

    Goronyo warned Nigerians against the consumption of foreign rice, saying that most of the imported rice is stale and only meant for animal and fish feeds.

    He said the result of the test by NAFDAC through some samples of some of the rice seizures had ascertained that smuggled rice through the land borders was unfit for human consumption.

    “99 per cent of rice smuggled through the land borders are not fit for human consumption,” he said.

    Goronyo said that the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), reiterated recently at a joint meeting with RIFAN and Customs that rice importation remains banned through the land borders.

    The RIFAN President said to ensure effective monitoring of the land borders, the Comptroller-General has approved a 12-man implementation committee to be headed by Assistant Comptroller-General, Alino Dangaladima.

    He said Customs promised to continue to ensure the restriction of rice import through the land borders to boost local production.

    He said that the Comptroller-General agreed that there was need for total ban on rice importation and effective monitoring of the land borders to stop the activities of the smugglers.

    The RIFAN president added that the customs boss reinstated that any attempt to import rice through the land borders would be resisted, saying the position remains unchanged.

    He said the customs told them that it had deployed more officers and men to borders to enforce the order.

    According to him, customs had also re-organised its anti-smuggling patrols to provide additional capability, to enforce the ban of rice import through the land borders.

    Goronyo said that the committee would be replicated at the state level to be headed by all state chairmen of RIFAN and its members would serve in the committee to be headed by the state comptroller of customs.

    He said the enforcement has become imperative because the ongoing Rice Revolution undertaken by many state governments, and Strategic Interventions by the Federal Government Agencies was a step toward self sufficiency.

    According to Goronyo, if adequate measure is not taken to stop the activities of the smugglers, it would have adverse effects on the bumper harvests expected from the rice revolution.

    The RIFAN President commended the customs officials for taking the giant stride to reinstate the confidence of the RIFAN and assuring the farmers of adequate markets for their products.

    He said that the rice that is coming into the country was very huge and not quantifiable, but because Nigeria has a big market one could not see the effect immediately, but gradually the local production would suffer for it.

    Goronyo said that the annual rice production in Nigeria has increased from 5.5 million tonnes in 2015 to 5.8 million tonnes in 2017.

    He said that in 2015, Nigerians spent not less than N1 billion daily on rice consumption, adding that while spending had drastically reduced, consumption had increased because of increased local production of the commodity.

    “The consumption rate now is 7.9 million tonnes, while the production rate is 5.8 tonnes per annum,’’ he said.

  • FG, Dangote, others sign N4.34bn MoU for reconstruction of Apapa Wharf road

    FG, Dangote, others sign N4.34bn MoU for reconstruction of Apapa Wharf road

    Following a special report on the deplorable state of the Apapa Wharf road by TheNewsGuru.com, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on Saturday signed a N4.34 Billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dangote Group and other stakeholders for the reconstruction of the busy road.


    The project is to be funded by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, an arm of the Dangote Group, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Flour Mills of Nigeria.


    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the site was handed over to the stakeholders for commencement of reconstruction works after the agreement was signed in Lagos.


    Fashola explained that the gridlock in Apapa became compounded and had reached an unbearable level as transporters ignored the old system of moving cargo through rail to trucks and containers.


    He said that the choice of the transporters to use road instead of rail for haulage increased gridlock, caused degeneration as well as well as hardship to residents of Apapa.


    The minister commended the “leadership role’’ of the stakeholders to solve the complex problems in Apapa and its environs.

    According to him, the situation has caused stress to residents, business owners and other stakeholders in the state.


    “As a result of all these unsavory practices, we have reached a point of near total gridlock, it is difficult to move cargo in or out, difficult for residents to get home and this must stop,’’ he said.


    Fashola said that it took time to reach an agreement on the project because the stakeholders were putting up an effective design that would address the drainage problem because the area was water logged.


    “We have finished with the design, we now have a Bill of Quantity and the cost of the road is N4.34 billion to be funded and paid for by these three groups, Flour Mills of Nigeria, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd and NPA,’’ he said.


    The minister said that although the parties were funding the project, the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing would supervise it through all the stages to ensure quality and compliance with standards.


    Fashola sought for the cooperation of all residents of Lagos and directed the Apapa Area Commander of the Nigerian Police Force, DSP My Nuru to apprehend reckless drivers who drive against traffic during the period of construction.


    He also appealed to Nuru to tackle all bureaucracies that would affect free flow of traffic while apprehending offenders.


    Fashola also appealed for synergy among law enforcement and traffic regulatory agencies for better traffic management to reduce stress on road users during the one-year duration of the project.


    The Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr Paul Gbededo said that Wharf Road was the “most important road in the entire country’’ which needed more attention.


    “This kind of road cannot be handled with levity,’’ he said.


    Responding to issues of lack of holding bays raised by transport unions, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Usman said that government would support the private sector to drive the initiative to set up new ones.
    “We have received proposals on electronic management of holding bays, we are working through processes and we would soon conclude on that,’’ she said.


    She said that tank farms that do not have holding bays for their trucks would soon be sanctioned.


    Usman said that the NPA was also working on providing weigh bridges within the ports as well as enforce implementation in a few months to take care of problem of high axle load on the roads.


    Mr Joseph Makonjuola, the Honorary Adviser to Dangote Group of Companies assured that the company would contribute its funding as part of its corporate Social responsibility and would still meet its tax obligations to government.


    In his remarks, the Managing Director of AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, Mr Ashif Juma, while giving a brief of the two-kilometer road project said that rigid pavement would be used on the road.

    He also assured that high quality materials that would withstand stress would be used.


    Representatives of truck owners, transport unions, maritime operators, business owners in Apapa were among stakeholders present at the ceremony.

  • FG renews MOU on affordable internet services

    FG renews MOU on affordable internet services

    The Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, on Tuesday signed the renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), to ensure affordable internet in Nigeria.

    Shittu signed the three-year MOU during the A4AI Nigerian Coalition meeting in Lagos.

    He said that the Federal Government recognised the urgent need to increase access to and usage of internet and broadband in Nigeria.

    According to him, ICT has been given a central role, as part of Government’s over-reaching national development plan and Vision 20:2020, which outlined how to make Nigeria a top 20 global economy by 2020.

    “In order to rationalise the work towards achieving Vision 20:2020, the Government of Nigeria has developed the new ICT strategic roadmap, which is before the Federal Executive Council for approval.

    “It details how Nigeria will leverage ICT to become a knowledge-based, globally competitive society by 2020.

    “The development of mobile services in Nigeria has been a direct result of the liberalisation of the Nigerian telecommunications sector, which began in 1993 with the establishment of some Ministry’s parastatals.

    “The affordability report of A4AI serves as a wake-up call to us in the Ministry.

    “A lot of work needs to be done; immediate collaborative action is required, let us work together to build open and competitive markets that can drive affordability, applicability, availability and accessibility (4As),” he said.

    The minister said that A4AI report showed that high cost of broadband might hinder the achievement of UN Global of Universal Internet Access by 2020.

    He said that in order to accelerate progress, the ministry was working round the clock to set a more ambitious target for getting broadband prices down.

    According to him, the country’s ICT development blueprint and National Broadband plan will be implemented holistically for the next three years, to ensure getting broadband prices down.

    “I am also aware this A4AI Coalition has been working round the clock to chart a way forward towards deepening broadband internet access and affordability in the country.

    “I consider this meeting as impetus to the realisation of this noble course in our country’s history.

    “A stakeholder consultation on the establishment of an Internet industry code of practice has been approved.

    “The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will soon invite all affected and interested stakeholders for consultation as part of our Internet Governance functions.

    “The Ministry, through the NCC seeks inputs from stakeholders in the development of a code of practice in support of an open internet.

    “Ministry favours a multi-stakeholder model of engagement in the process of policy development for Internet Governance,” he said.

    Shittu said that the code of practice sought to establish best practices for Internet Governance in Nigeria in line with emerging issues and global trends.

    He said that it also sought to provide transparent rules for the assignment and classification of internet content.

    The minister said that President Muhammad Buhari realised the need to use ICT as bedrock to his change agenda and development.

    He called on the alliance to come up with new innovative ideas, tangible and actionable outcome from the meeting, for the Ministry’s consideration.

    The National Coordinator, A4AI Nigeria, Dr Ernest Ndukwe, said that the alliance’s mission was to promote affordable internet.

    Ndukwe said the broadband connectivity held the key to the socio-economic development of a nation.

    According to him, the more connected a nation is, the more advance it will be, hence, the need to make access affordable.

     

     

    NAN

  • FG partners British Council, Elumelelu Foundation to develop creative industry

    The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Council and the Tony Elumelu Foundation to develop the creative industry.

    Mohammed spoke on Friday night in Lagos at the maiden edition of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Eko Art Expo organised by the Lagos State Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Art Expo was in memory of Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi who died in November 2016 and also to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the state coming up in May.

    “The MoU with the British Council will enable us improve capacity building, and between Feb.28 and March 6, we are training festival managers drawn from 40 major festivals across the country.

    “We have also been able to succeed in getting a grant to do a scoping of the cultural industry.

    “With this, we know exactly which industry is prevalent well,” Mohammed said.

    He said with Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Federal Government would create, for the first time, a task force on creative economy.

    “What we want is to transit from creative industry to creative economy and the task force is going to be co-chaired by somebody in the private sector.

    “Today, most of our creative artistes, all they have is raw talents; they are very bad business people and they need to work with the private sector to create very workable business models, get new markets and new clientele,” the minister said.

    According to him, this will mentor young artistes, and every year, 300 young artistes will be given grants to enable them perfect and grow in their arts.

    “I am quite confident that Nigeria’s new oil is in the creative industry.

    “This is one industry that does not only create jobs, but also reduces crime; it is an industry that prevents rural-urban migration.

    “It is an industry that is pro-poor and it is pro the people,” Mohammed said.

    The minister said that the government had in the last one year identified some major challenges confronting the creative industry.

    “I found that we have been unable, due to systemic failure and lack of enforcement, to protect the intellectual property of our artistes,” he said.

    Mohammed said that illegal reproduction of music and films had driven away investors from the industry and had also discouraged entrepreneurs and the creative artistes.

    “We found out also that there is no data, no information upon which you can build and say I want to invest in this industry.

    “Today, we do not even know the actual worth of the creative industry; we are just guessing.

    “Thirdly, we found out that our curriculum is outdated; what is taught in our arts school today is no longer relevant to what is actually happening in the creative industry.

    “There is nowhere in the world that you can develop the creative industry without subsidy from government.

    “By subsidy, I mean you need to make it possible for these young artistes to have access to funds; we need mentoring,” Mohammed said.

    He commended Gov.Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for being passionate about the creative industry.

    The minister encouraged other governors to emulate Ambode by providing infrastructure, incentives and encouragement as the governor had done.

    “All the Federal Government can do is provide the enabling environment; it is the states in particular that have the assets; the tourist sites belong to states.

    “Today we have tourist sites which are largely inaccessible and this is why we have set an advocacy to go from one governor to the other to plead with them to please invest in their tourism,” Mohammed said.

    In his remarks, Ambode said that creativity was the most valuable asset in any progressive society.

    “Progressive governments must embrace creativity; we are committed, and we must reward contributors of creative ideas with incentives,” Ambode said.

    He said six art theatres would be opened across the state before the end of the year.

    “This is why we are keenly interested in further development of our creative talents; in providing them with support and opportunities to be engaged.

    “Our administration believes that no nation or state can achieve its full potential without adequate attention to matters of heritage and culture,” he said.

    Ambode said that the exposition would immortalise the name of Gbadamosi, describing him as an illustrious Lagos man, who served the state till the very end.

    He said that Gbadamosi served with his talent and passion for the arts, his time and his resources.

    “There can be no better way to honour such a rare breed than to institute an annual arts fiesta in his memory,” the governor said.

    Gbadamosi was a leading industrialist, art patron, former minister and co-chairman of the Lagos@50 committee.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the late Alhaji Rasheed Gbadamosi died on November 16, 2016 at the age of 72.