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Tag: Stakeholders

  • Super Eagles can succeed at Russia 2018 – Stakeholders

    Super Eagles can succeed at Russia 2018 – Stakeholders

    A cross-section of stakeholders in Nigerian football says the senior male national team, the Super Eagles, have the capacity to excel at the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup and beyond.

    The stakeholders expressed this view on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at a one-day seminar organised by the management of The Sun Newspapers, in conjunction with the AITEO Group.

    The seminar, which was organised with the Rivers Government’s support and the endorsement of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, examined the Eagles’ chances at the mundial.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Cup will kick off on June 14 in Moscow.

    The stakeholders also expressed the belief that the Eagles could excel beyond the 2018 World Cup with a good team spirit, and determination of players, sponsors and management team.

    Danladi Bako, a former Director-General of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), said the Super Eagles would succeed if the National Assembly ensured statutory funding for the team.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to also motivate the national team by attending more matches they engaged in.

    “Also, the team can succeed if sports writers stopped promoting players to the national team when they knew that such players were not good enough to don the national colours.

    “There should be the promotion of cohesion and team spirit by managers, rather than squabbles and rancour. Where a team lacks unity, there will be a breakdown in communication and there will also be failure.’’

    Bako also called for a proper structure where a national team was built from the cadet levels to the senior level.

    “We all hope that the Eagles will do well if the managers work on the mentality of the players,’’ he added.

    Also speaking, Fanny Amun, a former coach of the under-17 male national team, called for long-term preparation for the national team to succeed beyond Russia 2018.

    “We will experience failure if players don’t train and play constantly. Long-term preparation is far better than a short preparation and political will is vital in team preparation.

    “Funding is there, but should be complementary to team preparation. All Nigerians should support the team to succeed in Russia and beyond,’’ Amun whose team won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Japan in 1993 said.

    In his remarks, Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of Abia Warriors, said “the maturity of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) management is a plus in managing the players’’.

    “This time, there is unity. For the first time, the players are getting their `alerts’ before the World Cup,’’ he said.

    Inyama also enjoined the NFF to prevail on President Buhari to assent to the NFF Bill passed by the National Assembly to move the country’s football beyond Russia 2018.

    A former Super Eagles coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, said “Eagles players should be able to retain the ball, release the ball and receive the ball’’.

    “There should be cohesion for the overall success of the team.’’

    He also said God had been kind to Nigerian football, adding that with adequate backing of government the Super Eagles would succeed in Russia and even beyond the 2018 World Cup.

    “The endowment is there to galvanise the team to a level that can make the country proud,’’ Onigbinde said.

    NAN reports that the seminar had as its theme “That the Super Eagles May Excel in Russia 2018 and Beyond’’.

  • Forgive me if I wrong you, Gov. Bindow begs APC stakeholders

    Forgive me if I wrong you, Gov. Bindow begs APC stakeholders

    Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa has urged stakeholders and other members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to forgive him, if he wronged them.

    Bindow made the plea Monday at a stakeholders meeting in Yola to discuss the upcoming party congress.

    “If I offended any of you here please forgive me. I didn’t do that deliberately,” Bindow said.

    The governor assured all the stakeholders that he has no candidate for the coming party congresses, and urged all those seeking positions to go and mobilize support.

    “My administration is ready to work with all those elected in the congresses,” he stressed.

    Bindow expressed satisfaction with the turnout of stakeholders from various interest groups in the state and urged for more unity in the party.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustafa stressed the need to abide by the party guidelines for hitch free congresses.

    “We are one family and must not allow internal political bickering to affects our party in the state.

    “We won in 2015 general election and shall win in 2019, but we need to create a situation that would make it much easier for us to win again,” Mustafa said.

    In his remarks, the APC National Vice Chairman North East, Alhaji Mustafa Salihu, lauded the stakeholders for putting aside their differences to attend the meeting and urged contestants to show sportsmanship.

    “We must work to retain government at all levels; we need to put all our personal interests aside for our party,” Salihu said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that former SGF, Babacir Lawan. who also attended the meeting however criticized the meeting for not discussing the issue of zoning ahead of the congresses.

    According to him, the APC constitution promotes zoning of positions particularly in diverse states like Adamawa and wonder why the issue was not discussed.

  • Stakeholders appeal to new owner of 9mobile to resolve $1.2b loan owed banks

    Some capital market stakeholders on Monday appealed to Teleology, the new owner of 9mobile, to resolve amicably the 1.2 billion dollars syndicated loan owed some Nigerian banks.

    The stakeholders made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos, while reacting to the emergence of Teleology as the new owner of the firm.

    Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, the Professor of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun said the new owner should consider the outstanding loan as paramount.

    Tella said that an amicable resolution of the loan would bring stability to the telecom industry.

    He suggested that the laws guiding the establishment, operations and funding in the industry should be reviewed to enthrone an enabling working environment in the sector.

    “There is the need to encourage telecom firms to enlist on the Nigerian capital market to raise funds whenever they are about to run into troubled waters financially.

    “Eventual sale of 9mobile to a new private concern will lead to improvement in the services provided by the telecom firm, build confidence in the telecom industry and create employment,” Tella said.

    Mallam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., said that if the new service provider settled the debts, it would bring a relief to the indebted banks.

    Kurfi said the restructuring of the loan by Teleology and eventual payment would reduce the banks liabilities.

    “It is a great relief to the Central Bank and particularly to the banks that have huge exposure,” he said.

    Mr Boniface Okezie, the President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN) described the development as good news to the shareholders of indebted banks.

    Okezie said the loan repayment would enable the affected banks to recoup their money as a result of the loan to 9mobile.

    He called on the affected banks to work closely with the new owner to ensure prompt repayment of the loan.

    Teleology Holdings Ltd. beat the March 22 deadline for transfer of a non-refundable deposit of 50 million dollars for the acquisition of 9mobile.

    Teleology emerged the new owner of 9mobile ahead of Smile Communications, which was the only other firm in the final round of the takeover bid.

    At the beginning of submission of bids, more than 10 bidders indicated interest in acquiring the mobile network, but only five were shortlisted.

    The five firms are Bharti Airtel, Globacom, Helios Investment, Smile Communications and Teleology Holdings.

    The acquisition bid resulted when the largest shareholder, Mubadala Development Company of the United Arab Emirates, (formerly Etisalat), pulled out of the firm.

     

  • Stakeholders laud FG for improvements in nation’s road sector

    …As Fashola presents Federal Highways (Control of Dimensions, Weights and Axle Load) Regulations 2018

    Stakeholders in the nation’s road sector, Monday in Abuja lauded the improvements on the roads across the country, commending the Federal Government, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, and his team for the innovative approach to road management since the inception of the Buhari Administration.

    Speaking at a One-Day Public Enlightenment on the Developments in the Road Sector, the stakeholders, who included the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association among other road users, noted that the Minister has done a lot to restore confidence of Nigerians on the nation’s road sector.

    In his goodwill message at the Nigerian Air Force Conference Centre venue of the event, President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najimdeem Yasin, congratulated the Minister for his efforts in executing the 2017 budgetary proposals as regards to the development of road network across the country.

    Represented at the occasion by Alhaji Nasiru, the NURTW President also expressed appreciation to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the prudent management of the nation’s scarce resources noting that since the beginning of the present administration, the road sector in the country never had it as good as is being currently experienced despite the shortfall in the nation’s revenue generation.

    The NURTW boss, however, pointed out that as the efforts and actions of the government to improve the roads were being applauded, it was also necessary to direct its attention to a lot more of the roads that still needed urgent attention urging the Minister to put in place a mechanism to institutionalize the culture of construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of Federal roads as well as putting necessary instruments that would guide against the abuse of the roads by the road users.

    Such mechanisms, the Union leader said, included weighbridges, transit parks and provision of other road furniture adding that as a transport workers’ union occupying the leadership of the International Transport Federation (ITF) and the Global Vice President, the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers had taken the sensitization and training of its members very seriously as it could not afford to operate short of international standard.

    Disclosing that the NURTW, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) regularly organized series of enlightenment campaigns for the union members in order to encourage them to maintain good driving culture, the Union boss declared, “I want to assure you of our continuous support and loyalty to every initiative that will improve the safety and sustenance of roads in the Federation”.

    In his goodwill message on behalf of his association, the President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Alhaji Kassim Bataiya, expressed appreciation to the Minister for matching his words with action recalling that on the first of February 2018, the Minister, at a meeting with the various transport unions in his office, did promise that he would convoke such an enlightenment Workshop.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Union, Mr. Aloga I. Okpobo, the NARTO President, who was last week elected President of the African Road Transport Union in Marrakech, Morocco, commended the Minister for keeping his words applauding him for the on-going rehabilitations and reconstruction of roads across the country.

    Noting that the government was currently raising funds from various sources to meet the required funding of roads in the country, the union President declared, “This has demonstrated that in a very short time Nigerian roads will meet the expectations of Nigerians”.

    He also recalled that during the last meeting with the Minister, the unions made various recommendations including the issue of Axle Load, which, according to him, was on the front burner of the discussions adding that the recommendations which were both in the short, medium and long terms, included the banning of the importation of 60,000 litres capacity trucks into the country as they were negatively impacting the roads in the country.

    Alhaji Bataiya also recalled that the Unions recommended to the Minister that those constructing such trucks above 60,000 litres in the country should be warned to desist forthwith adding that the Unions also asked government to give a five year moratorium to enable owners of such vehicles to recoup their investment before the final phase out.

    Other recommendations, he said, include that the Federal Government should ban the use of steel trucks and replace them with aluminum trucks “because aluminum trucks are lighter in terms of weight capacity” and for the Government to continue the road rehabilitation and expansion it has earlier started as, adding that while the ban of the use of steel trucks would address the issue of axle load, the rehabilitation and expansion of roads would “go a long way in bringing relief to Nigerian roads”.

    Pledging the support of the association to the Federal Government “in all its efforts to put Nigerian roads on course”, the NARTO boss declared, “We are also here to say that we are totally in support of this workshop and to commend the Hon. Minister for putting the workshop together because in doing so he has matched his words with action”.

    In his own goodwill message, the National Chairman of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers Association, Mr. Salimon Akanni Oladiti, commended the Minister for “his courage” in organizing the Workshop pointing out that it is only when one is courageous and doing something right that such a person could invite the public to brief them of such action.

    Noting that the workshop would give participants a further insight into the developments in the road sector, the Chairman declared, “As major stakeholders in the Nigerian road sector, we have in recent times witnessed tremendous efforts on the part of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing which has made us to believe that the dark and horrible days of bad roads will soon be over”.

    “It is also important to use this opportunity to commend the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing under the headship of Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, for the increased strides his Ministry has been making since he mounted the saddle as the Hon. Minister in his stride to improve the road network. His efforts to reactivate road signage for the safety of road users is unparalleled in the history of Nigerian roads”.

    Others who gave good will messages included the President Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, High Chief Musa Shehu Isawere, represented by Comrade Henry Ejioffor, who also commended the Minister for the innovations he has introduced into the management of the nation’s road sector and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who said in identifying with the convocation of the Workshop, he would be the ultimate beneficiary pointing out that the impressive turnout of the trade unions only signified the fact that they were in full support and in alignment with the Minister adding, “ It means less agitations and strikes”.

    In his Keynote address, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, said the convocation of the Workshop was an indication of the important role that road transportation plays in the nation’s economic development adding that the critical place of road transportation in the country’s evolution and the national life had never been more alive than presently.

    “Presently the haulage of industrial goods, agricultural produce and industrial raw material, petroleum products, power plant components and other economic materials required in the manufacturing sector, are carried out using the road network”, the President noted adding that it was this realization that underscored the promise of change by the present administration in May 2015 with infrastructure as a priority.

    Pointing out that this has been fulfilled by the administration “by policy and action, President Buhari further declared, “It is on record that this administration has raised the budgetary allocation for Capital project from 15 per cent to a minimum of 30 per cent and committed to physical stimulus targeted at infrastructure”.

    “The result is the revival of construction activities and other projects nationwide. From 2015 to date, my administration has constructed several hundred kilometres of inter-state federal roads and bridges to ease the movement of persons, goods and services”, he said adding, however, that in order to take the full benefit of the projects, when finally completed and get value for the investment “we must change our ways and this government has signed on for that change”.

     

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, said the Workshop was meant to reflect and agree on the need for change about how Nigerians have used their Road infrastructure adding that the country’s Economic growth, National productivity and job opportunities would be impacted by the conclusions and resolutions of the meeting.

    Noting that there are now existing treaty obligations within the West African sub region and beyond that regulate the amount of load any goods vehicle can put on an axle and by extension on the road in order to do business within ECOWAS and beyond, Fashola said the only way to optimize the opportunities that lie in road networks like Trans-Saharan highway that connects Nigeria to Chad, Niger, Tunisia, Mali and Algeria; the Lagos- Abidjan Highway through Benin, Togo and Ghana, or the Enugu- Cameroon Highway through Abakaliki – Ogoja , Ikom and Mfum was to sensitize road transporters and imbibe the existing treaties.

    The Minister, who thanked the President for finally signing the instruments of ratification as soon as it was brought to his attention, after many years of delay prior to his tenure, added, “This meeting is critical to the achievement of our common goal for shared prosperity. Our compliance with these regulations will open a massive door of opportunity and prosperity of cross-border trade to Nigerians engaged in the transport business”.

    “This is why this meeting was convened; because when President Buhari once said that “we will change our habits and we will change Nigeria,” I believe this is one of the things he had in mind. While it is true that we could have done better by way of massive investment in our transport infrastructure during the windfall of income from oil, this Government is now rapidly and aggressively addressing road transport infrastructure repairs, rehabilitation and construction as many of you who travel regularly will attest”, he said.

    Fashola, who noted that there is no state in Nigeria today, where contractors would not be seen busy at work, added, “The crux of this meeting is to first acknowledge the President is only one man who cannot be everywhere, and secondly to recognize that we are the actors of the change that is required to take us to prosperity and thirdly to recognize that, the way we use the roads when finally completed will determine how long they last and whether they deliver prosperity or not”.

  • International Women’s Day: Akeredolu’s wife rallies stakeholders against discrimination

    The need to continue to work towards effecting change in the social and cultural aspects of inheritance while exploring legislation and policies that will protect female inheritance in Nigeria was one of the issues that took the front burners at the inaugural one-day workshop put together by the Office of the Wife of the Governor and Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO) to mark International Women’s Day Celebration at Babafunke Ajasin Hall, Akure, Ondo State.

    Addressing the gathering, the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu affirmed that for too long, social and cultural customs in Nigeria have constrained women from enjoying liberations accorded to them in terms of inheritance. Explaining the pertinence for women to understand their rights regarding inheritance which is the first step towards exercising and benefiting from their rights.

    Mrs. Akeredolu who noted that the system of inheritance in Nigeria is still patriarchal and discriminatory against women stressed that in this era of liberation and advocacy for equality and elimination of gender bias not just in Nigeria but worldwide, it was high time the advocacy finds expression in terms of inheritance.

    “This workshop is designed to enlighten us as women on our rights within the law and customs. It teaches us how to protect the widows from exploitation from rightfully succeeding possession from our husbands”. She added while thanking all those who provided support towards making the event a reality.

    In her remark, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Omowumi Olatunji-Edet expressed concern over the growing spate of discrimination meted out to women as a result of customs and tradition noting that it is important for women to know their rights.

    While stressing that women need to become inclusive in governance, she lauded Mrs. Akeredolu for taking women’s cause further by organizing the programme in order to empower women with the right information that will help them.

    The Guest Lecturer, Barrister Kehinde Adegbite while speaking on the topic: “The Nigerian Women and Their Right to Inherit Property’, highlighted some discriminatory laws that discourage women from inheriting properties across Nigeria under the customary law, stressing that the law mostly permits male children to inheritance.

    While noting that some females have however challenged such stands in the past and won against discriminations, he highlighted three types of marriages that are recognized under the law which include Customary, Islamic and Marriage under the Act.

    Bar. Adegbite who also talked about the need to write a ‘Will’ further observed that if a woman is working and has her own assets or assets jointly with her husband, she needs to write a ‘Will’.

    In his goodwill message, the Attorney General, Ondo State, Bar. Kolawole Olawoye charged women to become united and that with one voice, they will be able to form a formidable front stressing that without unity, they will be deceiving themselves even after having heard the lecture.

    He also charged women to ensure that they get married Under the Acts so that they remain protected under the law.

  • Maritime: Federal Government, stakeholders set to automate all processes

    In its quest to ensure the growth and development of the maritime sector in line with the Presidential order on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, the Federal Government is set to automate all shipping related administrative processes in order to reduce subjectivity and corruption, thereby promoting transparency in the Nigerian maritime industry.

    This is one of the major consensus reached in the communiqué issued at a one-day maritime Stakeholders’ interactive forum held in Warri, Delta State with the theme; “Implementation of Executive Order One (1) – Ease of Doing Business in a secure maritime environment”.

    According to the eighteen point communiqué, Stakeholders agreed that in order to realize the desired accelerated growth of the Nigerian maritime sector, the Ministry and its Agencies should explore alternate financing windows such as the establishment of Maritime Bank to address the financing gap created by the unsuitability of lending rates of Nigerian banks for the shipping business; consider reviving NIMAREX as a platform for bridging the gap between the Nigerian shipping industry and prospective international investors so as to provide impetus for growth and investment.

    Furthermore, it was established in the communiqué that the Ministry and its Agencies should take urgent steps to address the challenge of under-declaration of cargo by ships calling at Nigerian ports to plug the substantial revenue leakage thus created; that the Ministry and its Agencies should cause the urgent dredging of the Escravos Bar to facilitate the access of large dry cargo vessels into Warri ports.

    On the issue of safety and security of the maritime space, Stakeholders were also of the view that the Ministry and its Agencies should collaborate with the maritime Communities with a view to relying on their local knowledge and intelligence for fighting maritime crimes like piracy, sea robbery and vessel hijack.

    Also, the need for manpower development and capacity building was discussed as the communiqué urged that the Ministry and its Agencies should consider a return to the former system whereby the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) all contributed to the training of Master Mariners who are currently counted at 180 with above 75% being above the retirement age.

    The issue of the Apapa gridlock and access road challenges was not left out as Stakeholders charged the Ministries and its Agencies to consider establishing transit parks for trucks waiting to access the ports and implement an automated call-up system that prevents their proliferation around the ports amongst other issues discussed at the forum.

    Other areas highlighted are; that the Ministry and its Agencies should consider establishing Complaints Desks and online feedback platforms to promote the ease of doing business in Nigerian maritime industry; amongst other pressing issues, all geared toward the realization of a robust and business-friendly maritime sector that can compete favourably with its counterparts in other climes.

    Corroborating the Stakeholders yearnings as stated in the communiqué, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside stated that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation and other Agencies under the Ministry will continue to working hard to ensure less human contacts with processes in the maritime sector, which is intended to give way to transparency and discourage sharp practices in the sector and assured the forum that all the points raised will be given urgent and due attention.

    “The Federal Ministry of Transportation shapes the policy that drives the industry and we are servants in the industry; hence we will join hands with all Stakeholders to build this industry in order to be able to continue to provide economic opportunities for our people. I, therefore, charge you all to shape opinions that will help Nigerians know that some people are working hard to take the maritime sector to the next level,” Dr. Peterside said.

    On their parts, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barrister Hassan Bello and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman also lend their voices and unanimously agreed that automation of all processes and collaboration with all Stakeholders are keys to realizing a robust maritime sector, which also demands the support of all industry players.

    The Maritime Stakeholders Interactive Forum was convened to provide a platform for exchange of ideas by the Ministry of Transportation, its Agencies and industry Stakeholders on Government policies, processes and their immediate and potential impact. The ultimate aim of this initiative is to ensure ownership of Government policies by the people most likely to be affected by the policies.

  • Investors, stakeholders gather in Nigeria for 2018 Standard Bank Investors’ Conference

    Amid huge expectations, the 9th edition of the Standard Bank West Africa Investors’ Conference is set to hold in Abuja and Lagos, bringing together foreign and local institutional investors, fund managers, regulators and policymakers, bankers, businessmen and captains of industry, among others to engage and explore growth potential and opportunities in Nigeria.

    The four-day event, themed “The Pathway towards inclusive economic recovery”, will run from February 27 – March 2, 2018, with Stanbic IBTC and Standard Bank officials leading a delegation of investors on a visit to the Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; and the World Bank. Similar visits were made to the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Debt Management Office, and other key stakeholders and policymakers in Abuja, during last year’s edition. This year’s edition will be capped with a factory visit to the newly commissioned $17million Kelloggs Tolaram plant, to showcase one of the most recent private sector led capital investments in the Nigerian economy.

    Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Yinka Sanni, said underlining the conference is the organization’s conviction about Nigeria’s growth potential, which it would be steadfast in deploying its international connections to ensure an increased inflow of foreign capital into Nigeria. This, he stated, requires putting before the global audience crucial information about the economy to aid their investment decisions.

    Agriculture, mining, infrastructure, oil & gas and power re some of the key sectors of interest at the event, which is expected to attract institutional investors from across the globe who will meet with most of the top rated corporate companies in West Africa, Sanni said.

    “Besides the direct impact which these exchanges will make on the Nigerian economy, the conference will provide both local and international investors with opportunities to meet with some of the companies they have investments in, or in which they hope to make investments. It will also serve as a bridge to connect these investors to opportunities inherent in Nigeria, which has been opened up for private sector participation,” Sanni said, and further stated, “Stanbic IBTC is particularly pleased to note that there have been movements in key sectors of the economy in terms of investment activities.”

    Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC is a full service financial services group with a clear focus on three main business pillars – Corporate and Investment Banking, Personal and Business Banking and Wealth Management. Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC Holdings belongs, is the largest African Bank by assets and market capitalization. It is rooted in Africa with strategic representation in 20 countries on the African continent, including South Africa. Standard Bank has been in operation for over 154 years and is focused on building first-class, on-the-ground financial services institution in chosen countries in Africa and connecting selected emerging markets to Africa by applying sector expertise, particularly in natural resources, power and infrastructure.

  • NCC board re-assures stakeholders of its commitment on sale of 9Mobile

    The Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has re-assured stakeholders of its commitment to ensure that 9Mobile is taken over by investors with the requisite technical capability and pedigree to manage it.

    Mr Tony Ojobo, NCC Director of Public Affairs made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Ojobo said the NCC board took the decision during its meeting in Abuja to establish its determination to avoid the recurrence of missteps that might have led to the current situation in 9Mobile.

    “The board is acting in line with the powers conferred on the commission by the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 and other instruments in that regard.

    “The commission will ensure that all relevant statutory and regulatory processes are duly complied with in the process leading up to the emergence of new owners for the company,’’ he said.

    Ojobo said the board also assured all stakeholders that the commission would apply all necessary diligence, to see the ongoing sale process through to its logical conclusion.

    He said this would be done in a manner that would protect the overall national interest and the seamless operation of the national telecommunications network.

     

  • Maritime stakeholders hail NIMASA capacity building initiative

    …Pledge support for NSDP Cadets

    The capacity building initiative of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) has again received commendation from Stakeholders and industry players in the Nigerian maritime sector.

    This is coming on the heels of the flag-off ceremony of the first phase of the NIMASA fully sponsored sea time training for the cadets of the NSDP scheme, held recently in Lagos.

    Speaking at the event, the former President, Nigerian Trawler Operators Association (NITOA) and the Chief Executive Officer MORBOD Fisheries Limited, Barrister (Mrs.) Margaret Orakwusi commended the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside for his determination and commitment to issues affecting capacity building in the sector.

    In her words, “you have made the unemployable people to be employable; this is to say we now have highly trained professionals in the nation’s maritime sector”. She also used the opportunity to enjoin the beneficiaries to maintain the high standard they have set for themselves by aiming for excellence.

    In the same vein, a maritime law expert, Barrister Mike Igbokwe, SAN commended the Dr. Dakuku Peterside led Management of NIMASA and added that the essence of the Cabotage regime is beginning to unfold, as it intends to ensure 100 per cent participation of Nigerians in its Cabotage trade.

    While also stating that the Cabotage Act gave birth to the NSDP training as a result of the gap in the seafaring profession, which is due to the dearth of professionals in the sector, he used the opportunity to call on the Cadets to become trainers of trainees so that there is no gap as far as manning is concerned, thereby allowing room for the full actualization of the Cabotage Act.

    Similarly, the Vice President of the Nigerian Ship-owners Association (NISA) and the Chief Executive Officer of Sea Transport Services Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Aminu Umar expressed delight at the opportunity NIMASA has given to the Cadets to make a profession in the maritime sector noting that his company is willing to employ some of them as soon as they have completed their mandatory sea time training.

    According to him, there are about 60 per cent Nigerian seafarers in his company and he expressed optimism that in no distant time, it will reach the 100 per cent target of the Cabotage regime. He also called on the Cadets to seize the rear opportunity and maximize it, so that they can become better professionals and make Nigeria proud. “You are the future of the Nigerian maritime sector”, he said.

    On his part, a Surveyor and maritime Stakeholder, Engr. Emmanuel Ilori also congratulated the Cadets and observed that they have taken up a challenging job that requires discipline. He charged them to be good ambassadors in their host countries and added that they are being expected back in the country to take over the administration and manning of the sector.

    He commended NIMASA for the feat attained in its quest to enhance capacity building in the sector and pledged the continuous support of Stakeholders in the industry to any developmental initiative that can help move the maritime sector forward, so that Nigeria can compete favourably with its counterparts in the international maritime community.

    The Vice President, African and Asian Affair, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, who described shipping as a noble profession, also commended the Management of NIMASA for conceiving the NSDP initiative. He also applauded the Cadets for always conducting themselves well during their course of studies.

    The high point of the event was the award of scholarship for Master Degrees by the Arab Academy to three female cadets who had distinctions in their fields of study.

    Earlier, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside reiterated the Agency’s commitment to capacity building, noting that it is the only sure means of sustenance for the sector.

    He congratulated the Cadets for being the chosen ones amongst millions of Nigerians and admonished them to remain good ambassadors of Nigeria in their host country and that they should make Nigeria proud. He also assured that everyone that participated in the NSDP scheme will certainly be given a sea time training opportunity, but hinted that it will be done in batches.

    The NSDP scheme was conceived in 2008 and it has continued to receive attention of succeeding government. This is as a result of the commitment and realization of the importance of capacity building to the growth and sustenance of the sector.

    NIMASA is the government Agency solely responsible for the regulation and promoting of shipping activities in the country.

    The Agency also has the responsibility of implementing and domesticating international conventions of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); the global maritime body that guides all maritime administrations.

  • FG, Stakeholders inaugurate committee on long-term solution to fuel scarcity

    The Federal Government and critical stakeholders in the nation’s oil and gas sector on Tuesday inaugurated a committee saddled with the responsibility of finding long-term solutions to petrol scarcity in the country.

    The Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, made this known to newsmen after a closed door meeting involving government officials, labour leaders and stakeholders in the oil sector.

    The meeting, which was presided over by the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, wss held at the old Banquet hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Kachikwu, who is to head the committee, said members of the committee included the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Maikanti Baru and representatives of agencies under the Ministry of Petroleum.

    According to him, membership of the committee also include Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), labour unions, Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) and NOMAN.

    ““We set up a committee which I will head; members included the GMD, most of the parastatals in the ministry, DAPMAN, IPMAN, NOMAN, Labour unions.

    ““We are to meet in my office tomorrow (Jan. 3) and dig deeper into this thing and find a long term solution,’’ he said.

    Kachikwu noted that petrol scarcity was a major concern and Nigerians should not be made to suffer, assuring that the committee would come out with lasting solution to the persistent petrol crisis in the country.

    He reiterated that appropriate sanctions would be taken against any marketer or staff implicated in fuel diversion or any act capable of frustrating government’s efforts aimed at stabilising the supply of petroleum products across the country.

    “”I feel your pain. People who are culprits will be identified.

    “”In fact the chief of staff instructed that specific names should be put on the table, those who have gone against the rule, done certain things that are against the book should be punished.

    ““But the greatest difficult in Nigeria is that people make allegations but when you ask for evidence even one, everybody now goes back into the safety nets. You cannot prosecute except you have evidence.”

    The Chairman of Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), Mr Dapo Abiodun, said the meeting was called at the instance of the chief of staff to the president and it was to find out exactly what happened.

    ““He wanted to know the truth and to ensure that this problem will be solved once and for all.

    ““From our point of view as marketers, we made our submission known to government and we emphasized the fact that this was not a marketer-related problem.

    ““There was no hoarding on the part of any marketer. Marketers are your brothers, they are Nigerian citizens, they are businessmen, no marketer makes money from hoarding petroleum products, our business is to take petrol and sell,’’ he explained.