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Sunday, 4 February 2018
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Fayemi leads FG delegation to African Mining Indaba in SA
MINISTER of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi is leading the Nigerian delegation to the Investing in African Mining Indaba, which kicks off today (Monday) in Cape Town in South Africa.
The Nigerian delegation, which comprises critical stakeholders, includes officials of the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), officials of some State Governments in charge of minerals and mining; financial experts, investors and operators.
The Investing in Mining Indaba is regarded as the biggest African mining event with significant interests from governments, organisations, financial institutions and investors within and outside the continent.
One major highlight of the Nigerian government’s participation in this year’s event is the presentation to the global audience of the New Nigeria Airborne Electromagnetic Surveys Results.
The presentation which would be done by the minister, Dr Fayemi, would be followed by a technical session featuring global and Nigerian mining experts who would discuss the new electromagnetic survey results.
ALSO READ: Ile-Ife belongs to all Yoruba and should be respected —Oloba of Oba-Ile
The presentation and the technical session are scheduled for Wednesday, at an event designated as Nigerian Day at Mining Indaba 2018, at the Cape Town International Conference Centre, Cape Town.
This was contained in a statement issued by the ministry and signed by the minister’s Special Assistant, Media, Mr Olayinka Oyebode, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Sunday.
According to the statement, Nigeria’s participation at the 2018 Mining Indaba is expected to serve several strategic objectives, including: “Signal to the international mining community, Nigeria’s economic policy priorities which focus on the diversification of the country’s revenue base by repositioning the mining sector for greater productivity.
It will be recalled that Dr Fayemi disclosed in December 2017 that the ministry had secured the delivery of 26, 000 line kilometre of electromagnetic data, following the payment of outstanding fees to the consultant that handled the project.
He also said that the ministry would undertake extensive electromagnetic Airborne Geological Survey of promising parts of the country this year and the completion of the National Mineral Database.
“Take advantage of the attendance of key decision makers and influencers in the industry from all over the world to engage in high-level Economic Diplomacy, to address the misconceptions about Nigeria’s mining industry, especially in the light of recent recorded improvements in both hard risk and perceived risk factors in the Nigerian Mining Jurisdiction as well as improved geological data.
“Network with other government delegates (especially of African countries) and representatives of multilateral organizations, to explore potential areas of cooperation and to ensure Nigeria takes a lead and visible role in advancing the objectives of the African Mining Vision (AVM).
“Ensure robust tracking of the competitive activities of other mining countries towards identifying ways through which Nigeria can improve the marketability and competitiveness of her mining industry.” the minister added.
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IBB’s full text on 2019: Towards national rebirth
IN the past few months and weeks, I have played host to many concerned Nigerians who have continued to express legitimate and patriotic worry about the state of affairs in the country.
Some of them have continued to agonize about the turn of events and expressly worried why we have not gotten our leadership compass right as a country with so much potential and opportunity for all.
Some, out of frustration, have elected to interrogate the leadership question and wondered aloud why it has taken this long from independence till date to discover the right model on account of our peculiarities. At 57, we are still a nation in search of the right leadership to contend with the dynamics of a 21st century Nigeria.
Having been privileged to preside over this great country, interacted with all categories of persons, dissected all shades of opinions, understudied different ethnic groupings; I can rightfully conclude that our strength lies in our diversity. But exploring and exploiting that diversity as a huge potential has remained a hard nut to crack, not because we have not made efforts, but building a consensus on any national issue often has to go through the incinerator of those diverse ethnic configurations. Opinions in Nigeria are not limited to the borders of the political elite; in fact, every Nigerian no matter how young or old, has an opinion on any national issue. And it is the function of discerning leadership to understand these elemental undercurrents in the discharge of state responsibilities.
WHERE WE ARE
There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is at a major crossroads at this moment in its history; the choices we are going to make as a nation regarding the leadership question of this country and the vision for our political, economic and religious future will be largely determined by the nature or kind of change that we pursue, the kind of change that we need and the kind of change that we get.
A lot depends on our roles both as followers and leaders in our political undertakings. As we proceed to find the right thesis that would resolve the leadership question, we must bear in mind a formula that could engender national development and the undiluted commitment of our leaders to a resurgence of the moral and ethical foundations that brought us to where we are as a pluralistic and multi-ethnic society.
Nigeria, before now, has been on the one hand our dear native land, where tribes and tongues may differ but in brotherhood we stand and on the other hand a nation that continues to struggle with itself and in every way stumbling and willful in its quest to become a modern state, starting from the first republic till date. With our huge investments in the African emancipation movements and the various contributions that were made by our leadership to extricate South Africa from the colonial grip, Nigeria became the giant of Africa during that period. But having gone through leadership failures, we no longer possess the sobriety to claim that status. And we all are guilty.
We have experimented with Parliamentary and Presidential systems of government amid military interregnum at various times of our national history. We have made some progress, but not good enough to situate us on the pedestal we so desirously crave for.
It is little wonder therefore that we need to deliberately provoke systems and models that will put paid to this recycling leadership experimentation to embrace new generational leadership evolution with the essential attributes of responsive, responsible and proactive leadership configuration to confront the several challenges that we presently face.
In 2019 and beyond, we should come to a national consensus that we need new breed leadership with requisite capacity to manage our diversities and jump-start a process of launching the country on the super highway of technology-driven leadership in line with the dynamics of modern governance. It is short of saying enough of this analogue system.
Let’s give way for digital leadership orientation with all the trappings of consultative, constructive, communicative, interactive and utility-driven approach where everyone has a role to play in the process of enthroning accountability and transparency in governance.
I am particularly enamoured that Nigerians are becoming more and more conscious of their rights; and their ability to speak truth to power and interrogate those elected to represent them without fear of arrest and harassment. These are part of the ennobling principles of representative democracy.
As citizens in a democracy, it is our civic responsibility to demand accountability and transparency. Our elected leaders owe us that simple but remarkable accountability creed. Whenever we criticize them, it is not that we do not like their guts; it is just that as stakeholders in the political economy of the country, we also carry certain responsibilities.
In the past few months also, I have taken time to reflect on a number of issues plaguing the country. I get frightened by their dimensions. I get worried by their colourations. I get perplexed by their gory themes. From Southern Kaduna to Taraba state, from Benue state to Rivers, from Edo state to Zamfara, it has been a theatre of blood with the cake of crimson.
In Dansadau in Zamfara state recently, North-West of Nigeria, over 200 souls were wasted for no justifiable reason. The pogrom in Benue state has left me wondering if truly this is the same country some of us fought to keep together. I am alarmed by the amount of blood-letting across the land. Nigeria is now being described as a land where blood flows like a river, where tears have refused to dry up. Almost on a daily basis, we are both mourning and grieving, and often times left helpless by the sophistication of crimes. The Boko Haram challenge has remained unabated even though there has been a commendable effort by the government to maximally downgrade them. I will professionally advise that the battle is taken to the inner fortress of Sambisa Forest rather than responding to the insurgents’ ambushes from time to time.
THINKING ALOUD
In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country. While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.
Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens’ participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive, not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building. It must build consensus and form an aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country. It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system. Modern leadership is not just about “fighting” corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption. Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering. My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.
My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn’t an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation. We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.
GROWING INSECURITY ON OUR HANDS
The unchecked activities of the herdsmen have continued to raise doubt on the capacity of this government to handle with dispatch, security concerns that continue to threaten our dear nation; suicide bombings, kidnappings, armed banditry, ethnic clashes and other divisive tendencies. We need to bring different actors to the roundtable.
The government must generate platform to interact and dialogue on the issues with a view to finding permanent solutions to the crises. The festering nature of this crisis is an inelegant testimony to the sharp divisions and polarizations that exist across the country. For example, this is not the first time herdsmen engage in pastoral nomadism but the anger in the land is suggestive of the absence of mutual love and togetherness that once defined our nationality. We must collectively rise up to the occasion and do something urgently to arrest this drift. If left unchecked, it portends danger to our collective existence as one nation bound by common destiny; and may snowball into another internecine warfare that would not be good for nation-building.
We have to reorient the minds of the herdsmen or gun-men to embrace ranching as a new and modern way to herd cattle. We also need to expand the capacity of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Navy and Air Force to provide the necessary security for all. We need to catch up with modern sophistication in crime detection and crime fighting. Due to the peculiarity of our country, we must begin community policing to close the gaps that presently exist in our policing system. We cannot continue to use old methods and expect new results. We just have to constructively engage the people from time to time through platforms that would help them ventilate their opinions and viewpoints.
THE CHANGE MANTRA
When the ruling party campaigned with the change mantra, I had thought they would device new methods, provoke new initiatives and proffer new ways of addressing some of our developmental problems. By now, in line with her manifesto, one would have thought that the APC will give a fillip to the idea of devolution of powers and tinker with processes that would strengthen and reform the various sectors of the economy.
Like I did state in my previous statement late last year, devolution of power or restructuring is an idea whose time has come if we must be honest with ourselves. We need to critically address the issue and take informed positions based on the expectations of the people on how to make the union work better. Political parties should not exploit this as a decoy to woo voters because election time is here. We need to begin the process of restructuring both in the letter and spirit of it.
For example, I still cannot reconcile why my state government would not be allowed to fix the Minna-Suleja road, simply because it is called Federal Government road, or why state governments cannot run their own policing system to support the Federal Police. We are still experiencing huge infrastructural deficit across the country and one had thought the APC-led Federal Government would behave differently from their counterparts in previous administrations. I am hesitant to ask; where is the promised change?
LOOKING AHEAD
At this point in our national history, we must take some rather useful decisions that would lead to real development and promote peaceful co-existence among all the nationalities. We must be unanimous in what we desire for our country; new generation leadership, result-driven leadership, sound political foundation, demonetization of our politics, enhanced internal democracy, elimination of impunity in our politics, inclusiveness in decision-making, and promotion of citizens’ participation in our democratic process. The search for that new breed leadership must start now as we prepare for 2019 election.
I get worried when politicians visit to inform me about their aspirations and what you hear in terms of budgetary allocations for the electoral contest does not cover voters’ education but ridiculous sub-heads.
A typical aspirant in Nigeria draws up the budget to cover INEC, Police, Army and men and officers of the Civil Defense, instead of talking of voters’ education, mobilization and sensitization. Even where benchmarks are set for electoral expenditure, monitoring and compliance are always difficult to adhere to. We truly need to reform the political system. And we must deliberately get fresh hands involved for improved participation.
We need new ways and new approaches in our political order. We need a national rebirth. We need a rebranded Nigeria and rebranded politics. It is not so much for the people, but for the institutions that are put in place to promote our political engagements. We must strengthen the one man one vote mantra. It is often ridiculous for me when people use smaller countries in our West Africa sub-region as handy references of how democracy should be. It beggars our giant of Africa status.
The next election in 2019 therefore presents us a unique opportunity to reinvent the will and provoke fresh leadership that would immediately begin the process of healing the wounds in the land and ensuring that the wishes and aspirations of the people are realized in building and sustaining national cohesion and consensus.
I pray the Almighty Allah grant us the gift of good life to witness that glorious dawn in 2019. Amen.
I have not written an open letter to the President, I have just shared my thoughts with fellow compatriots on the need to enthrone younger blood into the mainstream of our political leadership starting from 2019.
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Ighalo To Home Eagles: Make Nigeria Proud Tonight!
By James Agberebi: Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo, has sent a good luck message to the home-based Super Eagles as they prepare to take on hosts Morocco in the final of this year’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) later tonightfrom 8pm, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
The Home Eagles will hope to emerge champions of CHAN for the first time ever when they take on Morocco after making their first final appearance.
Their best outing was at the 2014 edition in South Africa where they finished third.
On their part, Morocco, who are also making their first CHAN final, will be banking on the support of fans who will be inside the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Speaking in a 19 seconds video from his base in China which was published on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) verified Twitter handle, Ighalo urged the players to do Nigeria proud.
“Hello guys. I just want to wish the Super Eagles all the very best today in the final in Morocco,” Ighalo said.
“They have done well so far in the tournament and they are playing in the final today.
“I wish you guys all the very best. Go and make Nigeria proud, victory all the way. Peace guys.”
Ighalo To Home Eagles: Make Nigeria Proud Tonight!
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6 Years After, Christians In Syria Have First Church Service
On Saturday, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Aphrem II, led a prayer service in the damaged St Mary’s church. According to AFP, the St Mary church still showed signs of the conflict its congregation had experienced: “Stones, strips of wire, papers and remnants of rockets were strewn across the church floor, and bright sunlight […]
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6 Years After, Christians In Syria Have First Church Service
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Daala Oruwari: How back-to-back disappointments saved OAP's life
Daala had gone out with her family to apply for their permanent voter's card (PVC) but were met with one delay of the other.
You know how they say disappointments are blessings in disguise? Well, Daala Oruwari is living proof of this.
The OAP just took to Instagram to share the story of a chain of disappointments that ended up saving her life.
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According to her, she had gone out with her family to apply for their permanent voter's card (PVC) but were met with one delay of the other.
From the registration itself to car battery issues, everything that could go wrong went wrong. That is until she started feeling dizzy and passed out.
Waking up in the hospital, Daala was told that her blood pressure had been very low and if they had left the premises of the Ikoyi club where they had gone to register for their PVC, she may have died.
Read the full story below:
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Once again, an age-old proverb is proven right and another life saved.
Daala Oruwari: How back-to-back disappointments saved OAP's life
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Pope Declares Feb 23 World Fasting, Praying Day
Pope Francis has invited Roman Catholics, all Christians and members of other religions to observe Feb. 23 as a day of prayer, fasting and initiatives for peace. Francis while addressing tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly blessing, on Sunday urged everyone to ‘say no’ to violence and conflict. According […]
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Pope Declares Feb 23 World Fasting, Praying Day
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We Just Cant Get Over These Style Moments From The 60th Grammy Awards; What Say You?
Even though the the 60th Grammy awards was a few days back, we still cant get over some of the moments which were definitely picture-worthy. One thing that could be…
The post We Just Cant Get Over These Style Moments From The 60th Grammy Awards; What Say You? appeared first on Wedding Digest Naija.
We Just Cant Get Over These Style Moments From The 60th Grammy Awards; What Say You?
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Obey God’s Instruction, Experience Supernatural `Turnaround,’ Cleric Tells Christians
Senior Pastor Anthony Amaefule of the Living Faith Church, has charged Christians to obey God’s instructions in order to experience “supernatural turnaround.’’
He spoke in Lafia while delivering a Sunday Communion Service Sermon titled, “Obedience: Gateway to realm of noiseless breakthroughs.”
According to Amaefule, the difficulties facing some believers is not that they are atheists, but because they failed or refused to diligently obey instructions from God.
“God’s instruction is the only pathway to success, so every instruction of the scripture is to be followed if something good must follow you.
“You are where you are today because of the instructions you have obeyed and those you have disobeyed.
“It is obedience to the word of God that connects a person to his destiny, while people who disobey God’s word find themselves in difficult situations and live difficult lives.
“Every time you reject instruction, you suffer demotion, spiritual demotion.
“Every time you reject God’s instruction, you lose touch with the presence of God. So you don’t follow God’s instruction and end up in disgrace,” Amaefule said.
He, however, added that it takes discipline and uncommon sacrifice to follow God’s instructions, hence the need for believers to be willing to mentally and physically discipline themselves.
“There are instructions that will come your way but your mind will argue, your body will react, but those instructions will be the turning point of your life.
“So, whatever God tells us to do, do it, our profit in life is tied to the instructions we follow,” he said.
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Obey God’s Instruction, Experience Supernatural `Turnaround,’ Cleric Tells Christians
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FG clamps down on illegal sand miners in Lagos
A Federal Taskforce set-up by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in conjunction with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force (SMSTF), over the weekend clamped down on illegal sand dredgers in Lagos, arresting the managers of two sand mining companies, Knight Crown Engineering Works, and Timanj Oil & Gas for alleged illegal operation and non-payment of royalties at their dredging sites in Ibeshe area of Ikorodu, in Lagos.
While the Timanj manager was later released after the company produced a Notification of Grant, with the claim of non-operation within the period under review, and was afterwards given the appropriate bill for unpaid royalties, Knight Crown had neither quarry lease nor evidence of payment of royalties.
It will be recalled that in the ongoing clampdown on illegal operations, SMSTF had earlier on Monday, also in Ibeshe area, arrested the managers of Oretol Nigeria Limited and PNC Synergy.
Oretol later produced its operating licence but had no evidence of payment of royalties, while PNC Synergy had neither. Both were also billed accordingly and their business premises locked up until they comply.
During the inspection exercise carried out by the SMSTF, many of the illegal operators had abandoned their sites as the news of the earlier arrests spread in the area, while some workers could be seen running away on sighting the taskforce.
According to the task force, the clampdown, which followed the ministry’s recent capacity building, is in line with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007, and the Mineral and Mining Regulation of 2011, which state that no company should operate without a licence, and any operating company must pay royalties as it operates.
Speaking to Tribune Online exclusively after the raid, the Secretary-General of the Dredgers Association of Nigeria, Mr Richard Ntan alleged that only 11 of the 41 operators in the Ibeshe area have licenses and pay royalties.
According to Mr Ntan, “all the arrested dredging companies are illegal operators and are not members of the Dredges Association of Nigeria. They are all illegal dredgers once they don’t have the permission of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA). Knight Crown Engineering Works particularly has always operated illegally. They always work in the dead of the night. They have refused to belong to the Dredgers Association of Nigeria, which is the parent body of all legal dredgers in the country.”
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FG clamps down on illegal sand miners in Lagos
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APC Urges President Buhari To Dissolve NDDC Board
The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the board of Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) following the expiration of its tenure in December.
The state Publicity Secretary, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, made the call in a statement in Lagos on Sunday.
The party said that the tenure of the board had expired in December after a four-year term.
The party said it frowned at surreptitious moves by some “powerful persons at the Presidency” to elongate the tenure of the board beyond the Dec. 8, 2017 term.
“Any extension of the tenure of the board is unconstitutional and an attempt to give Cross River and Akwa-Ibom states undue advantage of serving for continuous period of six years as chairman and managing director, respectively, to the detriment of other member states.
“For the fact that it is the turn of Ondo State, as the fifth highest oil producing state in the country, to produce the next Managing Director of NDDC, President Muhammadu Buhari must compensate the people of Ondo State for their commitment to the Party (APC) and the victory of the President in the 2015 presidential election.
“It is on record that of all the nine oil producing states in Nigeria, it was only in Ondo State that President Muhammadu Buhari had an overwhelming victory in the 2015 Presidential election and we have not been so compensated.”
The party, therefore, called on the President to, as matter of urgency, dissolve the NDDC board and appoint loyal and committed members of the party as chairman from Delta State and managing director from Ondo State.
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APC Urges President Buhari To Dissolve NDDC Board
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Salisu Yusuf: Super Eagles have shown a lot of character
The tactician is aware of the scale of the task facing the hosts in Sunday’s CHAN final, but he remains hopeful despite his team’s injury setbacks
Salisu Yusuf: Super Eagles have shown a lot of character
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Ezenwa: Eagles Can Shock Morocco, I Have Confidence In Ajiboye
By Adeboye Amosu: Home-based Super Eagles goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, insists there is nothing special in facing host nation Morocco in front of what is expected to be vociferous home fans in Sunday’s final match at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), Completesportsnigeria.com reports.
“It is not going to be difficult playing Morocco because for us we have been playing away from home for like three weeks. Our objective is to win the trophy tomorrow in Casablanca,” Ezenwa declared during the pre-match conference on Saturday.
The Enyimba goalkeeper has been ruled out of the game due to the injury he picked in the semi-final win against Sudan and will be replaced by Oladele Ajiboye, the man who came in for him in the game.
Ajiboye proved to be a capable replacement as he made a number of vital saves to help the Eagles scale through the Sudan hurdle and Ezenwa has backed him to shine again against the hosts.
“In football you need team spirit which we have in the team so my absence will not affect the team because my deputy has done well against Sudan,” Ezenwa added.
“We’re ready, it’s going to be a big final for both sides and we’re confident we can win the trophy. We have all been good in the tournament and deserves to be in the final.”
Ezenwa: Eagles Can Shock Morocco, I Have Confidence In Ajiboye
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De Gea or Donarumma? Bring them on! – Navas
The shot-stopper would welcome an additional challenge at the Bernabeu and says that he is “calm” over the situation
De Gea or Donarumma? Bring them on! – Navas
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Unsafe abortion: NGO tasks Lagos on youth-friendly health centres
THE Action Health Incorporated (AHI) has called on Lagos State Government to provide to make Primary Health Centres (PHCs) youth-friendly to reduce unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and s3xually transmitted infections.
The AHI Project Coordinator, Miss Funso Bukoye, made the appeal on Saturday in Lagos at a meeting on Expanding Young People’s Access to Youth-Friendly Health Services (YFHS).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AHI is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting young people’s health and development to ensure their successful transition to healthy and productive adulthood.
Bukoye said that findings by AHI at Iwaya and Ilaje Primary Health Centres in Lagos revealed that many young people engaged in risky s3xual behaviour due to lack of information on s3xual and reproductive health.
She claimed that judgmental attitudes of healthcare service providers, socio-cultural norms, adolescents’ own fear and shame, disapproval from parents and community gate-keeping contributed to adolescents’ inaccessibility of health information and services.
“Risky s3xual behaviour among young people is increasing, especially in Lagos with a population of over 20 million people, of which at least 30 percent are between the ages of 10 and 24 years.
“These adolescents deserve high-quality healthcare services that are devoid of criticism or unwelcoming attitudes that can keep them away.”
“Involvement in multiple s3xual partnerships reduced from 56.1 percent to 48.5 percent among 500 youths involved in AHI project intervention in Iwaya and Ilaje-Bariga communities.”
“Young people who answered HIV-related questions correctly increased from 43 percent to 57 percent, young people who will go to PHC to access YFHS increased from 18 percent to 34.6 percent,’’ she said.
The coordinator said that forty-eight percent of youths had access to health education, 21 percent accessed s3xual and reproductive health services and 31 percent accessed general health services at the facilities,” she said.
Bukoye called for comprehensive s3xuality education and more integration of youth-friendly health care services at primary healthcare facilities to reach young people including those in remote areas.
Mrs Adenike Esiet, Executive Director of AHI, said that there should be capacity building and on-the-job training for healthcare providers to effectively deliver youth-friendly health care services.
“The world is changing, and these young ones are exposed to so much information and peer pressure; we need professionals that will educate these young ones without criticism.”
“If the attitude of our healthcare service providers does not improve, these young ones will not confide in us; they will lie that they want to treat malaria or a headache as against getting contraceptive or treatment for infections,” she said.
The Permanent-Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said that the state government would collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that youths would be effectively developed to live a healthy life.
Dr Olufemi Onanuga, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Primary Health Care, said that the government was committed to the healthy development of the youth.
He said that more youth-friendly health centres would be provided in the state.
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Unsafe abortion: NGO tasks Lagos on youth-friendly health centres
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Kano Pillars vs MFM: Olukoya Boys poised for a tough mission
Sai Masu Gida are aiming to build further momentum on Sunday as they take on Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side at Sani Abacha Stadium
Kano Pillars vs MFM: Olukoya Boys poised for a tough mission
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Morocco Coach Sellami: We Respect Nigeria But We Must Win CHAN Trophy
By Adeboye Amosu: Morocco head coach Jamal Sellami believes the team have enough quality to beat Nigeria in Sunday’s final match at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), reports Completesportsnigeria. com.
The host nation will look to win the trophy for the first time when they take on the home-based Super Eagles who are on the same mission in Casablanca.
The Atlas Lions have impressed in the competition by playing an exciting attacking brand of football which has endeared them to both locals and neutrals.
Though Sellami attests to Super Eagles quality, he is upbeat his charges will go home with the trophy.
“Tomorrow’s (today’s) game is extremely important because we want to win and crown our efforts. After the work we put in we deserve to win the trophy because of our efforts,” Sellami stated during his interaction with the media ahead of the game.
“We have three players who were in CHAN 2014 and today we spoke to the players that it is a completely different ball game and the players are ready to deliver.
“We will be playing against a difficult opponent but all my players are ready for the game because it is a special game for them.
“Nigeria have individual players and they want to win duels but my team is prepared and we have qualities to get solutions against them.
“From the beginning of the tournament we selected players based on their physical conditions and the opponents. Despite the Nigeria team being strong we have all that it takes to win and keep the throphy here.
“I’m fully confident of my team but we respect Nigeria because they are good that is why they made it to the final.
“El Kaabi is leading us to the final and for him now is to show us tomorrow that he is a great striker. Harve Renard (coach of the main squad) is here and he is looking at him because before the tournament many in Morocco don’t know about him.
“My final satisfaction will be to win the trophy tomorrow and we are prepared for that.”
Morocco Coach Sellami: We Respect Nigeria But We Must Win CHAN Trophy
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Boko Haram completely defeated – Nigerian Army commander
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Boko Haram completely defeated – Nigerian Army commander
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Igbo is most foolish tribe in the world – Uwazuruike
Founder and leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, has described the Igbo as foolish. The MASSOB founder insisted that Igbo may not become Nigeria’s president because they only fight for their pocket. Speaking with Punch, Uwazurike recalled how Igbo was pushed aside after forming […]
Igbo is most foolish tribe in the world – Uwazuruike
Igbo is most foolish tribe in the world – Uwazuruike
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MSMEs Grapple With Paucity Of Fund Despite Lifeline
Small businesses play a critical role in the economy of Nigeria. It was this realisation that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) set up the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) so that small business owners can access funds at a low interest rate. In this report, BAMIDELE OGUNWUSI, IKECHI NZEAKO, OLUSEGUN KOIKI, look at the impact on the economy and a huge part of the fund is lying in the vault of the apex bank. Excerpts:
In a report last year by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the statistical organisation said Nigeria has about 37 million Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME), and if properly financed, it is expected that they would make far-reaching contributions to the country’s economy.
The recognition of the significant contributions of the MSME sub-sector to the economy, and to bridge existing huge financing gap, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) took a bold step by establishing the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF).
To access the Fund, the CBN asked MSMEs to apply through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), as its statutes do not allow it to deal directly with businesses on such issues.
According to the CBN, the PFIs are to submit requests from MSMES to the fund in a format that shall be prescribed by the CBN from time to time.
It also said that applications would be processed on receipt of complete documentation, while it would communicate the terms and conditions for the approved grant within one month of submission.
Guidelines For MSMEDF
In the guidelines for setting up the MSMEDF, the CBN said 10 per cent of the fund is devoted to developmental objectives such as grants, capacity building and administrative costs while 90 per cent commercial component would be released to PFIs at two per cent for on-lending to MSMEs at a maximum interest rate of nine per cent per annum.
To achieve the provision, which stipulated that women’s access to financial services should increased by at least 15 per cent annually to eliminate gender disparity, the CBN earmarked 60 per cent of the fund to providing financial services to women.
In addition, it stated that two per cent of the wholesale component of the fund should go to economically active persons with disabilities, excluding mental disabilities.
The CBN said eligible activities to be financed include agricultural value chain, services, cottage industries, artisans, trade and commerce and any income generating business as may be prescribed by the CBN from time to time.
The broad objective of the fund, the CBN said, was to channel low-interest funds to the MSME sub-sector of the Nigerian economy through PFIs to: enhance access by MSMEs to financial services; increase productivity and output of microenterprises; increase employment and create wealth and engender inclusive growth.
Listing the benefits of the MSMEDF, the CBN said the developmental components would be utilised for capacity building of staff of PFIs, research and provision of other financial services infrastructure.
It also stated that the long-term single digit loans at nine per cent per annum had resulted in reduced cost of borrowing, which will impact positively on the earnings of the MSMEs, adding that the Fund will provide liquidity for the sub-sector and result in general improvement of the financial system stability, while it would ensure job creation.
However, with the myriad of complaints from the expected beneficiaries of the Fund, it is becoming very obvious that many of these objectives are yet to be achieved, while the expected benefits are still far from being seen.
With its reported disbursement of N76.3 billion of the total fund, a large chunk of the money it appears, to be either still sitting in its safes or had been diverted to other purposes, which would require an investigation by the anti-corruption agencies to unravel.
While the CBN claimed that about N76 billion has been disbursed to MSMEs, investigations reveal the opposite.
Engagement with major MSME associations faulted this claim and revealed that most MSMEs have been unable to access a kobo from the Fund.
The complaint of inaccessibility was corroborated by the Bank of Industry (BoI), a major party in the disbursement of the MSMEDF, which disclosed that it was yet to access the fund for onward disbursement to MSMEs.
To buttress the country’s losses due to the poor administration of the fund, the NBS revealed that Nigeria spent N2.29 trillion on importation in the first quarter of 2017 alone.
According to the NBS, Nigeria imported cane sugar worth N38 billion from Brazil; mixtures of odoriferous substances worth N13.2 billion were imported from Ireland; chemical fertilisers with nitrogen worth N7.3 billion were imported from United Arab Emirates and milk preparations worth N4.6 billion were imported from Ireland.
Today, 80 per cent of Nigeria’s consumption comprises foreign products; and if this money had been properly disbursed to local entrepreneurs, the country’s import rate would have dropped by now — because the local manufacturers would be encouraged to produce.
Also, the inability to access funding is stunting economic growth, while many companies, mostly manufacturers, are dying daily due to lack of access to finance.
Furthermore, the CBN was discovered to be flouting some of the guidelines it put forward in setting up the fund.
One critical guideline flouted by the apex bank is its engagement with the steering committee.
Also, investigations revealed that financial institutions, mainly commercial banks, mortgage banks and microfinance banks are frustrating the disbursement of the fund, as many of them are not well disposed to the programme.
The banks are expected to lend to MSMEs at nine per cent, after obtaining funds from the CBN at three per cent, leaving a spread of six per cent for the banks.
Instead of enrolling the MSMEs to the MSMEDF, it was discovered that the banks lend their own funds to the small business owners at between 25 per cent and 30 per cent.
However, despite claims by the CBN, President, Association of Micro Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AMEN), Saviour Iche, challenged the CBN and BoI to publish the names of the beneficiaries of the fund, while he called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe BoI.
He said, “Let them come out and tell us the beneficiaries, because some companies that are not registered are collecting money because somebody is there who knows how to exploit the system. That is the problem we have.
“If the entire MSMEs groups are saying that they are not benefitting from the fund, it means something is wrong. We the MSMEs groups meet at our level and we discuss; none of us has collected the money. Then who is collecting the money? That is the big question that we don’t know.”
The Director General of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, ABACCIMA, Henry Nduka, confirmed that with millions of MSMEs in Aba, only three persons have been able to access the fund.
The post MSMEs Grapple With Paucity Of Fund Despite Lifeline appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.
MSMEs Grapple With Paucity Of Fund Despite Lifeline
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Tales Of Disappointments Trail MSMEDF
He noted that funding is a critical component in MSMEs growth and survival, adding that lack of access to funding was making it difficult for them to develop their businesses and acquire better technologies for production, thereby stifling competitiveness.
“Specifically, we have well over 300,000 registered tailors and fashion designers in Aba, and more than 100,000 finished leather products producers in Aba. There are not more than three persons that have been able to access the MSME fund,” he said.
Noting that most of its members were not aware of the N220 billion MSMEDF, he lamented that with its huge membership base, the CBN had not deemed it necessary to approach it on how its members can benefit.
He said in most cases, officials of the CBN, BoI and other PFIs prefer to deal with the businesses directly — a situation that had further made the funds inaccessible to the small business owners.
According to Nduka, most of the owners of the businesses are not properly educated and usually rely on the assistance, advice and services of the chamber in order to provide the necessary documentation to access such funds.
Expressing his dissatisfaction at the secrecy surrounding the fund, Dikko Radda, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), disclosed that the agency was aware that the CBN had set up the fund, but it was not involved, neither was it consulted in ensuring the success of the fund.
He said on his appointment, he asked a lot of questions as regards to the fund; because he believed that it was necessary that if there is such money meant for MSMEs in the country, there should be collaboration with SMEDAN, being an agency of government that is in charge of MSMEs development in the country.
Radda argued that SMEDAN should have played the role of being a referral body, because it has more knowledge on the MSMEs in all the states of the federation than any other body.
He added that SMEDAN should have played a monitoring role and also provides business development support to the beneficiaries because that is its mandate.
He faulted the CBN for not involving SMEDAN in the programme, criticised the use of consultants for the programme, a role, which according to him, could have been given to SMEDAN.
Radda also added that he had held several meetings with the CBN, through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which led to the setting up of a committee to work out modalities on how SMEDAN could be included in the programme.
However, he lamented that for over one year since the committee was inaugurated, nothing had been heard from the CBN on the issue, noting that SMEDAN had written several letters to the CBN to that effect, without success.
Moreover, the refusal of the CBN to publish the names of those it claimed were beneficiaries of the Fund has raised further doubts about the integrity of the bank and the fund.
The CBN stated that information about the beneficiaries would be obtained by sending a mail to its dedicated help desk, ‘contactcbn.gov.ng’, where it said relevant staff would be available to provide responses.
Taiwo Maja is the chief executive officer of Smart Space System Limited, a technology training company based in Lagos.
Speaking on access to funds in the country, he said processes of obtaining the loans are cumbersome and serve as barriers to accessing them and that has stopped his company from trying.
“We are focusing on what we are doing and hope that something will happen some day,” he said in an with interview INDEPENDENT.
Suashi Ini-Usoro is the founder and managing partner of E-business Hub Nigeria, a company that trains entrepreneurs on how run their businesses successfully.
She said companies should study their businesses properly and determine the type of external funding they require.
She said: “If you are a small business that has a very high monthly turnover, and you will want to scale up to continue to meet the demand of your customers, by all means take loans and try and access low interest loans like the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund loan or from a few other institutions that give low interest rate loans. But if your business does not have a high monthly turn over, I will advise that you either wait or try and access grants or angel investors for your business or venture.”
However, she said many need the help of an investor if they want to diversify or expand their businesses especially when their financial standing cannot really give them the desired venture.
She argued that growing a successful business is not just about collecting any fund that is offered to the company as an investment, adding that there is need for business owners to be wise and smart, taking into cognisance what the investment would cost them in the short and long-run. It is a decision the organisations have to make.
She stated that whatever way a business owner chooses to grow his business, it is expedient that before they accept an investor proposal, they should carefully go through it in an objective manner, taking into account the pros and cons. She added that businesses should not loans that would be a burden they cannot service, saying that this may lead to creating financial challenges for the business.
According to Adefemi Oluyemi, a Lagos-based small scale farmer, due to the high risks inherent in the agricultural sector and because farmers are unable provide material guarantees, producers have great difficulty in accessing funding to invest in their farms.
He said this has slowed the pace of agricultural modernisation through the purchase of production equipment that is essential to farmers so that they may increase their income and contribute to their countries’ food security. He called on government and financial institutions to make special funds available so that farmers can access them easily.
For Olawale Akinpelu, a Lagos-based consultant, what small business owners’ need is not loans but grants. According to him, taking loans by small business owners in the country put a lot of pressure on them and lead to stifle.
He posited that the Nigerian business environment is harsh and makes it difficult for businesses to survive. He called on government to set up agencies that will help business owners to access grants and training that will make their businesses to be sustainable.
Financial institutions have been called upon to collaborate with Small and Medium Scale (SMEs) business operators in the country in order to assist them to grow their business and assess the N220bn intervention funds granted them by the government.
Mr. Tunji Ope, an SME consultant in an interview with our correspondent, said that unless the financial institutions work with the SMEs, they would not be able to assess the N22bn intervention funds the Federal Government granted them some few years ago.
Ope decried that many of the financial institutions in the country show lackadaisical attitude towards the plights of SMEs, which he said is an integral part of any economy.
For the SMEs to assess the funds, he said the banks should change their structures from just granting of loans, but to also participate in the usage of such funds to beneficiaries and ensure that the funds are utilised for that purpose.
According to him, many of the financial institutions in the country have little or no understanding of how SMEs operate, stressing that different stringent measures are always attached before SMEs could assess funds.
He added: “If any financial system is going to consider an SME for funds, they are going to look at two basic things; financial statement and bank statement, apart from the full understanding of the business.
“Also, the issue of tax compliance would be looked into. If any financial institution is going to look at granting loan to the SMEs, they are going to look at their taxes and financial records and bank statements. If they are not able to provide all those documentations, there is no financial institution that will support them to facilitate the loans.
The post Tales Of Disappointments Trail MSMEDF appeared first on Independent Newspapers Nigeria.
Tales Of Disappointments Trail MSMEDF
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