₦airaland Forum

Atiku is just too desperate to become the president of Nigeria thereby doing everything possible to come out victorious come 2019 election. i appreciate the fact that the vice president just took the hammer straight to the point and nailed it right there.

This is commendable, i appreciate the fact that this administration has done so much in attracting investment in Nigeria and has successfully diversify the economy

it's funny how the PDP has taking advantage of the restructuring case to campaign to Nigerians, they seize to understand that Nigerians understand when people seeking for political offices are politicizing issues, no matter how they want to put it, the patriotic Nigerians that wished this administration well knows that this administration is seriously working toward good governance which is a good step to restructuring.

The spokesperson of the development agency of the British High Commission in Nigeria, David Smith, in a response to PREMIUM TIMES’ inquiry said the jobs would be created through UK government’s LINKS programme, an initiative to “power economic growth in northern Nigeria.’

The economy of northern Nigeria, particularly the north east region, is currently facing serious development pressures consequent upon ravaging insurgent activities by religious extremists, Boko Haram.

Apart from the devastation of physical infrastructure and economy in the region, millions of citizens, including women and children, have been forced to join the growing population of internally displaced persons as a result of herdsmen and farmers conflict.

Prior to her visit to Nigeria last week, UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, identified Nigeria as home to the largest concentration of the world’s poorest people, with the bulk of the population in the north region.

During the visit, the UK Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, who led a business delegation to the business event as part of the visit, announced a new £70-million programme to create 100,000 jobs in Nigeria.

Ms Baldwin said the programme would raise the income of three million people from the poorest parts of Nigeria.

But, giving details on the programme, Mr Smith said the LINKS initiative is a seven year programme to commence in early 2019, aimed at supporting job creation and income generation for the poor, women and those living with disability in the three northern states of Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa.

He said implementation of the programme would be through a contracted service provider, which the UK government is currently out in the market to recruit, with the process already in the evaluation stage for the first bids.

The service provider, Mr Smith said, would propose and implement the details of the programme, apart from working with a range of partners, including Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and the UK Department for International Trade.



“The provider will also liaise with Nigerian agencies such as the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and key international development agencies like the World Bank.

“In a practical sense, LINKS will work by using a range of approaches such as technical assistance to public and private sectors, targeted grant funding and fostering linkages between investors, financiers and firms.

“The programme will focus on three northern Nigerian states of Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa, with expectation that it has wider benefits which could spread to other northern states,” Mr Smith said.

On the types of jobs to be created under LINKS, he said these would be as varied and diverse as the people of Nigeria.

Apart from affordable housing, information and communication technology and even waste management jobs in urban, rural jobs would cover agricultural supply chain and processing jobs.

In terms of categorization, the spokesperson said 40 per cent of the 100,000 jobs would be reserved for women, while six per cent would go to people living with disabilities.

Besides, at least 20 per cent of the jobs would be created in small replicable business models, like franchises the middle class, diaspora and modestly wealthy can also invest in.

“So, it’s not just about big business or global leaders. It’s about real Nigerians,” he said.

Asked whether the initiative was part of a larger attempt by the UK government to help resolve the poverty situation the UK PM referred to in her controversial reference to Nigeria as home to the largest concentration of the world’s poorest people, Mr Smith said: “Yes, absolutely.”

He explained Ms May’s government believes the majority of the income improvements for the poor through LINKS would come from “identifying innovative technologies or business models that will improve competitiveness and productivity across multiple fields, in a way that ensures the poor share the benefits.”



Apart from testing these and other successful programmes, Mr Smith said they would help the entrepreneur or business who has developed the innovation to take it to the next level through attracting private investment.

Also, these innovations should expand and improve the lives of millions more as they spread across the northern part of the country and beyond.

“The LINKS innovation and investment programme announced by the Prime Minister is a huge step the UK Department for International Development is immensely proud of,” Mr Smith said of the initiative.

“Helping to raise the income of three million people and create 100,000 vital jobs will transform Nigeria for the better.

“For the people of Nigeria, LINKS means more, bigger and innovative firms creating jobs and raising incomes, both directly and through their supply chains, while generating higher revenues for taxation. Together, we can create a Nigeria fit for the future.”
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/282402-how-we-plan-to-create-100000-jobs-in-nigeria-uk-govt.htm

I disagree with this post, Shakarau is just like every other defector that has defected for one reason or the other, i don't see any difference from what others have been doing, the only thing i know is that the APC is a movement for positive change,i believe that anyone defecting to that party will definitely be moving for change.

The Federal Government has offered for subscription two-year savings bond at 11.36 per cent and three-year savings bond at 12.36 per cent, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said. Eurobonds According to the offer circular obtained from the DMO website on Tuesday, the two-year bond will be due in Sept. 2020 while the three-year bond will be due in Sept. 2021. It, however, did not state how much was offered, but added that the maximum subscription was N50 million at N1,000 per unit, subject to minimum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000. The website said that the bond was fully backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government, with quarterly coupon payments to bondholders. The savings bond issuance is expected to help finance the nation’s budget deficit. It is to also part of the Federal Government’s programme targeted at the lower income earners to encourage savings and also earn more income (interest), compared to their savings accounts with banks. The circular also said that the offer would close on Friday. (NAN) Related

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/fg-offers-2-savings-bonds-at-11-36-12-36-for-september/

The federal government has set aside $1.3 billion (about N468 billion) from the National Sovereign Investment Fund to finance five critical infrastructure projects.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Sunday when he appeared as guest on a Nigeria Television Authority programme, “Stepping Up”.

The minister said the five ongoing projects to benefit from the fund included the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway construction, the second Niger bridge and the East-West road construction.

The other two are the Abuja – Kano expressway construction and the Mambilla power project.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was committed to infrastructure development across Nigeria and would continue to revive and complete all abandoned projects inherited from previous administration.

“We believed that rather than starting new projects, it will benefit Nigerians to complete all inherited abandoned projects.

“To appreciate the commitment of the administration to infrastructure: In 2014 Nigeria spent N14 billion on transportation, N34 bilion on water resources and agriculture and N106 billion on power works and housing.

“In 2017, this administration spent N107 billion on transportation, N130 billion on agriculture and water resources and N325 billion on Power, Works and Housing.

“The administration, in a manner unprecedented in the history of the country, spent a total of N2.7 trillion on capital projects in 2016 and 2017 alone,” he said.

The minister listed the Oyo-Ogbomosho expressway being funded by Sukuk bond, the 240km Enugu Port Harcourt roads among the numerous ongoing projects of the government.



He said the administration had completed the reconstruction of the failed Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa road which had been abandoned for over 10 years.

The minister identified the 69 Federal Government ongoing projects in the South-East region, adding that the administration was miffed by the false allegation that the region was abandoned in infrastructure development.

On rail projects, Mr Mohammed said the 156km Lagos -Ibadan standard gauge was ongoing.

He said the government in April signed an agreement with a consortium led by General Electric to revamp the 3,500 km narrow gauge between Lagos and Kano.

The minister said the 49.2 km Abuja light rail project was recently commissioned by the president.

“When we came in the light rail project was 53.8 per cent completed. Within 18 months we are able to complete it 100 per cent.

“This is the first integrated rail transportation mode in Africa that allows transportation by rail from the city to the airport to go by air.

“It is being run by two coaches now and the government has placed order for 48 more coaches to cover the entire Abuja.

Mr Mohammed said the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge was working and the government had in the pipeline, rail projects for all parts of the country.

The minister said the Buhari government was on track and would continue to develop critical infrastructure for national development. (NAN)



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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/282313-nigerian-govt-okays-1-3bn-for-five-critical-projects-lai-mohammed.html

It's unfortunate that Nigerians has decided to rubbish their democratic value because of the hatred they have for the Buhari led Government, it is not new that the American president has no respect for no one which make most of his statements disrespectful, i appreciate the fact that some patriotic citizens has kicked against the statement he made against the Nigeria president.

I see no reason why some Nigerians come out baseless issues just to drag the Buhari led administration to the mud, from my own understanding they were not supposed to remain in the IDP camp forever. the fact is that the government are really trying they should be credited for doing the best they can instead of criticizing them. No government will sit back and watch the people they govern been killed by some gunmen.

It's glaring that Turaki is losing it, all of this is based on campaign for next year election, him saying that the President can no longer garner majority votes in the zone as he did in previous elections is as fake as his ambition, in recent times, the zone has proven their support for the president move for change.His vow to implement the principles of restructuring is not what Nigeria needed right now, the officials need to restructure their mind first.

No patriotic Nigerian citizen will join force with any officials that is on the quest to destroy this country, if we understand the northern political power in sokoto then we will know the implication of this in Tambuwal's political career. I think the rational thinking of both divide can be differentiated without much comparison.

Vanguard Media Limited on Tuesday, at the Civic Centre in Lagos, hosted the inaugural edition of the Vanguard Economic Forum series on Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Various speakers at the event made presentations on the theme, “The impact of Technology Adoption for MSMEs in a changing Tax Policy and Regulatory Environment”. Excerpt: By Yinka Kolawole, Providence Emmanuel, Elisabeth Adegbesan, Destiny Eseaga & Cynthia Alo The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said it has developed various strategies including deployment of technology to facilitate ease of tax compliance for businesses. This was disclosed by Mr. Syracuse Ekeji, Director/State Coordinator, Lagos Island, FIRS, who represented Executive Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Fowler. Syracuse Ekejii Director, FIRS He stated: “With all the challenges that we know MSMEs are faced with, we have been able to develop a number of strategies which includes; the introduction of a number of e-solutions, our robust use of ICT, to support in any way we can, to bring the payment of tax to their doorstep such that they can pay from the comfort of their offices or even on any public transport, you can pay your taxes. “By way of strategies that have enabled us perform and serve you better, we have a long chain of strategies that we have adopted. Our decision to adopt ICT has made the payment of tax easy. As part of the strategies, we have about 6 e-solutions platforms ranging from e- registration, e-receipt, e-payment, etc, all these you can do from the comfort of your home.” The tax man however lamented that the contribution of MSMEs to the country’s tax revenue has been very poor, adding that it has been on the decline over the past three and half years, from 2015 to 2018. “On the average over the last three and a half year, MSMEs’ contribution to tax revenue has averaged just 6.7 percent of the entire collection but we can make it better. MSMEs’ contribution to tax collection from 2015 to 2018 was low and has been dropping within the three and half year period. We collected tax of N4.027 trillion in 2017. The contribution of MSMEs is on the average of 6.7 percent of the entire period. Instead of increasing, it is going down,” he added. He acknowledged the challenges confronting MSMEs in the country. “We are aware that you are faced with a lot of challenges, we are also humans as revenue agents but unfortunately we operate under the law and we cannot do anything that is not provided by the law,” he stated. In order to make tax compliance easier for business owners, he noted: “We have over 30 tax offices in Lagos to make it easier for you to comply with our tax constitution.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/were-deploying-technology-to-assist-msmes-firs/

Different aspirants with different ideas, there are major projects to promise Nigerians with, using the international ideology to campaign to Nigerians will not work, this is based on the fact that Nigeria is in the quest for positive change, what Nigeria need now is beyond what he is promising, as a patriotic Nigerian i am urging him to work in the development of this country with this government instead of this offer

This is actually a matter of public interest, i also agree with the APC on this one, they should reconvene for the sake of Nigeria. Saraki is always trying to politicize everything to achieve his selfish aim.

This man is not getting it, i don't know what been strong means to him,i believe the president is strong in countering corruption, fighting insurgency, looters, in bringing the true meaning of Democracy to Nigeria and effective usage of the principles of checks and balances. Nigerians don't need strong people we need patriotic and competence leaders like the president.

This is a fake news, i don't know why some people have decided to drag Mr president name to the mud just because of sentiment and hatred for his government. even if the American president has said that, the patriotic Nigerians knows how far our president has gone in the development of this country and will always be proud of him. i understand that Trump doesn't hide his feeling but i am sure that he cannot go that far.

The federal government quest to develop Nigeria positively for the people's well being is really commendable, i appreciate the fact that the people in the south south are beginning to enjoy this government, this government has actually do for them what the previous government has denied them which is a good thing.

The Nigerian Army says its troops have killed three Boko Haram insurgents while on fighting patrol in Kukawa in Baga Local Government Area in Borno on Sunday.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, disclosed this in a statement released in Maiduguri on Monday.

Chukwu said the terrorists were intercepted by troops of 82 Division Task Force Brigade Deployed in the area.

He said that the troops, while on fighting patrol at Kukawa general area got information on the terrorists’ activities in Kalamari village, 30 Kilometres to Kukawa town.

He said the insurgents who were on a looting and extortion spree in the village were intercepted by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.

https://punchng.com/army-troops-kill-three-boko-haram-terrorists-recover-weapons-in-borno/

“During the encounter following a superior fire power of the troops, three members of the Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised,”he said.

The director listed items recovered from the terrorist to include, three AK 47 rifles; two magazines and four rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

“Meanwhile, the gallant troops have continued with aggressive fighting patrol, as efforts are ongoing by the troops to track down other fleeing members of the Boko Haram Terrorists from any hideouts.

“Members of the general public are advised to report any suspicious movements or activities in their general area to the law enforcement agents for prompt action,” he said.

These greedy politicians are going nowhere even though they split aides, the fact is that Nigerians are done with politicians moving from one place to the other in search for greener pasture, if they are interested in the development of Nigeria, they wouldn't have left the party that is the quest to do so for their selfish interest.

There are many reasons why Nigeria should stand firmly behind the patriotic president, i believed that a government that brought the true definition of democracy to this country and perfected the true principle of checks and balance deserved to be supported to finish his good work. i believed that if this administration can achieve so much in less than four years, i think they still have a lot to offer.

This is commendable, i like the fact that some projects which were supposed to be completed by the previous government are now been completed by this administration, a section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt road, which cuts across many states and other uncompleted project, was turned to a refuse dump before this administration came to the rescue. this is what is expected by the government.

Not fewer than 13,520 households in Adamawa State are expected to benefit from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT, programme this year. Naira Mr. Zhegun Joseph, CCT Head of Programme, told newsmen in Yola that the programme was in part fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promises and was designed to support the less-privileged in the society. He said: “The pilot scheme of the programme kicked-off in August 2017, with 8,653 beneficiaries in six local government areas of the state.” Joseph added that areas that had benefitted from the programme in Adamawa are Madagali, Michika, Song, Girei, Numan and Lamurde. He said every benefi-tting household will get a monthly stipend of N5,000.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/13000-households-to-benefit-from-cct-funds-in-adamawa/

The Financial Reporting Council, FRC, has proposed incentives for whistle-blowers in the private sector, as part of its effort towards ensuring good corporate governance in that sector of the economy. Whistle-blowers This is part of the provisions of the 2018 Draft Code of Corporate Governance of the FRC to fight corruption in the private sector, which had been considered critical to the nation’s anti-corruption war. Speaking at the public hearing on the Draft Code, Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, FRC, Mr. Daniel Asapokhai, said the whistle blowing policy of the Federal Government had brought clear gains in public administration, adding that workers in the private sector should be equally encouraged to report unwholesome practices in the private sector. Under the new code, staff who report infractions would be rewarded and protected from victimization from the management. Some of the areas that private sector workers would be expected to report their managements include payment of tax obligations, statutory remittances such as pension deductions and other sundry payments to the three tiers of government. The draft code also makes it illegal for a Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of a publicly quoted company to succeed the chairman of the company’s Board of Directors, except only after a period not less than three years of his exiting the post of managing direrctor. He said: ‘’The Managing Director/;CEO should not go on to be the chairman of the same company. If in very exceptional circumstances, the board decides that a former MD/ CEO or an ED should become chairman, a cool off period of three years should be adopted.” Similarly, it would be unlawful for the same person to hold the position in the executive management of more than one company or for an MD, Executive Director to chair committees in their companies.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/frc-creates-incentives-for-whistle-blowers-in-private-sector/

Saraki thinks that Nigeria is a joke, he thinks that Kwara people can make PDP win election come 2019, i think he is trying to raise his hopes high, every patriotic Nigerian knows that the PDP can never come out victorious over the people that have been correcting their mistakes and has the peoples interest at heart.[color=#990000][/color]

Saraki thinks that Nigeria is a joke, he thinks that Kwara people can make PDP win election come 2019, i think he is trying to raise his hopes high, every patriotic Nigerian knows that the PDP can never come out victorious over the people that have been correcting their mistakes and has the peoples interest at heart.

I disagree with this post, its unfortunate that people still broadcast information without reasonable facts, what the DG did was unconstitutional, the decision was made by the vice president which shows that it was an action taken by the presidency, i don't know why people has come to twist the issue just because the man is related to the president.

The difference is clear, Nigeria working in the part of change indeed. In the past four years of the previous administration, over $393 billion was earned in oil proceeds and were unable to do something with it, In the past three years, this administration have earned $94 billion. Look at the difference.The price of oil was about half of what it used to be. But with the same $94 billion, and they have been able to do far more.”

He don't have any reason to delay a matter that involve the National interest, he is used to politicizing everything to have his way, its glaring that he is using this period to buy time waiting for further negotiation, the fact is that he cant have his way this time because the APC had the two-third majority needed to impeach him.

This is actually a cheap publicity, its unfortunate that this man does not know what has been happening in this country, this is one of those men that will never contribute in the development of this country rather they are always analyzing, He claimed that the current administration has failed in areas of security and improving the living condition of the people which are all false, what happened to the successful military operations across the states, the school feeding program, the Npower, its better he go back and make his research before coming out to accuse the working government

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has disbursed interest-free loans to more than 350,000 beneficiaries the 36 states of the federation including the FCT since December 2016, under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), one of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) of the Federal Government. Naira In a statement, Executive Director, Financial Inclusion, BOI, Toyin Adeniji, said the interest-free loans do not require any collateral and are repayable within six months with a grace period of two weeks. She added that 31,594 microenterprises in Lagos State have benefitted from MarketMoni loans under the scheme. “The GEEP scheme includes loans in different categories called TraderMoni, MarketMoni, and FarmerMoni. In December 2016, disbursement commenced across the country, and as of today, there are over 350,000 beneficiaries across all 36 states of the nation including the FCT,” the statement said. At the launching of the Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME) Clinic in Lagos, Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented by Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, said that the federal government is commitment to ensuring that challenges facing MSMEs in the country were addressed by easing policies undermining their growth. Osinbajo added that government was working towards providing MSMEs a credit facility of N2 million to N10 million without collateral, adding that the effort was to ensure that MSMEs find an enabling environment to thrive in the country. A cross-section of MarketMoni beneficiaries in Lagos and key stakeholders in charge of the scheme had converged at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, for the launch of the Lagos version of the MSME Clinic, where beneficiaries exhibited their products. Related 350,000 MSME benefit from GEEP May 30, 2018

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/boi-disburses-geep-loans-to-350000-beneficiaries/

It's glaring that the 2019 election has been won by the people with the positive change to develop Nigeria, the fact is that Nigerians are now aware that the people against this government are doing so to achieve their selfish goals thereby doing everything possible to paint this Buhari led government bad.

lthough there are still months to the 2019 elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) says the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is aware the elections have already been won and lost.

The ruling party said this on Friday in a statement released by Yekini Nabena, its acting National Publicity Secretary.

In the statement, it also accused Senate President Bukola Saraki and the PDP of sabotaging the executive, specifically the Independent National Electoral Commission (NEC).

It accused the duo of hiding under the Electoral Amendment Bill, which the President has yet to assent to, to draw attention away from the plot to frustrate INEC from organising credible elections in 2019.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) attempt to hide under the yet-to-be assented Electoral Act Amendment bill is an attempt to draw attention away from the treasonable actions of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who has refused to convene the National Assembly to consider at plenary the crucial 2019 Election Budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” read the statement.

“The Electoral Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly is alive and awaiting assent. However, assent to bills in all democratic governments reflects the prudence and discretion of the president in balancing the powers of key constitutional bodies and understanding the concerns of the executive.

“While we strongly condemn the abuse of office by the Senate President backed by his PDP cohorts in sabotaging the executive, specifically INEC, all well-meaning Nigerians have a duty to speak up and ensure that the National Assembly performs its constitutional role and not serve an individual’s personal interest and sinister ends of the opposition PDP.

“We call on all Nigerians, civil society and indeed the international community to resist the ongoing travesty and legislative rascality being perpetuated by the Senate President and the PDP. The sanctity of our electoral system is being threatened by this orchestrated sabotage and deliberate attempt to weaken INEC as we prepare for General Elections in 2019. The National Assembly must be convened immediately.

“Meanwhile, the PDP has realised that the 2019 elections has been won and lost. If the election is held today, it is clear that the APC will win by a landslide, judging by visible and landmark achievements recorded by the President Buhari administration. This is an apparent fact that gives the PDP sleepless nights, hence its daily lies and propaganda in its desperate, failed and early campaign to attract non- existent votes.”

http://saharareporters.com/2018/08/17/apc-pdp-has-realised-2019-election-has-been-won-and-lost