₦airaland Forum

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, on Wednesday proposed a five-year timeline for Nigeria to prepare to transform its local resource and economic base to actively play in the globally arena.
Also, the minister said Nigeria must begin “a conscious effort to identify key areas of the economy it has the most competitive
advantage and strengthen them to withstand the challenge of globalcompetition.”

Mr. Kachikwu spoke at the 6th Sustainability in the Extractive Industries, SITEI, conference in
Abuja, on the theme:
“Establishing the framework for globalising our
local economy.”
He said the government must seriously look at Nigeria first, by implementing policies to encourage Nigerian companies togive them the competitive edge
against their counterparts in Africa
and around the world.

“Free trade and free world are no new concepts. Every country always strives to protect its own.
We must begin to seriously look at Nigeria first. We must change the attitude of vilifying fellow citizens
and ensure those using their resources to promote the country’s economy were recognized, incentivized, and supported.

“We must encourage those Nigerians who put their monies to develop the country’s economy, rather than take them to invest abroad. We must find a way to make things easier for people like Aliko Dangote and Mike Adenuga who have done well in putting back into the economy,” he said.

The minister underlined the need for products specialization, by identifying areas the country has
the most competitive advantage, like oil and gas, petrochemicals, mining, agriculture, and services.

To enable these sectors face the challenges of
competition in their areas of business, Mr.
Kachikwu said the government should consider
policies over the next five years to guarantee
they were sufficiently financed and
strengthened.
Nigeria, he said, can never be an economic
power house in Africa and the world without a
vibrant local economy and defined industrial
base.

Again, he noted that a nation without a solid
manufacturing base was a sure way to maintain
dependency and waste of resources.
He identified the key areas of focus to create a
conducive business atmosphere for Nigeria to
transform its local economy to attract global
investors and players.

Apart from bridging the infrastructure gaps, by
driving cost to the lowest level, while promote
ease of doing business, the minister said
security was paramount, to ensure stability and
high productivity.
“There an absolute urgency for government to
begin to address the challenge of infrastructure
in our economy. We must create a Marshall
Plan to replace decaying infrastructure, like the
refinery. Although Nigeria is one of the major
OPEC producers, we are still importing the bulk
of our petroleum product needs,” he said.

He underlined the need for some legislations to
enforce local content policies in the oil and gas
sector, to retain more money in the local
economy and reduce capital flight.
In developing infrastructural facilities, he said
government should insist on work done in
Nigeria, to ensure more fabrication yards were
established in-country, boost Nigeria’s
industrial sector, reduce production cost, and
maximize government revenue.

To facilitate infrastructure financing and proper
repositioning of the economy, Mr. Kachikwu
emphasized the strengthening of the capital
market and the financial systems Investors to
make it for investors to raise funding.
He supported the ongoing development of five
oil and gas parks, in addition to a gas revolution
park, saying necessary incentives, like tax
holidays, must granted, to transform the
establishments into centres of production and
investment excellence.

Besides, he added that “focus must be given to
developing financial institutions, like
Infrastructure Bank, Bank of Industries and
Agricultural Bank. We need to create the right
fiscal incentives, in the form of tax holidays,
duty waivers, or select areas you need to
position the local economy from external
competition.”

On security, he said over the next five years,
the government should invest in resolving
security issues through regional and state police
as well as border protection, particularly with
the challenge of the country’s porous borders.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI,
Waziri Adio, emphasised the need to update
local processes to build the capacity to compete
globally.

“We need to realise that we operate in a
competitive economy. We need to exploit the
advantages we have to maximise our
potentials. We must be transparent and
competitive to capture on a sustainable basis
whatever market we want to play in,” Mr. Adio
said.

www.premiumtimesng.com/business/business-news/237585-kachikwu-advocates-five-year-timeline-nigeria-economic-turnaround.html

Following outcry over the alleged removal of the Not Too Young To Run Bill in the Constitution Amendment Report which was laid on the floor of the House of Representatives Thursday, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, has assured Nigerians that the bill was not removed from the report which will be considered next week.
He also reaffirmed his support for youth inclusion in politics, saying the House will live up to the promise it made to do all within its powers to pass the Bill.
“The young people should be informed that we made a promise and we will keep to our promise, by God’s grace,” Dogara assured.
He made the remarks during plenary on Thursday, following a clarification on the matter by the chairman of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on Review of the Constitution, Deputy Speaker, Hon Sulaimon Yussuf Lasun.
The deputy speaker had explained that rumors spreading that the bill was removed at the retreat of the joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Review of the Constitution was false.
He, however, further explained that though the Bill was retained, the title was changed, which could be the reason why it was thought to have been expunged.
Speaker Dogara has on several occasions, assured that he supports youth inclusion and participation in politics and other spheres of endeavour.
www.nta.ng/news/20170720-young/ CC lalasticlala

FFK has started campaigning.
As usual cheap propaganda to sway the minds of people.

MedicalSamwise:
60 days after when schools go don start admission
Yeye dy smell

At least an effort will be made in rectifying any mistakes that might have occurred. 60 days is just two months. Would it not be better she waits for two months than probably another year?
Learn to appreciate.

h

QueenOfNepal:
No pictures and that UN body made that comment.



Do you really have a working brain

LOL. I really skipped half of the story.

QueenOfNepal:
No pictures and that UN body made that comment.



Do you really have a working brain

I can't believe I skipped. that part.

QueenOfNepal:
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-
General for West Africa and Head of UNOWAS, Mr.
Mohamed Chambas, spoke with the Correspondent
of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York.
Chambas regretted the maltreatment and killings of
97 Nigerians in the Peninsula by Cameroonian
Gendarmes over failure to pay a N100,000 boat
levy.

Just saw the story online and how our reps want to probe the alleged story.
Let it be confirmed first before you criticize his silence.

QueenOfNepal:
The story was on BBC Africa and i read it there. The AG President could have recalled Nigeria Ambassador from there or better still give out a rebuttal if it's a false story but the appreciation from that UN body here shows there is truism in the story

seriously. No pictures as evidence by the BBC and you bought in hook line and sinker.
This Bakassi case in an international matter.
The land was even ceded to Cameroon by an international court. The UN had to be involved especially as it involves migration and welfare of the dwellers.
They are quite aware these sort of situations could happen.
And you really expect the AP to carry out a reprisal of some sort because BBC AFRICA reported it?

QueenOfNepal:
97 Nigerians were killed and you are saying this nonsense.



Imagine one of your Loved ones is among this 97, will you say such?

And we may never make the right decisions if we are sentimental.
Sanctioning Cameroon on something you can't prove would be a disgrace for all the world to see if indeed we have the rights to do so.
My dear we are not the USA; we can't sanction Cameroon in any reasonable way.

QueenOfNepal:
97 Nigerians were killed and you are saying this nonsense.



Imagine one of your Loved ones is among this 97, will you say such?

What evidence do you have that this happened?
Any video evidence?
It would be outright stupidity for a president to come out in response to a hearsay.
How do we know what really happened and if indeed they were Cameroon soldiers.
So what did you expect of the Acting President other than trying to repatriate those people over there.

h

Why didn't he just write it in YORUBA?
What the hell is "to remember you"?
Where on earth is his Special Assistant on Media/social media?

So a trip to Jamaica or 30 days in Atlanta or 10 days in Suncity should have been shot in Nigeria?
Lai needs to apologize for such an unguarded statement.

He made so much sense.
The FG cannot come and stop music production abroad. It doesn't even have the jurisdiction.
Invest in it to grow the economy and watch how foreigners will troop in numbers to shoot videos here.

4hys:
Even as an ordinary citizen i still see GEJ pdp working more than your APC sickle

How was the GEJ PDP working?
Both administrations have failed especially the GEJ era.
Zero infrastructural improvement, Boko Haram insurgents, Zero savings, Zero improvement in power, Zero improvement in Education, Zero improvement in Employment, Zero effort in Diversification.
Don't gimme shit about the economy because that was not his making but courtesy the increase in oil price.

vizkiz:
I knew that other lady was just trying to make the _fag trend.

The woman was right. Bob goes around looking for free make up also in exchange for posting "Make up by Ehiscotch" on his snap chat.

It so pathetic how this idiots gets attention for being an idiot.
Look at him.. He can't take pictures without filters. My gosh! He'd be so ugly looking.
His broke ass can't even pay his maggot ravaged, lice filled, and dirty looking hair.
He couldn't even dish a proper reply to the hairdresser.
Who needs your damn publicity? .

And we have a Ministry for Budget planning.
Well. The funds were returned rather than embezzled but there should be accurate framework for expenditure in order to prevent such happenings.

senatorizyking:
There's no doubt about the fact that government is continuum but of what benefit will you gain by chastising the previous administration knowing fully well that the present administration is worse off in all ramifications, investors are leaving, workers salaries unpaid, recession is here, no new power plants, Bokoharam is still here with us, unemployment is still high, president way about is yet another story, the country is divided more than ever...

You just digressed from the topic.
GEJ treated the guy badly; he wrote about his ordeal in a book and the media carried the story.
Are we to overlook it because Buhari is still practising it?

senatorizyking:
Last administration is gone, why not concentrate on what the change apostles will have to offer, other than Jonathan this.. Jonathan that...

Government is a continuum. The decisions made today manifests tomorrow.
If you'd held an elective position you'd be quite aware of this.

But they said that is only PDP members that are being "persecuted" ?

Oh well. The money is legitimately for the state except the FG is planning to keep hold of it until the he steps down.

Beauty pageant is a waste of resources.
Scarce resources that should be channelled into developmental activities would be spent on vacations and all what not.

senatorizyking:
There's nothing wrong with the Buhari's lopsided appointments right,
May sense fall on you !

It is you that requires a large dose of sense. The man in question was persecuted by the former administration not this one. If this thread was about the current dispensation, I'd have agreed with him.

www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/fg-owes-contractors-n1trn-fashola/
Prior to the 2016 budget Nigeria were in a debt of 1trillion for just road contractors.

DabLord:
Northerners and haram..
5&6

Contractors are owed all over the country.
Don't carry your tribalism here.

My hate for this Yari keeps increasing by the day.

A German contractor and businessman,
Richard Klosa, has accused the Zamfara State
Governor , Abdulaziz Yari , of bankrupting his
company, Connexx Plants Nigeria Ltd . ,
through an alleged debt of N 179 . 5m .

The German claimed to have supplied
Zamfara State with radio studio equipment
but had not been paid for the supply and
installation since February 2013 .
Klosa,64 , who broke down in tears while
narrating his ordeal on Tuesday in Abuja, said
he had visited Zamfara State 17 times without
seeing the governor or getting paid for the
executed contract for which a ac of
completion was issued .
As a result of the financial mess he found
himself, the German, who said he has been
living in Nigeria since 1971, explained that he
developed heart problems in January this
year .

According to him, the then Zamfara State
Commissioner for Information , Ibrahim
Muhammad , who mandated his company to
go ahead with the project, issued a letter of
commitment promising that payment would
be made immediately after the inauguration
of the radio station .

The German citizen said he obtained a loan
and completed the project in record time on
May 28, 2013, noting that Muhammad praised
him for a job well done while the Special
Media Adviser to the governor, Alhaji
Ibrahim Dosara , also declared the radio
station ‘ as the best in the whole of Nigeria’.

“ Thereafter, I constantly reminded the
information commissioner of the balance
payment due to us until I received a text
message from him saying, ‘I am frustrated .’ It
made me to understand that I had to take it
up with the governor myself, ” Klosa stated.
He narrated that he started writing letters
and also attempted to see Yari in Gusau ,
Sokoto, Kano and in Abuja, but the governor
allegedly refused to meet him.

Klosa added, “ Two years after the
inauguration of the radio station , our German
technical partners , MCI Studio, Hamburg, lost
confidence in us as we were owing them
approximately €161 , 000 plus interest as
balance payment form the Zamfara project
and they took us to court.

“ By way of reaching a compromise, we raised
a notarised debt acknowledgement which
made them to withdraw the case from court. ”
Klosa stated that he had sought the assistance
of the Ministers of Information , Defence and
the Chairman , Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission and other high- ranking
government officials, including the German
embassy in Abuja , which wrote to the
governor without results .

He added that he has been unable to pay his
office rent in Abuja for the last three years
and workers ’ salaries for two years, noting
that the Federal Inland Revenue Service had
been on his neck over outstanding taxes.

“ We had to close our German office in April
this year and German friends who also
granted us loans to sustain our lives are now
demanding their money . We have suffered
total loss of reputation both in Germany and
Nigeria,” he said.

“ In a nutshell , Governor Yari has ruined my
entire business and our private life, ” Klosa
lamented.
The contractor said he could not take legal
action against the governor because he had
no money besides the fact that the suit would
likely drag on for years.
Klosa appealed for acting President Yemi
Osinbajo’s intervention, stressing that his
suffering in the hands of the Chairman of the
Governors’ Forum would not encourage
German businessmen to invest in the country .
When contacted , Dosara declined comment,
saying our correspondent should visit
Zamafara and see the project first.
“ I am not commenting until you visit Zamfara
and see the quality of job he (Klosa) did ; that
is when I will give you our response,” he said
on the phone .


http://punchng.com/n179-5m-debt-yari-has-ruined-my-company-says-german/

What the hell?!

www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/insecurity-lagos-govt-cancels-vacation-classes/
CC LALASTICLALA CC MYND44

LAGOS — Worried by rising kidnap and rape
cases across the state, Lagos State Government
has introduced measures during this vacation to
forestall any possible ugly situation that may
arise in public schools.

The state government had in a memo to all
permanent secretaries, tutors-general of the six
educational districts in the state, asked them to
stop all forms of vacation teaching for rest of the
year.

The government attributed the measure to
‘’present security situation and threats by
kidnappers” in the state.

A source at the state Ministry of Education, who
preferred anonymity, confirmed the directive,
yesterday.
The source said: “The state government took the
measure in order to find holistic solution to the
recent cases of kidnapping and rape in public
schools.
“To this end, government representatives will be
meeting with stakeholders during the vacation
period to deliberate and find a lasting solution to
the ugly trend, especially with those schools in
the riverine areas, once and for all.”
It was gathered that Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode has expressed concern over the need to
step up security around schools in the interest of
the pupils.

Vanguard also learned that in some public
schools, the paltry salaries being paid to security
men are being delayed by school authorities who
are in charge of payment.

Recent school kidnaps

Six Senior Secondary School students of Lagos
State Model College, Igbo-Nla, in Epe area, who
were kidnapped by unknown gunmen 56 days ago
are still being held at press time.
Four students and two staff of the school were
abducted last October. The kidnappers involved
in a second operation at the same school,
according to police sources, were suspected to
be members of a militant kidnap gang.
In January this year, five students and a teacher
of Tulip International School, located in the Isheri
area of Lagos, were abducted from their school
premises by gunmen.
The gunmen invaded the school, formerly known
as Turkish International School, on Friday night in
a white Hilux van and took the students and the
teacher away.

In March 2016, Babington Macaulay Junior
Seminary pupils were also kidnapped in their
school premises.
Kidnappers had abducted the three students of
Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in
Ikorodu.
The three female students who were said to be
rescued at a hideout in Imota, a town several
kilometres from Ikorodu, are Timilehin Olosa,
Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo.
They were kidnapped by gunmen on the night of
Monday, February 29, 2016, in the school
premises and taken to unknown location for
ransom purposes.

Cases of rape

Also, the state government arrested four students
out of many indicted for carrying out a mass
assault on their female colleagues at Falomo
Senior High School in Ikoyi.
The arrests followed public outrage that greeted
the report of an incident witnessed by a social
media user who said she encountered about 60
girls being harassed and raped in public.
The girls were secondary school leavers who had
just finished their final examinations at the Falomo
High School while the boys were believed to be
students of Ireti Grammar School.

One Ms Michael Matthew said the boys, moving
in groups, had chased after several girls, tearing
their skirts and underwear with scissors before
proceeding to rape them.
It took the effort of Ms Matthew and some
security men to rescue some of the girls and
shepherd them to safety while she got the names
of some of the major perpetrators; George and
Abiodun.

We’re securing our schools—Lagos govt

On steps taken by Lagos State government to
ensure schools across the state are secure,
Special Adviser on Education to Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh,
said: “We have wrapped up security in our
schools. Even as I speak with you, Civil Defence
officials are now being deployed to our schools to
secure them. We have also deployed Close Cirtuit
Televisions, CCTVs, in our schools. We are
ensuring we boost security in our schools in
Lagos State, that is the reality on security in our
schools.”

The cancellation of the vacation coaching, which
became effective when the schools dismissed for
the session at the weekend, will have far
reaching effects.
Many students because of the development will
have ample time to play truancy, since most
Lagos parents virtually throw their children and
wards in schools while they leave for work at
dawn and they do not return till very late in the
day.
Also, many organisers of the vacation classes
will lose income that will run into millions of Naira.
This is apart from unemployed holiday jobbers
who depend on the vacation classes to make
ends meet.

Mixed reactions trail end-of-session party at
Igbo-Nla

However, mixed reactions yesterday trailed the
purported decision of Lagos Model College, Igbo-
Nla, Epe, to stage an end-of-session party for
graduating students.
While some parents described the move as
insensitive on the part of management of the
school, considering the fact that six abducted
students are still being held captive, others are of
the opinion that the annual celebration should hold
in order to leave a lasting memory on students,
particularly the Senior Secondary School III
graduands.

Besides , Commissioner of Police , Lagos State
Police Command, Fatai Owoseni, has assured
parents of the abducted students and Nigerians
that they (students) were alive , contrary to
claims that calamity might have befallen them in
their captors’ den

Academic activities for this session came to a
close last Thursday at Igbo-Nla, with parents
picking their wards the next day.
Vanguard gathered that when news of the end of
valedictory party filtered in, some of the parents
quickly sent text messages to their colleagues,
calling for its cancellation .
But the reply of some parents halted the
cancellation move as Vanguard gathered that they
posited that rather than an outright cancellation, it
should be held low-keyed.
Some parents stated categorically that they would
not release their children for the party.

One of those who supported the cancellation
move, Mr Thomson Ojo, told Vanguard: “This is
insensitivity to say the least. I’m one of those
championing the cause for its outright
cancellation.
“How on earth would we allow our children to be
celebrating when other children are still in
captivity? How would you feel if it was your own
child that was abducted? I honestly do not know
what the position of the affected students is.
‘’In fact, it will be unfair of me to even seek their
opinion because they are emotionally
traumatised. We are all in this together . Forfeiting
this valedictory party for sake of the abducted
students is not a big sacrifice to render.
“If they had been released, there would not have
been any debate on it. I wonder why any sane
and rational thinking parent will call for such
celebration. It is unfair to say the least.”

On the other hand, another parent who spoke on
the condition of anonymity, said: “There is no
name they have not called us simply because we
said that the end-of-session party should hold.
“Yes, we share in the low moments of the
affected parents. I even contributed to the money
paid as ransom. How else will one show
solidarity?
“My take on this is simple and that is: the party
should be held low keyed, where students will be
made to understand why it is so. These
graduating students have a life to live.”
On her part, a parent who simply gave her name
as Tanwa, said: “I have been warned by my
husband not to allow our daughter to attend the
party. He is neither for or against its cancellation.
All he is after is the safety of our daughter.”

Students safe, will be released soon —CP

Meanwhile, Lagos State Commissioner of Police,
Fatai Owoseni, yesterday assured that the
abducted students were safe and alive.
The command boss stated this while briefing
newsmen that efforts have been intensified to
ensure that the students were reunited with their
parents.

He said, “We are on course to rescue the boys.
The children are fine and we will continue to
intensify efforts to ensure that they are returned
home and reunited with their parents.”
Six senior Secondary School students; Pelumi
Philips, Farouq Yusuf, Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon,
Adebayo George,and Judah Agbausi,were
abducted two months ago .
So far, Vanguard gathered that N30 million had
been paid as ransom, with their release expected
last weekend. But their captors called to demand
for additional N1.5 million , an amount they
claimed would be used to transport them back to
Lagos.

SirJeffry:
God forgive me but I wish she were Zahra Buhari or Adamu Ciroma's daughter.

Boko haram troubles will end when Northern elites and the Nigerian army bosses of northern extraction want it to end. For now, they are all part of it.

You have just posted a very dumb comment I must confess. Firstly, it erodes every value you ought to have as a christian.
Secondly, why include Zahra in this?
Do not buy into every propaganda you see on the internet. Someone was kidnapped to use to negotiate with the FG and you are here wishing it on others.
Blaming Buhari for their kidnap is utterly disgusting.
These situations happens all over the world but they are always being prevented from the media.