Meet SilverCrown IT Solutions!

We are a firm of developers, software engineers and information technology experts that aim to deliver quality solutions.

We work with CMS, PHP, Django, React Native, MERN and MEAN and loads of other web technologies.

We also deliver affordable growth campaigns with clear objectives, beyond just wasting your money on Google and Facebook Ads.

Long story short, we build and deliver without emptying your purse.

Call: 08170796041
Website: http://www.silvercrownitsolutions.com

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/04/05/president-buhari-inaugurates-recovery-plan-promises-a-better-nigeria/

Abuja, April 5, 2017 (TNE) : President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020 with a call on Nigerians to support its smooth implementation to change Nigeria for better.

The President, who inaugurated the plan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, gave the assurance that with its inauguration, his administration was approaching the solution to the nation’s economic challenges with the same will and commitment it had demonstrated in the fight against corruption, terrorism and militancy.

He noted that the ERGP had brought together all the sectoral plans for agriculture and food security, energy and transport infrastructure, industrialisation and social investments together in a single document.

According to him, it builds on the Strategic Implementation Plan and sets out an ambitious roadmap to return the economy to growth and to achieve a seven per cent growth rate by 2020.

He, therefore, asked state governments to draw inspiration and strategic direction from the plan to articulate their economic programmes, particularly in the development of the real sector.

”The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan brings together all our sectoral plans for agriculture and food security, energy and transport infrastructure, industrialisation and social investments together in a single document.

”It builds on the Strategic Implementation Plan and sets out an ambitious roadmap to return the economy to growth; and to achieve a seven per cent growth rate by 2020.

”The Plan I am launching today therefore sets out what we, as government, are committed to do, to create the enabling environment for business to thrive. The Plan is a national plan, hence the role of state governments is critical to its success.

”I therefore wish to appeal to the state governments to draw inspiration and strategic direction from the Plan to articulate their economic programmes, particularly in the development of the real sector.

”I call on all Nigerians to work with us to ensure we achieve those objectives. The contents of the Plan are already familiar to a broad cross-section of Nigerians because it was developed in consultation with a wide group of stakeholders, including the National Assembly, State Governments, the business community, labour unions, academia, civil society groups and development partners.”

He restated the determination of his administration to change Nigeria from an import dependent country to a producing nation.

President Buhari, who expressed the commitment of his administration to have a strong Naira and productive economy, stated that Nigeria must become “a nation where we grow what we eat and consume what we produce”.

“Our aim simply put, is to optimise local content and empower local businesses. We seek not just to take the Nigerian economy out of recession but to place it on a path of sustained, inclusive and diversified growth.

”We are determined to change Nigeria from an import dependent country to a producing nation.

”We must become a nation where we grow what we eat and consume what we produce.We must strive to have a strong Naira and productive economy.

President Buhari commended the Ministry of Budget and National Planning for successfully coordinating the plan’s development.

He also saluted the efforts of the Economic Management Team under the leadership of the Vice President for overseeing the drafting of the plan.

“I am pleased to present this Economic Recovery and Growth Plan for use by the Nigerian people, our friends and partners and to guide our development efforts over the next four years,” he added.

In their separate goodwill messages at the event, the Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara said that the National Assembly would support and ensure absuccessful implementation of the Plan.

Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, who spoke on behalf of the 36 governors of the federation, thanked President Buhari for his support and assistance to state governments.

He noted that such assistance had helped the states in addressing some of their socio-economic challenges.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, said the broad objectives of the ERGP were to restore growth, build a globally competitive economy and subsequently build a self-reliant economy.

According to him, 60 interventions have been identified for execution in the next four years to achieve the objectives.

”Our aim is to create a culture where Nigeria continuously seek ways to add value to the resources we have been blessed with. In short, our aim is to change Nigeria, and change for good.

”To achieve this, the plan articulates up to 60 interventions and initiatives, that must be executed and/or completed within the next four years to tackle, and to remove, impediments to growth, to make markets function better, and to leverage the power of the private sector.

”However, this growth is to be archived without compromising the core values of this nation such as discipline, integrity, social justice, self-reliance and patriotism.

”And, of course, all the initiatives in the Plan will be implemented in such a manner as to continue to strengthen and promote national cohesion and social inclusion.”

The Medium-Term ERGP was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during one of its meetings in 2017.

ERGP has among its broad strategic objectives, restoring sustainable, accelerated inclusive growth and development, investing in the people, and building a globally competitive economy.

The Plan was specifically designed to take the country out of the recession and, in the long term, continue to grow the economy while planning of the 2017 was also based on the ERGP to accelerate speedy recovery and development of infrastructure.(TNE)

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/04/05/president-buhari-inaugurates-recovery-plan-promises-a-better-nigeria/

Follow The Nigerian Expression on;
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thenigerianexpression
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NGExpression

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/18/revealed-certificate-of-immediate-past-dg-of-tourism-agency-not-recognised-in-nigeria/

By Layemo O. Layemo
Special Correspondent, Abuja

Abuja, March 18, 2017 (TNE): After months of speculation by a section of the media, The Nigerian Expression can now reveal authoritatively that the immediate past head of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Mariel Rae-Omoh, gained employment at the agency with a certificate from a foreign institution not recognised in Nigeria.

Such certificate may have been forged, purportedly emanating from an existing institution, or obtained from a mushroom institution, or through other fraudulent means.

According to the Federal Ministry of Education, which was asked by the Ministry of Information and Culture to evaluate Mrs. Rae-Omoh’s certificate, the institution which she claimed to have attended – State Institute of Technology of Senigallia in Italy – is ”not on the list of the Ministry’s accredited institution in Italy”.

”Consequently, the certificate cannot be evaluated,” a letter dated March 15, 2017, from the Federal Ministry of Education to the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the supervising ministry of the NTDC, said.

The Nigerian Expression reports that the letter has dealt a final, lethal blow on Mrs. Rae-Omoh, who was recently fired as the Acting Director-General of the NTDC and then demoted from the rank of Director (GL 17) to Deputy Director (GL 16)

In demoting Mrs. Rae-Omoh, along with 14 other members of staff, the report of a staff records verification said she should not have been on GL 17 but for the ”irregularities of appointment and/or conversion errors that have been the hallmarks of your career”

A source at the Ministry of Information and Culture told TNE on Saturday that Mrs. Rae-Omoh faces a possible dismissal from the agency for securing employment with a fake certificate.

As part of efforts to re-position the NTDC to enhance its efficiency, the Federal Government recently appointed a Director in the Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Paul Adalikwu, as the Acting Director-General of the tourism agency, replacing Mrs. Rae-Omoh.

Following the sack of the NTDC’s substantive head, Mrs Sally Mbanefo, last year, Mr. Boniface Ebuka was appointed the Acting DG. But his tenure was short-lived after Mrs. Rae-Omoh’s protest – that she was the most senior staff in the agency – was upheld, leading to her appointment.

On Tuesday, the umbrella body of the travel and tourism journalists in the country, the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), sharply criticised the Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for appointing three Acting DGs for the NTDC within five months, saying the trend was sending the wrong signals, creating instability as well as tainting stakeholders’ confidence in tourism in Nigeria..

However, a Ministry of Information and Culture source said ANJET should have endeavoured to find out the reason behind the replacement of DGs at the NTDC before rushing to the press.

”What was the Minister (of Information and Culture) supposed to do when, in the first case, he was provided with a clear evidence that the man who was appointed the Acting DG after Sally was sacked was not the most senior at the time?

” Again, when the Minister was presented with a report that Mrs. Rae-Omoh was wrongly elevated to GL 17, when she should have been on GL 16, do you honestly expect him not to act?” the source queried. (TNE)

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/18/revealed-certificate-of-immediate-past-dg-of-tourism-agency-not-recognised-in-nigeria/

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/11/re-positioning-of-tourism-agency-gathers-steam-outgoing-ag-dg-14-others-demoted/

By Layemo O. Layemo, Special Correspondent, Abuja

Abuja, March 11, 2017 (TNE): Fifteen members of staff of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), including the outgoing Acting Director-General of the agency, Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh, have been demoted in the wake of a staff records verification exercise that found a lot of irregularities in their appointments, The Nigerian Expression (TNE) can authoritatively report.

The action is part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to re-position the NTDC so that it can more effectively play its role in the development of tourism in the country, which is diversifying its
economy away from oil.

Tourism, Agriculture, Solid Minerals and the Creative Industry are some of the sectors being explored in the diversification process.

As part of the efforts, a director in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, who is widely regarded as a tourism development expert, was on Friday seconded from the Ministry to the
NTDC as Acting Director-General, replacing the disgraced former Acting DG (Mrs. Rae-Omoh) who was demoted from Grade Level 17 (Director) to 16 (Deputy Director) retroactively from Jan. 1, 2015.

In demoting Mrs. Rae-Omoh, the Committee said it came to the conclusion that ”but for the irregularities of appointment and/or conversion errors that have been the hallmarks of your career, you
should be a Deputy Director on Grade Level 16 and not a Director on Grade Level 17 which you were before your appointment as the Ag. Director General”.

TNE learnt that the decision to demote Mrs Rae-Omoh and 14 others came after the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is said to be passionate about pushing tourism from the back burner to the mainstream of the economy, approved the recommendations of the Committee on Verification of Staff of the NTDC.

Following is the full list of affected members of staff

1. Mrs Mariel Rae-Omoh Demoted from Director (GL 17) to Deputy Director (GL16)

2. Mr. Christopher Okafor Demoted from Deputy Director (GL 16) to Chief Accountant (GL14)

3. Mrs. Abidemi Ajoke Sadare Demoted from Asst. Chief Tourism Officer (GL13) to Senior Tourism Officer (GL10)

4. Mrs. Aboshioke Lilian Umejei Demoted from Chief Tourism Officer (GL 14) to Principal Tourism Officer (GL 12)

5. Mr. Felix Joseph Agabo Demoted from Chief Executive Officer (Accounts – GL 14) to Principal Executive
Officer II (GL 10)

6. Mrs Bernice Ede Demoted from Asst. Chief Confidential Secretary (GL 13) to Confidential
Secretary II (GL 08)

7. Miss Chidiebele Geraldine Egwudo Demoted from Tourism Officer I (GL 09) to Tourism Officer II (GL 08)

8. Mrs. Chinenye Thelma Makata Demoted from Principal Tourism Officer (GL 12) to Senior Tourism Officer (GL 10)

9. Mr. Ezuogwu Enegide Richard Demoted from Chief Driver/Mechanic (GL 07) to Driver/Mechanic II (GL 04)

10. Mrs. Modupe Omodogbe Demoted from Assistant Director (GL 15) to Asst. Chief Administrative Officer (GL
13)

11. Mrs. Nanna Yakubu Dashe Demoted from Assistant Director (GL 15) to Asst. Chief Administrative Officer (GL 13)

12. Mr. Sadiq Abubakar Demoted from Chief Administrative Officer (GL 14) to Asst. Chief Administrative Officer (GL 13)

13. Mrs. Aderonke Esther Ibitoye Demoted from Chief Administrative Officer (GL 14) to Asst. Chief Administrative Officer (GL 13)

14. Mrs Janet Esene Demoted from Asst. Chief Administrative Officer (GL 13) to Principal Administrative Officer (GL 12)

15. Mr. Owoleke Olubuoke Solomon Demoted from Asst. Chief Tourism Officer (GL 13) to Principal Tourism Officer (GL 12)

(TNE)

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/11/re-positioning-of-tourism-agency-gathers-steam-outgoing-ag-dg-14-others-demoted/

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/10/breaking-news-massive-shake-up-hits-tourism-corporation-as-fg-appoints-acting-d-g/

Abuja, March 10, 2017 (TNE): The Federal Government has appointed Dr. Paul Adalikwu as the Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), making him the third Acting D-G to preside over the agency since the substantive D-G was fired last November.

His acting appointment takes immediate effect.

According to findings by The Nigerian Expression, Adalikwu was seconded to the agency from the Ministry of Water Resources, where he was the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics.

He takes over from Mrs. Mariel Rae-Omoh, who in turn took over from former Acting D-G Boniface Ebuka, who was first appointed into the position after Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo was fired as the substantive D-G.

Government sources told The Nigerian Expression on Friday that the appointment of Adalikwu, widely regarded a round peg in a round hole, marks the beginning of a massive shake-up at the agency.

According to the sources, as part of ongoing efforts to re-position the agency to make it more effective, many of its staffers will be demoted as the government has found out that they were irregularly
graded in the first instance, thus saddling them with responsibility beyond their capability.

The NTDC, a parastatal agency under the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, is the key agency responsible for the development of tourism in the country.(TNE)

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/10/breaking-news-massive-shake-up-hits-tourism-corporation-as-fg-appoints-acting-d-g/

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/05/two-banks-in-trouble-for-granting-583m-loan-to-firm-that-defrauded-fg/

Abuja, March 5, 2017 (TNE) The First Bank and the Skye Bank are running helter-skelter to find a way out of the mess they have put themselves in after they had granted loosely-secured $583 million loan to Atlantic Energy, The Nigerian Expression (TNE) reported on Sunday, quoting a very reliable source.

Atlantic Energy is owned by oil magnate Jide Omokore, who is alleged to have stolen Nigeria’s crude oil to the tune of $3.5 billion.

In essence, the banks were roped in to the deal to defraud Nigeria by Omokore, reported to be a cohort of Jonathan-era oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, the source said.

The loan was jointly granted to the oil firm by the two banks merely on the strength of the hope that the Jonathan administration would win the 2015 general elections and return to power, thus concealing the anomaly and giving those involved the opportunity to regularise the loan.

”Typical of the impunity that permeated the polity during the Jonathan Administration, the banks gave the loan to Atlantic Energy with very flimsy security, hoping that their money would be secured once the PDP returns to power.

”Unfortunately, the party lost the 2015 general elections that saw the emergence of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate Muhammadu Buhari, who won the election largely on the strength of his vow to tackle corruption.

”Now the banks are badly exposed and they are appealing to the Federal Government to bail them out by helping them to recover their funds from Atlantic Energy.

”I am afraid a government that was elected on an anti-graft platform will be reluctant to give a soft landing to the banks,” the source told TNE on the condition of anonymity,” the source said.

The whole issue dates back to 2012, when a subsidiary of Atlantic Energy (Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited) entered into a Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) deal with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) on the Brass Assets to undertake NPDC’s 60 per cent cash callobligations.

Under the terms of the SAA, Atlantic Energy was to provide training and financing in respect of JV Cash Call obligations and in return receive crude oil lifting rights equivalent to cost recovery on the assets and its share of oil profit

Atlantic Energy was also expected to pay a signature bonus of $1.3 billion. Although it reneged on the loan repayment to the two banks and the signature bonus, the company was still allowed to commence oil lifting and it is estimated to have lifted in excess of $3.5 billion worth of oil before the contract was revoked.

Although the NPDC in 2014 suspended Atlantic Energy’s lifting rights for its failure to fulfill its obligations under the agreement, the company did not pay any funds in respect of the oil it sold, representing a huge loss to Nigeria.

It also did not repay the loan to the banks despite lifting and selling oil.

”As for the banks, they were given security in terms of the barrels of oil – an unusual agreement.

”With the change of government, and of course the management of the NNPC, the national oil company is maintaining a tough stance against the banks, arguing that the signature bonus, which was supposed to have been partly paid from the loan, was never paid to the Federal Government anyway – hence their (banks’) rights over the assets will not be recognised.

”Indications are that there will be a long-drawn legal battle over the issue, which has once again exposed the recklessness of the PDP administration at the centre while it held sway.

”Had the PDP won the 2015 presidential election, this issue would have been swept under the carpet and it would have been business as usual. I honestly do not think this Federal Government will give its seal of approval to a shoddy deal by rescuing the banks,” the source declared. (TNE)

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/05/two-banks-in-trouble-for-granting-583m-loan-to-firm-that-defrauded-fg/

http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/03/nigeria-unfolds-new-vision-for-niger-delta-region/

Uyo, March 3, 2017 (TNE): Nigeria has evolved a new vision for the Niger Delta: to treat the oil producing communities as special development areas, focusing on how to ensure that the people see the benefits of the wealth of the land.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo rolled out the new package in Uyo at a town hall meeting he held with the people of the state, which is part of the region.

”This new vision will define the future of the region,” he declared.

”The majority of people of these communities and several parts of the oil producing States have heard of the wealth that oil has brought but have hardly benefited from it.

”And so we have come today on behalf of the President, Commander-in-Chief, with cabinet colleagues, and heads of relevant agencies to propose a new vision and to sign post a new era to the people of the oil producing communities of this State and Nigeria,” he said.

The Acting President’s visit was part of the engagement with the leadership and people of the oil producing communities, ”to hear them, to seek to understand their problems and concerns first hand and to offer to these communities in the Niger Delta a new vision and a new compact”.

He continued: ”I want to say this with all seriousness that we have seen several years before 2015, the situation where the central government has controlled resources and we have seen the result of that in the past 16 years.

”This government is barely two years old and what I see is that you must trust this government and give it the type pf patience that is required to achieve greatness and the great things that the people deserve.

”The Federal government itself has begun a partnership with the oil producing States, local governments, oil companies, private sector, and civil society organizations for the rapid development of these communities.”

Osinbajo said that as is the case in many oil-producing communities in this State and the Delta region of Nigeria, the blessing of oil has paradoxically become a curse or at best a burden.

”The means for our people, their livelihood, mainly fishing and farming, has consistently been destroyed by pollution. Worse still, huge resources earned over the years have simply disappeared in many
places and I have heard so many of the complaints here today- about the roads, schools, hospitals and social amenities that the oil wealth should have provided – are either not there or are patently inadequate.

Taking the issues and concerns one after the other, the acting president explained:
”I want to talk about amnesty. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources is already working something with the retired soldiers.

”Let me talk about the deep seaport. I want to state with all seriousness, this is a project that the Federal Government also takes seriously.

”indeed. In the 2017 budget, there is a $1 billion provision for it. It is a matter that we take seriously and it is a matter that we will work with the Akwa Ibom state government to actualise.

”There is a request that Maritime Academy in Oron be upgraded to a full-fledged university. We will work hard. I understand that there is a bill awaiting passage at the National Assembly and once that law is passed, we will of course go on with the programme.

”Naturally, it will be the business of the Federal Government to see that some of the things are done. The Calabar-Itu -Ikot Ekpene -Abanfederal Highway Dual project is ready for award -already appropriated in the 2016 budget-N6 billion, and is further provided I think in the 2017 budget,” he said.

The Acting President noted, however, that the biggest benefit to obtain was to attract more investment to this State, saying it is private investment that drives development.

”Whatever it is that the Federal and State governments can provide is only a fraction of what the private sector can bring, private investment is the driver of progress in every part of the world today.

”There is a private investment in Lagos now, a refinery project, 650,000 barrels of oil, that is more than all the refineries that the Federal Government has built in this country and it is the largest, single-line refinery in the world,” Prof. Osinbajo said.

He listed stability and relevant education as two important requirements for sustained investment, adding that the Federal Government would partner with Akwa Ibom to locate a technology hub in the state,

The Vice President Congratulated the young people of the state for their far-sightedness in not engaging in vandalism and violence, ”This is the smart thing to do. There is no real advantage to destruction of assets located in your communities. The consequences are environmental damage, and ultimately we drive away investment. The dialogue for the realization of our aspirations can be done peacefully, and I can assure you, with greater impact.”

Earlier, the traditional ruler of Uyo, His Royal Majesty Dr. Effiong Archianga conferred on the Acting President the honorary Chieftaincy title of Obong Emem of Akwa Ibom State, with a staff of office to go with it.

Expressing his appreciation for the honour, the Acting President said: ”I am deeply grateful for the honour and promise to be a good counselor to his Royal Highness and the council”. (TNE)

BP


http://thenigerianexpression.com/2017/03/03/nigeria-unfolds-new-vision-for-niger-delta-region/