Day: July 26, 2024

President Bola Tinubu says the nation’s economy is on a gradual but steady path of recovery and assures citizens that his administration will do more to meet their needs.

At a meeting with traditional rulers in the country on Thursday in Abuja, the President said that the plight of citizens remained a concern and would receive more attention.

‘Yes, it is true that I asked for this job, and I approached some of you to support me. So, I have no excuse not to do the job with sincerity of purpose and honesty.

‘I have committed myself to it diligently, and I will never look backwards.

‘I have accepted the assets and the liabilities of my predecessor. How I will take Nigeria forward should be my concern, and that is my concern,’ he said.

He stated that the interventions to bring the government nearer to the people were already yielding results.

He added the results were the activation of the student loan programme, the consumer credit scheme, and the affirmation of fiscal autonomy for local government council
s.

He said the Ministry of Finance would continue to ensure that funds got to the grassroots for human and infrastructural development.

‘Today, the Bank of Agriculture is empty. We have to reactivate it. If they are not talking about flooding, they are talking of banditry. We have to start all over again. Yes, infrastructural decay is there.

‘The Lagos-Calabar coastal road is not being done without studies. It is an economic energiser.

‘From it, we can create infrastructure along the route to develop wind energy and generate power, and we can expand our irrigation network.

‘The economic viability of infrastructure had to be studied before we embarked on projects. How many dams are there on the corridors of Sokoto- Badagry?

‘From there, we can energise electricity. We can do irrigation and additional farms,’ said the President.

He said the project was situated on two million hectares of arable land, which would create opportunities for farmers on a small scale, and that the government would find capital
for them.

‘Nigeria is on the path of recovery. You have heard it from the Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun. We are not afraid of protests. Our concern is the ordinary people, and the damages that will be done.

‘Till today, I cannot forget the brand new 60 and 100 seater buses, down there in Lagos that were burnt down, and we are now complaining of transportation.

‘That is the problem. That is why I must say thank you for talking to the citizens,’ the President said.

He also said security was getting more attention and would be enhanced.

‘Security is getting better, but we cannot take our eyes off the camera because it takes one accident for things to flare up. We are managing it,” the President stated.

Tinubu urged the royal fathers to reach out to citizens on the genuine intentions of the government to deliver on its promises of Renewed Hope.

‘Now, we are sending money to the local governments. I addressed the governors today on that issue. I have been distributing fertiliser, rice, and other items
to support the recovery of citizens.

‘I assure you, Nigerians, we are looking at the light at the end of the tunnel. I can assure you, this economy will be revived, will survive, and prosper,’ Tinubu said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja commended the partnership between Nigeria and China.

The President gave the commendation when he received Mr Chen Xiaodong, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.

‘For us, it is a new beginning with you. A relationship that has lasted more than 50 years must be nourished, nurtured, and promoted.

‘Our mutual commitment to the values of labour, understanding, and development is very important.

‘I am very happy that President Xi Jinping is paying attention to Africa as a whole and our developmental needs,’ President Tinubu told the Chinese delegation at the State House.

The President welcomed the support of China for a more prominent position for Nigeria in the G20, UN Security Council, and the intergovernmental organisation of developing economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).

‘We believe in ourselves. We are determined to enhance the values of our people. Over the years, China has gone through
phases of transformation and development.

‘I once visited Shanghai when it was a village, and to see the rapid transformation, the technological development, is worth more collaborative efforts,’ the President said.

President Tinubu commended President Xi Jinping for consistently strengthening relations with Nigeria and Africa.

‘We believe in our bilateral relations, and we want to strengthen that. I am glad you mentioned United Nations, BRICS, and the G20. This is the largest economy in Africa.

‘To classify us as a backwater economy, no matter how hungry we are, we will manage our hunger. We will be friends and partners with those who respect our values, and China is one of them.

‘I commend what President Xi Jinping is doing in Africa, helping with capital mobilization for projects that positively impact the lives and livelihoods of our people in Africa,’ said Tinubu.

He stated that the infrastructure need of Africa was monumental, particularly that of Nigeria.

‘You have good technology that you can t
ransfer. You have a good opportunity to make an indelible mark on Nigeria.

‘We have a very vibrant youth population, well-educated, and ready to learn. Skill development programme and transfer of knowledge is extremely important,’ President Tinubu added.

He also thanked President Xi Jinping for an invitation to visit China.

‘I am glad you appreciate my effort on Lekki Free Trade Zone, and we are doing very well. We need to establish more industrial parks across the country.

‘Nigeria is blessed with mineral resources, and we have a lot of Chinese nationals around. We need to discuss more on that and promote cordial relationship for mutual benefits,’ the President stated.

In his remarks, the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs said he was in Nigeria to brief the President on the invitation extended by Jinping and the itinerary of the state visit.

Xiaodong commended the President for his strategic vision, playing leading roles in ECOWAS and Africa.

‘You are an important leader and a strategist in Afr
ica. We believe that your meeting with President Jinping will open up more discussions and opportunities for Nigeria and Africa,’ the Chinese envoy said.

He also congratulated President Tinubu on his re-election as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads State and Government.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Lecturer of Transport, Logistics and Port Operations, University of Lagos, Dr Edmund Chilaka, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to fully implement the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003.

Chilaka made the call during his book launch titled ‘Nigeria’s Shipping Policy and Maritime Trade up to the Early 21st Century’, in Lagos.

He said cabotage would enhance carriage of goods and services by indigenous shipowners within Nigerian waters and stimulate the development of indigenous capacity.

The author stressed the need to implement sections 35 to 38 of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act (NIMASA Act 2007).

He said the NIMASA Act provided for indigenous carriers to carry Federal, State, and Local Government cargo which was referred to as the cabotage law.

He noted that the law also recognised operators who were keen in bringing economic empowerment of Nigerian carriers into effect.

The author said the law should also be amended to bring back the cargo allocation
era, empower indigenous shippers and ensure training of Nigerian seafarers.

He said his newly-published book was all about advocacy to revive the implementation of Sections 35-38 of the NIMASA Act 2007.

‘This is an epoch-making event which seeks to prepare good grounds for our national economy to regain lost grounds in the maritime trade sector,’ he said.

Chilaka noted that the present advocacy to revive the implementation of sections 35-38 of the NIMASA Act was to give the agency the second tangible reason for being in existence aside from port and flag state functions.

He said without achieving this objective of helping Nigerian carriers to participate in international shipping trade, NIMASA’s efficiency and Key Performance Indices (KPIs) would continue to be seen as incomplete.

According to him, NIMASA’s present sole concentration on safer shipping and cleaner oceans cannot create a nationally- beneficial industry.

He said the agency should work toward the anticipated potential for growth which the f
ounding fathers of Nigeria’s maritime policies envisioned for the economy and Nigerians in general.

‘Last year, after I was appointed a visiting Research Fellow by Liverpool John Moores University, I prioritised the search for solutions to the problems of Nigerian carriers who are sidelined from participating in international shipping by the lack of access to cargo.

‘Incidentally, the cargoes referenced in NIMASA Act sections 35-38 belong to Nigerians and are not subject to sharing with any other local or foreign entities or jurisdictions but should be carried entirely by Nigerian carriers,” he said.

Speaking on the essence of fully implementing the NIMASA law, Chilaka said the development would expand NIMASA’s operational portfolios of strategic mandates for overall national development.

He said it would also enable the reactivation of dormant sectors of the marine and blue economy such as international cargo-carrying activities by indigenous carriers.

‘Implementing Sections 35-38 of the NIMASA Act 200
7 will arrest capital flight of an estimated 9 billion dollars in freight costs paid annually to foreign shipping lines.

‘Nigerian carriers stand to repatriate a substantial part of this cost when they participate in the carriage of federal, state and local government cargoes in line with sections 35 to 38 of the NIMASA Act 2007.

‘There would be a revival of comatose indigenous carriers and maritime sector.

‘Sea-time experience, ship boarding for nautical and engineering cadets of Nigerian maritime schools will resume once indigenous carriers resume international voyages.

‘It would also enable the transfer of shipping technology and the development of ship management skills and proficiency in ship agency activities,’ he said.

Earlier, Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Khadija Bukar, said that it had become necessary to amend the 17-year-old NIMASA Act.

Bukar, who was represented by Dr Adesola Adedayo, Lawmaker representing Apapa Federal Constituency in the House
of Representatives, noted that this was necessary because a lot had changed over the years.

According to her, the amendment will strengthen inter-agency collaboration and curb duplication of duties within the maritime industry.

Also, Prof. David Aworawo, Former Head of Department, History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, who reviewed the book, urged that the recommendations in the book be adhered to, to achieve a transformed and developed maritime industry.

Aworawo said that the book explored the history of maritime trade and development from 1553 till date.

The Founder of Human Rights Education Council (HURREC), Prof. Augustine Agugua, said the non-governmental organisation would be throwing its weight behind the advocacy.

Agugua advised other academia to support this kind of move to achieve a better society.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Deputy Gov. Yakubu Garba of Niger says the state government has started issuing of cheques for payment of gratuities to 335 first batch of pensioners in the state.

He said at the inauguration of payment of gratuity in Minna on Thursday that pensioners who retired from 2003 would benefits from the first batch.

He also said that the state government had released N500 million for payment of gratuities to 335 pensioners in the first batch who retired from the state civil service.

Garba said that pensioners who retired from the local government would be issued cheques on Friday, adding that the payment would be done in batches.

He commended the pensioners for being patient for years and during the screening exercise, appealing to them to support the government for a seamless payment process.

‘This is a new era for our pensioners who retired 21 years ago and could not get their gratuities, I want to appeal to you to forget what you have passed through.

‘I want to advise you not to allow anyone push you agains
t the government, don’t listen to rumour because government is a continuous process.

‘Only listen to people who are sincere, factual and realistic not eye service people because the Gov. Bago-led administration will continue to prioritise the plight of pensioners,’ he said.

In his address, Alhaji Nairu Namaska, Director General of the state Pension Board, appreciated Gov. Umaru Bago of the state for his visionary leadership in introducing the Niger State Pension Administration System.

‘This shows the dedication of the governor in ensuring that the welfare of our retirees is given the utmost priority,’ he said.

He gave the assurance that the payment process would be conducted with the highest standards of integrity and efficiency.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria