Author: tdpel

By Franca Ofili

Prof. Abubakar Panti, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, has called for urgent steps, such as a legislation, to address the spiraling population size of Nigeria.

Panti made the call in Abuja, at a three-day online training for media practitioners on Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH).

The training, organised by Rotary Action Group for RMCH, is with support from Rotary International, the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

The medical practitioner stressed that birth control at family level was imperative, saying it would tackle issues of economic hardships, scarcity of accommodation and the desire for better education in the current competitive world.

The don, who expressed worry that though  “the global fertility rate has declined, sub-Sahara Africa still accounts for the highest.

“Nigerian fertility, when compared to other countries’ rate, is not encouraging; the total fertility rate has fallen markedly over time in many countries, but the country ranks 10th in countries with the highest fertility rate globally.

Panti noted that this was in spite of the fact that in developing countries, women continued to die because they lacked access to contraception.

According to him, each pregnancy multiplies a woman’s chance of dying from pregnancy complications or childbirth due to lack of family planning.

He said such deaths were preventable as there were still affordable options such as the traditional methods of child spacing.

Panti, however, maintained that modern contraceptive methods remained the best with wide and safe varieties such as the Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD), used world-wide by more than 100 million women.

“IUCD is an effective, reversible and long term method of contraception which does not require replacement for long periods and does not interfere with sexual activity,” he said.

Also speaking on child and infant mortality, resulting from poor handling of pregnancies or effective ante-natal clinicals, the don said it had continued to be a persistent health challenge, especially in Nigeria, which was the second largest contributor to under-five mortality in the world.

Panti said that in 2019 alone, child mortality rate of Nigeria was 117.2 death per 1000 live births.

According to him, it is estimated that every day Nigeria loses 2300 children under-five years.

“The more women lose children, the more they want more by getting pregnant without proper planning. (NAN)

The PowerBall dividends for Tuesday’s drawings indicated that neither the PowerBall nor the PB PLUS jackpots had been won. The kitty is still growing in value and will be worth more on Friday.

DIVISIONS IN POWERBALL

The three players who matched five numbers for a total of R164 936,30 were the largest winners in Tuesday’s draw, according to the PowerBall payouts.

With R13 471,80, the 23 players who matched four numbers plus the PB won the second most money on the night.

Last but not least, 139 209 participants successfully predicted R10’s PowerBall.

The winning PB numbers were: 04, 15, 26, 38, 39 and PB: 19

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the European Union, has intensified campaign for product specification to increase exportation of unique products in the country.

The Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, applauded the European Union and European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for funding the Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfriPi project).

Adebayo noted that the AfriPI Project has gone a long way in supporting African companies, creators and inventors by generating value from their intellectual property.

Adebayo said: “The benefits obtainable from geographical indications in Nigeria are immense. Nigeria is one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world. We can boast of a wide variety of products that can be classified as GI. These range from the popular Ijebu garri to Nsukka Yellow Pepper, the Sokoto Red Skin Goat and the famous Yauri Onions. Unfortunately, poor knowledge of geographical Indications and the absence of a specific legal framework has rendered our unique products more vulnerable to misappropriation”.

“Nigeria has a strategic ambition to position itself as a major supply chain partner to key off-taker nations.

Geographical indications will play a major role in helping Nigerian producers generate greater value for their products.”

Warner Bros is halting the release of The Batman in Russia, just days before it was to open in theatres there, as Hollywood moved to cease distribution plans in the country following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Warner Bros, the Walt Disney Co, and Sony Pictures said on Monday that they would “pause” the release of their films in Russia. Each studio has significant upcoming releases that had been set to debut internationally in the coming weeks.

The Batman, one of the year’s most anticipated films, launches Friday in North America and many overseas territories, including Russia.

“In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film ‘The Batman’ in Russia,” a spokesperson for the studio said in a statement.

“We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this tragedy.”
Warner Bros’ move closely followed a similar decision Monday by the Walt Disney Co.

The studio had planned to open the Pixar film Turning Red in Russia on March 10. That film is going straight to Disney+ in the US.

Before Disney’s announcement, Warner Bros. had been expected to proceed with the Russian release of The Batman.

By Rukayat Moisemhe

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) alongside some economic experts have projected an optimistic economic outlook for the Nigerian economy provided certain macroeconomic fundamentals and policies are met.

They made the assertion at the American Business Council (ABC) in partnership with KPMG Nigeria event with the theme: “The Opportunities and Imperatives for Business” on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IMF had projected a growth rate of 2.7 per cent for Nigeria in 2022.

Mr Ari Aisen, IMF Country Representative to Nigeria, said the IMF had due to the COVID-19 pandemic extended emergency assistance of $6.8 billion in 2020 and 2021 to contain the negative impact of the pandemic.

Aisen noted that reports showed progress in the health sector with the Nigerian authorities responding in the best way possible to contain the pandemic albeit not so much progress in some other sectors of its economy.

He, however, stressed the need for the overall economic policy framework to change by adopting the right instruments to engender growth and development.

The IMF rep emphasised that accessibility to foreign exchange for import was fundamental to growing the private sector which was identified as the main engine for economic growth.

He added that on the fiscal side, revenue mobilisation needed to be shored up as reports showed that Nigeria collected the least in revenue when compared to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio among emerging countries.

“It is very difficult to make improvements in socioeconomic indicators with such a low level of revenue to GDP ratio.

“Therefore, strengthening tax administration, increasing tax compliance, using digitalisation to broaden the tax base is essential and also considering eventually to raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) rates to levels that are closer to the regional averages.

“The country also needs policy reforms that are more oriented to creating a more conducive environment for the private sector together with taking advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.

Prof. Bongo Adi, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Lagos Business School, noted that the country finished on a very strong note in 2021 with the biggest boost from oil prices that rebounded.

Adi noted that oil still had about 50 more years of dominance because the technologies driving manufacturing still leaned towards fossil fuel.

He stressed the need to shore local capacity and production volume to enable the nation to benefit from external crisis such as the Russian/Ukraine conflict that could favour export commodities for the country.

“External crisis has always favoured export commodities in Nigeria and so there’s need to shore up production volume of oil which is around 1.4 million barrels daily against the over two million barrels projected to improve earnings.

“Again, local content capacity shows that Nigeria is not on the budget of many of these major oil multinationals.

“This is an opportunity for these local investors to step into the gap they left so that whatever we get from oil sales can be used for the development of the country,” he said.

The Economist, however, reinforced the need for government to improve the country’s manufacturing capacity to drive import substitution by scaling up the work on rail infrastructure.

“Once that happens, you eliminate the logistics constraints for manufacturers seeing that this is one infrastructure that no company can solve for itself.

“There’s no innovation in rail and other logistics capacity; so this is where government should concentrate on as manufacturing runs on rails and not on roads,” he said.

Mr Justice Derefaka, Technical Adviser, Gas Business & Policy Implementation, said that in 2022 the implementation of the contents of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would transform Nigeria into a hub of huge business opportunities.

He said this would come with high returns for investments particularly in the gas sector.

He, however, called for the necessary critical infrastructure such as virtual pipelines aimed at easing the transportation and logistics of gas to maximise the potential of the sector.

“PIA would spur and serve as a resurgence of our economic development.

“2022 would be declared the year of gas with gas projected to bring in over $1billion annually, and create about 300,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country,” he said.

Mr Dinesh Rathi, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Free Zone, stressed the need for the three factors – good policy, availability of finance and support infrastructure – that spur the manufacturing sector to be in place.

He said that once those ingredients worked well, there was potential for the Nigerian manufacturing sector to grow to double digits.

He stressed the need to leverage the country’s abundant gas supplies by using natural gas as source of energy to make the manufacturing sector more internationally competitive due to its lower energy costs.

“The infrastructure at the Lagos Free Zone, with regard to energy, roads, efficient port system to be finished by the end of the year, among others has ensured ease of doing business for those operating in that environment.

“With those things, it is a perfect world for operators to come and thrive,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Rukayat Moisemhe

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) alongside some economic experts have projected an optimistic economic outlook for the Nigerian economy provided certain macroeconomic fundamentals and policies are met.

They made the assertion at the American Business Council (ABC) in partnership with KPMG Nigeria event with the theme: “The Opportunities and Imperatives for Business” on Wednesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IMF had projected a growth rate of 2.7 per cent for Nigeria in 2022.

Mr Ari Aisen, IMF Country Representative to Nigeria, said the IMF had due to the COVID-19 pandemic extended emergency assistance of $6.8 billion in 2020 and 2021 to contain the negative impact of the pandemic.

Aisen noted that reports showed progress in the health sector with the Nigerian authorities responding in the best way possible to contain the pandemic albeit not so much progress in some other sectors of its economy.

He, however, stressed the need for the overall economic policy framework to change by adopting the right instruments to engender growth and development.

The IMF rep emphasised that accessibility to foreign exchange for import was fundamental to growing the private sector which was identified as the main engine for economic growth.

He added that on the fiscal side, revenue mobilisation needed to be shored up as reports showed that Nigeria collected the least in revenue when compared to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio among emerging countries.

“It is very difficult to make improvements in socioeconomic indicators with such a low level of revenue to GDP ratio.

“Therefore, strengthening tax administration, increasing tax compliance, using digitalisation to broaden the tax base is essential and also considering eventually to raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) rates to levels that are closer to the regional averages.

“The country also needs policy reforms that are more oriented to creating a more conducive environment for the private sector together with taking advantage of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.

Prof. Bongo Adi, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Lagos Business School, noted that the country finished on a very strong note in 2021 with the biggest boost from oil prices that rebounded.

Adi noted that oil still had about 50 more years of dominance because the technologies driving manufacturing still leaned towards fossil fuel.

He stressed the need to shore local capacity and production volume to enable the nation to benefit from external crisis such as the Russian/Ukraine conflict that could favour export commodities for the country.

“External crisis has always favoured export commodities in Nigeria and so there’s need to shore up production volume of oil which is around 1.4 million barrels daily against the over two million barrels projected to improve earnings.

“Again, local content capacity shows that Nigeria is not on the budget of many of these major oil multinationals.

“This is an opportunity for these local investors to step into the gap they left so that whatever we get from oil sales can be used for the development of the country,” he said.

The Economist, however, reinforced the need for government to improve the country’s manufacturing capacity to drive import substitution by scaling up the work on rail infrastructure.

“Once that happens, you eliminate the logistics constraints for manufacturers seeing that this is one infrastructure that no company can solve for itself.

“There’s no innovation in rail and other logistics capacity; so this is where government should concentrate on as manufacturing runs on rails and not on roads,” he said.

Mr Justice Derefaka, Technical Adviser, Gas Business & Policy Implementation, said that in 2022 the implementation of the contents of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would transform Nigeria into a hub of huge business opportunities.

He said this would come with high returns for investments particularly in the gas sector.

He, however, called for the necessary critical infrastructure such as virtual pipelines aimed at easing the transportation and logistics of gas to maximise the potential of the sector.

“PIA would spur and serve as a resurgence of our economic development.

“2022 would be declared the year of gas with gas projected to bring in over $1billion annually, and create about 300,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country,” he said.

Mr Dinesh Rathi, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Free Zone, stressed the need for the three factors – good policy, availability of finance and support infrastructure – that spur the manufacturing sector to be in place.

He said that once those ingredients worked well, there was potential for the Nigerian manufacturing sector to grow to double digits.

He stressed the need to leverage the country’s abundant gas supplies by using natural gas as source of energy to make the manufacturing sector more internationally competitive due to its lower energy costs.

“The infrastructure at the Lagos Free Zone, with regard to energy, roads, efficient port system to be finished by the end of the year, among others has ensured ease of doing business for those operating in that environment.

“With those things, it is a perfect world for operators to come and thrive,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Sequel to an invitation extended to him by his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Tuesday, 1st March to participate in the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP@50), scheduled for 3rd – 4th March, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The theme of the Special Session is “Strengthening UNEP For The Implementation Of The Environmental Dimension Of The 2030 Agenda For Sustainable Development.”

According to the organisers of the event, “for 50 years, UNEP has coordinated a worldwide effort with Member States to address the world’s biggest environmental challenges. Member States are vital partners in formulating UNEP’s policy, implementing UNEP’s programme and championing solutions to our shared environmental challenges.

“UNEP@50 is a time to reflect on the past and envision the future.

It provides an opportunity to reinvigorate international cooperation and spur collective action to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

No country or continent can solve these global crises alone. But each nation has a crucial role to play in protecting our people and planet.”

President Buhari is expected to deliver the National Statement of the country and participate in High Level Dialogue Sessions on the Environment at the event.

He will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, National Security Adviser, Maj.Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd), Director General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The Chairman, Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Mr. Kamal Bayewu, has kicked off his working visit to the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of Lagos State.

Speaking during his visits to Ojo LG, Oto-Awori and Iba LCDAs, Bayewu commended the achievements of the Chairmen as well as their cordial relationships with all stakeholders in their communities.

He encouraged all their staff to be diligent, resourceful and continue to maintain harmonious relationships with the stakeholders, while also supporting the executives to achieve optimal results and success.

The Chairman spoke extensively on service delivery and the need for improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the development of the Councils, reiterating that revenue generation is vital for the development and growth of the Local Councils across the State.

Admonishing the staff on abscondment, leave matters, falsification of service dates and documents, Bayewu implored them to exhibit good character on their jobs for optimum performance, informing that Local Council workers will soon be called for verification at the Service Commission.
He also disclosed that officers on Grade Levels 07-12 should expect to be moved within their division while Grade Levels 13-17 are expected to work anywhere within the State so as to learn, unlearn and relearn in a bid to occupy positions of higher responsibilities.
The Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, enjoined all staff to be guided by the Public Service Rules, Financial Regulations and other extant guidelines in the course of discharging their duties effectively and efficiently.
On the issue of tax clearance, Bamgboye encouraged the staff to update their records with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and directed the Council Treasurers to ensure that all outstanding tax records are updated.
He averred that diplomas and certificates acquired at University are for proficiency not for career advancement while encouraging the staff to join their various professional institutions for more exposure in their various field or discipline.
On her part, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, Permanent Secretary Local Government Establishments, Training & Pensions, urged the staff to always present themselves for training and timelines for information should be strictly observed.
While reminding the staff about their Oath of Secrecy, she charged them to ensure that information is passed through the appropriate quarters rather than the social media.
The Chairmen of Ojo LG, Oto-Awori LCDA and Iba LCDA appreciated the LGSC delegation led by the Chairman for the official visit and assured the team of improved service delivery to the residents of the communities.
The visiting entourage also included the Commission Members: Mr. Kamal Bayewu, Chairman: Engr. Biodun Orekoya, Commissioner (Ikorodu Division); Mr. Akeem Bamgbola, Commissioner (Lagos Division); Mr. Ahmed Seriki, Commissioner (Epe Division); Mr. Taofeek Adaranijo, Commissioner (Ikeja Division) and the Management team of both Government Agencies.

y Gabriel Agbeja

Some Domestic Airlines Executive Officers have said that airfares hike is long overdue in Nigeria.

The officers made the assertion during separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to them, some charges to be paid by the airlines have been skyrocketed while most maintenance services are done through foreign exchange.

Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Capt. Mahmoud Abdullahi, who said that airfare hike was overdue, maintained that the fuel price kept increasing while some service providers had increased their tariff by more than 250 per cent.

“The airline fare hike is long overdue, as you are aware of the increase in the fuel price and forex.

“Additionally, of recent, the service providers (Sahcol and Nahco) increased their tariff by 250 to 300 per cent; at the international airport, it is even 500 per cent increase.

“Fares that you see now have always been in the airlines inventory. What airlines do is to close lower bucket fare and open next fare bucket, but those lower fares are still in airlines inventory, “ he said.

According to Abdullahi, though airlines may experience low patronage, they have to survive.

The managing director said that every move by the airline was in the interest of safety.

He pointed out that airline income was in naira while most of their expenditure was in forex.

“Regulators play a very good role in pricing. If an airline prices its ticket so low, regulators have to investigate to find out how this airline can meet its obligations with the price that it is charging.

“They have to make sure the airline does not cut corners on maintenance,“ he said.

Abdullahi explained that no airline would intentionally delay or cancel flights, but due to variables including; weather, technical, airport facilities, sunset airport among others.

The Azman General Manager, Mr Suleiman Lawan, who also spoke with NAN, said that it had reached a time when the airfares could no longer remain the same as they used to be.

According to him, aircraft handling is different from other transportation systems.

He noted that tickets prices started from N27, 500 up to N35, 000 before it was increased to minimum of N50, 000.

“Everyday you have to plan for importing spare parts, which is in USD and you cannot get such money from the government. It’s only from the parallel market. Also A-jet fuel is in the higher price.

“Handlers have increased their charges, even the government has increased its charges. So, based on the above explanation how can airlines survive the situation.

“Apart from that, they have so many responsibilities to handle, such as; payments of salaries, aircraft checks out of Nigeria, which they have to get the money from the same parallel market,“ he said.

Lawan urged the government to assist airlines in some responsibilities.

According to him, the airlines are looking for the way to have a breakthrough not even making profits.

The Max Air Executive Director, Mr Harish Manwani said the airlines ought to increase the fare to cope with the daily expenses to survive.

The executive director noted that Max Air hardly delayed or cancelled flights except for extra ordinary weather conditions.

“Even with low turnout, the airline has its flights flown the routes across the country,“ he said.

An Aviation Expert, Group Capt. John Ojikutu Rtd, urged the public and the responsible authorities to have interest in the airlines` makeup areas for the sustenance of their operations.

Ojikutu said he had expected the hike in the airfare about 10 years ago.

“Selling air ticket at a naira rate less than $100 for a flight of one hour makes no economic sense in Nigeria where over 20 years ago $100 was the fare.

“Aviation fuel was being refined in the country around 1999, whereas today we have been importing fuel for well over 10 years.

“Naira exchange has grown steadily from N180 to N360, N400, and now over N500 to a dollar and our airlines are selling tickets at N26,000 or in rare cases N30,000 even when we are importing fuel,“ he said.

Some air travelers at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), who also spoke with NAN, appealed to the Federal Government to intervene on the recent increased of air fares.

According to them, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is responsible for approving the tariffs of fares on the tickets of each operator submitted to it after due consideration.

“ That include the airlines operators, airports operator (FAAN) ground handling companies, among others. Determining the cost of fares and charges by operators is the designated responsibility of NCAA. (NAN)

By Emmanuella Anokam

Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director (GMD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says the organisation is being transformed to be the fifth Gas producing establishment in the world.

Kyari noted that NNPC was currently working on a platform that would create a hub of gas industries that would potentially compress gas and deliver with ease to the masses.

He spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at a session tagged: “Changing Strategies for the Future of NNPC” at the ongoing fifth Nigeria International Energy Summit (NEIS 2022).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) restructures and empowers NNPC as a new entity, a limited company.

The group managing director also said that it was working on establishing the gas platform and would announce when it would debut NNPC limited in July.

“This is our target, it is possible, practical because the resources and Will are there.

“NNPC limited will ensure that gas is the focus of our country and bring the backbone for gas and potentially create opportunity of bringing more gas into domestic market to every part of the country,” he said.

According to him, NNPC limited is expected to drive economic growth of Nigeria, because it is not just an oil and gas company but an enabler energy company.

He said that it had to struggle with fiscal change and getting the right environment for business since 1967.

Kyari said in the last 10 years, there was investment inflow into Sub Sahara Africa and partner countries, and the level of inflow into the country was probably about N3.5 billion.

According to him, NNPC is a real capital intensive company that is designed to improve on current situation and production.

Kyari recalled that before the passage of PIA, there was no right physical structure, regulatory stability and framework and physical system for business and people lost faith.

“Without President Muhammadu Buhari, we would not have had a PIA because passage of the legislation was resisted by the industry and all but we kept struggling.

“Currently, by all standards, the PIA is sufficiently competitive and world class and assures all gains when you invest.

“That is what brought NNPC limited on the table as a commercial company that will deliver dividends to its shareholders and enable its partners dependent and independent.

“It also makes NNPC to be the guarantor of energy security of the country,” he said.

According to Kyari, it means the NNPC must operate in world-class standard, fully automated and must embark on technology to recognise the necessity for energy transition.

“We also work with our partners to ensure that we monitise gas in its different forms and get gas based industries.

Also speaking, Mr Eberechukwu Orji, the Managing Director, Waltersmith Petroman Oil limited said NNPC was expected to be at the forefront in keeping pace with the energy transition.

Orji called for a robust joint venture partnership, investment flow and finance structure to enable NNPC meet obligations as a new limited organisation.

This, he said would demonstrate to its shareholders a focus that it could deliver as a new entity.

“We want to see a technologically enabled NNPC for timely business transactions and to tackle challenges,” he said.

Mr Ric Kennedy, the Managing Director of Chevron also tasked NNPC to be transparent in catalysing investment in its new status. (NAN)