FEC Okays N29.7bn For Road, Water Projects

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved water and road projects valued at

N29.7bn, including a contract for the construction of a dual carriageway linking Abuja to

Kaduna State at the cost of N28bn.

The other project approved by FEC was a contract for the provision of water facilities in

the Asokoro Extension of the Federal Capital Territory for N1.7bn.

Minister of Works Mike Onolememen said this while addressing State House correspondents

after the meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

The minister explained that the contract for the Abuja-Kaduna road, which is part of the

Lower Usman Dam Project Phase 11, had a completion period of 24 months.

Onolememem said the project would have a “salutary effect on the city.”

Poor Funding Threatens INEC’s Operations – Jega

The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on

Wednesday decried under funding of the commission, saying it was a big threat to its

operations.

He made the statement at the quarterly meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners

(RECs) in Abuja.

Jega said that in spite of its enormous responsibility to the nation, the commission was not

getting adequate funding.

“It is a very challenging task indeed, because a lot of the activities required funds and

budgetary provisions. Regrettably, we don’t always get what we need all the times, to be

able to address the challenges.’’

“There is the need to fund INEC properly for it to be able to carry out its functions; poor

funding is a big threat to INEC’s operations,” reports quoted the INEC chairman as saying at

the meeting.

Jega said the commission would continue to engage government and the lawmakers, to have more

resources to be able to improve the working conditions and other needs to make its job

satisfactory.

He, however, stressed that INEC could not afford any delay in the execution of its

programmes toward 2015 general elections.

The chairman said the activities of the electoral body required that the trend be reversed

in good time for effectiveness and efficiency of the commission.

He said that in spite of challenges facing the commission, “remarkable progress” had been

recorded under his stewardship.

UK Reviewing Visa Bond Policy – High Commissioner by Obiora Arinze

British  High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock has said the British government

is reviewing its plan to introduce a visa bond scheme.

He also said while there were security concerns in the country, they were not overwhelming

in many respects and could be managed.

Pocock said this on Wednesday when he visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to ring the

closing bell and to discuss ways in which more British companies could be encouraged to

invest in the capital market.

The British government had proposed a new scheme under which some visitors from six

commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, would be asked to pay a £3,000 cash bond in

return for visas that allows them to stay in the UK for up to six months.

The development had resulted in an outcry by nationals of the affected countries with the

Nigerian government calling on its British counterpart to rescind the policy.

Speaking with journalists after ringing the closing bell at the NSE, the British High

Commissioner said, “We have made it very clear to our government in London that there is

concern about this. So, this is being reviewed and considered in London as we speak now.”





-Obiora Arinze

Tobacco Money Worse Than Blood Diamonds, Groups Warn Fashola

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and Civil Society

Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) have condemned the celebratory reception accorded the

Managing Director of British American Tobacco (BAT), Keith Gretton,  during  a visit to the

Lagos State Governor,  Babatunde Fashola  on Monday, September 16, 2013

In a statement jointly issued in Abuja, the groups said: “this is a major miss-step by Lagos

State and we owe it a duty to remind the Governor, seen by many as a role model, that

tobacco investment is worse than blood diamonds”.

Media reports indicated that Governor Fashola had, while hosting Gretton in his office at

Alausa, hailed BAT for allegedly creating jobs since it began operations in 2003, and added

that the Lagos government would continue to maintain a conducive environment for BAT and

other businesses to thrive in line with its objectives of “aggressive investment” in

infrastructure and security to improve the business environment.

During the meeting, Gretton disclosed that Nigeria was one of BAT’s top 10 markets, adding

that the company would continue to perform its corporate responsibilities to Nigerians. He

also said BAT supported agriculture and remits about N15 billion in taxes annually to the

Federal Government .

But in a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN  and CISLAC  said that their findings revealed

that  the main import of the meeting was to secure Fashola’s endorsement for BAT’s Corporate

Social Responsibility (CSR) project for the state at a time the state is considering a law

to  ban smoking in public places.

The groups said: “We have gathered that BAT was making plans to donate Hilux jeeps to the

Lagos Security Trust Fund just as some corporations did few a weeks ago.  This is carefully

planned so that BAT could interfere in the proposed law to prohibit smoking in public

places. This is completely unacceptable.

“Tobacco companies have demonstrated beyond reasonable conviction that they are enemies of

public health and therefore enemies of the public good. Their attempt to tap into the

profile of Governor Fashola to secure public acceptance is repulsive.
“We therefore want plead with Fashola not to taint his political stature with tobacco money.

 Any porridge from Big Tobacco will run the stomach! A good research by his aides can reveal

how political leaders around the world treat funds.”

“What we need in Lagos  State is a strong legislation  to  make corporations  accountable

for all costs associated with production and profits, and in this case, to make  the tobacco

industry accountable for the deaths, diseases ,  environmental, social  and other  costs 

associated with smoking in the State.

 “Not only is this unholy visit very disturbing, it has confirmed what we have always said

that the tobacco industry will never subscribe to any form of regulation. That BAT top

echelon is visiting the Lagos State Government at a time the State is contemplating

far-reaching laws to regulate the marketing and sale of cigarettes in the state is very

revealing to the discerning.

“While we believe Lagos, like any other state must attract investments, a company that

markets lethal products is definitely not the kind of investment that the people of Lagos or

Nigerians need. . The Governor’s pat on the back of a company that has a track record of

frustrating regulations is totally unacceptable”.

 “Human rights and the business environment are interconnected because people are involved.

A decent environment for Lagosians means protection against indignity of all sorts including

exposure to dangerous products like cigarettes, direct smoking, second-hand smoking or third

degree smoking”.

“We want to remind the governor that the choice of Lagos by BAT is informed by the company’s

belief that the huge number of youths in Lagos is a big market that must be targeted as

replacement smokers for a dying generation of smokers”.

“Rather than open its doors to BAT at this point, we feel the Lagos state government should

take a cue from the Federal Capital Territory and other states that have gone as far as

declaring smoke-free public places, ban on public smoking and other regulatory steps against

tobacco manufacturing firms”.

 “The governor rightly posited that many of the diseases today are caused by the lifestyle

choices that people make. We  submit that BAT and other tobacco companies through their

misinformation, glamorization of cigarettes and deceitful marketing strategies hide vital

information on the deadly nature of their products to users to get them hooked on 

cigarettes.

“This suspicious visit to the Lagos State Governor is a continuation of BAT’s strategy of

ingratiating with government officials to seem socially responsible while garnering good

press.

“Our demands are unequivocal: The Lagos State government should immediately revoke permits

for the company’s four  million pounds headquarters which it claims to be a demonstration of

its commitment to Nigeria, and put in place far-reaching tobacco control laws. Anything

short of this is a license to the tobacco company to continue the killing of our people”.

Lagos’ New IPPs To Open In October by Patrick Aigbokhan

the Lagos State Government has said it would inaugurate its two proposed Independent Power Plants in October, which has been identified by the state as ‘Energy Conservation Month’.

The state’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Taofiq Tijani, on Wednesday said at a media briefing in Lagos, that the two IPPs to be inaugurated are the newly built 10.4 Mega Watts plant at Alausa, Ikeja and the Island Power Expansion Project on Lagos Island.

According to him, Lagos State Government has been relentless and well-focussed in the pursuit of a proactive energy development plan in the country.

He reiterated that the state had, in the past three years, built and operated the Akute 12.15 MW IPP, which runs on Natural Gas and supplies power to Akute intake facility of Lagos Water Corporation.

He said the state had inaugurated the 10MW Island IPP, which supplies electricity to the General Hospital, Lagos and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital and court complexes, among other LASG facilities.

Tijani described the move by the state as among other things aimed at inculcating the attitude of judicious use of energy in the residents of the state.

“During this dedicated one-month period, the State Government through its Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the implementing agency Lagos State Electricity Board has developed an Energy Conservation Campaign.

“The Conserve Energy, Save Money” campaign will use behaviour change communication materials that carry step by step, do it yourself instructions on energy efficiency and conservation improvements to save Lagosians money and make our city more energy efficient”, the Commissioner said.

Tijani said that, as a prelude to the Energy Conservation Month, Governor Babatunde Fashola and musician M.I would engage the youth on Google Hangout to enlighten them on responsible ways to use energy.

He also said that energy conservation activations would be available at the E-Center, Yaba and a couple of other locations on Lagos Island where residents of the state would have the opportunity to learn how they could calculate their energy consumption on the spot.

As part of efforts of the state to further encourage more residents to embrace the use of LPG as a safer, cost effective, health and environment-friendly alternative to kerosene stove, firewood and charcoal, the commissioner further disclosed that sensitization awareness for the Liquefied Petroleum Gas initiative would also be carried out in Ikorodu.

IATA Faults Epileptic Infrastructures At Nigerian Airports by Patrick Aigbokhan

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has scored Nigerian low for the deficient facilities and other poor operation systems obtainable at the nation’s airports.

Another aspect of the country’s airport infrastructures that were poorly rated by IATA was the obsolete fuel transportation infrastructure.

IATA specifically indicated that Nigeria was still operating a road haulage system of fuel supply to aircraft at the airports when underground fuel hydrants could be deployed, as being practiced by most other airports around the world.

The agency lamented that the situation is occurring in the country’s airports at a time when Africa is poised for rapid development and great changes, with Nigeria projected to be part of the top 20 fastest growing economies over the next five years.

It emphasised the need for Nigeria to ensure fuel reliability is critical to Lagos as a hub for connectivity across South-West Africa.

IATA’s Director-General, Tony Tyler Wednesday stated while speaking at the Aviation Day Africa, held in Lagos, that one piece of physical infrastructure that was in desperate need of attention was fuel transportation facility.

He however stressed the need for Nigeria to find a sustainable long term solution to this “long standing problem”.

“I know that there are many and complex-securing a few kilometers of pipelines is not an impossible task. We are working with the oil industry to find a solution and we will be seeking the government’s political will to help us make it happen”, Tyler said.

“Trucking fuel through dense traffic for storage on site”, according to him, “is inefficient and costly, and making unscheduled technical stops to top up fuel causes schedule disruption and inconveniences for passengers on top of the direct cost of technical stops”.

Aside from the physical infrastructure, the IATA chief reiterated that, there are other infrastructure deficient issues, which he said, must be addressed as they concern charges.

Particularly, Tyler decried the exorbitant airport charges, noting that such an appalling airports’ facilities in Africa does not warrant the high cost of taxes levied on passengers by airport authorities.

he Lagos State Government has said it would inaugurate its two proposed Independent Power Plants in October, which has been identified by the state as ‘Energy Conservation Month’.

The state’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Taofiq Tijani, on Wednesday said at a media briefing in Lagos, that the two IPPs to be inaugurated are the newly built 10.4 Mega Watts plant at Alausa, Ikeja and the Island Power Expansion Project on Lagos Island.

According to him, Lagos State Government has been relentless and well-focussed in the pursuit of a proactive energy development plan in the country.

He reiterated that the state had, in the past three years, built and operated the Akute 12.15 MW IPP, which runs on Natural Gas and supplies power to Akute intake facility of Lagos Water Corporation.

He said the state had inaugurated the 10MW Island IPP, which supplies electricity to the General Hospital, Lagos and Lagos Island Maternity Hospital and court complexes, among other LASG facilities.

Tijani described the move by the state as among other things aimed at inculcating the attitude of judicious use of energy in the residents of the state.

“During this dedicated one-month period, the State Government through its Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the implementing agency Lagos State Electricity Board has developed an Energy Conservation Campaign.

“The Conserve Energy, Save Money” campaign will use behaviour change communication materials that carry step by step, do it yourself instructions on energy efficiency and conservation improvements to save Lagosians money and make our city more energy efficient”, the Commissioner said.

Tijani said that, as a prelude to the Energy Conservation Month, Governor Babatunde Fashola and musician M.I would engage the youth on Google Hangout to enlighten them on responsible ways to use energy.

He also said that energy conservation activations would be available at the E-Center, Yaba and a couple of other locations on Lagos Island where residents of the state would have the opportunity to learn how they could calculate their energy consumption on the spot.

As part of efforts of the state to further encourage more residents to embrace the use of LPG as a safer, cost effective, health and environment-friendly alternative to kerosene stove, firewood and charcoal, the commissioner further disclosed that sensitisation awareness for the Liquefied Petroleum Gas initiative would also be carried out in Ikorodu.

Interswitch Integrates With Visa, Processes Domestic, International Cards BY Patrick Aigbokhan

Interswitch Switching and Processing (Interswitch S & P) is the first e-transactions company in Nigeria to perform in-country switching and third party processing for all payment card brands on both the domestic market such as Verve and international cards such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover and UnionPay.

Interswitch Transnational’s Switching and Processing division (“Interswitch S & P”) completed a third party payment processing integration with Visa International to acquire the capability for both domestic and international payment transactions.

Interswitch S & P currently offers three shared market-facing services to financial institutions and retail businesses in the markets in which it operates:

(1) Pureplayswitch™ Service through which it offers interbank transaction switching;

(2) TransproTM Service that provides 3rd party issuer/acquirer processing for major card schemes; and

(3) RewardTM Service that delivers multi-channel loyalty to banks, merchants and their customers. This is in addition to standard back office services such as fraud management, dispute resolution, clearing and settlement as well as reporting and reconciliation.

It said the completion of the integration with Visa has been fuelled by the desire of banks to consolidate their entire card schemes on a single, trusted and reliable platform with a view to reducing their costs to better serve their customers, improving service quality as well as creating access to Interswitch’s QuicktellerTM value added services platform for bill presentment/payment, airtime top-up and real-time funds transfer.

Mr. Akeem Lawal, Managing Director, Interswitch Switching and Processing, said: “I am excited that with this integration agreement with Visa, we are the first processor to deliver the complete service that financial institutions have desired for some time – a robust, trusted and customer-centric platform that processes all cards. That we are kicking off our Visa processing service with contracts from four major banks with three others in advanced stages of discussion is a clear indication of how the market sees this achievement.”

EGO FINGERED AS DESCTUCTIVE TO NIGERIA’S SECURITY BY HENRY IBYA,ABUJA

Self Ego has been identified as a Major Factor hindering working synergy between different security forces that is needed for effective security of lives and property in the country.

   

“The Army would say that they cannot work together with the Police because they are more superior, while the Police refused to recognize  civil defense on the grounds that the NCDSC is just new and inferior with the Air force, customs, Navy and the immigration feeling that they are more decent” has caused challenges in harnessing the unity that is needed to provide results for effective security system.

 Chairman Abuja municipal council (AMAC) Hon. Mika Y. Jiba made the observation in Abuja while speaking at a stakeholder’s forum on the protection of critical infrastructures, vandalism/oil theft and private companies in Abuja municipal council Area (AMAC) organized by the Divisional office of the Nigeria security and civil defense corps (NSCDC).

Hon. Jiba who is also the ALGON chairman of the council areas of Abuja noted that one way to overcome security challenges facing the country  was for the forces to come together adding that the involvement of stakeholders in discussing security problems  to chat a new course was a right step in the right direction.

He also maintained that security issue is  a sensitive matter that cannot be tackled by one person but collectively.

The chairman who lauded the efforts of the organizers for doing a thorough job while calling on both farmers, wheel barrow  pushers, traditional rulers and the general public to join hands with the forces to enable them overcome security challenges in order to chase both armed robbers and vandals out of Abuja Municipal Council Area also called on other Forces to not only remember that in unity we stand but in division we fall implored them to emulate what the civil defense has done as a way of ensuring effective security system.

Representatives of the Police, SSS, and traditional rulers in their separate contributions emphasized the need for the media to be also  involved in passing information to the general public as the government they suggest should motivate the youths by creating Jobs  as well as providing the  environment for  private guards to thrive  by paying them reasonable salaries.

They argued that because of poor remuneration most private guards become ready willing tools in the hands of criminals who used them ,adding that most crimes committed happen with the consent of insiders.

They also suggested that both traditional rulers and members of the public should learn to be prompt in giving out information when things happen so that hoodlums will be tracked down adding that the issue of security should be  a collective responsibility.

  

The stakeholders also advocated for strict monitoring by relevant authorities and companies that are given out licenses to operate security guard outfit  adding that when the society grows security should be ahead because without security the society will be in chaos .

In a paper presented by the Divisional  Commandant of the corps, CSC Chris Urrah, while highlighting other functions of the corps to include registration of private guards, maintenance of peace and order, monitoring   of private guards, periodic organization of workshops, and training of private guards, 24 hours surveillance  on Federal and state infrastructures, arrest, detain, investigate and institute legal proceedings on behalf of government, criminals, rioters, civil disorder among other roles they perform also noted  that it is in line with the provisions of the constitution that the civil defense decided to carry along the stakeholders in the business to ensure that they were kept abreast with up to date legislation to actualize collaboration and synergy in fighting crime, vandalism of critical infrastructure and national  assets as well as arresting any ugly situation of crime and oil theft.

He disclosed that  properties worth about   about 400,000 barrels of crude oil worth millions of dollars is being lost on daily basis.

He also added  that lack of communication gadgets and other working tools, patrol vans, office and residential accommodation for both the NSCDC AMAC divisional headquarters and outpost spread all over the municipal area has caused setback to effective operation and called on the management of AMAC to come to their aid.