Day: June 20, 2024

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), says it has concluded its 120-day Regulatory Reform Accelerator Action Plan, which will significantly improve Nigeria’s business environment.

The Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business, Jumoke Oduwole, said the reforms concentrated on eight key indicators, including reviewing and updating service level agreements.

Oduwole said others are transparency reforms, efficiency reforms, entry and exit (Airport) reforms, port operations reforms, national single window project facilitation, agro-export reforms, and manufacturing for export reforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative is a 90-day programme, which started on Feb. 20 and terminated on May 20.

NAN also reports that the Vice President and Chair of PEBEC, Kashim Shettima, granted a 30-day extension period to enable Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) to intensify their reform efforts.

According to Oduwole, this is due to the sub-optimal p
erformance of Ministries, MDAs and the sluggish completion of reform.

The extension period ends at midnight on June 19.

‘These reforms operationalise earlier codified provisions in the Business Facilitation Act 2022 and directly impact the productivity and competitiveness of Nigeria’s economy.

‘With the success of this final sprint, vice-president Shettima is set to host the inaugural PEBEC Townhall Meeting on June 28.

‘This is where the results of the Accelerator and deepening the PEBEC’s regulatory reform mandate will be discussed.’

She said the successful implementation of these reforms marks a significant step towards making Nigeria a more business-friendly environment.

According to Oduwole, the event will bring together PEBEC Members, heads of over 50 federal government agencies and their reform teams, representatives of the organised private sector, and other stakeholders.

‘PEBEC was established in July 2016 to oversee interventions to enhance Nigeria’s business climate. The council is crucial to
President Bola Tinubu’s 8-point renewed hope agenda,’ she said.

She said the third cohort of the council, inaugurated in November 2023, comprises 24 members from various levels and arms of government.

Oduwole said with these reforms, PEBEC aims to elevate Nigeria’s global business rankings, attract foreign investments, and drive sustainable economic growth.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Thursday in Johannesburg, underscored the need for a stronger partnership between Nigeria and his country.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Thursday, that Ramaphosa stated this during a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Johannesburg.

He said that Ramaphosa thanked Tinubu for honouring the invitation to attend his inauguration for a second term in office.

‘Thank you so much for coming for the inauguration. I was very happy to see my brother at the ceremony,’ the South African President said.

President Tinubu said that Ramaphosa’s inaugural speech captured most of the challenges faced by African countries, and the need for more collaboration among leaders and citizens to provide solutions.

‘I really enjoyed your speech at the ceremony. I was delighted to listen to you. We have lots of issues in common, and we need to work more closely together. It was a good celebration,’ Tinubu said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term on June 14, following an agreement for a Government of National Unity between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Ali Muhammad Ali, the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has urged journalists to jealously guard the journalism profession and ensure the elimination of quackery.

Ali said this on Thursday in Abuja during the Diamond Anniversary Special Induction of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

The NAN MD said that media quacks needed to get the right training in order to function better in the society, as Public Relations (PR) was all about professionalism.

According to him, quacks need better training to be able to get their acts together.

‘In public communication, the tone of the PR man is different, especially when you engage a professional; the tone is that of reconciliation and persuasion, and not combating.

‘But when you see a quack serving as a spokesman, they are always combative.

‘When you become a media manager, naturally, their language and diction should be that of reconciliation, persuasion, peace and not combative nor aggression.

‘My advice to all quacks is to get
the right training by joining the institute; get the right education, knowledge, and the right attitude,’ Ali said.

He said that quackery had not only heated-up public communication in the country but had also heightened tension.

Ali, therefore underscored the agency’s commitment to maintaining credibility and authenticity in its reporting, in spite of the prevalence of fake news in today’s digital age.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) has called for the establishment of an electricity offences tribunal for faster dispensation of electricity related offences.

The Managing Director of NEMSA, Mr Aliyu Tahir, who made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a news conference, said that the tribunal should have an in-built appeal system.

Tahir said that NEMSA in house-counsel should be vested with powers to prosecute electricity offences.

‘The establishment of this tribunal will assist NEMSA to enforce its mandate of ensuring that electrical materials, equipment and instruments used in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) are of standard and specifications.

‘The sanctioning of violators is a long process as it involves several steps .To fast- track the prosecution, this tribunal will go a long in ensuring that violators are effectively prosecuted

‘The establishment of this tribunal is not under NEMSA Purveyor and we have made a submission to the legislature on this,’ he said.

According to him, as at March 31, NEMSA had inspected and tested 21, 681 electricity installations projects out of which 13, 154 were certified.

He said that 16,624 electricity networks were monitored, adding that about 4,921 factories, hazardous installations and public places were inspected, tested and certified fit.

Tahir said that 2,655,488 electricity meters were also tested and calibrated and 487 incidences were investigated.

The managing director said that NEMSA was taking several measures to enhance its enforcement activities.

He listed the measures to include the development of the Nigerian electrical and construction guidelines manuals, provision of the state-of-the art equipment for meter test statistics, expansion of NEMSA facilities across the nation.

Others, he said were the completion and inauguration of a new National Meter Test Station (NMTS) and the opening of a new Inspectorate Field Office (IFO) in Enugu.

‘Construction of a new NMTS in Kano and Benin city, establishment of new inspec
torate field office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Minna, Niger, Dutse, Jigawa,Oshodi Lagos, Owerri, Imo and Bauchi.

‘NEMSA had issued an enforcement notice to Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), to disconnect from their networks all structures within the Right-of-Way(ROW) of transmission and distribution lines nationwide,’ he said.

Tahir assured Nigerians of the agency’s determination to continue its statutory function of technical inspection, testing and certification of electrical materials in the NESI.

He, however, solicited the support of the media for effective coverage of NEMSA activities.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The NNPC Ltd.-TotalEnergies Joint Venture (JV) has announced a 550 million dollars Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ubeta Field Development Project.

This was announced on Thursday at the signing ceremony held at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) Towers, Abuja.

The milestone is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Executive Order on Oil and Gas Reforms, aimed at improving the investment climate and positioning Nigeria as the preferred investment destination for the Oil and Gas sector in Africa.

The Ubeta field was discovered in 1964, in the North-West of Port Harcourt in the eastern part of the Niger Delta.

Once on stream, it will produce about 350 million standard cubic feet per day (MMScf/day) of gas and 10,000 BBLS/day of associated liquids.

It will tap into the vast gas reserves and contribute towards securing gas supply to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited said the milestone was a major
step towards boosting Nigeria’s oil and gas production.

Kyari expressed appreciation to the president for providing the appropriate fiscal environment and facilitating a conducive operational environment as a major enabler in achieving this success.

The GCEO, while appreciating the industry stakeholders for their continuous support, lauded the Federal Government’s Presidential Executive Orders for Fostering Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector.

‘The Presidential Executive Order is instrumental to us getting to this significant milestone and we are now seeing the impact of the policy,’ Kyari said.

In his remarks, Mike Sangster, Senior Vice-President Africa, Exploration and Production, TotalEnergies, described Ubeta as the latest in a series of projects developed by the oil giant in Nigeria, most recently Ikike and Akpo West.

‘I am pleased that we can unveil this new gas project which has been made possible by the Federal Government’s recent incentives for non-associated gas developments.

‘Ubeta fits pe
rfectly with our strategy of developing low-cost and low-emission projects, and will contribute to the Nigerian economy through higher NLNG exports,’ he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, said Tinubu had significantly rekindled investor’s confidence in the Oil and Gas Industry, assuring Nigerians that more investments were on the way.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the project was a testament to the effectiveness of government’s policies aimed at creating a conducive environment for investment in the gas sector.

Located in OML58, the Ubeta gas condensate field will be developed with a new 6-well cluster connected to the existing Obite facilities through an 11km buried pipeline.

Production start-up is expected in 2027, with a plateau of 300 million cubic feet per day (about 70,000barrels of oil equivalent per day including condensates).

Gas from Ubeta will be supplied to NLNG,
a liquefaction plant located in Bonny Island with an on-going capacity expansion from 22 to 30 Mtpa, in which NNPC Limited holds a 49% interest.

Ubeta is a low-emission and low-cost development, leveraging OML58 existing gas processing facilities.

The carbon intensity of the project will be further reduced through a 5 MW solar plant currently under construction at the Obite site and the electrification of the drilling rig.

TotalEnergies is working closely with NNPC Limited to enhance local content, with more than 90 per cent of man-hours which will be worked locally.

The Ubeta FID justifies the effort invested by NNPC Limited, with unyielding Executive support, into tackling the underlying reasons that have plagued the attractiveness of the Nigerian oil and gas industry to foreign investors in recent years.

The Ubeta project has a robust Nigerian Content plan and is poised to stimulate economic activities, create job opportunities, and create significant value for stakeholders.

Source: News Agency of N
igeria

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and an NGO, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation (BBFORPEACE), have decried the surge of hate speech in Nigeria.

The two organisations, at a two-day Training the Trainers on Combating Hate Speech Online and Offline, called on youths to synergise and galvanise efforts to address the menace.

The event, jointly organised by the two organisations in Abuja, brought together no fewer than 20 young participants from across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training with the theme ‘Together for Peace: Combatting Hate Speech Online and Offline Was supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) coordinated by LEAP Africa.

Speaking at the event, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, Director General of IPCR stressed the need for youths empowerment and positive deployment of technology to shape the narrative of hate speech in Nigeria.

He said such would address bigotry, disunity and create the culture of p
eace and foster unity in the country.

Ochogwu said that the training could not have come at a better time as Nigeria continued to battle misinformation and hate speech impacting negatively on peace, security and stability of the nation.

Mr Rafiu Lawal, Executive Director of BBFORPEACE, in a welcome address highlighted the importance of steming the tide of hate speech in Nigeria.

‘Hate speech, harmful narratives including rumour, disinformation, fake news and ethnic phobia have had significant and far-reaching effects on many societies and Nigeria is no exception.

‘The proliferation of hate speech and harmful narratives now poses a critical threat to Nigeria’s social fabric, intergroup relationships, and overall unity, peace, stability and development of the nation.

‘Our four peacebuilding institutions are actively working in partnership towards mitigating the dreaded phenomenon of hate speech and information disorder across all spectrums of our society.

‘This is to foster sustainable peace, stability a
nd socio-economic development,’ he said.

While charging all stakeholders to work together to address the hate speech menace, Lawal disclosed that participants at the training would be supported technically and financially to implement small scale initiatives in all the Area Councils in Abuja.

Mr Kamaldeen Afolabi of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Grants and MERL Specialist, underscored the need to continue to build youth capacity.

He noted that, doing so, would provide opportunities for youths in order to facilitate good governance for peacebuilding.

NAN reports that the training engaged young people on various topics, including, management and peace building, social media as a tool for advocacy, dialogue, and political participation.

Other topics are: Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act 2024, Transforming Narratives through Storytelling among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Addis Ababa: Ethiopian higher education institutions have been urged to increase their role through rigorous research to mitigate climate-induced impacts and realize the country’s green economy strategy.

The Ministry of Planning and Development, recently mandated to lead coordination of environment and climate change issues, is hosting a half-day consultative workshop under the theme: ‘Towards a Greater Engagement of Universities on Climate Change Issues in Ethiopia.’

The workshop brought together university presidents from across the country, representatives from the Ministry of Education, key climate implementing ministries, and heads of selected research institutes.

Accordingly, the participants are discussing strategies and initiatives developed by Ethiopia to address climate change.

The workshop is also believed to serve as a platform for networking and collaboration on the impacts of climate change.

In his remarks, State Minister of Planning and Development, Seyoum Mekonen stated that climate chang
e has been becoming one of the pressing issues in Ethiopia.

For this reason, the government of Ethiopia has embarked on the implementation of Green Legacy Initiative to promote a healthy environment in Ethiopia by restoring ecosystems, mitigating climate change, and fostering environmental awareness.

According to the state minister, the initiative has been playing a paramount role in mitigating climate change impacts.

Seyoum also mentioned the ‘Bounty of the Basket’ (Yelemat Turifat), a national agricultural development initiative and summer farming activities are helping the nation’s efforts to put an end to aid dependency in Ethiopia, beyond dealing with climate change.

He pointed out that with the planting billion of seedlings in the past five years, the affected areas have been able to recover, he indicated.

In order to help mitigate the pressure of climate change, the state minister stressed on the need to engaging universities in the areas of capacity building, research, and other activities.

In
particular, he emphasized on establishing favorable systems to university scholars that allow their academic work to be utilized as a resource of knowledge for policy development.

He urged universities to contribute and implement the outcomes of innovation and technology in order to protect cities and regions from the adverse consequences of climate change.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency