Enugu State Government says it will revamp the Nigergas Ltd abandoned over two decades ago to boost industrial gas and create employment for the youths in the state.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Enugu State Investment Development Authority, Dr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting on Sunday in Enugu.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigergas NIGERGAS Limited started in May 1962 as a partnership business between the former Eastern Nigerian Government and Siad Machine Impianti Italy who supplied the plant and managed the company until the Civil War broke out in 1967.
Enugu State Government later retained ownership of the company.
Ogbu-Nwobodo said the demand for medical oxygen and industrial gas in the country far outpace the supply, hence the need for the state government to partner private players to revamp Nigergas and take advantage of the huge inherent opportunities.
He said, “The re-engineering, refurbishment, and subsequent commissioning of Nigergas is a deliberate step by the Gov. Peter Mbah administration to provide the much-needed medical oxygen and industrial gas for the South East and the entire country.
“The profitability profile, commercial and investment have been vetted with prospects of huge profit.
“We have everything on ground, and our timeline to kick off is certain. What remains is the paperwork because we already have the approval of the governor and now that of the State Exco,” he added.
He explained that the Nigergas Company, would employ over a thousand workers, when resuscitated.
According to him, the move to revamp Nigergas was one in the series of projects aimed at reviving other moribund state-owned enterprises such as Niger Steel Ltd., Sunrise Flour Mills, and the aluminum smelting company at Ohebe Dim.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Aka Eze Aka, observed that the present administration was focused on reviving all moribund industries to create economy of scale for the state.
He said the approval for the revamp of the comatose company was based on a rigorous assessment of many commercial proposals and models presented to the state, establishing a compelling business case and profitability.
On her part, the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, added that revamping of the Presidential Hotel would put Enugu State in the world map as the premier destination for investment, tourism and hospitality.
“It is with great joy that I make this announcement because the hotel has been abandoned and had gone moribund over the past years.
“However, bringing it back to life will not only put our state on the world map again, it will equally create economic value-chain, market, tourism and employment for our youths,” she said. (NAN)
Arsenal must not get carried away with their Premier League title chances after edging local rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in a hard-fought London derby, manager Mikel Arteta said on Sunday.
The Gunners raced into a three-goal lead by halftime but Spurs battled back with two goals and left the visitors holding on for the points after a storming late comeback.
“Don’t get carried away with yourself. Just understand we have to be better, we want to be better. There’s a margin for improvement and we go again against Bournemouth,” said Arteta.
League leaders Arsenal host the Cherries on Saturday before finishing with games at Manchester United and home to Everton in a thrilling title race as they try to hold off Manchester City.
“We are right on it. The motivation and what is ahead is beautiful,” he told reporters after a nervous finish away to Tottenham, who could have snatched a draw at the end.
Arsenal have bounced back after losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League and then 1-0 at Bayern Munich as they exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals.
They beat Wolverhampton Wanderers away, thrashed Chelsea at The Emirates and have now taken three points at neighbours Spurs, which Arteta acknowledged was always difficult.
However, he said his team was ready for the challenge and raring to go as they chase their first league title in 20 years.
“They’ve played a lot of minutes, a lot of games. It’s an emotionally demanding month but yesterday I had to stop them in training because they wanted more. That’s a good sign.
“This team has a lot of courage and determination to make it happen. I have (faith in the players).
“In the last few minutes I was doubting a little to be fair,” he said with a smile.(Reuters/NAN)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a male passenger carrying 4,000 tramadol pills at the Muhammad Murtala International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos
This is contained in a statement by the NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that NDLEA officers at the gate ‘C ‘departure hall of the Lagos airport on Friday foiled the suspect’s attempt to export the pills to Malpensa, Italy on an Ethiopian Airline flight.
He said that the psychoactive substance was found concealed in women wears and granulated melon packed in the suspect’s backpack and another bag containing food items.
“In his statement, the suspect who is a frequent flyer confessed he was hired for 700 Euros on successful delivery of the consignment in Italy, “ he said.
Meanwhile, In Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives on April 24 arrested 28-year-old woman in Amarata area of Yenagoa.
Babafemi said that she was arrested for producing and distributing cakes laced with illicit drugs especially cannabis sativa.
According to him, at the time of her arrest, substantial number of the drugged cakes weighing 1.5kg were recovered from her.
Also, A 20-year-old hair stylist, and a dispatch rider, were arrested on March 10 by NDLEA operatives for in Yenagoa for a similar offence.
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is investing in technology that is tailored towards ensuring transparency and accountability in government and accelerating public-sector performance and service delivery to the Nigerian people.
Speaking during a meeting with Microsoft Founder and Philanthropist, Mr. Bill Gates, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, President Tinubu said technology is a potent weapon against corruption and financial impropriety in public service.
Emphasizing his unwavering commitment to deliver reliable technology that will support a national consumer credit system and many other critical new government interventions for all Nigerians, the President said resistance is often expected when efforts are made to strengthen systems and forestall malfeasance.
“Technology is the enemy of fraud, corruption, and irregularity. We have been working hard on improving technology.
“There is always the initial resistance. Corruption, self-interest, and fraudulent activity will always be an enemy, but when you bend that curve, you will receive the benefit. The nation will receive the benefit,” the President said.
Recounting how he deployed technology to enhance the revenue base of Lagos State as governor, President Tinubu said he ensured the collection and utilization of essential data, creating an efficient tax system for the state.
“When I was governor of Lagos State, I faced challenges. I started with N600 million and ended up with over N8 billion. And right now, they are targeting a trillion naira with the use of technology in the state. There is no other shortcut. We must invest in technology. We must focus, be diligent, and work hard,” the President said.
In his remarks, Mr. Gates informed the President of a one-identity technological platform that can integrate variegated data, while explaining the centrality of data harmonization to planning, security, and tax efficiency.
“We are working with Mr. Wale Edun, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, on digitization. Before you came into office, there were a few things attempted in identity management. But they have been very scattered. There have been multiple identification systems.
“Now, there is a plan to take that technology called MOSIP and use it for this identification platform so that people can get digital benefits. We are providing support for that, and we can provide more support.
“With MOSIP ID, there is potential application in all government payment programmes. It helps with payment efficiency and bank accounts, and eventually, when everyone is using that, it makes tax collection easier. That benefit will take a few years. However, there will be more bank accounts, more financial inclusion, and effective government payment programmes,” the former Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft said.
Mr. Gates said Nigeria has the capacity to manage this system and related-technological systems as the nation brims with talented youths.
“The last time I went to the Microsoft office in Lagos, I saw the amazing work that they were doing and how they were growing their operations. So, you have a lot of Nigerian talents to manage these systems,” he said.
The businessman also spoke about some high-yield seeds and a variety of crops with the potential for improved productivity and nutrition in all regions of the country.
He said countries like the United States and Brazil have been using these seeds and that they have been tested and certified as safe.
“There is no safety issue with these seeds. Supporting the Minister of Agriculture’s effort in this regard is something that we feel is important and worth supporting,” Mr. Gates added.
Responding to Mr. Gates’ submission, President Tinubu said: “We will look at this and work on it further. I am proud of Nigeria’s youths. They are very excited and creative with technology. They encourage us as we continue to press our reform efforts forward for their future prosperity. This is Nigeria’s time to become what it ought to be.”
Ace gospel singer and Spotlite Nation record label owner, Moses Bliss has gifted three artistes signed under his label, brand new cars.
The ‘Daddy-wey-dey-pamper’ crooner disclosed this on his Instagram page.
According to him, the three signees are Godfrey Gad, Neeja and Son Music.
The globally renowned music minister who recently married his Ghanaian sweetheart Marie, had also this time last year gifted three cars to his barber and two artistes signed under his record label.
The kind gesture has attracted accolades from his followers and fans on social media, including his lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi.
Olajengbesi said: “This is an overwhelming moment.
“The gospel music community is truly witnessing the power of support and encouragement.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Moses Bliss who hails from Akwa Ibom State, is a songwriter and worship leader.
He released his first single “E No Dey Fall My Hand” in January 2017 and rose to prominence with the 2019 song “Too Faithful”.
In 2020, he won the Loveworld International Music and Arts Award (LIMA 2020), for his song “You I Live for”, an annual awards by renowned cleric Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. (NAN)
By Joshua Olomu
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The Rivers caucus of the House of Representatives has condoled with the victims of the last week’s tanker explosion on Eleme road in Port Harcourt. In a statement on Monday by the leader of the caucus, Rep. Dumnamene Dekor (PDP-Rivers) the lawmakers expressed grief over havoc caused by the inferno.
“As true representatives of our people, we express deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by the tragic inferno. “Our heart aches for the lives lost and the profound grief that now engulfs our dear Rivers. “This tragic fire incident should rightly shake our people to their cores, considering the magnitude of losses; and we stand in solidarity with those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones. “Our thoughts and prayers are with each and every individual impacted by this tragedy,” he said.
Dekor urged philanthropists and other Nigerians to lend a helping hand to those affected by providing whatever assistance possible to them. The lawmaker urged Nigerians to use the moment to reflect on the importance of safety measures and prevention strategies to avoid such tragedies in the future. (NAN)
Gambia‘s former Vice President Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang has been appointed to lead a 40-member ECOWAS observer team to monitor Togo’s general elections.
According to Dr Omar Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission, the team is to monitor Togo’s legislative and regional elections scheduled for April 29.
A statement by the commission’s spokesman, Joel Ahofodji, explained that the observation mission was deployed following the recommendations of a pre-election fact-finding mission after a visit to assess preparatory phases.
The visit was from April 15 to 20.
“The mission is in line with the provisions of Article 12 of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“The mission is made up of Ambassadors from Member-States accredited to ECOWAS, representatives of the ECOWAS Court of Justice and Parliament, Civil Society Organisations, media professionals and election observers.
“During its stay in Togo, the observation mission will hold consultations with the main stakeholders in the electoral process and monitor the voting process,” the statement said.(NAN)
President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria’s investment environment operates on the principle of ‘a willing-buyer and willing-seller’, which ensures seamless access to capital for investors both within and outside the country.
The President gave the assurance on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during a meeting with the President and Chief Executive Officer of Samsung, Hong Namkoong, and the Chairman of Samsung Investment Global, Jungwook Kim.
The meeting took place on the margins of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development.
”Nigeria is a very huge country with a huge and able population. We have vibrant youths ready to learn and progress. In fact, our young do not wait for us. They go ahead of us in their determination to succeed. We must keep up and provide opportunities for them to excel with. We have an infrastructure deficit and you can take advantage of that and invest early and deeply in an environment that is absorptive and ready for it. It is modeled after a willing-buyer and willing-seller arrangement. Easy capital in and easy capital out.
The President took time to detail the significant opportunities across sectors for investment within the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, which involves the potential utilization of co-finance instruments on critical infrastructure and technology which Samsung is well known to produce.
President Tinubu also harped on the importance of deepening collaboration in the crude oil, natural gas, renewable energy, engineering, technology and agriculture sectors, emphasizing the potential for vast private sector participation in the establishment of fully-embedded, off-grid, cold-chain integration across sub-industries in the agriculture sector to forestall post-harvest losses with mass refrigeration capacity.
”We are ready to discuss and discover one another more. We can benefit so much from collaborative effort. You have the know-how, and we have the willingness. Seize this opportunity,’’ the President told the Samsung executives.
Samsung Chairman Kim expressed Samsung’s interest in expanding its presence in Nigeria, citing the successes of sister companies already operating in the country while laying out potential new opportunities in Nigeria.
”We have built many power stations around the world. We are top of the class in gas-fired power plant construction. We have an ever-increasing portfolio in the production of renewable energy solutions around the world. We can make a lot of progress in Nigeria’s energy sector as well as bringing our technology to other key productive sectors.
”Transmission lines and smart grids are areas where we see increasing demand globally. You need infrastructure anywhere you go. We are good at metropolitan rail lines; we are good at bridge construction and any of these types of infrastructure projects, in addition to oil and gas engineering projects. We are looking forward to knowing Nigeria better under your leadership and to see how we can penetrate the Nigerian market deeper. This is a great opportunity for us,” Mr. Kim concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has secured an investment of $600 million from Danish shipping and logistics company, A.P Moller-Maersk, to expand existing port infrastructure to accommodate more container shipping services in Nigerian ports.
Chairman of A.P Moller-Maersk, Mr. Robert Maersk Uggla, disclosed the decision during a meeting with President Tinubu on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
President Tinubu noted that this investment will complement the administration’s ongoing $1 billion investment in seaport reconstruction across the eastern and western seaports of Nigeria.
The President added that it would further support the country’s port modernization efforts and port process automation through his administration’s implementation of the national single window project, which is aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, easing import/export flow, reducing corruption at the ports, while improving the efficiency and transparency of port processes in Nigeria.
“We appreciate your business and the contribution you have made and continue to make to our country’s economy over time. We do not take our partners for granted. A bet on Nigeria is a winning bet. It is also a bet that rewards beyond what is obtainable elsewhere.
“More investment opportunities are available, and my government has worked on various reforms to encourage investments. We need to encourage more opportunities for revenue expansion and minimize trans-shipments from larger ships to smaller ships,” he said.
The President assured Maersk of his administration’s commitment to collaborating and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country.
He cited Maersk’s previous partnership in the development of the Ogun State container terminal as a testament to fruitful partnerships with the reputable logistics company.
Highlighting Maersk’s longstanding engagement in Africa’s most populous nation and his belief in the future of Nigeria, Chairman of A.P Moller-Maersk, Mr. Robert Maersk Uggla said his company had made significant investments of over $2 billion in Nigerian ports and other activities.
He emphasized the potential for Nigerian ports to accommodate larger container ships and stressed the need for expanding port infrastructure to meet this demand while reducing the cost of logistics.
”We have seen a significant opportunity for Nigeria to cater for larger container ships. Historically, most of the West African coasts are already served by smaller ships. Currently, we see an opportunity to deploy larger ships to Nigeria. To achieve this, we need to expand the port infrastructure, especially in Lagos, where we need a bigger hub for logistics services. The growth potential is hard to quantify.
”We believe in Nigeria, and we will invest $600 million in existing facilities and make the ports accommodating for bigger ships.
”In my humble view, given that Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria should have the best and biggest port and we are very eager to invest, and we will continue that dialogue with the relevant Nigerian authorities to explore further investment opportunities,” the Maersk Chairman said.
As the workers, employers of labour and government officials prepare for 2024 May Day celebrations nation-wide, organized labour and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led-administration have been commended for maintaining relative industrial peace in the wake of daunting current economic challenges in the past one year in the country.
At the weekend in Ilorin, the management and staff of Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) organized it’s annual a 2024 pre-MayDay policy brief on the state of labour- government relations under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present Federal government.
Attended by management and staff of the Institute, members of NLC, TUC, civil society and People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) , the consensus of the stakeholders was that notwithstanding the impact of inevitable economic reforms initiated by the Federal government on employment relations, organized labour, employers and governments in the past one year had commendably taken the advantage of the country’s social dialogue and dispute resolution mechanism to minimize disputes and maintain relative harmony.
In his remarks at the pre-May Day gathering in Ilorin, Director General of the Institute, Comrade Issa Aremu observed that while labour- government relations is always characterized by “policy contestation and policy accommodation”, the twin policy of inevitable fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange market reforms that had engendered inflation, currency devaluation, high cost of living have challenged industrial relations more than ever before . The Director General however said adherence in the past one year by all stakeholders to the principle of collective bargaining and social dialogue in the past one year has “commendably minimized avoidable work-stoppages,strikes and lockouts” adding that both the government and unions in the future should deepen engagement for mutual maximum benefits of the on going reform agenda.
The Director General singled out the October 2nd 15-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between organized Labour and government following the removal of fuel subsidy “as a model framework for managing industrial relations at times of economic crisis”.
Accordingly to him the October agreement was being implemented to the benefit of all the parties citing the payment of the Federal Government wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) pending when a new national minimum wage Federal Government, suspension of collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months, N100 billion for the provision of high capacity CNG buses for mass transit , as well as the inauguration of an inclusive 37-member tripartite National Minimum wage committee. Aremu observed that the most significant clause of the October agreement was that “All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of Social dialogue in all our future engagements”.
On the significance of observance of May Day celebration in a democracy, the Director General recalled that it was democratic dispensation of late governors ABUBAKAR Rimi and Balarebe Musa and late President Shehu Shagari that declared 1st May public holiday in 1981 following NLC demand.
The Director General, therefore observed that organized labour has a stake in sustaining the nation’s democracy adding that the citizens are better off in a democratic governance than any other system of government.
The MINILS Director General observed that democracy guarantees freedom of association and dialogue unlike during the military administrations which once arbitrarily dissolved leadership of NLC for advocating rights of its members.
“There can only be negotiation, social dialogue in a democratic atmosphere and we are making the 44th anniversary of May Day in Nigeria. But if you look at records, this couldn’t have been possible without democracy.
“The two occasions that we couldn’t have May Day celebrated were under military when the military dissolved the NLC. So, the lesson of this is that organized labour has stake in sustaining democratic process because we are better off in a democracy.
“We can see today that our freedom of association is guaranteed. We can engage our government in negotiation. We can go on legitimate protest without being criminalized. Democracy guarantees that.”
Comrade Aremu called on both the government and Labour to rethink their strategy of engagement for national development.
“For instance, the government must rethink the reform to make it more inclusive, carry labour along. There is also the need for a “Just Transition” in managing reform . So, if from day one, workers are put on the table in formulating reforms, possibly they will not contest the reforms.
“But also labour should rethink its own method , contestation is important, but it is also good to be proactive to be part of decision making. I will call on government to expand the Economic Advisory Council to include labour, employers of labour and not business people, most of whom have conflicts of interest”, Aremu said.
At the ceremony that had in attendance Senior Special to Kwara State Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Mumini Onagun and the Chairman, state council of NLC, Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka, the MINILS Director General applauded the government, employers of labour and labour movement for minimizing dispute through industrial relation management in the country.
He added, “Both the organized labour, federal government and as well as employers of labour should be commended for managing industrial relation in a way that will minimize the level of dispute but we are maximizing the benefit for all the parties. And this is the way to go.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made the point that reforms are inevitable; they will take place. And I’m very sure, labour is also not averse to reforms. In fact, by nature, labour is for changes. But what labour wants just like what the government wants is that let the outcome of any reform be beneficial to all, it should not be adversary.
“And the only way to resolve is to take advantage of the existing industrial relation machinery that we have; collective bargaining, social dialogue, respect for agreement. I want to salute both the labour and the federal government for keeping to the spirit of October agreement so far”, Aremu noted
