Television Nigerian

…restates commitment to achieve competitive growth in 2020

Unilever

Unilever Nigeria has released its audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2019. The Company recorded a Turnover of N60.5 billion in the year under review.  This represents a decline compared to N92.89bn recorded for the corresponding year, 2018.

The results show the company also recorded a loss after tax of N7.42bn for the year ended 31 December 2019 relative to profit after tax of N10.55bn recorded for the comparative year 31 December 2018.

These results reflect challenging operating conditions but also the company’s decision to tighten credit terms to address exposure from trade receivables and excess stock in trade in order to better position the company for innovation and a return to competitive growth.  As a result, the Company is also better placed to adjust to the prevailing operating circumstances now emerging in 2020.

READ ALSO: Covid-19: Kano Commissioners, others slash 50% salary

The Corporate Affairs Director, ‘Soromidayo George stated that given this current uncertainty, the organisation will continue to monitor the business environment as well as focus on its strategy to deliver sustainable growth both in the medium and long term.

The Corporate Affairs Director noted that the business acknowledged that 2019 was a challenging year for everyone, but also that there were measures taken to adjust those challenges. She reaffirmed Unilever Nigeria’s commitment to support efforts to tackle the Coronavirus threat while keeping their eyes on the fundamentals of the business, supporting its brands, ensuring the integrity of the route-to-market model, and putting consumers and their needs at the heart of everything we do.

In her statement, she, also, said that they were confident of the prospects of the company, based on the legacy of growth and strong Unilever brands which have over the years satisfied consumers’ needs, and will continue to do so innovatively.

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Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Orji

As part of his contributions to the fight against the rampaging Coronavirus, Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji MNSE, has intensified sensitisation of the people and commenced the free distribution of alcohol-based hand sanitizers to Abians.

In a statement to mark the commencement of the exercise on Monday, the Speaker said he embarked on the sensitisation and free distribution of the sanitizers to educate and ameliorate the people’s difficulty in accessing it because it has been priced out of the reach of the common man, advising dealers in sanitizers and similar products not to take advantage of the situation to rip the people off.

Speaking further on the exercise, the Speaker said, “During elections, I came to the masses to solicit for their votes with the promise that I will stand up for them both in good and bad times. When the report got to me that many of them could not afford the sanitizers, I decided to take up the responsibility and assist them as far as I could to ease their access to this vital item.

‘Let me use this opportunity to reiterate the fact that Coronavirus is not a death sentence and no one should panic about it but abide by all regulations and protocols established by the Abia state government and other relevant agencies so that the preventive, management and control measures put in place will be effective”, he concluded.

READ ALSO: Oyo governor, Seyi Makinde, tests positive for coronavirus

Before the commencement of the exercise, a member of the distribution team, Dr Anya Kalu, who is also a medical doctor, had sensitized the beneficiaries on the need to maintain a hygienic lifestyle, follow the recommended social distancing and obey all the guidelines issued by the state government and other relevant agencies concerning the virus.

Reacting, some of the beneficiaries of the exercise at Orie Ugba market in Umuahia, one of the several centers where the distribution exercise took place, expressed gratitude to the Speaker for his kind gesture, saying with the distribution of the sanitizers to them, they feel safer. They also urged him to continue with his good works as Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly assuring him of their continued support and prayers.

The Speaker’s sensitisation exercise has continued through various channels including the use of both traditional and modern communication platforms to reach the people.

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By Mike Eboh

Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Monday, disclosed that Nigeria earned a total of $32.63 billion from the oil and gas sector in 2018, a 55 per cent increase on the $20.99 billion recorded from the sector in 2017.

In a statement on the release of the 2018 oil and gas industry audit, NEITI also announced plans to release the 2019 audit report this year, effectively clearing the backlogs of the audits of the extractive sector and making the reports more timely and relevant.

Giving a breakdown of the $32.63 billion earned in 2018, NEITI stated that company-level financial flows into government coffers were $16.6 billion, while flows from sales of federation crude oil and gas accounted for $16.billion.

It said, “A five-year trend analysis of the earnings from the extractive sector showed a 54.6% drop from $54.6 billion in 2014 to $24.8 billion in 2015. The earnings further dropped by 31.2% to $17.05billion in 2016, but increased by 23% to $20.99 billion in 2017 and by 55% to $32.63 billion in 2018.

“Though the last two years bucked the trend of persisted decrease since 2014, the revenues from the sector in 2018 were still a staggering 40% below the $54.6 billion earned in 2014 when oil prices commenced a precipitous fall.

“The NEITI 2018 audit reconciled payments by seventy-one companies and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) that met the materiality threshold set for the exercise.  A total of eight government entities were also covered by the audit.

“Out of the $32.63 billion earned from the sector in 2018, the sum of $19.92 billion was transferred directly into the Federation Account, while $5.21 billion and $4.04 billion were transferred into the Joint Venture (JV) Cash Call Account and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) designated accounts respectively.

READ ALSO: NNPC, Total, Aiteo 31 oil firms donate $30m to fight COVID-19 in Nigeria

“The NNPC designated accounts are the Naira and dollar accounts where domestic crude sales and the federation equity, royalty, petroleum profit tax and in-kind oil sales are paid into respectively before remittance to the Federation Account. The report further disclosed that “$2.10billion was transferred into third parties project financing accounts and $1.37billion were recorded as subnational transfers.”

On production, NEITI stated that the total crude oil production in the country within the period under review was put at 701 million barrels, representing a slight increase of 1.5% when compared to 690 million barrels produced in 2017.

Giving a breakdown of crude oil production, NEITI disclosed that Joint Ventures (JVs) contributed highest production of 315 million barrels, followed by Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) which recorded 270.610 million barrels.

In addition, it noted that other funding arrangements like Sole Risk (SR), Marginal Fields (MF) and Service Contracts (SC) accounted for 92.2 million barrels, 22 million barrels, and 1.3 million barrels respectively.

NEITI said, “JV companies’ production increased by 3.12% in 2018 compared to 2017, while PSC operators’ production decreased by 10.90%. Similarly, SR operators’ production increased by 58.72% in 2018 compared to 2017. Production from the SC decreased by 10.27% while production from MF operators increased marginally by 1.18%.”

NEITI further disclosed that total crude oil lifted for both export and domestic sales in 2018 was 701 million barrels, representing a 1.9% increase when compared with total liftings of 688.3 million barrels in 2017.

In its analysis of the total lifting in 2018, NEITI stated that 255.6 million barrels or 36% was lifted by NNPC on behalf of the Federation, while companies lifted 445.5 million barrels or 64% of total liftings.

It said, “The liftings by NNPC indicates an increase of 5.95% when compared to 241 million barrels lifted in 2017. Further analysis showed that out of 255.6 million barrels lifted by NNPC in 2018, actual sales were 255.3 million barrels valued at $18.2 billion.

“Out of the 255.6 million barrels lifted on behalf of the Federation by NNPC, a total of 107.63million barrels was recorded as Domestic Crude Allocation (DCA) in 2018. Out of this figure, 94 million barrels or 87% of the DCA were utilized for Direct Sale Direct Purchase (DSDP), while the balance of 13.58 million barrels or 13% was delivered to the refineries.

“Ordinarily, 160.2 million barrels (or 445, 000 barrels per day) should have been allocated for domestic consumption but only 107.63 million barrels or 67% of the customary allocation for domestic consumption was allocated in 2018.

“The sum of N2.295 trillion was realized as proceeds from sales of domestic crude oil allocation in 2018, out of which the following deductions were made: N722.3billion for under – recovery of imported petroleum products, N28.3 billion for crude and product losses and N138.95billion for pipeline repairs and maintenance cost.

“In 2018, total crude oil losses due to theft and sabotage was 53.28million barrels, an increase of 46.15% when compared to 16.824million barrels recorded in 2017”. Similarly, the report put total products losses in 2018, due to pipeline breakages at 204,397.07 cubic meters.

“On gas production, the NEITI 2018 oil and gas report revealed that the total gas production for the year under review was 2,909,143.69mmscf, while total gas utilization was 2,909,143.55 mmscf.

“From the report, $307.20 million was realized from the sales of Federation gas of 633.55thousand metric tons in 2018. This represents increase of 7.10% when compared to 721.80thousand metric ton valued at $286, 85 million realized in 2017.

“The national gas reserve stood at 200.79tcf as at end of 2018. This is made up of 101.98 tcf of Associated Gas (AG) and 98.81 tcf of Non-Associated Gas (NAG). With the 2018 annual gas production quantity, the gas Reserves Life Index (RLI) was estimated at 92 years”, the report disclosed.”

On management of Joint Venture Cash Call, the report disclosed that aggregate cash call funding for 2018 amounted to $5.98billion. In addition, the report noted that: “outstanding Cash Call Liabilities amounted to $3.66billion, comprising $3.41billion (93%) legacy liabilities and US$260million (7%) performance balance payable to JV operators”.

Another feature of the oil and gas report is on social expenditure.  “Total social expenditure (mandatory and voluntary expenditures) was $902.67million. This consists of voluntary contribution of $59.27million (6.57%) while mandatory contribution stood at $843.39million (93.40%)”. The mandatory contribution was made up of NDDC’s 3% levy of $683.38million and NCDMB’s 1% levy of $160.01million.

Oil and gas industry contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2018 was put at 7.8%. “The flows in the industry accounted for $32.64billion in absolute terms. This represents 7.8% of the total GDP Current Basic Price of ($ 418.12billion)”.

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Long queque at Diamond ATM gallery along Aba Road in Port Harcourt weekend. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has disrupted businesses, communities, education, livelihood and the lives of billions of people worldwide. As individuals and businesses react and desperately try to minimize the impact and spread of the virus, the government is also taking action. Only recently, the Lagos state government announced the immediate closure of open markets and stores, with the exception of those that sell essential items.

While this move is highly commendable, at this point, it is imperative that the government look into other payment and delivery methods to ensure that consumers are still able to stock up on essential items like food, drugs, water, toilet paper, soap, etc and business owners do not completely shut down and run at a total loss during this period.

Also read: COVID-19: Akin Alabi provides emergency relief package for Egbeda/Ona Ara

For instance, restaurants across the nation have not been mandated to close up, but just like other nations with higher cases of COVID-19 than Nigeria, it is only a matter of time before this will happen. This will not only affect the lives of these business owners but that of consumers who rely on them for daily upkeep.

Somewhere in Lagos, a small scale restaurant owner is currently on the verge of panic, as she fearfully awaits the time when her business will be forced to shut down. How will she feed and provide for her children if she is mandated to close up her business in the coming weeks?

In Onitsha, a major pharmaceutical store owner is worried about how to keep his business running as most of his customers are no longer interested in stepping out of their houses, talk more about entering the ever-bustling Onitsha main market to purchase pharmaceutical products.

Down in Ibadan, a vegetable oil distributor is wondering how he would continue to cater to his family, as fewer people are coming out to buy. On and on, the list of business owners who are currently at their wits ends goes.

Today, walking into a shopping mall like Shoprite is no longer as easy as it was a few weeks ago, as consumers have to join long queues and wait turns to get in, in line with the government directive of not more than 20 people in a gathering at a time.

With all these fears and inconveniences in place, finding an alternative means of buying and selling that reduces human-to-human contact has become a must.

In countries like the U.S, the U.K and a few European countries, restaurants and other retail companies are already using the contactless payment method to reduce the impact of the virus in the daily lives of citizens. While restaurants stay open, customers are however not allowed in. The staff in charge of preparing food or making deliveries take all the necessary precautions to protect themselves and consumers, by wearing preventive gear and avoiding or having limited contact with consumers. This sort of delivery allows delivery personnel to leave packages at the doorstep of consumers, as payment would have already been made online.

Already, e-commerce platforms like Jumia Nigeria already have the contactless delivery option in place, with many consumers opting for it over POD or the regular online payment that would still need verification and physical receipt of purchased products. They also have the Jumia Food platform, which has restaurants all over the country as partners, thereby providing several food options for consumers.


Jumia’s contactless delivery services are safe, with strict hygiene practices that ensure all packages leaving the warehouse are protected. With its integrated logistics network, Jumia makes these deliveries available to consumers all over the country, including remote and rural areas. This is important especially for elderly and sick people.

At a time like this, it is important that the government steps in to implement laws that allow business owners to keep functioning on grounds that they partner with delivery service providers to render contactless payment options.

Without these measures in place, the coronavirus epidemic will not only have a temporary effect but will leave millions of Nigerians struggling to get back on their feet even years after the virus has been contained.

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Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo State

By Adeola Badru

HAVING been tested positive for Coronavirus, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo on Monday said that he remained asymptomatic and would remain in isolation till he fully recovers from the virus.

The governor who tweeted via his personal handle @seyiamakinde also said that he had appointed Prof Temitope Alonge, a former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while he recovers.

It would be recalled that Governor Makinde was one of the governors who attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, penultimate week, where he met with a number of colleagues.

Also read: COVID-19: NNPC donates ventilators, ambulances, others to Abuja isolation centre

The Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) had after the meeting advised its members who attended the Abuja meeting to go into self- isolation or undergo COVID-19 tests.

The test result, which was delivered to the governor at about 5.30 pm indicated that he had tested positive to Coronavirus.

The news of Makinde’s positive test came on the heels of the release of the state’s index case from the COVID-19 isolation centre.

The release of the patient was consequent upon the completion of his treatment at the Agbami Chest Hospital isolation centre, Ibadan.


The American returnee had initially tested negative only for the second test to read positive.

The index case had been on self-isolation at a private residence in Ibadan until he was transferred to the Isolation centre at Agbami, Jericho area of Ibadan on March 23.

The index case was released after two consecutive negative tests, the statement read.

The statement also quoted the State’s Incident Manager, Dr Taiwo Ladipo as saying that the confirmed case spent six days in the isolation centre and had two negative tests.

“He is well and very stable and is now back to his house. The infectious disease specialist will be reviewing him for follow up action,” the Manager said.

The governor stated in his tweet: “I just received my COVID-19 confirmation test result. It is positive. I am asymptomatic and will continue to self-isolate.”

“I have designated Prof Temitope Alonge, former Chief Medical Director of the University College, Ibadan, as the Head of COVID-19 Task Force while I recover fully. Please continue to comply with all the directives from the COVID-19 Task Force. Stay home, stay safe.”

“The dusk to dawn curfew (7 PM to 6 AM) has taken affect from today; no gatherings of more than ten people should be held anywhere in Oyo State. From tonight, Sunday, March 29, 2020, all markets will be closed except those selling perishable food items.”

“Also, inter-state transportation into and out of the state has been suspended from tonight, Sunday, March 29, 2020, except vehicles carrying food items, medical, pharmaceutical and petroleum products. All measures will be reviewed on a weekly basis.

“Thank you all. Please stay safe by following the proper hygienic practices, washing your hands regularly or using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and also practising social distancing. The EOC Helplines; 08095394000 / 08095963000 / 08078288999 / 08078288800.”

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President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan

By David Royal

The Nigerian senators have announced the decision to contribute 50 percent of their salaries to the fight against the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.

This was made known by the acting spokesman of the Senate, Senator Godiya Akwashiki in a statement on Monday.

“After due consultations following a keen review of the national efforts to contain the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the Senate wishes to announce that from March, 2020, Distinguished Senators will be donating 50 per cent of their salaries to these efforts to stop the spread of the disease, otherwise known as COVID-19, in our country.

“This monthly contribution from the Upper Legislative Chamber will be sustained until Nigeria is declared safe from the ravages of this deadly disease.

“The Senate commends the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and the administration towards the goal of securing our nation against this plague. The Senate is willing and ready to do whatever is required of the Legislature for the effectiveness of all the measures in place now or that may be required in the future to win the fight against this menace.

READ ALSO: COVID-19: President Buhari’s lockdown order a move in the right direction – Legal practitioners

“The Senate commends all agencies of the Federal and state levels for working in collaboration to protect public health across the country.

“It also acknowledges the patriotic response of public-spirited individuals and organisations who have contributed in one way or the other in support of this fight.

“The Senate further appeals to the citizens to comply with the directives on social distancing and observance of basic rules of hygiene as explained by public health officials as the most effective way to protect ourselves, families and country against COVID-19.

“This is global adversity that is testing the wit and resilience of mankind all over the world. By staying resolute and each of us responsibly playing their role, COVID-19 like all epidemics before it will soon be pushed into history.”

Vanguard Nigeria News

President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan

The Nigerian senators have announced the decision to contribute 50 percent of their salaries to the efforts to respond to the spread and treatment of coronavirus in Nigeria.

This was made known by the acting spokesman of the Senate, Senator Godiya Akwashiki in a statement on Monday.

“After due consultations following a keen review of the national efforts to contain the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the Senate wishes to announce that from March, 2020, Distinguished Senators will be donating 50 per cent of their salaries to these efforts to stop the spread of the disease, otherwise known as COVID-19, in our country.

“This monthly contribution from the Upper Legislative Chamber will be sustained until Nigeria is declared safe from the ravages of this deadly disease.

“The Senate commends the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and the administration towards the goal of securing our nation against this plague. The Senate is willing and ready to do whatever is required of the Legislature for the effectiveness of all the measures in place now or that may be required in the future to win the fight against this menace.

“The Senate commends all agencies of the Federal and state levels for working in collaboration to protect public health across the country.

“It also acknowledges the patriotic response of public-spirited individuals and organisations who have contributed in one way or the other in support of this fight.

“The Senate further appeals to the citizens to comply with the directives on social distancing and observance of basic rules of hygiene as explained by public health officials as the most effective way to protect ourselves, families and country against COVID-19.

“This is a global adversity that is testing the wit and resilience of mankind all over the world. By staying resolute and each of us responsibly playing their role, COVID-19 like all epidemics before it will soon be pushed into history.”

By Jimitota Onoyume – Warri

Chairman Warri South local government area, Dr. Michael Tidi has ordered the closure of the popular Igbudu market in the local government as part of measures to control the spread of the dreaded coronavirus aka Covid 19.

The  Chairman, Dr. Tidi said the closure took effect from the early hours of Monday, adding that security operatives should assist to enforce compliance.

READ ALSO: COVID 19: Create Food Bank now, Ondo Guber Aspirant Adelami to Akeredolu

The chairman also visited the various traditional rulers in his local government, urging them to continue to sensitize their subjects on the need to stay at home,  observe social distancing as steps to check the spread of the virus.

He said he was impressed with the effort so far by the traditional rules, adding that they should join in letting their subjects comply totally with the stay at home directive from the governor of the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa which commences fully from this week.

Continuing, he appealed to residents to help the state government effectively curtail the spread of the virus by complying with all directives of the governor.

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Sanwo-Olu

Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday backed the restriction of movement in some states of the federation by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a “tough but necessary step” to effectively curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

He, however, assured residents that the state government, in collaboration with Federal Government and other agencies and organisations would stop at nothing to curb the spread of the COVID-19 in the state and the country at large.

The governor, in a statement, also hailed residents of the state for their endurance since measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic were announced by the government.

He acknowledged that no aspect of human life had been spared by the deadly disease, saying, “the Lagos State Government in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, among other institutions, would stop at nothing to halt its spread.”

President Buhari had on Sunday announced a total restriction of movement in Lagos, Abuja, and Ogun with effect from 11:00 p.m. Monday, for 14 days in the first instance.

The restriction order, however, exempted only people rendering essential services such as health workers, manufacturers, and distributors of health equipment and drugs, food, and water companies.

• READ ALSO: WHO says COVID-19 is not airborne

Also allowed to move are workers in telecommunications, petroleum distribution and retailing as well as power companies and the media, among others “whose jobs cannot be handled at home.”

Sanwo-Olu said: “We must co-operate with the authorities as long as this restriction lasts.

“I would also like to address the fears of those who have expressed some security concerns about your places of work and shops during this restriction. I have directed the police and other security agents to ensure that there are no security breaches. They will ensure that criminals do not take advantage of this important measure.”

He, therefore, urged the private sector, market leaders and traders to move out inflammable materials such as petrol, kerosene, and others from their offices and shops before the restriction begins at 11:00 p.m. Monday, as well as switch off all electrical and electronic appliances to stave off fire incidents during the 14-day restriction.

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Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has announced the donation of his salary from May 29, 2019, to March 2020, to the fight against the spread of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The governor made this known in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, in Ilorin on Sunday.

AbdulRazaq also called for the support of the people for the campaign to keep Coronavirus out of the state.

“Whereas our state has no confirmed case of Coronavirus as at now, we have been taking every step necessary to ensure we keep Kwara safe.

“Such measures have included keeping our people at home while we ramp up investments in our capacity to cope with this global health emergency,

“This time calls for sacrifice from everyone as humanity needs all the help it can get.

READ ALSO: WHO says COVID-19 is not airborne

“For this reason, I am hereby donating 100 per cent of my monthly salary since May 29, 2019, when I was sworn into our efforts to prevent this virus from getting to us, provide palliatives to our people, as well as boost our capacity to cope if it ever comes,” AbdulRazaq said in the statement.

The governor also commended members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), for donating half of their monthly salary to the national efforts to fight COVID-19.

“I single out my brother and sister; Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Senator Gbemisola Saraki, who are both ministers, for their roles in this humanitarian gesture.

“And, on behalf of the people and government of Kwara State, I express our deepest appreciation to Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu and Mr Tony Elumelu for their generous donations to Kwara State.

“It is against this background that I appeal to all well-meaning corporate bodies and individuals to emulate these great Nigerians by joining our efforts in Kwara State.

“Donations can be made to the Kwara State Technical Committee. People may also donate foodstuffs for release to the poor people to further ease our campaign to keep the virus out of Kwara.

“Finally, I have directed the technical committee on COVID-19 to begin distribution of palliatives, including foodstuffs, to the people this week.

“I, therefore, call on everyone to stay at home and stay safe and maintain social distancing,” he urged.

NAN

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