All Posts in "Day: November 28, 2022"

Massive Fraud Uncovered In Presidential Amnesty Programme

..513 Persons Link To Multiple Payments

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has said that external and internal auditors have recently uncovered a massive payroll fraud in PAP.

The PAP made this known through its Strategic Communication Committee (SCC) which is chaired by a former Niger Delta agitator, Dumale Kieghe, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, at the weekend.

He said the discovery showed that an individual was receiving stipends of 33 persons through fraudulent means.

According to him, about 513 persons were linked to multiple payments, stressing that the new management of PAP was poised to repositioning the scheme for optimum performance.

Dumale said that sequel to the audit, the PAP interim administrator, Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd), immediately initiated verification of all beneficiaries of the programme as part of the ongoing investigation.

He also explained that the audit and efforts of Ndiomu to clean the payroll was the reason some beneficiaries of the programme had yet to receive their monthly stipends, adding that all affected and genuine outstanding stipends would be paid after verifications.

Dumale said upon assumption of office,Ndiomu renegotiated all existing contracts with vendors and in the process saved N1.5bn for PAP.

He said: “Ndiomu initiated internal and external audit of PAP’s database. The auditors uncovered monumental fraud especially in the payment of stipends where an individual is receiving stipends meant for 33 persons through fraudulent means.

“The proactive interim administrator has ordered immediate verification of all delegates to be carried out next week. Delegates are to be rest assured that whoever that is verified will be paid immediately. Upon assumption of office, General Ndiomu (retd) initiated plans to renegotiate the existing contracts with vendors. In the process, he has been able to save over N1.5bn”.

He also said that Ndiomu had concluded plans to set up cooperatives to be managed by ex-agitators and supervised by consultants and experts in in grant management.

“The ex-agitators will be given grants of over N500m and revolving loans. They are to take responsibility for the success of the cooperatives. International donor agencies will be involved in providing grants and aids. He has opened channels of discussions with the foreign loans”, he said.

He noted that five months after his appointment, Ndiomu had replaced the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM) model with the Train, Empower and Exit (TEE) to allow empowered beneficiaries to exit the programme.

Observing that Ndiomu has shown more commitment, patriotism, transparency in the management of PAP, Dumale said the PAP boss had also indicated interest to revive the vocational training centres for ex-agitators.

He further said: “Ndiomu has concluded arrangements to complete the construction of the four vocational training centres located in Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Ondo states. The centres will be fully equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment.

“Ndiomu is committed to the idea of transforming the lives of the ex-agitators through innovative and structured training schemes. It is imperative to inform members of the public that Ndiomu has not delisted anybody but working round the clock to sanitise the PAP register for the good of not only the ex-agitators but also the Niger Delta region”.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in News 0
CBN Unveils Policies To Meet 95 Percent Financial Inclusion Target

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled seven key policies and products that will aid the realization of 95 per cent financial inclusion in Nigeria by 2024.

The policies are, the revised National Financial Inclusion Strategy (3.0), the Strategy for Leveraging Agent Networks for Women’s Financial Inclusion, the National Fintech Strategy, the Payment System Vision (PSV) 2025, the Nigeria Financial Services Maps, the CBN Regulatory Sandbox and a Fintech Bridge between the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Central Bank of Egypt.

A statement released by the apex bank,said the 2022 International Financial Inclusion Conference organized by the CBN and its partners within the financial inclusion governance committees themed: “Financial Inclusion for all: Scaling Innovative Digital Models” had in attendance over 5000 participants from at least 78 countries around the world.

The Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, CBN, Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, observed that the conference came at a critical time in Nigeria’s financial inclusion journey and stressed the role of policymaking in advancing financial inclusion in Nigeria.

She said: “Nigeria is indeed at an important tipping point for financial inclusion. At no time has there been a prevalence of an enabling regulatory environment, proliferation of digital technology, innovation and collaborative platforms between the public and private sector – all strategic levers required to scale financial inclusion in Nigeria.”

Speaking, the United Nations Secretary-General Special Advocate (UNSGSA) on Inclusive Finance, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, highlighted the role to be played by the new National Financial Inclusion Strategy in providing a genuine chance for improving livelihoods, such as strategies leveraging the National Insurance Number, Bank Verification Number amongst other policies.

The statement recalled that the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele who chairs the National Financial Inclusion Steering Committee pointed out that since 2012 to date, over 59 policies and initiatives have been implemented by stakeholders to achieve the objectives of financial inclusion in the country and these policies and initiatives cut across the banking sector, the insurance sector, the capital market sector and the institutions responsible for infrastructural development for financial inclusion in Nigeria.

Emefiele noted that the apex bank has prioritized financial inclusion through its invention for over four million smallholder farmers and SMEs creating over two million jobs adding that the CBN aims to achieve 95% rate of financial inclusion in Nigeria by the end of 2024.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Banking&Finance 0
Eke’s Death: NBA Moves To Sue Defaulting Hospitals

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) has threatened to commence criminal and civil proceedings against hospitals that refused to treat Stephen Enyinnaya Eke, a member its Nyanya-Karu chapter when he was rushed there for medicare after he was attacked by gunmen.

His rejection by the hospitals ultimately led to his death.

The group said that it will use the case of the death of Mr. Stephen Enyinnaya Eke, to set example for other defaulting hospitals.

A press statement on Sunday signed by Dr Monday Ubani, NBA-SPIDEL chairman, the organisation noted that its attention has been drawn to the story of its colleague, Mr Stephen Enyinnaya Eze of Nyanya-Karu Nba Branch who was assassinated recently in Abuja in the presence of some of his family members.

He was said to have been rushed to several hospitals in Abuja while still breathing but was rejected by the medical officers on duty on account of the fact that was carrying bullet wounds,the statement said.

The statement added:”We are aware that Nigeria has an Act( Compulsory Treatment And Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017) that outlaws such evil practice of rejecting patients who are shot by any person including criminals in Nigeria.We hereby condenm the killing by the criminals and demand a quick intervention by the security agencies to track and bring the killers to justice. We also strongly call out the various hospitals who refused, rejected and neglected to treat the victim when he was still alive, citing gun shot wound as a reason.

“This rejection to treat is not only criminal and callous but a clear breach of the ethics of the medical profession that mandates the medical personnels to save lives first irrespective of the condition of the patient with gun shot wounds.

“We as an NBA section regard this as a monumental professional failure on the part of the hospitals and their doctors, and we promise to use this case as a test case to teach the the hospitals and their personnels a good lesson that we have laws governing victims that sustain bullet wounds in Nigeria. The law prescribes that they should be admitted and treated first with a subsequent report made available to the security agencies.

“Having failed to uphold the law and acting contrarily, which led to the untimely death of Late Mr Stephen Eke, we will faithfully hold those hospitals accountable to the law.We are hereby requesting Nyanya-Karu Branch of the NBA where Mr Late Eze belonged to supply NBA-SPIDEL with the names and addresses of the various hospitals that refused to treat Mr Late Eke when he was rushed to them for treatment.

“We promise to immediately commence both criminal and civil proceedings against them on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association.We are prepared as a body to stop the wanton wastage of lives in Nigeria especially lives that can be saved by those in a position to do so.

“This latest death of Mr Late Eke is one too many. We are also aware that a colleague, one Mr Nathan Akatakpo in Port Harcourt was also assassinated within the week after the killers may have snuffed live out of his client a day before his death. It is sad and disheartening that Port Harcourt in Rivers State is now becoming notorious for criminalities perpetrated against Legal Practitioners. In the last 3 years or so, many lawyers have either been kidnapped or killed senselessly within that environment.

“We condemn the killings and urge the state and federal Government to ensure that the killers of our colleagues be brought to book expeditiously.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in News 0
Enugu: PDP Guber Candidate Promises To Create 1.2m Jobs From Agriculture

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has promised to create over 1.2 million jobs for the citizens using the opportunities presented by the state’s abundant potentials in agriculture and agro-allied industries.

Mbah,who disclosed this during an interactive session with the members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Enugu State Chapter,said his plan to transform the agricultural sector from subsistence farming to mechanised farming and agro-allied industrialisation would lead to the creation of different economic zones in the state to create at least 1.2 million jobs for the teeming youths.

“Our objective in the agricultural sector is to have special agro-allied processing zones across the three senatorial districts. We are also going to deploy technology, not just migrating from manual to mechanised agriculture, but also migrating from pipeline to platform means in intervening in the agricultural sector.

“We can’t afford to do a catch up because basically technology is taking over the space and we have to do a quantum leap and be in front and make sure that our farmers are ICT literate so that we will be able to use the technology we have to enhance and scale up their production.

“We know that if we can add an additional hectare of farmland to the level of farming we are doing now, we would have created four employments. It is one hectare, four people. Our plan is to have 100,000 hectares of farmland in each senatorial zone. That would amount to 400,000 jobs in each zone and 1.2 million jobs generated from agriculture alone across the state.

“We intend to do that by designating these areas as special economic zones so that the friction that the commercial farmers would ordinarily have with the communities would be avoided by such designation. We will work with the State House of Assembly to harmonize the land tenure system so that we can plot them depending on the size of what investors want to do”, he said.

He reiterated his commitment to move agriculture from the manual and pipeline method of cultivation to platform and technology-enabled agro-allied industrialisation where there would be value in the chain of production such as processing, packaging, storage facilities and infrastructure that would facilitate transportation of farm produce to the market.

He emphasized that his administration would embark on aggressive investment drive to create employment and ensure exponential economic growth.

“Our job as a government is to enable the environment for investment and that could be by several ways. Because the only business we have as a government in Enugu State is to make the state the preferred destination for investment, we are interested in de-risking investment flow. It could be by going into partnership with the prospective investors. It could be by making sure we undertake to provide some parts of that investment such as infrastructure.

“Our plan is also to ensure that as we are bringing in these investors, we are also aggressively training our youths; which is why we talk about skills acquisition centres; technical and vocational training centres and practical skills that are relevant to this ecosystem of investors and industries that we are going to be experiencing here in Enugu State.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Agriculture 0
Fund Managers Withholding Clients’ Funds Risk Sanction -SEC

Fund managers who still in the habit of holding on to clients funds and securities should desist from the act or face the wrath of the Securities and Exchange Commission,SEC,its Director General,has warned.

He stated this at the Post Capital Market Committee Press Briefing held in Lagos,where he disclosed that holding on to clients’ funds and securities is a clear violation of the Commission’s Consolidated Rule 95 (1-2). Fund Managers were reminded that all funds and securities of clients being managed by their firms must be vested with the custodians.

He also drew the attention of Fund Managers to issues that arose from the commission’s recently concluded inspection of Fund/Portfolio Management operations whereby several Fund Managers managing Discretionary and Non-Discretionary Products and Portfolios were yet to seek a ‘No Objection’ of their products and portfolios from the commission, which is a violation of the commission’s rules, noting that this was also a violation of the commission’s rules.

According to him,the meeting also emphasized the increasing importance of Fintech, Sustainable Finance, Financial Inclusion and Non-Interest Finance adding that the executive management team of the SEC reiterated its commitment to continue creating awareness, imparting knowledge and engendering public participation in these topical areas.

On the outcome of the meeting, Yuguda said, “The market community was reminded of the annual renewal of registration of Capital Market Operators which is aimed at ensuring that only fit and proper persons operate in the Nigerian Capital Market. The portal for renewal of registration for year 2023 will open on 1st January, 2023 and close on 31st January, 2023.

“Members received updates from the Commodities Ecosystem Implementation Committee, that significant efforts were being made on transitioning the commodities market from spot-based operations to trading in commodity derivatives;

“Furthermore, the Commodities Ecosystem Implementation Committee informed members that it held engagements with Federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), on the issue of traceability of commodities, which is considered a key building block for Nigerian export promotion.

Yuguda announced that the e-dividend committee notified members of efforts to rebuild the e-dividend management mandate system (e-DMMS) platform.

This he said, involves having a centralized submission of E-dividend mandate forms, Application Programming Interface (API) for Banks and Registrars, and a revamped web interface among others.

He expressed appreciation over the recent intervention of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Markets and Institutions on unclaimed dividends saying “the Committee is investigating the rising value of unclaimed dividend and unremitted withholding tax on dividends. The Commission is ready to provide all the necessary support to the Committee to enable it carry out its assignment”.

“Members of the CMC were reminded to collectively work towards the enactment of the Investments and Securities Bill 2022, which will enhance the performance of the Nigerian Capital Market and align it with global best practices. The Bill seeks to improve the legal and regulatory framework that will accommodate the dynamics of the Market.

“The meeting emphasized the increasing importance of Fintech, Sustainable Finance, Financial Inclusion and Non-Interest Finance. The Executive Management team of the SEC reiterated its commitment to continue creating awareness, imparting knowledge and engendering public participation in these topical areas.

“The Financial Literacy Technical Committee informed members that it made substantial progress on introducing capital market studies (CMS) to secondary and tertiary institutions. It made appealed to the CMC to support its activities financially”he said.

He added that capital market operators were informed of the approval granted by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning on Non-Interest Finance (taxation) regulation, which has already been gazetted.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Regulators 0
Oyo NUJ Chair Inaugurates New Online Media Practitioners

Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council,has inaugurated the Group of Online Media Practitioners of Oyo State (GOMPOS),the new chapel of the Council.

Inaugurating the chapel at the Press Centre,Oyo NUJ chairman, Comrade Demola Babalola, said the arrival of the new online media practitioners came at a time when the practice of journalism, especially the online, calls for serious attention and self-control.

He expressed satisfisfaction with the credibility of those who championed the course,adding that the new chapel will be shining light in the NUJ.

According to him, having satisfied the requirements of the NUJ, members of the new chapel are now entitled to some benefits which other chapels have been enjoying.

Babalola, who offered an office complex for the chapel within the Press Centre, maintained that members of GOMPOS can now enjoy from the NUJ Estate, trainings and seminars, and other value adding activities of the journalists’ association in the state.

In his remarks, the coordinator of the group,, Mr Femi Atoyebi, said the leadership quality of the Comrade Babalola’s leadership is one of the major factors that led to the birth of the new chapel.

He said:”We are glad to be part of the chapel that was inaugurated during your tenure and we promised to abide by the ethics of the profession.

Atoyebi added that membership of the chapel were carefully selected according to the requirements of the NUJ.

In his vote of thanks on behalf of the other members of GOMPOS, Mr Dapo Falade also assured the leadership of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, that the new chapel will live up to expectations.

He noted that the members were seasoned and experienced journalists who have been operating in accordance with the ethics of journalism.

He added that the members of the group will bring their wealth of experience to bear in the quest to sanitise online journalism.

MOTORING

Nigerian Automotive Industry Rakes N500bn,Eyes Production Of 400,000 Vehicles Annually

Mr. Jelani Aliyu, Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council(NADDC), says Nigerian automotive industry has the capacity to produce 400,000 vehicles annually.

Aliyu who stated this at a media parley in Abuja, said over N500billion has been invested in the Nigerian automotive industry by various vehicle manufacturing companies in the country.

He revealed that the National Automotive Industry Development Plan(NAIDP) is being reviewed by KPMG to make it more applicable to the global development, adding that both local and international stakeholders are waiting for its review.

Aliyu said NADDC was committed to the development of local automobile industry, as the mandate of the Agency is ensure that vehicles used in Nigeria are for the most part produced and assembled in Nigeria

He disclosed that the agency has attracted attention of leading international car manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Toyota, adding that these companies were eager to see the reviewed NAIDP signed into law.

He added: “vehicle manufacturing companies are springing up in Nigeria, even companies that had stopped work in Nigeria, are back on track.”

He said his agency would continue to support companies that produce vehicles locally, adding that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing has continued to export vehicles to African countries, of recent, is Sierra Leone.

The NADDC boss said Volkswagen is very much interested to come to Nigeria to produce vehicles, adding that NADDC had recently signed agreement with the vehicle manufacturing company.

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Pursuant to efforts to boost local production of vehicles, Aliyu said the officials of the agency travelled to Japan recently where they met Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, adding that these companies had indicated interest to expand their business activities to Nigeria.

Acknowledging that there are plethora of challenges confronting the industry, he said, there are tremendous efforts put in place by government to overcome them, adding that Nigeria’s automotive industry will not be defined by those challenges.

Speaking on creating market for the manufactured vehicles in Nigeria, Aliyu revealed that NADDC is working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) to provide credit facilities for Nigerians to buy and own vehicles.

He said: “After the production of vehicles, the next thing is the market. It is time for the market to deliver, the market needs help, that is why we are working with the CBN and other financial institutions for the provision of single digit interest rate to enable more Nigerians to buy and own vehicles.”

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Media 0
Africa Needs $2.64trn Investments To Boost Renewable Energy -Sobogun

Africa would need about $2.64tn, to rely 100 per cent on renewable energy sources for electricity generation by 2050,Seyi Sobogun, Head, Capital Projects, Egbin Power Plc,has said

He disclosed this in a paper titled “Energy Mix – The Challenges with Funding and Deploying Commercially Viable Renewable Energy Solutions,” delivered at the recently concluded West Africa Power Pool Conference in Dakar, Senegal.

According to him,Africa’s energy generation would continue to be from natural gas, as renewables were expected to grow from 21 per cent in 2020 to 59 per cent of electricity generation by 2030.

He said the funds would be required to drive the installation of the renewable energy sources, as well as the infrastructure needed for the generation, network and storage system, and other enabling costs.

According to Sobogun, solar, wind and hydro power generation are the most viable renewable energy solutions in Africa. He pointed out that Nigeria’s photovoltaic power potential made solar energy very feasible for both investors and consumers.

“Sahara Power is currently harnessing this potential through the implementation of large-scale and mini-grid solar projects,” he stated, adding, “Sahara has begun the implementation of solar energy in Nigeria through large-scale renewables, such as the construction of a 5MW solar farm in North East Nigeria and the deployment of mini-grid solutions to locations that commenced with three pilot projects within Sahara Power’s Ikeja Electric franchise in Lagos.”

He said the solar solution in Lagos is expected to benefit over 20,000 households, with far reaching positive impact on economic activities.

Public and private investors have been the sources of funds to Africa’s renewable energy investments, including international donors, banks and development finance institutions.

Between 2000 and 2019, Africa received a total of $109bn in public commitments in the energy sector. Almost $60bn of that was committed to the renewable energy sector.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Power 0
Bassey Seeks Rejection Of Senate Committee’s Report On Oil Theft

Nnimmo Bassey, an environmental activist and the Director Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has implored the Senate to reject the recent report of the Senate Committee on oil theft in the country.

He hinged his position on the failure of the report to name the those behind large scale of oil theft castrating the country’s economy.

The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee set up to investigate the theft of the country’s crude oil and its negative impact on the economy, submitted its findings to plenary on Tuesday

It revealed that between January and August 2022, Nigeria lost $2billion,with consequent loss of revenue that would support the country’s fiscal deficits and budget implementation .

The report kept mum on the masterminds of the act contrary to promise to name and shame them.

It claimed that efforts in combating the menace has begun yielding results with Forcados Terminal producing 500,000 barrels per day now as against zero production in the first six months of the year.

The Senate had on April 14, 2022, constituted a 13 – member Ad – Hoc Committee on Oil Lifting , Theft and the impact on Petroleum Production and Oil Revenues under the Chairmanship of Senator Akpan Bassey.

According to the report,Bonny Terminals, is also producing 87,000 barrels of oil per day now as against zero production a couple of months ago due to activities of economic saboteurs.

Expressing disgust over the report, Bassey in a statement made available to Premium News,said the vacuous report of the committee deserves to be roundly rejected by the Senate because a lack of spine to name the thieves also suggests complicity by leaders who may wish to switch off the microphone at a time Nigerians need to be given some hope that impunity and economic violence can be tackled by the country’s government structures.

He added: “Their silence is as loud as has been the case with the unwillingness of government to name the sponsors of terrorist activities in the country. Unless they had no access to the right information, the report suggests an unreadiness to contribute to promoting transparency in the sector but promotes distractions.

“The public expected the committee to expose the oil thieves — a move that would stem the malfeasance in the sector. Naming the oil thieves would be a step towards halting the ongoing bleeding of the nation. Not naming the oil thieves indicates that the committee considers them to big to be exposed and to deserve more protection than the soul of the nation.

“Why on earth would a committee meet at this point in time when everyone knows that oil and even gas are being stolen at industrial scale by persons or entities that are powerful enough to blind the eyes of those whose job it is to protect the nation’s assets? ”

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Oil&Gas 0
Court To INEC: It’s Illegal To Stop Voter Registration

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ), acted unlawfully, when it stopped the Continuous Voters’ Registration (CRV ) exercise on July 31, 2022,more than six months to the 2023 general elections.

In his judgement in the suit marked ABJ/CS/ABJ/1335/2022, instituted by frontline constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Abubakar Damisa Sani,as Plaintiffs. Justice Inyang Ekwo held that he was convinced that the action by electoral body, “would disenfranchise millions of eligible potential voters”.

He also held that INEC could only stop the CRV exercise, at least 90 days before the next general elections scheduled for February 25, 2023.

In the suit argued by Chief Ozekhome, Justice Ekwo, held: “In my opinion, the intent of the lawmaker in making any law is that any person to whom the responsibility, power or authority for implementing the law Is given must act reasonably in doing so.This means that the power of the Defendant to stop the exercise of continuous registration of voters not later than 90 days before the general elections must be exercised reasonably.

“The defendant ended the CVR on 31st July, 2022 when the general election by its Timetable starts on 25th February, 2023. By simple arithmetic, the period between 31st July, 2022 and 25th February, 2023 is 208 days.

“In other words, what the Defendant is saying in its defence, is that it needed to end the CVR exercise on 31st July, 2022 which is 208 days from the date of the general election which is 25th February, 2023, at the time it did, so that the permanent voters’ cards will be printed in good time and distribution of same can commence in earnest as what use will extending the CVR exercise serve if the defendant is not able to meet the timelines stated in Exhibit INEC.

“I cannot agree with the Defendant that it needs 208 days to produce permanent voters’ cards. Before making Exh. INEC 3, the Defendant must have satisfied itself of its capacity to produce permanent voters‘ cards and distributed same to all registered voters in Nigeria.

Justice Ekwo also held that:”It is apparent from the averments of the Defendant that they do not have the equipment that is capable of producing at the complimentary level of voters registration. However, the case is, the excuse given by the Defendant for stopping the CVR on 31st July, 2022, thereby depriving the Plaintiffs and other Nigerians who are eligible to vote in the 2023 general elections is not tenable going by the facts of this case.

“As I look at it now, it is my opinion that the defendant was hasty in stopping the CVR on 31st JuIy, 2022 for the general electIons that will hold on 25th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023 respectIvely.The case of the pIaintiffs therefore succeeds on the merit and I answer their sole question In the negative.

The court then made the following orders:
“Declaration is hereby made that the stoppage of the continuous voters registration by the Defendant on the 31th of July, 2022, amounts to disenfranchisement of citizens who have attained or wlll attain the age of 18 years before 28th day of November, 2022, being 90 days to the date of the general elections scheduled to hold on 25th February, 2023”, Justice Ekwo held.

The court upheld the case of the plaintiffs, but declined to issue a mandatory order of injunction to compel INEC which was cited as the sole defendant in the matter, to forthwith, in line with section 9 (6), 10 (1), and 12 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, extend the CVR exercise till November 27, which will be 90 days to the general elections.

The court also refused to order INEC to allow citizens who have the temporary voters card to vote in the forthcoming elections In 2023, they, having been duly registered as voters but could not be given their Permanent Voters Card, PVC, due to the stoppage of the registration and collection of permanent voters’ card by INEC on July 31, 2022, contrary to the provisions of sections 9 (6) and 10 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Law/Human Rights 0
Energy Transition Plan Will Free 100m Nigerians From Poverty, FG Insists

The Minister of Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba, has again expressed Federal Government’s determination to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty through its Energy Transition Plan (ETP).

He announced this during 2022 Nigeria Energy Forum Day 2, Virtual Edition held on Monday following the Day 1 physical event held in Lagos.

He maintained that the Energy Transition Plan will lift over 100 Nigerians out of poverty and drive economic growth of the country.

He added:”It will also bring modern energy services to the full population and managing the expected long-term job loss in the oil sector due to global decarbonization. The plan focuses on the rapid build out of sustainable energy systems to tackle energy poverty in the nation”

He explained that in designing the plan, key targets from relevant policies and initiatives such as the 2020 Economic Sustainability Plan, the Nigeria Electrification Project, the National Decarbonization Program, and the Presidential Power Initiative.

He said the plan had been approved by the Federal Executive Council and adopted as national policy.

He added:”An Energy Transition Implementation Working Group (ETWG) has been established to drive the implementation of the ETP along with key International partners. The ETWG is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and comprises of several key ministers including the Ministers for Environment, Finance, Works and Housing, Petroleum Resources, Foreign Affairs and Power.

“The Working Group and its secretariat, the Energy Transition Office, have been engaging with in-country stakeholders, development partners, financiers and the international community for the delivery of the plan”

He added that the ETP analysis shows that delivering Nigeria’s net-zero target requires 1.9 trillion U.S dollars spending up to 2060, including 410 billion U.S Dollars above business-as-usual spending.

Earlier, Ms Inga Stefanowicz, the Team Leader, Green Economy Co-operation Section, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said Nigeria is not standing alone in this ongoing transition.

The European Union will contribute some 400 million Euros worth of projects and programmes to the ETP,she said.

“This amount may seem modest when compared with the needs and the ETP estimates, but it is also the role of our funds to act as catalysers of change, reforms, private sector and international development finance investment.We are proud to have achieved such positive spillovers for Nigeria already and we look forward to working together more,” she added.

Dr Daniel Oluwole Adeuyi, Chairman 2022 NEF said, “practical actions on project financing, people development and policy implementation must progress at pace to achieve the target of 30GW installed generation capacity by 2030 with 30 per cent share of renewable energy Nigeria”.

Adeuyi said that the NEF2022 webcast was focused on capacity building for energy professionals, policy makers, business leaders and consumers.

He said that it demonstrated cross-industry collaboration and contributions towards ensuring a sustainable, just and people-centric energy transition.

Speaking, Engr. Adekunle Makinde, NEF2022 Co-Chairman, said over 25 speakers out of which 50 per cent were women energy leaders/professionals participated across four different top-class hands-on training workshops on webcast, which attracted 300 subscribers.

He said the workshops include: Energy Transition Plenary, supported by the Ministry of Power; Improving Utilities Processes and Business Models to enable Distributed Energy Resources Adoption, by USAID/PowerAfrica NPSP.

admin by — November 28, 2022 in Power 0