CSR News Summary Issue 40

Activists task LASG on public health law reform

Stakeholders in various fields, including health sector, non-governmental organisations,   youth agencies, legal services  and agencies for the protection of  women and children have expressed the need to examine the Lagos State Public Health Law, with a view to determining how adequate and effective they are in addressing the needs of youths and adolescents in the state.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Sunday, 16^th December, 2012

NAFDAC trains Consultants

The authorities of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have worked out modalities to train and accredit persons or corporate bodies to deal with the agency in the various aspects of its regulatory and control activities.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Sunday, 16^th December, 2012

Nigeria to lose $130bn annually over non conclusion of power

The consequence of inadequate power supply to the Nigerian economy is high and will increase the opportunity cost to Nigerians by 2020  as the impact of non-conclusion of the Power sector reforms could be as high as US$130bn annually.

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper on Monday, 17^th December, 2012

Skye bank incerases financial support to agriculture

Skye Bank Plc has indicated that it would drive top-line performance and profitability by expanding support for growth sectors of the Nigerian economy such as agriculture while minimizing costs through low-cost deposits.

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper on Monday, 17^th December, 2012

Investing in stocks… your ignorance is someone’s gain

One of the greatest risks one can take in life is forcefully trying to be part of a club one does not know how it operates.

The same is applicable to the capital market; you cannot stake your money in a market where you have little or no knowledge about. Isn’t that pretty risk?

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper on Monday, 17^th December, 2012

GIZ, SMEDAN present Enterprises Baseline Survey

German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) presented the Enterprises Baseline Survey (EBS 2012) report to the public on Monday in Abuja.

The report was conducted in five pilot states - Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Oyo and Ogun states to the public and was conducted to complement the data generated by the 2010 National MSMEs Survey, an initiative of SMEDAN in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper on Monday, 17^th December, 2012

Invest in Agric Bonds, Minister Urges AMCON, PenCom

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina has advised the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to invest part of their funds in agricultural bonds in order to boost financing of the agric sector.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Monday, 18^th December, 2012

Nigeria targets 20% Broadband Penetration in 2017

Worried by the low broadband penetration in the country, which is put at 6 per cent, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson said government had taken some measures that would deepen penetration by additional 14 per cent by 2017.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Tuesday, 18^th December, 2012

Court admits fresh evidence linking Ndume to Boko Haaram

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, admitted fresh sets of evidence, showing that Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, allegedly made seventy-three contacts with the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Tuesday, 18^th December, 2012

Women hold Bayelsa chiefs hostage over feud with Shell

The protest against the management of the Shell Petroleum and Development Company (SPDC) in Nembe Kingdom, in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, took a twist after aggrieved women and youths reportedly held hostage scores of community chiefs over alleged lack of support against the oil company.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Tuesday, 18^th December, 2012

Philanthropy: Seplat Pearlz quiz: Schools get bus, N1.3m

Ufua Memorial Group of Schools, Uromi, has emerged winner of the inaugural earning them a new school bus and N1.3 million cash.

Three female students; Chinyere Abbattam, Khafayat Ogundeko and Rahmat Usidebhofo represented their school to take the price in Sapele on Friday December 14, 2012.

Published in Vanguard Newspaper on Tuesday, 18^th December, 2012

Abdulsalami Abubakar laments negative effects of insecurity in Northern Nigeria

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has said the insecurity in the country, especially in the north, occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram, was taking a serious toll on the economy of that part of the country and warned those behind the killings to put a stop to it.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

ECOWAS reassures member-states’ citizens on security, peace, others

President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo, has assured citizens of member-states on the organisation’s determination to make the region a zone of peace governed by the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Govt set to assist farmers with N3tr in 2013

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina Adewunmi, has disclosed that the Federal Government would assist 76,000 young farmers with N3 trillion from some financial institutions in the first quarter of 2013.

Adewunmi stated this at a workshop on “Financing Nigeria’s Agricultural Revolution,’’ organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Lagos recently.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Olive MFB empowers fish farmers with N40m

Olive Microfinance Bank said it had empowered about 800 fish farmers in Ibeju Lekki fishing area of Lagos State with over N40 million this year even as the bank has concluded plans to establish a branch in Akodo town.

The Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Eniola Agbesoyin, who disclosed this recently at the bank’s customer’s forum organised for the farmers in Akodo, said the corporate action was in line with the vision of the bank to empower the active poor to succeed in life.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

NACCIMA seeks govt’s intervention on ban of sub-standard goods

National Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has urged the Federal Government to deploy all machineries at its disposal to stem the influx of sub-standard products into the Nigerian market, citing them as a threat to the growth the nation’s industries.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Philanthropy: Flour Mills donates N200m, food items to food victims

Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has donated N200m for the welfare of the victims of the 2012 national flood disaster. 

The Milling Manager of the company, Mr. Solomon Obichukwu, stated this on Friday at the Government House, Awka where the company delivered a trailer-load of relief materials to the flood victims in Anambra State.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Imo Govt. employs 2,000 teachers

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Wednesday announced the employment of 2,000 teachers for effective teaching.

At the inauguration of “No teacher, No School” programme of his administration and the presentation of school inspectors, Okorocha said adequate and right calibre of teachers would enable the state to realise its educational goal, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Lafarge supports Sagamu with N85m projects

Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc said it has expended about N85m on development projects in Sagamu, Sagamu Local Government of Ogun State.

The company also said the Sagamu Development Association/Lafarge Skill Acquisition and Development Scheme had produced 29 technicians in engineering and trades.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Benue proposes N130, 9b budget for 2013

Benue State Government yesterday presented the 2013 budget to the state House of Assembly, proposing to spend N130.9 billion in the next fiscal year, as well as a supplementary budget for the year 2012.

Presenting the budget christened, budget of ‘development and growth effectiveness,’ Governor Gabriel Suswam said the budget sought to promote the continuity of the development objectives of his administration, adding that the budget in many ways was consistent with the demonstrable objectives of the 2012 budget.

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Reps slash external loan by $1.9b

The House of Representatives has slashed the proposed borrowing profile of the Federal Government for 2013 by $1.9 billion.

The lawmakers agreed to the inclusion of Lagos State’s next tranche of $200million from a World Bank loan of $600 million in next year’s budget.

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Fuel price increase will trigger violent protest, NLC warns

A violent protest will be triggered should the government increase fuel price as it did early in the year, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdulwaheed Omar has said.

But Omar said he did not see the government hiking the fuel price because it understands the hardship Nigerians are going through. The Government would have spent over N1 trillion at the end of this year, to subsidise petrol, which it says it could no longer afford. 

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 19^th December, 2012

Pipeline vandals could cripple downstream sector

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said the activities of vandals who break into pipelines to steal petroleum products could cripple the downstream sector of the industry if left unchecked.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Thursday, 20^th December, 2012

Philanthropy: Techno Oil builds ICT centre for Lagos school

Techno Oil Limited has unveiled an Information Technology Centre which it built for Dr. Lukas Memorial Senior High School, Kirikiri, Apapa in Lagos.

The project, the firm said, was aimed at building the needed human capacity in technology to tackle contemporary knowledge challenges among Nigerian students.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Thursday, 20^th December, 2012

Rotary holds workshop on total eradication of polio in Nigeria

The desire to rid Nigeria of the endemic disease led Rotary International District 9110 to recently organize Polioplus Orientation Workshop with the theme: ‘We shouldn‘t be the last,” in Lagos.

The Governor, District 9110, Dr. Kamoru Omotosho said the workshop was organized to encourage its members to actively participate in the process of eradicating the disease in the world.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Thursday, 20^th December, 2012

NEXIM Bank, miners plan strategic framework for investments

The Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) and the Miners’ Association of Nigeria have unfolded plan to evolve a strategic framework that would ensure better structure and sustainable investment inflow into solid mineral sector.

According to a statement from the bank’s Corporate Communication Department, the plan was essentially a gesture by the association’s patrons to ensure mutual cooperation with NEXIM as a follow-up to the interactive business forum organised by it in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Thursday, 20^th December, 2012

 

Skye bank increases financial support to agriculture

Skye Bank has indicated that it would drive top-line performance and profitability by expanding support for growth sectors of the Nigerian economy such as agriculture while minimizing costs through low-cost deposits.

The Bank cited the Imo Hill Farm as a case study of what the bank has been doing in recent times to ease access to finance to farmers and support them all through to meet the peculiarities of their operations.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Thursday, 20^th December, 2012

ARMTI wants incentives for farmers

The Executive Director of Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin, Mr. Samuel Afolayan has canvassed more incentives to Nigerian youth towards encouraging them to adopt farming as a profession.

Published in Guardian Newspaper on Thursday, 20^th December, 2012

Lagos pledges support for people with disabilities

Lagos State Government on Wednesday restated its commitment to enhancing the dignity and rights of persons with disabilities.  It added that it was when people with disability are not segregated, but included in decision-making, that the nation could be said to be on the right path

Published in Punch Newspaper on Thursday, 20^th December, 2012

105 Kebbi Communities get N688m boost

The Kebbi State Community and Social Development Project (KBCSDP) have reportedly spent N688 million on 287 micro projects across 105 communities in the state. Its General Manager, Usman Abubakar, stated this at a recent two-day training workshop for 21 newly elected Chairmen of Local Government Councils in Kebbi state held at Sokoto the state capital.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Friday, 21^st December, 2012

 

‘NTI spent N11.5bn on teachers capacity workshops’

About N11.5 billion has been expended by the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, on the capacity building workshops for primary and junior secondary schools teachers in the country, Director General of the institute, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, has said.

Addressing newsmen, the Dr. Sharehu said the money was expended between 2009 and this year. He said amount was used in training 425,000 teachers in the country.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Friday, 21^st December, 2012

FHA seeks N300bn intervention fund for Housing Sector

The Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Mr. Terver Gemade, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to set up an intervention fund of N300bn to reduce the estimated 17 million-unit housing deficit in the country.

Presenting the scorecard of the agency to journalists in Abuja, Gemade said the amount, which should be in the form of a revolving loan to be domiciled with the FHA, would help to provide mass housing for the medium and low-income earners.

Published in National Mirror Newspaper on Friday, 21^st December, 2012

Sovereign Wealth Fund to Commerce Investment in March 2013

Following the approval of its strategy document and the progress made with its investment policy guidelines, the Ministry of Finance has announced that the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is expected to commence investment in a variety of instruments by March 2013.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy ((CME) and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who gave an update on the fund in a statement issued yesterday by her Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Paul Nwubuikwu, said that the strategy document was ratified by the board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) chaired by Alhaji Mahey Rasheed.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Friday, 21^st December, 2012

Sweet Sensation Rallies Support for Care People Foundation

The Managing Director of Sweet Sensation, a leading Quick Service Restaurant, Mrs. Kehinde Kamson, has urged individuals, corporate organisations in the country to always endeavour to assist disabled persons in the country to make them useful and be able to contribute their quotas to the nation’s economy.

Speaking at the 2012 edition of the Care People Foundation annual rally for disabled held in Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, which Sweet Sensation sponsored, Kamson pointed out that there were some disabled persons, who would have done great in life if they got the needed support.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Friday, 21^st December, 2012

NEMA: Flood Disaster Overwhelmed our Capacity

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Thursday said the country’s  resources and  response capacity were seriously over-stretched by the magnitude of the recent massive flooding that ravaged 19 states of the federation.

The agency likened the magnitude of the Bayelsa flood as almost close to what occurred in Haiti where earthquake nearly made the entire country impassable.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Friday, 21^st December, 2012

CSR News Summary Issue 39

Africa urged to tackle illiteracy

Africa needs to achieve a minimum of fifteen percent graduate workforce for it to compete effectively in the global economy.

Rector of African Virtual University, AVU, Dr Bakary Diallo, who made the observation during the launching of the AVU multinational project at the University of Port Harcourt, said there was so much optimism surrounding Africa’s growth potential.

Published in Vanguard Newspaper on Sunday, 9^th December, 2012

Oil communities Petition RMAFC, Want Derivation Board Established

Oil producing communities in Delta State have petitioned the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), demanding among other things, that a derivation board whose members will be recommended for appointment by the President on the advice of the leaders of oil and gas communities be set up.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Sunday, 9^th December, 2012

Gynecologists Urge Free, Compulsory HIV Services for Pregnant Women

Society of Gynecologists and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) has appealed to the Federal Government to make HIV services free and compulsory for all pregnant women, to prevent the transmission of the disease from mother to child.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Sunday, 9^th December, 2012

YouWiN! Mentors Tasked on Commitment

The project lead, YouWiN! Women and Mentoring Programme, Mrs. Snow Ogunjimi, has appealed to selected mentors under the programme to be committed in nurturing their assigned mentees to success in their respective businesses.

Published in ThisDay Newspaper on Sunday, 9^th December, 2012

GE partners Junior Achievement to inspire Nigerian Youths

Advanced technology and Capital Company, General Electric (GE) has collaborated with Junior Achievement (JA) to help students fulfill their dreams, potentials and noble purposes with the introduction of JA Careers with a Purpose, a programme designed to assist the youth in making the right career choices.

Careers with a Purpose is one of the age/class specific programmes run by Junior Achievement Nigeria to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics to improve the quality of their lives.

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper on Monday, 10^th December, 2012

NDDC plans new youth empowerment schemes

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is designing new programmes that would help in building the capacity of youths with a view to engaging them in meaningful activities.

The Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh, disclosed this when he received the Speaker and other executive members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament at the Commission’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper on Monday, 10^th December, 2012

Army trains 16,000 spouses, others on vocational skills

The Nigerian Army authorities say they have trained more than 16,000 spouses and other dependants of military personnel in skills acquisition programmes across the country.

Chief of Defence Staff, Olabisi Ibrahim disclosed this while declaring open the 2012 skill acquisition training for spouses and dependants of Armed Forces personnel in Calabar, Cross River State.

Published in BusinessDay Newspaper on Monday, 10^th December, 2012

Erosion devastates Anambra communities

Anambra State Government has been called upon to declare Ekwusigo Local Government Area on erosion disaster zone.

Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee of Information, Hon. Poly Onyeka, who made the call after conducting newsmen round some of the devastating Areas of the council said that Ekwusigo Local Government area had more 40 serious erosion sites.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 11^th December, 2012

Nigeria won’t experience food shortage – Agric Minister

The Federal Government gave an assurance on Friday that the flooding, which destroyed farmland in 12 states, would not lead to food crisis.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, stated this during an emergency meeting with state commissioners for agriculture.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 11^th December, 2012

Govt. tasks financial institutions on solid minerals financing

Mines and Steel Development Minister, Musa Sada, has urged financial institutions in the country to establish mining desks in their establishments to aid solid mineral financing.

According to him, the sector’s inability to contribute significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is because it has not been actively relevant in the capital market.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 12^th December, 2012

FG, stakeholders seek implementation of FOI Act

Stakeholders in the information sector on Tuesday in Abuja reviewed the challenges that have been stalling the full implementation of the Freedom of Information Act which was signed into law in 2011 and called for quick implementation of the Act for transparency and good governance.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 12^th December, 2012

Nigeria tops Chevron’s $33b global exploration, production projects

The Chevron Corporation has given priority to development of its Usan, Agbami and Escravos Gas-to-Liquids projects in Nigeria, under its $33 billion global investment plan for exploration and production in 2013.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 12^th December, 2012

Mitigating food crises through

UBA Foundation takes read Africa Project to Abuja, Port-Harcourt

As part efforts to rekindle reading culture among students, an initiative of UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has visited schools in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State.

The schools visited by the foundation include Light Way Academy, Wuse 2 Abuja and Graceland International Secondary School, Port Harcourt where copies of the classic literature book ‘Weep Not Child’, authored by Ngugi wa Thiong’o, were presented to the students.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Thursday, 13^th December, 2012

UBEC Pledges To Deliver Quality Basic Education

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Charles Onocha, says the Commission will certainly deliver qualitative and sustainable basic education to Nigerian children.

Prof. Onocha disclosed this at the just concluded 3-day meeting with chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) and the Management of UBEC in Asaba, Delta State.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Thursday, 13^th December, 2012

Youths seek support for Bakassi returnees

Youths in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, under the aegis of Powerminds Community, has appealed to Nigerians to support Bakassi returnees and the less privileged members of the society in Abak.

The youth, at a charity dinner to raise funds for the returnees in Uyo on Tuesday, said they had yet to fully settle in Nigeria.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Thursday, 13^th December, 2012

Bad Leadership responsible for poor health care – Mamora

Senator Olorunimbe Mamora has said bad leadership is responsible for poor health care delivery in Nigeria.

He said a leadership that relies on pathological sycophants and professional praise singers as advisers cannot improve the country.

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Thursday, 13^th December, 2012

BOI showcases Film House project as investment success

The Bank of Industry on Wednesday showcased its investment capability in creative projects, with the inauguration of the latest digital cinema house in town, The FilmHouse Project. The FilmHouse is a cinema development company.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

SON commended on fight against substandard products

The efforts of the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, and his management team to rid the country of substandard products appeared to be eliciting positive commendations from the industrial sector in the country.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

Excitement in Calabar for 3x3 basketball

Players and officials featuring in this year’s Calabar Carnival 3 x 3 Basketball Jam have commended the installation of a synthetic court for the event which holds from December 20 to 23 at Akin Barracks in the Cross River State capital.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

Philanthropy: Copa Lagos: FCMB promises fun

First City Monument Bank Plc, one of the major sponsors of Copa Lagos Beach Soccer tournament in the banking category has promised to make this year’s edition more exciting to its customers and the general public.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

SMEDAN, German agency provide new data on MSMEs

The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria and the German Agency for International Cooperation have concluded and submitted a fresh data on the state of formal and informal sector, especially as regards the Micro, small and medium-scale enterprises in some states of Nigeria.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

CBN, highest revenue – generating agency – Accountant – General

The Accountant – General of the Federation, AGF, Mr. Jonah Otunla, yesterday disclosed that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, accounted for 75 per cent of the revenue generated by Federal Government agencies.

Published in National Mirror Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

Workers’ protest, demand Health Minister’s sack

Health workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector’s Union,  JOHESU, yesterday demanded the immediate sack of Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, for causing havoc in the health sector,” and for “inciting different groups in the sector against one another”.

Published in National Mirror Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

Stop maltreating Bakassi indigenes, FG warns Cameroun

The Federal Government has expressed concern over reported cases of maltreatment of the displaced indigenes of Bakassi Peninsula.

It warned that such tendency had the capacity of truncating the peace that the Cameroun/Nigeria Mixed Commission, CNMC, had been able to achieve since the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun.

Published in National Mirror Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

Dana Air: Payment of $70,000 compensation commences

The management of Dana Air yesterday said that it has commenced the payment of $70,000 final compensation to the families of its ill-fated plane crash of June 3, 2012 at the Iju – Ishaha area of Lagos.

Published in National Mirror Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

Missing N2.1bn: Sack Sanusi, NSPMC management

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, has called on the Federal Government to sack the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for allowing N2.1 billion to disappear from the vaults of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC, last week.

Published in National Mirror Newspaper on Friday, 14^th December, 2012

FG begins work on first gas industrial plant by 2013

The Federal Government said it is set to commence construction of Nigeria’s first gas industrial park in the second quarter of 2013.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 27^th November, 2012

Government frustrated me in ICPC – Akanbi

The pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC) retired Justice Mustapha Akanbi has said his days in the anti-corruption agency were those of frustration and backstabbing.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 27^th November, 2012

Ondo plans to check Cholera spread from Osun

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, said on Monday that medical officers in his ministry had begun surveillance in Owena, the border twon between the state and Osun State to check the outbreak of cholera.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 27^th November, 2012

One Million HIV victims can’t access drug - NACA

Federal Government on Monday in Abuja said over one million Nigerians out of the 1.5 million persons who had been confirmed to be infected with HIV/AIDS did not have access to Anti-Retroviral Drugs.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 27^th November, 2012

Cross River to build 284 housing units for civil servants

Cross River State and the UACN Property Development Company Plc (UPDC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build 284 housing units in Calabar, the state capital. 

The 284 housing units that would be completed in 30 months, in two phases, would be known as Golf Estate; and would acquired by residents on a mortgage arrangement.

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

My commitment to eradication of polio irreversible – Dangote

With Nigeria accounting for 77 per cent of cases of polio, foremost entrepreneur, Aliko Dangote, has vowed that he will deploy all in his power to partner the government at all levels to stem the scourge.

Speaking against the background of collaboration of his charity organisation, the Dangote Foundation, with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to tackle the menace, Dangote expressed worry over the image of Nigeria in the  comity of nations on account of the rising profile of polio cases, especially in Kano State as the epicenter of the world fastest growing outbreak of the disease.

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

Cross River agency speeds up community growth

Things are looking up in rural parts of Cross River State, thanks to its Community, Social Development Agency (CRSCSDA).

New roads are being built. Water is running where it never did. Facilities are springing up in neighbourhoods. The people are smiling.

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

DFIs provide N600b for agric financing

Developmental Financial Institutions (DFIs) have pooled about N600 billion to finance agriculture. The institutions, drawn from the developed economies in Europe and United States have made the funds available to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Under the agreement reached with the foreign donors, the CBN is expected to make the funds available to qualified microfinance banks for lending to farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture.

Published in The Nation Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

Commission to spend N600b on biometric census in 2016

The National Population Commission on Tuesday in Abuja said the national biometric data capture for the 2016 census would gulp N600bn.

The Chairman, NPC, Chief Festus Odimegwu, made the disclosure during the unveiling of the United Nations State of the World Population Report 2012.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

Nigeria loses N97 billion in forex yearly to fish importation

The Federal Government may in the next fiscal year,  add fish products to the import prohibition list, as the country was said to have recorded yearly loss of N97 billion in foreign exchange to fish products’ importation.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, gave the hint on the planned ban of foreign fish products, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State’s capital, Tuesday.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

FDI will help in developing countries’ potential. Says UNIDO official

The Regional Director and Country Representative, of UNIDO, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, has stressed the need for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), saying it will enable countries to explore and develop their potential.

Kormawa made this remark at the 2012 Dinner and the unveiling of  ``ICC Guidelines for International Trade,’’ organised by the International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) in Lagos on Friday.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

PETAN, NCDMB sign MoU on content development

Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the NCDMB-PETAN Capacity Building Internship Programme.

Under the MOU, PETAN companies and the NCDMB will recruit qualified Nigerian graduates as trainees for the contract, in order to build technical skills and experience for an initial period of one year.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

South Korea pledges support to Nigeria in achieving MDGs, others

The Consul-General of South Korea in Lagos, Pilcheen Pak and the Chief Resident Representative, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Nigerian Office, Abuja, Mr. Jung Sang-Hoon, have pledged their country’s commitment to the Federal Government in the areas of contributing to alleviation of poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Pak and Sang-Hoon spoke in Lagos during the meeting of KOICA Alumni Association (KAAN), South-West Branch, in Lagos.

Published in The Guardian Newspaper on Wednesday, 28^th November, 2012

Banks recorded N28bn fraud cases in 2011

The Banking sector recorded N28.4bn cases of fraud and forgeries last year, a report by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Scheme.

The amount contained in the 2011 annual report and statements of accounts of the NDIC, represents an increase of 33.4 per cent over the N21.29bn recorded in 2010..

Published in Punch Newspaper on Thursday, 29^th November, 2012

Groups plan assessment of 200 police stations

Human rights organisations will between 3 and 9, visit 200 police staions in 14 states    to assess among other things the detention centres and quality of services in them.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Thursday, 29^th November, 2012

Ondo communities flay oil firm over neglect

Residents of oil producing communities in Ondo State on Wednesday alleged that Esso Exploration Production Nigeria Limited had deliberately ignored its social responsibilities to them.

They therefore threatened to embark on a peaceful protest if the company management continued with its alleged lukewarm attitude towards their plight.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Thursday, 29^th November, 2012

CSR News Summary Issue 38

Tony Elumelu Foundation Supports Flood Victims with N1bn Donation

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has given a boost to the on-going efforts for the rehabilitation of victims of the recent flood disaster across the country with a donation of N1 billion.

With this donation, Mr. Tony Elumelu has joined the league of African titans of philanthropy, who are redefining corporate giving in Nigeria.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

Nigeria Loses $500m Annually to European, American Universities

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigeria (CVC) said at the weekend that Nigerians spend an average of $500 million annually on European and American universities.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day Consultative Policy Dialogue on the Future and Relevance of the Nigerian Universities and other Tertiary Institutions, organised by CVC and Trust Africa, Dakar.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

15m Nigerians Suffer from Asthma, Tuberculosis

Aside from Malaria and the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which are frequent killer diseases, medical experts have warned that there are other dreaded diseases, which have afflicted as many as 15 million Nigerians. The ailments are asthma, tuberculosis and other chest-related diseases.

The red flag was raised in a communiqué by the Nigerian Thoracic Society (NTS) at the weekend when it rounded off its annual general meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

NEITI to Audit Excess Crude Account, Derivation Fund

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) will commence a comprehensive and independent audit of the fiscal allocation and statutory disbursements of the extractive industries revenue funds from the federation account to Nigeria's three tiers of government.

The audit will amongst other objectives establish how funds from the account were distributed and received by the federal, state and local government councils.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

 Tony Elumelu Foundation Supports Flood Victims with N1bn Donation

 The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has given a boost to the on-going efforts for the rehabilitation of victims of the recent flood disaster across the country with a donation of N1 billion.

With this donation, Mr. Tony Elumelu has joined the league of African titans of philanthropy, who are redefining corporate giving in Nigeria.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

FG to Boost SME Funding, Create 5m jobs

The Federal Government is set to reduce the cost of accessing funds by SMEs within the lifetime of the current administration, as part of strategic efforts to create jobs, generate wealth and enhance economic growth.
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this in Lagos, and added that he had already directed the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) to collaborate on creating about five million jobs within the next two years.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

SON Begins Scientific Validation, Testing on Electronic Products

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is poised to begin a scientific validation and testing exercise on electronic products in order to ensure that electronic products meet the minimum standards for safety and performance in the country.

The Director General, SON, Dr. Joseph Oumodu, explained that there have been lots of issues concerning the quality of electronic products in the nation. He stated this while addressing the media during SON’s inspection exercise to Fouani Nigeria Limited, makers of LG products, in Lagos.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

Group Seeks Rapid Development for Africa

The Chief Communications Officer at African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) Dr. Sheila Ochugboju, has stressed the need for policy makers in Nigeria and other African countries to initiate policies that would bring about rapid development of the continent.

To this end, Ochugboju who spoke at a media briefing organised by the Africa Future Roundtable in Lagos at the weekend, disclosed that the group would hold a two-day conference starting today.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

 

Imo, EU to Partner in 200 Micro-projects

The Imo State Government and the European Union (EU) have entered into partnership to execute 200 micro projects in different communities of the state under the MPP9 community projects involving the nine Niger Delta states.

The disclosure was made by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. David Macre, when he paid a recent courtesy visit to the state governor, Mr. Rochas Okorocha, in government house, Owerri.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

Fashola Inspects Projects, Cautions on Dangers  of  Environmental Abuse

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the weekend continued his inspection of ongoing projects across the state, reiterating the commitment of his administration to the safety of lives even as he warned members of the public against encroachment on lands and properties belonging to government.

Fashola, who began his inspection from the drainage projects along WEMCO Road, also inspected the Shogunro Scheme Phase 1 and 2 Lagos HOMS in Ogba, the Yaya Abatan/College Road Upgrading project in Ifako-Ijaiye, the Ogo-Oluwa Road Network project also in Ifako-Ijaiye, the proposed Digital Village (Katangowa), Amikanle, the Elere Channel and Ayinke House Upgrade in Ikeja.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

NBS: Flood Impact on Agric Won’t be Severe

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)  has confirmed the position of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), that the recent flooding of some farmlands across 12 states in the country notwithstanding, the country would not experience any food crisis.

In its just published third quarter 2012 Gross Domestic Productivity (GDP) report posted on www.nigerianstats.gov.ng, the national statistical agency pointed out that its analysis suggested that the impact of the recent flood in some parts of the country would not be severe in view of the fact that each crop type has a gestation period and prevalence in each state.

Published in Thisday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012.

 Nigeria woos Kia to relocate Mali plant to Calabar EPZ

Buoyed by a huge and active population, cheap labour and strong market, Nigeria is close to striking a deal with South Korean auto maker, Kia Motor Corporation which will enable the Asian automobile manufacturer to relocate its assembly plant from Mali to Calabar Export Processing Zone in Cross River State.BusinessDay gathered that the Federal Government is currently negotiating with the Asian automobile giants on the relocation plans.

Published in Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

NEITI to commence national fiscal allocation, statutory disbursement audit

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is to commence an independent audit of fiscal allocations and statutory disbursement of the extractive industries revenue from the federation account to the three ties of government.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had already approved this project at its last meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

Published in Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

FG Set to crash cost of accessing funds

The Federal Government is set to reduce the cost of accessing funds by SMEs within the lifetime of the current administration, as part of strategic effort to create jobs, generate wealth and enhance economic growth, Olusegun Aganga, minister, trade and investment, has said.

Aganga, who made this known in lagos, recently, also disclosed he as already directed the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) to collaborate on the creating about 5million jobs within the next years.

Published in Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

US Consulate-sponsored youth fellowship programme now accepting applications

The Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI), a dynamic, youth-based fellowship programme launched in late 2011 by the US Consulate General, Lagos, is now accepting applications for its 2013 programme year, according to a statement from the US Consulate in Lagos.

CYFI is a yearlong programme in which outstanding young Nigerians are selected as fellows and grouped into teams to design and implement a project with a social impact. The US Consulate General, Lagos, provides selected fellows with financial support for their projects, networking opportunities, and a transportation stipend. In addition, fellows meet other like-minded youth and build a closer relationship with the Consulate.

Published in Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

Delta to spend N8.39bn on education in 2013

In line with its policy to develp human capital, Delta State government has earned the sum of 8.93billion to the education sector in its 2013 fiscal year.

The State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan gave the disclosure during the presentation of 2013 budget estimates of N398.31 billion to the state house of assembly for the approval.

Published in Businessday Newspaper on Monday, 3rd December, 2012

Rockefeller, others float scholarship for African women

The Green Belt Movement, Rockefeller Foundation and the Kenya Community Development Foundation have instituted a scholarship scheme to empower African women between the ages of 18 and 25.

The initiative known as Wangari Maathai Scholarship Fund seeks to encourage and promote a youth-led sustainable development agenda that is grounded in values.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

  Army evicts civilians from barracks

The authorities of the Nigerian Army have commenced the eviction of civilians living in military formations across the country.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, had issued a directive to all commanders of the Army   to immediately evict all squatters in military barracks, in reaction to the twin bomb attacks at the St. Andrew Protestant Church, Armed Forces Command Staff College, Jaji, penultimate Sunday.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

 Women, youths halt Shell production in Bayelsa

The Shell Petroleum and Development Company oil production facility in Nembe Local Government  Area, Bayelsa State,  was again shut down following a protest on Tuesday.

Our correspondent gathered that hundreds of aggrieved women, youths and community leaders seized the facility to protest against some unfulfilled demands.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

 Produce letters of administration, Dana asks victims’ families

Families of victims of the Dana air crash need to produce letters of administration from the probate registry to facilitate payment of the first 30 percent of their compensation, the airline said on Monday.

Chief Executive Officer, Dana Airline, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, stated this in a statement by the airline’s spokesman, Mr. Tony Usidiamen.

Published in Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

Imoke, diplomats salute glorious Golden Eaglets

Encomia continue to  pour in for the Golden Eaglets after their qualification for the 2003 African Under- 17 Championship in a fashionable manner on Sunday with a 4-0 aggregate win over the junior Eagles of Mali in Bamako.

In fact , the Golden Eagles were still drumming and singing in the dressing room when congratulation message of their foremost Benefactor, Senator Liyel Imoke, the Governor of Cross River State, was  delivered.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

World AIDS Day: NIRM tasks government on HIV drug supply

As Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIRM) joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s Global AIDS Day, it has charged Nigerian government at all levels to intensify supply of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to patients living with the scourge.

Making the call during the weekend in Lagos, the Director General of Institute, Prof Innocent Ujah said NIMR was committed to WHO’s theme: “zero-related death” due to Human Immuno Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Nigeria.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

Community Project gulp N1.6bn in Cross River

The Establishment of Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP), Across the county seems to be yielding positive results.

CSDP is an amalgam of two successful pilot World Bank projects in Nigeria including Community Based poverty Reduction (CSDP) and the Local Empowerment Environmental management Projects (LEEMP).

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

 NAFDAC, Kano govt destroy N800 fake drugs.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Kano State Government have jointly destroyed fake drugs worth n800million to rid the state of counterfeited drugs.

The fake drugs were impounded by Kano State Government following a month long crackdown on various illegal and clandestine pharmaceuticals outlets across the state.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

FG gives N208m grant to entrepreneurs

The Federal Government, through the Presidential Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PCII) has as set aside the sum of N208.97 million to be disbursed as grants to entrepreneur in the country.
Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita  Ewa , who made this known at the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Aba during the second graduation ceremony of entrepreneurs trained by the center said that the objective was to further support the commercialization of Research and Development (R&Ds) output and other innovative efforts.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

Why Nigeria may end up as 27^th world best economy in 2020. …As Saudi takes 20^th position

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia may have scuttled Nigeria’s dream of becoming the 20^th leading economy in the world by the years 2020.

This, according to recent IMF World Economic report, cited improvement made by the Kingdom over the last few years, as the factors that made her take over Nigeria’s place in economic targeting for 2020.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

Fashola partners Satallion group on agriculture

Lagos State Government, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday sought partnership with the private sector on agriculture, saying aside addressing the food security of the state, His administration aimed at opening up the value chain for participation and opportunities in the sector.

Governor Fashola, who spoe at the Lagos House, Ikeja, while playing host to the management team of the Stallion Group led by its Managing Director, Mr. Harpreet Singh said investment in agriculture was not only about growing food, but now include food processing, packaging, merchandizing and a possible commodities exchange.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December, 2012

FG spent N25BN to tackle flood disaster –SGF

The Federal Government yesterday disclosed that a total of N25bn was taken from the Ecological Funds to tackle the recent floods that ravaged the country.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim stated this when he appeared before the Uche Ekwunife –headed House Committee on Environment.

Published in Daily Sun Newspaper on Tuesday, 4th December,  2012.