Day: June 20, 2024

A former Director of the National Orientation Agency(NOA) in Ekiti State, Mr Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, has advised local government chairmen to initiate and execute projects that would promote community development.

Oguntoyinbo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Oye-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state.

He noted that some local government chairmen in the state were not living to expectations of the residents in providing the dividends of democracy.

Oguntoyinbo, also a former Chairman of Oye Local Government, described local government as the bedrock of democracy.

He said it is also the closest government to the people where developmental projects must be carried out to complement the state government.

He urged the chairmen to work harder in their various local governments to complement the good work of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

According to him, the governor has been working tirelessly to fulfil his electoral promises, and need the support of the c
hairmen for the people to enjoy dividends of democracy.

‘I enjoin the local government chairmen to initiate and execute developmental projects to promote development in their communities.

‘The chairmen must interact with the community people, share ideas with them on their needs and initiate projects that will meet their needs.

‘They should also initiate good projects and ideas that can attract the approval of the governor to release funds,’ he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Stakeholders at the ongoing 30th General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation have called for standardisation in promoting sustainable development, innovation, and export-oriented manufacturing across Africa.

The stakeholders said this on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing 30th General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO).

According to them, such measure will facilitate trade in the African region.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the programme is ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century, Building a Quality Culture: One Market, One Standard.’

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Anite, said a symbiotic relationship existed between education, sustainable development, industrialisation, and trade in the 21st century.

The minister was represented by her Permanent Secretary, Nura Rimi.

According to Anite, the ministry considers these essential for economic efficiency, trade facilitation, and tackling developmental c
hallenges.

She said standardisation was a strategic pillar for governments, stakeholders, and the standardisation community.

‘The theme points out the need to equip the African youth with relevant skills and SMEs with innovative tendencies needed for the 21st Africa’s Industrial Development and Integration Agenda.

‘As provided under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it is necessary to create awareness of the role of standardisation in sustainable development to catch up with the rest of the world.

‘Standards shape our everyday lives, drive economic efficiency, facilitate trade and are the fulcrum for tackling the challenges of moving towards a more sustainable and resilient development model,’ she said.

The minister called for enhanced synergy and collaboration among African nations and ARSO member states to implement the AfCFTA agreement effectively.

She reiterated the Nigerian government’s goal to rejuvenate the economy through innovative strategies in alignment with President Bola Tin
ubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with standardisation playing a key role.

She urged delegates to leverage on the platform to foster greater political commitment and strategic partnership to effectively implement AfCFTA and the African Union’s 2024 Year of Education.

Earlier, the Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, said it was important to address the enormous challenges hindering progress on the continent.

Okeke called for concerted efforts to equip African youth with the cognitive skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and succeed in an increasingly complex global landscape.

‘Standardisation is not merely about setting guidelines; it is about fostering a quality culture that permeates every aspect of our lives.

‘Stakeholders must re-commit and work collaboratively to address challenges such as out-of-school children and learning poverty rates.

‘Our task is daunting yet achievable with concerted efforts and innovative approaches through the application of available
technologies,’ he said.

Mr Zubairu Abdullahi, representing the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, said the ministry would introduce standardisation courses in its curriculum.

According to him, this is a way of ensuring the standard of products and will also help raise consumer awareness in the country through education.

Meanwhile, the President of ARSO, Prof. Alexander Dodoo, called on African countries to use trade standards and collaborate to change the narrative for Africa.

‘We have to create African solutions for African problems. If not, quality education will be meaningless.

‘Our biggest challenge is our jobs; our youths are going across borders in the new slave trade because we have not created meaningful jobs for them.

‘We owe it to ourselves as leaders to confront the African reality and forge a way for progress,’ he said.

NAN reports that the event was attended by government officials and key stakeholders in the sector on the continent.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it has recorded 74 per cent increase in revenue growth in the last one year.

The Comptroller General (C-G) of the service, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, during a Press briefing on NCS’ achievements in the last one year.

Adeniyi said that the service recorded a total revenue collection of N4.49 Trillion between June 2023 and May 2024, compared to the N2.58 trillion collected during the corresponding period of the previous year.

‘This achievement was underpinned by a sustained increase of 70.13 per cent in average monthly revenue collection, compared to the previous year.

‘ NCS recorded an average monthly revenue collection of N343 billion, compared to the N202 billion monthly average.

‘ Notably, there was a substantial 122.35 per cent increase in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year,’ he said.

The C-G said these giant strides recorded were as a result of the service’s various str
ategic initiatives, which included the collection of N15 billon by the Revenue Review Performance Recovery exercise.

He explained that N2.79 billion was realised from the 90-day window for the regularisation of documents of uncustomed vehicles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NCS in March, granted a 90-day grace period for payment of import duties on improperly imported vehicles, as part of its commitment to facilitating compliance.

He added that N1.5 billion was realised from the decongestion of 1,705 overtime containers and 981 vehicles from the port.

‘It is also worthy of note that on June 13, 2024, NCS recorded a daily All-Time-High of N58.5 billion in revenue collection,’ he said.

Adeniyi also noted that the NCS’ anti-smuggling efforts in the last year resulted in 63 seizures related to animal and wild life products, valued at N566 million, and seven seizures of arms and ammuition made through the ports and borders.

‘ In terms of illicit drugs, a combined total of 127 cases invo
lving narcotics and pharmaceutical products, valued at over N6 billion, were seized.

‘The Service also recorded 724 seizures of 2.93 million litres of PMS (Premium Motor Spirit), that wad being attempted to be smuggled out of the country,’ he said.

He explained that the illegal dealings in petroleum products had remained an issue of great concern to relevant stakeholders, adding however, that the Operation Whirlwind would continue to intercept and disrupt the activities of smugglers.

NAN reports that Operation Whirlwind was recently inaugurated by NCS to combat smuggling of petroleum products to neigbouring countries.

The C-G said as part of its effforts to ensure food security and curb the smuggling of food in and out of the country, the service recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grain seizures, valued at N4.4 billion.

‘These concerted efforts underscore the NCS’s commitment to protecting society and! ensuring national security,’ Adeniyi said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is determined to smoke out food hoarders as part of its contribution to checking inflation, its Comptroller-General (C-G), Adewale Adeniyi, has stated.

‘The service will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the business of food hoarders is unprofitable,’ Adeniyi declared in Abuja on Wednesday at a media briefing on achievements in the past one year.

He said that the NCS recorded 1,744 cases of rice and grains seizures valued at N4.4billion, in the efforts to curb smuggling.

‘These concerted efforts underscore the NCS’ commitment to protecting society and ensuring national security,” he said.

He said that in the past one year, one of the leading policy measures it implemented was the transition from the repealed Customs and Excise Act of 2004 to the newly signed Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023.

He explained that the new act strengthened the modernisation of NCS operations and promoted innovation within the service.

The C-G emphasised that the new act also for
med the basis for several trade facilitation measures currently being pursued by NCS, including the recent transition from Fast Track 2.0 to the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) concept.

He highlighted that the Advanced Ruling system, which also originated from the act, represented a significant advancement in aligning NCS operations with global best practices.

‘This initiative is now at an advanced stage of implementation,” he said.

He added that Time Release Study was also inaugurated in February to identify and address bottlenecks in the clearance process aimed at easing trade facilitation.

The C-G further noted that it decongested ports and reopened previously inaccessible access roads.

‘In response to the need for dedicated terminals to process export goods, the NCS command at the Port of Lilypond was designated to handle export transactions.

‘Other targeted measures to jointly facilitate trade and enhance revenue collection by the service include implementation of the presidential approval to
decongest the ports area and improve logistics around the port in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

‘NCS also commenced 24-hour clearance at the Port of Tincan Island, Lagos, in line with the Presidential Directive to enforce 48- hour clearance of goods,” he said.

According to the customs boss, NCS also implemented measures to address national security concerns which include strengthening and reinforcing the Federal Operating Units to pursue, intercept, arrest and dismantle smuggling networks.

He said that new frontiers of interagency cooperation were established with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), finalising arrangements to integrate both systems to minimise the registration of smuggled vehicles.

‘The service also commenced engagement with critical stakeholders like the Health Federation of Nigeria (HFN), with the support of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to facilitate the clearance of medical goods.

‘This collaboration aims to ultimately reduce challenges and costs, making these
services more affordable for Nigerians and specifically targeting the Presidential Priority Areas on healthcare,” he said.

He said that NCS was recently ranked by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) among the top five Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The assessment was conducted among 36 MDAs, with NCS achieving a perfect score of 100 per cent, marking 81.5 per cent increase from its previous average scores of 18.45 per cent between 2020 and 2022, and 18.53 per cent in 2023.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Mersole Mellejor, the Philippines Ambassador to Nigeria said both countries shared mutually beneficial relations, especially in trade and people-to-people partnerships since 1962.

The envoy said this at the Diplomatic Reception held to mark the 126th Anniversary of the Philippines’ Independence on Wednesday in Abuja.

The ambassador said the occasion was symbolic of strengthening relations between Nigeria and the Philippines for more than six decades.

According to him, although the countries may be located on two different continents, with no fewer than 18 hours of flight time between them, relations between the two have been robust.

‘Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1962, the two countries have signed bilateral agreements and are in the process of concluding more, to generate concrete mutually beneficial outcomes.

‘At the political level, the Philippines and Nigeria have a regular Joint Commission Meeting between our respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

‘This year, we are resuming t
o hold another edition. The joint commission meeting was suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘We have a respectable level of bilateral trade reaching more than a million US dollars at its highest in 2020 and a steady flow of tourists from both sides.

‘The most concrete manifestation of our relations has always been our people. At its peak before the global financial crisis in 2009, there were an estimated 8,000 Filipinos in Nigeria.’

‘Mostly professionals in various capacities, in the oil and industrial states, factories in many parts of Nigeria, and more importantly, in the services sectors.

‘Now, estimated to be around 3,000, the number is rising again as we emerge from the global pandemic. We certainly thank Nigeria for welcoming and hosting our nationals,” Mellejor said

Speaking on educational exchange, Mellejor said the Philippines had hosted more than 10,000 Nigerians studying in various higher institutions in his country.

On governance, he said, ‘There are many areas in which both countr
ies can work continually to strengthen democratic governance and law enforcement.

‘Meanwhile, the Philippines hosts some 10,000 Nigerians, the majority of whom are studying in various tertiary institutions in the country.

‘I was told that the number was even higher in the 90’s. The graduates even have an association here in Nigeria called the Philippine Graduates in Nigeria, or PHILGRAN.

‘There is also a good number of Nigerians pursuing productive careers in the Philippines – perhaps in the medical and the entertainment industry,” he said.

The ambassador also seeks Nigeria’s support for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 June elections of 2026 expected to be held in New York.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the cultural dance performance by a Filipino group and a song from a Nigerian artist.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria