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BREAKING: Buhari Lifts Ban On Twitter

The Federal Government has lifted the suspension on microblogging site, Twitter, seven months after it suspended the social media platform in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022. The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim,” the statement added.

“In the Memo, the Minister updates and requests the President’s approval for the lifting based on the Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement’s recommendation.”

The government and Twitter have been in negotiations since over restoring the service based on a set of conditions, including Twitter registering operations in Nigeria.

According to him, Twitter has agreed to demands for working in the country.

It added that the committee set up by the Federal Government engaged with the Twitter team to engage resolve the impasse, adding that the resolutions will bring “endless possibilities”.

“Therefore, our engagement will help Twitter improve and develop more business models to cover a broader area in Nigeria. Furthermore, the FGN looks forward to providing a conducive environment for Twitter and other global tech companies to achieve their potential and be sustainably profitable in Nigeria,” the statement added.

Nigeria halted Twitter operations in June after the company deleted a comment by Buhari, provoking an international outcry over freedom of expression.

Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The United States, European Union, and Canada were among those who joined rights groups in condemning the ban as damaging to freedom of expression in Africa’s most populous country.

Twitter had a major role in political discourse in Nigeria, with the hashtags #BringBackOurGirls after Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in 2014, and #EndSARS during anti-police brutality protests in 2020.

12 January 2022
Edible Oils: They are Not All Created Equal

You probably have used edible oil in lots of your homemade meals. But have you ever paused and wondered what is it made of and what sets edible oils apart from one another? How does your oil compare with others in the market in terms of health benefits and is there a merit in switching the edible oil?

There are plenty of choices of variety of edible oils available in the market, the most common being Palm oil, Vegetable oil, Soyabean oil, , Groundnut oil, Olive oil ,coconut oils etc. While each of them may look the same, but scientifically, they are all very different from each other – in their fundamental construct and health benefits they provide.

Scientifically, all edible oils are 100% Fatty acids – This is true for all types of oils! However, what makes them different are the type of Fats they contain, and it makes them good or bad for you. The fatty acids of all edible oils belong to one of the following – Saturated Fatty acids (SFA), Mono-unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) or Poly-Unsaturated Fatty acids (PUFA), depending upon the saturation of the Chemical bonds inside them. All edible oils essentially contains a different proportion of the above 3 fatty acids and these fatty acids aren’t built alike! There are plenty of scientific literature available to understand these Fatty acids and their impact on the human body..

Saturated Fatty acids (SFA), sometimes called solid fats have been suggested to be Bad Fats – They have been associated with increased levels of bad (LDL) Cholesterol in people. LDL Cholesterol is associated with increased risk of heart diseases and stroke. They may increase health risks if a person consumes too much over a long period. Many health authorities, such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the British Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, the World Heart Federation, the British National Health Service, amongst others advise that saturated fat is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and their consumption should be minimized.

On the other hand, Unsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature and may be either Monounsaturated Fatty acids (MUFA) or Polyunsaturated Fatty acids (PUFA). They are defined by the un-saturation in their chemical structure. Contrary to Saturated Fats, unsaturated Fatty acids have been associated with lowered risks on hearts – Many careful studies have found that replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in the diet reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or strokes. These studies prompted many medical organizations and public health departments, including the World Health Organization to officially issue that advice. The un-saturated fats help protect your heart by maintaining levels of “good” HDL cholesterol while reducing levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol in your blood. PUFA are mainly of 2 types – Omega 3 or Omega 6, the benefits of which are well documented. The more un-saturated fats an oil has, is better for consumption.

As evident, the type of fat in the diet is important – They have an impact on growth and development, heart and body functions, brain functions and general well being. .

Also, the World Health Organization estimates that every year trans-fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease. “Trans fats increases levels of LDL-cholesterol, a well-accepted biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk, and decreases levels of HDL-cholesterol, which carry away cholesterol from arteries and transport it to the liver, that secretes it into the bile”

It is common to find vegetable oil brands made from refined Palm Olein marketed as Vegetable oil in the Nigerian market. To put it in perspective, the refined Palm Olein sold openly, is crude palm oil that has undergone physical refining or chemical refining and fractionation. The various brands of vegetable oils made from Palm Olein all say that it is healthy but is Palm oil really healthy?

Palm Olein is rich in saturated fatty acids and is often considered as being atherogenic (food High in saturated) nutritionally. According to a report by the Nutrition Information Centre, Stellenboch, Vegetable oils contain about 10% polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), 48% monounsaturated fat (MUFA) and upto a whopping 52% Saturated fat (SFA)); Compare that with Soyabean oil – another commonly available oil in Nigerian market which has 61% polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) , 24% monounsaturated fat (MUFA) and only 15% saturated fat (SFA). This simple comparison makes it amply clear of which oil is healthier and should be adopted by Nigerian consumers for their overall and their Heart well-being.

A healthy body is needed to drive all of life aspirations; healthy oil consumption habit starts with a step in the direction of Golden Terra Soya Oil. Golden Terra Soya oil has recently emerged to be the leading SoyaBean oil in Nigerian market with its increasing presence across Nigeria. It is 100% pure Soya oil, totally sourced and manufactured in Nigeria and should be adopted by every Nigerian for a healthy life!.

12 January 2022
Coca-Cola Appoints Bunmi Adeniba as new Marketing Director

Bunmi Adeniba, an experienced marketing professional and commercial operator with a strong bias for using consumer insights and her understanding of an end-to-end manufacturing process to harness value for multiple stakeholders, has been appointed as the new Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria Plc.

Prior to her current appointment, Mrs. Adeniba, the Acting President of Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), was the Marketing Director of Unilever Nigeria.

She is also the Vice-President of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). The WFA Executive Committee brings together senior marketers and public affairs executives to reflect the dual mission of helping marketers be more effective and efficient in terms of their marketing spend, while helping brand owners protect and future-proof their license to operate through advocacy and effective advertising self-regulation.

Mrs. Adeniba has worked in several other FMCG companies in her chequered career trajectory. She is a customer focused professional with broad spectrum, cross functional work experience spanning brand building, new products and category development, supply chain/quality management and quality systems set up.

Her ability to quickly understand, interpret and apply strategic directions is believed to be highly remarkable and commendable. She has a great deposition and always willing to learn and share knowledge.

Bunmi Adeniba

Mrs. Adeniba’s over two decades experience spans across brand building, innovation design, and quality management system.

She has an MBA from Hult Business School, Boston and a certificate of Strategic Marketing Management from Harvard Business School, Massachusetts, USA.

She is a 2018 CSC Leader, a global programme for exceptional senior leaders selected from government, businesses and NGOs across the 53 countries of the commonwealth

Mrs. Adeniba is passionate about women empowerment and raising phenomenal leaders in the marketplace.

She has been recognised as one of the fifty Ladies in corporate Nigeria by Leading Ladies Africa and Brand communicator’s top 50 women in marketing and communication in Nigeria.

Mrs. Adeniba holds membership with the Institute of Directors (IOD), National institute of Marketing (NIMN), Chartered institute of Marketing UK (MCIM), Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), and American Society of Quality (ASQ). She is a Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) from the Digital Marketing Institute.

8 January 2022
Coca-Cola, Bigi, Others To Cost More as FG Imposes N10/litre ‘Sugar Tax’ on Carbonated Drinks

The Federal Government has introduced an excise duty of N10/litre on all non-alcoholic, carbonated and sweetened beverages.

Excise duty is a form of tax imposed on the production, licensing and sale of goods.

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, said this during the public presentation of the 2022 Appropriation Act on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to her, the new policy introduced is in the Finance Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 31, 2021.

In 2019, Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, had announced that the government may introduce excise duty on carbonated drinks.

In 2020, Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), had proposed the collection of excise duty on soft drinks.

He had also put forward the same proposal in 2021 at an interactive session on the 2022-2024 medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), organised by the house of representatives committee on finance.

Apart from the new ‘Sugar Tax’ in section 17, Ahmed said the 2021 finance Act also raised excise duties and revenues for the health sector.

The minister said the excise duty on soft drinks would discourage excessive consumption of sugar beverages which contributes to diabetes, obesity among others.

However, checks showed that there are other sources of sugar intake, including alcoholic drinks, biscuits, buns, cakes, dairy products, and savoury food.

“There’s now an excise duty of N10/ per litre imposed on all non-alcoholic and sweetened beverages,” she said.

“And this is to discourage excessive consumption of sugar in beverages which contributes to a number of health conditions including diabetes and obesity.

“But also used to raise excise duties and revenues for health-related and other critical expenditures.

“This is in line also with the 2022 budget priorities.”

5 January 2022
Nigerians To Pay VAT On Amazon, Other Digital Services – Finance Minister

Nigerians may have to pay more for digital services as the Federal Government has introduced a policy requiring foreign companies that provide digital services in the country to collect and remit Value Added Tax, VAT to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said this during the public presentation of the 2022 budget in Abuja on Wednesday.

She said that the new policy is contained in Section 30 of the Finance Act which amended the provisions of Section 10, 31 and 14 on VAT obligations for non-resident digital companies.

The Minister said, “Section 30 of the finance act designed to amend section 10, 31 and 14 of VAT is in relations to VAT obligations for non-resident digital companies and the mechanism that will be used is to restrict VAT obligations mainly to digital non-resident companies who supply individuals in Nigeria who can’t themselves self-account for VAT.

“So if you visit Amazon, we are expecting Amazon to add VAT charge to whatever transaction you are paying for.

“I am using Amazon as an example. We are going to be working with Amazon to be agreed to be registered as a tax agent for the FIRS.

“So Amazon will now collect this payment and remit to FIRS and this is in line with global best practices, we have been missing out on this stream of revenue.

For clarification, the Minister said, the new law applies to foreign companies that provide digital services such as, “apps, high-frequency trading, electronic data storage, online advertising” among others.

Speaking further, Ahmed noted that in line with Section 4 of the Finance Act, non-resident companies are now expected to pay tax at 6 per cent on their turnover.

The Federal Government had in 2019 disclosed plans to tax foreign digital service providers offering services to Nigerians according to amended provisions in the 2020 Finance Act.

However, this is the first time the government is setting a specific tax rate.

Ahmed said, “Section 4 of the ACT which is taxation of e commerce businesses owned by non-resident companies on a fair and reasonable turnover basis has been set at 6 per cent.

“This provision empowers FIRS to access non-resident firms to tax on fair and reasonable basis of turnover and from digital services provided to Nigerian customers.”

She said the move was aimed at modernizing the taxation of Information Technology and the digital economy in line with current realities, adding that this is in conformity with the provisions of the National Development Plan 2021 – 2025.

Earlier in December 2021, Facebook, in a statement, disclosed that it will, from January 1, 2022, begin to charge VAT on the sale of advertisement to advertisers, regardless of whether they’re buying ads for business or personal purposes.

5 January 2022
Banks’ll Increase Credit To Economy in 2022, Says CBN

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, has said the banking sector will increase access to finance and credit for households in 2022.

Emefiele said this recently in Lagos, according to a statement on Thursday.

“The policy focus of the bank for 2022 is with a pledge to sustain improved access to finance and credit for households and businesses, mobilise investment to boost domestic productivity, enable faster growth of non-oil exports, and support employment generating activities,” he said.

He noted that the country had been able to contain some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.

He stressed the need for all stakeholders to work to build a more resilient economy that would be better able to contain external shocks, while supporting growth and wealth creation in key sectors of our economy.

According to him, a major lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic was that deliberate efforts must be made to diversify the base of the Nigerian economy.

Emefiele said the country must do everything possible to reduce the importation of goods into the country.

“Proactive steps on the part of stakeholders in the private sector, in collaboration with the government in supporting the growth of sectors such as manufacturing, ICT, and infrastructure, will strengthen our ability to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, and stimulate further growth of our economy,” he added.

Speaking on the need to build an efficient infrastructure ecosystem in Nigeria and the role of improved infrastructure to the development of the Nigerian economy, he disclosed that all necessary approvals had been obtained for the full commencement of the Infrastructure Corporation in early 2022.

4 January 2022
Nigeria’s Inflation Rate May Be Among World’s Highest In 2022 – World Bank

The World Bank has said Nigeria may have one of the highest inflation rates globally in 2022, with increasing prices diminishing the welfare of Nigerian households.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria is projected to have one of the highest inflation rates globally and the seventh highest among Sub-Saharan African countries in 2022.

“In 2022, Nigeria is expected to have one of the highest inflation rates in the world and the seventh highest in Sub-Saharan Africa,” it said.

The bank said this in the November edition of its Nigeria Development Update.

According to the global financial institution, high inflation hampers the country’s attempt to achieve economic recovery and erodes the purchasing power of most vulnerable households.

The document read in part, “High inflation is frustrating Nigeria’s economic recovery and eroding the purchasing power of the most vulnerable households. In the absence of measures to contain inflation, rising prices will continue to diminish the welfare of Nigerian households.”

The bank further highlighted the adverse effects of inflation on Nigeria, which include pushing eight million Nigerians into poverty, and the possible disruption of consumption, investment and saving decisions, among other consequences.

“If inflation had been closer to the CBN’s goal of nine per cent in 2021, the average Nigeria’s consumption would have been 15 per cent higher, and eight million Nigerians would have not fallen into poverty.

“If double-digit inflation persists during 2022-2023, rising prices will distort consumption, investment, and saving decisions of the government, households, and firms, with adverse ramifications for long-term borrowing and lending.

“Over time, the disproportionate impact of inflation on lower-income households and those working in sectors with low savings (e.g, agriculture) will exacerbate inequality. Ultimately, inflation will not only negatively affect incomes, but also economic productivity and job creation, further constraining the recovery,” the bank said.

The Washington, United States-based institution also disclosed that over two years, an increase in food prices accounted for about 70 per cent of the annual increase in the rate of inflation.

It also said that inflationary pressures were trigged by multiple demand and supply shocks.

The document read in part, “Inflationary pressures are being generated by multiple demand and supply shocks. Supply shocks arising from disruption of supply chains linked to COVID-19 and associated containment measures have eased, but security issues, border closures, and limited access to markets continue to fuel inflation.

“The current mix of monetary, fiscal, foreign exchange, and trade policies also plays a prominent role as a driver of inflation. Trade and FX restrictions, including the closure of land borders starting in August 2019, have increased prices for food and consumer goods, and imports of over 40 goods, including many staple foods, are currently ineligible for FX through formal windows.

“Nigeria’s exchange-rate management has resulted in the rise of parallel rates, which are closely linked to food-price dynamics. Unable to access FX through the official exchange-rate window, businesses seek FX on the parallel market and other alternative sources.

“The parallel rate influences their business decisions, and fluctuations in the parallel rate pass through to market prices for goods and services. Moreover, monetary policy has not prioritized controlling inflation, and the monetary financing of fiscal deficit undermines the effectiveness of policies to contain demand-side inflationary pressures.”

3 January 2022
Businesses That’ll Shape Nigerian Economy in 2022

In 2022, all eyes will be on many Nigerian businessmen and corporate organisations whose decisions in the preceding year will greatly impact the country. The year 2021 saw major mergers and acquisitions involving quoted companies which operations will have significant impact on the economy.

Aliko Dangote/Dangote Refinery

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, will expectedly be of much influence on Nigeria’s economic scene this year. This is the year that the 650,000 b/d Dangote Refinery will begin production.

Dangote Refinery will fill a large vacuum in Nigeria’s products market that authorities hope will help stabilise the local supply of refined oil products. This will surely help to stop the country’s dependence on imported refined products. In doing this, it will help reduce Nigeria’s perennial foreign exchange (forex) crisis which is due in part to the huge amounts spent on the importation of refined petroleum products.

Karl Tariola/MTN and Mafab to deploy 5G

MTN Nigerian was awarded a 5G license in 2021, paving the way for the continent’s largest wireless carrier to supply faster internet to consumers and businesses.

In line with the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 for a Digital Nigeria and the positioning of the country as an early adopter of digital technology in the growing global digital economy, the successful and timely deployment of 5G is crucial.

5G is expected to facilitate several emerging technologies, generate innovative use cases, spur significant socio-economic growth and create jobs.

It will be critical because it will enable unprecedented levels of connectivity, upgrading 4G networks with five key functional drivers: superfast broadband, ultra-reliable low latency communication, massive machine-type communications, high reliability/availability and efficient energy usage.

Like MTN Nigeria, Mafab Communication will be one of the companies to watch in 2002 Led by Musbahu Muhammad Bashir as chairman, Mafab emerged on the scene to snatch one of the two 5G licences.

Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, will be in the news this year for various reasons. Her ministry will superintend some of the policies that will have significant impacts on the lives of Nigerians.

The ministry will implement the planned removal of the subsidy on petroleum products, increase in import tariffs, increase in taxes and increase in electricity tariff. These are policies that by their nature are bound to be unpopular with the Nigerian masses because of the expected impact they will have on the average consumer’s welfare.

Mrs Ahmed will also be the one whose ministry will implement the N5,000 a month transport allowance for about 40 million poor Nigerians as a palliative for the expected impact of the subsidy removal. Zainab alongside other ministers and critical stakeholders would work hard to actualise the National Development Plan 2021-2025 which succeeds the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP 2017-2020). The federal government said this would require N348.1 trillion.

The federal government is expected to provide N49.7 trillion or 14.3per sent, while the private sector will provide the balance of N298.3 trillion or 85.7per cent. The government believes these measures will increase revenues and by extension additional infrastructure for social and economic development.

Titan’s acquisition of 104-year-old Union Bank

This followed an agreement by Union Global Partners Limited, Atlas Mara Limited and majority shareholders to divest 88.39 per cent shareholding in Union Bank to Titan Trust Bank.

The board of Union Bank, in a notification to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday, explained that the agreement, which is subject to regulatory approvals and other financial conditions, would upon completion transfer of 89.39 per cent of Union Bank’s issued share capital to Titan Trust Bank.

According to the Chairman of Titan Trust Bank, Mr Tunde Lemo, “Our stakeholders are delighted as this transaction marks a key step for Titan Trust in its strategic growth journey and propels the institution to the next level in the Nigerian banking sector.

Abdulsamad Rabiu/BUA Group

The BUA Group will be one of the dominant players in the nation’s economy in the New Year.

The highly diversified group led by Abdul Samad Rabiu is expected to expand its cement output to 20 million metric tons by next year from three cement plants being constructed in three states: Sokoto, Edo and Adamawa.

The group also plans to list its consolidated food business on the NGX within the year. The food business includes flour and pasta, sugar, edible oils and rice.

Dahiru Mangal

Mangal Industries, owned by the Katsina-born industrialist, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, in 2021 signed a contract with China-based Sinoma International Engineering for the delivery of a 3Mt/yr new integrated cement plant in the northern state of Kogi. The plant will cost US$600m and generate thousands of jobs during construction and when inaugurated in early 2024. Sinoma International Engineering will also build a dedicated 50MW power plant for the plant.

Mangal had said during the signing of the contract: “This investment is part of an ambitious investment programme under implementation by Mangal Industries. The factory will rely on the best available technology for cement production in line with the highest environmental standards.”

Mangal, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AFDIN Group of companies Nigeria Limited comprising Max Air Limited, Katsina Dyeing, Printing Textiles Limited, AFDIN Football Club, AFDIN Construction Company Nigeria Ltd, Manasawa Oil, Mangal Oil and Manasawa Enterprises, a clearing and forwarding firm has also sold his 1,968,452,614 shares in Oando PLC.

Industry watchers believed that he would channel the money into some of his businesses.

Allen Onyeama/Air Peace

Air Peace is a star to watch. In 2021, the airline received the third of its brand new Embraer 195-E5 aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and disclosed that it would receive all the 13 aircraft it ordered from the Brazilian planemaker before the end of 2022, adding that it would create about 17,000 jobs.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, made this known in a speech just before the aircraft touched down at the Abuja airport from the Embraer facility in Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil.

“In addition to the order of 13 aircraft, which we would have receive before the end of 2022, we would make a further commitment of 10 additional aircraft, and by the time we have 30 aircraft we would employ about 17,000 personnel,” Onyema explained.

He said the airline would deploy the aircraft to international, regional and domestic destinations as it had started opening new routes in Nigeria.

He further said the new aircraft would hit the West Coast and African region as it extended its West Coast destinations to include Douala (Cameroon), Kinshasa (Congo), Niamey (Niger), Dakar (Senegal), as well as Monrovia (Liberia).

What Airtel/MTN PSB licence approval could mean for financial inclusion in Nigeria

On Friday, November 8, 2021, telecom giants, MTN and Airtel, in separate statements, revealed that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had approved in principle to operate Payment Service Banks (PSBs).

PSBs accept deposits from individuals and small businesses, carry out payment and remittance services within Nigeria, issue debit and prepaid cards, operate electronic purses and other activities prescribed by the CBN.

While the telcos would not offer a full suite of financial services, they would be able to provide users with entry into the financial system.

A significant reason for the optimism shown is the potential of telcos to fast-track the CBN’s financial inclusion goal. This is mainly due to their comprehensive coverage of the country, especially in rural areas that house most of the unbanked population.

With the infrastructural cost of setting up branches and security, banks are not opening branches in new locations, and in some cases, are shutting down operations.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nigerian banks closed 234 branches and 649 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in 2020; bringing the number of banks in the country to 5,158 in 2020 from 5,392 in 2019.

Furthermore, MTN and Airtel have the largest and third largest subscribers at 67.5 million and 42 million respectively. Even accounting for multiple SIM cards as is common in the country; those figures are significantly higher than the top three Nigerian banks by customer base. According to data from the GSM Association, there were 97.5 million unique mobile subscribers in 2018.

It is not clear what will happen to thousands of Point of Sale (POS) operators working closely with other banks when the new entrants fully deploy their resources.

Tiamin’s N18bn rice farm

Tiamin Rice Limited is setting up an N18bn rice farm in Udubo, Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The company, which has a big rice mill in Kano, has remained a big player in the industry, employing hundreds of people, and has also contributed towards reducing rice importation in Nigeria.

The Managing Director (MD) of Tiamin Rice Limited, Aminu Ahmed, during the foundation laying ceremony of two blocks of six classrooms at Begu Village of Gamawa LGA in mid-December, said the farm was the largest modern farm in Nigeria, with 10,000 hectares, with a projection to produce 120,000 metric tons of rice per annum and other farm produce like maize.

He added that the land was fully acquired through the Bauchi State Government after payment of premium charges.

Jim Ovia

Jim Ovia, the man behind Zenith Bank, will be in the news again in 2022. Ovia is currently building $1.5bn Quantum Petrochemical Complex in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.

The petrochemical plant will support the local economy by supplying products to sectors such as construction, packaging, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and textile. This is in addition to creating jobs.

Cosgrove Smart Estate

Towards the end of 2021, the federal government inaugurated 160 furnished homes at the newly developed Cosgrove Smart Estate in Abuja.

The FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, jointly expressed delight at the ability of the indigenous company to achieve a great leap in the evolution of the housing sector.

“Cosgrove is leading the pioneering of integration of technology in real estate, and we are very proud of the good work the company is doing,” the FCT minister said.

In his remark, the CEO of Cosgrove Investment Limited, Umar Abdullahi, said the delivery and commissioning of Cosgrove Smart Estate, Wuye, represented a long-held dream of both management and staff of Cosgrove, assuring that the firm would continue to focus on pioneering the integration of technology in real estate development in Nigeria.

“Cosgrove will remain committed to providing housing solutions to a discerning clientele who desire a high standard of living and seek to maximise the potentials of 21st Century technology,” the chairman added.

Daily Trust further reports that there are many players in agriculture, oil (like A.A.Rano, Shafa oil), mining, energy and other sectors that will undoubtedly shape Nigeria’s economy this year.

© Daily Trust

3 January 2022
CHI Limited Charges Nigerians To Start The Year The Right Way

CHI Limited, Nigeria’s leading fruit juice, value added dairy and snacks manufacturer has charged Nigerians to start the year 2022 the right way.

The company reiterated that while 2021 was quite a spectacular year, despite the uncertainties the COVID-19 pandemic brought; in the wake of the new year, consumers have been given a fresh opportunity to set the right foundation for the kind of year that they desire.

According to CHI, “With every end, comes a new beginning; and every new beginning deserves a great start. We look back at the past year with the warmest of memories, while looking ahead for even greater opportunities; and in this way,

“Starting right involves goal setting and planning. Goals such as, taking the right amount of fruits and vegetables, staying fit and healthy with a workout routine, ensure spending is within budget, always have something for the rainy day, etc. The best time to begin with this is now.

“One key goal that needs to remain at the centre is a focus on our health and wellbeing.

CHI Limited therefore charged Nigerians to prioritise their health and wellness by taking more pro-active steps in what they consume, adding that individuals owe it to themselves to live a healthy lifestyle.

The company urges Nigerians to take charge of their health by consuming the right amount of fruits and vegetables every day, maintain good hygiene and also take advantage of its refreshing and nourishing Chivita and Hollandia brands which have essential nutrients that help the body strengthen its immunity.

“As we look forward to a healthy and prosperous 2022, the company restates its commitment to being a part of the journey of success in the lives of consumers by enabling healthy living and happier lives for all Nigerians. It will continue to enlighten and promote everyday wellness through its range of healthy, nutritious and high-quality fruit juices and dairy products.”

CHI Limited’s Marketing Director, Toyin Nnodi stated that, going into 2022, Nigerians should take stock of the year that is outgone, especially the challenges it presented and the lessons it offered, with a view to exploring the opportunities the New Year would bring in different areas of life.

“Together, we can continue to improve and achieve more, despite the challenges we may experience, with renewed hope and a positive outlook for the New Year. We wish every Nigerian a safe, healthy and prosperous new year ahead,” she stated.

2 January 2022
Bilesanmi Sends 2022 New Year Message To Nigerians, Reveals How ATCIS Efforts Made FG To Extend NIN-SIM Linkage Till 31st March

The National President of the Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS), Prince Sina Bilesanmi has revealed how the passionate pleas made by members of association to the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) led to the extension of the deadline for the National Identification Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the 31st of March, 2022.

The deadline earlier announced by the Federal Government was Friday, December 31, 2021.

In his New Year message to Nigerians, which was made available to journalists in Lagos, the ATCIS National President, who tagged the extension as ‘last minute miracle achievement for year 2021, said the major reason for asking for the extension during the two-day meeting with the Minister was a result of record which shows that with almost 191 million subscribers, only less than 70 million subscribers have linked their NIN- SIM.

Bilesanmi noted; “Our association demanded for more days simply because with almost 191 million subscribers, record show that only less than 70 million Subscribers have linked their NIN- SIM, in this case, what happen to the 101 million subscribers?More so, NIMC has not really been making progress with what they promised us as citizens.”

Prince Sina Bilesanmi thanked the Federal Government for giving millions of subscribers another opportunity.

He sought for collaboration with the Ministry as 5G is about to be lunched come 2022 as he also applauded the efforts of the respective staff in ensuring a seamless NIN-SIM linkage and urge Telephone Subscriber’s citizen and legal residents that are yet to complete the process of enrolment, verification, and SIM linkage on or before 31^st March 2022.

He however advised subscribers to be careful with their phones noting that any crime committed on their phones, they will be responsible for it.

The Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) is the leading masses telecom advocacy body that promotes Subscriber interests as well as defends Subscriber right in Nigeria with over 190 million Subscribers membership strength across six geopolitical zone in Nigeria.

In ATCIS effort, the association has made over 730 newspaper press released publications, both local and international as well as online news publications, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about 230 Success achievements so far to the benefit of Subscribers across the country.

ATCIS want it to be on record of history that our association has spent about #450 million naira since 2014 till 31st December 2021,which has been on self -sponsored by members without government agency’s in Nigeria.

The government had come up with the mandatory NIN-SIM linkage exercise on December 9, 2020, with a deadline of December 31st, 2021 for all subscribers to comply or get blocked from the networks. It has, however, extended the deadline several times since then.

Announcing the latest extension in a statement jointly signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, and the Head of Corporate Communications of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Mr. Kayode Adegoke, the government said the extension followed requests by stakeholders.

“Following the request by Subscriber body call ATCIS, other stakeholders, including citizens, legal residents and Nigerians in the diaspora, the Federal Government has extended the deadline of the exercise to the 31st of March, 2022. This extension would enable the Federal Government to consolidate the gains of the process and accelerate the enrolment of Nigerians in key areas like the remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, and the registration of legal residents,” the statement.

It added that the stakeholders have also applauded the Federal Government on the significant growth in the number of NIN enrolments and the increased drive to enlighten Nigerian Subscribers and legal residents across the country. “As of 30th December 2021, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over seventy-one million (71million) NINs with over fourteen-thousand (14,000) enrolment centres set up across the country,” it disclosed.

“Furthermore, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has also set up enrolment centres in over thirty-one (31) countries to cater for Nigerians in the Diaspora. The unprecedented growth in the National Identity Database to over 71 million unique NINs in such a short period, with about 3 to 4 SIMs linked to a NIN, reflects the concerted effort of the Federal Government, the Nigerian populace and legal residents and this is truly commendable.

“The Honourable Minister has, however, implored ATCIS the subscriber body and legal residents to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs during this period of extension as more services will be requiring the NIN for identification. He also reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in ensuring that the objectives of the exercise are achieved.

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1 January 2022