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  • FG Begs Chinese Firm To Employ More Nigerians

    FG Begs Chinese Firm To Employ More Nigerians

     

    The federal government has urged the management of China’s health product manufacturing company, Longrich Industries, to train more Nigerians in its artificial intelligence company being constructed in Lagos.

     

    Nigeria’s Consul General to China, Chimezie Okeoma Ogu, while making the plea when he paid a visit to Xu Zhiwei, Chairman of Longrich industries, explained that the gesture would promote and boost bilateral cooperation between both countries.

     

     “This would assist the Federal government’s efforts to address unemployment problem in the country. Longrich products are very popular in Nigeria. Every Nigerian family has Longrich products, and the country serves as the biggest market for the company in Africa and next to China in the world. The presence of the company in Nigeria has offered job and business opportunities to young men and women, who before now were jobless.

     

    “The introduction of the company’s novel network of marketing strategy has made many Nigerians financial stable and millionaires. Longrich can develop more excellent products to meet the needs of the Nigerian market. With the establishment and construction of Longrich industry in Lagos, it has given opportunity to the transfer of technology and skill. This is the new focus of the present administration in its  drive for  Foreign Direct Investment with its international partners,” Ogu submitted.

     

    In his response, Chairman of Longrich Industries, Xu Zhiwei, said as part of  the company internationalization strategy, the management  has signed a contract with Nigeria’s Lekki Free Trade Zone  in Lagos state through the construction  of 40,000-square-meter production line, to become the first artificial intelligence factory along the “Belt and Road” in Nigeria.

     

    “This is an important step for the realization of the national “Belt and Road” initiative by Chinese enterprises. The project will not only provide Longrich overseas branch with comprehensive large supply chain, product guarantee, import and export, customs clearance and other overall services, but will also provide  all important local brands in Nigeria, as well as the entire African market,” Xu Zhiwei said.

  • Twitter Has Reached Out To Us For ‘High-Level Negotiation,’ Says FG

    Twitter Has Reached Out To Us For ‘High-Level Negotiation,’ Says FG

     

    The Federal Government says the management of tech giant, Twitter, has reached out for dialogue.

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council.

     

    He said Twitter reached out to the Federal Government on Wednesday morning for ‘high-level discussion.’

     

    He declared that the ban has so far been very effective following reports of Twitter’s huge financial losses running into billions.

     

    The Information Minister maintains that Twitter has been a platform of choice for separatists to thrive and would be disallowed from operating until it is duly registered, licensed, and operates within regulations.

     

    When the Minister was asked about the law under which Nigerians who violate the Twitter ban would be prosecuted, Lai refrained from answering and asked that the Attorney General of the Federation provide answers.

     

    Speaking concerning the discussion at the FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, Mohammed insisted on the ban and asked politicians to rise beyond various divisions and queue behind the country’s decision to ban the microblogging site.

     

     

    – Tax Payment and Registration –

     

    Minister Lai Mohammed also spoke concerning the payment of tax by tech giants in the country.

     

    He explained that most of the OTT and social media platforms operating in Nigeria do not have offices either do they pay taxes for the billions earned.

     

    Henceforth, the Federal government has resolved to ensure other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram be registered in the country and adverts have been published to this effect.

     

    The information minister, despite criticism by Human Rights groups, insists that freedom of speech has not been stifled as a result of the ban.

     

    He maintained that other social media platforms are still available for use. 

     

  • FG, Twitter in Talks Over Suspension

    FG, Twitter in Talks Over Suspension

     

    The Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, on Monday, confirmed that Nigeria is in discussion with Twitter over suspension of its operations in Nigeria.

     

    Leonard said this during a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, ambassadors and representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and the EU in Nigeria.

     

    Onyeama had said the suspension of Twitter was in the interest of national security and peace.

     

    He stressed that the objective of the ban was to advocate for a responsible use of social media platforms that would not destabilize the peace and unity of the country.

     

    Reacting, Leonard thanked the Minister for inviting them for the meeting and expressed satisfaction that the federal government and Twitter were in talks.

     

    She said the representatives were Nigeria’s strong partners on issues of security and they recognise the daunting task on the issues of security that confronts the country.

     

    “We recognise that there are issues of irresponsible use of social media, but we remain firm in our position that free access to the ability to express self is very important and perhaps more important in troubled times,’’ NAN quoted her as saying.

     

    She said many of the things Onyeama referred to, including incitements and violence, were crimes the Nigerian government had legitimate right to prosecute.

     

    Leonard urged the federal government to use its judicial processes within the scope of respect for human rights and the rule of law to restrain such behaviours. 

  • Telcos Finally Block Twitter Following FG’s Order

    Telcos Finally Block Twitter Following FG’s Order

     

    Telecoms operators in Nigeria have blocked Twitter in Nigeria, a day after the Federal government announced its indefinite suspension.

     

    Twitter users in the country woke up on Saturday unable to access the microblogging websites while some navigated the hurdle using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

     

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), an industry group, confirmed it had received directives from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter.

     

    The President of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

     

    Mr Adebayo noted that the association wished to confirm that its members had received formal instructions from NCC, the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter.

     

    “ALTON has also conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles.

     

    “Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with the directives of NCC, the industry regulator.

     

    “We will continue to engage all relevant authorities and stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the NCC, ” Mr Adebayo said.

     

    He said the association remains committed to supporting the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.

     

    He, however, said as an industry, ALTON endorsed the position of the United Nations that the rights held by people offline must also be protected online.

     

    He noted that this included respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications.

     

     

    Civil War Tweet

     

    The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter in the country.

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

    announced the suspension in a statement issued by his office in Abuja.

     

    He cited the persistent use of the platform for activities that are “capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

     

    The Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

     

    The government had announced the suspension barely 48 hours after the microblogging site deleted a post by Mr Buhari referencing the country’s civil war, and threatening to treat those attacking government buildings “with the language they understand.”

     

    His comments received condemnation from Nigerians.

     

     

     

    -‘Repressive action’ –

     

    Amnesty International on Friday condemned the move, calling on Nigeria to “immediately reverse the unlawful suspension”.

     

    “This repressive action is a clear attempt to censor dissent & stifle the civic space,” Human Rights Watch researcher Anietie Ewang said.

     

    Twitter said that the move was “deeply concerning”.

     

    “We’re investigating and will provide updates when we know more,” the company said in a statement.

     

    The UK’s deputy high commissioner in Nigeria, Gill Atkinson in reaction to the suspension said “any action taken by government must be measured, proportionate and not suppress basic freedoms.”

     

    Nigeria in 2019 had announced it would tighten regulations on social media to fight fake news and disinformation, sparking concerns over freedom of expression.

     

    Several countries including China and Turkey have come under fire for putting restrictions on social media platforms such as Twitter.

     

    In February Twitter condemned Myanmar for blocking access to its platform as part of a crackdown on social media, days after a coup that saw Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders jailed.

     

  • BREAKING: FG Suspends Twitter’s Operations In Nigeria

    BREAKING: FG Suspends Twitter’s Operations In Nigeria

     

    The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, by Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant To The President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture.

     

    The FG claims the suspension was due to “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

     

    The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

     

  • NLC To Take Decision On Govs’ N408/Litre Petrol Proposal Today As Experts Warn FG

    NLC To Take Decision On Govs’ N408/Litre Petrol Proposal Today As Experts Warn FG

     

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will today (Friday) come up with its position on the recommendation by governors that the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, be raised from N162/litre to N408.5/litre.

     

    A committee set up by the Nigeria Governor’s Forum had on Wednesday called for immediate removal of petrol subsidy. It recommended a petrol price of between and N380/litre and N408.5/litre.

     

    However, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday advised the Federal Government to be tactful when removing petrol subsidy. They recommended that it be done gradually.

     

    Also, officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation told our correspondent that the oil firm was awaiting the Federal Government’s position on the recommendation of the governors before it would adjust petrol price.

     

    NNPC has been the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria for more than three years running.

     

     When contacted by our correspondent on Thursday for the position of the NLC on the latest recommendation of the governors as touching petrol price, the Deputy President, Joe Ajaero, replied, “Congress will come up with a position latest tomorrow (Friday).”

     

    Officials of both the NLC and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers in separate exclusive interviews had last week argued that the continued imports of petrol by the NNPC was at the detriment of Nigeria’s refineries.

     

    They also insisted that the government should fix Nigeria’s refineries and stop importing petrol to help halt subsidy and save funds for the country, as they opposed subsidy removal now.

     

    Commenting on the matter, the President, ACCI, Dr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said in an interview that it would be painful to raise petrol price to N408/litre this time and called for gradual increment.

     

    He said, “The subsidy removal can be staggered. They (government) can stagger it by either removing about 25 per cent in the first three months, another 25 per cent next, and so on. They can stagger it.

     

    “But as they remove the subsidy people will also want to see the benefits coming.”

     

    Abubakar said the ACCI was in support of subsidy removal, but stressed that the amount saved must be properly channeled into infrastructure development.

     

    On his part, the Director-General, LCCI, Dr. Muda Yusuf, explained that the inevitability of the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector had not been in doubt.

     

    He said given the huge financing gaps that existed at all levels of government, it was impossible to continue to sustain the subsidy regime, adding that the opportunity cost of petrol subsidy was huge.

     

    Yusuf said, “But the transitioning process from a subsidy regime to a deregulated policy space calls for a strategy that is inclusive and socially sensitive.

     

    “It is a tricky situation that demands tactful handling. It has profound social dimension. There is a strong economic argument, there is significant investment effect and there is a potential substantial political cost.”

     

    The LCCI DG, however, noted that the bigger conversation should be around what should be done to mitigate the short term adverse social effect on the vulnerable segments of the society.

     

    The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Kennie Obateru, told our correspondent that the oil firm would await the Federal Government’s position on the governors’ recommendation before changing petrol price.

     

    He said, “We really cannot take a position on that now because we don’t want to pre-empt whatever government is going to decide and it is whatever the Federal Government decides that will come to play.

     

    Obateru said the corporation was aware of the recommendation by the governors and admitted that petrol subsidy had truly been a burden on NNPC.

  • FG Set To Merge MDAs, Slash Personnel Cost, Says Finance Minister

    FG Set To Merge MDAs, Slash Personnel Cost, Says Finance Minister

     

    The Federal Government is set to merge some of its ministries, departments and agencies and cut personnel cost as part of measures to reduce cost of governance.

     

    Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, gave the hint on Tuesday at the ongoing ‘National Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Cost of Governance in Nigeria’ held in Abuja.

     

    It was organised by the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC).

     

    The minister said the FG would also remove some items from the budget in order to reduce government’s expenditure.

     

    She said that the measure had become imperative because “we still see government’s expenditure increase to a terrain twice higher than our revenue.

     

    “We need to work together, all agencies of the government to cut down our cost. We need to cut down unnecessary expenditure; expenditure that we can do without.

     

    “Our budgets are filled year in year out with projects that we see over and over again and also projects that are not necessary. “Mr President has directed that the salaries committee that I chair, work together with the Head of Service and other members of the committee to review the government payroll in terms of stepping down on cost.”

     

    She also said government agencies with the same mandate would be merged.

     

    The Steve Oronsaye Committee on restructuring of government MDAs submitted its report many years ago but had not been implemented due to lack of political will.

     

    Chairman of the ICPC, Mr Bolaji Owasanoye, identified the cost of governance as a major “driver of corruption in Nigeria”.

     

    He said that “payroll padding” and the “phenomenon of ghost workers” were clear cases of corruption and bloated personnel cost of the MDAs.

  • FG Finally Bows To ATCIS’ Pressure, Lifts Ban On Activation of New SIMs

    FG Finally Bows To ATCIS’ Pressure, Lifts Ban On Activation of New SIMs

     

    In line with the persistent agitations by the Association of Telephone, Cable and Internet Subscribers, ATCIS, the Federal Government has lifted the ban on new Subscribers Identification Module (SIMs) card registration, as it fixed Monday, April 19, 2021 as the effective date for implementation.

     

    The latest development was contained in revised National Digital Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

     

    The government however placed NIN registration as mandatory for registering new SIM cards.

     

    A statement by Technical Assistant (Information Technology) to Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Femi Adeluyi, reads in part: “The implementation of the Policy will commence on Monday, 19th of April 2021.

     

    “The issuance of New SIMs and other suspended activities will resume on the same date, as long as verification is done and the guidelines are fully adhered to.

     

    “The Minister has also directed NCC and NIMC to ensure that the provisions of the Policy are strictly followed by all operators and subscribers.

     

    “The Policy includes Guidelines on New SIM Acquisition and Activation, SIM Replacement, New SIM Activation for Corporates and Internet-of-Things/Machine-to-Machine (IoT/M2M), amongst others.

     

     “The possession of a National Identity number will be a prerequisite for each of these categories. For the Corporate registration, institutions will be required to appoint a Telecoms Master (at the minimum of an Executive Management level) to provide the operational Primary NIN representation.

     

    “The Telecoms Master will also be responsible for ensuring that the users provide their NINs to serve as a Secondary NIN.

     

    “For IoT/M2M activations, SIM security protocols would be implemented on the SIM profile to ensure that SIMs can only be used for point to point data services specific to the URL they are working with. All other services will be barred.”

     

    Reacting to the development, the ATCIS National President, Hon Sina Bilesanmi lauded the federal government for listening to the voices of the subscribers by ending the ban which he said would also go a long way in ending the suffering of Nigerian youths.

     

    The association, he noted, had written several memos to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy on the need to reverse the ban as the suspension of new SIM cards registration had in the last four months rendered over two million youths jobless across the country thereby worsening the security challenges the government was trying to address.

     

    While reiterating that more than 10 billion in revenues have been lost by the telecoms partners in last four months, Bilesanmi noted that over 1 billion in VAT and withholding tax has also been lost by the Federal Government due to the policy.

     

    Specifically, several Nigerian citizens have been subjected to hardship due to miscalculated policies of the NCC as majority of the telecoms business partners, staff and the agents are within the age bracket 20 to 40 years, while income in the value chain is determined by the number of activations /SIM registration carried out within every month, hence leaving them jobless for too long.

    .

    The ATCIS President also reiterated his call on the Federal Government especially the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to always invite the association to meetings before critical decisions are taken.

     

    “It is very important for the minister to always call us to meetings. We are the representatives of the Nigerian subscribers. Our inputs are also critical to the development of the ministry especially in terms of digital economy,” Bilesanmi said.

     

    Meanwhile, the ATCIS President said due to the latest development whereby the registration and activation of new SIM cards is expected to commence on Monday, April 19, 2021, the association’s Success Stories Press Conference earlier scheduled to hold on same day in Lagos, has been postponed.  

     

    According to him, the ATCIS Success Stories Press Conference would now hold on Monday May 3, 2021.

     

    The ATCIS is the umbrella body of telephone, cable and internet subscribers in Nigeria cutting across the six geographical areas of the nation.

     

    Speaking on determination of the association to continue speaking and fighting for the rights of Nigerian telephone and cable subscribers, Bilesanmi said over the years, in its sustained effort in protecting the interest and right of telecoms subscribers in Nigeria, ATCIS has spent about N367million since 2014 till 31st January, 2021which has basically been on self-sponsored by members without government agency like NCC, NBC and NIMC input.

     

    The association has made over 630 newspaper publications, both local and international as well as online news publication, Radio and National Television Station Interviews with about 95 landmark achievements so far.

     

  • FG Orders Immediate Resumption of Domestic Flights Catering Services

    FG Orders Immediate Resumption of Domestic Flights Catering Services

     

    Catering services, hitherto suspended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic are to resume on domestic flights immediately, the Federal Government declared on Monday.

     

    Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, disclosed this at the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

     

    He said the decision was taken in consideration of the businesses involved in the provision of in-flight refreshments who had been adversely affected by the suspension.

     

    A statement issued in Abuja by the aviation ministry’s Director, Public Affairs, James Odaudu, stated that the minister, however, noted that modalities and protocols for the resumption of the services would be worked.

     

    Sirika said the modalities would be rolled out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and would be in line with international practices.

     

    He also reiterated the plan to resume international flight operations at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and the Port Harcourt International Airport.

     

    According to him, members of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 would be visiting the airports for simulation exercises to ascertain their readiness for international operations.

     

    Sirika also stated that a technical working group comprising of agencies involved in the facilitation of passengers had been set up ahead of the planned resumption of international operations at the facilities.

     

    He said the working group would ensure that all standards required for seamless operations at the airports were put in place for the resumption of international flights.

     

    On the suspension of Emirates Airlines operations in Nigeria, Sirika said discussions were on to resolve the issues involved.

     

    He, however, restated the country’s position on the impropriety of the extra COVID-19 tests the airline was demanding of Nigerian travellers.

  • FG Enters Agreement With Benin Republic To End Rice Importation

    FG Enters Agreement With Benin Republic To End Rice Importation

     

    The federal government and the Republic of Benin have entered an agreement to end the importation of rice across West African countries.

     

    This agreement was announced at the end of a meeting between a delegation from Benin, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and Ibrahim Gambari, the chief of staff to the president, in Abuja on Tuesday.

     

    The meeting was to solidify the agreements and tap from Nigeria’s experience in reviving rice production.

     

    Representatives of RIFAN recently visited Cotonou, Benin capital, to sign a memorandum of understanding on how the association will help the country boost its local rice production.

     

    The delegation was received by President Patrice Talon in his residential house in Cotonou along with his minister of agriculture and foreign affairs.

     

    Addressing state house correspondents after the meeting, Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, explained that the meeting was to advance ongoing talks between the two countries on how to replicate Nigeria’s rice farming programme in the Benin Republic.

     

    “Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria met with the chief of staff to the president to progress the discussion which has been going on between them and the Benin Republic for the two countries to replicate the success of Nigeria’s rice farming programme in Benin, so that we can stop rice importation in West Africa in shortest possible time,” Bagudu said.

     

    “This is a partnership within the framework of ECOWAS agreement and the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement and our brotherly relationship between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Patrice Talon who have the vision that we can be greater together.”

     

    Speaking on what Nigeria intends to offer the Francophone country, Aminu Goronyo, national president of RIFAN, said: “Of course, they are our sister country, we are one and the same people and I think their president is ready to accept what we have used to achieve this success which is the government’s will because our success is related with the political will that this government has”.

     

    “And that is exactly what they want to learn so that they will use the same approach to attain the successes they are seeing to come to us to learn more.”

     

    During the delegation visit in Cotonou, Talon had said the closure of Nigerian borders served as an eye-opener and as such, the country was ready to work with Nigeria to stop the smuggling of rice.

     

    The land borders were closed in August 2019 to curb the smuggling of hard drugs and arms and agricultural products from neighbouring West African countries.

     

    TheCable’s analysis of the data provided by the Thai Rice Exporters Association showed the  rice exports to neighbouring West African countries increased after the Central Bank of Nigeria announced that it would no longer provide forex for rice importation.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that the borders be reopened on December 16, 2020.