The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu says one million vulnerable households in Kogi State have benefited from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer as part of efforts to ameliorate the impact of the harsh economic situation in the country.
Edu disclosed this in Kabawa, a suburb of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, while fielding questions from journalists on Tuesday evening.
The Minister, who had earlier in the day officially kicked-off the Federal Government’s Grant for the Vulnerable, disclosed that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration was targeting lifting at least 50,000 000 people out of poverty within the next 42 months.
She pointed out that the Government was bringing on board the “end hunger program” which would help to renew the hope for the very poor and vulnerable people in the society.
“For the grant which was just given earlier today, the Federal Government was able to support the vulnerable and poorest of the poor in Kogi State.
“For the first batch, we have 10,000 beneficiaries, while the second batch will commence immediately. For petty traders across various homes, 1000 families have been given the needed support through their various channels, while others will get their intervention through their youth leadership, women groups and many more.
“The idea is that the Federal Government does not want to do programs that are not felt by the grassroots. The only essence of governance is to bring relief to the people.
“That is the reason for social protection. We are a government that is interested in the people. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is 100 percent committed to this course. We won’t rest on our oars until everyone that is expected to be reached out is truly reached.
“We are hoping that the support we have been able to give them today will help them grow their petty businesses and support their families, especially their children to go to school,”
Edu added.
The recent controversy over Nigeria’s 1,411 delegates at the ongoing COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, UAE, has raised serious concern about the current administration’s commitment to cutting the cost of governance amid rising inflation and economic hardship.
This is coming at a time the government has consistently appealed to the citizens to make sacrifices and endure the pains of the hardship in the country.
But the citizens say the government is not walking the talk.
DAILY POST reported that President Bola Tinubu arrived in Dubai with 1,411 delegates, according to the UN Climate Change list, making him the leader in Africa with the highest entourage and the third largest representation among global countries attending the conference.
Many Nigerians have criticised the high number of Nigerian delegates, the third highest at COP28, amid the economic suffering of millions of citizens due to government policies.
The development came amidst the administration’s recent claim that it inherited an ‘empty treasury’ and ‘bankruptcy’.
The claim followed public outcry over rising inflation, which has continued to bite harder, pushing more citizens into poverty, as cost of living and purchasing power shrink under the current dispensation.
This is also coming on heels of the report by the World Bank disclosing that Nigeria spent over 96 per cent of its revenue in 2022 on debt servicing as its total debt stocks rose to N87.38 trillion in the second quarter of 2023.
Before now, many Nigerians had called on Tinubu to follow up on his announcement that petrol subsidy is gone with measures to cut the outrageous cost of running the government.
However, despite the hardships faced by Nigerians, the government has not taken visible steps to reduce the cost of governance.
Instead, it recently allocated a staggering N5 billion for acquiring a presidential yacht, over N19 billion on state house vehicles, and renovating the President and Vice President’s lodges amidst untold hardship.
Reacting to the criticisms that greeted Nigeria’s high number of delegates to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the Presidency clarified that only a handful of the 1,411 Nigerian delegates were sponsored by the Federal Government.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and publicity, Temitope Ajayi, disclosed this in an article shared with newsmen on Sunday morning.
According to him, a bulk of the contingents comprised private sector players such as business people, Civil Society Organisations and delegates from Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta region.
“It is important to state here that delegates from all countries, whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups, attend COP summits and conferences as parties, and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin. This does not mean they are sponsored or funded by the government.
“This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must also be said that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not mean everyone who registered is physically present.
“As the biggest country in Africa, the biggest economy and one with a bigger stake in climate action as a country with a huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa,” part of the statement read.
However, on Monday, the federal government further clarified that it funded 422 delegates to the ongoing climate summit.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Monday, arguing that President Bola Tinubu and other officials were in Dubai for ‘serious business’ and not for jamboree.
Idris pointed out that “The overall Nigerian delegation to COP-28 consisted of Government-sponsored (Federal and State Governments) and non-government-sponsored participants (from Private Companies, Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, media, academia, etc).”
According to the breakdown: “32 delegates were from the National Council on Climate Change; 34 from the Federal Ministry of Environment; 167 delegates from All Ministries; 67 from the presidency; nine from the office of the Vice President; 40 from the National Assembly; and 73 from the Federal parastatals/agencies.”
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, via his X handle on Sunday tackled the administration over the development.
Obi lamented that the huge contingent was out at public expense when most Nigerians could hardly afford food and basic needs due to economic hardship.
According to him, most of those in the Nigerian delegation to COP28 were either non-relevant civil servants or relations, friends and hangers-on of high government officials, claiming they hardly understand or have anything to do with climate change.
The former Anambra State governor questioned why Nigeria matched China in the total number of contingents when it has more people living in ‘Multi-Dimensional’ poverty than China.
“This huge contingent is out at public expense at a time when most Nigerians can hardly afford food and basic needs as a result of economic hardship.
“I pray earnestly that a day will come soon enough when we can focus on competing with China on productivity and the miracle of migrating the highest number of its citizens out of poverty over a relatively short time.
“As we have kept emphasising, we must stop waste as a tradition of our government and nation. We urgently need to cut the cost of governance and invest in production.
“We need to de-emphasise unnecessary ceremony and showmanship as a mode of government behaviour. We need to tie spending to necessity and national Priority. A New Nigeria is possible. We only need to do the reasonable and the necessary,” Obi said.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also reacted by knocking President Bola Tinubu over what it termed an “over-bloated delegation of about 1,411 individuals to the Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates”.
PDP, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, held that the development further validated insinuation that “the Tinubu-led APC administration is wasteful, frivolous and reckless in the application of the scarce resources of the nation, especially at a time Nigerians are yearning for prudent management of resources to achieve the desired infrastructural regeneration, job creation and revamping of the economy”.
The main opposition party questioned why a country “whose citizens are dying daily from the inability to purchase necessities would be willing to fritter its resources and scarce foreign exchange in such a manner”.
According to PDP, Tinubu conveying many individuals to the event only “points to the fact that this administration is not interested in the good of the generality of our citizens but for a select few positioned to fleece the nation’s resources”.
The party challenged the Presidency to “come clean by making public the names of the official delegation sponsored by the Federal Government to the Conference”.
Speaking on the matter during the Arise Television Morning Show programme on Tuesday, a news analyst, Dr Reuben Abati faulted the statement issued by the Minister of Information.
Abati said he considered the minister’s statement ‘absolutely unnecessary, surplus to requirement’ because it contradicted the earlier statement issued by the presidential spokesperson.
‘‘This is a second reaction from the federal government. This first was by Mr Tope Ajayi, the special adviser. Then the second one by Mohammed Idris, the minister of Information.
‘‘I consider the response by the minister of information absolutely unnecessary, surplus to requirement because what is indicated is that the spokesperson in the villa is saying one thing and the minister is saying another thing.
“And there are contradictions in the statement by the minister. He said over 70,000 people are attending the COP28 when the organisers are saying over 97,000 people. Is it so difficult for the minister of information to get the right information?
‘‘And then, he does a breakdown – a breakdown that he has provided is different from the breakdown that the spokesperson at the Villa provided. And that is why I say, look, when you have a communication strategy and you have different spokespersons, what you just need to do is simple: as dictated by common sense, coordinate.
‘‘So, I have a problem with lack of coordination and giving the wrong impression.
‘‘What people are complaining about is the size of the delegation. And the minister comes and says, ‘it is not 590, it is just 422’. Okay, what is the difference between 422 and 590?
‘‘If people say it is 590 and you are adjusting and spinning it is 422, even 422 is quite large because what we have seen is that some of the people, as we reported yesterday, have not been seen in any significant event. Many of them did not even show up at the Nigerian pavilion,’’ Abati said.
Also, reacting to the development, the President of the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo, told DAILY POST that it was not proper for the government to sponsor such a large number of people to Dubai when not many could afford three square meals in the country.
Omotayo opined that if there is going to be sacrifice, it should be from the government including the executive, legislature and judiciary.
He said, ‘‘If the government says it is 422 persons, it is still on the high side. Why is the government sponsoring 422 persons to go to Dubai when an average Nigerian cannot afford three square meals?
‘‘The per capita income is going down everyday. We are now running an elitist government. It is not proper this time in the country. It is not only the masses… you continue saying ‘the masses should sacrifice’, ‘the masses should sacrifice’. It should be from the top, if there is going to be sacrifice, it should be from the top – from the executive, legislature, judiciary.
‘‘So, it is not that the people from the ruling party should continue to feast on the economy and they are advising the masses to continue to sacrifice. That means we have not actually got it right.
‘‘We hope that this government will look at it, try to curtail wasteful spending and take care of the public and guarantee our safety in this country.’’
Also speaking to DAILY POST, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo said that there was no moral justification for having such a number of delegates to the COP28.
According to him, the nation has a situation far more critical than climate change, lamenting about widespread poverty and hunger caused by mismanagement of national wealth.
Odo further advised the government to cut out frivolous expenses.
He said, ‘‘Yes. Truly, climate change is a critical global issue. We can’t pretend not to feel the impact when the Sahara Desert is rushing towards the Atlantic.
‘‘The question I have for the Nigerian government is, what is the stake of Nigeria in climate change that we had to fly more than 1000 people to Dubai when citizens find it hard to feed?
‘‘How many industries do we have running in the country?
“How do we contribute to carbon emissions when we have failed to harness our coals?
‘‘There is no moral justification for having that number of delegates to the COP28. This happens in a country where the government keeps urging the citizens to endure the economic hardship unleashed on them.
‘‘The most painful part is that there are names of individuals who obviously have never had anything to do with climate advocacy. That’s pure wastage in the face of languishing citizens. If the government encourages citizens to endure or have faith, they should also wear a human face.
‘‘My advice is that the government should start from now to cut down and cut out frivolous expenses. What will remain for development projects if we keep flying thousands and hundreds around to the world for one event or the other? Nothing.
‘‘Every action so far is calling on the leadership to retrace steps. Climate is an important course, we must pay attention to it.
“But as a nation, we have a situation far more critical than climate change. That situation is widespread poverty and hunger which originate from mismanagement of national wealth.”
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petiton has issued warrant of the arrest on the Central Bank Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein and 17 others for refusing to appear before it to answer questions on their operations.
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This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep Fred Agbedi (PDP-Bayelsa) at the committee’s hearing on Tuesday, December 05, 2023.
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Moving the motion, Agbedi said that the arrest warrant had become inevitable following the attitude of the invitees.
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He said that the parliament worked with time and the CEOs had been invited four times, but failed to respond.
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He said that the CEOs should be brought to appear before the committee by the Inspector General of Police through a warrant of arrest after due diligence by the Speaker, Rep Tajudeen Abbas.
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In his ruling, the Chairman of the committee, Rep Micheal Irom (APC-Cross River) said that the I-G should ensure the CEOs were brought before the committee on Dec. 14.
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Earlier, the petitioner, Fidelis Uzowanem, said that the petition was anchored on the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) report of 2021.
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He said that the report was a summary of the transactions in the oil and gas industry for 2021 which NEITI could to be challenged.
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“We took up the challenge to examine the report and discovered that what NEITI put together is a report is only consolidation of fraud that has been going on in the oil and gas industry.
Kashim Shettima has through his spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, defended the allocation of N15 billion for a new residence and challenged the charge of wastefulness by Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
He emphasized that the project’s roots trace back to the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, stating, “It was not originated by the present administration.”
Nkwocha accused Obi of attempting to tarnish Bola Tinubu’s administration, asserting that Obi deliberately ignored the project’s history to score political points. The spokesperson highlighted the project’s abandonment for over a decade, revealing the sorry state of the uncompleted building “overtaken by weeds and reptiles.” According to Nkwocha, the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, recognizing the wastefulness of abandoning a project funded by public funds, decided to revive the construction.
He challenged Obi’s characterization of the project as wasteful, urging “more cerebral Nigerians to crosscheck properly” and emphasizing the administration’s commitment to completing vital abandoned projects nationwide.
Nkwocha concluded by stating, “The array of abandoned Federal Government projects littered all over the country is a national embarrassment that the current administration has taken a bold step to save the country from.” He stressed that, completing existing projects remains a priority before initiating new ones, except in cases of strategic alignment or economic significance.
Kaduna Bombing: Everybody In The Chain Of Command Should Be Fired – NEF Member Calls For Resignation Of Army Top Brass
AdminA public affairs analyst and member of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Usman Yusuf, has demanded the resignation of military top brass over the accidental bombing that killed 85 villagers and injured several others at Tudun Biri village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday.
He lamented that it was an irresponsible development, adding that the military which ought to protect Nigerians against external threats was killing the people.
Yusuf shared his reservation during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.
He asserted that in other countries all military chiefs would have tendered their resignation letters over the accident
“They will all resign; everybody in the chain of command will be fired. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), everybody will go and the President will cut his trip and return home,” he said.
Speaking further, the NEF chieftain argued that a high-powered, independent committee headed by a retired CJN should be established to investigate the dire incident.
“The Army cannot investigate itself; there should be a high-powered, independent committee headed by a retired CJN (Chief Justice of Nigeria) and in there, there should be a service chief,” Yusuf said.
He said foreign countries would be hesitant about selling arms to the Nigerian military “when they are dropping it on our people”.
[NaijaNews]
There was righteous anger in Nigeria when the news broke that a mammoth crowd of 1,141 officials, enough to fill three plane-loads, were on their way to Dubai to represent the country at the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (COP28).
The thought of the cost of having that number of officials on that delegation was enough to make suffering Nigerians wonder, not just about the insensitivity of government, but also the sheer wasteful inclination of the ruling elite. Their rapacious proclivity to take advantage of any opportunity to further milk the nation dry leaves most of the citizens in awful dread.
That feeling of outrage was not helped, in any way, by the comment of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who claimed that the government sponsored “only” 422 officials. If he meant to assuage the disappointment of Nigerians with the seeming spendthrift propensities of this government, he surely did a terribly poor job of it. It would have been better he kept quiet.
Nigerians are still reeling over the billions spent by the National Assembly on bullet-proof cars, the N1.5 billion spent on cars for the office of the First Lady, the N5 billion on presidential yacht all from loans borrowed from foreign donor agencies with repayment terms that are asphyxiating the economy of the nation. Now the same people of Nigeria, who are barely existing, are being asked to yet bear with this needless jamboree.
We recall that in the United States of America under the presidency of Ronald Reagan, issues of national importance came up that required an interface between the White House and the House of Representatives. Tip O’Neill was the Speaker at that time. On the scheduled day, Reagan summoned the entire White House bureaucracy while the Speaker showed up with just his personal assistant. At the end of it, Reagan knew he met with the House of Representatives.
In making this reference, we are persuaded to argue that delegations to conferences of the nature that is going on in Dubai, or anywhere else, are not effective because of their number. It is not a competition. They are considered impressive by the quality of their representation. On that government team, 1,141 or 422, we can bet on our integrity that some of them will not leave their hotel rooms throughout the session except to go on shopping at the various malls in that enchanting Middle east country.
So as not to be misunderstood, any forum put in place to discuss issues relating to climate change is important enough to warrant the Nigerian government’s effective participation. By all means, it does not require that the whole country should be there to make the point. Or that the country needs to trivialize the event by bursting the treasury to finance such otherwise important international engagement.
Nigerians are clamouring for a lean government in order to reduce the cost of governance. It appears that this administration is either not paying attention to that demand from the people or it is indulging in benign neglect of the citizens who brought it into office. Whichever is the case, we are compelled to assert that a change of attitude is necessary at this time. Nigerians are going through excruciating pain just to eke out a living. The least they expect from their leaders is for them to demonstrate empathy. That feeling is lacking if the behaviour of the ruling political class is anything to go by.
The authorities cannot begin to give the impression that they are not aware that many youths are out of job; that the cost of living is unacceptably high with food security under severe threat; that inflation is at a level that is exceedingly harmful to the nation and; that security of life and property in the country is not guaranteed. These are issues that, under normal circumstances, ought to engage the attention of all the arms of government.
Also, we are of the opinion that the challenges in the country, security, socio-economic and political are so urgent and warrant that the leaders stay home and seek solutions to them. We are aware that the President needs to interact with his counterparts from other countries and that will entail appropriate travel schedules with adequate attention paid to cost. We are also aware that, as President, his first job is to govern the country in a manner that will justify the confidence reposed in him by the electorate.
If, indeed, he had to be at COP 28, he did not need that large contingent of hangers-on. We are using this platform to appeal to the administration, the President, in particular, to stay home and take charge of affairs. Similarly, we urge the administration to be more cost-conscious in these hard times. That large delegation to Dubai was decidedly ill-advised.
For the sake of it, we consider it pertinent to ask, what did Nigeria come back with from COP 27 to excite anyone to be part of COP 28?
[Leadership]
President Bola Tinubu celebrates elder statesman and founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, OFR, on the occasion of his 98th birthday.
The President joins the Yakasai family, friends and associates in celebrating the distinguished figure who has devoted his life to fight for the unheard masses of our country as well as for justice, the rule of law, and the enthronement of good governance and transparency in public service.
The President describes the elder statesman as a patriot and one of the noblest men in Nigeria’s history.
President Tinubu prays that this anniversary of Alhaji Yakasai's birth will bring fulfilment to the important causes the statesman has boldly fought for.
''May the good Lord grant the nonagenarian longevity and happiness,'' the President prays.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 5, 2023
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s loan-to-deposit ratio policy has compelled deposit money banks in the country to approve N2.63 trillion worth of consumer loans for customers.
This was revealed in the quarterly report of the CBN seen by THE WHISTLER.
The apex bank said the loan amount was achieved by the end of the second quarter of 2023. The loans were taken in the form of personal loans and retail loans.
The development shows a 12.2 per cent improvement in the approval of consumer loans, rising from N2.35trn in the first quarter of 2023 to N2.64trn recorded in the second quarter of 2023.
“Total consumer credit increased significantly by 12.2 per cent, to N2.63trn in the second quarter of 2023, compared with N2.34trn billion at the end of the preceding quarter,” CBN said.
The components of consumer credit revealed that personal loans accounted for the larger share, amounting to N1.92trn, representing 72.9 per cent of the total.
Retail loans accounted for 27.1 per cent which is an equivalent to N715.10bn.
According to the Central Bank, the improvement in the loans was due to its LDR policy which was instituted to increase lending to the real sector in order to grow the economy.
The CBN said, “Consumer credit improved owing to increased demand for personal loans and strengthened enforcement of the Loan-to-Deposit Ratio (LDR) policy.”
The LDR policy compels banks to issue 65 per cent of their deposits as loans.
The apex bank in October 2019 raised the Loan to Deposit Ratio of banks to 65 per cent. The Bank, however, extended the deadline of 65 per cent LDR to March 31, 2020.
… Experts Discuss Possible Challenges
There are indications that the Lagos State government will kick start the long-awaited 4th Mainland Bridge in the first quarter of 2024, THE WHISTLER understands.
Proposed in 2006, the project is expected to cost about $2.5 billion.
The proposed bridge is about 37 kilometres with a design speed of 140km and spans from Abraham Adesanya in Ajah to the North West towards the Lagoon shoreline of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway through Owutu/Isawo in Ikorodu.
It is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project. Upon completion, it is expected to be the longest bridge in Africa with three toll plazas, nine interchanges and a 4.5km Lagoon Bridge.
Apart from opening new areas of Lagos for future developments, the project is also expected to reduce traffic congestion on the existing Carter, Eko and Third Mainland Bridges.
However, the execution of the project may face some challenges. Lagos State government had in 2015 attributed the delay in the construction of the bridge to issues around compensation, because of the number of buildings along the right of way. And had to redesign it to avoid compensations running into billions.
According to Aramide Adeyoye, a former Special Adviser on Works to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, about 800 structures would be affected by the construction of the bridge.
Sanwo-Olu has about three and a half years to complete his tenure. And the 4th Mainland Bridge is one of the legacy projects he intends to complete.
Others are the 2nd phase of the Blue Line rail and Omu Creek Road, which are wholly Lagos State government projects.
Although the 4th Mainland Bridge is a PPP, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Gboyega Akosile, told THE WHISTLER that the government still has to put certain things in place to ensure smooth commencement of the project.
He explained that the project would have kick-started this year, but was shifted to next year because engineers were not yet done with the technical details.
“In actual fact, we thought that we could start the 4th Mainland Bridge this year. But because they (engineers) are still working on the technical details, we can’t do the turning of the salt this year. So it has to be next year. And I want to believe it would be first quarter of next year,” Akosile told THE WHISTLER.
“The 4th Mainland Bridge is a PPP model they’re working on. But the Blue Line – the second phase of it – it’s still going to be PPP, but it’s a wholly Lagos State government project. And the Omu Creek Road – that one is also a wholly Lagos State government project.”
Preferred Bidder
In December 2022, the state government announced Messrs CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium as the preferred bidder for the proposed bridge.
The state had in November 2019, called for bidders, with a total of 52 responses received. Out of this, 32 were responsive.
According to the former Special Adviser to Sanwo-Olu on PPP, Ope George, after the evaluation of the Request for Quotation (RFQ), six bidders were selected to progress to the Request for Proposal (RfP) phase with CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium being chosen as the preferred bidder.
“You will recall that the Lagos State government commenced a Competitive Bidding process for the selection of a Concessionaire, by the issuance of the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) on 27th of November, 2019. A total of 52 responses were received with 32 being responsive,” George had said during a briefing.
“Subsequently, a Request for Quotation (RFQ) was issued on 10th February 2020 to the 32 eligible applicants and responses were received on 15th April, 2020 with a total of 15 responses. Upon evaluation, six bidders met the criteria to progress to the Request for Proposal (RfP) stage”, he added.
George explained that while Messrs. CCECC-CRCCIG Consortium emerged as the preferred bidder, Messrs. Mota-Engil (Nigeria & Africa), CCCC & CRBC Consortium is the reserved bidder for the project.
The PPP agreement is a 40-year plan for the concessionaire to operate and maintain the bridge, in order to recoup investment on the project.
But this is not the first time significant progress had been made on the project only to be stalled. In May 2016, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a consortium of firms and finance houses comprising of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and Access Bank, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Westminster Dredging and Marine, J.P. Morgan, Hi-tech Construction Limited, Eldorado Nigeria Limited, and Visible Asset Limited.
However, the government announced in May 2017, that the deal had been cancelled, citing delay by the consortium to kick start the project as the reason for its decision.
$1.352bn Partnership With Afrexim, Access Banks
In October, Lagos secured a partnership deal with the African Export-Import Bank and Access Bank for an investment of $1.352 billion in the state.
The agreement was signed at the Africaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2023, held in Georgetown, Guyana.
The fund would facilitate Lagos’ various long-term infrastructure and investment projects, including the 4th Mainland Bridge.
Other targeted infrastructure projects to be financed with the fund are: Omu Creek Project, and the 2nd Phase of the LRMT Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.
“It was a significant moment in Guyana at the Africaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2023 as we’ve secured a partnership with the African Export-Import Bank and Access Bank for a massive investment of $1.352 billion in Lagos.
“This investment will power our long-term infrastructure projects, demonstrating confidence from international and local partners in our growing economy.
“As we move forward, this investment will help us realize key projects, including the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Omu Creek Project, and the 2nd Phase of the LRMT Blue Line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. We’re committed to creating a better future for Lagos and its people.
“Our vision for Lagos is becoming a reality with the Lekki-Epe International Airport and the Lagos Food Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe. These projects will further boost our economy and serve generations to come.
“The future of Lagos is brighter than ever,” Sanwo-Olu said via his social media handles.
Possible Challenges
A PPP expert, Dr. Chukwuma Katchy, identified two possible challenges the project may face.
The challenges, he said, are incapability of public sector to implement PPP projects and issues around bankability of the project.
“It will face both the challenges all projects face and challenges peculiar to PPP projects. One of the greatest challenges as a PPP project is lack of public sector capacity to implement PPP projects.
“Another major problem is bankability of the project. Bankability refers to a project being structured in a manner as to attract lenders to lend money to the project under project finance kind of lending,” Chukwuma told THE WHISTLER.
He recommended training for public officials that would be involved in the implementation of the project and constant engagement of the public through communication.
“It’s difficult to recommend from outside but my advise is that the public officials involved in the implementation be trained up to being certified by APMG as Certified PPP Professionals (foundation) minimum .
“Secondly, there should be greater public communication by constantly briefing the public every three months,” Chukwuma said.
Highlighting the positives under PPP arrangement, the retired commissioner of police said it reduces the government’s financial and administrative burdens in a project.
Emeka Ibe, a Managing Consultant at James Daniel Consulting, listed legal framework agreeable to the two parties and the macroeconomic environment as possible challenges.
“One of the major challenges of a PPP is to have a proper legal framework agreeable to the two parties.
“Secondly, the macroeconomic environment will always provide constant challenges,” Ibe told THE WHISTLER.
Touching on the positives under PPP arrangement for building of infrastructure, he said: “There are positives in any properly contracted PPP project, and the major one is that the government can realize its major project without necessarily providing the funding.
“Additionally, the private partner will provide its capital and expertise and will most likely complete the project on schedule.”
Ibe maintained that a properly designed PPP is mutually beneficial to all its stakeholders and should be supported.
Also speaking with THE WHISTLER, John Davie, the Chairman of an independent advisory group, Altra Capital, mentioned that PPPs have failed in Lagos in the past, citing Lekki-Epe Expressway PPP, which was awarded in 2003. While construction started in 2006, Davie said financial closure was not reached until two years after. He described it as a ‘classic mistake’.
He explained that because the state did not employ external, legal, financial or technical advisors for Lekki-Epe Expressway PPP, mistakes were made.
Davie, however, pointed out that Lagos has learned from its mistakes and has “proceeded very professionally” with the proposed 4th Mainland.
The author of “The PPP Book: Public Private Partnerships Unbundled”, described the engagement of KPMG as advisers for the project as a good decision.
He said: “PPPs involve long term liabilities. I believe in the 4th Mainland Bridge PPP involves a concession for around 40 years. Sizeable PPP projects require large private sector investments with both significant equity investment, which will be at risk, as well as long term debt. The overall financial commitment for the 4th Mainland Bridge will be around US$ 2.2bn. In a PPP structure the government does not usually provide the in initial construction cost.
“However PPPs have failed in Lagos in the past. By contrast the Lekki-Epe Expressway PPP, awarded in 2003, was undertaken prior to Nigeria’s PPP regulations. Construction began in 2006 before financial close which did not occur until 2008. That is a classic mistake. Lagos State Government provided a guarantee which was backed by Federal government.
“Unlike the new 4th Mainland Bridge PPP, Lagos State Government did not employ external, legal, financial or technical advisors and did not have a proper financial model for the project. There were many mistakes including government interference and indecision, all of which resulted in Lagos State Government having to buy out private sector. Anyone who has listened to the capacity building lectures which I have given over several year in Nigeria will know that this could all have been avoided.”
To ensure that PPP for infrastructure like the 4th Mainland Bridge works, Davie who is a visiting professor at the Guildhall School of Business and Law, London Metropolitan University, said it has to be well structured and regulated.
“Success requires a careful balance between risk and reward: PPPs that do not transfer risk, and thereby benefit from the private-sector’s risk-management capabilities, are likely to disappoint. So, the public sector must commission a very thorough and detailed feasibility study as a first step,” he said.
“With appropriate contract conditions and a sound procurement process a PPP for the 4th Mainland Bridge should be a success. Lagos State Government has addressed this project in a thorough professional and competent way.”
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party which sought the removal of Governor Hope Uzodimma from office.
The apex court also awarded a cost of N40 million against the legal team that represented the PDP for filing a frivolous suit.
Recall that the Supreme Court had adjourned to hear two separate appeals filed in 2020, seeking to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting in the 2019 Imo governorship election as well as remove Governor Hope Uzodimma from office.
The appeals were a fallout of two Supreme Court judgments delivered in late 2019 and early 2020 regarding the Imo 2019 election.
The apex court had disqualified Ugwumba Uche Nwosu from contesting the 2019 guber poll, observing he held double nomination of the All Progressives Congress and Action Alliance (AA).
In another judgment in 2020, the apex court sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the People’s Democratic Party and declared APC’s Uzodimma winner of the 2019 governorship election.
In another application, the PDP and Action People’s Party (APP) asked the apex court (in 2019) to interpret the effect of the judgment sacking Nwosu who held double nomination of APC and AA as well as enforce the verdict against the current governor of the state.
Ruling on the application on Tuesday, the apex court declined jurisdiction on the matter.
More...
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted nine trailers of parboiled imported rice worth over N872 million.
The NCS also said its Federal Operations Unit intercepted 5,459 bags of 50kg of foreign bags of rice in one month.
Addressing journalists, the comptroller of the unit, Mr. Hussaine Ejibunu, said there has been an increase in the smuggling of foreign rice due to the Yuletide season.
Ejibunu also said that the seizures reflect the commitment of officers to discharge their duties, protect the nation’s economy, and prevent the importation of prohibited and harmful products.
He said: “The strategic deployment of officers with intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations led to the arrest of a Toyota Highlander and the ingenious concealment of suspected bags of foreign parboiled rice at Iju-Ojuore, Ogun State.
“These seizures reflect our commitment to the discharge of our functions, aimed at protecting the nation’s economy and preventing the importation of prohibited and harmful products from entering our domestic markets.
“Other goods that were seized within November include 5,459 bags of 50kg of foreign bags of rice and 18,100 litres of premium motor spirit. 376 bales of used clothes 1,926 cartons of frozen poultry products 337 pieces of used compressors and 3 x 40-foot containers were found to contain 3,838 pieces of used tyres. 13 used vehicles (Tokunbo) and 396 cartons of frozen fish.”
Idris Dahiru, a resident of Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State says that 34 of his family members were killed in the Nigerian Army’s aerial bombardment Sunday evening.
Daily Trust reports that more than 90 villagers were killed when a Nigerian Army drone struck a gathering of residents commemorating Maulud. The, army, has however regretted the bombing, saying it was targeted at terrorists.
He said, “Our annual Maulud celebration was shattered by unexpected airstrikes. The first bomb exploded without warning, killing innocent people, including women and children, some victims were torn apart by the blast,” Dahiru told BBC Hausa.
“As we rushed to aid the injured, the jet returned, unleashing a second bomb, this time, many of those who had come to help were among the casualties.
“My family alone has lost 34 members in this tragedy. We have 66 loved ones receiving medical care at Barau Dikko hospital,” he added.
[DailyTrust]
The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to be issued a certificate of return as the rightful governor of Imo state.
In a ruling read by Justice Tijjani Abubakar on Tuesday, December 5, the apex court held that Ihedioha’s application lacked merit and was unnecessary and vexatious.
The court also awarded N40 million in costs against Ihedioha’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, for bringing the matter before the court.
The ruling effectively upholds the Supreme Court judgement of January 14, 2020, which nullified Ihedioha’s election and declared Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Imo state.
Details shortly…
[TheNation]
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, on Tuesday, raised the alarm that most departments and units in Nigeria’s public universities were short-staffed due to the resignation of lecturers in search of greener pastures.
The Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter of ASUU, Prof. Ayo Akinwole, who disclosed this in Ibadan, Oyo State, said Nigeria’s public universities were in very pitiable conditions with stress and frustration visible in the faces of poorly-remunerated lecturers.
He said, “Except President Bola Tinubu arrests the situation by reviewing the conditions of service in terms and salaries, allowances, and infrastructure, many good hands will continue to resign and leave the country. Unfortunately, the same government that is not funding education has a National Assembly proposing to establish 32 more universities.”
The chairman said poor and delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, poor infrastructure, lack of respect for the academic community, and the seeming dwindling hope are some of the factors responsible for the resignation of lecturers in the past few months.
Akinwole suggested that establishing more universities will not solve the problem, but rather improve the capacity of existing universities to be able to admit more students.
“The union has received reports on how colleagues resign on a monthly basis because of the way lecturers are treated and poorly remunerated in Nigeria. Universities around the world are poaching more quality hands, and if not halted by the government, through intentional reviewing of upward conditions of service, it will be difficult to retain the best hands.
“Vice Chancellors can not single-handedly employ to replace staff as urgent as it is needed again. They have to contact Abuja for approval, which may take six months to a year, if not more, before they get approval. By this time, the best candidate has gone to a more serious country that respects quality. Sadly, people from higher up there from the Ministry of Education to legislators themselves want to dictate who the universities should employ,” the don said.
[Punch]