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  • Federal Ministry of Agriculture Honours Staff for Outstanding Performance

    Federal Ministry of Agriculture Honours Staff for Outstanding Performance

    Recently, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Auditorium in Abuja was the venue for an event where the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) recognized and honored 55 of its staff for their exceptional performance in implementing the Ministry’s policies and programs in accordance with the Federal Civil Services Strategic Implementation Plan (FCSSIP’25).

    Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, spoke at the event and explained that FCSSIP’25 was focused on improving capacity building, talent management, performance management, innovation, digitalization, and value proposition for public servants.

    The Minister emphasized that the current administration aims to provide dynamic and robust government policies to motivate and reposition public servants, ensuring efficient and effective delivery of services to Nigerians. Dr. Mahmood Abubakar also highlighted that the awards ceremony was not only meant to recognize and reward excellence but also to inspire all staff towards increased productivity in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification policy in the agricultural sector.

    He stressed that the agricultural sector’s growth and significant contribution to the non-oil sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rely heavily on the dedication of selfless, committed, innovative, and disciplined public servants responsible for formulating and implementing the Ministry’s policies and programmes.

    READ ALSO: Police Seizes Nearly 1000 Ilegal Weapons and Ammo

    The Minister shared that the Ministry has developed the Green Alternative, a part of the Agriculture Promotion Policy, to reposition the agricultural sector and boost the national GDP by creating wealth, reducing poverty, and generating employment opportunities for youths and women. Dr. Abubakar also reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to capacity development, providing regular in-house workshops and external sessions to enhance staff decision-making ability and customer service standards.

    The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, in his welcome address, explained that the program was part of the Ministry’s tradition and an annual event aimed at motivating and incentivizing staff for better performance. He also highlighted that the program aligns with the provisions of the Federal Civil Service Strategy Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP25).

    Dr. Umakhihe announced that the Ministry had identified and selected high-performing officers across Salary Grade Levels for the year. In her Vote of Thanks, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alade, the Director of Human Resource Management, encouraged staff to maintain their level of productivity as the introduction of the New Performance Management System would make the process more competitive. She also urged staff to sustain their efforts to enhance the Ministry’s scorecard.

    READ ALSO:Economists Laud Buhari’s Take on Old N200 Notes 

    The Ministerial award recipients included Dr. Yakubu Adam, Director of Procurement, Engr. Frank Kudla, Director of Extension Services, Dr. Imeh Umoh, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mrs. Kamilalu Kida, Director of Legal Services, Mr. Abubakar Adamu, Deputy Director of Finance and Account, Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Assistant Director of Information, and Mr. Yuguda Abubakar, Principal Photographer, Information, among others.

    The event included an award presentation to the staff and members of the Ministry’s Sport Club. The Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Education, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the National Coordinator, Servicom, among others, were in attendance.

  • Economists Laud Buhari’s Take on Old N200 Notes 

    Economists Laud Buhari’s Take on Old N200 Notes 

    Several financial analysts applaud President Muhammadu Buhari for permitting the use of the outdated N200 notes alongside the newly designed banknotes for a period of 60 days.

    From February 10 to April 10, when the old N200 notes no longer qualify as legal currency, the old N200 banknotes will be accepted in circulation alongside the new N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes.

    In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos, the financial gurus expressed their praise.

    They contend that the old N200 notes will still be used, which will lessen the pain of the majority of the poor people.

    The central bank should expand the availability of lesser denomination notes and raise the maximum cash withdrawal amount to at least N100,000, according to Prof. Uche Uwaleke, professor of capital markets at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

    READ ALSO: Police Seizes Nearly 1000 Ilegal Weapons and Ammo

    “More Point of Sale (PoS) machines should be procured, especially by petroleum marketers or petrol stations as many of it currently in use are malfunctioning.’’

    Prof. Hassan Oaikhenan of the Department of Economics, University of Benin Benin-City, also agreed that it would reduce the difficulties being experienced by Nigerians due to cash swap policy.

    “It will ease the suffering of the Nigerian people to the extent that they can at least transact business with the old N200 notes alongside the new denominations.

    “Meanwhile, by implication, the president is saying that N500 and N1000 old notes still remain unusable. The question is how does that tie in with the Supreme Court’s position? That all matters should be put on hold until the issue is determined?’’ he asked.

    The President’s comments, according to Dr. Boniface Chizea, Managing Director of BIC Consulting Services, were consoling and demonstrated empathy for the common people.

    “I think it’s a welcome development; the President is compassionate about the poor people and I think we can manage the N200 notes.

    “This will also accommodate one of the central thrusts of this exercise, which is to stop people from buying votes.

    He encouraged the top bank to take ownership of its part in the situation and make sure that bottlenecks were found and removed.

    READ ALSO: Giants of Industry: Adesola Falaiye, MD, AFKAR Printing and Publishing

    He said, “If the obstacle is because the Naira that they have printed and released into the system has been underestimated, then they should print more.’’

    A professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Akpan Ekpo stated that the decision to circulate the old N200 notes for another 60 days isn’t the solution to the yearnings of the poor mases.

    “The President’s position is not fully reassuring. He should allow the old denominated notes and the new notes to be used side by side. As the banks get the old notes, they keep them, and then later, the central bank can exchange them.

    READ ALSO: Customer Calls Out Interswitch, Wema Bank for Month-old Unresolved Failed Transaction

    “Allowing just the old N200 is just temporary, though it is something, but it won’t solve the problem of the poor people,” Ekpo said.

    According to NAN, some traders and small retail outlet owners expressed relief that the additional 60 days announced by the President would allow their business return to what it used to be before the announcement of the new Naira notes saga. Although, some of them vowed they will not collect any old notes from consumers.

  • Police Seizes Nearly 1000 Ilegal Weapons and Ammo

    Police Seizes Nearly 1000 Ilegal Weapons and Ammo

    Police seize nearly 1000 illegal weapons and ammo

    The top leadership of the Nigerian Police has rounded up thousands of weapons and rounds of ammunition across the nation.

    READ ALSO: Giants of Industry Adesola Falaiye, MD AFKAR Printing and Publishing

    The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Abuja received the cleaned-up weapons today.

    During an handing over event, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, pointed out that banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery are all fueled by small arms and light weapons across the nation as he attended the delivery of the rifles.

    READ ALSO: Customer Calls Out Interswitch, Wema Bank for Month-old Unresolved Failed Transaction

    Among the many weaponry given to the center were 265 automatic rifles and rocket launchers.

  • Giants of Industry: Adesola Falaiye, MD, AFKAR Printing and Publishing

    Giants of Industry: Adesola Falaiye, MD, AFKAR Printing and Publishing

    “Nigerian Paper Mills Exist Only in History Books, a National Economic Reflection”  

    In a post-COVID-19 era shock, the challenges facing businesses in Nigeria have not abated and still require doggedness and unshakable resolve to conquer variable impossibilities that confront executives in steering the wheels of their organisations to profitability.

    Moribund paper mills, high import tariff, and foreign exchange rate amongst others is the bane of Nigeria’s printing and publishing industry says the Managing Director of AFKAR Printing and Publishing Company Limited, Dr. Adesola Falaiye in a chat with Tobiloba Kolawole.

     

    The industry post-COVID-19

    COVID came, and then it was like everything was going to go down.  But going back to innovation, that’s where boys were separated from men.  In terms of management, we came up with a few innovations, like in the area of light packaging; you still need printing to produce light packaging products. So, we enhanced our participation in that line of our business.

    A lot of print magazines are no longer in circulation because now they circulate by soft copy. Most Nigerian publishers would also prefer to patronise foreign rather than Nigerian printers, but we are striving to work with as many publishers to produce school books as much as we can. Publishing works are still areas of prospect for printers, especially in this part of the world where you don’t have the technology and amenities to back online reading. The biggest consideration, however, is the economy. People’s purchasing power has dwindled because of the downturn in the economy. For example, now there’s no cash, and there’s no fuel.  So, it’s no longer about COVID now, it’s about the economy. Running a business or managing a business in Nigeria now is a big task because you have to be on your feet. You have to think of innovation, you have to think of a better way to do things.

    Doing business in Nigeria is quite turbulent; I’m a positive person, but sometimes you just have to be realistic.  In the printing business, 95% of our raw materials or consumables are imported. So, we are directly involved in foreign exchange fluctuation, inflation and import duties.

    READ ALSO: Giants of Industry: Gavin Young GMD/CEO, Chams PLC

    Meanwhile, when you bring in a complete book from outside the country…we signed on to a treaty called the Florence Treaty that says when you bring complete work to Nigeria, we don’t pay duties on it. But for everything we use to produce these works here, the paper, the inks, the chemicals, you pay duties on them. So, we’re operating in a very disadvantaged position.  But now, because it’s more difficult to even source for foreign exchange, people are looking more inward.

    Like we keep saying, our economy is consumer based rather than production based.  And when you consume, that means you deal a lot with foreign exchange and foreign exchange fluctuations directly affect your business. So, there are a lot of issues surrounding the business world generally and the printing and publishing business in particular. That’s where innovation comes in as a leader, ensuring to provide solutions for customers.  So, when you run a business, and you know that you are providing solutions, you know that whatever you do, you are thinking from that basis, and you do things to make your business work.  There’s always room to expand, there’s always room to close a section and open up another section, provided you are providing solutions, and you are meeting people’s needs. We’re trying to take it one day at a time and have a large share of the market.  And it’s not over until it is over.

    Made in Nigeria vs reality in the industry

    To make educational materials easily accessible to people, Nigeria had to sign into the Florence treaty.  So, publishers can bring in their finished books from Asia and other foreign countries free of duty while Nigerian printers have to pay heavy duties on raw materials and consumables.  So, we are not operating on an equal scale, we’re not operating on a leveled ground.

    It’s quite unfortunate because Nigerian businesses don’t support Nigerian businesses.  Why would you take your job outside and leave those you should support dry?

    Foreign organizations and publishers believe more in us than our local publishers. We have US customers based in USA, South Africa, Ghana because our quality matches what they want. So why would Nigerian publishers and print buyers take their jobs abroad when we can compete favourably with them. Like I keep saying, it should be all about competence.

    READ ALSO: Earthquakes Death Toll Rises in Syria and Turkey

    What is required to get the industry back on track?

    A total overhaul of the value chain. Number one, we don’t even produce paper in Nigeria. I don’t know whether you were taught about paper mills when you were maybe in primary or secondary school. Those things are in history books now. They have been grounded. All those equipment and machinery are wasted.  So, I think it’s a lack of will, It’s also our maintenance culture, It’s also we, the people.  Treat equipment and materials as if they are yours when you are in a leadership position. Run other people’s businesses as if they are yours. Don’t ruin businesses. We also need amenities, power and all resources.  Whatever is happening in the industry is a reflection of the total economy. So, the solution to the total economy is the solution.

    Elections as seasonal industry catalyst, what are the gains?

    I’m going to talk about INEC; I was part of a campaign train a few months ago. I was in my office when they came to record me, and we told them to print in Nigeria. When you are talking about quality, we have it. I just read a newsletter from the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) saying that they got some improvement there because INEC did some jobs in Nigeria. We (AFKAR) didn’t get a job, and my company is one of the companies paying the highest subscription to CIPPON.

  • Earthquakes: Death toll rises in Syria and Turkey

    Earthquakes: Death toll rises in Syria and Turkey

    On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan paid his first visit to regions affected by two devastating earthquakes that occurred earlier this week and left more than 19,000 people dead in Turkey and Syria. Many more people have suffered injuries.

    In the worst-affected provinces, Erdoan has proclaimed a state of emergency that will endure for three months. More than 30 countries’ worth of emergency response teams are still searching for lives beneath the rubble, and the World Health Organization announced that it had sent medical teams to assist with rescue operations. According to local media, the earthquakes in Syria have caused a displacement of close to 300,000.

    Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

    READ: Controversial Actor Accuses 2Baba of Not Giving Scholarship to Sound Sultan’s Children

    Here are some facts about the earthquake:

    • The magnitude-7.8 earthquake that slammed southeast Turkey early on Monday was the worst to strike the area in 80 years; a second earthquake of magnitude-7.5 struck hours later. There have been more than 650 aftershocks.
    • According to some estimates, the disaster might result in up to 20,000 fatalities and immediate economic damages of almost €1 billion.
    • The EU has promised to send both nations immediate help and humanitarian aid totaling approximately €6.5 million.
      Donations are also being requested by humanitarian organizations.
  • Customer Calls Out Interswitch, Wema Bank for Month-old Unresolved Failed Transaction

    Customer Calls Out Interswitch, Wema Bank for Month-old Unresolved Failed Transaction

    Lagos based integrated payments and digital commerce platform, Interswitch has been called out by a customer for incompetency over a failed transaction left unresolved for about a month.

    The customer, identified as Oluwatoyosi Sokeye on microblogging site, LinkedIn expressed frustration that the issue, which she described as “trivial” could remain unresolved for about a month.

    “Interswitch Group I have never seen more incompetency from any company other than yours. Your level of incompetence is very astonishing for a company such as yours. Please scrap your Quickteller as it is very very useless (sic).

    “A transaction done on the 22nd of December has not been rectified until now. Something that trivial is very very amazing that it can’t be solved” Sokeye lamented.

    While she blamed herself for patronizing the company, Sokeye demanded a quick resolution to the failed transaction carried out via the company’s Quickteller platform.

    READ: Earthquakes: Death Toll Rises in Syria, Turkey

    “I may not be significant and I don’t care but I would like the money I paid for a failed transaction to be reversed to my account as soon as possible”, adding that the company has lost a customer in her.

    Similarly, she accused Wema Bank Plc of negligence over the same transaction, which is believed to involve the two companies.

    “Wema Bank Plc I guess you people are already full and have now become too pompous to work on a failed transaction that happened at your end on the 22nd of December.”

    In a swift reaction, Interswitch Group, through its official account on LinkedIn responded to Sokeye promising to address her situation.

    “This is certainly not the nature of feedback we look forward to reading about our solutions and services, and for this experience, we apologize to you unreservedly.

    “Please rest assured that we are keen to get to the core of the issues and to make this right as soon as possible”, the company stated.

    While the company has resolved Sokeye’s failed transaction issue after about a month, the incident is one of many frustrating experiences faced by customers of financial and payments companies in Nigeria.

    According to a report published in August 2021, The Cable quoted Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele saying “commercial banks have refunded N89.2 billion to customers over various financial-related complaints from 2012 to June 2021.

    In a press statement titled– CBN Revises Timelines for Dispense Errors, Refund Complaints, published June 1, 2020, the apex bank mandated that failed “Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions,” when customers used their cards on their bank ATMs, would now be instantly reversed from the current timelines of three days.

    According to the statement, where instant reversal failed due to any technical issue or system glitch, the timeline for manual reversal should not exceed 24 hours.

    READ ALSO: Controversial Actor Accuses 2baba of not Giving Scholarship to Sound Sultan’s Children

    The June 2020 statement reads below:

    “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in its determination to further enhance service quality, particularly quick refunds when customers experience failed transactions, dispense errors or disputes, has revised timelines for reversals and/or resolution of refund complaints on electronic channels, with effect from June 8, 2020, as follows:

    1) Failed “On-Us” ATM transactions (when customers use their cards on their bank’s ATMs) shall be instantly reversed from the current timeline of three (3) days. Where instant reversal fails due to any technical issue or system glitch, the timeline for manual reversal shall not exceed 24 hours.

    2) Refunds for failed “Not-on-Us” ATM transactions (where customers use their cards on other banks’ ATMs) shall not exceed 48 hours from the current 3-5 days.

    3) Resolution of disputed/failed PoS or Web transactions shall be concluded within 72 hours from the current five (5) days.

    4) All banks are directed to resolve backlog of all ATM, POS and Web customer refunds within two weeks starting June 8, 2020”.

  • Controversial Actor Accuses 2baba of Not Giving Scholarship to Sound Sultan’s Children

    Controversial Actor Accuses 2baba of Not Giving Scholarship to Sound Sultan’s Children

    Award winning Afrobeats musician, 2Baba has been accused of not giving scholarships to children of late colleague, Sound Sultan, who died of lung cancer in the United States on July 11, 2021.

    Controversial Nollywood actor Uche Maduagwu made the accusation on Friday moments after the African Queen hit maker published a post on his @official2baba Instagram page, expressing how he misses Sultan – Lanre Fasasi.

    “Miss u madly AGuy, Celebrate u till I join u bro (sic)”, 2baba wrote.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CoNDL_xOVQI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Following this, Maduagwu, who is known for having penchant for attacking celebrities on one of the popular blogs to question why 2baba has not given scholarships to children of the late Motherland crooner.

    “Did you give his Pikin Scholarship? No be just to talk, let us assist his Pikin that is True love (sic)”, controversial Maduagwu wrote.

    However, fans responded to Maduagwu quesationing the grounds of his accussation.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CoNE__5NS1D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • Wield ‘freedom responsibly’, President Buhari tells Nigerian media

    Wield ‘freedom responsibly’, President Buhari tells Nigerian media

    On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, observed globally every May 3, President Muhammadu Buhari recommits to freedom of the press, and urges media professionals to wield freedom responsibly, and without licentiousness.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina noted that while celebrating the landmark day with the media, the President notes that freedom of the press is an irreducible minimum in a democracy that would flourish, adding that freedom must, however, be used responsibly.

    “That everything is permitted does not mean that there are no rules of correctness, particularly in a polity seriously challenged as ours now,” President Buhari says. “The media must be sensitive to what we are going through as a country, and anything that would exacerbate the situation, and further inflame passions and emotions, should be avoided.

    The media needs to ensure that while informing, educating, entertaining and setting agenda for public discourse, it does not encourage incendiary words and actions that could further hurt our unity in diversity.”

    Licentious freedom, the President says, is different from freedom with responsibility, and charges the Nigerian media to embrace the latter, rather than the former.

    On the part of government, President Buhari pledges greater cooperation with the media to discharge its duties, in line with the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, ‘Information as a Public Good.’

    He charges those who manage information for government to do everything in public interest, while also encouraging the media to use the Freedom of Information Act available to make its jobs easier.

    The President submits that it is very vital to have access to reliable information in an era of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, all to cause discord in society.

  • EFCC nabs 33 Internet fraud suspects in Abeokuta

    EFCC nabs 33 Internet fraud suspects in Abeokuta

    Thirty three suspected internet fraudsters have been apprehended in Abeokuta by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibadan Zonal Office.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the EFCC Spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed the arrest of the suspects in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ibadan.

    The suspects, accused of defrauding unsuspecting individuals through the internet were arrested by the operatives of EFCC on Tuesday at Adigbe, Oloke, Ibara Housing Estate Extension, and Idi Ori areas of Abeokuta, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the agency’s spokesman.

    Uwujaren stated that the arrest, followed actionable intelligence earlier received on the alleged criminal activities of the suspects, which led the operatives to making the arrests at different locations in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

    According to Uwujaren items recovered from the suspects include: 18 cars, mobile phones, laptops, and several other incriminating documents.

    The suspects are to be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.

  • More Relief Materials for Victims of Bandit Attacks in Niger State, Nigeria

    More Relief Materials for Victims of Bandit Attacks in Niger State, Nigeria

    • Government Working For Their Safe Return Back Home Sooner Than Later – Governor Bello

    Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to immediately provide relief materials to the victims of Banditry attacks following influx of more displaced persons from Chiro, Kuchi and Guni to IDP Camp in Gwada.

    In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Mary Noel Berje, the Governor said similar gesture should be extended to other IDP Camps in the state stressing that the urgent intervention is to alleviate their condition in these trying times.

    The Governor, while empathizing with the displaced persons, said security efforts are being intensified to bring an enduring solution to the incessant attacks by the Bandits.

    “Government is not unmindful of the precarious situation you found yourselves in, we are making frantic efforts to intervene and ensure that your communities are rid of those criminal elements and made safe for your return”.

    Governor Sani Bello, who acknowledged the fact that most of the displaced persons are predominantly farmers and needed to go back to their homes ahead of the coming rainy season, said the people will not be rushed into going back to their communities until ‘the Coast is clear’.

    The Governor called for calm and patience from the Internally Displaced Persons assuring that, sooner than later, they would all be safely returned home and reunited with their sources of livelihood.

    He also urged all the communities affected by Banditry activities in the state to cooperate with the joint Military Taskforce in the renewed but undisclosed tactical strategy that will comb-out the miscreants from their hideouts.

    “Once again I sympathize with the displaced persons and, as a government, the situation is regrettable and we are not resting on our oars until we are able to get you back to your homes to live your normal, productive lives”.