Energy Chamber strengthens quest for enabling environment with key appointments

By

-

August 4, 2020

A screenshot of Africa Energy Chamber website banner.

African Energy Chamber has announced the appointment of some prominent experts in the oil and gas industry into its Regulatory Affairs Committee to serve on its Advisory Board for 2020 and 2021.

The experts so appointed include: Regional CTO, Strategy and Innovation at Microsoft, Jovita Nsoh; Associate Attorney, Centurion Law Group, Oneyeka Ojogbo; Managing Director, Africa Oil & Gas Limited, Nicolas Bonnefoy; President/CEO, WTD Resources LLC, Bill Drennen; Managing Director/CEO, Ocean Deep Drilling ESV Nigeria Limited (ODENL), Chijioke Akwukwuma; and Bruce Falkenstein of Upstream Advisory and Consulting.

The committee would be central to the chamber’s policy advocacy and advisory efforts across the continent to provide an enabling business environment for investors and entrepreneurs.

READ ALSO:

How we spent N500m on school feeding programme during lockdown – Minister

Members of the Regulatory Affairs Committee act in their personal capacity and gather decades of experience within the public and private sector, with a strong legal expertise of African and global energy markets.

“African markets must stay competitive and must do better at attracting investment and respecting the sanctity of contracts.

“From adopting progressive local content legislation to implementing better fiscal regimes, African energy markets must seize the opportunity offered by the global pandemic to review their existing frameworks, keep what is working and amend what is slowing down the pace of investment in the continent,” said the Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber, Nj Ayuk.

READ ALSO:

Air Peace admits 40% salary cut, silent on sacked pilots figure

Given increasing competition for investment and challenging market conditions, the right to adopt market-driven policies and promote an enabling business environment across Africa is greater than ever.

Acting as the link between the public and private sector, the African Energy Chamber strongly believes that a recovery from the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic would require a stronger emphasis on market-driven policies, investors-friendly environments and regulations that embrace digitisation so African markets could compete for capital and technology globally.

Idowu Sowunmi

Inline1

Air Peace admits 40% salary cut, silent on sacked pilots figure

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 4, 2020

0

The management of Air Peace has admitted that it has taken “a very painful but rightful decision” to sack some of its pilots in the circumstances the airline has found itself, but failed to disclose the actual number of affected pilots.

The airline said the devastating effects of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had taken toll on its operations and financial health and this had led to the decision “to terminate the employment of some of its pilots.”

There were reports that Air Peace had sacked about 70 pilots over salary disputes.

Air Peace argued that the “decision was taken for the greater good of the company and its almost 3,000 workforce, the affected pilots inclusive.”

READ ALSO:

How we spent N500m on school feeding programme during lockdown – Minister

“The airline cannot afford to toe the path of being unable to continue to fulfill its financial obligations to its staff, external vendors, aviation agencies, maintenance organisations, insurance companies, banks and other creditors hence the decision to restructure its entire operations with a view to surviving the times.

“The decision is a reflection of the negative impact of the pandemic on airlines and aviation worldwide. We are in trying times.

“Even the biggest airlines in Europe, America, Middle East, Asia, Australia and, indeed, Africa, are all either slashing jobs and cutting salaries in order to remain afloat or are shutting down.

“Air Peace is not immune from these challenges,” the airline said.

Air Peace added that the pandemic has hit every airline worldwide so badly that it has become very impossible for airlines to remain afloat without carrying out internal restructuring of their costs.

Air Peace said: “Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period. Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff.

“The new salaries reflect a 0%-40% cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff. Even after the cuts, it was obvious that for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to go.

“Air Peace has never, for one day, ever owed salaries to its workers in its almost six years of existence, pilots inclusive. Rather the management of Air Peace has always been known to be increasing salaries of its employees periodically without being prompted by staff.

READ ALSO:

Israeli fighter jets strikes Syria military targets

“In fact, in one fell swoop, Air Peace increased the salaries of pilots by over 100 per cent in one day! Our salaries have always been paid even before the end of the month in the last five years!”

While noting that it loved its staff, Air Peace said its “decision is inevitable under the circumstances” it found itself.

“In order to protect the continuity of majority of the existing jobs and the possibility of creating new ones in future, the survival of the airline is of paramount importance. When everything comes back to normal those pilots affected today will have a place to come back to in future if they so wish,” the airline said.

Idowu Sowunmi

Inline1

How we spent N500m on school feeding programme during lockdown – Minister

By

Abuja Bureau

-

August 4, 2020

0

Sadiya Farouq HONORABLE-MINISTER-AT-THE-NHGSFP — File Photo: Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD), Sadiya Farouq with some pupils.

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government Monday said it expended about N523.3 million on school feeding programme during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-induced lockdown.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD), Sadiya Farouq, while speaking at the Presidential Taskforce briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.

Explaining that ‘Take Home Rations’ under the modified Home Grown School Feeding programme was not a sole initiative of MHADMSD, the minister said each ration was valued at N4,200 and that the figure was arrived at after proper consultation.

Farouq noted that the figure was generated from statistics provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).

READ ALSO:

COVID-19: President Buhari donates N67M PPEs to Sao Tome and Principe

“According to statistics from NBS and CBN, a typical household in Nigeria has 5.6 to six members in its household, with three to four dependents.

“So, each household is assumed to have three children.

“Based on the original design of the Home Grown School Feeding programme, long before it was domiciled in the ministry, every child on the programme receives a meal a day.

“The meal costs N70 per child.

“When you take 20 school days per month, it means a child eats food worth N1,400 per month.

“Three children would then eat food worth N4,200 per month and that was how we arrived at the cost of the ‘take-home ration.’

“The agreement was that the federal government will provide the funding while the states will implement.

“To ensure transparency in the process, we partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) as technical partners,” the minister said.

Farouq added that her ministry invited government agencies like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS) and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to monitor the process.

“TrackaNG monitored and gave daily updates validating the programme.

“In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 29,609 households were impacted, 37,589 households in Lagos and 60,391 in Ogun, making a total of 124,589 households impacted between May 14, and July 6.

“If 124,589 households received take home rations valued at N4,200, the amount will be N523,273,800.”

Establishing the process that led to the creation of take home rations from the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Farouq said the programme was modified and implemented in three states following a March 29 presidential directive.

The minister said: “It is critical at this juncture to provide details that will help puncture the tissue of lies being peddled in the public space.

“The provision of ‘Take Home Rations’ under the modified Home Grown School Feeding programme, was not a sole initiative of MHADMSD.

“The ministry, in obeying the presidential directive, went into consultations with state governments through the Governor’s Forum, following which it was resolved that ‘take home rations’ remained the most viable option for feeding children during the lockdown.

“So, it was a joint resolution of the ministry and the state governments to give out take home rations.

“The stakeholders also resolved that we would start with the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states, as pilot cases.”

Farouq also used the occasion to insist that she never said every Nigerian received COVID-19 palliative during the lockdown, saying it’s impossible to give palliative to all Nigerians.

“Every state government received its shares of palliatives for onward distribution. I never said every Nigerian has received COVID-19 palliative. It is impossible to give palliative to all Nigerians,” she said.

Idowu Sowunmi

Inline1

Israeli fighter jets strikes Syria military targets

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 4, 2020

0

Military targets in southern Syria have been attacked by Israeli fighter jets and combat helicopters hours after “thwarting” an infiltration attempt by suspected Hezbollah militants from Syria.

In a statement acknowledging strikes in neighbouring Syria, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said the targets included “observation posts and intelligence-collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery facilities and command and control systems” in Syrian bases.

Syria acknowledged the strikes, saying Israeli helicopters fired missiles at Syrian outposts and reported unspecified “material damage”.

READ ALSO:

President Trump directs US Africa Command to relocate from Germany

The incident comes amid heightened tension on Israel’s northern frontier following an Israeli airstrike that killed a Hezbollah fighter in Syria two weeks ago, as well as anticipation that the militant Lebanese group would retaliate.

Addressing governing Likud party MPs, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel “thwarted an attempted sabotage on the Syrian front” and would continue to “harm all those who try to harm us and all those who harm us”.

The Israel-Syria frontier has heated up in recent years as Iran, which borders the Jewish state to the west, has tried to establish a military foothold in the area.

Also, Tehran has been a longstanding ally of both Hezbollah and Syria.

READ ALSO:

Operation Sahel Sanity impacts North-West with tremendous successes – Defence Headquarters

Following the airstrike that killed the Hezbollah fighter in Syria, the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967 and later annexed, was hit by explosives fired from Syria. In response, the IDF attacked Syrian military positions, and started beefing up its forces in the area.

Israel has been bracing for further retaliation. Last week, it said it thwarted an infiltration attempt from Lebanon by Hezbollah militants.

Inline1

COVID-19: President Buhari donates N67M PPEs to Sao Tome and Principe

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 4, 2020

1

PMB in Mali 3 — File Photo: Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari in Bamako, Mali, July 24, 2020.

Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has donated N67m worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Sao Tome and Principe, a gesture to assist the African Island nation in its fight against COVID-19.

The Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed this on Monday during a briefing in Abuja.

“I am happy to inform you that as ECOWAS champion in the containment of COVID-19 in the West African sub-region, Mr President made a donation of 67 million naira worth of PPEs and medical supplies to the government and people of Sao Tome and Principe,” Boss Mustapha Stated.

The SGF, Mr Boss Mustapha, addressing reporters at a PTF briefing in Abuja.

This donation was a response to a request by the government of Sao Tome, seeking aid to help the country effectively manage the coronavirus pandemic which is ravaging the world.

Medical equipment donated include units of test kits, extraction kits, infrared thermometers, and other items of personal protective equipment to treat and test thousands in Sao Tome and Principe.

READ ALSO:

Abiodun bows to pressure, cancels N25,000 COVID-19 test for SS3 students

In a similar vein, the goods that were procured by the West African Health Organization (WAHO), and have been brought into the hub in Abuja will soon be distributed following orders by President Buhari.

Mustapha noted during his remark that starting from Wednesday, August 3, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will play a vital role in the distribution process from Nigeria to other West African countries.

Inline1

Wike signs revised N300bn 2020 Budget, promises quality projects in Rivers

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 3, 2020

0

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Monday signed into law the revised 2020 Appropriation Bill.

This followed the presentation of the budget documents by the Majority Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, to the governor at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The revised budget for 2020 fiscal year signed by Wike now has a total figure of N300,370,071,183.33.

It’s a 48 per cent reduction from the N530,813,357,619.00 originally budgeted for 2020 fiscal year.

Speaking while signing the revised financial instruments, Wike said the unfortunate effect of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly in Nigeria, necessitated the review.

He explained that the implication of the review of the budget was that budgetary allocations including capital and recurrent expenditure have been reduced.

But, he argued that the reduction would not affect the delivery of quality developmental projects and services to Rivers people.

“It is most unfortunate that everybody is living a different life now because of the pandemic, which forced us to face a new economic reality.

“The COVID-19 has affected economic activities and revenues of government, and so it has become necessary to review our budget.

“By the revised budget, it means that so many things have to change. We have cut down the capital and recurrent expenditure to face the reality.

“We are the only state that has not cut down the salaries of political appointees and elected officers. Virtually all the states have cut down 20 to 30 per cent of salaries of political appointees. Having cut down the recurrent expenditures, the overhead will no longer be the same,” he said.

The governor also stated that his administration was determined to ensure that the proposed reconstruction of the Assembly Quarters stands the test of time.

“One thing I can assure you is that we are working with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to reconstruct the Assembly Quarters. We want something that will stand the test of time.

“A good living environment and quality houses will enhance your input and services to our state,” Wike said.

The governor promised to release the balance of funds for the 2018 constituency projects of the legislators.

Also speaking, Amaewhule said the Rivers State Revised Appropriation Law No. 7 of 2020 is intended to make provision of services to fall into current reality.

“The House passed this Bill and it is intended to provide for a law to revise the Rivers State Appropriation Law No. 12 of 2019 to make provision for services of Rivers State for the year ending on the 31st of December 2020.

“Against the approved figures of a sum of N530,813,357,619.00 which the House approved in 2019, as a result of the prevailing economic circumstances of the country, the House now approved a total sum of N171,33,409,454.55 for capital expenditure.

“For the recurrent expenditure, N129,336,662,028.77 was approved, bringing it to a total of N300,370,071,183.33,” he added.

In his remarks, Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, noted that Wike has conscientiously implemented policies and programmes to benefit Rivers people.

He said the revised budget and revised medium term expenditure framework stipulated actions of government to better the fortunes of the state and establish enduring legacy for posterity.

Inline1

Abiodun bows to pressure, cancels N25,000 COVID-19 test for SS3 students

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 3, 2020

0

IMG-20200710-WA0002 — Executive Goverrnor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, Monday succumbed to public outcry over the N25,000 fee payable for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) test for all returning SS3 boarding students in the state.

The Abiodun administration had come under heavy criticism for creating a near pandemonium situation in Ogun State over the introduction of N25,000 fee for COVID-19 test over the weekend ahead of students’ resumption today.

Parents, unionists, religious leaders, business people, politicians among others rejected the state government’s policy which made the N25,000 COVID-19 test fee compulsory for the returning SS3 students.

Reacting to the matter on Monday evening, Abiodun made frantic effort to justify his administration’s position, but ultimately bowed to the public pressure and rescinded the policy.

“After reviewing these developments, I have today immediately directed that the Government Laboratories carry out test for all returning SS3 boarding students at no cost. I have also directed that all those who have paid for tests be refunded.

“Consequently the State Government has therefore stepped down the COVID-19 test as a mandatory requirement for returning students in our exit classes. We therefore enjoin Private School owners to exercise their duty of care to their pupils. The admittance of students into boarding house in private secondary schools will be at the discretion of the management and the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of such private schools.

“Ogun State Government recommends that students who do not have to stay in the boarding house should attend school from home, especially those with underlying health conditions.

“The inconvenience and confusion experienced yesterday is highly regrettable and my sincere apologies to the parents and students so affected.

“The quality and standard of education and well being of our children are issues that are very dear to my heart,” the governor cringed.

Abiodun laboured emphatically to establish the genesis of the matter and the eventual decisions taken in the best interest of the state.

AccordIng to him, “In line with the Federal Ministry of Education recommendation and WASSCE timetable, we decided to open our schools on the 4th August 2020 for SS3 students only. We put in place guidelines that would ensure that our students resume in a safe environment.

“In our pre-opening engagements with stakeholders, opening of boarding houses was discussed. Our State has one of the largest population of boarding students in the country, coming from all over the country. After consultations with health professionals, we concluded that testing the children for COVID-19 before admittance will reduce the risk of community transmission. This is to reassure parents and even teachers of the safety of everybody concerned.

“The state planned and provided testing, free of charge, for boarding students in our public schools and allowed for the management and parents of private schools to make their arrangements to get COVID tests. The two State owned laboratories have a capacity for about 500 tests a day and conduct free tests for traced contacts or symptomatic patients. To meet the additional demand for the expected number of boarding students, the statement from Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology listed some private test centers which set up sampling points in some of our health facilities.

“These private laboratories have been accredited by NCDC and Lagos State Government for walk-in tests and charge N50,400 per test but I understand that the Ministries of Health and Education negotiated this to N25,000 for boarding students in private schools that may wish to use them. There is no financial benefit to the state government.”

Abiodun also used the occasion to announce “the provision of face masks to all students in both private and public schools.”

He appreciated the cooperation, support, resilience and understanding of all the people of Ogun State towards flattening the curve of COVID-19 in the state, expressing hope that “this phase will end soonest.”

Inline1

Ondo Deputy Governor, Ajayi, denies defection from PDP

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 3, 2020

1

Ondok deputy governor — Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, has dismissed claims about his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he only rejoined after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to fulfil his ambition of becoming the next Governor of the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Babatope Okeowo, faulted the claims that his principal has defected to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), after he lost the PDP primary, to guarantee his participation in the October 10 Ondo governorship contest, against incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

In a chat with Channels Television on Sunday, Okeowo disclosed that the deputy governor was under intense pressure from his supporters to contest for the election.
However, he insisted that his principal has yet to declare for the ZLP or any other political party to contest the governorship election.

File Photo: L-R: Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Ondo State, Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.

Sealing further, the deputy governor’s aide added that Ajayi has yet to take a decision on his next political move, saying he would likely make a declaration before the end of the week.

According to a Channels Television report, the Publicity Secretary of ZLP in Ondo, Felix Olatunde, revealee that the party has adopted Ajayi as its governorship candidate.

In his explanation, Olatunde stated that plans were being perfected to ensure that was done, noting that the candidate of the party, Rotimi Benjamin, had stepped down for the deputy governor.

Meanwhile, the PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Zadok Akintoye, had issued a statement that Ajayi was still a member of the party.

The deputy governor defected from the APC to the PDP in June to fight for the party’s governorship ticket in the primary but lost to Mr Eyitayo Jegede.

Thereafter, some of his supporters agitated that Ajayi be picked as Jegede’s running mate, but that was not the case as another person was chosen for the position.

The deputy governor’s exit from the APC followed a disagreement between him and the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who emerged the candidate of the his party, APC.

Inline1

Breaking News: Shoprite begins process to exit Nigeria

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 3, 2020

0

Untitled-1-9 — A shop assistant arranges products at the South African firm Shoprite’s main store in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos on April 29, 2010. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

One of Africa’s largest food retailers, Shoprite, has announced plans to exit the Nigerian market after posting continuous losses from its operations in the world’s populous Black nation.

Shoprite, in a trading update filed at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) on Monday morning, said it was planning to discontinue its operations in Nigeria.

“Following approaches from various potential investors, and in line with our re-evaluation of the Group’s operating model in Nigeria, the Board has decided to initiate a formal process to consider the potential sale of all, or a majority stake, in Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Shoprite International Limited.

“As such, Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited may be classified as a discontinued operation when Shoprite reports its results for the year. Any further updates will be provided to the market at the appropriate time,” the update stated.

It would be recalled that Shoprite launched its Nigeria operations some 15 years ago, by opening its first store in Lagos in December 2005.

That chain has grown from one to more than 25 retail stores across Nigeria — including some of the biggest retail stores in West Africa region.

Idowu Sowunmi

Inline1

Ondo Poll: LG Chairmen move to woo Jimoh Ibrahim for Akeredolu

By

Tobiloba Kolawole

-

August 3, 2020

0

Eighten Local Government Chairmen in Ondo State have kickstart moves to woo business tycoon, Jimoh Ibrahim to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to increase the chances of Governor Olúwarótìmí Àkèrédolu’s (SAN) second term bid at the October 10 governorship poll in the state.

The move was made public when the chairmen paid a courtesy visit to the business mogul at the construction site of the University of Fortune, in Igbotako, his country home.

Governor Akeredolu, who won the party’s ticket with a landslide margin at the primary election has immediately revved up reconciliation efforts with other aspirants.

The Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, while introducimg his colleagues expressed appreciation to Ibrahim for supporting Akeredolu.

He also commended him for his efforts towards improving the economy of Ondo State through job creation with the ongoing University project.

In his remark, the Chairman Akoko Southeast Local Government Area, Yomi Babatunde, described Ibrahim, who is the Araba of Osooroland, as an accomplished business man and politician whose support and mentorship will be needed in the APC. He therefore, requested Ibrahim to officially identify with the party as a card carrying member.

Giving his response, Ibrahim stated that Governor Akeredolu means a lot to him, and highlighted his leadership quality as evident in the giant strides accomplished since he took over the mantle of Governor in the State.

“Akeredolu was a former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) where he left very good legacies” Jimoh said.

The businessman, advising the delegate of chairmen on forming a team that will be relevant and formidable to making vital contributions to the reelelction bid of Governor Àkèrédolu, assured his guests that he would consider their request after due consultations with his political mentors and followers.

Inline1