Nigeria records N1.888tr trade surplus in Q2, says NBS.

Nigeria records N1.888tr trade surplus in Q2, says NBS.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said Nigeria recorded trade surplus of N1.888 trillion in the second quarter of this year (Q2 2023).

According to its document, tagged: Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics (Q3 2023), the total trade in the period under review was N18.804 trillion.

The report noted that the country exported goods valued at N10.346 trillion while it imported goods worth N8.457 trillion.

NBS said: “Total trade in the third quarter of 2023 stood at N18,804.29 billion. Exports were valued at N10,346.60 billion while total imports stood at N8,457.68 billion.” 

The document explained that the total exports increased by 60.78 per cent, compared to the amount recorded in the second quarter of 2023 (N6.435.13 trillion), as well as by 74.36 per cent, compared to the corresponding quarter in 2022 (N5.934.15 trillion). 

According to NBS, total imports increased by 47.70 per cent, compared to the value recorded in the second quarter of 2023 (N5,726.25 billion) and by 33.33 per cent, when compared to the value recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022 (N6,343.53 billion).

Food security most critical part of President’s Eight-Point Agenda, says minister.

Food security most critical part of President’s Eight-Point Agenda, says minister.

The Federal Government has said food security is the most critical part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda because of its numerous benefits.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated this in his office when he addressed reporters covering the Senate yesterday in Abuja.

Abdullahi urged fellow Nigerians to plant “something” to enable the country attain food security.

The minister expressed dissatisfaction that about 50 million of the 80 million hectares of arable land in the country remained uncultivated.

According to him, in the Eight-Point Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, food security is the most critical because of multifaceted benefits derivable from it.

Abdullahi noted that food security would enable Nigerians to fight the war against corruption.

The minister stressed that “some people take to corrupt ways of life as a result of hunger, just as some others take to crime as a result of poverty, which in itself can be substantially addressed by food security”.

He added: “When you secure their stomachs, the tendency for an average Nigerian to resort to corruption or outright crime and criminality would be reduced. Nigerians need to key into the policy by planting something wherever they live.

“Government is also determined to get substantial part of the uncultivated hectares of land in the country cultivated.

“As it is presently, out of 70 to 80 million hectares of arable land in the country, only 34 million hectares are cultivated, meaning that there is more than enough uncultivated arable land for government and Nigerians to explore for farming and, by extension, ensure food security in the country.”

COP28: Children demand action in climate change.

 COP28: Children demand action in climate change.

Nigerian kids have joined their voices by demanding for action in the fight against climate change.COP28: Children demand action in climate change

 The children reminded the Federal Government and governments at the subnational over the multiple effect of climate change.

 They called on governments as well as global leaders to allocate more budget for climate activities to provide more sustainable solutions and resilient future.

The children, while speaking at a COP 28 Simulation event on Climate Change organised by an international non-governmental organisation, Save the Children International (SCI), stressed the need for governments to set aside funds that will help tackle the current challenges.

World leaders are presently meeting in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates to deliberate on climate change.

 A member of the Kaduna State Children Parliament, Nana Kabir, called on government at all levels to educate citizens on the need to build houses in highlands to avoid flooding.

She expressed worry that floods, in recent times, swept communities within the riverine areas, saying there should be more advocacies to save lives.

Also, a member of the Benue Children Parliament, Shamiga Rita urged governments to create opportunities and green jobs in the country.

 She also called for the need to address the challenges of people displaced by floods.

 Also, Osina Kaghini-nse, from Cross River Children Parliament, urged governments to create alternative for fossil fuel.

 He harped on the need to discourage deforestation in the country.

 The Director of Advocacy, Campaign, Communication and Media, Save the Children International (SCI), Nigeria, Amanuel Mamo, said the impact of climate change on society would increase.

 He said: “As a result, in the coming years, droughts are expected to intensify, rainfall variability is projected to increase, extreme weather events will persist, new human and livestock diseases are projected to increase, new conflicts over the decreasing resources will increase and more people will be displaced by the rising oceans, floods, wildfire, drought and expanding deserts and the like. That is what we generally referred to as effects of ‘climate change.’ All concerned parties need to take an urgent action before it is too late.

“Climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time. It is a grave threat to children and their rights. ‘Child rights’ might not even survive a global climate catastrophe. We have created a huge environmental debt to our children and the future generation. Children have contributed the least to the climate crisis, and yet we know that they are paying the highest price.

  “While children share many of the same rights as adults, their violations due to climate change are experienced with greater severity due to their physiological and psychological vulnerabilities.”

 He added that children have a number of specific rights, such as the right to childhood, to primary education and to protection – all of which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

 “As a part of Save the Children’s flagship campaign initiative, Generation Hope, that focuses on addressing key climate change drivers, particularly for children facing acute inequality and discrimination, we are happy to be able to organise Children’s National COP28 Simulation.

“The simulation is a unique initiative designed to amplify the voices, choices and perspectives of children in climate discussions leading up to COP28 (Conference of Parties 28), World Climate Summit. As you may already know, COP28 is an important international conference where countries convene to discuss and negotiate actions for combating climate change, building upon commitments and progress being made from the previous COP meetings.

Therefore, the ‘Children Climate Ambassadors Forum’ and the ‘Climate Action Assembly,’ that will take place today and tomorrow respectively, is organised with an aim to enable children have their say in the decision-making process of an issue that affect them. It serves as a vital platform for collaboration, policy enhancement, and innovation in our collective efforts to address climate challenges in Nigeria and the world.”

Tinubu is taking bold decisions to change Nigeria’s economic fortune – Shettima.

Tinubu is taking bold decisions to change Nigeria’s economic fortune – Shettima.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday, December 4, explained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been consistent in making bold and courageous decisions because it is determined to change Nigeria’s economic fortune, in the long run.

He stated this when he received the management of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) led by the Commandant, Alhaji Ayodele Adeleke, at the State House in Abuja, assuring that the Tinubu administration is determined to bequeath a country that is firmly on the path of prosperity.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima noted that this is the reason behind the administration’s determination to ensure youth empowerment and human capital development.

The NISS delegation was at the Presidential Villa to present to the Vice President the report of a study conducted by 86 participants in the institute’s Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 16band with the theme, ‘Globalisation and Regional Economic Integration: Implications for Sustainable Development in Africa’.

Speaking during the presentation of the report, the VP commended the faculty and members of the EIMC 16 for their efforts, noting that the recommendations of the study align with the perspectives of the Tinubu administration, especially the “advocacy for investing in ICT and infrastructure development.”

Settima pointed out that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Tinubu, has so far taken bold and courageous decisions that would, in the long run, impact positively on the economy.

On the theme of the EIMC 16 research study, the VP said: “It is very apt, especially given the circumstances we have found ourselves in on the African continent. We are challenged from all angles – cyber-terrorism, human and drug trafficking, money laundering, transnational extremism and banditry, and the challenges of climate change.”

On the need to diversify the economy away from Oil, VP Shettima noted that in the next 20 to 30 years, oil may not be as valuable as it is today.

He stated: “Our only luck and happiness is that we are largely a gas nation. But our most important resource is our human capital which we need to harness. We have to invest in education. I believe that with the right infrastructure and qualitative leadership, we can transform this nation.”

The Vice President further noted that with the right leadership at all levels of governance, the country’s growing population can be harnessed and positively deployed to transform the economy.

He stated: “Let us create jobs, engage the youths; let us invest in their education. All these challenges of terrorism and banditry will be contained but the fundamental question is the quality of leadership.”

EIMC is designed to provide strategic-level security/intelligence officers, as well as top-level management, with the requisite skills to handle their positions and contribute positively to the implementation of national security policies and national development.

The participants for EIMC 16 were drawn from 35 agencies in Nigeria and four other African countries of Chad, The Gambia, Niger and Rwanda.

Earlier in his speech, the commandant of the institute, Alhaji Ayodele S. Adeleke, thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to excellence and a sense of responsibility since he assumed office.

He stated: “The EIMC is a flagship programme of the institute, among other courses, aimed at impacting the requisite knowledge to participants to equip them with leadership skills to be able to address the dynamics of national and global security challenges in their respective countries as well as to foster inter-agency synergy and international cooperation.”

The Commandant called on African economies to invest in ICT infrastructure as a key driver for economic growth while investing in research and development.

Tinubu confirms Immigration CG’s appointment.

Tinubu confirms Immigration CG’s appointment. 

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adepoju Wura-Ola as the substantive Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.Wura-Ola has been in an acting capacity since June 1, 2023.

This was contained in a statement on Monday by the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board Civil Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed.

 “President Tinubu approved the appointment of Adepoju Wura-Ola as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

“Until her appointment, she was the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of the Finance and Account Directorate.

“As an NIS officer, CGI Wura-Olu, attended some trainings, including; Immigration Training School Kano, Immigration Command, and Staff College Sokoto, National Institute for Security Studies Lower Usman Dam Bwari, Abuja, and Emotional Intelligence and Transformation Leadership.

She is also a fellow of the Pass Command Course, a fellow Security Institute of Nigeria, and a Member Law Society of Upper Canada. She is happily married with children,” the statement read partly.

It said the President also approved the appointment of six Deputy Comptrollers-General for the service.

COVID 19 funds: Reps query CMD over N949m contract.

COVID 19 funds: Reps query CMD over N949m contract.

The House of Representatives’ Public Accounts Committee on Monday queried the utilisation of N949m released by the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation to the Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for intervention in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chairman of the House Committee, Bamidele Salam, at the resumed investigative hearing on the matter at the National Assembly Complex, queried the CMD of the health institution, Prof Henry Ugboma, on the transparency in the utilisation of the funds.

The Committee Chairman had requested from the CMD all documents relating to all the releases of funds by the OAGF, the contracts awarded, as well as approvals from the Federal Executive Council and the Bureau of Public Procurement.

This is just as the lawmaker added that OAGF released to the hospital management more funds than what was appropriated to it by the National Assembly.

The lawmaker and some other committee members also questioned the CMD about the amount of funds released in 2020 and 2021, stressing that the Accountant-General didn’t provide them with the needed information on the issue during the investigation.

In a presentation to the panel, the CMD admitted that the the hospital management received the sum of N949m in five tranches.

The Committee Chairman after going through the documents on the released funds noted that the amount released to the hospital was bigger than what was appropriated in the annual budget.

The House Committee also queried the utilisation of the N60bn released to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency by the OAGF for the same period, as members branded the projects the agency claimed it spent the funds on as “fictitious.”

The Managing Director of the agency, Emeka Agabasi, had told the committee that the agency had undertaken 192 projects in the six geopolitical zones and completed 186, with only six left uncompleted.

He said that the six zones had benefited from the road projects undertaken by the agency in the following order: North-Central 34, North-West 30, South-West 32, South-South 34, South-East 27 and North-East 35.

Salam was, however, not impressed with the documents submitted by the FERMA boss, saying, “We have only five copies of the documents we requested. We have more than thirty members here. So, even if you give us 11 copies, it will still not be sufficient for the investigation.”

After deliberation by committee members, Salam said the committee will tour FERMA projects across the federation for which the funds were utilised.

Akinteye Pledges Inclusive and Responsive Leadership as NANS Senate President.

Akinteye Pledges Inclusive and Responsive Leadership as NANS Senate President.

By: Comr Olamide Akinwumi.

In the aftermath of being declared the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Afeez Akinteye has made a commitment to lead an inclusive and responsive student parliament. The newly elected leader expressed his dedication to safeguarding students' rights wherever they pursue their education.

Addressing his victory, Akinteye, who previously served as the Vice President (VP), External Affairs of the student body, stated, "With immense humility and gratitude, I stand before you today as the newly elected Senate President of our dear and noble association, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)."

He continued, "Your resounding support and trust in my vision have laid the foundation for what I believe will be a transformative and impactful administration."

Acknowledging the democratic process and the support received, Akinteye expressed gratitude to individuals who campaigned passionately and cast their votes. He emphasized that their commitment reflects the vibrant spirit of a united student community.

In his commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and advocacy for students' welfare and rights, Akinteye reassured students and stakeholders that he would address pressing challenges, advocate for quality education, and amplify every student's voice on various platforms.

To his fellow contestants, he extended a hand in unity, inviting them to join forces for the betterment of NANS. He recognized their dedication and ideas, urging them to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and unity.

Akinteye acknowledged the weightiness of the responsibility, emphasizing that the role of the Senate President demands prudence, inclusivity, and a deep understanding of students' diverse needs. He affirmed his commitment to upholding these values and leading a movement for positive change.

Under his leadership, Akinteye pledged to create a NANS that advocates fiercely for students' rights and welfare, fostering inclusivity, unity, and empowerment. The new era, according to him, will ensure every student feels heard, represented, and empowered.