Business

Budgetary Allocations Favour Education – Minister

Published

12 years ago

August 16, 2013

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, on Monday said that the ministry had recorded progressive increase in budgetary allocations from 2010 to 2012.

Rufa’i said this at a meeting with Task Teams for the 2013 Mid-Term Review of the four-year strategic plan for the development of the education sector in Abuja.

She said: “Funding and partnerships are key factors to attaining our objectives and global developments, pointing out that “Over the past years, the budget for the Education sector has increased from N234.8 billion in 2010 to N426.5 billion in 2012.

“There has also been progressive increase in allocation to all sectors and institutions,” Rafai said.

On the Basic Education level, the minister said intervention funds for each state is expected to be N1 billion for 2013.

According to her, “This is with states providing similar figure; there will be more resources for further development and rehabilitation of infrastructure across the sector.

“In addition to their normal budgetary provisions, our tertiary institutions are benefiting from increased allocation from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund),’’ she said.

The minister said that allocation to universities had also increased from N303.14 million in 2010 to N595 million in 2012.

She further said that allocation to the Polytechnics had increased from N216.56 million to N337 million and that of colleges of education had increased from N157.17 million to N319 million.

“For us in the education sector, we continue to work with diverse organisations that are key to supporting us in our quest for transforming the sector.

Rufa’i noted that International Development Partners, Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector had continued to support the sector actively.

She said the Global Partnership for Education was finalising the process of supporting five Nigerian states toward improving access to education valued at about N16 billion in the first phase.

Minister said that the UK Department For International Development (DFID), was supporting teacher Development efforts through a new Programme on Teacher Professional Development.

The minister said that DFID portfolio of support had increased from N16 billion since 2011 to N61 billion currently.

She said the US Agency for International Development (USAID), was actively in support of the efforts in enhancing access and quality through a number of programmes worth over N16 billion.

Rufa’i said other partners are World Bank, UNICEF and UNESCO, while the Japanese and Korea International Development Agencies are also supporting across the states.

According to her, “we are also committed to the African Centres of Excellence Programme and have made an initial seed grant of $15 million.

“This is a programme that will build on the successes of the recent $180 million STEP-B Project which has enhanced the infrastructure facilities in Science and Technology in federal Post-Basic institutions.

“As a result of the project, Centres of Excellence in 11 subject areas are currently in progress, promoting collaboration among our institutions both internally and externally,’’ she said.

She said that President Goodluck Jonathan was also supporting the education sector in the drive for further partnership to improve the sector.

“As a result of this, a number of organisations and countries are putting together support framework for Nigerian states with the greatest challenge of out-of-school children,’’ she said.

Transport

Nigeria Rates 7th For Visa Application To France —–Schengen Visa

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria was the 7th country in 2024, which filed the most schenghen visa to France, with a total of 111,201 of schenghen visa applications made in 2025, out of which 55,833, about 50.2 percent submitted to France

Although 2025 data is unavailable, these figures from Schengen Visa Info implies that France is not merely a preferred destination, but has been a dominant access point for Nigerian short-stay travel into Europe.

France itself has received more than three million Schengen visa applications, making it the most sought-after Schengen destination globally and a leading gateway for long-haul and third-country travellers. It was the top destination for applicants from 51 countries that same year, including many without visa-exemption arrangements with the Schengen Zone, and the sole destination for applicants from seven countries.

Alison Reed, a senior analyst at the European Migration Observatory said, “France’s administrative reach shapes applicant strategy, but it also concentrates risk. If processing times lengthen or documentation standards tighten in Paris, the effects ripple quickly back to capitals such as Abuja.”

The figures underline that this pattern is not unique to Nigeria. In neighbouring West and Central African states such as Gabon, Benin, Togo and Madagascar, more than 90 per cent of Schengen visas were sought via French authorities in 2024, with Chad, Djibouti, the Central African Republic and Comoros submitting applications exclusively to France.

“France acts as the central enumeration point for many African and Asian applicants,” said Manish Khandelwal, founder of Travelobiz.com, which reported the consolidated statistics. “Historical ties, language networks and established diaspora communities all play into that concentration. But volume inevitably invites scrutiny, and that affects refusal rates and processing rigour.”

That scrutiny is visible in the rejection statistics. Of the more than three million French applications in 2024, approximately 481,139 were denied, a rejection rate of about 15.7 per cent. While this rate is lower than in some smaller Schengen states, the sheer volume of applications means France contributes significantly to the total number of refusals within the zone.

For Nigerian applicants and policymakers, one implication is the need to broaden engagement with other Schengen consular hubs. “Over-reliance on a single consulate creates what one might call administrative bottleneck effects,” said Jean-Luc Martin, a professor and expert in European integration and mobility law at Leiden University. “If applicants from Nigeria default to France without exploring legitimate alternatives in countries like Spain, Germany or the Netherlands, they expose themselves to systemic risk

Martin added that the broader context of Schengen visa policy is evolving, with the European Commission’s preparing roll-out of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) aimed at harmonising pre-travel screening across member states.

For Nigerians seeking leisure, business or educational travel to Europe, these trends suggest that strategic planning and consular diversification could become as important as the completeness of documentation and financial proof. Governments and travel consultancies in Abuja, Lagos and beyond are already advising clients to explore alternative consular pathways and to prepare for more rigorous screening criteria across all Schengen states

By: Enoch Epelle

Transport

West Zone Aviation: Adibade Olaleye Sets For NANTA President

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Prince Abiodun Ajibade Olaleye, a former Welfare Officer and Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), has formally declared his intention to contest for the position of Vice President of NANTA Western Zone, ahead of the zonal elections scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026.

In a New Year message to members of the association, Olaleye expressed optimism about the prospects of the travel and tourism industry in 2026, despite the economic headwinds and migration policy challenges that affected operations in the previous year.

He acknowledged that reduced patronage and declining trade volumes had placed significant financial pressure on many travel agencies, but urged members to remain resilient and forward-looking.

According to him, the challenges confronting the industry should be seen as opportunities for growth, innovation and institutional strengthening.

He stressed the need for unity and collective action among members of the association, noting that collaboration remains critical to navigating the evolving global travel environment.

Unveiling his vision for the NANTA Western Zone, Olaleye said his aspiration is to consolidate on the achievements of past leaders while expanding the zone’s relevance, influence and impact “beyond imagination.” He promised a leadership focused on commanding excellence, improved member welfare and stronger stakeholder engagement.

Drawing from his experience in previous executive roles within NANTA, the vice-presidential aspirant said he is well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to the association, particularly in areas of member support, public engagement and institutional growth.

“I believe that together, we can take our association to greater heights and build a stronger, more prosperous NANTA Western Zone that benefits all members,” he said, while appealing to delegates for their support and votes.

Olaleye concluded by offering prayers for good health, peace and prosperity for members in 2026, expressing confidence that the new year would usher in renewed opportunities for the travel industry and the association at large.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Sugar Tax ‘ll Threaten Manufacturing Sector, Says CPPE

Published

5 days ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that renewed calls for a sugar tax on non-alcoholic beverages could hurt Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, threaten jobs and slow the country’s fragile economic recovery.

In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer, CPPE, Muda Yusuf, said while public health concerns such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases deserve attention, imposing an additional sugar-specific tax was economically risky and poorly suited to Nigeria’s current realities of high inflation, weak consumer purchasing power and rising production costs.

Yusuf who insisted that the food and beverage sector remains the backbone of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry, said the industry supports millions of livelihoods across farming, processing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail trade, and hospitality.

He remarked that any policy that weakens this ecosystem could have far-reaching consequences, including job losses, lower household incomes and reduced investment.

Yusuf argued that proposals for sugar taxation in Nigeria are often influenced by global policy templates that do not adequately reflect local conditions.

According to him, manufacturers in the non-alcoholic beverage segment are already facing heavy fiscal and cost pressures.

“The proposition of a sugar-specific tax is misplaced, economically risky, and weakly supported by empirical evidence, especially when viewed against Nigeria’s prevailing structural and macroeconomic realities.

“Existing obligations include company income tax, value-added tax, excise duties, levies on profits and imports, and multiple state and local government charges. These are compounded by high energy costs, exchange-rate volatility, elevated interest rates and expensive logistics,” he said.

The CPPE boss noted that retail prices of many non-alcoholic beverages have risen by about 50 per cent over the past two years, even without the introduction of new taxes, further squeezing consumers.

Yusuf further expressed reservation on the effectiveness of sugar taxes in addressing the root causes of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu