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80% Nigerian Youth Unemployed – CBN …As New CBN Gov Unfolds 10-Point Agenda

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Permanent Secretary Establishment, Rivers State, Asoelu Gayamos representing Head of Service, Rivers State (right) presenting sourvenire to retired NUJ member, Mr Jemina Amachree (left) during the NUJ Tide chapel send-forth of its retired members/seminar on Life Before & After Retirement in the board room of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, last Wednesday. Pix: Egberi .A. Sampson

Permanent Secretary Establishment, Rivers State, Asoelu Gayamos representing Head of Service, Rivers State (right) presenting sourvenire to retired NUJ member, Mr Jemina Amachree (left) during the NUJ Tide chapel send-forth of its retired members/seminar on Life Before & After Retirement in the board room of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, last Wednesday. Pix: Egberi .A. Sampson

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 80 per cent of Nigerian youths are still unemployed.
This is despite repeated figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stating that the Nigerian economy had been creating millions of jobs in the past years.
Only last week, the NBS announced that the economy created about 1.2 million jobs in 2013 fiscal year.
But the Special Assistant on Sustainable Banking, CBN, Dr. Aisha Mahmood, disclosed that unemployment was still a severe threat to Nigeria’s economy.
Mahmood spoke while delivering a paper on Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle during the 2014 World Environment Day programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja.
She said, “As the population is growing, the resources that we all depend on, the food, energy, water, is declining. The demand for these resources will rise exponentially by the year 2030, with the world needing about 50 per cent more food, 45 per cent more energy and 30 per cent more water.
“In Nigeria, there is the issue of youth and employment. 70 per cent of the 80 million youths in Nigeria are either unemployed or underemployed. We are all witnesses to what happened recently during the immigration recruitment exercise and this is simply because 80 per cent of the Nigerian youth are unemployed,” she added.
Mahmood noted that currently Nigeria’s economy is the largest in Africa, adding that the country is using fossil fuel to achieve this growth trajectory.
She stated that Nigeria’s economic growth was as a result of its abundant oil reserves, and warned that the flaring of gas from oil may negatively affect citizens in the country if not properly managed.
She said, “Nigeria has been flaring gas since the discovery of oil in the 1950s. We produce and burn about 20 billion cubic meters of gas annually and this is enough to meet our energy need. Remember we said we don’t have electricity, whereas we can provide electricity with this gas that we flare. And also when we burn this gas, we produce green house gases that affect our livelihood and the livelihood of people that live around that area.”
The CBN special assistant also lamented the high number of persons living below the poverty line in Nigeria as well as the about 120 million persons in the country that still lack access to electricity.
According to her, the above reasons were some key issues why the financial sector came together to develop and adopt the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle.
In her remarks, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, explained that the 2014 WED was targeted to address climate change and the impact of sea level rise on the environment.
She said, “In Nigeria, the impacts of climate change are manifested by erosion and landslides in the East, drought and desertification in the North, rising sea levels in the coastal areas and flooding across the nation. The transformation agenda of Mr. President in the environment sector is aimed at addressing all forms of land degradation through specialized projects.”
Meanwhile, two days after assumption of office, the new Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin I. Emefiele, has kept his promise to unfold his agenda, yesterday.
Addressing a world press conference at CBN Headquarters in Abuja, Emefiele promised that his administration would create a People-Centered Central Bank and ensure financial system stability.
He equally promised to maintain exchange rate stability and macro-economic stability. On monetary policy, Governor Emefiele said: “We shall pursue a gradual reduction in interest rates.”
Emiefele promised to pursue a gradual reduction in key interest rates, include the unemployment rate in monetary policy decisions; maintain exchange rate stability and aggressively shore up foreign exchange reserves.
The CBN governor also pledged to strengthen risk-based supervision mechanism of Nigerian banks to ensure overall health and banking system stability; and build sector-specific expertise in banking supervision to reflect loan concentration of the banking industry.
He observed inadequate trigger thresholds from a macro-prudential perspective, and said he would consider and announce measures to effectively address this anomaly.
Emiefele further said he would abolish fees associated with limits on deposits and reconsider ongoing practice in which all fees associated with limits on withdrawals accrue to banks alone; and introduce a broad spectrum of financial instruments to boost specific enterprise areas in agriculture, manufacturing, health, and oil and gas.
According to him, the CBN under his watch would establish Secured Transaction and National Collateral Registry as well as establish a National Credit Scoring System that would improve access to information on borrowers, assist lenders to make good credit decisions; and build resilient financial infrastructure that serves the needs of the lower end of the market, especially those without collateral.
He added that the CBN would renew vigorous advocacy for the creation of commercial courts for quick adjudications on loan and related offences.
Emiefele appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with the CBN in its bid to ensure a better economic prospect for the country, saying: “We must, by now, have been tired of hearing people talk about the ‘potentials’ of Nigeria. Now is the time to live that dream. I truly believe that working together, we can achieve our goals and give Nigerians the chance to live longer, better and more fulfilled lives.”

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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