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Contribution Of Solid Minerals To GDP Too Low – Minister

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L-R: Project Manager, Food Processing and Packing Machinery, Ms Martina Claus, Managing Director of Fairtrade, Mr Martin Marz, Technical Adviser  (Youth and Gender) to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Mosumola Umar, Consular General, Embassy of France, Lagos, Mr Laurent Polonceaux, Project Manager, Subsaharan Africa Livestock and Genetics, Aude Roelly, and Economic Councillor, French Embassy, Francis Widmer, at the opening of Exhibition and Conference on Agrofood and Plastprintpack Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Project Manager, Food Processing and Packing Machinery, Ms Martina Claus, Managing Director of Fairtrade, Mr Martin Marz, Technical Adviser (Youth and Gender) to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Mosumola Umar, Consular General, Embassy of France, Lagos, Mr Laurent Polonceaux, Project Manager, Subsaharan Africa Livestock and Genetics, Aude Roelly, and Economic Councillor, French Embassy, Francis Widmer, at the opening of Exhibition and Conference on Agrofood and Plastprintpack Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday.

Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, yesterday has said that the contribution of solid minerals to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is low.
Declaring open a seminar on “The Role of Mining Sector in Diversifying the Revenue Base of the Nigerian Economy,” Fayemi described the situation as unacceptable.
The minister noted that in spite of the recognisable size of solid minerals in every local government in Nigeria, its contribution to GDP was too low.
The one day seminar was organised by the non-oil monitoring committee of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Fayemi, who was represented by the Minister of State, Mr Abubakar Bwari, said the contribution of the sector to GDP was as low as 0.34 per cent.
He said Nigeria had enough resources to make it one of the richest countries in the world but was rated among countries with the highest number of poor people.
Fayemi said that the present administration was determined to change that by ensuring that the solid minerals sector rivals the oil sector.
“In order to do that however, we must formalise the activities of our artisanal miners, repair moribund infrastructure and provide more respectable geosciences data.”
He said there was the need to also engage with foreign and domestic partners and work off an integrated roadmap that would emerge from a broad consultation process.
Fayemi also said that the Federal Government was focusing attention on agriculture because Nigeria was spending more than N1.5 trillion annually to import food, a situation that has put a heavy pressure on the nation’s foreign exchange.
He commended the RMAFC for showing great concern for wealth generation as part of its constitutional responsibility of monitoring revenue accruals into the Federation Account.
He said that its recommendation to upgrade the mines and inspectorate department of the Ministry into an agency was being adopted.
The department is responsible for exploitation and exploration activities as well as collection of operational fees.
Acting Chairman of the commission, Mr Shettima Abba-Gana, in an address said that the commission’s efforts geared towards generating revenue from the sector enabled it to contribute N12 billion into the federation account in 2015.
From this, he said 13 per cent derivation was paid to the states where the solid minerals were gotten from for the first time.
He, however, said that the key problems bedevilling the sector were “dominance of the mining sector by foreign companies, especially the Chinese companies and illegal mining activities by artisanal and small miners all over the country, resulting in environmental devastation and loss of revenue to government.”
Mr Ajibola Fagboyegun, a federal commissioner at the RMAFC told newsmen that the factors hindering mining exploration were being looked into.
“A situation where an individual will have title license covering very large area of land but will not be seen and the prospective investors will find it difficult to come in and work is now being redressed.
“Soon the atmosphere will be conducive for mining business with friendly policy that will encourage investors to come in.
“We are sure many people want to make money and Nigeria is a very good environment for investors to make their money,” he said.
The seminar was geared towards developing new initiatives on how to diversify the economy from crude oil to solid minerals to boost revenue.

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On Top Of It All: 5 Practical Tips For Optimizing Your Rivian R1S Roof Rack.

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The Rivian R1S has quickly become one of the most versatile and capable electric SUVs on the market. It has gained this status because it combines powerful performance, third-row seating, and ample storage both inside and out.

One crucial element that maximizes the R1S’ utility is its roof rack system, which allows owners to securely transport various outdoor gear, whether for rugged off-road adventures or everyday errands.

However, some optimization is recommended to get the most from the roof rack.

Tip 1: Organize with separators and totes

While throwing loose items directly onto the rack works for some essential transport, a more organized approach makes contents more accessible to access and manage. Dividers allow the partitioning of the Rivian r1s roof rack surface into sections, keeping groups of things separated.

Mesh cargo organizers fitted across the bars create pockets that hold gear upright. Storage totes specially designed for roofs further contain belongings and some feature handles for easy loading and unloading.

Together, these accessories introduce a structure that makes the most available space. Padded totes protect fragile items, while transparent ones allow quick visual checks of contents. Placing bulky or lightweight things into designated areas maintains an optimized load balance.

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Tip 2: Consider a gear track system for racks

 

Roof rack gear track systems offer fully modular loading configurations, taking organization one step further. They consist of adjustable aluminum beams that mount perpendicular to the crossbars, forming a rail framework.

Besides, frequently used gear finds a dedicated slot, ready when wanted. Less often transported items remain safely stowed until the next outing requires them. This ultra-organized approach maximizes space utilization. It functions similarly to drawers in a tool chest.

With tracks installed, packing and unpacking the rack becomes intuitive. Everything finds its place, and owners know exactly where each item is located—saving valuable time when loading up.

Tip 3: Mind weight limits and balance loads appropriately

 

While the R1S roof can bear a significant payload, it is still essential owners respect the maximum capacity and distribute weight evenly. They exceed and risk reducing the mount points or affecting vehicle handling characteristics at highway speeds. The standard rack specs for a single-motor R1S allow up to 300 pounds total and 165 pounds per crossbar. 

However, dual-motor and max-pack models see increases to 330 pounds overall and 187.5 pounds per bar. Either way, these thresholds should always be maintained, as overloading could cause mounting hardware or bars to fail.

As for load balance, it is wise to position bulkier or heavier gear toward the front half of the roof and over the cabin, balanced by lighter accessories in the back. Center loads over each crossbar section.

Distributing weight evenly maintains optimum stability with minimal impact on fuel efficiency or ride dynamics. Taking the five minutes to arrange packages thoughtfully ensures security and safety over long drives.

Tip 4: Consider an extension kit for extra-long items

 

While the rack provides approximately a six-foot capacity along the roof, longer shapes like canoes, kayaks, or lumber occasionally require extra coverage. Rivian designed roof rack extension kit options for these situations.

Besides, they consist of additional bars that bolt to the outer ends of the stock crossbars, effectively doubling rack length to around 12 feet total. Extension bars feature all the same strength and attachment points as the original crossbars for a fully integrated expansion.

Also, those hauling longer cargo can now do so securely elevated off the truck bed. Extension kits maximize versatility for transporting uncommon geometries. Whether moving a sheet of plywood or a fiberglass boat, owners can safely secure unusually long loads to the R1S roof—further expanding its practical utility beyond most other vehicles.

Tip 5: Use Ratcheting Straps for Secure Loads

 

Yes, any items placed on the roof rack must be fastened down securely so they do not shift or come loose during driving. While the rack features heavy-duty mounts and crossbars to hold weight, wind resistance at highway speeds can still put stress on loose objects.

Therefore, the most effective method is to wrap ratcheting straps around the entire load, corner to corner, and ratchet them until very tight.

Furthermore, additional straps should angle diagonally over the top as a crossover reinforcement. Ratcheting straps are convenient because their mechanical lever allows extremely tight tensions to be achieved with less effort than conventional straps. This compression holds loads snuggly in place, absorbing vibration.

As an additional precaution, delicate or expensive gear should be wrapped in protective materials like foam or padded covers when using a roof rack. Taking these steps ensures loads remain stationary even over rough roads.

Conclusion

 

Applying these five simple tips—from load-securing techniques to organizational accessories and proper weight distribution—unlocks the full potential of the R1S roof rack. Owners gain a mobile, weatherproof storage system optimized for adventure, hobby, or job site needs. Following best practices maintains the rack mounting points’ structural integrity and rated load capacity over thousands of miles.

Most importantly, well-managed loads arrive safely at their destination after long highway hauls or rugged trails. The roof becomes a maximum utility zone that expands cargo practicality.

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Business

Electricity: Bands BCDE Suffer No Power

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As DisCos struggle to meet the required 20 hours power supply to “Band A” customers following shortage of gas which has hindered power generation since January, customers on Bands B, C, D, and E are left with no light, according to The Tide’s source.
The source learnt that the distribution companies were concentrating more on the Band A customers to keep their Band A feeders from being downgraded.
Band A customers enjoy a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily.
On April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission announced that subsidies would no longer be paid for the electricity consumed by Band A customers.
The electricity tariff for Band A customers was revised upward from N68 per kilowatt-hour to N255/KWh.
1 kWh is the amount of energy that could be used if a 1,000-watt appliance is kept running for an hour. For example, a 100-watt light bulb operating for 10 hours would use 1 kWh.
After the power subsidy was removed, the NERC directed the 11 DisCos to release their lists of Band A customers, who must get at least a 20-hour supply daily.
The regulator and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, emphasised that there would be sanctions should the distribution companies fail to supply Band A customers with 20 hours of electricity.
The DisCos were also mandated to inform customers whenever they failed to meet the required minimum service level.
NERC said where a DisCo failed to deliver on the committed level of service on a Band A feeder for two consecutive days, the DisCo should, by 10 am the next day, publish on its website an explanation of the reasons for the failure and update the affected customers on the timeline for restoration of service to the committed level.
It stated that if a customer’s service level improves to at least 20 hours, they should be upgraded from lower service bands to Band A, adding that if the DisCo fails to meet the committed service level to a Band A feeder for seven consecutive days, the feeder will be downgraded to the recorded level of supply by the applicable framework.
In their efforts to meet up with the service level, the source gathered that some of the DisCos were gradually resorting to diverting the little allocation they get to the Band A customers.
This is in spite of the fact that the gas constraints that have hindered power generation since the beginning of the year have yet to be addressed.
Many communities said they could not boast 30 hours of power supply since January, a development the government blamed on the refusal of gas companies to supply gas to power-generating companies due to heavy debt.
Recall that recently, the IBEDC spokesperson, Busolami Tunwase, explained that, “One of the primary factors is the low supply of gas to generating companies, which has led to a gradual decrease in available generation on the grid.

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Business

‘Inappropriate Insider Dealing’ Earns Julius Berger NGX Sanction

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Authorities at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) have sanctioned Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc for engaging in inappropriate insider dealing in shares.
According to a document obtained by The Tide’s source, JBN, Nigeria’s leading construction company, was sanctioned for “insider dealing during closed period”.
Incorporated in 1970, Julius Berger, Nigeria, which was incorporated in 1970, became a publicly quoted company in 1991 and has more than 10,000 shareholders.
NGX Regulatory Company (NGX RegCo), the self regulatory organisation (SRO) that regulates activities at the NGX, stated that JBN breached certain provisions of the listing rules and was thus sanctioned accordingly.
According to NGX RegCo, JBN violated provisions on “closed period”, in breach of the construction company’s commitment to adhere to listing rules and standards.
The NGX had tightened its rules and regulations to checkmate boardroom intrigues and block information arbitrage that tend to confer advantages on companies’ directors.
The amendments expanded the scope and authority of corporate financial reporting while eliminating gaps that allowed companies to sidetrack relevant rules in stage-managing corporate compliance.
The enhanced framework provided clarity and greater disclosures on directors’ trading in shares, corporate liability for accuracy and compliance of financial statement, dissuade bogus dividend payment and other sundry boardroom’s maneuverings that tend to favour insiders.
The amendments came on the heels of noticeable increase in violations of rules on ‘closed period’, a period when directors are banned from trading in the shares of their companies.
Rule 17.17 of the NGX disallows insiders and their connected persons from trading in the shares or bonds of their companies during the ‘closed period’ or any period during which trading is restricted.
This period is mostly at a period of sensitive material information, like prior knowledge of financials, dividends or major corporate changes, which places directors and other insiders at advantage above other general and retail investors.
A review of the disclosure violations at the stock market had shown that all violations in 2021 were related to violation of Rule 17.17 on ‘closed period’.
Under the amendments, in addition to the provisions of relevant accounting standards, laws, rules and requirements regarding preparation of financial statements, companies are now required to include several specific declarations on securities transactions by directors, changes in shareholding structure, self-assessment on compliance with corporate governance standards and internal code for directors on securities transactions among others.

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