Featured
FG Committed To Success Of Private Sector – Osinbajo …Commissions $1.4bn Fertilizer Plant, Other Projects In Rivers
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, said that the Federal Government was unequivocally committed to the success of the private sector.
He made the remarks during the formal release ceremony to discharge the Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL) from the five-year monitoring programme of BPE in Eleme, Rivers State.
He said the Federal Government had been focusing on improving significantly the business environment for small and large businesses.
According to him, last year, President Muhammadu Buhari established a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), whose results are now starting to be felt across the country.
“The kind of economic growth and prosperity that we’re aiming for cannot happen without private capital.
“And that private capital cannot be unlocked without reforming the business environment by removing obstacles and roadblocks to investment and business operations,’’ he said.
Osinbajo noted that it was impossible for government to ever be able to provide all the capital needed to invest in infrastructure, or to catalyse economic activity.
He said that the best government could do was to put energy into acting as a catalyst and support private capital to achieve maximum impact in the economy.
“And this is the entire point of the privatisation programme in the first place – it is about getting government out of the way so that businesses can do what they need to do to create jobs and prosperity.
“I’m glad that we’re here today to see one of the success stories of the Federal Government’s privatisation programme.
“What Indorama is accomplishing today is very much in line with President Buhari’s vision for a country that produces what it consumes and grows what it eats.
“If you had to sum up our vision for the Nigeria’s economy in a few words, this would suffice. Grow what we eat, produce what we consume,” he said.
Osinbajo said the President launched a Presidential Fertilizer Initiative in 2016, to ensure the availability of cheaper fertilizer to farmers, to support agriculture in the production of rice and wheat and other staples.
He said such initiative created significant economic opportunities for companies like IEPL which planned to supply about 360,000MT of Urea to fertilizer blenders.
The acting President said the $1.4billion world-class fertilizer blending plant, would in turn produce NPK fertilizer for the benefit of farmers in the country.
He, however, explained that in 2006, 75 per cent of Eleme Petrochemical Limited’s equity was sold to Indorama Consortium Ltd in 2006 for $225 million while 10 per cent was sold to the NNPC Pension Fund for $30million.
Our source reports that the company was handed over to its new owners on October 26, 2006.
In 2009, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) approved the sale of 7.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent of the remaining government’s 15 per cent reserved equity to the community and staff of the company respectively.
The balance of five per cent equity remained with the BPE onbehalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)
The BPE since the handover in 2006 carried out routine monitoring on the enterprise to ensure that the core investor adhered to and implemented the laid out post-acquisition plan.
In his speech earlier, Chairman of IEPL, Mr Sri Lohia, said the company was amongst few largest fertilizer plants in the world.
Lohia said that with the strength of the plant, Nigeria would be self-sufficient in fertilizer.
The chairman said that the plant apart from enhancing agriculture in the region would offer direct and indirect employment.
Meanwhile, the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the Federal Government will support every effort to improve the living condition of Nigerians.
Speaking while commissioning the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu road and Chokocho-Igbo-Etche-Rumuokurushi Inter-Change in Etche Local Government Area, yesterday, Osinbajo lauded Governor Nyseom Wike for embarking on pro-people projects.
He charged leaders to always work for their people, saying, that is the only way that the people can feel the impact of government.
The acting president charged leaders to de-emphasise partisan concerns and work in the interest of their people.
He said: “We must always look for ways to advance the interest of our people. We are greater together than apart. Today is a very happy day. We will always have happy days.
“Here with us to commission the project of the Rivers State Government is Senator Magnus Abe, who is from another party. The Federal Government supports every effort that benefits the people”.
Earlier, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike said the two roads were constructed to revive the economy of Etche Local Government Area.
He said that the roads were death traps and completely damaged the economy of the area as they could not take their agricultural products to the market.
He said,“the condition of the two roads to be commissioned today was so bad that the people of Etche could not use them to transport their agricultural products to markets.”
Wike, also commended the realisation of the projects.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
-
News3 days agoWe Operate Transparent Accounting System
-
Business3 days agoCustoms Backs Locally-Made Vehicles
-
News3 days agoFleeing Villagers Storm Zamfara Government HouseTo Seek Protection
-
News3 days agoEx-Senate President Donates School, Healthcare Centre To Yobe Govt
-
Niger Delta3 days agoIndorama Denies Alleged Environmental Pollution
-
News3 days agoFAAC: FG, States, LGs Share N1.123trn
-
Business3 days agoNCDMB Rakes In $1m Return On NEDOGAS Investment
-
News3 days agoITF Expends N1.1bn On SIWES Allowances-DG