News
FG Targets $10bn In Crude Accounts
Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala, said in Tokyo on Sunday that Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account
would be built up to $10 billion by early 2013.
Okonjo-iweala made this known while briefing newsmen on the
Nigerian economy at the Annual Meeting of the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).
“I strongly feel and I have shared with the governors, with
Mr. President and vice-president who fully support that the Excess Crude
Account must be built up to $10 billion.
“We should strive to do that in the next few months and we
keep that as buffer.’’
According to her, if the account is built up to $10 billion
dollars and it is not touched for a while, it will serve as buffer.
She noted that there was the need to increase the nation’s
external reserve, considering the population of the country.
“Our reserves are not huge, we are just building backup;
it’s not my place, it is the monetary policy that manages it, but I have
discussed with the CBN governor that we need to build up our reserve to $50
billion, if we can.
“That will be the desires of the fiscal authorities, so I
don’t consider us with the size of the economy and population we have.
“Look at Algeria, their reserve is nearly $200 billion, for
a country much smaller than Nigeria,’’ she said.
On infrastructure, she noted that the country needed about $10 billion yearly to tackle its infrastructural challenges adding that Nigeria would draw from the World Bank’s loan offer with a go-ahead from the National Assembly.
She noted that Nigeria would not draw from the international
monetary resources at the moment to tackle the infrastructure challenges.
“We are trying to put our borrowing to really direct it to
infrastructure, as you know we have gone to other sources, the Word Bank is
helping us with power, so is the African Development Bank.
“Those are very concessional resources. The problem we have
right now is that the meetings from the World Bank; they are indicating that if
we do not pass through external borrowing plan, where we have $1.2 billion,
that has been approved.
“They are very sympathetic to us, they will like Nigeria to
use that money but if the money stays there and it’s not approved for use, they
will have to move it and give it to other countries.’’
Okonjo-Iweala noted that the loan to be taken would be given
at zero interest rate, a 40-year repayment period and 10 years of moratorium
and only 0.7 per cent commitment charge.
She said that the money would be used for power, water and
health care among others, adding that Nigeria could only benefit from the loan,
if the National Assembly approved.
Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Governor, Sanusi
Lamido Sanusi said in Tokyo yesterday that the bank would soon stop the selling
of cash to bureaux de change.
“70 per cent of the dollars that people buy from bureaux de
change are not for transactions outside Nigeria, they move dollars from one
part of the country to the other, in fact, from one part of Abuja to another
part.
“In a briefcase, you can carry $100,000, that’s N50 million.
“We are coming up with policies; we are going to have to
stop selling cash to BDC and credit their accounts.
“If you want to pay for medical bills abroad, you give
hospital account; if you want to pay school fees, do transfer like everybody
else; if you want to travel, do travelers cheques or get money on your card.’’
He said that at the moment, the dollar was becoming
Nigeria’s second national currency, becoming a source of worry to the apex bank
and even to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sanusi noted that part of the reason why the bank moved to
restructure the Naira was to tackle the genuine need of high net-worth cash
users.
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.
The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.
He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.
He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.
“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.
“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.
He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.
According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.
“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.
In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.
She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.
The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.
Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
