Business

FG Launches Portal To Access MDAs

Published

13 years ago

April 22, 2013

The Federal Government has launched service portal that would enable people to have access to single window information and services provided by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said at the launch of the portal in Abuja that it was just one of the ministry’s projects to leverage on the use of ICT in the country.

“What we have done is that we have developed a single point of entry for all Nigerians or anybody wherever they may be in the world to access government services online.

“This single point of entry is domiciled in www.services.gov.ng domain name.

“This is not the first time we are launching service online. There are a number of government services that are actually delivered online but what has happened over time was that each of the MDAs was working on their own.

“Now, you can tell from a single point, what is exactly available to services online through government agencies.’’

Jonhson said that ministries, in addition to creating single window of entry into government services, were to work with other ministries to launch 10 additional services that are going to be offer online.

“What we have also done is that we have created a standard template for all government Website and ensure that transactions on the web are secured.’’

She said with the launch of the service portal, government would begin to offer faster, cheaper and more efficient service deliveries and business that could always be accessible.

Johnson said the ministry will soon launch other innovations it has been working on, to promote the use of ICT to ensure transparency and better services from government.

“This Friday, we are going to be launching our innovative centres in Lagos and also, in a few weeks in Calabar, we are going to lunch government contact centres.’’

The minister, however, called on the media to sensitise Nigerians to the services available on the portal, as the country has the highest internet traffic in Africa.

“With about 44 million Nigerians connected to the internet every day. Every one of them should be able to transact business on the portal.’’

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Henry Akpan, also expressed optimism that the launch of the portal would promote investment that would enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians.

He said that the ministry was committed to promoting effective service delivery using ICT.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Mr Gerald Ilukwe, said the separation of roles between the programme coordinator, the technology provider and online services providers was critical to the programme’s success.

He said that similar programmes had failed in the past due to confusion and overlapping roles.

Ilukwe also explained that Galaxy backbone, as the ICT provider of the federal government establishments, remained a key partner in the programme.

“These services will continue to be owned and provided by the respective MDAs.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Customs Service has said the launch of the Nigerian Service Portal would enable Nigeria to be better ranked among the comity of nations with enabling environment for doing business.

The Comptroller-General of Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, stated this at the official launch of Federal Government Service Portal by the Ministry of Communication Technology on Tuesday in Abuja.

Dikko, represented by the Deputy-Controller General of Customs Mr Bashar Yusuf, said that the portal would make other developing countries to look up to Nigeria’s building model in doing business.

Dikko added that the model would also provide a platform that would guarantee integrity of government institutions and their operations within and outside the country.

He said that the Nigerian Customs had also been involved in the course of doing business in the country through the development of a portal with rich contents which would also be co-opted into the service portal.

He said “it is an opportunity to give Nigeria that chance to be a model in ensuring integrity of its own citizens. It is equally an opportunity that will give Nigeria a better world ranking in comity of nations.

He said “we know very well not quit long ago there was an audit of 185 countries and Nigeria took the 184th position in the course of doing business. It is not the best position.

“Why are we taken 184 positions? Because the cost of doing business in Nigeria highly cumbersome. There is nothing facilitating anything. That was why we jumped into that business to say it will never be the same again”.

Business

Agency Gives Insight Into Its Inspection, Monitoring Operations

Published

7 hours ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Director, South South Zone National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacist Chujwuma P.Oligbu has said its thorough implementation of its core mandate of monitoring has no link with witch-hunting or fault finding as perceived at some quarters.

Oligbu, made this known when he spoke as as guest at the maiden Rivers state Supermarkets stakeholders’ Seminar/Workshop in Port Harcourt recently.

Rather, he said they were mere opportunities for education, correction and continuous improvement.

The Agency’s South South Boss, noted that Supermarket operators who maintain transparent records, cooperate during inspections, and promptly address identified gaps demonstrate professionalism and commitment to public health standard.

He listed the deserving essence of supermarket operation to include the key aspects of supermarket operation that deserves emphasis is product sourcing.

“Supermarkets must ensure that all regulated products stocked on their shelves are duly registered with NAFDAC and sourced from legitimate manufacturers or distributors”, he said .

According to him, the presence of unregistered, expired, counterfeit, or improper labelled products undermines consumer confidence and poses serious health risks.

He pointed out that such has the likelihood of exposeing supermarket operators to legal sanctions that could damage their reputation and financial stability.

The NAFDAC Operator, further enlightened the participants that mere registration of a particular product with the Federal agency do not guarantee absolute consumption safety.

“Temperature control, cleanliness, pest control, stock rotation, and proper shelving are not optional practice; they are essential components of compliance”, he said.

The South South zonal director also told the operators of supermarket that their employees rotine training on the basis of the product they display for sale is of utmost importance.

In her presentation a Breast Milk Nutrition Expert , Professor Alice Nte of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), was against the body’s prime attention to breast milk substitute or baby milk in supermarkets as well as its advertisement or promotion.

Nye jerked up the importance of mothers breast milk to the newborn baby and added that it help in fighting against childhood diseases, infections and combating cancer in breastfeeding mothers.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC Deputy Director, South – South Zone , Mrs. Riter Chujwuma educated the participants on the guidelines for global listing, and the need to adhere strictly to rules guiding global listing to avoid confiscation of their imported products.

By: King Onunwor

Business

BVN Enrolments Rise 6% To 67.8m In 2025 — NIBSS

Published

8 hours ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has said that Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolments rose by 6.8 per cent year-on-year to 67.8 million as at December 2025, up from 63.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

In a statement published on its website, NIBSS attributed the growth to stronger policy enforcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the expansion of diaspora enrolment initiatives.

According to the data, more than 4.3 million new BVNs were issued within the one-year period, underscoring the growing adoption of biometric identification as a prerequisite for accessing financial services in Nigeria.

NIBSS noted that the expansion reinforces the BVN system’s central role in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive and digital identity framework.

Analysts linked the growth largely to regulatory measures by the CBN, particularly the directive to restrict or freeze bank accounts without both a BVN and National Identification Number (NIN), which took effect from April 2024.

The policy compelled many customers to regularise their biometric records to retain access to banking services.

Another major driver, the statement said, was the rollout of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which allows Nigerians in the diaspora to obtain a BVN remotely without physical presence in the country.

The programme has been widely regarded as a milestone in integrating the diaspora into Nigeria’s formal financial system.

A five-year analysis by NIBSS showed consistent growth in BVN enrolments, rising from 51.9 million in 2021 to 56.0 million in 2022, 60.1 million in 2023, 63.5 million in 2024 and 67.8 million by December 2025. The steady increase reflects stronger compliance with biometric identity requirements and improved coverage of the national banking identity system.

However, NIBSS noted that BVN enrolments still lag the total number of active bank accounts, which exceeded 320 million as of March 2025.

The gap, it explained, is largely due to multiple bank accounts linked to single BVNs, as well as customers yet to complete enrolment, despite the progress recorded.

Business

AFAN Unveils Plans To Boost Food Production In 2026

Published

3 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The leadership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has set the tone for the new year with a renewed focus on food security, unity and long-term growth of the agricultural sector.

The association announced that its General Assembly of Farmers Congress will take place from January 15 to 17, 2026 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, along Lugbe Airport Road, in the Federal Capital Territory.

The gathering is expected to bring together farmers, policymakers, investors and development partners to shape a fresh direction for Nigerian agriculture.

In a New Year address to members and stakeholders, AFAN president, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said the congress would provide a strategic forum for reviewing past challenges and outlining practical solutions for the future.

He explained that the event would serve as a rallying point for innovation, collaboration and economic renewal within the sector.

Mudi commended farmers across the country for their determination and hard work, despite years of insecurity, climate-related pressures and economic uncertainty.

According to him, their resilience has kept food production alive and positioned agriculture as a stabilising force in the national economy.

He noted that AFAN intends to build on this strength by resetting agribusiness operations to improve productivity and sustainability.

The AFAN leader appealed to government institutions, private investors and development organisations to deepen their engagement with the association.

He stressed the need for collective action to confront persistent issues such as insecurity in farming communities, climate impacts and market instability.

He also urged members to put aside internal disputes and personal interests, encouraging cooperation and shared responsibility in pursuit of national development.

Mudi outlined key priorities that include increasing food output, expanding support for farmers at the grassroots and strengthening local manufacturing through partnerships with both domestic and international investors adding that reducing dependence on imports remains critical to protecting the economy and creating jobs.

He stated that the upcoming congress will feature the launch of AFAN’s twenty-five-year agricultural mechanisation roadmap, alongside the announcement of new partnerships designed to accelerate growth across the value chain.

Participants, he said wi also have opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange aimed at transforming agriculture into a more competitive and technology-driven sector.

As part of its modernisation drive, AFAN is further encouraging members nationwide to enrol for the newly introduced Digital ID Card.

Mudi said the initiative will improve transparency, ensure proper farmer identification and make it easier to access support programmes and services.

Reaffirming the association’s long-term goal, he said the vision of national food sufficiency by 2030 remains achievable if unity and collaboration are sustained.

He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can overcome its challenges and deliver a more secure and prosperous future.

Lady Usendi