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IMF Urges Banks To Restructure Loans

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Nigerian banks, and their counterparts across the world to restructure loans given to sectors that were badly hit by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a report titled: ‘Maintaining Banking System Safety amid the COVID-19 Crisis’, the IMF Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, Tobias Adrian, said the pressure on the banking system was growing and higher defaults on debt were imminent, insisting that a shock to the financial sector similar in magnitude to the 2008 crisis will occur.
The Nigerian Bankers’ Committee had last week, asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to grant commercial regulatory forbearance to banks to restructure terms of loans in affected sectors. They also advised the regulator to strengthen Loan to Deposit Ratio (LDR) policy, promoting ‘significant extra lending from banks’.
Adrian said: “Like the health experts, bank supervisors are responding to a fast-moving and extraordinary situation. Supervisors must combine the tools from their playbooks for dealing with natural disasters, operational risk events, and bank stress episodes. With its global vantage point, and drawing from past experience, the IMF can offer some additional guidance on the way forward,” he said.
He advised regulators and supervisors to clearly communicate to banks to be proactive in rescheduling their loan portfolio for those borrowers and sectors that have been hard hit by the severe, but temporary, shock.
“They should also remind banks about flexible credit risk management and the accounting standards for impairment in these situations. Accounting bodies have helpfully stepped in to clarify to auditors how such modifications should be viewed once the economy begins to recover,” he said.
He also asked banks not to hide their losses, saying “Banks, investors, shareholders and even taxpayers have to bear the loses. Transparency helps prepare all stakeholders; surprises only worsen their response, as was proven during the 2008 crisis.”
Adrian said economic upheaval facing the world today, has surpassed what was witnessed during the global financial crisis, hence the need to help those hurt by it.
The IMF insisted that it is ready to help rebuild distressed banks, including helping the lenders to recapilaise, where need arises.

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NCDMB Tasks Media Practitioners On Effective Reportage 

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December 13, 2024

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has charged media stakeholders on effective reportage of its activities and initiatives, saying the Media is an integral partner of the Board.
Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola-Ogbe, gave the charge in his opening remark at the 2024 Capacity Building Workshop for Media Stakeholders organized by the Board recently for Journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Tagged, “Role of Media and Communication in Sustaining the Tempo of Nigerian Content Development”, the Workshop focused on enhancing the capacity of media professionals to effectively report and promote Nigerian content initiatives.
Represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination of the Board, Barr. Esueme Dan-Kikile, the NCDMB Scribe emphasized the crucial role of the media in driving awareness, advocacy, and public understanding of policies and programmes aimed at fostering local content development in the nation’s oil and gas industry.
He stated that the workshop aligns with the Board’s commitment to leveraging communication and media partnerships to sustain progress in Nigerian content implementation and ensure active stakeholder engagement.
Ogbe, who commended the Media for their collaborative efforts with the Board, also revealed that the current management of the NCDMB tends to partner stakeholders in the education sector to deploy better and more qualified teachers to rural communities through a new initiative of the Board tagged, “Back to the Creek”.
“This is about the 14th year since the establishment of the NCDMB, and the media has been a very integral partner to the Board. And so this yearly workshop is being organized to train and retrain media practitioners across the country because of the important role the media has continued to play in their collaboration with the Board.
“Under the present management of the NCDMB, we’ve an initiative called ‘Back to the Creeks’ in which the Board, in partnership with stakeholders in the education sector, tends to provide some support in terms of educational facilities and infrastructure in the rural communities to attract qualified teachers to those places so that children and students in the rural areas could acquire good education and become better citizens of the nation too”,  he said.
In a presentation titled “Implementing Nigerian Content New Contracting Guidelines in line with the Presidential Directives on Local Content”, Senior Supervisor, Projects Certification and Authorization Division of the NCDMB, Engr. Bashir Ahmed, said the Board was created by its enabling law due to the need for value retention in the oil and gas industry and associated ones.
He noted that with deliberate commitment of the Board in job creation and ensuring competency, while also fast tracking in investments in the oil and gas sector, the NCDMB, which had previously secured a distance 27th position in the Presidential Ease of Doing Business (PEDBE) index in 2019, has now moved upwards to first position between 2022-date, saying the Board has reduced its touch steps from nine to five, following consultation with stakeholders in both the NNPC, OPTS and others.
Giving an overview of the Nigerian Content Measurement Metrics, General Manager, Midstream Monitoring and Evaluation of the NCDMB, Ms. Tassalla Tersurg, stated that there were three approaches to monitoring and evaluation in the Board, noting that they include performance, compliance and intervention monitoring.
Meanwhile, Management of the Board has said key elements of sustaining Nigerian Content Development includes, Policy Implementation and Enforcement, Capacity Building, Promoting Local Manufacturing, Funding and Financial Support, Innovation and Technology Adoption, and Stakeholders engagement, including making the best use of Media and Communication stakeholders, amongst others.
Highlights of the event were panel discussions, moderated by the Manager, Corporate Communications of the Board, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, with the themes “Sustaining the Tempo of Nigerian Content Development”, and “Relevance in the Face of Changing Dynamics: How Can Media Practitioners Reinvent Themselves?”
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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FCTA, Others Chart Path To Organic Agriculture Practices

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December 13, 2024

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and other stakeholders have charted path to improved organic agriculture practices nationwide.
At a 2024 national organic and agroecology business summit held recently in Abuja, stakeholders took turn to speak on the additional areas of promoting the practices.
The Mandate Secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Lawan Geidam, advocated for sustainable practice to develop resilient food systems that will benefit people.
The event, with the theme,”Towards Policies for Upscaling Organic Agroecological Businesses in Nigeria”, is aimed at fostering growth in the organic agriculture sector.
Geidam, who was represented by the Acting Director, Agric Services, in the Secretariat, Mr. Ofili Bennett, emphasised the success of organic and agroecological farming, reling on the active involvement of farmers, businesses and consumers.
He reassured attendees that the FCT Administration, led by the Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that enhance the livelihood of residents.
Geidam described the partnership between the Secretariat and the organic and Agroecology initiative for a monthly exhibition and sale of organic products in the FCTA premises as a testament to this commitment.
“The ARDS remains committed to driving policies and initiatives that align with national goals and global standards”,  Geidam said.
On her part, the Chairperson of Organic and Agroecology Initiative, Mrs. Janet Igho, urged residents to embrace healthy eating habits to sustain a good lifestyle. She stressed the importance of adopting organic practices, highlighting the benefits of going organic, growing organic and consuming organic products.
Igho expressed her optimism regarding the Agricultural Revival Programmes as articulated in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, which aims at fostering food and nutrition security.
She also extended her gratitude to  ARDS for graciously allocating a space in the FCTA premises for the exhibition and sale of organic products, noting that the platform has been effectively used to advance the promotion of organic agriculture in FCT.
Igho outlined several benefits of organic agriculture which includes improved soil health, increased biodiversity, availability nutritious and healthy food and a reduced carbon footprint.
Stakeholders at the summit, underscored the critical need for enhanced private sector involvement and robust capacity building initiatives for farmers.
They highlighted the importance of implementing supportive policies to foster the growth of the organic agriculture sector.
In the light of the significant challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, stakeholders decided that organic agricultural practices present sustainable solutions and a pathway for a more resilient and productive farming systems.
The three-day summit featured exhibitions showcasing organic foods, fruits, vegetables and fertilizers, providing an opportunity for residents to better appreciate the benefits of production and consumption of organic agricultural products.

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Dangote Refinery Exports PMS to Cameroon

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December 13, 2024

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Dangote Refinery and Neptune Oil jave jointly announced the first-ever export of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refinery, to Cameroon.
In a statement yesterday, Dangote said the  milestone achieved was as a result of  the  strategic collaboration between the two companies, and also underscores their commitment to strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and Cameroon while meeting the region’s growing energy demand.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of the Dangote Group, stated: “This first export of PMS to Cameroon is a tangible demonstration of our vision for a united and energy-independent Africa.
“With this development, we are laying the foundation for a future where African resources are refined and exchanged within the continent for the benefit of our people”.
Director and Owner of Neptune Oil,  Antoine Ndzengue, emphasized that “This partnership with Dangote Refinery marks a turning point for Cameroon. By becoming the first importer of petroleum products from this world-class refinery, we are bolstering our country’s energy security and supporting local economic development.
“This initial supply, executed without international intermediaries, reflects our commitment to serving our markets independently and efficiently”.
The collaboration between Dangote Refinery and Neptune Oil does not end with this first export. Both companies are exploring new initiatives to establish a reliable supply chain that will help stabilize fuel prices and create new economic opportunities across the region.
For Nigeria, this export showcases Dangote Refinery’s ability to meet domestic needs and position itself as a key player in the regional energy market. It represents a significant step forward in accessing high-quality and locally sourced petroleum products for Cameroon.
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