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Insecurity: We’ll Win Battle Over Evil, Buhari Assures Nigerians …Unveils BUA’s Three Million Metric Tonnes Cement Plant

Published

4 months ago

January 28, 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari has again reiterated the resolve of his administration to deal ruthlessly with criminal elements creating security challenges in the country.
To this end, Buhari said that he has directed the nation’s Armed Forces and other security services to deal decisively with any person or group undermining efforts at achieving sustainable peace, security and stability in the country, assuring that the country will ultimately defeat the forces of evil.
This is as Buhari, yesterday, inaugurated a cement plant owned by BUA Group, as well as a power plant in Sokoto.
Speaking at the palace of Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, said, “I gave them specific orders not to spare any bandit or terrorist threatening the lives and property of innocent Nigerians.”
The president, who commiserated with the government and people of Sokoto over the recent loss of lives and property as a result of outrageous attacks by bandits and other criminal gangs, assured the people that he remains unrelenting in his resolve to put an end to heinous criminal activities in the state and other parts of the country.
The president wrote in the visitors’ register: “My condolences to the Sultanate, the Government, and people of Sokoto State over the recent mindless killings by bandits and terrorists.
“Nigeria shall win the battle over evil.”
The Governor of Sokoto State, Hon Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan thanked the president for the show of sympathy, assuring him of continued support towards peace and stability in the country.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, paid a visit to Sokoto State to inaugurate a cement plant owned by BUA Group, as well as a power plant.
He was hosted by Sokoto State Governor, Hon Aminu Tambuwal.
The 4th line of the BUA cement plant is estimated to produce three million metric tonnes of cement per annum plant.
Buhari lauded the company for believing in Nigeria, and for being the largest employer of labour in the North-West region of the country.
The president expressed delight that the policies of the Federal Government on economic diversification, job creation, as well as creating an enabling environment was yielding fruits.
He pledged that his regime would continue to support serious investors to set up businesses that will take advantage of huge reserves of resources in different parts of the country.
He also recounted that the second facility of the cement plant was inaugurated when he was the Head of State in 1985.
“Today, almost thirty-seven years later, to commission the fourth line is a very special day for me personally.
“As you all know, one of the key economic pillars of our administration has been to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. This is necessary for job creation and indeed, for our economy and national security.
“In the past few weeks, I visited Ogun and Kaduna states where I observed many private sector investments in action. And today, I am here in Sokoto to commission this multi-billion Naira project.
“It is, therefore, very clear for all to see that our policies are working. Progress is gradually being made in all parts of the country,” Buhari said.
The President thanked the Founder of BUA Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and the entire team for the great efforts made to diversify the economy and create new jobs for the teeming population.
He noted that the company, which has built four new cement plants of similar capacity in the last five years, in different parts of the country, is set to complete two more plants soon.
He reiterated that BUA had shown through these investments that it believes in Nigeria and its potential.
Buhari said, “I am pleased that through these investments, BUA Cement has created employment opportunities for our citizens. Today, BUA is the largest employer of labour in the North-West region.
“I always remind Nigerians that every region, indeed every state, in Nigeria sits on huge reserves of resources. For example, in this area, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara can boast of rice production, gold, and other precious metals development and of course, heavy industries like cement manufacturing.
“As a government, we introduced policies and mechanisms to support such investments in a legal, ethical and inclusive manner.
“We remain prepared to support serious investors to set up businesses that will take advantage of these opportunities through value addition so as to take advantage of the huge market here, as well as in the greater African region and the world at large,” Buhari said.
In response, the Chairman, BUA Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, commended the president for creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. He acknowledged the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria and its Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in setting up the plant.
“So far, we have invested over a billion dollars in the past four years and we urge the CBN to continue to support industries like ours, as we use locally sourced raw materials to add value,” he said.
“In the past 6 years, we have completed 4 plants – two in Obu, Edo State and two in Sokoto (of which this Sokoto line 4 is the fourth) with BUA’s total production capacity now standing at 11.5million tonnes with the completion of this plant.
“Next year, we intend to complete the construction of two new plants of 3million metric tonnes each for which construction is ongoing – one in Edo and the other, here in Sokoto.”
The chairman of BUA said he looked forward to Buhari inaugurating these new plants next year.
The new plants will bring total production capacity to 17.5million metric tonnes.
Dignitaries at the event were the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar; the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele; Chairman BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, among others.

News

LG Boss Lauds Mrs. Wike On Women’s Mentorship

Published

12 hours ago

May 25, 2022

The Tide

The Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, Hon. Anengi Barasua has said that the mentorship roled played by Mrs. Suzzuest Nyesom Wike has enriched women in the State in all ramifications.

She said Justice Nyesom Wike’s display of humility and support for women was worthy for emulation.

Barasua, said this while fielding questions from journalists, at the weekend, in her office in Bonny, saying support given to the governor was enormous.

” Justice Suzzuest Wike, is a virtuous mother and role model to women, particularly in Rivers State. The women are proud of her. Her humility and inspiration she has given to women is commendable” Barasua said.

The local government chairperson urged women in authority to always emulate Mrs Wike, as she support her husband to succeed in his administration.

” I want to say an old time adage that says behind every successful man there is a woman. We have seen a real mother that has so much interest in women empowerment and deveploment.

I urge every woman in her position to emulate her and be submissive to your husbands. I also use this opportunity to felicitate with her on her birthday and wish her God protection and good health” she stated.

In another deveploment, Bonny Chairman has also congratulated all women elected in the just concluded PDP delegate and primary elections describing it as most peaceful.

She reiterated her commitment to the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike for given women more opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

News

Nigeria’s GDP Grew By 3.11% In Q1 2022, NBS Affirms

Published

17 hours ago

May 25, 2022

The Tide

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.11per cent in the first quarter of 2022.
The NBS made this known via its Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report Q1 2022 released, last Monday.
According to the report, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.11per cent year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter of 2022.
The NBS noted that the development showed a sustained positive growth for six consecutive quarters since the recession witnessed in 2020 when negative growth rates were recorded in quarter two and three of 2020.
It added that the first quarter 2022 growth rate further represents an improvement in economic performance.
The NBS stated: “The observed trend since Q4 of 2020 is an indication of a gradual economic stability.
“The Q1 of 2022 growth rate was higher than the 0.51per cent growth rate recorded in Q1 of 2021 by 2.60per cent points and lower than 3.98per cent recorded in Q4 of 2021 by 0.88per cent points.
“Nevertheless, quarter-on-quarter, real GDP grew at -14.66per cent in Q1 of 2022, compared to Q4 of 2021, reflecting a lower economic activity than the preceding quarter.
“In the period under review, aggregate GDP stood at about N45.317million in nominal terms.
“This performance is higher when compared to the first quarter of 2021 which recorded aggregate GDP of about N40.014million, indicating a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 13.25per cent.
“The nominal GDP growth rate in Q1 2022 was higher relative to the 12.25per cent growth recorded in Q1 2021, and higher compared to the 13.11per cent growth recorded in the preceding quarter,” the report read.

News

RSG Launches RIV-CARES Programme …World Bank Rates Rivers High

Published

17 hours ago

May 25, 2022

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has launched the state COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (RIV-CARES) Programme.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike performed the launching at the NBA Secretariat in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the governor said the programme was to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poor and vulnerable households and support micro and small-scale enterprises as a means of stimulating economic growth post-COVID.
According to the State Chief Executive, “the state government had signed in for the programme, made provisions in the 2022 Budget for Result Areas and signed Funds Release Policy, which is an assurance to the World Bank that funds shall be released for the implementation of the programme”.
Wike said the launching of the RIV-CARES Programme would create awareness for the people of the state and engender expression of interest by beneficiary households, communities and operators of micro and small businesses (SMEs).
The governor, who encouraged the Rivers people to take advantage of the opportunities provided by RIV-CARES to enhance their means of livelihood and reduce the spate of poverty in the communities, commended the World Bank and the Federal CARES for their support to the state.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Titilola Kuna Cline, said in a bid to check the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on livelihoods, food security and micro and small businesses, the World Bank in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria and the state governments, introduced the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.
She said the state scaled through rigorous preparatory stages and qualified to participate in the programme whose objective was “to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms”.
According to her, the stages include, signing of subsidiary loan agreement and fund release policy by the government.
Others include the establishment of the RIV-CARES Steering Committee, establishment of State- CARES Coordination Unit domiciled in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and preparation of work plan.
“The NG-CARES, after domestication of programme implementation manual now known as RIV-CARES programme has the State Coordination Unit (SCU) saddled with coordinating implementation of RIV-CARES programme in the state and reporting to Federal-CARES supporting unit and the World Bank in Abuja.
“It is also a bridge between the delivery platforms and the State-CARES Steering Committee and for delivery platform under three Results Areas (RA1-3).
Cline listed the three areas to include cash transfer unit, labour intensive public works and community-driven development social (CDD-S) Plus.
The rest are, FADAMA and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Also speaking, the representative of the World Bank, Mr. Aso Vakporaye, said the programme must succeed in order to kick out poverty from the state in view of the fact that failure to kick out poverty would make life difficult for the entire citizenry.
He, therefore, thanked the governor for making it possible for Rivers State to participate in the programme.
Similarly, the World Bank and the Federal Government have rated Rivers State high in the implementation of the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus scheme by the state government.
Representative of the World Bank Task Team Leader, Mr.Aso Vakporaye said this, yesterday, in Port Harcourt at the official flag offand implementation of the Rivers State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (RIV-CARES) Programme in the state.
Vakporaye, who is also the chairman of the Federal Government’sFederal-CARES Technician Committee,confirmed that Rivers State has met the requirements for the implementation of the programme.
He said alot still remains to be done,adding that the state needs to release more money for the implementation of the programme.
Also speaking, theTechnical Head of State CARESCoordinating Unitand Secretary,RIV-CARESSteering Committee,Mrs Imaonyeni Ephraim, said the programme would improve the livelihood of the poor and vulnerable people in the state.
She said the programme, which runs for two years,was open to many beneficiaries.
The flag off was performed by the state Deputy Governor,Dr.Ipalibo Harry Banigo, onbehalf of Governor Nyesom Wike.