Business
Ease of Doing Business: PEBEC Pushes Digital Integration Among MDAs
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has called for stronger digital integration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to improve governance efficiency and ease of doing business in Nigeria.
The Director-General, PEBEC, Princess Zahra Audu, made the call during the Retreat for Heads of MDAs and MDA Reform Champions, themed ‘From Collaboration To Integration: Digitalising Government Services Through Shared Systems And Data, in Abuja, recently.
Audu said the council was promoting interconnectivity among agencies to reduce duplication, improve efficiency and ensure seamless service delivery for citizens and businesses.
According to her, PEBEC had grouped MDAs into clusters based on operational interdependence to ensure policies and reforms align with government objectives.
“We identify the gaps and then we create the solutions to fix those gaps.
“The council will collaborate with agencies including National Information Technology Development Agency and Galaxy Backbone on digital integration,” she said.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, said Nigeria could no longer afford fragmented institutional processes and outdated service delivery systems that weaken productivity and reduced investor confidence.
Hadejia said the retreat theme reflected the need for coordinated service delivery, shared digital platforms and real-time collaboration among MDAs.
He also said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to building a transparent, technology-enabled and innovation-driven public sector capable of supporting Nigeria’s broader economic transformation agenda.
The Commissioner for Finance at the National Pension Commission, Dr Charles Emukowhate, said digital reforms had simplified pension registration, compliance certification and retirement benefit processing.
Emukowhate said President Tinubu had approved and cleared outstanding pension liabilities worth N758billion under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history.
Also, the Country Director, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Mrs Obianuju Uchenna, said digital public infrastructure could reduce governance costs by up to 60 per cent through seamless data sharing across agencies.
Uchenna said Nigeria should prioritise integrating critical agencies and gradually expand digital interoperability across sectors including agriculture, education and health.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Wale-Smatt Oyerinde, stressed the importance of skills development in strengthening SMEs and supporting economic growth.
Oyerinde said NECA, in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund and Microsoft, was training young Nigerians in technical and artificial intelligence skills to improve productivity and competitiveness.
The Commissioner for Insurance and Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission, Olusegun Omosehin, said digitalisation had become mandatory in the insurance sector following the enactment of the Insurance Industry Reform Act 2025.
Omosehin said automation would improve insurance penetration, customer access and service delivery, adding that consumers would increasingly purchase insurance products digitally.
The Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Mr Adeyemi Adeniran, said the bureau was implementing an integrated administrative data system to improve data sharing among MDAs.
Adeniran said the initiative would reduce the cost of data production and improve evidence-based policymaking through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools.
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Business
RIVERS NDC STANDARD BEARER CAUTIONS AGAINST TRIBAL POLITICS IN 2027
Governorship candidate of The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has called on politicians and other stakeholders in the state not to make the governorship seat of Rivers State an ethnic agenda.
Chief Lulu-Briggs, who said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after arrival from Abuja, also blamed the alleged unenviable position of Rivers State among the comity of states in the country on the political class.
He said stakeholders must avoid a situation where the state would be plunged into another round of political crisis, adding that given the ethnic and cultural diversity of the state, it was necessary to give everyone a sense of inclusion by ensuring that the governorship seat rotates among the ethnic nationalities.
The NDC governorship flag bearer condemned the alleged intimidation of the electorate, noting that the situation has underdeveloped the state.
He said, if elected, his administration would provide the democratic dividends that will improve the lives of the people.
In a similar development, the state chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Rivers State, Mr Success Jack, says his party will run an all inclusive government in the state.
Mr Jack, who spoke to newsmen in Port Harcourt, promised that an NDC controlled government will always consult with the people before taking any decisions.
According to him, based on his party’s ideology of “Solid, Strong Accommodating”, the NDC offers hope to the hopeless and the downtrodden.
“We assure you that we are fully ready. Our party is a platform that is open to everybody whether APC or PDP, we offer hope. Our ideology is Solid, Strong, Accommodating. The manifesto of our party is anchored on the ideology of providing genuine service to the people”.
Mr Jack also stressed that the policies of an NDC government would be crafted in such a way and manner that serves the primary and secondary interests of the people.
“This is not what you find in other parties.What you find in other parties is utmost impunity, absolute impunity, where the people are not included, they are not consulted and so their opinion does not count, they don’t know what government wants to do because they didn’t contribute to what government wants to do.
“That’s not the case here. We listen to the people, even provide the way forward, (and) the details for the way forward because we provide the framework as a government but the people will provide the details because they are the ones that wear the shoes and they know where it pinches them”, he said.
By: John Bibor
Business
Navy Upgrades Infrastructure To Tackle Security Threats —— CNS
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding its infrastructures and training to tackle emerging security threats
Navy also said the service is aimed at strengthening operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas stated this during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers, as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, Abbas said the projects reflected significant progress made by the Navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the Navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others facilities include the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base”, he said.
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The Naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the Navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
NAVTRAC also distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
By: CHINEDU WOSU
Business
Airport Road Remains Only For Airport Activities —-Gov. Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara says Airport road will soon be accessible only for Airport activities in the state.
The Governor said this recently while inspecting the level l0of construction work on the Igwuruta By-Pass Road project in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Governor who expressed optimism over the progress of work on the project, saying the By-pass road will reduced unrelated activities on the Airport area in the state.
Governor Fubara explained that the By-pass road was designed in collaboration with the host community to address accessibility concerns while preserving the operational integrity of the airport corridor.
“So, we liaised with the community and created this By-pass,” he stated.
The governor further clarified the objective of the road project, saying it would provide the residents with a dedicated access route separate from the airport operations.
“The purpose of the By-pass is so needful that the community can have this as their own way, their own entrance, while the airport will remain only for airport activity once these roads are completed,” he said.
Providing an update on the pace of work, Fubara disclosed that the project had already achieved a major milestone in execution.
“So far, they’ve done about 65% of the job,” the governor announced,
revealing that contractors handling the project had assured the state government of timely delivery.
He also expressed confidence that the bypass would be completed before October.
“They’re also promising that before October, the total project will be delivered,” he added.
By: Enoch Epelle
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