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Nigerian Govt To Use $322.52m ‘Abacha Loot’ For Social Safety Net Program
Nigerian government has announced plans to use the $322.52 million returned to the country by the Swiss government as part of the fund looted and stashed abroad by late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, to implement its national social safety net programs.
Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, made this known while talking to the press at the end of the 2018 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC, United States on April 22.
Mrs. Adeosun stated that the recovered fund which had already been lodged in a special account in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will be used for the social safety nets projects aimed at providing access to targeted transfers to poor and vulnerable households under an expanded national social safety nets system.
Mrs Adeosun also spoke on the current growth in the country’s economy. She stressed that the current economic growth showed inflation rate slowing down, with foreign reserves rising and that the current outlook contrasted with the situation experienced under previous administration before 2015.
Citing statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), she said inflation dropped from 14.3 per cent in February 2018, to about 13.49 per cent in March 2018.
She also noted that the country’s foreign reserves, which stood at about $23 billion in October 2016, has grown to more than $47.93 billion, from about $47.37 billion as at April 5, 2018.
She said the government was optimistic that the country’s economic growth would be sustained, with current projections for 2019 expected to be far more robust than the present level in 2018.
“Government is confident that if we diligently implement our economic plan, we will continue to grow the economy,” she said.
Speaking on the government-owned-enterprises like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the minister said government would continue to efficiently and effectively manage their operational costs, plug leakages and ensure efficiency.
She said, “We must make sure every money earned comes in. We will drive the process of improving good governance and accountability.”
The Minister also said government is currently refinancing inherited debt portfolio from short term Treasury Bills to longer tenured debts and that this has resulted into huge savings and reduction in costs of funds.
She also informed that the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) deadline was extended by three months till June 30, 2018 following appeals from taxpayers for more time to regularize their tax status. She also pointed out that the present administration has raised the taxpayers’ base from 13 million in 2015 to 17 million as at 2018.
Mr. Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, who was also at the briefing reassured the country of positive economic growth as he noted that a growth rate of 2.5 per cent projected by the IMF and World Bank for Nigeria was achievable.
Noting the sustained growth in the country’s external reserves, Mr Emefiele stressed the need to continue to grow the reserves to save for the rainy day.
He also guaranteed that concerted efforts were ongoing to realise the 80 per cent target for financial inclusion by 2020.
He said, “If we had enough reserves, we wouldn’t have suffered the recession shocks.”
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Opeifa request for the state government to assist the Railway Police and Otti, thanks Tinubu for picking the best material to rewrite Nigeria Railway history
Gov. Otti describes Opeifa as a thorough-bred professional ready to rewrite Nigeria Railway history
Lauds President Tinubu for picking the best material to reposition Nigeria’s oldest corporation
A deserving commendation came the way of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, as the Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, described him as an exceptional professional, most suitable to lead the Nigeria’s oldest surviving public corporation.
Governor Otti spoke on Wednesday, at the Government House in Abia State, during a business visit by the MD/CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, as part of his familiarization tour of the Eastern District of the Corporation.
According to Governor Otti: “I have had so many engagements with past leaders of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, you are clearly different and knows the job”. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Dr. Opeifa to lead the Nigerian Railway Corporation, expressing assurance at his ability to deliver.
He thanked the MD/CEO for promising to synergize with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the State Government to see that the transformation of the transportation system in Umuahia is achieved. According to the Governor, “Umuahia Bus terminal is progressing rapidly and we felt that it is important to replicate what we have in Paignton, United Kingdom in Umuahia, by linking the train station with the Terminal to enhance intermodal transportation services.
The Governor stated that he was very happy to see that the MD/CEO is committed to taking the track from Aba to Enugu and even beyond. He recalled, with nostalgia how the train had served the people of the state and regretted the downward trends of rain services across the entire South East.
On the MD/CEO’s request for the state government to assist the Railway Police in the state, Governor Otti promised that his government will provide mobility for Aba Railway Police.
He added that the state government is always ready to support the Federal Government institutions as users of such federal institutions are people of the state, adding that his administration cannot differentiate between federal and state government workers.
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Airlin Advocacy Commissions Jos Office, Targets 7m Members By Next Elections,Says Mohammed Gamawa
During the inauguration ceremony, the National Chairman of Airlin, Mohammed Gamawa, delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to educating Nigerians on their civic rights and responsibilities.
According to Gamawa, Airlin aims to bridge the gap between citizens and the principles of the rule of law by fostering a society where people understand not only their rights but also what is expected of them by the country.
“Our goal is to foster interaction among Nigerians, promote respect for the rule of law, and ensure citizens know their rights and civic responsibilities — such as voting to elect future leaders not based on materialism but based on integrity and competence,” Gamawa stated.
He added that understanding and exercising one’s franchise, especially during elections, must go hand in hand with being law-abiding and fully aware of civil responsibilities.
As part of its mission, Airlin is currently targeting 19 states in Northern Nigeria, with Jos becoming the 15th state to be commissioned.
The ceremony also featured the appointment of state and local government coordinators who will help drive the organization’s grassroots advocacy efforts.
With a current membership base of 2.1 million Nigerians aged 18 and above, Airlin projects a significant growth trajectory, aiming to reach 7 million members before the next general elections.
Senior Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga has dismissed a report of a United State (U.S.) court ordering two law enforcement agencies to release information on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”
In a tweet on his verified X handle, Onanuga told those agitated by the directive that there would be nothing revealing in the anticipated report.
In an April 9 ruling, District Court for the District of Columbia Judge, Beryl Howell ordered the Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to release the information to Mr. Allan Greenspan.
The information being sought by Greenspan was classified as “confidential information” generated during a “purported federal investigation in the 1990s.”
Judge Howell said that protecting the information from public disclosure “is neither logical nor plausible.”
Commenting on the ruling, Onanuga said: “There is nothing new to be revealed. The report by Agent Moss of the FBI and the DEA report have been in the public space for more than 30 years. The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader”, Onanuga said yesterday.
He said that counsel to the President have been “examining the ruling”.
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