Voice of Nigeria Broadcasting Service

There are no unregistered SIMs in Nigeria – Communications Minister

Nigeria

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

By Na’ankwat Dariem, Abuja

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami,has stated that there are currently no improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards on the mobile networks been used in Nigeria after the deactivation in September 2019

This is sequel to the resolution on the floor of the Nigerian Senate following the consideration of a motion on the spate of growing insecurity in Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the Minister’s Technical Assistant Information Technology Dr. Femi Adeluyi on Tuesday said Dr Pantami awaits the official lauded the law makers for their concern and support towards improving national security.

According to the statement “The Honourable Minister has supported security agencies in their statutory duty of protecting lives and property and this is why his first action after his appointment was to issue a directive that no improperly registered subscriber identification module (SIM) be allowed to remain on our networks”

“Based on the report submitted by the regulator (Nigerian Communications Commission) on the 26th of September 2019, there is currently no improperly registered SIM on our networks. In the event of evidence to the contrary, the Honourable Minister will sanction any individual or institution found wanting”

Further, Dr Pantami wrote to all security agencies on the 14th of October 2019 asking them to collaborate with the Ministry by contacting them whenever a crime has been aided and abetted through the use of telecommunication devices adding that “no request by security agencies for assistance in the identification of owners of SIMs used for crime has gone untreated”.

The Minister also submitted a detailed memorandum to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Nigerian Security Challenges on the 12th of February 2020. It contained details on policies developed by the Ministry to enhance security.

In a similar vein, the Minister has directed the NCC to ensure that they put modalities in place to tie the National Identify Number (NIN) to SIMs, as well as see to it that no unregistered SIMs are sold. He has also directed the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to significantly scale up the number of monthly NIN registrations.

Dr Pantami also recently presented a Draft National Policy on Digital Identity for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which took place on the 11th of November, 2020. The memo was approved and will support in the provision of Digital IDs for Nigerians, thus assisting in the implementation of the Policy to tie NINs to SIMs.

The Minister however assured the Lawmakers and Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is committed to using technology to support the growth of our economy and the security of our nation. “To this end, we look forward to collaborating with the Senate and security agencies in this regard,” he said.

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Sokoto State, UN sign N4.9B SDGs implementation work plan

Business and Tech

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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Ismail Umar, Sokoto

The Sokoto State government (SOSG) and the United Nations (UN) have signed an Annual Work Plan (AWP) for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) activities in Sokoto put at a total value of $13,046,204 (N4.9 billion).

According to a statement by the Governor’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, out of this the UN system is expected to cough out $6,100,106 (N2.3 billion) while SOSG, being one of the five states selected for such partnership, will contribute $6,946,098 (N2.6 billion).

By this arrangement, Sokoto state, will from 2018-2022, be part of the UN implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) tools to unite, harness ‘comparative advantages,’ and “help states to accelerate” the execution of “agenda 2030 and the SDGs.”

At the signing of the AWP agreement in Sokoto, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said that his administration “will continue to push on the SDGs in the state.

“We are going to commit ourselves to the work plan…SOSG will make provision in the budget and make sure we back up the $6.1 million that you are going to give us,” the governor emphasised.

Pledging to look into the myriads of issues raised by the UN and incorporate them into the state’s developmental agenda, Gov. Tambuwal enumerated the achievements made in the areas of healthcare, social protection, infrastructure development and sanitation despite the dearth of revenue.

He stated that the state government is committed to the delivery of good governance, developmental issues, deterring of violence against persons and domestication of the Child Rights Act.

On insecurity, the Governor noted that although the trio of “COVID-19, flood disaster and unemployed youths are catastrophe in waiting,” the state government and all stakeholders “have to ensure all that doesn’t happen, especially where you make reference to the fact that from Libya, Niger Republic to Mali up to Sokoto… are a confluence.”

“So, we must be seen to be responding to all these and making sure that what is happening, and is snowballing into some kind of trouble, doesn’t happen here,” Tambuwal offered.

In his remarks, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, said his organisation and the state government “must work together to find innovative solutions to turn this human tragedy (COVID-19) into a generational opportunity to build back better a more equal and sustainable world.”

Such he said is possible through a “collaboration between the UN and your government under the SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE” which regular programming is yielding results in the areas of the establishment of a coordination entity to address gender violence, child protection and social policy development.

Stating that the UN recognizes the “great efforts of the Zakat and Endowment Commission,” Mr Kallon said the organisation also appeals to the state to pay more attention to social protection of children, development of girl-child education, pursuit of the transformation of the Almajiri system and investment in maternal and new born healthcare.

The UN Coordinator added that the UN would want the government to step up its declaration of a state of emergency on gender based violence by establishing services of a forensic DNA laboratory, averting of maternal mortality and morbidity as well as the development of a state Water, Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) centre.

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World Bank Loan: Reps summon signatories to Auditor General Office

Nigeria

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November 27, 2020

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Lawan Hamidu, Abuja

The House of Representatives has ordered the appearance of signatories to the account of the Auditor General Office to ascertain the utilization of the sum of 125 million dollars borrowed from the World Bank.

The House Committee on Public Accounts had summoned the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze to explain the loans and grant amounting to 125 million dollars it collected from the World Bank, an amount that was allegedly not captured in the 2018 Budget.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Oluwole Oke who gave the order in Abuja also directed the appearance of all collaborating Ministries Departments and Agencies to the Committee next week.

The Committee had questioned the Director, Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze who appeared before it to explain whether the office has access to the 36.1 million dollars through loans and grants in four year.

He said “The document presented before the committee shows the list of beneficiaries of the loan of which OAUGF is among.

The 125 million dollars loan is the total sum of loans received from the World Bank.”

Also questioned was whether the loans and grants were meant for paying salaries or capacity building but Mr. Akabueze further explained that the sum of 36.1 million dollars is the loan component while the 1.2 million dollars is for grant.

He said the loan can also be spent on capital projects.

Mr. Akabueze while insisting that the World Bank loans and grants is captured in the 2018 appropriations Act said the Accountant General of the Federation is also aware of the loan.

According to him, 200,000 dollars was already been disbursed out of the amount to the Office of the Auditor General of Federation

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Reps demand details of N66.6bn budget for refineries rehabilitation

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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Lawan Hamidu, Abuja

The Nigerian House of Representatives has demanded details of the N66.6 billion budgeted for rehabilitation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC’s refineries in the 2021 budget

The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources Alh Musa Sarki-Adar and other committee members made the request during a review of the 2020 budget and defence of the 2021 budget of the corporation.

A member of the Committee Mr Nicholas Ossai observed that there is no proper account of what the agency had spent over the year on fixing the refineries.

He further asked why the agency had not allowed its facilities to be over sighted by the House over the year as provided for in Sec 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.

Other lawmakers also queried why the agency’s helmsman glossed over the commissioning of a modular refinery in Imo State whereas the nation is jolted by this development in the oil sector.

The Group Managing Director GMD of NNPC Mr. Mele Kyari informed the lawmakers that the agency deliberately shut down the facilities of the refineries because it was practically impossible to run them at full installed capacities.

He however assured the committee members that they are working assiduously to fix the refineries starting with the Port Harcourt refinery, then Warri and subsequently Kaduna refineries.

“The N50 billion that was budgeted in the 2020 budget had been significantly reduced due to the coronavirus disease.

For the refineries, the pipelines must have up to 230 to 240 barrels of oil per day for the refineries to operate otherwise its operations run at a loss.” The GMD, added.

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National Judicial Council unveils e-registration portal for pensioners

Nigeria

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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Peter Bahago, Abuja

The National Judicial Council, NJC in Nigeria has unveiled an online verification platform for retired Federal Judicial and non-judicial officers on its payroll, as well as an automated platform for enrolment of retiring Federal judiciary staff.

Executive Secretary of the Council, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, represented by the Director, Information, Mr. Soji Oye said that the unveiling of the innovation in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital was a testimony to the fact that his dream for an information technology driven judiciary in Nigeria is becoming a reality.

The Executive Secretary also disclosed that the pension department of the NJC is not left out in his initiative as most of the processes and operations have been automated.

According to him, ” the apex judicial body had in the past few years championed a complete technological transformation of the court systems and processes, placing more premium on audio-visual, court sittings and e-filing of processes”

Meanwhile the Director, Pensions, of the NJC, Mrs Georginia Obingene said the initiative was aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the pensions department of the council.

Mrs Obingene added that “the National Judicial Council is the first amongst all other key players in the administration of pension in Nigeria to implement a robust e-platform of this nature which is aimed at reducing to the barest minimum, the challenges and difficulties faced by retirees during the traditional pension verification exercise.”

She also hinted that the NJC conducts annual verification exercise for different categories of staff who are spread across all the states of the federation including FCT, so as to revalidate their biometric data and ensure integrity and reliability of the pension records.

The pension boss added the Pension Department of the National Judicial Council was unable to conduct the annual Verification Exercise for Retired Federal Judicial and some non-Judicial Officers already in its Pension Payroll and others due to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.

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North East Governors seek prioritisation of Mambilla Hydro Project

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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Rebecca Mu’azu, Gombe

The Northeast Governors Forum has ended its 3rd meeting in Yola, Adamawa State with a call on the Federal Government to make the Mambilla Hydro Project a matter of serious priority.

The call is contained in their resolutions after the meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, where Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on behalf of his colleagues, noted that 2021 Budgetary Proposals lacked budgetary provision, thereby calling on the Federal Government to resolve all encumbrances around the Mambilla Hydro project and order action on site.

Similarly, the North East Governors called for the immediate reactivation and review of the existing comatose state of the road contracts in the sub-region.

“Forum notes that the Sub-region has been unfairly treated in the provision of roads infrastructure by the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing. It further noted with dismay the slow or outright non-existent progress on the pace of the roads already allocated in the sub-region and calls for the immediate reactivation and review of the comatose existing road contracts in the sub-region,” said the North East Governors’ Forum.

Security

The Governors, comprising of those of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and the Deputy Governors of Taraba and Yobe States, deliberated on the major security challenges facing the sub-region and resolved to strengthen community policing and action to complement efforts of security agencies.

They commended the effort of the security agencies in the sub-region, which they said had brought relative improvement in the security situation in the sub-region, but noted that the activities of Boko Haram, bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers still remained a serious threat to sustainable development.

Education/Agric

The North East Governors’ Forum have also agreed to form the Northeast Council on Education and adopt a regional approach by being deliberate on transforming education, especially at the basic level.

Similarly, they reaffirmed their commitment to enforce the Universal Basic Education Commission Law to protect and ensure that all children have an opportunity to acquire basic education.

The forum resolved to engage the Arewa Research and Development Project for the provision of technical support in key areas of development, such as Agriculture and Education.

It also resolved to pursue vigorously the issue of securing admission for its candidates in Nigerian tertiary institutions to fill its quota.

They particularly called on the North East Development Commission to expedite action on the development of the Northeast Strategic Master Plan and ensure that projects are demand-driven to guarantee its impact and accountability.

The North East Governors, however, frowned at a situation where projects are imposed on the States without due consultation.

Gender-Based Violence

The North East Governors’ Forum called for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 and ensure the rapid dispensation of justice on gender-based violence, noting that gender-based violence was a major nuisance in the sub-region.

The North East governors agreed to appoint Special Advisers on Regional Integration, because of the need for sub-regional integration on significantly cross-cutting issues that could mutually be beneficial to States within the region.

Post-Covid economy

After critically examining the status of the post-COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package of 2.3 Trillion Naira, the North East Governors praised the Federal Government for the noble Initiative, but solicited for equitable and fair treatment, especially in view of the economic and social challenges facing the sub-region.

The next meeting of the Forum is scheduled to hold from 3rd – 4th of March, 2021 in at Bauchi.

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World AIDS Day: Oyo state targets 10,000 for screening

Health

Ime Njoku

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November 27, 2020

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By Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan

The Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) has said it is targeting no fewer than 10, 000 people for HIV screening throughout the State, as part of activities to mark this year’s World’s AIDS Day.

The Agency said the targeted testing is focused on the key drivers of the epidemic which comprises female sex workers, men who sleep with men, people who inject drugs and the transgender, in order to stem the spread of the virus amongst the groups, as well as the general population.

The Chairperson of the Agency who is also the wife of the State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, made the disclosure on Thursday during a Press Conference to herald the commemoration of the 2020 World AIDS Day themed: “United to End AIDS Amidst Covid-19, Get Tested”.

Mrs Makinde noted that the world’s attention has been shifted to the COVID-19 pandemic which ravaged many things, including lives and livelihood, with high mortality rate and loss of job globally.

She noted that the coming of COVID-19 has attracted the attention of the whole world by becoming a wake-up call and an opportunity to do things differently, better and together.

Speaking through the Executive Secretary, OYSACA, Dr Lanre Abass, the wife of the Governor noted that, “It is very crucial at this time to work harmoniously and show love, eliminate stigmatisation and discrimination, individualised centre attention and grounding our responses in human rights and gender-responsive approaches that are key to ending the simultaneously occuring pandemics of HIV and COVID-19.”

Mrs Makinde disclosed that as at June 2020, over 765, 000 people had been counselled and tested for HIV and 0.9 percent were positive, over 230,000 pregnant women were screened for HIV and 0.3 percent of them tested positive, saying females are twice more affected than males, with 15,199 females on treatment as against 6,253 make on treatment, according to the available State service data.

She said,”Availability of commodities is critical to the success of HIV/AIDS response like any other communicable diseases. In this regards, the Oyo State government has so far procured test kits, condoms and consumables worth about N34million, while process is on-going to procure about N45million worth of test kits and other commodities.”

The wife of the Governor also highlighted a week-long list of activities planned to commemorate the year’s occasion, noting that the event would terminate on December 1, with a rally and mega jam at Sango Market, Saki.

Speaker restates commitment to January-December Budget Cycle

Nigeria

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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Lawan Hamidu, Abuja

The Nigerian House of Representatives has reiterated its commitment to the January-December Budget Cycle for the interest and overall development of the Nation.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila made the pledge while addressing the lawmakers on resumption of plenary after one month break to allow the government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies to defend their 2021 budget proposal before various House Committees.

Mr. Gbajabiamila who mandated all standing committees of the House to unfailingly submit their budget defence reports to the Committee on Appropriation on or before Thursday for the House to meet up with the deadline sets for itself.

“Efforts are in full swing to ensure that we will pass the budget on time in keeping with the standard we set last year, and which the Nigerian people now rightly expect of us.

I have observed during the recent budget defence process that there are still some ministries, departments and agencies that consider the exercise of the legislative authority to review their budget proposals as an undue incursion on the management of their offices. This posture stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the legislative role in the appropriations process.

Let me at this time reiterate that when the Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate convene to review the heads of expenditure contained in the Appropriation Bill, we do so in the exercise of clear and concise constitutional authority. Let me also state very clearly that this is a responsibility we take seriously, and will not evade, regardless of whatever objections may arise from any quarters.

It is in the best interests of our country that all parties concerned subject themselves to this process in good faith, knowing that this too is an obligation of service to our country. We will pass the budget, and we will do it early, and we will do it right. The Nigerian people expect as much from us. I thank all of you for the work you have put in thus far, and I encourage you to continue in this regard.” Mr. Gbajabiamila explained.

The Speaker who revealed that the Special Committee on the Review of the Constitution has been inaugurated, and have resumed their essential work while amendment to electoral act 2010 has also commenced to ensure credible polls in the country.

He said “The Committee has put out a request for memoranda and other submissions that will guide their work. It is through the aggregation of the many and varied opinions of all Nigerians that we will arrive at a constitution that meets all the best expectations we have for our country.

In the same vein, the House has commenced long-anticipated efforts to review and amend the Electoral Act well in advance of the next general elections. Perfecting the process through which we choose the people that will serve in government is an essential requirement for the continued development of our democracy.

Therefore, I encourage all of you to reach out to your various constituencies and encourage your constituents to participate in both the Constitutional Review and Electoral Amendment processes by articulating and submitting the changes they wish to see. This too is part of the joint task of nation-building.”

On the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and the institutionalization of the National Social Investment Program being considered by the House, Mr, Gbajabiamila urged all the relevant committees to increase public participation in the legislative process to build support for the policy initiatives and promote relations between the House of Representatives and the public.

“As much as is possible, I encourage all the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the House Committees to seek out innovative avenues for public engagement, stakeholder collaboration and cross-pollination of policy ideas in the legislative process which is also part of our Legislative Agenda.” The Speaker argued.

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Reps advocate action plan to eliminate violence against women

Nigeria

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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By Lawan Hamidu, Abuja

Federal, States and Local Governments in Nigeria have been urged to galvanise action plans to support the elimination of violence against women in the country.

The call was contained in a motion under matters of urgent public importance unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives on International Day for the elimination of violence against women.

Presenting the motion, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, a Member from State explained that the action plan shall reduce the impunity as well as encourage victims to speak out.

She said “It is also a day to honour women organisations as first responders and to acknowledge their leadership roles in ending violence and activate the United Nation’s wide mobilization under the umbrella of the 16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign for the promotion of zero tolerance across all spheres of society including Nigeria.”

Mrs. Onyejeocha expressed concern that the wide spread violence against women and girls is largely unreported due to stigma and shame surrounding it.

The theme of this year’s celebration is; Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent and Collect as part of measures to acknowledge the crucial roles women played in the development of every society.

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Cabinet approves ₦21bn for rehabilitation of roads

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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By Timothy Choji, Abuja

The Federal Executive Council has approved twenty-one billion naira for the rehabilitation of some roads in the country.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola revealed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s cabinet meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fashola said Yobe, Edo and Taraba States would benefit from the projects managed by the Federal roads Maintenance Agency FERMA.

He said: “During the meetings of the Economic Sustainability Committee set up to manage the impact of COVID-19, one of the responsibilities of FERMA is to execute extensive labour works on road repairs and the budget of 2020 was then amended to deal with COVID-19 impact.

“As a result of that, FERMA then had a total of 191 road repairs, road rehabilitation, road intervention projects nationwide. 92 of those projects have been awarded by FERMA at its threshold level. 89 of them have been approved by the ministry at the ministerial tenders’ board threshold level. So, all of those projects are now being issued letters of award, mobilization, and others.

“Now, there are 10 that are required to come to the Federal Executive Council because of their financial threshold level. Out of those 10 projects, three were presented today. So, those three presented and approved by council today was for Gasamu-amshi-Gogoram road in Yobe State for N14.528billion, the link road connecting Uneme-Tusamu-Odoga to Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State for N991.851million, and Mamabu Donga Local Government Area road in Taraba South Local Government Area of Taraba State for N6.397 billion.”

Fashola said the three projects approved by the cabinet are late third quarter, early fourth quarter interventions to respond to the COVID-19 impact on the economy.

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