Category: News

…Laud improved ease of doing business

…Target agricultural, energy, trade and investment opportunities

…Nigerian economy can only grow from the states – Mbah

The government of Germany has expressed its eagerness to strengthen economic cooperation with the government and people of Enugu State, especially in the areas of agriculture, energy, trade and investment.

The industrial giant said that it chose Enugu State as one of its three business and investment destinations in the entire southern Nigeria given its findings on improved ease-of-doing-business under the Dr. Peter Mbah Administration and affirmation by the Nigerian media.

The German government spoke through its Consul General, Mr. Weert Börner, who led a delegation of the German business community and the German Corporation for International Cooperation, GIZ, on a working visit to Governor Peter Mbah at Government House, Enugu.

Börner said the visit was in continuation of discussions that started in Lagos in 2023 on increasing German cooperation with Enugu State in the aforementioned sectors.

“So, I am very happy to be here in Enugu city to increase and deepen our conversation on this cooperation. I am also very happy that the delegation with me is comprised of representatives of the DHK (Deutsche Handels Kompetenz), which is our chamber in Lagos for industry and commerce; GIZ, our international cooperation agency and Siemens Energy, a private company that is already doing a lot in Nigeria to improve electricity and energy sector.

“We get a lot of news by the Nigerian media and through our own office that Enugu State and its own government have improved a lot in the sense of structuring process to get business easier done to improve the infrastructural basis for joint engagement.

“We are actually very happy about this development. The German government decided to concentrate more on specific states within the Nigerian federal system. And those states from the south are Ogun, Abia, and Enugu State. So, this is why I am here to get our cooperation on a higher and more intense level,” the envoy stated.

While appreciating the Germans for choosing Enugu State as one of their economic partners, Governor Peter Mbah said his administration was very ready and willing to partner with German government and businesses.

Mbah emphasised that the $30bn GDP target his administration set for itself, though high, was realisable through private sector investments and international cooperation, adding also that Nigeria’s much-needed economic growth could only come from the states, not the centre.

“I want to put on record our deep appreciation to you for selecting Enugu as one of the three southern states you want to partner with.

“We are really excited about this essentially because though we are subnational, our ambition and the goals we have set for ourselves are national in scale.

“We plan to grow the economy to a point that is unprecedented. If you look at the target, we set for ourselves to grow the economy from $4.4bn to $30bn in the next seven years. It appears too ambitious because you are talking about a sevenfold growth and you are looking at a compounded annual growth rate of 27 per cent, but we think it is realisable because we are looking at unlocking a lot of the economic potentials of the state that have not been touched.

“So, before now, we have also been working very hard, preparing ourselves for a day like this because the economic growth of this nation will not come from top to the bottom. I have always been an ardent advocate that growth will come from the periphery. It will come from the bottom-up,” he said.

The governor assured the German government and businesses of massive opportunities in the areas of agriculture, energy, trade and investment.

“We see agriculture as one of the major sectors that we can use to rapidly grow our economy. For us, agriculture is beyond food security.

“We are also putting together the Special Agro Processing Zones to meet up with our consumption and begin to package for local market and export. The ultimate goal is to be able to develop these produce into products, standardise them, and have them exported,” he stated.

Mbah said the government was in the advanced stages of getting the international wing of Akanu Ibiam International Airport completed and operationalised as well as build a cargo terminal to facilitate exports.

Still on agriculture, he said the state had acquired about 300,000 hectres of land to attract commercial farmers, while also seeking partnerships in the development of the livestock industry where the administration had taken steps to better structure and modernise the industry by initiating and signing the Ranch Management Agency Law.

The governor said the state had embarked on an aggressive development of road infrastructure so that investors would not have to worry about access to farmlands and evacuation of farm produce and processed products.

He equally urged the German delegation to take advantage of the extensive work already done by the state in the form of institutional strengthening, progressive policies, and improved regulations in the electricity sector through partnership and investment.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has vowed that no Kobo from the resources of Abia state will be stolen under his administration.

Governor Otti stated this at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Headquarters, Ayaba Umueze, Aba while declaring open the 4th Pastors’ Kids Association Convention 2024 with the theme, “Advancing The Gospel In A Digital Era”.

The Governor emphasised that corruption and stealing is forbidden in his government. He challenged all to live by example in their little corners.

“In our administration, corruption and stealing are forbidden. So, when you see or hear people making noise in the media, it’s because they are unable to continue to feed fat on resources that belong to all of us and i can assure you that under my watch, Abia resources, not even one kobo of it will be stolen”. Gov. Otti stated.

Governor Otti urged the Pastors children to remember the sacrifices their parents made and stand firm any time they are confronted with challenges.

“I challenge all of you in your own little corner, lead by example and don’t also worry if people criticize you”.

The State Chief Executive who described the theme of the event as apt, called on the congregants to extend the discussions to how to resist the attraction of artificial intelligence, robotics and other digital innovations that give impetus that man does not need God. He said that there is need to explain to people that God gave man limitless wisdom.

“So, I’m calling on all of us to extend this discussion on how to repeal and resist that attraction to digital technology that gives impetus to the belief that man doesn’t need God because that wisdom to create was already given by God” Gov. Otti stressed.

In his speech, the President, Eastern Nigerian Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Bassey Udoh stressed the need for total membership involvement in advancing the gospel of Christ through digital media.

Pastor Udoh who underscored that digital evangelism is effective in reaching a larger number of people, urged Christians to utilize all social media platforms to advance the gospel of Christ.

In his address, the President, Pastors’ Kids Association of the Eastern Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Justice L.T.C Eruba noted that God has been blessing the offspring of those who served him diligently, noting that Governor Otti, who is a Pastor’s son, today is the only Adventist pastor’s son all over the world that is a sitting Governor.



He said that the Governor is doing great in infrastructure, financial discipline and other areas of governance in the State and prayed God to continue to guide him.



The event attracted members of the State House of Assembly, Chief of staff to the Governor among other government functionaries.

The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has reacted to a statement by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), claiming to have facilitated 29 million crude oil barrels to the 650,000bpd Dangote refinery.

In a statement on Friday signed by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief, Branding and Communication for Dangote Industries Limited, the Refinery stated that it was yet to receive the 29 million barrels of crude oil.

Meanwhile, the NUPRC had, while refuting Dangote’s claim of weak domestic oil supply enforcement, in a statement in Abuja, disclosed that the commission has facilitated 29 million barrels of crude oil to the Refinery in the first six months of 2024.

But in a swift reply, the refinery said, “We would like to thank them for this allocation but at the same time let them know that we are yet to receive these cargoes.”

Continuing, Dangote refinery noted that aside from the term supply it bilaterally negotiated with the nation’s oil company, NNPCL, “so far NUPRC has only facilitated the purchase of one crude cargo from a domestic producer. The rest of the cargoes we have processed were purchased from international traders.”

The company, however, noted that its only quest was for refineries in the country to buy crude oil from companies that produce it in Nigeria rather than from international middlemen, saying, “This is specified in the Petroleum Industry Act.”

“Unfortunately, the NUPRC has effectively admitted in their statement that they will be unable to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation as specified in the PIA “sanctity of contracts” as an excuse,” the statement added.

Tribune

…Call for synergy, action against abuse

Wife of the President, Senator Remi Tinubu, and the wife of the governor of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, have flagged off the 2024 Annual August Meeting in Enugu State, calling for synergy and action against all forms of abuse.

Senator Tinubu and Mrs. Mbah commended the August Meeting initiative as a veritable platform to rally women for community development, noting that it is a reminder that individual contributions and selfless service were crucial to the nation’s progress.

Flagging off the state’s 2024 edition of the meeting themed “Eliminating Abuse to Foster a Healthy Society”, the wife of the president, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, said, “This annual tradition provides a vital platform for our mothers, daughters and sisters to gather and address pressing societal issues, mobilizing women in community building, political participation and community development.

“This year’s theme is a clarion call to action. Abuse in all its forms is a scourge that we must eradicate. Every individual has the right to safety, free from physical, domestic, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, and material discrimination, among others.

“Let us also remember that abuse starts and ends with us, either as victims or as perpetrators. I, therefore, urge us all to rise to the challenge of eliminating abuse and fostering a healthy society for all of us. We must speak up and speak out against abuse.”

She urged Nigerians to learn to dialogue responsibly and work together to foster a sense of empathy, compassion towards one another, restating her resolve to better the lives of Nigerian women through her pet project, the renewed hope initiative.

“In education, we have provided scholarships to our children and youth across the country, with some having opportunities to study abroad. In agriculture, we have supported our women farmers with fertilizers and farming implements,” she stated

“Very soon, we will be starting the renewed hope women economic empowerment for 1000 petty traders in each state of the federation and the FCT. Our women will be supported with ₦50,000 each to recapitalize and support their businesses. Under our social investment program, there is a scheme that provides for assorted food items, moving from one state to another,” Senator Oluremi Tinubu stated.

In her remarks, wife of the Enugu State governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, while thanking the president’s wife for accepting to flag off the 2024 edition of August Meeting in the state, which she described as “an important and culturally symbolic month for women in Igboland”, added that Enugu women were “hugely inspired by the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, as it has stirred the spirit of self-reliance in women through its numerous empowerment programmes.”

She said that the August Meeting was underpinned by the knowledge that governments alone could not possibly provide the entire needs of communities;hence, the need to bridge the needed gap and complement governments’ efforts.

She also said that this philosophy inspired her pet project, Custos Care Foundation, through which she is making efforts to better the lives of Enugu women.

“For instance, just a few months ago, we launched the Mama Care Initiative, which enrolled 1,701 expectant mothers into a one-year insurance scheme. This is in addition to the 100 expectant mothers, who were previously enrolled. This initiative was launched as a boost to the government’s effort to eradicate maternal and infant mortality in Enugu State.

“Our August Meeting is also replete with similar leave-no-one-behind projects. It is such projects that have made the August Meeting a formidable socio-cultural and economic creation that has endured for ages,” Mrs. Mbah concluded.

Also speaking at the event, Acting Managing Director of the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, ENRUWASSA, Chika Mbah, called the women to action towards ending open defecation.

She said sanitation was key to the health of the family, explaining that the Dr. Peter Mbah Administration had already begun the distribution of grants to communities towards the provision of water to end the open defecation scourge.

Meanwhile, the women were gifted several items to usher in the 2024 August Meeting across Enugu communities.

In continuation of his food security, agro-industrialisation, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) development drive, the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has flagged off the distribution of inputs and grants worth over N4.6bn to farmers, communities, and IT startups in the state.

Performing the symbolic flag-off at Okpara Square, Enugu, on Thursday, Mbah said that it was imperative to nurture small scale entrepreneurs for sustainable growth through the provision of the key enablers since they remain the lifeblood of economic development.

“Consequently, 12,000 small-holder farmers would each receive one bag of fertiliser, which the federal government had graciously donated to all states.

“In addition, we would be giving out 51 power tillers worth N2m each to farmers from across farming clusters in Enugu State.

“We are also flagging off today the distribution of agricultural inputs to 1,251 beneficiaries across the 17 local government areas. These inputs include rice and bean seedlings, cassava stems, organic fertilisers, herbicides, among others,” Mbah stated

In addition, he said that the administration would be carrying out an extensive revamp of a number of rural roads to facilitate a better road network and ensure that the farming clusters springing up across the rural belt of the state did not exist as isolated units.

Mbah put the support to MSMEs at N1bn with women-owned enterprises getting 80 per cent of the entire sum.

“The value of our entrepreneurship intervention programme being flagged off today is N1bn. This includes the disbursement of N60,000 to over 16,000 beneficiaries, mostly comprising owners of nano-enterprises on a ratio of 80:20 in favour of women.

“Some may indeed wonder why this wide discrepancy. We recognise that much of the brunt of poverty is borne by women. That explains the extra efforts we put into expanding opportunities for the girl-child and women, especially in our rural communities.

“Still under our MSMEs intervention, we are disbursing N400,000 to 187 beneficiaries. Other initiatives in this regard for flag-off include N7.5m each to 10 tech startups, operational grant for solar equipment to 256 beneficiaries, while items, including laptop computers and POS terminals, will be given out to 269 beneficiaries,” he stated.

The governor added that the state was also waging war against open defecation with a view to ending the menace by the end of 2024.

“We are launching, as well, a water provision and sanitation-enhancing initiative worth N15m across 135 communities. The total value translates to over Two Billion Naira.

“This involves the construction of ultra-modern boreholes, toilet facilities, and provision of power generators. These would be sited in locations like town halls, markets, and schools.”

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru, enjoined the farmers and other beneficiaries to reciprocate government’s massive support through prudent application of the inputs and grants to create jobs, trigger revolution in the agricultural industry, and boost the state’s economy.

In his address, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State Chapter, Romanus Eze, assured the governor that the farmers and other beneficiaries would not disappoint the government.

“We have never had it so good. Therefore, we will not disappoint you. We promise you concrete results, for to whom much is given, much is also expected,” he assured.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday, August 8, denied that it raided the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.

DSS made this known through a brief post on their X handle.

The message reads: “Pls kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja.”

The message was in response to the alarm raised by the NLC that its office was raided by a combined team of security operatives on Wednesday night.