UNICEF moves to support Nigeria’s Humanitarian response with $270m

 

In a bid to support Nigeria’s humanitarian response and poverty alleviation efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has pledged to support Nigeria with $270 million.

Country Representative UNICEF, Christian Mundate and lead the Chief of Health & HIV/AIDS, Eduardo Celades, made this known in Abuja during a working visit to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by Mrs Rhoda Iliya, Deputy Director of the ministry adding that the UNICEF delegation also assured the minister of technical support to build capacity of the ministry’s staff as well as support the development of a humanitarian response protocol for Nigeria to guide all humanitarian actors.

UNICEF, Country Representative, Mundate maintained that the delegation would facilitate effective coordination.

Furthermore, UNICEF also assured that it will support the establishment of a National Humanitarian Situation Room or Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre, H-EOC, to monitor, mitigate and prevent humanitarian emergencies and build resilience in the system.

In her response, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, explained that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has a phased strategy to lift 133 million Nigerians out of poverty, particularly the 71 million living on less than $1.95 per day.

Edu urged UNICEF to strategize and align its effort with the government’s poverty alleviation initiative, urging the fund to also draw up plans towards supporting the government on poverty alleviation.

“Time is of the essence and we need to run at the speed of light to roll out social programs that will bring relief to the burdens of the poor. Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the renewed hope agenda, the time for intense action is now,” the minister said.

The Minister however assured the delegation of transparency and accountability in the disbursing of the funds adding that the engagement with partners like UNICEF will continue until government achieves its targets.

Entrench Collaboration in Niger Delta Development, Stakeholders Charge NDDC

Niger Delta Stakeholders have charged the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to entrench collaboration and partnership in the development of the Niger Delta Region by holding quarterly Partners for Sustainable Development, PSD, forum for the various stages of its budgeting.

This was part of the resolutions contained in a communique issued at the end of a two-day PSD Forum, 2024 Budget of Reconstruction Conference Held at Ibom                                                                   Icon Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement by, Director, Corporate Affairs, NDDC, Pius Ughakpoteni and made available to journalists, the stakeholders also stressed the importance of the PSD forum in the Budgetary Process,

“The PSD Forum is aimed at eliminating duplications and institutional suspicions in the development process; reducing the incidence of working at cross purposes as well as reduce wastage of scarce resources allocated for regional development initiatives by all stakeholders.” they noted.

The stakeholders further resolved that the NDDC should focus on projects that would benefit the people of the region, stating: “The Commission should strike a balance between meeting the political demands and serving the people of the region by executing people centric projects.”

According to the communique, from the presentations, group discussions at the conference, it was agreed that “the NDDC should operate a lean budget that will allow and enable her to commence and complete projects within a certain and realistic budget cycle.”

It said further: “For the 2025 Budget, less of new projects should be captured in order to ensure the quick completion of all ongoing projects under the 2024 budget.”

The communique posited that the budget of the Commission should have a spread to cover the several ethnic nationalities and communities in the Niger Delta region.

The stakeholders Commended the Executive Management of the NDDC for resuscitating the PSD Forum, which was last held in 2016 and advised the Commission to maintain a timeline for the payment of contractors.

Group Accuses Tinubu, Ribadu Of Using Office For Personal Vendetta To Neglect North East

An APC group has accused the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu of using his office to pursue personal vendetta, saying the new administration is yet to constitute a security agenda.

While accusing the President Bola Tinubu-led administration of lopsidedness in the appointment heads of Nigerian security, the group in a release signed by the National Coordinator, Wasiu Oyebode Olakunle, wondered why most heads of security chiefs are from North West geopolitical zone. 

According to Olakunle, apart from the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa who hails Zango Kataf, Kaduna State, Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Bala Abubakar is also from North West, as well as the Director General DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi who hails from Bichi, Kano State, another North West region. 

Continuing, he further noted that the Director General NIA, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar also hails from Katsina North West Nigeria, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Jigawa, North West Nigeria and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Mattawale, who hails from Zamfara North West Nigeria.

Listing Ribadu's perceived offences, the group said, "Putting in place his political structure ahead of 2027 poll amidst insecurity in the country. 

"Turned to a journalist as well as a photo-journalist in the presidential villa most especially, when the president has visitors.

"Hosting and posting of pictures with political groups and Kannywood stars in his office".

The group expressed concern that Nigerian military is increasingly becoming demoralised, saying the bandits are now emboldened.

It called on the NSA and heads of defence, security and intelligence agencies to be more proactive to secure every swathes of the Nigerian territory.

The Electricity Act, 2023 As A Legal Framework For Resolving Nigeria’s Power Challenges

In an unprecedented move demonstrative of his commitment to reposition Nigeria to attain energy sufficiency for national development, His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR recently assented to the Electricity Bill, 2023 barely few days after his inauguration and assumption of duties as the President and Commander in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Electricity Bill, 2023 sponsored by Senator ( Dr) Gabriel Suswam, CON, immediate past chairman of the Senate Committee on Power was crafted based on a diagnostic report and recommendations of experts regarding extant statutory and operational challenges confronting the Nigerian power sector since the conclusion of the privatization exercise in 2013. Thus, while the repealed Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 provided the legal and institutional framework for the reform phase of the Nigerian power sector initiated and implemented by the Federal Government between 2000–2013, the Electricity Act, 2023 provides the ideal legal and institutional framework that will guide the post –privatization phase of the industry in Nigeria. The Act seeks to provide the framework that would attract more investors to leverage on the modest gains of the privatized and competitive electricity industry in Nigeria to accelerate growth in power generation capacity and improve utilization of generated power to minimize aggregate value chain loses.

It would be recalled that President Tinubu’s predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR had at the twilight of his administration assented to Bill No. 33 which was a constitutional alteration Bill passed by the National Assembly and duly ratified by the requisite number of State Houses of Assembly to remove the lacuna under item F, paragraph 14(b), part II ,Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999. Prior to this constitutional alteration, the legislative powers of State Houses of Assembly over electricity within the various States of the Federation was restricted to “areas not covered by the national grid system within the State” This restriction was counterproductive as it hampered electricity access to many communities and also undermined effective regulation of electricity within states’ boundaries.

It must, however, be clarified that while the Constitutional alteration Bill No.33 assented to by the immediate past President Buhari essentially removed the lacuna that hitherto existed under paragraph 14(b) , part II, Second Schedule to the Constitution to give States of the Federation unfettered powers to make laws for electricity generation, transmission and distribution in every area within the state territory, the Electricity Act 2023 is to serve as a comprehensive statutory framework to guide this new regime of collaborative relationship between the Federal Government and the Federating States in the area of electricity regulation. In this regard, the Electricity Act expressly demarcate regulatory powers between the Federal Government and the Federating States by vesting the Federal Government powers to develop standards for adaptation and implementation by State Governments and regulation of the national grid, transnational and inter-state electricity distribution, while the Federating States are vested with regulation of intra-state electricity generation, transmission and distribution consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The expected practical impact of the Electricity Act, 2023 is that State Governments can now regulate mini-grids, embedded power, independent electricity distribution networks (IEDN)/ independent electricity distribution networks operators (IEDNOs) and independent electricity transmission networks (IETN)/ independent electricity transmission networks operators (IETNOs) thereby decentralizing electricity regulation and creating huge investment opportunities for private investors in off-grid electricity generation, transmission and distribution. Under the Act, individuals and corporate organizations can generate and distribute electricity in maximum aggregate of 1 Megawatt (MW) and 100 Kilowatts (KW) respectively without a license or permit from regulatory authorities. Successor Distribution companies can also enter into franchise arrangements in order to improve on existing infrastructure and at the same time establish subsidiaries in various States of the Federation for intra-state electricity distribution businesses.

In the area of rural electrification, while the Rural Electrification Agency is retained at the Federal level with clear provisions made for its mandate in managing the Rural Electrification Fund and promoting electricity access to rural, unserved and underserved communities through the use of various renewable energy sources and technologies, States are empowered under the Act to take leading collaborative role with the Federal Government in rural electrification while at the same time mobilizing Local Governments at the State levels to participate in the provision of street lights through the Local Government Rural Electrification Committees all with the sole objective of decentralizing electricity and attracting more investments.

As a further recognition of this new era of collaborative regulation of electricity business between the Federal and State Government, and to ensure policy harmony, the Act, for the first time gives statutory recognition to a body known as the National Power Policy Coordinating Council comprising of representatives of the two levels of Government and other critical stakeholders in the Nigerian power sector. The Council has among other responsibilities the duty of considering and adopting an integrated electricity policy and strategic implementation plan for the approval of the National Economic Council. The resource plan for the sector is to be reviewed every 5 years to ensure alignment in resource planning across the power value chain and responsiveness of government policies in the sector to prevailing realities and exigencies.

Another important point to note is that prior to the enactment of the Electricity Act, 2023, a plethora of legislations relevant to power sector were in existence but not consolidated and with several amendments to each of these legislations, it was usually a herculean task for stakeholders to track these legislations for compliance. With the enactment of the Electricity Act, 2023, all these legislations relating to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) with all observed post –privatization challenges are comprehensively articulated and addressed. While the consolidation of all electricity related legislations entails their repeal, various agencies such as the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) were retained under the Act while the National Power Training Institute is now establish to address the problem of power challenges in the sector with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) retained as an independent apex regulator of the power sector at the Federal level.

By and large, the Act contains far reaching provisions on a wide range of issues critical to unlocking Nigeria’s full potentials in electricity generation and increased energy access. These include clear provisions on the status of transitional entities such as NBET, provision on unbundling of Transmission Company of Nigeria into a Transmission Service Provider (TSP) and Independent System Operator (ISO), elimination of constraints around tenured licenses, inclusion of transitional provisions that allows NERC to amend licenses to allow existing successor companies to establish subsidiaries for their operation within State boundaries, provisions on business continuity to allow for uninterrupted services in cases of revocation of licenses, provision on the intervention powers of NERC in cases of distress, non –performance and managerial failure, provisions on the operationalization of Power Consumer Assistance Fund(PCAF) and gradual elimination of cross –subsidies, improved funding for rural electrification, consumer protection and prevention of unfair competition, severe punishment against electricity theft and related offences, metering and promoting the contribution of renewable energy to Nigeria’s energy mix. For the first time, provision has been made for generation and utilization of electricity from Nigeria’s abundant renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, etc with adequate provisions made to incentivize investors and ensure adequate regulatory support in terms of feed in-tariffs and renewable generation and purchase obligations ( RGOs/RPOs).

The Electricity Act, 2023 is therefore an important piece of legislation that would change the fortunes of the Nigerian power sector if properly implemented. The nation should be proud of 9th National Assembly and particularly the sponsor of the Bill, Senator Gabriel Suswam for this monumental legacy. President Bola Tinubu should also be commended for swiftly signing the Electricity Bill into law.

Written by:

Emmanuel Ukera

Fairfields Solicitors

South Africa, UAE In Talks On Trade And Investment Opportunities

 

 

 By Ebi Imisi

 

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi has led a delegation of UAE government officials and business leaders to South Africa to begin communication on trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

 

This collaboration will seek to promote development in key sectors such as logistics, food production, tourism and energy in both countries.

 

According to Dr. Al Zeyoudi, the UAE is eager to build partnerships with like-minded nations that can catalyse growth, strengthen supply chains and create new pathways for investment.

 

“Amid global challenges, the UAE is taking bold steps to reimagine our economy, and trade is central to our ambitions to accelerate economic diversification, create long-term, sustainable growth and attract new forms of investment. We are also at the forefront of a new era of global trade, championing multilateralism and pioneering the use of technology to drive new efficiencies and enhance access to the global trading system.

 

“As the UAE’s second-largest trade partner in Africa, responsible for 8% of the UAE’s total non-oil trade with the continent, South Africa has the potential to become an important partner in these efforts. I have seen first-hand the dynamism of the private sector and recognise the government’s desire to establish Sub-Saharan Africa’s principal hub for industry, energy, logistics and services.

 

"Our investment community understands the scale of the opportunity in front of us, and we are ready to work in unison to support new industry sectors, strengthen south-south trade corridors and push our bilateral trade well beyond the US$6.5 billion we recorded in 2022.” He explained.

 

Also, the UAE team witnessed the signing of an agreement between the UAE power company AMEA, South African energy buyer Green Co, and Standard Bank to finance AMEA’s strategic investments into South Africa, which will help meet the nation’s growing demand for electricity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why My Administration Deserves Another Tenure - Gov Diri

...Says He Won’t Depend On Violence To Get Power

...Bayelsa Flooding Being Addressed

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has given thumbs up to his administration, saying it deserves a second term based on its performance in the last three years plus.

Speaking on Arise Television current affairs programme, “The Morning Show” on Thursday, the Bayelsa governor said his administration had made appreciable progress in virtually every sector of the state's economy such as infrastructure, education, health agriculture, sports, skills acquisition and human capacity development.

Senator Diri had on Wednesday emerged as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state.

He was the sole aspirant in the governorship primary election held in Yenagoa.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, quoted the governor as saying it is only those desperate for power that will not see and appreciate what the government had done during the period to improve the lives of Bayelsans.

He said through investments in agriculture, various skills acquisition programmes and support for small scale businesses, his administration created jobs outside the state’s civil service.

While admitting that there are a few roads in the state capital that still need attention, the governor stated that so far more than 30 new concrete roads have been constructed apart from the ongoing and completed big-ticket road projects to open up the state and link up communities.

Responding to a question on the state’s internally generated revenue, he advocated for the practice of true federalism in the country, which he said would boost the revenue of the state. 

He however informed that an economic summit will soon be held to chart a new course for the state's economy.

On the issue of flooding, the Bayelsa helmsman said a flood and erosion control agency has been established with the responsibility of proffering holistic solutions to the menace. 

He said when the agency is fully functional, the issue of flooding in the state will be better handled and that the administration was committed to preventing past ugly occurrences.

On the governorship election, Governor Diri said neither his government nor his party was afraid of any opposition party in the state. According to him, the PDP in the state was more united than before and was ready to face any candidate presented by the opposition in the election.

His words: "Those who are power hungry will always come from the viewpoint of attack. Like I said, there are some who have eyes but cannot see. 

“If you come to Bayelsa today, you will notice and experience peace and security, which had eluded the state. 

"Bayelsa State is the goose that lays the golden egg. Let us operate a proper federalism and see whether our IGR will be low. 

“In terms of employment, government has decided to encourage our people to be self-employed and look in the direction of the private sector. We set aside N100m monthly to support small businesses in the 105 wards in the state. 

“We have also encouraged our youths to engage in sports to develop and use their potential. On security, we have equally made good progress.”

Responding to a question on roads, the governor said: “Any Bayelsan who says our roads are not plyable is lying. We have built roads. Yes, there are some roads that need the attention of government but that is not to say we have not done anything in that regard.

"We are ready for whoever will emerge from the primaries of other parties. But like I said, we can no longer depend on violence to clinch power. Power comes from God. 

“Let me assure you that our party is far more united than what we had previously. The PDP won convincingly in the just concluded elections. So, it shows that we are on ground. 

"I have set up an agency to deal with flood and erosion. The agency will commence work almost immediately and is expected to come up with both temporary and holistic methods to check flooding."

Late Briggs: We Lost An Academic Iroko - Gov. Diri

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described the death of the late Prof. Nimisoere Dimkpa Briggs as a huge loss to Nigeria and the Ijaw nation in particular.

He said the late scholar was an Academic Iroko whose passing has created a yawning gap in the pantheon of the Ijaw ethnic group and Nigeria’s academic greats.

Prof. Briggs, who died on Monday at the age of 79, was Emeritus Professor of Medicine, former Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Pro Chancellor, Federal University, Abakaliki and the Bayelsa Medical University as well as  Chairman, Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

Governor Diri said the Kalabari-born academic, who hails from Abonnema in Rivers State, impacted and inspired a generation and countless others with his outstanding record of achievements.

While commiserating with his family, the Kalabari people and the academic community, the Bayelsa helmsman noted that Prof. Briggs’ wise counsel,  candour, dedication and commitment to service of Nigeria and humanity will be greatly missed.

“The news of Prof. Briggs death was shocking and sad. The Ijaw nation and indeed Nigeria has lost an intellectual giant and academic Iroko. 

“Prof. Briggs served our country and the academic community with commendable dedication and commitment. His wise counsel and candour were the hallmark of a man of service. We will all miss his humility and affable nature,” Diri said in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday.

Diri, on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, prayed God to comfort the family and grant them the grace to bear the loss.