NIGERIA: We don’t interfere in communities’ elections – Chevron

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CHEVRON Nigeria Limited, CNL, operator of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, has said that it does not interfere in the in-house procedure of host communities selecting their leaders and representatives.

General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Deji Haastrup, in a statement, said: “Chevron has a strong partnership with communities in the areas of its operations. We support their aspirations and respect the communities’ traditions. We do not interfere in their internal processes for selecting their leaders and representatives or in their internal affairs.”

Haastrup said the clarification became necessary in view of reports, alleging that Chevron officials were interfering in the election of representatives for the Egbema-Gbaramatu Central Development Committee, EGCDC.

He explained that  EGCDC is one of eight regional community development organisations (Regional Development Committees) established under the Chevron-pioneered participatory community engagement model, known as the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU.

“In keeping with the principles of the GMoU and in line with Chevron policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of communities, elections into these Regional Development Committees are entirely the affairs of the communities concerned,” he added.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Petrobras plans N795bn divestment from Nigerian oil blocks

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Brazilian oil major, Petroleo Brasileiro SA, Petrobras, yesterday, commenced moves to sell off its stake in some Nigerian oil blocks valued at N795 billion ($5 billion).

The sale of the oil blocks is expected to bring about an increase in the presence of Asian oil majors in Nigeria, following their interest in increasing their portfolios through the acquisition of additional production assets.

Divesting from the oil blocks in Nigeria will help the company concentrate more on exploration activities in a vast deep sea region off the coast of Brazil known as the subsalt, believed to contain dozens of billions of barrels of high quality oil.

Sources further disclosed that the divestment will help the company redirect its investment towards higher return activities such as exploration and production to finance a five-year, $236.7-billion capital spending plan.

According to sources close to the deal, the auction of the oil blocks, which will commence around May 2013, is expected to help the company raise cash and carry out its capital spending plan.

Petrobras has contracted Standard Chartered Bank to oversee the process of the sale, with oil majors in Asia said to be interested in the acquisition of the blocks.

Petrobras holds eight per cent stake in the offshore Agbami blocks, which are operated by United States energy major Chevron and a 20 per cent share of the offshore Akpo project, operated by French oil firm Total.

Crude oil production from the Agbami field fields began in 2008. Output from the project can reach 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) and it holds estimated reserves of 900 million barrels.

Akpo began production in 2009 and has plateau output of 175,000 barrels per day of light condensate oil and nine million cubic metres of gas.
It has proved and probable reserves of 620 million barrels of condensate and more than 28 billion cubic metres of gas.

Maria das Graças Foster, Chief Executive Officer, Petrobras, set a goal for asset sales of $9.9 billion this year, hoping it would free up cash, avert the sale of new shares, reduce debt and protect the company’s investment-grade ratings.

She said the plan should help Petrobras more than double current production by the start of next decade, to about 5.2 million barrels of oil and natural gas equivalent a day, and help Brazil become self-sufficient in refined products as well as crude oil.

In its previous five-year plan, announced last year, Petrobras had hoped to sell about $15 billion of assets to help finance capital spending. But as it rushed to sell assets, the company found potential buyers reluctant to pay top dollar for projects such as its oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

However, Standard Chartered and Petrobras declined comment.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: 61% of banks’ customers complain of hidden charges

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Read Time:2 Minute, 25 Second

NOI Polls has revealed that majority of customers of banks in Nigeria complain of hidden charges on them for banking services.

Latest weekly poll results released by NOI Polls revealed that the majority of banking Nigerians (61 percent) agreed that Nigerian banks are exploiting their customers through hidden bank charges. In addition, First Bank was judged to have the best customer service delivery closely followed by GT Bank. These were the two key findings from the Bank Customer Service Snap poll done in the week of March 11th 2013.

NOI Poll also explained that it under took the study following conversations among the banking public on poor service delivery and unexplained charges by banks on transactions.

It is against this backdrop that NOI Polls sought the opinions of banking customers on customer relations and service delivery of Nigerian Banks over the last quarter.

“It is our hope that the results from this poll will guide banking executives and relevant Corporate/Customer service champions to re orientate the industry on quality service delivery and sustained customer relationship, after all  the ‘customer is king” NOI Poll declared.The NOI Polls survey asked respondents five specific questions.

The first question sought to establish the perceptions of Nigerians about the bank that had the best customer service. Respondents were asked: Which Nigerian bank has the best customer service? It is also pertinent to note that respondents were informed that the bank selected did not have to be their personal bank.

Overall, by a slim margin the majority (29 percent) stated that First Bank has the best customer service followed by GT Bank with 26 percent. These two banks were perceived to be the best banks by a considerable distance. They were followed by Zenith Bank (nine percent), UBA (eight percent), Ecobank (seven percent) and Access Bank (six percent).

Analysis of the results showed some interesting facts. First Bank is mainly strong in terms of customer service in the South East (37 percent) and South South (35 percent) while GT Bank is particularly strong in the South West (35 percent).

Zenith Bank is second to First Bank in the South East with 16 percent while UBA is second to First Bank in the North West with 21 percent.  Analysis according to gender shows more female (31 percent) rooting for First Bank over GT Bank (23 percent) whilst there is only a difference of one percent for the males.

Respondents were subsequently asked: Why do you think the bank mentioned has the best customer service? Overall, the majority of respondents (35 percent) chose the Bank mentioned because the “Staff are friendly and helpful”. This is followed by 22 percent with the explanation that “Staff are knowledgeable and efficient” and 13 percent each mentioned “Staff are good at settling complaints” and “Staff are patient with customers”.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Samsung, Hyundai in Nigeria LNG carrier ship deals

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Read Time:1 Minute, 34 Second

South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai are both involved in deals to provide six LNG carrier ships between them to Nigeria’s Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG), the companies said. According to Reuters report, Samsung confirmed through a stock exchange announcement it had won an order to provide four ships to NLNG.

Hyundai said weekend it was in talks with NLNG to provide two additional LNG carrier ships. Both Hyundai and Samsung say the deal is conditional on NLNG securing finance. France’s BNP Paribas and Nigeria’s GT Bank are brokering a $1.6 billion loan to help fund acquisition of the vessels and that the loan documents will be signed next week, a banking source told Reuters.

“We are in talks with NLNG but nothing has been finalized yet,” said Kim Kwang-kug, an official at Hyundai Heavy. The source said the loan would be medium-to-long term, with the deal expected to be sealed by the end of March.

NLNG, which is majority owned jointly by Nigeria’s state oil company NNPC and Royal Dutch Shell, said last year it would seek international loans to expand the operations of its shipping subsidiary Bonny Gas Transport Limited, which currently has 24 LNG ships.

NLNG was established more than 20 years ago to harness Nigeria’s natural gas resources, which before that were largely either being left in the ground or flared off as byproducts of oil production, to produce liquefied natural gas and natural gas liquids for export.

The company, which has a capacity to produce 22 million tonnes of liquefied gas a year, has long-term supply contracts with buyers in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Portugal and France and also sells on the spot market. It obtains its gas supply from the upstream oil companies and liquefies it for export.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Some Strategies for solving the problem of Brain drain across African countries

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Read Time:3 Minute, 5 Second

In order to create the enabling environment for African Academicians and Professionals, who will provide solutions to African countries in all fields of human endeavor like technology, science, law, commerce, as well as short to meet the challenges posed by globalization being imposed on the continent in particular and mankind in general some strategies are proposed to achieve these objectives.

1) Setting up a global organization to be known as “International Academy of African Academics and Professionals in Diaspora” (IAAPD). It is envisaged that IAAPD will have branches in all African countries. IAAPD will develop a website for all Africans in Diaspora worldwide which will contain some of the following information;

a) Talent Bank which will contain information about African Academics and Professionals, their location, and area of expertise etc.

b) Concise up to date curriculum vitae of African Academicians and Professionals available online with access based on permission being granted by the website manager or system administrator in consultation with the Academician or Professional.

c) Information about facilities e.g. research institutes/centres, specialized institutions like specialist hospitals, technology parks etc in African countries which can be made available for use by other African Academicians and Professionals.

2) Through cooperation and networking among African nations, there will be the urgent need to create the enabling environment for easy mobility of Academicians and Professionals from one nation to another to render their services to one another for the benefit and development Africa. These objectives can be achieved through some of the following actions:

i) Introduction of a common K-passport in all African countries which will have in built facilities like relaxed work permit, entry visa, and other immigration requirements for African Academicians and Professionals. This will encourage Brain Gain from the present Brain Drain.

ii) Relaxed entry visa, work permit etc. for ease of mobility of African Academics and Professionals. The possibility of granting short term passports of nations they will be going to render their services should also be looked into.

iii) Encouragement of migration of African Academics and Professionals to get long term temporary residency as well as permanent residency in other African nations whose proximity will enable them to render more effective service/ expertise to the continent

iv) African Academics and Professionals in Diaspora should be encouraged to go for their sabbaticals, study/research leave, professional short visit, annual vacations etc. There should be programs like academic staff/professional exchanges, external examiners, postgraduate training, receiving African students in their laboratories etc.

v) There should be access across all African nations for the use of their pooled resources like research institutes/centres, specialized institutions like specialist hospitals, technology parks, data banks, library resources etc.

vi) Provision of competitive salary and fringe benefits.

vii) Consultancy and applied research and technology development/transfer in public research institutes.

viii) Participating in training or research via the network and initiating research and commercialization of products.

ix) Facilitating business contacts.

x) Encourage Academics and Professionals to author books based on Islamic principles which will imply a paradigm shift, and publication of scholarly, professional, and application oriented papers in journals.

In conclusion, even though the brain drain is not a recent phenomenon, it has caused serious developmental problems in African countries over the last few years. The African continent is losing more skilled people every year. A project like IAAPD can be invaluable in recapturing some of the lost skills. However, we realize that the success of IAAPD depends on amongst other factors, the willingness and commitment of the expatriates, getting trusted relationships with political leaders etc. It is also important to go beyond just setting up the network, but ensuring that it is self-sustainable.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Microsoft leads big data drive in Nigeria

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Read Time:1 Minute, 52 Second

The event was aimed at showcasing the relevance of “Big Data” in an emerging market like Nigeria and how businesses can leverage on it to improve performance. It was a platform for Microsoft partners to share some of the innovative solutions they have deployed and the impacts on their clients’ performance.

At the panel session moderated by Olufemi George, Microsoft Platform Specialist, Bambo Ibidapo-Obe, Head of Business Information Management at Oando and Nanfa Kumswa, Chief Technical Officer at Availsys enumerated the benefits of big data and how it can propel businesses to greater profitability.

Kumswa noted that the era of big data is novel to businesses in Nigeria; which provides the opportunity to consume as much data as required without any form of barrier.

Bambo Ibidapo-Obe, added that “Government is the biggest beneficiary of big data and suggested the need to find a sustainable way of utilizing data effectively,”

George, while speaking on SQL server and the new world of data, explained that the world of data is changing, storage cost is reducing but data volume is growing with increasing consumption of IT. He added that Microsoft proposition is to manage data from any data source by bringing ability to access data anywhere, at any time.

George added that connecting with the world’s data empower developers to build new services and applications in a vibrant data market place. He disclosed that the Corporation was working with HP and Dell to bring parallel data warehouse, so end users can access data themselves.

Emmanuel Onyeje, Country Manager Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, in his remarks said there are many reasons for explosion of data, one of which could be as a result of social network or the business enterprise. He added that that the migration to “Cloud services” will help reduce IT cost in all ramifications.

Onyeje noted that Microsoft with the 4Afrika initiative is investing in Incubation Centres by supporting them with funding to foster innovation and the development of locally relevant apps.

Participants at the event were taken through series of presentations by Microsoft partners on Business Process Management, Telco Value Added Services, Customer Loyalty management, Credit Risk management and Business Intelligence.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NEDEP will reposition Nigeria’s MSMEs for significant growth – Aganga

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Read Time:8 Minute, 2 Second

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, spoke with Business Editors during a Stakeholders’ Forum to kick off the first of its kind National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP). The minister said NEDEP will reposition the MSMEs sub-sector as the major driver of job creation and wealth generation.

Excerpts:

How will you situate the MSMEs sub-sector within the context of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda?

If we are going to develop our economy and turn our quantity advantage into productive advantage, one of the most important sectors that we have to focus on is the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME sector. Even developed economies rely heavily on MSMEs for job creation, wealth generation and inclusive economic growth. But what has stopped us in the past from developing this very important sector?

Despite the little support the MSME sector has received over the years, it has played a big role in our economy. Currently, the sector contributes about 75 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product and employs more than 45 percent of our people.

Based on the survey we conducted in 2010, there are about 17.28 million MSMEs in the country, employing more than 32 million people. However, if you look at the mix of the 17.28 million MSMEs, about 96 percent of them are actually micros. If you go deeper, you will discover that only four to six percent of their funding is from organised lenders.

This means that most MSMEs lack access to affordable finance. Also, most of them don’t have the skills required to run their businesses. So, it is a big opportunity that we have missed for many years, and that is what the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) wants to address.

How is NEDEP different from other MSME development initiatives that were introduced by the government in the past?

The National Enterprise Development Programme is an initiative spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and its three parastatals – the Bank of Industry, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN and the Industrial Training Fund, ITFs.

This is the first time ever that these three parastatals under my ministry are coming together to develop and implement a programme that will revolutionise the growth of the MSME sector in Nigeria. This is quite different from when different parastatals saddled with the responsibilities of seeing to the development of MSMEs had no collaboration that could have a significant impact on the Nigerian economy.

The development of NEDEP was guided by similar enterprise development models in Asia, Africa and the One Local Government One Product (OLOP) pilot projects in Kano and Niger states. Our objective is that within the next two years of implementing NEDEP, the programme will generate 3.5 million jobs and an estimated five million direct and indirect jobs.

You said that the target of NEDEP is to create about 3.5 million jobs within the next two years. How do you intend to achieve this?

Yes, our goal is to create about 3.5million direct jobs and five million indirect jobs through NEDEP. It may sound like a big number but it can be done very easily. We intend to achieve this through a combination of strategies. The first strategy is to look at the database of MSMEs, which says that we have 17.28 million MSMEs in Nigeria.

Out of this number, about 94 percent of them have no access to funds and they are surviving. Most of their funds come from personal savings and contributions from families and friends. What we intend to do is to take 25 percent of those that have scalable products and businesses that we can support by helping them to build their businesses and at the same time providing them with funds.

If we are able to reach the top 25 and each MSME creates one job, which is about three million jobs created within two years. In addition to that, we are looking at One Local Government, One Product, based on the areas where we have competitive and comparative advantage. We are looking at these across the value chain to make sure that even when they produce their products, they will be able to sell them within the same state.

This will produce a number of enterprises which we will support as well. And where we have skills gap, we will form them into cooperatives and Self Regulating Organisations (SROs), so that each one of them will, in their trade, have a yellow book. If for instance, you are looking for an qualified electrician, you can pick up the yellow book to find out all the electricians that are qualified and registered within your location.

One of the major problems militating against industrial and economic growth in Nigeria is the inconsistency of government policies, which many Nigerians refer to as ‘policy somersault’. How will you ensure the continuity of NEDEP?

The first thing is to have a robust MSME policy, which we have worked on in the past four to five months. This policy will soon go the Federal Executive Council for approval. This will ensure that we have a strong policy for the MSME sector. Secondly, in Nigeria today, you will discover that almost every Ministry, Department and Agency of government is engaged in the MSME programme at a small level.

Even the international development agencies and institutions in Nigeria are currently engaged in one form of MSME programme or the other. Most of these programmes are not well coordinated, either at the state or federal government level.

Therefore, there is the need for a structure around MSME development to ensure that there is proper coordination at the state and federal level so that we can have adequate data to develop the sector. The best way to achieve that is by setting up an SME Council comprising the states, Federal Government and the private sector. This is what other countries have done to have a structured approach to the development of MSMEs.

The third thing we need to do is to make sure that we inculcate the culture of enterprise development right from the schools. This entails having enterprise training in various educational institutions’ curricula such as secondary and tertiary institutions.

This type of initiative will ensure that before students graduate from school, if they are entrepreneurially minded, they already have a rough idea of the type of business they want to set up and how they will access funds. Already, we are working with the National Universities Commission to make sure that we have Enterprise Societies and Clubs in our Universities.

There is no doubt that we have quantity advantage as a country due to our large population, but it is very important to stress than an average Nigerian is naturally an entrepreneur. What we need is the right policy structure and support to grow and develop the MSME sector.

That is why the three major agencies under my ministry responsible for MSMEs development, finance and industrial skills development have come together to drive NEDEP. While SMEDAN will provide business training and support, ITF will provide the skills required for specific or specialised businesses and BoI will provide the funding.

Have they started working on the initiative already?

The interesting thing about NEDEP is that each of these agencies has already done some work in most of these areas. For example, SMEDAN has done One Local Government, One Product initiative working with the Japanese, based on a  similar programme they have in Japan.

They have done this programme with three sub-sectors in pilot states such as Niger and Kano. In the same vein, BoI already has partnership with about 17 state governments in the area of financing MSMEs. Also, ITF has training and skills acquisition centres in most parts of the country.

They have concluded plans to establish 37 Industrial Skills Training Centres, one in each state and the Federal Capital Territory, with six centres of Advanced Skills Training for Employment for skills broadening and upgrading in addition to Sector-Specific Skills Training Centres to cater for the skills need of manufacturing, Agric-Agro allied, construction and other critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.

In each of the 46 centres, training will be offered in 25 trade areas. Each of the 25 trade areas will enroll 25 trainees in line with international best practice for effective hands-on learning. So, as you can see, we already have the structures in place. What is required is for them to work together under NEDEP in order to make the desired huge impact.

No matter how laudable NEDEP is, it cannot achieve the desired result without collaboration with the state and local governments. How do you intend to secure their support and buy-in?

Already, we have the support of 17 state governments that have been working with BoI, ITF and SMEDAN, in the area of MSMEs development, skills training and acquisition, as well as business services development. With NEDEP, we will have the National Steering Committee, State Government Steering Committee and the Local Government Steering Committee.

In all these, we will involve the state and local governments, the private sector, development banks, agencies and private individuals. Most of them are already excited about NEDEP and have indicated their interest and willingness to work with us. That is why, even with the short notice of this meeting, we still have almost all the commissioners here. We will ensure that anyone and everyone that has any contribution to make is part of NEDEP.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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NIGERIA: MBAN partners UBA Metropolitan on mortgage default insurance

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Read Time:2 Minute, 28 Second

Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria (MBAN), the umbrella body of primary mortgage banks (PMBs) in Nigeria, has initiated moves towards the development of mortgage default insurance, in collaboration with UBA Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Limited.

Outgoing president of MBAN, Mr. Abimbola Olayinka, disclosed this in his farewell speech at the annual meeting of the association held recently in Lagos, which culminated in the election of new executive officers to run the affairs of the association.

According to Olayinka, the move is necessary to enhance accessibility of low-income and informal group to housing finance products.  “The introduction of mortgage default insurance as credit enhancer would catalyse a downward slide in interest rates at longer tenures and enhance accessibility of the lower and informal income group to housing finance products as well as bring about increased inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs),” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the newly elected President of MBAN, Mr. Femi Johnson, has declared that one of the top priorities on the agenda of the incoming leadership of the association is to pave way for the establishment of mortgage brokers. According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has already granted the association the authority to license and regulate the mortgage brokers in the country.

“We have done a lot in this regard, but we need to come up with clear cut rules of engagement. We must quickly come up with the framework for the regulation of the mortgage brokers as some of our members plan to transcend into the aspect of the practice,” he said.

The new MBAN boss said priority attention will also be given to the establishment of Liquidity Facility Company. “We must be active drivers of the liquidity company so that we can wield a lot of influence in the operations,” he said.  On the consolidation/reform of the mortgage sector, Johnson stated: “Our first commitment is to leave no one in the cold.

MBAN will reach out to every institution that is having difficulty or some challenges in the process. Whatever we need to do, whether it’s capital base, merger or consolidation, for people who had made up their mind to scale down, we will guide them through the transition.”

Johnson also reiterated the need for MBAN to train mortgage workers and scale up its professional education development programme. “We need to have the best hands and brains in the management of the mortgage industry and to take our rightful place in the financial environment,” he asserted.

The new MBAN executives include: Mr. Ben Akaneme of GT Homes Limited, Vice President; Alhaji Usman Hardo of Yobe Savings and Loans Limited, Deputy President, North; Niyi Akinlusi of Intercontinental Homes, Deputy President, West; Mrs. Subulola Giwa-Amu of FBN Mortgages Limited, Treasurer; Emmanuel Mbaka of Platinum Savings and Loans Limited, Publicity Secretary; and Mr. Olaitan Komolafe of Global Trust Savings and Loans Limited, Legal Adviser.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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ATR visits Nigeria, presents brands of aircraft to FG

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Read Time:2 Minute, 38 Second

Officials of ATR, world leader in the manufacturing of regional aircraft with 90 seats or less, last week visited Nigeria to present their brands of aircraft to the federal government. They were hosted in Lagos by  Landover Aviation..

Addressing aviation reporters at the Corporate headquarters of Landover Aviation in Lagos, the Vice President Sales, Africa and Indian Ocean of ATR, Mr Guido Di Paolo, said they were in Nigeria to key into the transformation agenda of the Ministry of Aviation.

It will be recalled that the Federal government through the Aviation ministry recently decided to help stabilise the aviation sector by helping airlines to re-fleet. This will involve standing as  guarantor to help airlines acquire new aircraft to boost their operations.

Founded in 1981, ATR has become the world leader on the market for regional aircraft with 90 seats or less. Since its creation, ATR has sold over 1,200 aircraft. Its customer base today comprises more than 180 operators in over 90 countries.  ATR is an equal partnership between two major European aeronautics players, Alenia Aermacchi (a Finmeccanica Group company) and EADS. Its head office is in Toulouse, France.

The French-Italian manufacturer achieves turnover of 1.44 billion dollars  and reported  in January 2013 that  it delivered 64 aircraft in 2012, an increase of 18% over 2011 deliveries. Also speaking at the media briefing, ATR Airline and Product Marketing Manager, Mr Othman Chaoui said the turboprop aircraft manufacturer secured orders for 74 aircraft, as well as 41 options, with 11 customers. ATR held a backlog of 221 aircraft as at the end of 2012, valued at USD5 billion, the largest backlog for a regional aircraft manufacturer for aircraft up to 90 seats.

ATR is at present the only manufacturer offering a range of 50 and 70 seater aircraft. The new -600 series of the ATR is the most recently certified aircraft in its category and benefits from the latest innovations in terms of navigation and communication aids as well as passenger comfort. Despite this recent certification, the new ATR -600 series have already registered more than 280 orders.

When asked the unique selling point of ATR, Mr Di Paolo said ATR brand of aircraft are not just fuel efficient, but are easy to maintain for operations by airline. According to him ‘’ it will be wasteful for airlines to use big planes like Air bus or Boeing for short haul flight and regional operations because of cost of maintenance  of the planes to accomplish short range flights. It is more economical and profitable to use a Turboprop plane’’

He further said by the end of 2012, ATR had delivered 1,033 aircraft,  422 ATR 42 and 611 ATR 72. ‘’ This is because ATR 42 and ATR 72 are the cheapest aircraft in these category. There Cockpit are the most modern and their Amonia Cabin are  a beauty to behold. ATR engaged Giugiaro, an Italian  car designer to design the cabin of the planes. This is the first time he is designing interior for aircraft manufacturers.’’

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Nigeria spends N635bn on wheat importation – Agric Minister

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Read Time:3 Minute, 54 Second

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, yesterday, said Nigeria spends about N635 billion on wheat, wheat flour for use in bread, confectioneries and other foods.

Adenina stated this at the national stakeholders’ forum on cassava bread,  in Abuja.

According to him, wheat which accounted for a small share of Nigerian food consumption in the 1960s, rose to 1,400,000 metric tones in 1980, 1,913,000 metric tones in 2,000 before climbing to all time high of 4,051,000 metric tones by 2010 and by 2011, Nigeria spent N635 billion on wheat imports.

The minister, who lamented the exploitation of Nigerian potentials in cassava produce, said such magnitude of wheat importation could no longer be sustainable, given that Nigeria is one of the largest suppliers of cassava produce.

He used the medium to announce Federal Government’s plan to float Cassava Bread Fund by the end of March noting that the move was in line with government’s plan to support the use of cassava flour substitution in bread production and to make cassava bread available to all across the country.

According to the minister, the Cassava Bread Fund apart from supporting bakers was established to enhance research and development efforts on cassava bread, training of master bakers  and social marketing to boost demand for cassava bread.The fund which he said would be ready for access by bakers in April will be funded through the tariff on wheat flour.

“I am very pleased to let you know that the Cassava Bread Fund will be effectively operational with funds, by the end of this month. We will work closely with the national federation of bakers and cassava flour processors  to quickly access these funds to support our efforts to get cassava bread to all parts of the country,” said the minister.

To further support cassava flour substitution in the country, Dr. Adesina said that government had put in place a number of fiscal policies which include: raising of tariff on wheat importation; elimination of import of enzymes for the production of cassava bread; imposition of zero duty on all equipments and machinery for production of cassava bread among others.

In furtherance of the government support, he stated that over 385 Master Bakers drawn from the six geo-political zones of the country had been trained by experts and were each given starter packs of 50kg bag of  20% blended cassava flour; 80% wheat flour and one kilogram enzyme improvers to enable them begin production of cassava bread.

As part of efforts to upgrade bakers capacity, the minister said 153 SMEs are currently been financed by government to enable them produce high quality cassava flour that would meet both local and export demands.

Following the drive to build a sustainable supply chain for the production of cassava bread and confectionaries in Nigeria, Adesina said Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, through its Cassava Adding Value for Africa project, had provided a grant of $650,000 for activities to accelerate the production of cassava bread in Nigeria. The grant, he said would support training of master bakers and rendering technical support to SMEs.

The minister said Nigeria is blessed with cassava but had failed to exploit its potentials and challenged bakers to increase cassava content in their produce, insisting that the country can no longer afford to sustain its present volume of wheat flour , which he said rose from N78,000 in 1960 to N635 billion in 2011.

Earlier, the National President and Country Manager, Cassava: Adding Value for Africa, Prof. Lateef Oladimeji said the forum would strengthen their contributions to national food policy, saying that cassava bread when fully accepted by Nigerian bakers would not only create more jobs but would offer unique opportunity for income generation and sustained development.    

While commending the federal government for the 20% cassava bread policy, Prof. Oladimeji appealed to the President to assent to their bill to enable them play a complimentary role  in achieving the government agricultural transformation agenda.

In her position statement, the representative of UTC Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Folunsho Olaniyan said her company had complied with the 20 percent Cassava Bread policy of government, after 90 trials.

“UTC developed bread made with 20% cassava flour with seven days shelf life. This bread is dough enhanced with cassava improver and is cheaper than bread made from 100% wheat flout.

UTC has excellent training facilities and we are ready to assist the driver to support bakers in achieving 20% cassava inclusion bread in the remotest part of our rural environment in Nigeria,” she stated.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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