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Audio Attached: Developed cultural, creative sectors can improve African economies — COSON

NAN-ELS-3
Support
By Oladapo Udom
Lagos, Feb. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has urged government at all levels to focus attention on the development of the cultural and creative sectors.

Its Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

Okoroji said the call became necessary bearing in mind the capacity of the two sectors to improve the country’s economy.

Cue in audio

“I am for strong collaboration with government at different levels in the cultural sector.

“Presently, it is not likely that we will send an African to the moon, but at present we can dance, we can sing, we can act, we can produce great content.

“I believe that’s an important pedestal that Africans need to use to promote themselves and in fact improve their economies.

“If Nigeria paid stronger attention to its cultural industries, its creative industries, our nation probably won’t be where it is right now because we have so much to offer the world.’’

Cue out audio

Okoroji urged other state governments in the country to emulate the Lagos government in supporting the creative industry.

He acknowledged the contribution of Cross River to the development of the tourism industry through festivals. (NAN)

OUU/ERO/LAB/YEE
Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim

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General news

Audio Attached = Hardship: FG hears Nigerians `loud, clear’, ready to revive economy — Osinbajo

NAN-H-68
Economy
Abuja, Feb. 6, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government says it is aware of the economic difficulties Nigerians are experiencing and is committed to putting the economy on the path of sustainable growth.
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, stated this in Abuja on Monday where he opened a dialogue with private sector stakeholders on the administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

Alluding to the many protests against the harsh economic situation in the country, being planned by Nigerians, Osinbajo said it was the duty of the government to cater for the ordinary man.

Cue in audio 1 (Osinbajoon ERGP)

“I would like to say to every Nigerian that we hear you loud and clear.

“The government is one that is determined to give the ordinary man a fair deal.

“You have the right to live well and descent, and we are committed to making that happen.

“But years of deterioration and corruption cannot be remedied over night.

“But again, we must emphasise that it is our business and our duty to ensure that we put the Nigerian economy on a path of sustained growth.

“And that is exactly what we are determined to do.’’

Cue out audio 1

Osinbajo said that the federal government had in the past 13 months intervened in the economy three times to give the states enough resources to pay salaries.

According to him the government’s last intervention happened in December 2016 when the federal government refunded the Paris Club debt which it owed states since 2005 even when oil sold for $115 per barrel.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari insisted that the refund must be made and said that at least 50 per cent of it be used for payment of workers’ salaries.

He said the administration was bent on implementing that Presidential directive adding that many states had used that for the purpose in December.

He said it had always been the concern of Buhari and the government to ensure that the most vulnerable in the society took as little of the pay as possible.

Osinbajo remarked that the social investment programme of the administration had been rolled out targeting 500,000 unemployed graduates for the N-power volunteer scheme.

He also said the government had started paying N5,000 a month to the poorest Nigerians as part of the conditional cash transfer scheme.

Osinbajo added that the home-grown school feeding programme had started in many states adding that credit facilities were being provided for 1.6 million market women, traders and artisans.

The Acting President said that the administration’s comprehensive economic strategy was the growth plan being considered by the stakeholders.

He, however, observed that certain things had been considered that must happen in the plan for it to yield good results.

Cue in audio 2 (Osinbajo on targets)

“The first is agriculture and food security, the second is energy which covers power and petroleum product sufficiency.

“The third is industrialisation and small business and the fourth is stabilising the macro-economic environment and especially foreign exchange policy.’’

Cue out audio 2

Osinbajo said that every of the target must happen in the short and immediate term, adding that government was working to ensure that it achieved them.

He said the ERGP spelt out step by step how the administration intended to make them to happen adding that the stakeholders’ contributions would enrich the debate and quality of the growth plan.

Osinbajo said that fundamental to the growth of the economy, was government’s plan to involve the private sector in view of the fact that the administration could not do it alone.

He said most of the effort at developing the economy would come from the private sector.

He assured that government would provide the environment that would be favourable to achieving the targets.

The Budget and National Planning Minister, Sen. Udoma Udoma, said in a speech that the specific objectives of the forum were to review the context of the ERGP and share the plan’s structure and discus potential key initiatives.

He added that the forum was also to solicit feedback from the private sector noting that the plan was to drive the Nigerian to a minimum GDP growth rate of seven per cent within the plan period of 2017 to 2020.

“Our plan is to have an economy with low inflation, stable exchange rates and a diversified and inclusive growth,’’ he added. (NAN)
DCU/DOR/YEE

Edited by Nyisom Dore/Emmanuel Yashim
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Economy

NDDC assures of secured regional economy

NDDC assures of secured regional economy

NAN-H-108

NDDC

Calabar, Jan. 27, 2017 (NAN) The Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, has restated his board’s determination to guarantee a secured regional economy.

The former Senate Leader gave the assurance in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday by his Media Adviser, Mr Sam Arikpo.

According to him, the image of the commission is regrettably now “not edifying’’ because it is “unfortunately seen as a contract awarding factory or silo, where processes do not matter’’.

The chairman also stated that such perception was not helped by the “inexplicable volume of over 10,000 contracts ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous’’.

Ndoma-Egba assured that his new management team would “take clear, practical and visible steps to change the narrative and the song not just of the Commission but of the Region’’.

“The Commission and its affairs will be rebranded, reformed, refocused as well as transparent and accountable to encourage and widen stakeholder’s engagement.

“Besides, the Commission’s systems and processes will be made more transparent to earn the trust and interest of stakeholders, development partners and private sector.

“Youths of the area will be enabled and empowered to express their creativity and talent,’’ he stressed.

The chairman also disclosed that bogus contracts would be verified, audited and streamlined so that their books could be cleaned up.

He said that the commission’s projects “must be stakeholders owned through a Master Plan to which all must commit and faithfully implemented’’.

Ndoma-Egba also said that the commission would follow strictly the Act establishing it based on the respective member states oil production quota.

He also lauded the recent visit of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the region, describing it as part of the Federal Government’s peace initiative.

He said that government’s categorical statement on the Maritime University in Gbaramatu was a done deal.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had shown good faith to the region by increasing the budgets on the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the NDDC and the Amnesty Programme.

He also said his board was pleased that work on the Lagos-Calabar Rail line by the federal government would soon begin. (NAN)

DOE/MST

Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Emir tasks Journalists on national economy

NAN-H-5

Media

Potiskum (Yobe), Sept. 14, 2016 (NAN) The Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Abali, on Wednesday urged the media to sensitize Nigerians on the nation’s economic challenges.

The emir, who is also the Chairman, Yobe Council of Chiefs, made the appeal when he received officials of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at his palace in Potiskum.

Abali said the public need to be enlightened to appreciate the impact of the global economic recession and fall in price of oil on the nation’s economy.

“There is a global economic recession. It has also affected Nigeria because of the mono economy, with over dependence on oil, whose price has collapsed in the international market.

“The challenge before the media includes propagating the good efforts of the Federal Government to salvage the situation,” he said.

The emir said traditional institutions in the state were working closely with security operatives to ensure peace and stability across the state.

“We appreciate government efforts in ensuring peace and security in the North east, normalcy is gradually returning,  but wish to call for more assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons in the state.

“We are also working in partnership with healthcare providers and non-governmental organizations for successful immunization coverage in the state.”

Abali lauded the media for working under risky environment and enduring the six-year Boko Haram onslaught in the state.

Malam Yusuf Isa, the Yobe NUJ chairman, pleaded for the support and cooperation of the emir toward enhancing the working conditions of journalists in the state.

He commended the traditional rulers for their massive contributions to security and development of the state. (NAN)

MM/MZA

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[Edited and Controlled by Maharazu Ahmed]

 

Economy

APC scribe foresees brighter future for economy

NAN-H-12
Economy
By Mohammed Mamman
Damaturu, Sept. 13, 2016 (NAN) The National Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC) Alhaji Maimala Buni, has assured Nigerians that the nation’s economic challenges will soon be over.

He spoke in Damaturu in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, saying that decisive steps in government’s fiscal measures were potent to get the country out of the economic recession.

He said the government was considering series of measures to create a vibrant economy that would provide robust employment opportunities, create wealth and improve the lives of the citizenry.

“The Nigerian economy had been in recession for a long time before President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration came on board.

“Many scholars and experts saw this coming and predicted same but, for the large scale looting, the effects are now manifesting.

“Nigerians should appreciate the painstaking measures of the APC’s administration in pushing the economy to survive the turbulent economic storm,’’ Maimala said.

He also said the APC government had efficiently checked corruption in governance, saying corruption had been grossly degraded.

“We have now recorded increased transparency and accountability in government business in Nigeria which has earned the country confidence in governance.

“This regime has also improved revenue generation and remittance, especially in the non-oil sectors of the economy; this will no doubt contribute to national economic growth and development,’’ he said.(NAN)
MM/KAY
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(Edited by Kayode Olaitan)