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What I discussed with Tinubu – Okonjo-Iweala

Published

11 months ago

August 9, 2023

Editor

The Director-General of World Trade Organisation, WTO, Professor Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has disclosed the details of her discussion with president Bola Tinubu.

Okonjo-Iweala alongside the former Minister of State for Health during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Mohammed Ali Pate met with Tinubu at the presidential Villa on Tuesday.

Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Tinubu, Okonjo-Iweala said as the person at the helm of the world body, she alongside her team will do their best to support Nigeria at this difficult time.

The WTO DG flanked by Pate said they saw the President and that the focus of their discussion was on what they would do to support Nigeria.

She said they are contemplating a grassroot programme that they could put in place to help the young people as well as women.

She said the WTO would look at the kind of trade it can do for the people on agriculture, textile and even in establishing pharmaceutical industry

According to her, “We want to help them in digital trade so that they can create more jobs.”

She said, “We saw the President and the focus was on how do we support Nigerians at this time of need.

“We all know that things are very difficult for Nigerians outside, everyone is struggling. I’m here myself on a quiet visit. So this was not really an official WTO mission but we’re able to engage with Mr. President, talk about what are the kinds of programmes that could be put in place to make sure that the suffering of Nigerians are being alleviated.

“And we had a really good conversation on trying to look at the community and grassroots programmes that can be put in place to create jobs for young people, trying to support women and children, who are bearing the brunt of some of the suffering in the country.

“We talked about how for the longer term, we need to do that investment opportunities that Nigeria can cease including in the pharmaceutical industry.

“We also talked about what type of support the World Trade Organization can bring. We’re already working in Nigeria with women in particular, who own small and medium enterprises to try to help them upgrade the quality of their products. Whether it’s in the agricultural area, in textiles and in other areas so that they can sell more internationally.

“We’re trying to help them with digital trade. So how do we train and empower Nigerian women and owners of small and medium enterprises so that they can trade more and create more jobs?

“So that is what’s needed now, helping Nigerians to alleviate the difficult conditions that they are in.

“So that is what we discussed with Mr. President and as the Director General of the World Trade Organization, we are going to try to do the most we can to support Nigerians at this particular time.”

Related Topics:#Tinubu Okonjo-Iweala WTO

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ACJL: CLEEN Foundation Organises Stakeholders Workshop On Parole System

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5 mins ago

July 4, 2024

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In an effort to put in place a functional parole system in the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL), in Edo State, a non-profit organisation – CLEEN Foundation, organised a two-day stakeholders workshop in Benin.

INFO DAILY reports that stakeholders were drawn from Civil Society Organisations; officials of Edo State government particularly Ministry of Justice; the police; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA); Nigerian Correctional Service (NSC) and human rights commission amongst others.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Gad Peter, said the workshop was aimed at giving more insights into the parole system and how best to deepen and enhance the Administration of Justice.

“We want to drive advocacy for parole system and address the development that government has put in place to improve ACJS,” he said.

In the opening remarks read by Mrs. Blessing Abiri, Program Advisor, CLEEN Foundation, the Executive Director described the parole system as a critical component of the justice system.

He added that the workshop was geared towards addressing the gap in parole and ACJL.

Peter noted: “Parole reflects a balance between punitive measures and the need to rehabilitate, recognize and reform individuals that will bring positive change.

“It (Parole) is aimed at rehabilitating offenders and reintegrating them into the society as law abiding citizens.”

In his remarks, Attorney- General of Edo State who was represented by Mrs. Stella Okojie, a Director in the ministry, said Section 468 of CJS in the State specifically made provisions for parole.

The Attorney-General disclosed that the government has acquired land for State-owned correctional centres as part of efforts geared towards deepening administration of justice.

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FULL LIST: Lagos Gets 13 New Band A Feeders

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3 hours ago

July 4, 2024

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Lagos State has been bolstered with 13 additional Band A feeders, following approval from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company announced that the upgrade was granted due to their consistent provision of at least 20 hours of daily electricity.

“Premised on our demonstrated ability to consistently provide for a minimum of 20 hours of daily during a performance evaluation period monitored by the regulator, we are pleased to announce that we have obtained approval to add 13 Band Feeders to our network,” a statement on IKEDC’s Twitter handle read on Wednesday.

The upgraded feeders include – OgbaINJ-T3-Agege, AlimoshoINJ-T8-Okunola, OworoINJ-T3-Anthony, AdeniyiJonesINJ-T1-Anifowoshe, and IsheriINJ-T1-Bankole.

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This upgrade increases IKEDC’s total feeders to 141 from 128.

Meanwhile, NERC has warned DisCos of sanctions if they fail to complete the STS meter migration by July 31, 2024.

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JUST IN: FG Raises Mining Rates by 50 Per Cent

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Editor

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has raised the dues and rates paid by operators in the mining sector.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced the price increase at an ongoing press conference at the ministry headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the government increased a total of 286 rate regimes ranging from 50 per cent to 100 per cent adding that compliance begins immediately.

He also warned that defaulters will have their licenses revoked.

The minister said the review was necessary due to the paucity of funds repatriated to the coffers of the government by operators.

He said the new increase will also assist the ministry enhance the ease of doing business in the sector.

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Alake added that relevant stakeholders were involved in deciding the new rates adding that all parties unanimously accepted the increase.

He said, “It is therefore equitable that those who use these services to invest in the mining sector and make profits from it should be on the frontlines of the government’s efforts to recoup rather than pass it to poor Nigerians.

“Thus, in line with the powers conferred on me by the Mining and Minerals Act 2007, I set up a committee of the directors of departments and directors-general of agencies under the ministry and charged them with the mandate to work out new rates to justify governments’ investment in the service infrastructures and to cope with the expected meteoric spike in the traffic of applicants besieging the regulatory machinery.

“Today we are taking a significant step in efforts to implement the seven-point agenda to reposition the sector and international competitiveness by announcing a new regime of rates and charges for various services, departments and agencies.

“This is given qualitative measures and technological capacity upgrades implemented in recent times to raise the level of technical efficiency and improve the traffic of transactions and cope with business interest.”