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Failed bank depositors will not lose their funds, says NDIC

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said that failed bank depositors will not lose their funds should there be any failure.

This was disclosed by the NDIC Managing Director, Bello Hassan, at the 2024 Customer Service Week celebration in Abuja.

He urged them to renew their dedication to serving their core stakeholders-depositors of failed banks. This followed the innovative tools deployed to resolve deposit issues related to the defunct Heritage Bank.

“The NDIC also remains committed to fulfil its mandate and expectations which it has been doing in the last 35 years of its existence to ensure we create impact and boost depositors confidence in the banking industry, which is why are reiterating that every verified customer with NIN from the failed Heritage Bank will receive his payment,” he said.

The innovative approach enabled the NDIC to begin settling insured depositors of Heritage Bank, whose licence was revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in June 2023, within just four days of the revocation.

So far, 93 percent of depositors with balances below N5Million have been compensated.

However, he urged them not to become complacent, but rather to continue building on the corporation’s core mandate to achieve even greater success.

Emphasising that it is the only way to ensure the Corporation’s stakeholders remain a top priority in the delivery of services.

“I would like to commend our staff, who have displayed exemplary performances and dedication in fostering a culture of exceptional customer service, particularly payments to depositors of the failed Heritage Bank.

“As you are all aware, Customer Service Week is an international celebration that recognizes the vital importance of customer service and the individuals who serve and support customers daily.
“This year’s theme, ‘Above and Beyond’ encapsulates the spirit of collaboration and the unwavering commitment of the Corporation to service delivering to our stakeholders.

“Today, I would like to reflect on the essence of exceptional customer service and how going above and beyond can transform not only our relationships with customers but also enhance our core mandate.

“As you all know, our passion for what we do drives us to create a positive, stakeholder-centric culture that exceeds expectations”.
Given this, the Managing Director noted that this year’s theme is appropriate as it aligns with the organisation’s vision and emphasised the importance of employees committing themselves to meeting customer satisfaction to strengthen confidence in the organisation’s ability to fulfil its mandates.

He said: “The theme for this year, ‘Above and Beyond’, speaks to our commitment to working with excellence, and understanding that reflects our shared values, and providing solutions in our unique environment where competition is fierce and surpasses expectations.

“What sets us apart is our ability to deliver outstanding customer service, in ways that create a lasting impact.
“Exceptional customer service is not the responsibility of single nurturing but a culture that prioritises customer satisfaction, which will not only improve individual experiences but also build a lasting reputation for excellence.

“As we celebrate this Customer Service Week and look beyond delivering exceptional services to our stakeholders, let us celebrate the power of outstanding service, foster collaboration with our colleagues, and promote a culture of effective service delivery.
“I also urge you all to embrace this week, which will be filled with insights, inspirations, and innovations.

“Let us join forces to elevate the standard of service excellence, striving to make every interaction meaningful, every service unforgettable, and to exceed customer expectations”.
The National Coordinator of Service Compact With All Nigerians (ServiCom), Nnenna Akajiemeli, in her keynote address, commended the workers of the Corporation for their excellent service delivery to their publics” He said.

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Keyamo urges airlines to serve local dishes to passengers

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has requested airline operators to serve passengers Nigerian dishes. Keyamo said this while receiving the delegation of the Lufthansa Group in his office yesterday in Abuja.

The minister, who commended Lufthansa for their services in the aviation industry over the years, equally mandated all aircraft leaving or coming to Nigeria to ensure they treat Nigerians well on board their flights.

He said the essence of requesting local dishes during outbound flights is to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage, and economic development, and encourage local caterers.

Keyamo appealed to foreign airlines to ensure all aircraft coming to Nigeria are in good shape and decried the level at which some foreign airlines lift Nigerian passengers with outdated aircraft while using the most modern ones in other countries.

Keyamo informed the Lufthansa Group that the Nigerian government has upgraded Muhammadu Buhari Airport Maiduguri to an international airport and urged them to utilise this opportunity to harness the huge market awaiting all airlines when the airport commences operations on January 1, 2025.

Rene Koinzack, Senior Director Sales, Southern and East Africa, Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the aviation minister for the uncommon transformation at the airports.

He said the Nigeria Immigration Service has been doing excellently well at the airport and promised to ensure all passengers have value for their money.

Rene said the essence of the meeting was to thank the minister for the ease of doing business in Nigeria and further strengthen the partnership between Nigeria and the Lufthansa Group.

He stated that going forward, Lufthansa would serve Nigerian dishes to Nigerian passengers on board Lufthansa, maintaining that the airline will continue to support the growth of Nigeria’s aviation and her economy.

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No new taxes, FIRS reassures amid reforms

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has allayed the fears of many Nigerians regarding a possible new tax regime in light of proposed tax reforms.

Speaking during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja, he said that the reform legislation would not introduce new taxes or raise existing rates.

Adedeji stated, “The tax reform will not add any new taxes or increase the rates of current ones; instead, it aims to reduce the overall number of taxes that Nigerians pay.”

He further clarified that no agencies would be merged as part of this process, ensuring that no jobs would be lost.

The primary goal of the tax reform, according to Adedeji, is to enhance the simplicity and efficiency of tax administration in Nigeria.

He assured that the existing tax policies initiated by President Bola Tinubu focus on taxing prosperity rather than poverty, stressing returns on investments rather than the investments themselves.

Regarding the executive bills submitted to the National Assembly, Adedeji outlined four key proposals: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (Amendment) Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.

He noted that, if passed, these bills would streamline multiple tax laws, modernise tax administration, promote efficiency, and align with international standards, all while expanding Nigeria’s tax base.

When questioned about the proposed name change from FIRS to Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Adedeji explained that the current title does not accurately reflect the agency’s comprehensive services, particularly in regard to Value Added Tax (VAT), where 85% of collections are allocated to states and only 15% to the federal government.

Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Finance Committee, highlighted the importance of the session for gaining insights into the aims of the tax reform bills.

He acknowledged that tax reforms are central to the government’s agenda and require input from various stakeholders.
He praised Adedeji for meeting revenue targets for the fiscal year while encouraging him to exceed those goals.

Other committee members, including Senators Seriake Dickson, Osita Isunazo, and Ahmed Wadada, also commended the FIRS for its efforts, particularly in boosting non-oil revenue generation.

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Nigeria’s foreign reserves rise 12.74 % to $39.12b

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, has said that Nigeria’s reserves have risen to $39.12 billion as of October 11, 2024.

The CBN governor said this translates to about a 12.74 percent increase from $34.70 billion at the end of June 2024.

Cardoso said the growth was driven largely by foreign capital inflows, receipts from crude oil-related taxes, and third-party contributions while also outlining the apex bank’s plans to address the spiralling inflation in the country.

This was as he said the bank’s recapitalization policy has prompted banks to strengthen their financial positions, a process expected to result in a more robust and resilient banking sector by March 2026.

The exercise, Cardoso said, is expected to support the realisation of a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.

He said this while addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Banking on policy measures and strategies to address domestic macroeconomic challenges.

On the macroeconomic performance in 2024, he said projections indicate a growth rate of 3.2 percent and 3.3 percent for 2024 and 2025, respectively.

He added that Nigeria is projected to maintain a more robust 4.3 percent growth rate.

Cardoso said the non-oil sector maintained strong performance, contributing 94.30 percent to GDP with a steady 2.80 percent growth rate.

He added that the oil sector’s growth rate has almost doubled to 10.15 percent in Q2 2024 from 5.70 percent in Q1 2024, due mainly to improved security surveillance, which resulted in increased production of crude oil and natural gas.

He said the services sector continues to be the primary economic driver, contributing 58.76 percent to GDP with a robust growth rate of 3.79 percent.

Similarly, he said the industrial sector has shown remarkable improvement, with its growth rate surging to 3.53 percent from 0.31 percent.

He pointed out that the contribution of agriculture to total GDP also increased. In addition, the growth rate of the sector rose to 1.41 percent from a negative territory of -0.90 percent, indicating a substantial turnaround in productivity.

He also said the foreign exchange reserves have grown significantly, with remittance flows currently representing 9.4 percent of total external reserves.

In Q2 2024, we maintained a current account surplus and saw remarkable improvements in our trade balance, he said.

Cardoso said the current external reserve position can finance over 12 months of imports of goods and services, or 15 months of goods only.

This is substantially higher than the prescribed international benchmark of 3.0 months, reflecting a robust buffer against external shocks, he said.

He said inflation trended upward, driven largely by high food prices, the cost of energy, and legacy infrastructural challenges, but it commenced deceleration from 34.19 percent in June 2024 to 33.40 percent in July 2024.

He said the moderation in inflation became more pronounced in August 2024, as headline inflation further eased to 32.15 percent.

This, he said, was largely attributed to monetary policy measures taken by the bank.

With aggressive monetary policy tightening coupled with robust monetary-fiscal policy coordination, inflation is expected to further trend downward in the near-to-medium term, Cardoso said.

To combat inflation, he said they had fully reverted to an orthodox monetary policy approach and implemented a comprehensive set of monetary policy measures.

These include raising the policy rate by 850 basis points to 27.25 percent, increasing cash reserve ratios, and normalising open market operations as our primary liquidity management tool.

He said, “In addition, we have adopted an inflation-targeting (IT) monetary policy framework as part of the bank’s Enterprise Strategy (2024-2028).

“The IT framework, widely adopted across various global economies, is renowned for its effectiveness in combating persistent inflation.

“These integrated measures are aimed at stabilising prices, optimising liquidity management, and engendering an effective monetary policy framework.

“Regarding the foreign exchange market, the bank implemented various reforms, including a unification strategy, which streamlined various exchange rate windows into a single model, adopting the ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ approach to enhance FX liquidity and financial market stability.

“This move was aimed at fostering transparency, reducing market distortions, and enhancing the efficiency of foreign exchange allocations.

“This consolidation involved the implementation of new operational guidelines, which included removing the International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOS) quote cap.

“Additionally, the bank resumed the sales of FX at the NAFEM and Bureau De Change (BDC) segments, bolstered by an improved supply from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs).”

On banking supervision, he said the CBN has taken decisive actions to ensure the safety, soundness, and resilience of the banking industry.

“One of the key measures includes the recapitalization of the banking sector by raising the minimum capital base to support the $1 trillion economy envisioned by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) by 2030,” he said.

“Banks are required to meet these new thresholds by March 31, 2026, with several options available for reaching these targets.

“These options include issuing new equities, engaging in mergers and acquisitions, or adjusting their operational licences. The bank also revoked the licence of Heritage Bank, facilitated the successful merger of Unity Bank and Providus Bank, revised cybersecurity rules for banks and PSPs, suspended processing fees on cash deposits, and enhanced AML/CFT supervision, amongst others.”

On monetary and fiscal policy coordination, he said they had strengthened collaboration during the period under review.

He added, “In this regard, several joint committees have been instituted to build synergy and to provide platforms for key stakeholders’ engagements to explore ways through which monetary policy implementation and fiscal operations can be conducted in a mutually reinforcing manner.

“Overall, our policy measures reflect a holistic approach to addressing various challenges in the economy. While some measures have immediate effects, others are designed to bring about long-term structural changes. Our ultimate goal is to create a more stable, resilient, and efficient monetary and financial system that can better serve the Nigerian economy while adhering to global best practices,” Cardoso said.

The bank’s numerous policy initiatives are yielding significant results across various sectors of the economy.

“In the foreign exchange market, we have achieved increased transparency and improved overall supply. By allowing the foreign exchange rate to be determined by market demand and supply, the CBN has reduced arbitrage and speculative activities and eliminated the front-loading of FX demand.

“These policy measures have effectively narrowed the exchange rate disparities between the NAFEM and BDC segments, which have largely led to the convergence of FX rates. Improved transparency in the market has restored market confidence leading to increased capital inflows, which enabled the CBN to clear existing FX backlogs.

“The settlement of all legitimate backlogs of outstanding FX obligations by the bank has significantly improved Nigeria’s credibility and ratings across the global financial market, helping to boost investor confidence and enhanced liquidity in the foreign exchange market.

“With improved investor confidence, foreign investments have increased as evidenced by a significant rise in capital importation by 65.56 percent to $6.49 billion between January and July 2024, compared to $3.92 billion in the corresponding period of 2023.

“Collectively, these actions have contributed significantly to the stability of the financial system. While inflation remains a major concern, we are not relenting in ensuring that requisite measures are taken.

“Headline inflation slightly increased from 32.15 percent in August to 32.70 percent in September 2024. The MPC further tightened the policy rate in its September meeting in anticipation of an uptick in inflation due to the upward adjustment of the petroleum pump price.

“On a positive note, there was a moderation in core inflation from 27.58 percent to 27.43 percent over the same period. We therefore expect the year to end with significant moderation in inflation as our policy measures permeate the real economy,” he said.

The CBN Governor also said the capital market has responded positively to their policies, with the All-Share Index and market capitalization sustaining positive gains, reflecting renewed investor confidence.

“In general, Nigeria’s international standing has improved, with rating agencies upgrading our sovereign credit ratings.

“In the banking sector, our policies have resulted in improved market oversight and operational efficiency. Key financial soundness indicators show a robust capital adequacy ratio and improved liquidity ratio, amongst others.

“In addition, the bank’s recapitalization policy has prompted banks to strengthen their financial positions, a process expected to result in a more robust and resilient banking sector by March 2026.

“The exercise is expected to support the realisation of the $1 trillion economy by 2030.

“Amidst the identified challenges, the bank’s sustained reforms and strategic interventions have produced encouraging outcomes in diverse areas of our financial landscape and the broader economy.

*Overall, the banking industry remains sound, safe, and resilient, with improvements in liquidity and asset quality,” he said.

On the outlook for the economy, Cardoso said he was confident as the country expects continued positive growth, especially in the non-oil, oil, and industrial sectors.

“However, we remain cautious about potential global economic disruptions and domestic challenges.

“We project the services sector to remain the primary economic driver, while the industrial sector is expected to continue its recovery.

“Agricultural growth is anticipated to improve, supported by the harvest season and government initiatives.

“The oil sector is also expected to maintain positive growth, assuming no significant disruptions.

“Inflation remains a pressing concern, but there are reasons for optimistic outlook. Inflation has shown gradual moderation, indicating that the Bank’s monetary policy measures are becoming effective.

“We anticipate steady moderation of inflationary pressures in the last quarter of 2024, supported by our monetary policy measures and the Federal Government’s recent initiatives, such as tax incentives on businesses in the economy.

“The Naira exchange rate has shown some recent improvement as indicated by relative stability.

“We must acknowledge key risks, including global economic uncertainties, security challenges, potential oil price volatility, decline. With your support and the Central Bank’s steadfast dedication, I am confident we can pave the way for a more prosperous Nigeria,” he said.

On the macroeconomic performance in 2024, he said although positive, these estimates remain below historical averages, suggesting moderate rather than robust expansion.

“However, we must remain vigilant as the ongoing geopolitical tension such as the Russian-Ukrainian war and the Middle East crisis, lingering supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures continue to pose significant risks.

“In the crude oil market, we have observed a decline in prices during the third quarter of 2024, primarily driven by increased supply and revised global demand projections.

“Turning to domestic developments, I am pleased to report that our economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience. In the second quarter of 2024, the economy grew by 3.19%, up from 2.51% in the corresponding period of last year, driven largely by the non-oil sector.

“The Services sector continues to be the primary economic driver, contributing 58.76 per cent to GDP with a robust growth rate of 3.79 per cent. Similarly, the Industrial sector has shown remarkable improvement, with its growth rate surging to 3.53 per cent from 0.31 per cent. The contribution of agriculture to total GDP also increased. In addition, the growth rate of the sector rose to 1.41 per cent, from a negative territory of -0.90 per cent, indicating a substantial turnaround in productivity.

“Importantly, the non-oil sector maintained strong performance, contributing 94.30% to GDP with a steady 2.80% growth rate. The oil sector’s growth rate has almost doubled to 10.15 per cent in Q2, 2024 from 5.70 per cent in Q1, 2024, due mainly to improved security surveillance which resulted in increased production of crude oil and natural gas.

“On the fiscal front, the deficit-to-GDP ratio stood at 4.1 per cent for the first half of 2024, while consolidated public debt was 51.2 per cent at end-March 2024. Although total debt stock exceeds the self-imposed 40.0 per cent national threshold, it remains well within the international benchmark, indicating that our debt levels remain within manageable limits, although requiring attention.

“In the foreign exchange market, we have adopted key policy measures leading to improved efficiency in the market. In particular, Diaspora remittances through International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOS) have risen considerably by 36.61 per cent to US$552.94 million in July 2024, from US$404.75 million in May 2024,” he said.

He said they have embarked upon various initiatives to improve the remittance ecosystem.

Some of these initiatives include the Expansion of IMTOS, strengthening compliance and improving transparency in the sector, finalising the modalities for non-resident accounts with fewer requirements, following successful models in countries like India and Pakistan, and automating the reporting process for IMTOS through the Financial Institutions Foreign Exchange Reporting System (FIFX) platform to foster transparency and efficiency.

He said these initiatives are part of a broader effort to enhance remittance inflows and strengthen the Nigerian economy.

“As a result, remittance inflows which averaged $285 million per month in 2023 improved significantly as we achieved an impressive $585 million by August 2024. This remarkable growth stands as a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. The Bank remains focused on policies that safeguard the value of the naira and foster price stability

“Thus, remittances have contributed to improving the country’s balance of payments, resolving debt issues, and fostering exchange rate stability. These inflows are expected to significantly improve by the end of the year given the positive trajectory.

“ In addition, the spread between the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and Bureau de Change (BDC) rates has narrowed significantly from N317.91 in January 2024 to N93.47 in September 2024, reflecting fundamental price discovery, enhanced market efficiency, and reduced arbitrage opportunities,” he said.

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COVID-19: Reps panel orders 11 airline operators, others to refund N3.4b

The House of Representatives has directed 11 airline operators to refund the sum of N3,451,076,527 to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) within 21 days.

The resolution was contained in the report of the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Bamidele Salam, which probed the ‘alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds to MDAs of government from 2020 to 2022.’

From the report submitted to the Committee by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (oAuGF), the operators were part of the 92 beneficiary institutions that received allocations from the total sum of N1,323,754,296,732.77 in COVID-19 intervention funds.

As stipulated in the 312-page report, the House directed 11 aviation sector operators who failed to provide satisfactory proof of lawful utilisation of various sums received as COVID-19 intervention funds to refund such monies back to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation within 21 days and provide evidence of such refunds to the House.

The airlines are to refund sums ranging from N150 million to N947 million.

From the total of N1,323,754,296,732.77, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) donated the sum of $3.4 billion, equivalent to N1,283,214,581,802.89; the Federal Government donated N34 billion; general donations amounted to N6,091,594,929.88; the China General Chamber of Commerce donated N48.120 million; a donation from the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board totalled N70 million, while the sum of N59 million was donated via REMITA e-payment transit.

According to the report submitted by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (oAuGF) to the Committee, out of the 92 beneficiaries, the Federal Government extended the sum of N680 billion for salary augmentations.

Other 36 beneficiary institutions are: the Presidential Task Force (PTF), which received N22,163,130,411; 36 State Governments & FCT received N40 billion; the Nigerian Air Force received N3,577,415,295; the Nigeria Police Force received N10 billion; the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development received N63,865,947,085.68; and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) received N60 billion.

The Federal Ministry of Communication & Digital Economy received N3 billion; the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports received N5,339,168,000; Federal Affairs (National Centre for Women Development) received N1,250,000,000; the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management received N32,457,500,000; the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons received N1,250,000,000; the Federal Ministry of Aviation received N5 billion; and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget & National Planning received N33,900,000,000.

The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel received N60 billion; the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) received N52 billion; the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) received N12,424,849,535; the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) received N4 billion; the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research received N3 billion; the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development received N4 billion; the Federal Ministry of Health received N53,599,869,976; the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment received N75 billion; the Federal Ministry of Water Resources received N7,890,525,000; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) received N539,673,000; the Nigeria Correctional Services received N951,145,088; the Bank of Industry/Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC) received N50 billion; the Federal Fire Service received N1,484,903,760; the National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHDA) received N29,102,529,793.54; the Federal Ministry of Education received N2,564,688,400.83; the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) received N5,009,480,015; and the Federal Airport Authority (FAAN) received N7,711,595,771.

Other beneficiary institutions are: the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), which received N658,835,819; the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), which received N103,094,038; the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation received N55,167,000; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (oSGF) received N24,049,255,566.46; the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) received N5,009,480,015; and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada received N1,017,393,783.63, respectively.

As stipulated in the executive summary of the report, “funding allocation made by the Federal Government and both international and local donors from private citizens and foreign-support partners to the Presidential Task Force was deposited into five dedicated commercial bank accounts approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria to coordinate and oversee the multi-sectoral inter-governmental efforts toward contending the spread of the disease in the country. The commercial banks include: Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), and United Bank for Africa (UBA).

“During the investigative hearing conducted by the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Honourable Bamidele Salam, the committee observed that: “There were many cases of non-appearance, delayed appearance, non-submission of required documents, and late submission of documents by some ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of government that received funds from the Federal Government COVID-19 intervention funding.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria did not provide required information on time despite several letters written by the Committee. There were several cases of deliberate refusal by some beneficiary entities to provide the certificates of no objection issued to them by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) on procurements during the pandemic for verification by the Committee.

“There were several instances of unjustifiable delay in procurements by chief executive officers, contrary to the provisions of the Procurement Act, for which funds were released between 2020 and 2021 but have yet to be completed to date. The committee observed that most of the private sector beneficiaries of the COVID-19 intervention funding used the funds for purposes other than those for which they were approved by the disbursing MDAs.

“The most appropriate examples were private airline operators like Arik Air, Air Peace, Dana Airline, Azman Air, Max Air, Aero Contractors, Overland, etc., and other subsidiary airport service providers who used the funds provided for activities in their normal course of operations rather than for payment of staff salaries or maintenance of aircraft during the period of shutdown.

“The airline operators also shunned invitations to provide more information on the use of funds received from the Federal Government as COVID-19 intervention.

“A private airline operator (King Airlines and Travels Limited), which received a sum of N15.843 million and kept the money in a dedicated account, has, however, offered to refund the money to the Federal Government. Investigations also reveal that a few of the MDAs diverted their COVID-19 intervention funds to different programs/projects for which similar budgetary provisions had adequately been made in the Appropriation Acts for the period under review.”

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FG to repatriate expertise to avert brain drain

The Federal Government has launched an initiative aimed at repatriating the expertise of Nigerian health professionals abroad to address the brain drain affecting the country’s healthcare sector.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, introduced the Nigerian Health Professionals in Diaspora Plus Engagement Programme during the Diaspora Stakeholders’ Forum on Thursday in Abuja.

Alausa said that the programme sought to leverage the knowledge, skills, and experience of Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad to improve healthcare delivery at home.

According to him, the programme is designed to foster long-term collaboration between Nigerian professionals in the diaspora and their counterparts within the country.

“The continued emigration of our healthcare workforce has posed significant challenges to achieving Universal Health Coverage. However, this initiative provides an opportunity to turn brain drain into brain gain.

“it is part of the government’s four-point Strategic Health Agenda focused on reforming healthcare through improved governance, quality health systems, value chain development, and health security,” he said..

Alausa urged private sector players and international partners to support the programme, underlining the need for sustainable collaboration to achieve its goals.

He also encouraged diaspora health professionals to invest in telemedicine, biomedical technology, and clinical research to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery.

Dr Ibrahim Wada of NISA Premier Medical Group highlighted the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in improving healthcare.

Wada said that PPPs, which have been effective over the last 15 years, could help tackle diseases such as sickle cell and expand access to quality care.

Wada also emphasised the importance of engaging local communities and building capacity at the grassroots level, stressing that management is key to delivering quality healthcare services.

“Effective management, not just modern equipment, creates a seamless experience for both healthcare professionals and patients,” he said.

Wada called for better infrastructure and support for returning diaspora professionals to ensure that their contributions are impactful.

He suggested creating specialised healthcare centers across the country, each focusing on particular medical specialties.

He said that this approach would prevent overburdening institutions and reduce the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad.

Dr Pamela Ajayi, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), discussed Nigeria’s potential to become a hub for medical treatment within West Africa.

Ajayi explained the need for investment in medical infrastructure, including establishing healthcare banks to fund development.

She also pointed out the transformative potential of digital platforms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reaching rural areas and improving healthcare access.

Ajayi said that the involvement of the Nigerian Diaspora is crucial for advancing research, innovation, and healthcare infrastructure.

Prof. Bala Audu, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), underscored the importance of international collaboration and training to retain skilled healthcare workers and improve healthcare outcomes.

Audu explained that partnerships between Nigeria and countries like the UK could enhance healthcare systems and capitalise on mutual opportunities.

Dr Emilia Iwu, of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses, North Carolina, stressed the need for balanced investment across all healthcare levels, particularly primary healthcare.

“Primary health centers are the most accessible form of healthcare for people at the grassroots level. Strengthening these centers can ensure early and accurate interventions,” Iwu said.

She said that while building teaching and general hospitals is essential, equal attention must be paid to developing primary healthcare facilities to ensure a comprehensive healthcare system that meets the needs of all Nigerians.

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Government introduces ‘convert and pay later’ portal for CNG vehicle conversion

The Federal Government has introduced a new website that allows users to convert their petrol-powered vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) and opt for a pay-later option for the conversion costs.

This is contained in a statement by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) via its official X handle on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the payment options let drivers convert their vehicles now and pay later through affordable monthly instalments at competitive rates.

“Switching to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is now more accessible than ever. With flexible payment plans tailored to fit your budget, transitioning from petrol to CNG has never been smoother or more affordable. These payment options allow you to convert your vehicle now and pay later with affordable monthly instalments at competitive rates.

“With an easy online application and quick approval process, you’ll receive support every step of the way to ensure a hassle-free experience.

“Visit: gocng.ng to get started,” the statement read in part.

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