Press Release: South-East Will Benefit More From Road, Coastal Rail Projects
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured stakeholders from the South East that the region will benefit more from roads and coastal rail projects, which are of critical importance to the economy.
Speaking at an audience with leaders from the region led by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the President declared that 2nd Niger Bridge, the East-West Road and the Coastal rail project, are receiving utmost attention from his administration.
The President said counterpart funding from the Chinese government would substantially fund these projects, which when completed will improve the welfare, well-being and economy of the people in the region.
“I know the Chinese are very competent in handling such projects and we will ensure that we get the money for the projects to take off.”
“I thank you for articulating your demands and I want to assure that we are doing our best for the country. If we can stop people from stealing, then there will be more resources to put into projects that will create employment for Nigerians,’’ the President said.
Responding to allegations of under-representation of Igbos in his government, the President said: “I gave south-east four substantive ministers in the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment, Science and Technology and Labour.”
“Seven states in the North got Ministers of State and of the two Ministries headed by your sons, I cannot take any decision on foreign policy and investments without their input,’’ he said.
The President also promised the leaders, comprising governors and ministers from the region, the President of Ohaneze, Chief Nnia Nwodo and representatives from the National Assembly, that he will visit states in the zone soon.
“I want to assure you that I came into government with a clear conscience and I will also leave with a clear conscience,’’ he said.
Earlier, the President of Ohaneze, while articulating the demands of the zone to the President highlighted the issue of state creation, restructuring, federal projects in the South East namely Enugu-Onitsha road, Enugu-Port Harcourt road and Aba-Ikot-Ekpene road, among others.
Nwodo also demanded urgent presidential interventions on the Enugu Airport, reticulation of the gas-pipelines in the South East and the standard gauge plan for railway construction.
Commending the President’s remarkable achievements on security and the fight against corruption, Nwodo declared: “we are ready to work with you. We are determined to work with you. We know you are a decisive leader and we know God will continue to give you the wisdom to govern Nigeria.’’
Also speaking, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State expressed satisfaction on the outcome of their discussions with the President on critical issues and topics affecting the region.
“You have no hatred for any state. You have treated all states with equality. What one state gets in the north, the other gets in the south,’’ the governor said, referring to budget support facility and stabilisation fund released to states and local governments since the inception of the administration.
FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 13, 2017
Speech: Vice President Osinbajo At Groundbreaking Ceremony Of Bonny-Bodo Bridge/Road Project
I rejoice with the people of Rivers State on this significant day, marking the flag-off of the Bonny-Bodo Road/Bridges project, which will link the Island of Bonny to the Mainland of Bodo.
The idea behind the Bonny-Bodo Bridge is about 40 years old; but until now, it has remained merely an idea.
It is no secret that at one time in our very recent past, Nigeria earned in excess of $100 for every barrel of crude oil sold, yet significant projects like the Bonny-Bodo Bridge remained undone.
Today, we are earning probably 60% less than in the past five years, but we are spending the highest ever amount on capital projects so that projects like the Bonny-Bodo Bridge are being done.
The Buhari administration is proving that the clear advantage of good governance is that you can do more with less.
In his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015, President Buhari promised to invest heavily in the Niger Delta, and to ensure peace and prosperity. Today is, therefore, not only for the flag-off of an important road project, it is also for the commemoration of a promise kept.
The Bonny-Bodo bridge and road project is a Public Private Partnership arrangement, in which the Federal Government and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (NLNG) will each bear 50 per cent of the N120.6 billion that it will cost to complete the bridge. It is only the latest in a series of similarly transformational infrastructure partnerships ongoing across the country.
Government’s gratitude goes to the NLNG for their enthusiasm and their cooperation, for putting their money towards this landmark project. I hope that other companies and corporations will emulate them in this regard.
This administration is a firm believer in the power and potential of the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that Nigeria urgently requires. It is clear that government cannot, on its own, plug Nigeria’s intimidating infrastructure deficit – nor should it even try to. The Federal Government welcomes the private sector to take the lead, proceeding with the assurance that we will be there every step of the way as enablers and catalysts.
It is the Federal Government’s firm belief that the greatest proof that democracy works ought to be found in the tangible improvements that citizens experience in their lives and communities.
This road, during construction, will create jobs directly for engineers, artisans, and labourers, and indirectly for food vendors and suppliers, transporters, quarry operators and so many others in the construction value chain.
Upon completion, the project will permanently transform the lives of tens of thousands of Nigerian citizens in and around Bonny Island. It will alleviate the hardship faced by commuters along the Bonny-Bodo axis; facilitate the operations of the NLNG, and bring significant benefit to the lives of farmers, traders, schoolchildren and travellers.
The Bonny-Bodo Bridge project is a dividend of the blossoming peace in the Niger Delta. For this, government’s gratitude goes to all the Stakeholders: Governors, Traditional Rulers, Community Leaders, Civil Society Groups, Women, Youths and all those who have accepted our hand of fellowship and demonstrated faith in our New Vision for the Niger Delta.
The first of November will make it one year since the meeting of Niger Delta elders under the aegis of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) with President Muhammadu Buhari, which set in motion a chain of events that delivered that new vision.
The new vision for the Niger Delta is a new way of thinking and of doing, aimed at ensuring that the people of the Delta benefit maximally from the wealth of their land. It is the embodiment of our commitment to achieving a clean break from the neglect and the failed promises that defined the past.
Since the beginning of the year, I have visited all the states of the Niger Delta and a number of the oil bearing communities, sharing the message of the new vision, and even more importantly, listening and engaging with citizens and communities.
Every part of Nigeria matters to us as a government. We will continue to demonstrate this in ways small and large,
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I have the distinct honour and pleasure of flagging-off the Bonny-Bodo Bridge, as a symbol of change, of hope, of renewal, and of our commitment to investing in what truly matters the most – the welfare of our people.
Long live our democracy. Thank you and God bless the Niger Delta, and Nigeria.
Released by
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
10th October, 2017
Press Release: President Buhari Calls For Stronger Global Ties To Edge Out Terrorism
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja called on world leaders to strengthen relationships across borders, and be more forthright in intelligence sharing in order to curb the growing sophistication in global terrorism.
Receiving the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mr. Aseem Muhammed Hanafi Elseify, at a Letter of Credence presentation ceremony in the State House, President Buhari said the recent attacks in some developed countries, like the United Kingdom, clearly show a need for stronger global collaboration and review of security architectures across countries.
The President noted that the Boko Haram attacks within West African countries and across the borders were brought under control after concerted efforts by leaders to ensure joint operations.
“Clearly the threat of global terrorism is getting more sophisticated by the day so we need leaders to work together to stop the attacks,’’ he said.
President Buhari said bilateral relations between Nigeria and Egypt in education, training and trade had been historical, urging the new ambassador to work towards expanding and deepening the scope of the relationship.
In his remarks, the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria said building partnership to tackle the security challenges faced by both countries would be one of his priorities.
Elseify said the Egyptian government had already established a relationship with Nigerian security outfits.
President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from Her Excellency, Mrs. Marcelline Paulette Adjovi Yekpe, Ambassador of Benin Republic to Nigeria and His Excellency, Mr Alejandro Garcia Moreno-Elizando, Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media& Publicity)
October 12th, 2017.
Speech: Vice President Osinbajo At Financial Times Africa Summit, London
Let me begin by saying, it is a special pleasure and privilege to be here with you this morning. And I think the Financial Times deserves every commendation for providing this platform, for discussing the region’s investment climate with a global audience. I am also grateful for the invitation to deliver this Keynote Address.
I am told that this year’s summit seeks to focus our attention on what is working in Africa in the hope of drawing broader lessons that could benefit the continent as a whole. I have also been asked to speak very briefly on our ease of doing business efforts in Nigeria.
Regarding the question that FT asks, What makes Africa work?, I am pleased to say that searching for answers is not as exasperating as it might have been even a decade ago. Today we can demonstrate with clear examples that what makes Africa work are the ingenuity and resilience of the people, especially its 70% youth population, leadership and good governance, allowing the private sector and markets to function, focusing on infrastructural development, and the incredible opportunities that abound. Somehow everyone has a hunch that if you are not around when Africa truly gets going, it would be much like the skeptics who stood on the side-lines in the 1990s convinced that China was going nowhere. How wrong they were!
Strong visionary leadership committed to good governance has proved to be critical where our economies have recorded successes.
Nigeria earning 60% less revenue than 5 years ago, last year still invested N1.3T in infrastructure , the largest capital spend in its history and will increase that in the 2018 budget . Good governance, prudent management of resources, means that you can do more with far less. Ethiopia delivered its light rail and within Addis Ababa ahead of schedule, and Ethiopia/Djibouti rail with no cost overruns. Rwanda has shrugged off the tragedy of genocide of barely 20 years ago, delivering on infrastructure and earned its place as the second easiest place to do business in Africa. Ghana is galloping away with GDP growth figures this year of in excess of 8%.
Across the entire continent there is a commitment to providing much needed infrastructure in the form of power stations, ports, rail networks, roads, that not only bring down the cost of doing business but also actively engage the private sector in funding, in operation and or ownership. And I would come back to this point.
Nigeria recently announced the commencement of the process of concessioning its major airports with a view to attracting world class investors and, of course, world class operators.
But, perhaps, most importantly, Africa now recognizes the limitations of governments, in cash and capacity, to run businesses. The wisdom today is in letting the private sector invest wherever it can, and in practically any sector of the economy even in those that once carried the halo of national security assets such as telecoms and power. Consequently we have seen the emergence of dynamic pan-African investors, who on account of their track records are even able to borrow commercially cheaper than Governments.
Aliko Dangote, is, of course, an excellent example with investments in cement manufacturing in 10 African countries and is about to complete a 650,000 barrels per day Refinery in Lagos, Nigeria, the largest single line Refinery in the world and larger than all four of government-owned refineries put together; a dedicated 550 kilometre subsea pipeline passing through major gas processing hubs across the country bringing crude to that refinery. He is also investing in a 3 million Metric Tonnes fertilizer plant in the location, the largest single line in the world.
Although the sizes of investments differ, the subtext is the same: the confidence of local African investors in the opportunities available on the continent.
In broadband infrastructure for example, Funke Opeke, the Nigerian-born broadband entrepreneur’s MAIN ONE company launched West Africa’s first privately owned submarine cable. The cable was built over a 2-year period and the initial investment of $240 million was financed entirely by African investors and the project broke even just over 2 years after launch. Even during the economic turbulence, in 2016, private capital recognized the potential in infrastructure investments. General Electric (GE) infused $186M of investment in Phase 1 of the Nigerian Fast Power Program, and entered into an MOU with seven States in the North of Nigeria where radiation is highest, to supply 1000 MW of solar power across the states. GE is also finalizing the documentation for the concession of our Lagos-Kano narrow gauge rail line, which will focus on cargo transportation from the Apapa Port northwards passing through several economically strategic cities Northwards to Kano. This involves a total investment of USD2.2B.
And the opportunities are enormous indeed. Let me tell you another quick story. Nigeria’s 180 million people, over 50 million have no access to power. As part of our diversifying power sources to improve access we started a programme of providing solar power in several thousand homes in rural villages. We started in Wuna a village just outside Abuja. Wuna is an agrarian community. It is not on the grid, and had no other source of power. To charge their phones, an entrepreneur with a small generator runs a service in the village. So you take your phone to his shop once a day or so, and you pay a small fee for charging. Life in Wuna shuts down at about 7pm until daylight. But working with a PPP model, the government owned NDPHC partnered with Azuri technology, a private solar company, to provide a domestic solar solution.
Azuri had provided the same end to end service in East Africa. A solar home system, including a payment system. The system costs N1,900 a month ( about 7 dollars a month) . For the first time in its existence, the village now has running water that is solar-powered and the school has power. The school hall is now used as a community hall in the evenings. Each home has 4 points of light. Children can now stay up and do some studying at night. Many of Wuna’s women can process their millet and yams at night now. New jobs have been created, solar installers, maintenance, payment systems. One guy has lost his business in Wuna, the phone charger. Every household can now charge their phones. The point is that there are millions of homes waiting for solar power. There are opportunities for very many Azuris.
The opportunities in our power sector are immense, especially as we open up the sector further. Nigeria’s National Electricity Regulatory Commission in August issued the eligible customer directives and will this month issue directives on independent metering. The eligible customer regime allows a willing seller willing buyer arrangements in the sale of power, which effectively breaks the monopoly of the distribution company; supplier-buyer exclusively. While the independent metering directive allows independent entities aside from registered power distribution companies to sell and install meters to customers and be paid directly as collections are made from metered customers. This deepening of the privatization of the power sector is bound to create a fresh bounce in investment activity.
The story of investors in agriculture in Nigeria is also worth hearing. Carlos, is a Mexican farmer and proprietor of San Carlos farms, possibly the largest banana and pineapples farm in Mexico. He partnered with local investors to replicate his hugely successful fruit and vegetable farms in Mexico in Nigeria. The idea was to grow for export. He currently farms close to 5000 hectares across 6 States. After his first harvest, he exported nothing but turned in a decent profit . His partners asked him what the magic was. His answer, ‘we cannot even satisfy the local demand,’
Besides, according to him it was even more lucrative to sell locally than to export. Agricultural production, or manufacture of fast moving goods in a market the size of Nigeria and the adjoining ECOWAS market is quite frankly a no- brainer.
Fahad Awadh, a 29-year old entrepreneur from Tanzania who set up a cashew processing facility in Tanzania also underscores the immense opportunities in the agriculture value chain. The factory brings international standards and traceability to the cashew nuts. The company’s flagship processing facility in Zanzibar has an installed capacity of 2,500 Tons per annum, and recently raised a $500,000 investment from the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund to establish another processing facility in Mtwara, south-eastern Tanzania
But If I were a betting man I would surely put my money on African businesses that demonstrate an awareness of how technology will be an exponential catalyst for business. All over Africa telephony and technology are unearthing literally riches that were hitherto unknown. Kenya’s M-pesa has become the largest mobile telephony payment solution in the world. The story of how MTN in Nigeria became the largest mobile network in Africa in less than a decade is still the stuff of legendary investment stories. But the point to note is that those who missed that pioneer telecoms opportunity typically assumed that the Nigerian market was large but not rich enough to translate the numbers to cash. How wrong they were.
Today, companies such as Flutterwave a payment solutions company, Andela a software development engineering company, Jobberman, an on-line human resource company, and Konga, an on line mall , are poignant examples of how young African entrepreneurs are using technology disruptively to create profit in various business lines. And evidently, smart money all over the world is paying attention.
For example, Flutterwave, saw an investment of 10 million USD, and Konga an impressive 25 million USD, the second biggest amount raised by an African start-up business on the continent. And Andela attracted equity investment from Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.
Over the last few decades, the global perception of Africa has evolved from a “Hopeless Continent” to the “Africa Rising” rhetoric, to a pride of “Lions on the Move”. But, however one chooses to slice it, the African growth story is real. Major global analysts appear united in the view that Africa has the highest number of economies projected to grow above 5% by 2030 .
Although in the last few years we have seen a number of African economies experience major economic challenges including Nigeria due to the crash in resource prices on the global market, and as a result, Africa’s real GDP grew at an average of 3 percent a year between 2010 and 2015, considerably slower than the 5.4 percent from 2000 to 2010. And although FDIs and other capital flows to Africa have slowed and accessing global markets is tough. Yet, this overall picture is misleading.
When you unpack the average growth rate of the African region, you find a good number of outlier growth stories, such as Ghana, which as mentioned recently recorded a 9% year-on-year growth in GDP for the second quarter of 2017 – I believe that is about the highest in the world. In 2016, many other African economies maintained high growth rates – for example, Ethiopia and Cote d’Ivoire grew by approximately 7%; while Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda and Senegal grew by about 6% on average. The rest of Africa posted accelerating growth at an average annual rate of 4.4 percent in 2010 to 2015, compared with 4.1 percent in 2000 to 2010.
All told despite the obvious fact that other human development indices have not advanced apace with growth figures, I think it Is evident that the continent’s fundamentals are genuinely strong.
Permit me then to speak briefly about some of the specific efforts that we are making in Nigeria to enable the private sector thrive. Specifically and in addition to on-going investments in production and infrastructure some which I have referred to, we are undertaking extensive ‘ease of doing business’ reforms. To start with, we have worked assiduously to improve macroeconomic conditions. After a continuous slide in growth since 2014, the trend of growth in GDP has turned around with a modest growth of 0.55% in the second quarter of this year while inflation, though still somewhat high, has declined from its peak of 15.7% in January 2017 to about 16% today.
The outlook going forward is quite positive based on improvements in oil prices and production and the trend of leading indicators such as positive purchasing managers indices, a revived stock exchange and increasing foreign exchange reserves. Moreover, the uncertainties in the foreign exchange market have abated with the introduction of a new window for investors and exporters (NIFEX) which gives more transparency and guarantees repatriation of funds. NIFEX relies entirely on market, on greater transparency and on guarantee of availability of funds. The results have been encouraging as the inflows of capital in the second quarter of 2017 of about $1.8 billion were almost double the amount of $908 million imported in the first quarter of the year.
Indeed, investor interest remains undoubtedly strong with announced investments of $22.42 billion from January to August 2017 in 41 projects across 22 states. And I would like to emphasize this, that Nigeria is a large economy and several of the states are huge economies of their own. And going by the investments that are going directly to the states, it is evident that investors are recognizing that dealing with some of the states in Nigeria, they simply have the capacity to be able to do whatever forms of business they have.
Importantly, for the first time, coordinated efforts are underway to make it easier to do business in Nigeria. Through systemic changes, we are repositioning regulators as facilitators of business, and are steadily improving transparency and efficiency of service delivery by the public sector.
In the first stage, reforms were introduced under a 60-day national action plan focused on eight areas that make it easier to register businesses, obtain construction permits, get credit, pay taxes, get electricity, trade across borders, facilitate entry and exit of people and register property.
Practical examples of success include leveraging the use of technology to fast track business registration and payment of taxes, a functioning tried and tested 48 hour electronic visa procedure, and an Executive Order mandating greater transparency and efficiency across all government agencies. The reforms have led to reduction in cost and time, as well as greater transparency for small and medium sized enterprises in particular.
These reforms are complemented by a welcoming attitude to investment. To properly guide investors and make it easier for them to access required information, the National Investment Promotion Commission will be releasing a Compendium of Investment Incentives in Nigeria by the end of this month. Similarly, we have recently reviewed and revised our pioneer status programme which gives five year tax holidays across eligible sectors. And of course in some cases, tax holidays can also be negotiated in excess of the five year period.
Following the 70% success rate achieved in the first phase of the ease of doing business reforms, we recently embarked on a second national action plan which will have 11 areas of focus and will run for 60 days from October 2017.
The Nigerian government is intent on bringing about rapid, sustainable and inclusive growth in order to improve the lot of our dynamic and hardworking people of Nigeria. We realise that the scale of the challenge is huge given our large and rapidly growing population and the relentless march of progress in other parts of the world. We are nevertheless determined and optimistic that Nigeria will along with the rest of the continent will bring about an Africa that works for all its people and contributes to global growth and prosperity.
The lessons that Africa has learnt in the past few years, is simple, there is no African exceptionalism , what makes Africa work, is what makes economies work any where, honest visionary leadership and good governance, letting the private sector and markets lead, diversification from resource based revenues and developing the potential of the Human Resources available within the continent.
And I am convinced that what makes Africa works, is what will work anywhere else and I think that we have tried to demonstrate that in so many African economies especially in the past few years.
Thank you very much.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
9 October, 2017