Business Times
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 6, 2018
NCC to partner Nigerian Academy of Engineering to lift economy
Nigeria clears $600m airlines’ trapped funds
Insecurity at terminal: Stakeholders want NPA to sanction firm
Land reform, tourism key to Nigeria’s economic development – Dangote Motolani Oseni President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has said that land reform and tourism development are central to economic development in Nigeria. Dangote Group is the major sponsor of the ongoing National Stakeholders Dialogue on Land Reform being hosted by the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR). The Group is also the major sponsor of the 61st United Nation World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Regional Commission for Africa Conference which ends today June 6, 2018. The UNWTO on Monday in Abuja conferred on the President of the Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote ‘Special Award for Responsible Tourism.’ The Dangote Group’s Executive Director on Stakeholders Management and Corporate Communication Engr. Ahmed Mansur who represented Mr. Dangote said the award will further
spur the conglomerate to support the cause of tourism in Africa. He said: “As I traveled round the world in pursuit of my business activities, I enjoyed the wonderful sights and sounds that tourism provides. “I had opportunities to sample all that tourism could provide in the continent. I consider myself not only a committed traveller but a tourist. “I want to thank the honourable minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his team
Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN(4th left), Minister for Justice and Attorney -General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami,SAN(middle), Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen(4th right), Founder/President, International Institute for Petroleum, Energy, Law and Policy(IIPELP), Mr Niyi Ayoola – Daniels Esq(2nd right), Administrator National Judicial Institute, Hon. Justice Rosaline Patricia Bozimo(3rd right) and others in a group photograph shortly after the Opening Ceremony of the 4th IIPEP/NJI Annual Judges Workshop on Petroleum, Gas and Power Sectors with the theme, “The Judiciary and Power Sector Recovery Programme : Legal, Commercial and Regulatory Issues,” at the Aloysisus Katsina –Alu Seminar Hall, National Judicial Institute on... Tuesday.
and other tourism bodies for the impact and opportunities made available to visit tourist sites,” he said. Speaking, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the theme of this year’s meeting, “Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development,” is timely as Nigeria is witnessing major strides in its bid to diversifying the economy. Meanwhile, at the land reform dialogue, Mr. Dangote said the discussion on land reform in Nigeria was timely, adding that it is central to any meaningful economic development. Speaking through his representative Engr. Mansur, he said any initiative that will make transactions in land and transfer of ownership easier and transparent is of great benefit to the Nigerian economy and Dangote Group. Speaking, the Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo regretted that only 3 per cent of the Nigerian land is surveyed and documented, adding that there was the need to consider a wide range of views in the reform process. He said the government of Muhammadu Buhari was desirous of enhancing the uses of land through diversification of the economy. In his welcome address, the chairman of the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) Prof. Peter O. Adeniyi regretted that land administration in Nigeria is largely opaque and centralized. He said the dialogue was aimed at raising awareness on the benefits of national land reform programme. In his keynote address Prof. Ezekiel Olukayode Idowu called for the setting up of a National Land Commission funded by all levels of government.
Human factor critical to success of shipping, says NIMASA DG
• Charges ILO to consider geopolitical peculiarities in reviewing labour convention Henry Omunu, Abuja The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stressed the importance of human factors to successful shipping, stating that it is one of the most important elements in achieving competitive edge and safety in the maritime industry. Dr. Dakuku made this known today, while addressing participants
at the Business AFRICA meeting at the ongoing 107th session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland where consideration for the review of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 would be made. The DG who noted that the industry must partner with workers to develop a strategy that will contribute to the constant development of Human Resources in the sector said that investment in workforce is a sure way to guarantee success of firms and boost
profitability. According to him, “employees are the most critical factor that determines the success of a firm, this is even truer in the Maritime industry that is capital intensive and where safety is paramount so constant training and development as well as welfare of workforce must be taken seriously“. He further urged AFRICAN businessmen to pay great attention to welfare of workers in order to be able to compete favourably in the international market adding that the
maritime industry in particular could play greater role in the economic growth of third world countries if the right investment is made in the sector. He commended the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for the review of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 and also advised that considerations should be given to peculiarities of the different geopolitical areas of the world in the amendments, adding however that after 10 years, the MLC 2006 ought to be reviewed to meet the challenges of emerging trends.
ANAP calls for revocation of ‘illegal’ sale of Nigeria Airways to Arik Air Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Federal Government has been advised to revoke the ‘Illegal’ sale of Nigeria Airways assets to the owners of Arik Air. The Secretary General of Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), Comrade Abdul-Rasaq Saidu who gave this advice during an interview in Lagos said instead of wasting time and money floating a new national carrier, government should re-name Arik Air, Nigeria Airways after the takeover.. The airline owners, he alleged have not fully paid the amount the airline was sold to them by the liquidator, government should refund the owners the amount paid for the illegal transactions at the time of sale. Comrade Saidu noted that his advice to President Buhari’s administration was based on the fact that the 1959 Act of Parliament that established Nigeria Airways out of the then West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) has not been repealed or revoked by the country’s National Assembly at the time of liquidation nor thereafter, after which it was sold to the owners of Arik Air. He said the sale of Nigeria Airways, albeit, illegally, marked the beginning of high level corruption in the country’s aviation industry and that the Buhari administration should beam searchlight on this alleged fraud and all those involved during the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo be brought to book. In essence, Saidu pointed out, “ Nigeria Airways , a public liability company was stolen by tricks. So, we want to know or in other words, Federal Government should take over Arik Air. Let the owners tell us how much they paid at the time of the ‘illegal’ purchase and let government refund the money and take over Arik Air and consequently re-name it Nigeria Airways “. Comrade Saidu added that it was interesting when the President in 2015 asked:” Where is Nigeria Airways “, and up till date, all officials privy to the illegal transactions have not been able to provide answers to the knotty question. He further asked:” Why are they dodging it, especially the present Minister of State, Aviation, who must have inherited documents on the transactions, if truly they are helping Buhari to fight corruption. It is on record that three quarter of the landed property in Ikeja, GRA, were owned by Nigeria Airways. How much were those assets sold and to whom and where is the proceeds?