Economy

FG to Deepen Governance with Digital Platform

Published

7 years ago

September 28, 2017

FG to Deepen Governance with Digital Platform

The federal government on Thursday in Abuja, reiterated its commitment to expand governance to all sectors of the economy, using digital platforms driven by data centres.

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, said efforts are on to expand the number of data centres in the country as part of government’s plan to expand its presence on a digital platform, 1-gov.net.

According to the minister, the digital platform, apart from consolidating existing government ICT infrastructure, also enables ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs), to exchange data in a seamless manner while allowing each other to remain independent and maintain its privacy and the security of its operatives.

Shittu who made the disclosure during his keynote address delivered at the 2017 Microsoft Digital Government Conference held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, said through the 1-gov.net, government has become more participative and accessible where citizens can participate in policy process through discussions, suggestions and online-polls.

“Various government departments are using the platform to seek inputs on a wide range of issues. Using the 1-gov.net platform, government has been able to save 30 per cent of what it would have expended on a unit per unit cost. As at date 90 per cent of all MDAs within Abuja are linked with fiber backbone and 3,500 locations of different MDAs have been touched across the country. About 270 MDAs websites and applications are being hosted on the network,” the minister said.

“Government has recorded success in 1-gov.net, we now focus on some services that have direct bearing on the present administration’s priorities, and we determined to continue with the shared ICT infrastructure and services initiative in the MDAs. The 1-gov.net is promoting Whole-of-Government approaches in the information age based on shared services. This approach will enhance productivity of government officials, increase experience of patrons of government services, enhance security and drive out the menace of corruption,” the minister added.

He said government would continue to recognise the urgent need to increase efficiency and transparency, improve and align processes, smart government and smart cities, attract new investors, bridge the digital divide, transform government transaction services, data-driven government, better access to and management of information, in such a way that would enhance citizen satisfaction and trust, meeting the needs of rapidly changing demographics and balancing costs while optimising efficiency.

According to him, digital government is a vision statement that seeks to bring about citizen empowerment by harnessing the potentials of ICTs as well as seeking to transform government into digitally empowered society and knowledge economy in a manner that government is available on the palm of every citizen.

Digital government, he said, does not comprise the digital architecture alone, but it encompasses digital delivery of citizen-centric services, and ultimately, digital empowerment of the people.

He said: “Internet users in Nigeria have crossed 90 million. The mobile users have also crossed 156 million mark. The smart phone users are more than 60 million. Today, from booking of train tickets to payment of fees and taxes, from post office and banking transactions to issue of digital documents, online registrations to online applications and e-services, digital revolution is seen everywhere and touches almost every aspect of life of a common citizen.”

Shittu further said that government invested in shared ICT Infrastructure to secure the benefits of lower cost, increased security, increased innovation and faster service delivery, adding that government is supporting the development and sustenance of ICT applications that are driving cost effectiveness and transparency in government service delivery. He added that applications supporting the Treasury Single Accounts (TSA), IPPIS, Budget Portal and BVN verifications among others were already resulting in huge savings.

The Ministry of Communications, he said, has expanded the Open Government Data Portal, which is a part of the Federal Government Open Data Initiative, stressing that many civil servants have been trained across MDAs on the use of the portal.

The minister called Microsoft to help train local ICT savvy youth and key into government’s local content policy on current projects and priorities to ensure a smooth transition, while emphasing that Nigeria is the new bride in empowering digital governments to share latest innovative technology trends and government solutions to improve the capabilities of government within Nigeria.

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Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Economy

FG Moves to Reduce Transportation Fares by 40%, Says CNG is Great Alternative to Petrol Crisis

Published

2 days ago

September 28, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

If commercial transporters across Nigeria can buy into the Compressed Natural Gas, the Federal Government has said the hike in transportation fares will be drastically reduced.

According to the Programme Director of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, the Federal Government hopes there will be over 40 per cent reduction in transportation fares through adopting CNG for commercial vehicles.

Speaking during a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony held in Abuja on Friday, where key stakeholders, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers from Itakpe, Adavi and Ajaokuta train station units gathered to formalise the agreement, Oluwagbemi emphasised the government’s commitment to affordable transportation amidst rising fuel costs.

Explaining how President Bola Tinubu led administration plans to tackle hike in transportation fare, Oluwagbemi said the Federal Government is working hard to bring transportation prices down, especially during these challenging times.

Describing CNG introduced by the president as a great alternative to the petrol problem, he said under the new plan, fares for six eight-passenger ger vehicles will be slashed from N12,000 to N7,,000 while fares for four-passenger ger vehicles will drop from N13,000 to N8,000 from Abuja to Ajaokuta train station.

According to him, the trip from Itakpe Station to Warri costs N5,000, showcasing the benefits of the Federal Government’s infrastructure investments over the past five years.

He said the progress represents a significant savings of over 40%, adding that passengers travelling from Abuja to Ajaokuta Station will greatly benefit from Tinubu’s intervention.

The Director of the CNG initiative noted that it is designed to encourage the conversion of existing commercial vehicles to CNG, which is sold at a discount of up to 60 per cent compared to petrol prices.

Oluwagbemi stated that the converted vehicles will operate at a significant discount, remain flexible, and run cleaner, cheaper, safer, and more reliably.

A total of ten CNG fuel conversion centres have already been established across Abuja, Itakpe, and Ajaokuta, including six NNPC stations and two NIPCO stations.

More stations are in the pipeline, with collaborations with Bovas to introduce additional facilities in Abuja.

The timeline for implementation is ambitious, with inspections of vehicles expected to conclude next week and conversions commencing shortly thereafter.

At the event, the Secretary of the NURTW’s Ajaokuta unit, Adeyemo Teslim, expressed gratitude for the collaboration.

Teslim revealed that joining forces will yield multifaceted benefits, which Nigerian transporters are eager to support.

The transporter highlighted the need for expanded coverage to enhance accessibility across various regions, adding that the agreement also includes an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with the new fare structure.

Economy

FG Awards N158bn Lekki Port Service Lanes Construction to Dangote

Published

6 days ago

September 24, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

The Federal Government of Nigeria has awarded the construction of service lanes connecting the Lekki Deep Sea Port through Epe to the Shagamu-Benin Expressway to the Dangote Group, one of the leading private sector giants in the country.

The approval for the construction of the project was made at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

Investors King learned that the project which seeks to reduce traffic congestion within Lagos, particularly with the concentration of industries in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, is worth N158 billion.

A statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy disclosed that the project will be handled by Dangote Industries under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development Fund and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

Aside from tackling traffic challenges, the planned service lanes are expected to facilitate hitch-free movement of goods, easing pressure on Lagos’ internal road networks and improving connectivity to other regions.

The Dangote Group benefits from reduced tax liabilities by carrying out public projects that contribute to national development.

Under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, companies like Dangote Industries can receive tax credits in exchange for funding and completing public infrastructure projects, allowing them to “pay” for the project through future tax deductions.

As of August 2024, nine major road projects across the country were being funded by Dangote Group under this scheme, according to a review by the Ministry of Works.

With the recent FEC approval of the construction of service lanes from the Lekki Deep Sea Port through Epe to the Shagamu-Benin Expressway, the number of road projects being handled by Dangote Group has now risen to ten, making it the top private sector player in the scheme.

Economy

Dangote Advocates for Full Subsidy Removal, Says Refinery Will Tackle Consumption Challenges

Published

6 days ago

September 24, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The founder and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has urged the President Bola Tinubu-led government to place its trust in the Dangote Refinery.

In a 26-minute interview with Bloomberg Television in New York on Monday, Dangote stated that the refinery would address many of Nigeria’s issues, particularly the high consumption rates that have turned the nation into an importer of most goods.

However, the businessman also called on the Federal Government to fully eliminate fuel subsidies.

According to him, now is the right time to remove fuel subsidies so that the country can determine its actual petrol consumption.

He said, “Subsidy is a very sensitive issue. Once you are subsidizing something, people will inflate the price, and the government will end up paying more than they should. It is the right time to get rid of subsidies.”

He added, “This refinery will resolve a lot of issues. It will provide clarity on Nigeria’s real consumption because, right now, no one can give a definite figure. Some say 60 million litres of gasoline per day, while others say less. But once we start producing, everything will be measurable.

“Everything will be accounted for, especially with the trucks and ships loading from us. We will track them to ensure the oil stays within Nigeria, which I believe will help the government save a significant amount of money. Now is the right time to remove the subsidy.”

Dangote further revealed that the responsibility for removing subsidies rests solely with the government.

He continued, “We have the option of either producing and exporting or selling locally. As a large private company, we do need to make a profit. We have built something worth $20bn, so, of course, we have to generate revenue.

“The removal of subsidies is entirely up to the government, not us. We cannot adjust the price, but I think the government will have to compromise on certain things. In the end, the subsidy will have to be removed.”