THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said it has postponed its Edo State governorship election which was scheduled to hold tomorrow till Tuesday, 23rd June 2020.
This is contained and announced in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan on Thursday. He said the postponement is “predicated on exigencies of party activities.”
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed the Edo state governorship primary election earlier scheduled for Friday, June 19, and Saturday, June 20, 2020 to a new date of Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
“All governorship aspirants, critical stakeholders, party faithful and our teeming supporters, particularly in Edo state, are to take note accordingly.
“Our party wishes to remind our members that all activities shall be in accordance with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC)’s guidelines on COVID -19, as it concerns social/physical distancing at public gatherings,” he said.
There were speculations in the media on Wednesday that Goodwin Obaseki, the embattled governor of Edo State, who was seeking a second tenure in the All Progressives Congress but was disqualified by the party, wants to contest the election under the PDP.
The Punch reported that Obaseki, met with the chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus and Aminu Tambuwal, the chairman PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, in Abuja Wednesday.
DAN Foster, the late African-American, who died on Wednesday of suspected COVID-19 in Lagos was an established broadcaster in the U.S before he relocated to Nigeria in a move he described as “God’s doing.”
Not many knew that he mistook V.I. in a message sent to him by his new employers to mean Virgin Island in the US. But the V.I in the job offer was referring to Victoria Island Lagos.
Foster in an interview with The Punch Newspaper in 2009, said that he never knew he was coming to Nigeria until when he was contacted.
When he was offered a new job based on his tape that he had posted on the internet, Foster said he thought it was Virgin Island where he had worked before but he would later realise it was Victoria Island, Lagos.
“It was Chris Obosi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Beat FM that contacted me from Cool FM for my tape that I had put out on the Internet,” Foster said in the interview.
“I had got hits all over when I put my stuff on the internet. So I came down in 2000 when I finally made up my mind that this is where I wanted to be. I actually thought it was Virgin Island where I had worked before then. But it was Victoria Island in Lagos. I got it mixed up.”
Despite having a blossoming career in the U.S, Foster said “Well, I like to think it was God because I’m following a dream. I came from Morning Radio in the U.S., and there was a job offer on the Internet with a radio station in Nigeria on a two years contract. I went for it and the Island also fascinated me.”
In the year 2000, Foster moved to Nigeria and joined Cool FM Nigeria, a Lagos-based English speaking radio station with frequencies across four of the six geo-political zones in the country.
Also known as “The Big Dawg”, Daniel ‘Dan’ Foster was credited with changing the face of radio as an On-Air Personality (OAP) at Cool Fm.
Heavily criticised for his constant use of the word “Ikebe” (Nigerian pidgin for derrière), he went on to win an award for Best Radio Presenter of the year.
He became an instant hit with everybody looking forward to the ‘Big Dawg’ every morning on the radio. Foster won several awards for his exploits and even had a cameo appearance in a Nigerian movie -Face of a Liar in 2001.
Foster re-created the Sunday Gospel radio show ‘Praise Jam’ and was a key organiser for the Cool FM Praise Jam concerts in 2004; with a total of over 22,000 people in attendance.
He then won 2003, 2004, and 2005 Nigeria Media Merit Awards for ‘Best Radio Personality’.
In September 2009, Foster left Cool FM for a new radio station Inspiration FM; which he played a lead role in birthing, but left in 2014 to join City FM.
His decision was made on a note that he wanted to grow in order to be able to set up a new radio station, a more inspirational radio station, which is something he has always wanted to do.
City People Awards known for honouring outstanding individuals had recognised him as one of the outstanding individuals who have touched the lives of citizens in the community.
He is married to Lovina Foster and they are blessed with three children; Joshua, Danielle and Somtochukwu.
SOME beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Programme (N-power), have written to Ahmed Lawan, the Senate President over the failure of Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to pay their monthly stipends in the last three months.
In a letter dated June 15 and addressed to the Senate President by Aremu Ridwan Olalekan, spokesperson of the unpaid beneficiaries of the scheme, they disclosed that they have not been paid for the months of March, April and May.
“I write to draw your attention to and lodge complaints about non-payment of N-power Beneficiaries’3-
month stipends (March, April and May 2020), by Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and
Disaster Management, Hajia Saddiya Farouq,” part of the letter read.
They are asking the Senate President to use his office to compel the Minister to pay their stipends, noting that they have exhausted all avenues to reach out to the minister.
“We will be extremely glad sir, if you compel the minister to pay our unpaid three months stipends,” they pleaded with Lawan.
“We, the affected beneficiaries haven’t been able to meet up with our daily needs due to nonpayment of the 3-months stipends,” he said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown have worsened our living standards. We are extremely hungry.”
On June 9,The ICIR reported how the beneficiaries had cried out over the non-payment of their allowances.
Prior to the report, the Minister had promised beneficiaries and the program monitors across the country that they would start receiving payments for the months of March and April within the next 72 hours.
When contacted, Halima Oyelade, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, asked our reporter to send his enquiry about the payment of N-Power beneficiaries’ stipends to her on Whastsapp because she could not speak immediately on phone.
She however, did not respond to further calls and did not reply the question sent to her on Whatsapp.
DOCTORS in eleven Federal medical facilities across the country have so far received their April and May hazard allowance paid by the Federal Government, The ICIR can report.
Chris Ngige, Minister for Labour and Employment, had on Wednesday said that the Federal Government has commenced the payment of hazard allowance to health workers after a meeting between the Federal Government and members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
He disclosed that the meeting ended on a positive note as the government side had shown evidence to the Association of the payment of the hazard and inducement allowances.
Findings by The ICIR revealed that doctors in Ibadan, Oyo State capital confirmed that they have received the allowance which is 50 percent of their basic salary.
Dr. Aliyu Sokomba, President, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) confirmed this on Thursday in a message sent to The ICIR.
“I can confirm to you that health workers (doctors and others health workers) received two months of hazard allowance in 11 hospitals,” Sokomba said.
He, however noted that the association did not embark on strike because of the hazard allowance, even it was one of the reasons, adding that hazard allowance is for all health workers and not doctors alone.”
“It is however pertinent to note that we didn’t embark on industrial action because of hazard allowance (though one of the reason).
“Important reasons we embarked on strike are things that relate to our safety and security; PPE availability in our hospitals, insurance cover for doctors and other health workers, residency training Act implementation among others.”
The NARD president disclosed that the association would be convening a meeting to review its position on the strike soon.
A medical doctor based in Ibadan who gave his name as Dr. Gbenga because he is not authorised to talk to the press on the matter stated that payments trickled in on Thursday for him and some of his colleagues.
“Just 11 centres have been paid, so many others haven’t been paid nationwide,” Dr. Gbenga said
However, Dr. Gbenga said there are several Federal Government hospitals that have not gotten the COVID allowance that he and others got.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government has yet to respond to the demand of doctors for adequate supply of Personal protective Equipments (PPE) to protect health workers who are working in the frontlines from contracting coronavirus.
As of Wednesday June 17, NARD reported that 862 doctors in the country have been exposed to COVID-19, while 219 are confirmed cases of the deadly virus.
It would be recalled that the NARD had embarked on a strike on Monday, following the failure of the Federal Government to meet up with its 14-day ultimatum, to meets its demands.
Part of the demands was an increase in hazard allowance for health workers, which as disclosed by the NARD was a token of N5,000, provision of PPE for doctors and an immediate reversal of the dismissal of 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Speaking on the dismissal of his colleagues by Plateau State Government, Dr. Gbenga said one of the demands of the striking doctors is for the Federal Government to intervene in the matter.
“Injustice to one is an injustice to all. Twenty six resident doctors were illegitimately disengaged in the JUTH. One of our demand is for the FG to intervene in that matter and to ensure they they are reinstated,” he said.
The ICIR also gathered that some of the association’s other demands had been communicated before Nigeria got its index case of COVID-19 in February, but the Federal Government never responded.
Vanguard, quoted Sokomba, National President of NARD disclose as saying that their demands were all issues they have been on with the government in the last three years.
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday gave a stern warning to Service Chiefs that he would no longer take excuses from them over the problem of insecurity facing the country.
This was part of the outcome of a closed door meeting the president held with the Service Chiefs Thursday morning at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on the incessant killings in many parts of the country.
The president who called the meeting for the Security Chiefs to brief him on how they are handling the increasing security challenges across the country, warned also that he would no longer accept further rising cases of insecurity in the country.
Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Defence Staff, led the Service Chiefs to the meeting which had some presidential aides in attendance.
At the end of the meeting, Babagana Monguno, National Security Adviser (NSA) who conveyed the outcome of the meeting to State House Correspondents quoted President Buhari as charging the Service Chiefs to live up to expectations.
“The president is “extremely unhappy” and wants a reversal in the deteriorating security situation,” Monguno said.
“The President told the Security Chiefs that they were not imposed on him, saying that it was therefore up to them to prove themselves.”
The president, according to Monguno acknowledged the efforts of the Service Chiefs and various security agencies at arresting the insecurity challenges, he noted that their ‘best is not good enough.’
The NSA also said the president expressed displeasure over the lack of synergy among the security forces and charged the various aspects of the security architecture to work together to solve the nation’s security challenges.
He added that the president charged the office of the NSA to meet with governors of the North-West states and that of Niger State, for briefing and strategic organisation of a response to the banditry problem in their domains.
FOR 40-year-old Ajebe Gladys, coping with her monthly menstrual period since she lost one of her limbs about 17 years ago in an accident has been both tiring and burdensome.
The inability to walk on two legs and financial constraints to procure menstrual hygiene kits make menstruation more like punishment for the mother of two.
“I don’t look forward to my menstrual period,” Gladys says of the hardship she undergoes during the monthly routine.
The US Office on Women Health (OWH) describes menstruation as a woman’s monthly bleeding, often called period.”
Menstruation is a natural process, without which human existence would be threatened but it is a nightmare for many women across the world who lack access to basic hygiene and sanitation during their periods.
Although Gladys knows it is a natural process, she says it is also a constant reminder of the many troubles she needs to contend with whenever it comes.
There are basic rules and procedures to follow during menstruation which are difficult for women in Gladys’ condition.
The OWH recommends that menstruating women should try to change the pad before it becomes soaked.
But to use sanitary pads during that period is a luxury that Gladys cannot afford, therefore she uses a piece of rags as an alternative to sanitary pads.
“Due to financial constraints, I rarely use sanitary pads. I fold a piece of clothing sometimes with tissue paper to absorb my menstruation,” she said.
“During this period, I avoid going out to prevent being stained and making a mess of myself.”
Her daily earnings from a little shop she operates according to her are too meagre to cater for her needs and that of her two children.
Therefore, buying sanitary pad takes the lowest place on her scale of preference where feeding, clothing and shelter are paramount.
Before the accident that claimed her leg, she was a showroom attendant on a monthly salary of N7000. Back then, when she walked on her two legs, she says she could afford sanitary pads but has since been financially constrained since she lost her job after the incident.
With obviously outgrown prosthetics, she says accessing toilet facilities in her house or public is often difficult and inconveniencing.
Women, girls still haunted by period poverty
Amiru Najatu and other women who monthly need sanitary pads for their menstrual hygiene but are constrained by financial difficulty.
Like Gladys, Amiru Najatu, 20, goes through the same experience every month whenever she is menstruating. Her limbs were paralysed when she was a child due to polio infection. This she says compounds her access to basic menstrual hygiene and sanitary products.
For close to five years that she has been experiencing menstruation, Najatu who lives off almsgiving says she has never used a sanitary pad.
Her physical disability and means of livelihood underscore the level of period of poverty she faces.
“I use the money from begging to buy food and water to clean myself but I cannot buy sanitary pads from the money because what I realise daily is not enough,” Najatu says.
Period poverty, the inability of menstruators to afford proper menstrual hygiene products, has been a nagging issue in Nigeria.
Experts say this usually predisposes menstruating women and girls to unhygienic practices, like using rough newspaper, fabric, or cloth napkins in place of pads.
Period poverty is very serious in our time. Working with vulnerable women and children in several communities has opened my eyes to a lot, says Wanda Adu, Executive Director, Wanda Adu Foundation (WAF). The Foundation takes care of vulnerable women and girls.
Adu said women who are not sure of a meal in a day for their children cannot afford to buy sanitary towels. “There is extreme poverty in Nigeria and so the pad is seen as a luxury in communities.
“They are left with forgone alternatives. Should they buy food or pads? There and then they conclude that food is more important than a pad. Hence they improvise,” she said
With a staggering statistics of 82 million people living below the poverty line of N137,430 in a year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), purchasing menstruation sanitation products becomes a tall order for most women and girls.
Undoubtedly, the impact of poverty is widespread affecting both men and women but its effect on women and girls is disproportionately high.
A report byUNICEF in 2017 said menstruating schoolgirls in Nigeria faced many challenges which affected their ability to manage their menstruation in a dignified and hygienic way.
Availability and adequacy of WASH facilities, adequacy and flow of information on menstrual hygiene management and access to materials for hygienic management of menstruation all impacted girls’ experience of menstruation, UNICEF said.
Danjuma Janet, 18 and a former student of Government Secondary School, Jabi in Abuja recalls when she started menstruating at the age of 16 and she was shocked. She was told by her mother to shrug the shock off, as it is an indication that she is now a woman.
Her mother provided her some sanitary pads but it didn’t last long because of the financial implication. Janet says her parents who run a shop of daily needs experience recession in their business and could not afford to provide her pads.
Janet went to visit a friend when she first experienced her menstruation and was given a rag to clean up.
“I went to visit my friend and I was told that my cloth was stained at the back. Initially I was scared but they offered me a rag to clean up. My mother later gave me a pad to use,” she says of her first experience of menstruation.
Janet resigned to fate ̶ making use of pieces of unused materials or rags each month she menstruates. But this has brought her shame and ridicule, as her friends mock her in school whenever she gets stained.
She said a sanitary pad costs N300 depending on the brand and size. This is difficult for her to get since she is not working and cannot afford it.
“It’s not easy to buy a pad everyday,” she says. “Sometimes I use rag when I cannot afford to buy a pad because it costs between N300 to N400.”
She recalled how she was embarrassed on a day she got stained in school at the age of 16.
“I left school early that day because I felt so embarrassed when my friends called my attention to my stained skirt,” Janet recalls.
Light at the end of the tunnel
Paulen Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, handing a pack of menstrual hygiene kit to Gladys at the 2020 World Menstrual Hygiene Management Day.
The UNICEF in the 2017 report recommended that there should be facilitation of accurate and sufficient information on menstruation hygiene management to disabuse minds of people on the myths and taboos and encourage safe, hygienic and dignified management of menstruation.
Other key recommended actions were the provision of appropriate and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools; support to access affordable reusable sanitary pads and mobilization of policy and decision-makers to promote open discussion of menstrual hygiene management to reduce stigma.
Recently, Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs flagged off the distribution of one million sanitary pads to women and teenage girls across the country as part of the government’s efforts to address period poverty among women and girls.
“This project is hinged on the fact that girls’ and women’s choices of menstrual hygiene materials are often limited by costs, availability and social norms,” saidPaulen Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs at the 2020 Menstrual Hygiene Day observed in Kado village, Abuja on May 28.
“Therefore, providing access to feminine hygiene products will go a long way to solve the problem to a great extent.”
At the event which was organized by the ministry with support from Water Supply Sanitation and Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and other stakeholders, 4000 sanitary pads were distributed to women and girls at the village. Each beneficiary received at least four packs of sanitary towels.
Elizabeth Jeiyol, WSSCC National Coordinator for Nigeria believes poor knowledge and understanding of menstruation may lead to unsafe hygienic practices for women and girls.
Najatu, receiving a pack of menstrual hygiene kit from Elizabeth Jeiyol, Water Supply Sanitation and Collaborative Council (WSSCC)
Jeiyol says all stakeholders must team up to change the negative social norms surrounding menstruation.
“Poor knowledge and understanding of menstruation may lead to unsafe hygienic practices for women and girls,” she said.
“It is not a gender thing – but a basic human right issue – and together we can empower all women and girls to realize their full potentials everywhere in the world.”
She maintains that effective menstrual hygiene has direct and indirect effects on the overall well-being of women and girls – in the context of education, empowerment and health.
According to her, women and girls face continuous mental, physical and health traumas during their periods – as a result of discriminatory social norms, cultural taboos, supernatural beliefs, gender inequality, and limited access to basic services such as WASH facilities in private and public spaces which leads to ‘Period Poverty’ for women and girls across the world – especially in developing countries like Nigeria.
Chizoma Opara, acting Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign says it is important to institutionalise menstrual health and hygiene management at all levels in Nigeria.
This, Opara said can be achieved by putting an end to open defecation in Nigeria through the provision of hygiene facilities for the populace particularly women and girls during their menstrual period.
Wanda Adu says every woman and girl deserves a free sanitary pad every month, saying “teenage girls will not go to school for fear of stigmatization and shaming if they happen to be stained.”
On the occasion of 2019 international women’s day, she says her Foundation while giving out sanitary products to 150 women and girls in several communities in Abuja witnessed struggle by the women and girls to get the products.
What cash transfer can do for menstruating teenage girls and women
Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Paulen Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs while sharing free sanitary kits to women and girls at Kado Village, Abuja
If the government acts by its words, there may be a relief for women and teenage girls regarding period poverty.
Poor and menstruating women and girls who cannot afford to purchase menstrual hygiene products when on their menstrual period can heave a sigh of relief, Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said.
She recently said the Ministry would find a way to incorporate teenage girls and poor women in the country into its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme to support them in purchasing all the necessary hygiene materials for their monthly menstrual period.
Farouq said her Ministry was ready to collaborate with the Ministry of Women Affairs to support the vulnerable groups especially women and teenage girls, using the CCT scheme.
The CCT scheme is designed to benefit poor and vulnerable households with a monthly stipend of N5000; and beneficiaries are trained and provided financial and technical support to start small businesses.
“We have a programme in the ministry, it is called Conditional Cash Transfer. The programme is specifically for farmers that need this kind of support and it is being given to women heads of families. So that they can take care of themselves and other members of the family including teenage girls in the family,” she said during the 2020 World Menstrual Hygiene Management Day.
“We are going to find ways to tinker with this programme to see that the teenage girls are also incorporated by giving them monthly stipends to support them and so that they are able to earn something that they can use to buy all the necessary hygiene materials that they need during this period of their lives.”
Farouq says she understands that most teenage girls are subjected to all forms of hardships when they menstruate.
“Some of them are not able to go to school or participate fully in society, always at home because of the hardship that they go through on days that they observe their menstrual period,” the Minister said.
Farouq lauded efforts made by the Ministry of Women Affairs led by Dame Pauline Tallen in addressing period poverty.
ABDULATEEF Suleman, a Personal Assistant to Yahaya Bello, the Governor of Kogi State, has died of suspected Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Suleiman, 41, died during the early hours of Wednesday in a private hospital in Abuja where he was admitted for treatment of an illness believed to be COVID-19 related.
In a picture seen by The ICIR, the late Aide to Kogi Governor died while he was on ventilator in the private hospital.
However, Onogwu Muhammed, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in a statement said he died of cardiac arrest in the private hospital.
According to Muhammed, Suleiman has been on admission at the private hospital for treatment of septic shock.
“The deceased had been on admission at a private hospital in Abuja for the treatment of septic shock but died of cardiac arrest Wednesday morning at the age of 41,” the statement read.
Muhammed announced that Suleiman would be buried later on Wednesday in accordance with Islamic funeral process.
Although the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded three cases of COVID-19 in Kogi State, the state government says there is no such case in the state.
As at the time of filling this report, the government of Kogi State has not acknowledged any case of COVID-19 in the state.
CHINA will exempt some African countries from repaying zero-interest rate loans due at the end of 2020, Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting President Xi Jingping’s speech at a summit.
Under the framework of the China-Africa cooperation forum, China will further extend loan payment forbearance for some countries including African countries, Xi told the China-Africa summit.
China is willing to give priority to African countries once COVID-19 vaccines are ready to use, Xi added.
The summit attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders virtually was on China- Africa Solidarity Against COVID-19 pandemic.
Buhari while speaking at the summit, commended António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, for launching a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund for low and middle-income countries to tackle the health emergency, address social and economic consequences of the crisis and, strengthen the recovery efforts of most vulnerable countries
He further pledged Nigeria’s supports to join any joint and collective action plan at regional and global levels to tackle this pandemic and its fallout.
“In these endeavors, we must not fail because the lives and livelihood of our peoples depend on our collective efforts,” the Nigerian president said.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has expressed her optimism to lead the World Trade Organisation (WTO), citing her skills and experiences for the past 30 years as qualification.
In an interview with Manuela Saragosa of BBC Business Day, the Nigerian-born renowned economist said she believes in the power of trade to change the world and the WTO has a role to play irrespective of the challenges.
She said that she is prepared to lead the necessary reforms that will position the multilateral organisation in a forefront of solving problems most especially in a time when the world is still being ravaged by COVID-19.
“I believe the World Trade Organisation is one of the most important multilateral bodies in the world. And despite the challenges it faces and the reforms that need to be done, I believe it is very relevant for the economic development and growth and the sharing of prosperity in the world.
“I want the job because I think I have the skills for it. I think the organisation needs some reforms to make it relevant for the times we are and to make it fit for purpose.
“I have a reputation as a strong reformer. I have written a book titled; Reforming the Unreformable, where with a team, we undertook very important reforms in Nigeria.
“I am also a strong person with strong negotiation skills. I have had a career for over 30years. I have constantly being involved in negotiating important agreements between two countries,”
When asked how she intends to use her negotiation skills to foster trade harmony between the United States and China, in the wake of the trade war between the two countries, she said with the help of other countries, she will bring the two countries together to identify their areas of common interests.
“I think what is involved is being a good listener. It is important to listen. What are the concerns of the Americans? What are the concerns of China? What are the concerns of Europe? What are the concerns of Africa, Asia and other member countries and try to bring them around shared common interests.
“I strongly believe that this world we live in today, we need a fora where we can bring common interests together. In spite of the words you hear, I think there is a need to bring people together to build trust around shared common interests,” she said.
She said having an African at the top job of the WTO is extremely important as it will position the continent to benefit from the world trading system and to also reposition the continent’s economy which is about 3 per cent of the world trade.
“For Africa, this is extremely important. Africa has never held the job. Africa countries feel that they can also benefit from the world trading system. Africa has negotiated a monumental agreement. They have an Africa continent free trade agreement to strengthen the economies of the continent to enable them to trade better with each other. To enable them to face the world trading system. Africa trade now is about 3 per cent of the world trade.
“I think having an African at the WTO is something that would benefit not just Africa but the intention I have is to make sure that all parts of the world benefits,” she said.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had earlier nominated Dr. Okonjo-Iweala earlier this month as the country’s nominee for the WTO DG election after he withdrew the nomination of the current deputy Director General of WTO, Yonov Frederick Agah.
The election which is scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2021, has so far officially seen the nomination of three candidates vying for the WTO job. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt and a Mexican representative, Jesús Seade Kuri.
THE Federal Government has reacted to concerns raised by Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President over the growing debt profile of the country, insisting that the loans were for building infrastructure and implementing long-lasting projects.
The former Vice President had on Tuesday written that the growing debt profile was an indication that the country was in a crisis.
But in a reaction, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture explained that the loans being obtained by the current administration were being primarily used to finance infrastructure projects as opposed to ‘servicing the crass indulgence of a few fat cats’ – a reality he said was obtainable in the past administration.
“We have said that in the face of massive infrastructural decay, no responsible government will sit by and do nothing,” Mohammed said in a statement on Wednesday.
“This Administration’s borrowing, therefore, is aimed mostly at revamping our infrastructure. The loans for the educational sector will contribute to the development of our human capital while the loans for the agricultural sector will help the move to diversify the economy.”
Mohammed said the figure of Nigeria’s debt to revenue ratio of 99 percent in the first quarter of 2020, quoted by the former Vice President, is not in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, where he stated he got it from.
”We are also not able to ascertain the source of the first quarter figures of N943.12 billion for debt servicing and N950.56 billion for retained revenue, which he also quoted,” he said.
Adding that the debt service provisions in the annual budgets include principal repayments, interest payments and all other applicable charges.
“Therefore, the statement that debt servicing does not equate to debt repayment is not only wrong, but ill-informed,” the Information Minister said.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government has taken several steps to shore up revenue, explaining that the reason for increased debt to revenue ratio is tied to poor revenue generation.
”One of the reasons why debt service to revenue is high is because revenue generation in Nigeria has been low, with over-dependence on the oil sector. This is corroborated by the fact that the ratio of Nigeria’s tax revenue to GDP is one of the lowest in the world at about 6%,” the Minister said.
He however listed that the current administration has introduced several measures to shore up revenues, including passage and implementation of the Finance Act, 2019, various on-going reforms in the oil and gas, tax administration and collections, as well as the strategic revenue growth initiatives.
