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Why Osinbajo Chartered Private Chopper For Kabba Trip

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By our correspondents

Details emerged on Monday on why Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo chartered a private helicopter for a trip to Kogi State last Saturday, which ended up crash-landing in Kabba.

The VP, the Minister of State for Labour, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, and 10 senior presidential officials had escaped unhurt when the AgustaWestland 139 helicopter marked 5N-CML and serial number: 31389, owned and operated by Caverton Helicopters hit the ground awkwardly and fell on its side at the Kabba Stadium in Kogi State on February 2.

Findings indicated that Osinbajo opted for the charter service because the helicopters in the Presidential Fleet were reportedly occupied that day with other functions.

Two choppers in the official fleet, said to be the “only functional ones” for now, had already been engaged to fly to presidential campaign venues in the North-East on the fateful day.

One State House official, who spoke with The Premier, explained that in the circumstances, the VP had to opt for the charter service to be able to carry on with the Next Level campaign activities of the Buhari administration.

“Actually, there are two functional helicopters in the Presidential Fleet. That is the information available right now. Those two choppers were already engaged on Saturday.

“For example, Mr President was away to Bauchi that same day and the two PAF choppers were engaged for that and other functions.

“It is not unusual that when the choppers are engaged and there is another equally important function to be executed, an alternative can be sought.

“This is not just about the VP, whenever there is the need for an alternative when the functional choppers are busy, this is done,” the source informed The Premier.

Investigations showed that the VP’s office ruled out any sabotage in the near-death experience.

“There is no use pre-empting the outcome of an investigation. However, there is no fear about any sabotage,” a presidential source told our correspondent

The Accident Investigation Bureau on Sunday, confirmed that it had begun investigation into the accident to ascertain what really caused it.

The AIB said investigators had been dispatched to the site of the crash in Kabba.

Caverton Helicopters, in its reaction to the development, expressed support for the investigation, saying that it would give necessary cooperation to the government agency.

Presidency backs probe of crash by AIB

When The Premier  sought the reaction of the VP’s office to the move of the AIB, it responded that what the agency had started followed the normal protocol when a crash occurred.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Senior Special Assistant to the VP on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo believed the investigation was the “standard procedure.”

He added, “After such an incident, the aviation authorities will do their due diligence, carry out a thorough investigation and come out with a report on what has happened.

“That is the proper thing to do and yes, they are on the right course of action.”

Findings showed that as of 2015, PAF had 10 aircraft, including four Agusta helicopters.

They were Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-800 or Air Force One); one Gulfstream 550; one Gulfstream V (Gulfstream 500); two Falcons 7X; one Hawker Sidley 4000; two AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters; and two AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters.

However, about two of the aircraft were reportedly handed over to the Nigerian Air Force.

In 2018, the State House budgeted N1.4bn on maintenance of the presidential aircraft.

In the 2019 budget awaiting passage by the National Assembly, the maintenance of aircraft in the PAF and provision of associated services will cost over N3.6bn.

The total budget made for PAF in 2019 is N7bn.

The breakdown of the expenditure is contained in the Executive Summary of the 2019 budget, which The PUNCH obtained in Abuja.

The biggest allocation of N1.492bn is allocated for the procurement of “Navigational Equipment” for the operations of PAF.

Similarly, the Live Television and Internet services for one of the carriers, BBJ (5N-FGT), will gulp N792m.

The provision, which is tagged “ongoing,” covers the “mandatory upgrade” of the Internet and live television services. In 2018, this same sub-head cost the Presidency N200m.

For the overhaul of the engines of the PAF aircraft, there is a provision of N200.99m.

The budget does not list the number of engines to be overhauled, but a Presidential source informed The premier  that “the details of the budget will give the number of aircraft and the nature of the overhauling.”

However, a higher provision of N650m is made for another “upgrade of Presidential Air Fleet aircraft.”

The sub-head is also tagged as “ongoing,” an indication of a phase-by-phase spending on the upgrade to spread it across budgets.

In addition, fuelling of the aircraft will consume N450m, while N120m is provided for the construction of site for keeping of safety and security equipment.

The budget also has a separate allocation of N175.2m for the renovation of the PAF complex and hangar for the aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum said it was grateful to God for sparing Osinbajo’s life in the helicopter accident in Kabba, Kogi State, on Saturday.

The ACF’s Secretary-General, Anthony Sani, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone, urged the maintenance department to ensure regular service of aircraft in the presidential fleet to ensure the safety of the President and his deputy.

He said, “We thank God. We are really grateful to God for sparing the life of our Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

“We, however, appealed to the maintenance department to ensure that our planes are serviced regularly to avoid the recurrence of such accident that may result in the death of our leaders including the President and the Vice-President.”

Meanwhile, the AIB has asked the public to assist it by providing any video clips, relevant evidence or information as the agency investigates what led to the helicopter’s crash.

The Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, AIB, Akin Olateru, also stated that the agency would release factual information concerning the accident in a matter of days.

Olateru was quoted in a statement by the Ministry of Transportation (Aviation) in Abuja on Monday as saying, “As the investigating agency, AlB needs and hereby solicits for your (public) help.

“We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip(s), relevant evidence or information any member of the public may have of the accident that can assist us with this investigation.”

He urged persons with useful information to kindly contact the agency via its official communication channels as stated on its website.

“I would like to enjoin the press and the public to please respect the privacy of the people involved and not to preempt the cause of the accident. AlB will release the preliminary report which will include factual information about the accident in a matter of days,” Olateru added.

The AIB boss said, “Accident Investigation Bureau, the agency of government created under the Civil Aviation Act 2006 with a clear mandate to investigate air accidents and serious incidents, has commenced investigation into this accident.

“I am assuring the entire public that this investigation will be detailed, thorough and timely. Accident investigation is not to apportion blame; it is about fact-finding and making safety recommendations with a view to preventing future occurrences.”

 

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: NITDA TAKES DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO GRASSROOTS

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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: NITDA TAKES DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO GRASSROOTS

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

In its continued effort to transform Nigeria into a globally recognised hub of technology and innovation to drive economic diversification and boost productivity across all sectors, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is set to collaborate with relevant organisations in effectively cascading the benefits of digital technology to all the local governments across the country.

Group photo of the DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE (middle) alongside Director CAER, NITDA, Hadiza Umar (right) SSA to the President, Comm. Eng. S/W Ms Moremi Ojudu(2nd right), SSA to the President, Comm. Eng. S/E, Barr Chioma Nweze (3rd left), SSA to the President, Comm. Eng. N/W, Hon Abdallah Tanko Yakassai (2nd left) and Member, NITDA Strategic Team, Ms Dayo Johnson (left).


This was disclosed by the NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE when he played host to the Senior Special Advisers to President on Community Engagement – South East, Barr Chioma Nweze; South West, Ms Moremi Ojudu and North West, Hon. Abdallah Tanko Yakassai who visited the Agency to discuss possible areas of collaboration on Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

This gesture is in total alignment with the present administration’s priority areas, particularly in the area of reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth.
While stating the agency’s vision for Nigeria where inclusive economic growth is fostered through technological innovation, the NITDA DG noted that the vision aligned with the president’s 8 priority areas.


“The President wants to Reform the Economy to Deliver Sustained Economic Growth; Strengthen National Security for Peace and Prosperity; Boost Agriculture to Achieve Food Security; Boost Infrastructure and Transportation as Enablers of Growth; Focus on Education, Health and Social Investment as Enablers of Development; Accelerate Diversification through Digitisation, Industrialisation, Creative Art and Innovation; and Improve Governance for Effective Service Delivery to Citizens,” he said.


He added that the agency recently crafted its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) 2024-2027, and its pillars are the tool that will help Mr President in delivering on all the presidential priority areas.


Enumerating the 8 pillars of the SRAP, Inuwa highlighted “Foster Digital Literacy and Cultivate Talents” as one of the most important pillars the document is anchored on where inclusivity is pronounced.


“To ensure we are inclusive, we need to get our citizens to be digitally literate, so we developed the National Digital Literacy Framework with an ambitious target of achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030 but Mr President cited a mid-term target for us to achieve 70% by 2027,” he stated.


He further said that the agency is collaborating with the Ministry of Education in infusing digital literacy into all academic institution’s curricula while at the same time developing standard training with certifications that would be a prerequisite for securing government employment.


“We have already worked with the Head of Service to put it as a requirement for government workers to be digitally literate. But for the market people, artisans and so on, what they need is the literacy to use digital devices to access internet banking, government digital services and others.

We have therefore been exploiting many channels to deliver them through TV programmes, social media, radio, roadshows and so on,” he averred.


The NITDA Boss stated that, the 3 Million Tech Talent programme was another initiative of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the agency to identify skill gaps in the country and build youth’s capacity on skills in high demand locally and internationally.


“We have started the training and so far we have trained over 30,000 and completed the first phase which is a pilot. We are now executing the second phase of the training,” he said.


While giving deep insight into the other seven strategic pillars of Building a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem; Strengthening Policy Implementation and Legal Framework; Promoting Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services; Strengthening Cybersecurity and Enhance Digital Trust; Nurturing an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem; Forging Strategic Partnerships and collaborations and lastly, Cultivating a Vibrant Organisational Culture and an Agile Workforce in NITDA, Inuwa shared the various infrastructures, innovative solutions, sponsorships and training programmes the government has been offering nationwide.


In his remark, Hon. Yakassai appreciated the DG NITDA for his wonderful presentation by sharing insights into the various activities of the agency to ensure a digitally empowered nation by building the digital capacities of Nigerians.


He however expressed his team’s willingness to collaborate with the agency in the areas of propagating the agency’s activities to the grassroots throughout the 774 local governments in the country.


“Mr President is a grassroots person that is why he created this office so that we make sure whatever the government is doing is taken down to the grassroots level and we need to show the people the importance of your programmes and how they can key into it”, he stated.

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NiMet And FUPRE To Partner On Weather Observation, Research And E-Learning

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NiMet And FUPRE To Partner On Weather Observation, Research And E-Learning

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), is to collaborate with the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE),Delta state, on weather observation, research and e-learning.

Left to Right: Professor Charles Anosike, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, and Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE), Delta state, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between NiMet and the university on Thursday, 16th May 2024.

This was disclosed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, on Thursday, 16th May 2024, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between NiMet and the university.

Professor Anosike observed that oil companies have weather stations spread across the shores of Nigeria, which are illegal according to the new NiMet Act. He said that these weather stations need to be registered with NiMet in compliance with NiMet Act and solicited the collaboration of the University to achieve this.

Speaking further, Professor Anosike noted that the partnership with the petroleum institution will not only help improve data gathering on climate risk in the area, but also strategically make NiMet become the centre of excellence in disseminating the risk to the oil and gas sector.

“I will like the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE), to take advantage of NiMet’s e-learning services that will soon be unveiled. It would actually fast-track introduction of joint courses between FUPRE and NiMet”, Professor Anosike concluded.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh disclosed that the institution expects support from NiMet in the installation of observatory stations, training personnel on generation of weather data that can support research, journals and academic publications and other good interventions that will impact on the university and its environment.

Amongst other things, the MoU aims to establish a collaborative framework between NiMet and FUPRE for joint efforts in research, training and promotion of activities relating to meteorology/climatology and climate change in Nigeria. Specifically the MoU will have NiMet Install its observatory station known as Resident Observatory Station (ROS) in suitable locations within FUPRE for the purpose of carrying out meteorological activities.

The MoU signing was witnessed by the Director, Legal Services of NiMet, Barr. Shola Gabriel and other staff of the Agency. The Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh signed on behalf of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) , Delta state, while Professor Anosike signed on behalf of NiMet.

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Tax Conference: Sanwo-Olu, Zulum, Amosun, Other Experts Seek Transparent Tax System to Boost Internally Generated Revenues

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Tax Conference: Sanwo-Olu, Zulum, Amosun, Other Experts Seek Transparent Tax System to Boost Internally Generated Revenues

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his counterparts from Sokoto and Borno States have emphasised the need to make the country’s tax system more transparent and accountable to Nigerians to boost confidence and voluntary compliance.

The governors made the call at the ongoing 26th Annual Tax Conference organized by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, with the theme, “Sustainable Tax Culture and Economic Roadmap for Nation Building”.

Speaking at the conference, Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi Ogungbo, said the theme of the Conference was apt and timely given that Nigeria, like many other nations, is currently facing significant economic challenges.

While underscoring the crucial role of a transparent and efficient tax administration in fostering confidence and voluntary compliance among taxpayers, he emphasized the necessity for citizens to witness tangible outcomes from their tax contributions, highlighting the pivotal role taxes play in fueling public services and infrastructural development.

Sanwo-Olu stressed the shift in mindset needed, urging taxpayers to view tax payments not as a burden but as an investment in a better future for Nigeria.

He said building a strong and sustainable future through a robust tax system that fosters economic growth and development had become inevitable.

Sanwo-Olu said, “We must all understand the crucial role taxes play in building a better Nigeria for ourselves and for generations to come.

“The theme also highlights the need for a clear economic roadmap which should take note of the architecture of our developmental ideologies as they are designed to provide the government with the necessary resources to cater for the social needs of its citizens, therefore we need a tax system that incentivizes investment, job creation, and economic diversification.

“We need to explore innovative ways to expand the tax base while fostering a business environment that allows our economy to thrive. The good news is that Nigeria is already taking positive steps in these directions. The recent efforts to streamline state-level taxes and the focus on integrating the growing remote workforce into the tax net are commendable initiatives.”

The governor said, “The CITN plays a vital role in fostering this vital shift. Your commitment to professional excellence and education is instrumental in ensuring a tax system that is fair, efficient, and promotes economic development.”

However, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who declared the conference open, while stressing the need to prioritize growing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) over relying solely on borrowing to fund national and sub-national budgets, said borrowing to fund the budgets was not the way to go amid the current national economic challenge when “our nation and its constituent states and local governments are going through very difficult times and finding it hard to provide for its teeming populace, acceptable standards of living, employment with the growing population of youths, infrastructure and basic amenities that will make life more meaningful”.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State criticized inefficiencies and corruption in the current tax administration system.

Zulum, represented by the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, highlighted the shortcomings of the current tax system, including tax evasion, avoidance, and lack of transparency.

He called for critical reforms to address these issues, including tackling corruption in both the oil sector and governance system. He criticized the political protection of tax evaders and emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in tax administration.

While calling for critical reforms, he lamented the manipulation and connivance of multinationals with tax administration to short-change the system, he added that this represented one of the hallmarks of corruption in both the oil and governance system.

In his remarks, the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, said the conference will greatly assist in exploring innovative ways of improving revenue generation in the country.

He said the economic and revenue challenges had made it difficult for governments at all levels to implement their people-oriented programmes, thus the need for the government to devise a means for more funds to provide the dividends of democracy to the people.

The governor said taxation remained a veritable source of resource mobilization for the government adding that his administration would work with CITN to boost IGR in the state.

The Auditor-General for the Federation (AuGF), Mr. Shaakaa Chira, said the country’s tax system was plagued by instances of tax evasion especially by the upper class, multiple taxation and inability to properly account for taxes collected by administrators.

The Chairman of the conference planning committee, Dr. Adeyemi Sanni, noted that for Nigeria to achieve meaningful fiscal development over the long term, it is imperative to establish a tax culture that can withstand economic fluctuations and challenges.

President and Chairman of the CITN council, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, emphasized the importance of investing in technology and people at the subnational level to effectively track revenues in the digital space, including cryptocurrency. This, he believes, will help maximize government revenue flow.

Mr. Agbeluyi stressed the need to provide support to revenue authorities through financial and administrative autonomy, empowering them to effectively administer taxes as he noted it is clear that a strategic approach to revenue management is crucial for the overall financial health of the government.

The CITN boss stated further, “This is a thought-provoking topic that requires all of us to put on our thinking hats. As we deliberate, we must recognize that our nation faces significant challenges. Our current economic realities as a country are multifaceted, despite efforts to improve the narrative by the current government.

He said, “The 2024 budget of “Renewed Hope” as we know relies significantly on non-oil revenue, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Therefore, building a sustainable tax culture capable of significantly improving our tax revenue performance for an effective. economic and capital formation becomes a top priority.”

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