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Group cautions FG over acclaimed $1.5bn steel plant investment in Kaduna

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President Muhammadu Buhari

 

The federal government has been advised to embark on thorough verification of data of investment of foreign investors in the country to further ascertain the investment status of foreigners for proper planning.

 

This is contained a statement issued on Monday by a Kaduna based Non-Governmental Organization, Arewa Progressive Alliance, (APA), National Coordinator, Tijani Ahmad Girei, stressing that a news making the round about a $1.5bn steel plant that is nearing completion in Kaduna State owned by African Industries Group under the African Natural Resources and Mines group is mischievous and misleading.

2023: Kano Group Raises Alarm Over Clandestine Media Attacks On Prominent Indigene, Waya.

The report which was published in one of the leading national daily with the tittle: “Govt expecting one million MT steel from $1.5bn plant – Minister” is questionable and condemnable owing to the fact that previous publications clearly explained the true status of the investments of the firm in Kaduna State.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, at the weekend embarked on inspection tour of the company saying that the facility would produce one million metric tonnes of steel annually and would help put an end to the importation of the commodity into Nigeria.

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It is pertinent to set the record straight in order to avoid misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the actual investments in the state for the sake of posterity and avoid marginalization of our youths especially in the areas of job opportunities as well as revenue allocation from the federal government in future.

It would be recalled that the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission had in its January 4, 2020 report quoted the Managing Director of African Industries Group of Companies, Mr. Alok Gupta, to have said: “the company’s $600 million Integrated Steel Plant will be Nigeria’s biggest non-oil foreign direct investment, FDI.”

The statement added that, “Surprisingly, the misleading report put the investments at $ 1.5bn from its original status of $600m. It is important to state that the project has been conceived into three phases with attention on phases one and two at the moment with design capacity of less than one million metric tonnes.

“In fact, while the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak paralyzed economic activities coupled with other global challenges, the company could not meet up its planned for June 2020 as the completion date for the first phase but now looks for mid or third quarter of 2021 to complete it.

“If that is the case, how is $1.5bn related to the original figure of investment estimate of $600m published in January of the same year. Who is fooling who? Let the Federal government embark on due diligence and work with the Kaduna State government in getting the correct data of work-plans of African Industries Group in order not to be misled or misguided in its action plans and policies.”

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Mutiu Adepoju Urges NFF to Retain Augustine Eguavoen as Super Eagles Coach

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Former international, Mutiu Adepoju, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep Augustine Eguavoen in charge of the Super Eagles.

Eguavoen took charge of the Super Eagles in interim capacity in September.

The 59-year-old guided the team to qualify for AFCON 2025 with three wins, two draws and one defeat.

The NFF are reportedly still planning to hire a foreign coach for the three-time African champions.

Adepoju however said his former teammate should stay in charge of the team.

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“I would rate him very well. Number one, we’ve qualified for the AFCON, which is one of the objectives,” he told Brila FM.

“I would say he has done well and is still doing well.

“They should keep encouraging him. I believe he’s getting things done, I will rate him high, let just keep supporting him.”

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Kano State Hosts 8th Annual Audit Forum to Enhance Transparency and Accountability

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The 8th Annual Audit Forum, organized by the Office of the Auditor General of Kano State, was held recently, focusing on strengthening transparency and accountability in public financial management. .

Isma’ila Musa, the Auditor General of Kano State, welcomed the participants and highlighted the constitutional and legal mandates that guide the auditing process. “Sections 125(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and 36(i) of the Kano State Audit Law, 2021 (as amended) mandate the Office of the Auditor General to audit the accounts and financial statements of the State Government and all Offices and Courts,” he stated.

Musa expressed immense gratitude to His Excellency, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State, for his support in making the event possible. “It is very important to note that a strengthened fiscal transparency will help build trust in governance,” he emphasized. He added that the Audit Forum is a reform intended to reduce opportunities for corruption and abuse of public resources, thereby increasing the efficiency of public expenditures.

The Auditor General also acknowledged the contributions of various officials, including the Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Accountant General, the Executive Chairman of Kano Internal Revenue Services, and former Auditors General, among others. “My sincere appreciation to all the invitees here present for honoring our invitation. I wish us a successful 8th Kano State Annual Audit Forum,” Musa concluded.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Honorable Tukur Fagge, praised the exercise for its potential to enhance resource management and ensure the success of the tasks at hand. “This exercise will enhance resources management and will realize the success of the task,” Fagge stated.

Sarkin Shanon Kano, Shehu Muhammad Dankadai, who served as the royal father of the day, also graced the event, adding to the significance of the occasion.

The forum underscored the commitment of the Kano State Government to upholding transparency and accountability, reflecting the administration’s dedication to effective and efficient service delivery.

 

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Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93

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Late Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi

 

A former secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, has passed away.

A family source, Jafar Yakubu, informed NIGERIAN TRACKER about the death of the pioneer secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, who supervised the 1979 general election.

 

Jafar Yakubu said Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi died at the age of 93 and his Janaza funeral prayers will take place by 2:30 PM at Kurfi in KATSINA state .

 

Dr. Amadu Kurfi, OFR, was born in 1931. He was a former chairman of the then Marketing Board, former Federal Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the first person to acquire a BSc degree in the whole of Katsina State, at University College London in 1957.

 

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