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Platinum Jubilee: SOAN Fine Tunes Arrangements For Dr. Onyung’s Birthday Bash

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Platinum Jubilee: SOAN Fine Tunes Arrangements For Dr. Onyung's Birthday Bash

The Ship Owners of Nigeria SOAN has begun fine-tuning arrangements towards ensuring a befitting birthday bash, for its arrowhead, Dr. MkGeorge Onyung, who marks his Platinum Jubilee this week.

A man who greatly values his spirituality; the Maritime First gathered that SOAN President is flagging off the programme with a Thanksgiving Service at the SS Philips and James Catholic Church, Idado Lekki, Lagos.

Dignitaries would later move to Naval Dockyard Conference Centre, near NTA, Victoria Island, Lagos, for the Grand Reception.

The SOAN President, High Chief, Dr. MkGeorge Onyung is highly revered for his selfless and committed fight, for a timely disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

 “Time is now to disburse the CVFF, to take back our industry from foreigners. If we have ships, no one will ask us to pay risk charges”, Dr. Onyung had responded swiftly, at a recent event pointing out that whatever is disbursed would be used to buy good vessels to boost the nation’s local shipping.

He also tasked the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to make available copies of the amended CVFF Act to the industry stakeholders. 

Moments later, Dr. Onyung was altruistically stressing the need for evolving a date in a year “to celebrate the late Otunba Kunle Folarin.

Fiery, if the occasion calls for it, the SOAN leader, despite his favourable disposition to the NNPC and its management, had swiftly taken a swipe against the organisation, for failing to arrest foreign vessels operating in the country at Nigeria’s expense, despite laudable efforts of the Nigerian Local Content, to do the needful

In a letter, emphasizing the existence of a breach, the SOAN under Onyung mandate had called the NIMASA’s attention to the NNPC’s warped mode of award Contracts to foreign vessel owners for Coastal Shipping for petroleum products in the downstream petroleum sector.

“The Ship Owners’ Association Of Nigerian (SOAN) hereby register our protest to this show of bad faith and lack of patriotism displayed by NNPC despite the fact that Nigerian Shipowners and operators have demonstrable capacity to operate this contract exclusively and have expressed willingness to accept freight payments in Naira whereas UNIBROS will only accept US Dollar payments resulting in further drain on our extremely scarce foreign exchange resources. 

“We point out to you Sir, that this contract award will result in amplification of capital flight, valued in excess of $100M annually and to the detriment of our economy and employment loss. In addition, no Customs import duty has been paid for any of the 14 vessels in question, again in breach of our nation’s fiscal and monetary policies.

“Nigerian owned and flagged vessels are made to pay full Customs duty and appropriate taxes on earnings which foreign shipping companies have continually illegally evaded.

“Also, note that no Seafarer training or local content strategic plan whatsoever is in place in line with the NOGCID laws. 

The Birthday begins as the nation’s shipping industry returns from a deserved Eid-el Fitr Celebrations.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. ONYUNG…

“MANY HAPPY RETURNS” SOAN!!

Education

Children’s Day: London Academy Business School Celebrates Nigerian Children

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...Reiterates commitment to provide high-quality education to Nigerian Child***
Dr. Larry, the Director of London Academy Business School (LABS), joined other Nigerian leaders from other industries to celebrate children on children's Day. In his words, Dr. Larry stated that children remind us of the future.
While speaking to reporters, he emphasized the aura of love that children create in the homes and throughout society, Also that "the joy and happiness from children are amazing, sufficient enough to drive energy for nation building."

Dr. Larry also advocated for effective child protection policies and implementation, urging all critical stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and the government, to protect and celebrate children.
  To ensure that high-quality education is available to children in Nigeria, London Academy Business School has established a Lagos Study Centre with state of the art facility and modern technology with plans to expand across all cities in Nigeria.

Dr. Jones-Esan, who has big plans to change the face of education in Nigeria, has also urged the government and private stakeholders to work with him and his team of professionals to change the face of education in Nigeria. He claims that many children have big potentials but can't realise them because they're not in school.
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Tinubu To Adopt Price Control Mechanism For Agro Products

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… Vows to Defend Nigeria From Terror, Criminality – Tinubu***

President Bola Tinubu says he will take steps to ensure price control for agricultural products.

Tinubu said this in his inaugural address on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, rural income shall be secured by commodity exchange boards guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products.

He said that agricultural hubs would be created throughout the nation to increase production and engage in value-added processes.

“The livestock sector will be introduced to best modern practices and steps taken to minimise the perennial conflict over land and water resources in the sector.

“Through these actions, food shall be made more abundant yet less costly. Farmers shall earn more while the average Nigerian pays less,” he said.

On foreign policy, Tinubu said that the crisis in Sudan and the turn from democracy by several nations in “our immediate neighbourhood were of pressing concern”.

He said that his primary foreign policy objective would be the peace and stability of the West African continent.

“We shall work with ECOWAS, the AU, and willing partners in the international community to end extant conflicts and to resolve new ones.

“As we contain threats to peace, we shall also retool our foreign policy to more actively lead the regional and continental quest for collective prosperity, ” he said.

The President called on all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, to support his government in his bid to take Nigeria to greater heights.

“Our administration will govern on your behalf but never rule over you.

“We shall consult and dialogue with, but never dictate. We shall reach out to all but never put down a single person for holding views contrary to our own.

“We are here to further mend and heal this nation not tear and injure it,” he said.

In the meantime, President, Bola Tinubu, has promised to defend Nigeria from terror and all forms of criminality threatening the peace and stability of the country and the sub-region.

Tinubu said this in his inaugural address after he was sworn in as the 16th democratically elected president of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

He said that security shall be the top priority of his administration, saying that neither prosperity nor justice could prevail amidst insecurity and violence.

“To effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security Doctrine and its Architecture.

“We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number.

“We shall provide, better training, equipment, pay and firepower,” he said.

Tinubu said his mission was to improve the lives of Nigerians in a manner that nurtured humanity, encourage compassion toward one another, and duly rewards collective effort to resolve the social ills that sought to divide the nation.

“Our constitution and laws give us a nation on paper, saying we must work harder at bringing these noble documents to life by strengthening the bonds of economic collaboration, social cohesion, and cultural understanding,” he said.

He called for the development of a shared sense of fairness and equity, adding that the South must not only seek good for itself but must understand that its interests were served when good come to the North.

“The North must see the South likewise.

“Whether from the winding creeks of the Niger Delta, the vastness of the northern savannah, the boardrooms of Lagos, the bustling capital of Abuja, or the busy markets of Onitsha, you are all my people.

“As your president, I shall serve with prejudice toward none but compassion and amity towards all.

“In the coming days and weeks, my team will publicly detail key aspects of our programme,” he said.

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Economy

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Don Predicts Reduction In Fuel Price

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Prof. AbdulGafar Ijaiya of the Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, has expressed optimism at President Bola Tinubu’s inaugural remarks on the removal of fuel subsidies, saying this may reduce prices at the long run.

Ijaiya, who spoke on Monday in Ilorin, observed that with commitment from the Federal Government in revamping existing refineries alongside Dangote refineries, will increase the availability of petroleum products.

The expert who however explained that though such effect may not be felt immediately, noted that the present pump price is about N200, depending on filling stations across the country.

He questioned if the present fuel price at about N200 was as a result of the subsidy removal, adding that if it is not, then fuel may likely increase with about 50 per cent rate after the removal.

“But the thing is that very soon, what has gone wrong with the refineries will be corrected and Dangote refineries will commence by July/August,” he said.

Ijaiya, who teaches in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the university, pointed out that in the beginning there might be an increase in the prices of foods and services.

He however asserted that in a society like Nigeria where people are used to hike in prices, it would not mean much to the citizens.

“By Economics principle, we have adjusted our expenditure profile consumption to particular items. We have moved from consuming luxury and unnecessary items to necessary items.

“This means people go for what is necessary and do away with those that are not,” he said.

Ijaiya affirmed that in the long run, the fuel pump price will adjust downward and there would be more supply of the products.

He further added that when there are more supply of a particular product in the market, it will automatically reduce the price.

“If we have enough supply, with time and there are no other man-made distortion that has to do with our behaviour, I see us buying it between N80 and N100 per litre,” he predicted.

The economist also foresee filling station advertising and competing for sales, saying it will be good for the nation.

He, however, cautioned that “we are in an uncertain world”, but maintained that fuel subsidy removal would be good for the country eventually as only a minority are benefiting from it.

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