The National president, Association for Table Water Producers (ATWAP), has revealed the association intentions of creating about five hundred thousand jobs nationwide.

Speaking at the 2021 national convention, conference and conferment of awards on Tuesday in Abuja, the National president, Mrs. Clementina Ativie disclosed this.

While adding that, the body has commenced discussion with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), and a recycling firm to adopt a system of buying back the production and packaging waste across the country through ATWAP structure.

Ativie hinted that the initiative would create at least five hundred thousand jobs in the next two to three years and make Nigeria greener and safer.

According to her , “We have started discussion with strategic stakeholders to create at least five hundred thousand jobs in the next two to three years.

“Other stakeholders are welcome to join us as we work in this direction of making Nigeria greener and safer

“We have commenced awareness campaign as well as a well structured timetable to train our members nationwide regularly in good manufacturing practice for water quality operational guidelines” she said.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), revealed that the agency has registered approximately 1,530 package water factories between January and August this year.

According to NAFDAC’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr. Jimoh Abubakar, between January and August 2021, the agency shut down 57 packaged water firms that did not follow food production requirements.

The head of NAFDAC also stated that they are committed to ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe and high-quality water.

President Muhammadu Buhari advised foreign envoys in Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, in the run-up to the 2023 general elections, to be governed by diplomatic practices to ensure that their activities stay within the bounds of their profession.

While receiving Letters of Credence from the Ambassadors of Japan, the European Union, Burundi, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Cape Verde, France, Qatar, and the High Commissioners of Sierra Leone and Ghana at State House, the President warned them that they would be taking up diplomatic responsibilities in Nigeria during a period of great political uncertainty.

He said; ‘‘Nigeria’s national elections are due in early 2023. The momentum for enhanced political activities is therefore expected to commence soon.

‘‘The nature of our politicking often gives the impression of very rancorous engagements. It is the nature of politics here. Besides, democracy and related democratic activities in the build-up to elections are necessarily rowdy and very argumentative, but very much within the limits of freedom of action that the art of democracy permits.

‘‘As you settle down in the face of these developments, it is my hope that you will also be guided by diplomatic practices, to ensure that your activities remain within the limits of your profession,’’ President Buhari said.
The President told the newly accredited envoys that he looked forward to a more robust relationship with each of their countries.

He declared that Nigeria is open to more foreign direct investments in the Education, Health, Transportation and Agricultural sectors, and would welcome improved bilateral relations, especially in wider trading and cultural contacts.

The President acknowledged that while Nigeria enjoys very cordial bilateral relations with the aforementioned countries, their diplomatic representatives must work harder to enhance this level of relationship in the interest of the peoples of our countries.

‘‘It is my hope that, as you settle down to your responsibilities of promoting unity, amity, enhanced understanding, better economic opportunities and the pursuit of peace between your respective countries and the Federal Government of Nigeria, you will make it a point of duty to appreciate our country’s diversity as a source of not only pride but advantage as we are definitely stronger together.

‘‘You will find in us as people, the level of vibrancy that defines us, as uniquely Nigerian, eager to make friends, learn other people’s way of living and imbued with great appetite for adaptation.

The federal government’s decision to debit local government accounts in order to begin a payment of $418 million (N172 billion) to private advisers on the Paris Cub refund has pitted states and local governments against the FG.

Only three Nigerian state governments (Lagos, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom) can sustain their recurring expenditure without federal government allocation, according to BudgIT, a civic initiative dedicated to government financial transparency.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the general public have put pressure on the government to halt the dubious payments to the consultants.

The Attorney General of the Federation and his allies in government pushed for this payment.

In a spectacular turn of events, less than a month after President Muhammadu Buhari’s direction, the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning has begun deducting funds to pay claimants.

The Federal Ministry of Finance’s permanent secretary told the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting on Friday that deductions to pay the consultants had begun.

The states were irritated by this information, and they refused to consider revenue for the month of October 2021 unless the FG clarified the deductions.

In 2006, the federal government paid $12 billion to the Paris Club of international creditors in exchange for a $18 billion debt write-off.

States and LGAs that did not owe the Paris Club requested a reimbursement from the federal government because the payment was made straight from funds accruing to the entire federation.

Some consultants arose along the way, claiming a cut of the reimbursements as remuneration for ostensibly providing services to the states and LGAs.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, according to certain contractors, has requested them to carry out projects across the country (ALGON).

However, it was questioned why states would need advisors to negotiate with the federal government over the reimbursement when the projects ALGON claimed to have granted were primarily non-existent.

Before any payments, the governors, led by Dr Kayode Fayemi, requested a forensic audit.

While the contractors and consultants were in court, Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General, negotiated an out-of-court settlement with them, agreeing to pay $418 million in judgment debt.

Despite the governors’ and activists’ resistance, President Buhari went ahead and approved the payments.

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had instructed banks and compliance officers to overlook the $418,953,670.59 payment to consultants.

The governors reiterated that the promissory notes should be ignored in a new letter dated September 3 and signed by P. H. Ogbole, another Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the finance minister, the director-general of the Debt Management Office, and the MDs/CEOs/compliance officers of all commercial banks in Nigeria were also addressed in the letter.

“The issuance of promissory notes of a humongous sum of over $418 million to private persons for alleged consultancy work demands not only caution but strict due diligence; particularly when the judgements which gave rise to the payments sought to be enforced are the subject of pending litigation.

“Matters that are sub judice must not be acted upon in a manner that will foist a situation of complete helplessness on the courts and render their decisions nugatory.

“This caveat is therefore issued as a further notice to the honourable minister of finance and the director-general, Debt Management Office to act in the interest of the public and refrain from foisting on the nation another case of P&ID in which but for due diligence, the nation would have been fleeced of billions of dollars.

A terse statement signed by Mr. David Olofu, chairman, Forum for Commissioners of Finance of Nigeria said the debit happened without notification of all concerned.

The statement indicated that “members declined approval after consideration of the reports for the disbursement of the available revenue because of deduction on funds belonging to the Local Government Councils in favour of some consultants for a $418 million judgment debt for consultancy services with respect to Paris Club Loans refund.”

It said: “Based on available information, the deduction will continue for 10 years (120 months). This is contrary to the provisions of Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.”

Mr. Olofu also noted that “the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had objected to the execution of this judgment until full determination of ongoing litigation on the subject matter.”

He disclosed that the “Commissioners for Finance representing states and local government councils do not have prior knowledge of the deduction and coming at a time when states and LGCs are in dire straits will further worsen the fiscal position of these tiers of government.”

He added that “consequent upon these, the meeting was adjourned to allow for further consultations and resolution of all the issues that had been previously raised by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) regarding the assignment that gave rise to the claim and the judgment.”

President Muhammadu Buhari will go to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, October 25, 2021, to attend the Future Investment Initiative Institute’s investment conference.

The President will be joined at the 5th edition of the flagship investment event by business executives from Nigeria, bankers, captains of industry, and energy experts to discuss issues on the future of investments around the world, according to Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

The three-day event, titled INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY, will feature discussions on growth and prosperity in the energy sector, true ultimate frontiers in investments, science in action, and the impact of climate change on communities, among other topics.

Before returning to Nigeria on Friday, President Buhari will perform the smaller Hajj at Madina and Makka.

The President will be accompanied on the trip by Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Amb Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno, Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Managing Director of Nigerian Sovere

Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Tope Shonubi, Wale Tinubu, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hassan Usman, Omoboyode Olusanya, Abubakar Suleiman, Herbert Wigwe, and Leo Stan Ekeh are among the private sector participants.