Highlights of PMB’s October 1 Speech: What you should know about what the Nigerian Government is up to

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Brand Spur
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A Twitter thread created by Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media and Head, DigiCommsNG.

Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning have been directed to release N600 billion for Capital Expenditure between now and end of 2019 (when, all things being equal, 2020 budget kicks in line with the target for Jan-Dec fiscal year).

The new Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, launched by PMB Jan 2019, is facilitating the inflow of more than N205 billion into 19 Nigerian roads/bridges (combined length 794.4km) across 11 States. (Apapa-Oshodi-Oworo is one of the roads, you’d have seen the reconstruction ongoing).

Assurance that working with Legislature, Petroleum Industry Bill and amendments to the Deep Offshore Act and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act will be passed & signed into law soon. In other words, they remain priorities. Will increase Govt revs + attract private investment.

The Nigeria Electrification Roadmap, a Presidential Power Initiative to modernize the National Grid in 3 phases (launched in August 2019) is on course. It’s a partnership between the Nigerian Government, the German Government and Siemens AG.

Still on electricity & NERC, there’s a target for electricity sales, billings & collections to become fully automated and cashless. By improving the efficiency of collection & transparency, more revenues should stay within the industry & benefit stakeholders, instead of leaking out).
Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) on course. Investing in Mambilla Power Plant, & also key economic road infrastructure: Lagos-Ibadan Express (ongoing), 2nd Niger Bridge (ongoing) & Abuja-Kano Expressway (ongoing). All 3 roads on target for by-2022 completion.
Social Intervention Programme suite will continue, as a pillar of the Nigeria Government’s poverty-fighting ambitions. National Home-Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSFP), Government Economic Empowerment Programme (GEEP) (i.e. Trader_Moni
Landmark financial management and public transparency initiatives in recent years:
Strong Enforcement of TSA (first Presidential Order of the Administration) Whistle-blower Policy of 2016 Expansion of IPPIS & GIFMIS coverage. (GIFMIS budget module finally live, I’m told)
One of the really important legislation of recent years: Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (June 2018), which provides domestic legal framework for getting International assistance in criminal matters. Easier now to get evidence; facilitate recovery/confiscation of proceeds of crime.
Another important legislation: the new Nigerian Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act (2019). Will mobilize increased funding to Nigeria Police especially as they prepare to roll out Community Policing Initiative (CPOfficers will be drawn from local communities).
Ogoni Cleanup is on course. [The current (and finally successful) journey started in 2016 and culminated in the first handover of sites for remediation to contractors in January 2019.
See Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP Nigeria) for updates and details].