Mukaila Ola
The Federal Government has again expressed its commitment to the Ease of Doing Business with stakeholders in order to ensure the smooth flow of foreign investors and investment into the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Minister of Interior, Dr Shuaib Belgore reaffirmed this commitment when the Vice-President, Human Resources ( VP-HR) Shell Nigeria, Mr Olukayode Ogunleye and his colleagues paid a visit to his office in Abuja.
Belgore reiterated that amongst others the mandate of the Ministry include the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of government that enhances internal security, public safety, an enabling business environment for domestic and foreign investors and the maintenance of citizenship integrity, all of which are key pillars in the priority areas of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Belgore also added that the Ministry of Interior has the responsibility of processing citizenship application and the mandate of registration of statutory marriages, issuance of business permits to foreign companies and approvals of expatriate quota allocation.
He assured that the Division of Enforcement Investigation and Inspection in the Ministry of Interior’s duty is largely to ensure compliance to the updated guidelines on the Administration of expatriate quota and other business instruments in Nigeria which hopefully shall enable Federal Government provide a condusive working business environment for all stakeholders. It is not to witch hunt but rather to reposition the management of these instruments of business for greater efficiency and effectiveness; thereby curbing illegality and corruption in the system. He affirmed that the Ministry is ready to collaborate with Shell Nigeria and hopes to maintain a good working relationship that enhances the economic growth of the Nation.
Earlier, Mr Olukayode Ogunleye, the Vice President Human Resource, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) confirmed that shell, Exxon Mobil are not leaving Nigeria – The Federal Government has a large share in it, but rather despite the very tough and trying environment around the Niger-Delta Region where most of their Oil wells are shutdown due to insecurity of lives and opportunities, they are still forging ahead to ensure equity diversification of their business to build smaller emerging business to assist in growing the Nigerian Economy from both the deep water business to the new Nigerian Natural Liquidified Gas (NNLG). This will enhance the transfer of gas and power to Aba, Ota and Agbara; – all these he said are huge businesses in which the Federal Government of Nigeria owns large shares.
Present during the visit are the Director of Citizenship and Business (Barr.) Mrs Moremi Soyinka-Onijala, Director General Services Mr Sylvanus Esinwoke, Director Press and Public Relations, Mrs Blessing Lere-Adams. The Permanent Secretary’s Aide, others are Mrs Titilope Babatunde, PSC Liaison and Onyekachi Igwe, Corporate Relations Adviser both of Shell Liaison Lagos and Abuja.
Global environmental sustainability
The Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to Global Environmental sustainability and achievement of the Country’s Nationally Determined Contribution’s (NDC) with 20% emissions reduction unconditionally and 47% emission reduction conditionally by 2030.
The Minister who led the Nigerian delegation to the resumed Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5,2) in Nairobi, Kenya, made this commitment.
The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment. It addresses the critical environmental challenges facing the world today and Nigeria is a member of the UNEA.
The Minister, while delivering the Nigeria’s National Statement at the on-going Fifth United Nations Environment Assembly UNEA-5.2, said Nigeria has adopted various strategic approaches which includes the development and implementation of National Forest Policy aimed at promoting sustainable forest Management practices; National Policies on Plastic Waste management and Solid waste Management which supports and promote circular economy, Drought and Desertification Policy to actualize Land degradation neutrality and increase community resilience, among others.
Ikeazor further said Nigeria has developed an Energy Transition Plan as a pathway to achieve net zero by 2060. This is also in addition to the enactment of a climate change law in November, 2021 which provides a legal framework at Climate Change mitigation and adaptation.
A statement by the spokesman of the Ministry of Environment, Saghir el Mohammed revealed that the Minister also had some bilateral engagements with the Director General, World Wild Fund (WWF) For nature, Mr. Marco Lambertini on Nigeria’s commitment to Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the need to collaborate with WWF on the management of the 10 New National parks approved by President Muhammadu Buhari especially the twi designated Marine Protected Areas in Bayelsa State.
He further disclosed that the Minister also had an engagement with the Swedish Minister of Environment on the preparation and areas of collaboration for the upcoming Stockholm +50 to commemorate 50 years since the first UN Conference on human Environment was held in 1972 in Stockholm, Sweden.
The theme of the conference is Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all-our responsibility, our opportunity. Nigeria has signed and ratified all the Chemicals and waste related Treaties, and is currently strengthening her legal and institutional infrastructures for the sound management of chemicals and waste.
Ikeazor further had another engagement with the Egyptian Minister on Environment and COP 27 President, discussing activities on the upcoming Cop27 at Egypt in November, 2022. The two Ministers also discussed the strengthening of bilateral ties with both their countries on environmental issues.