Oyo Stakeholders Seek Speedy Passage of Digital Economy, e-governance Bill

The Oyo State government and some stakeholders have advocated the speedy passage of National digital economy and e-governance bill to ensure accountability and transparency in governance.

The stakeholders who gathered in Ibadan on Tuesday, said the passage of the Bill would smoothen government activities and boost government-citizen engagement.

This was the submission of speakers at a stakeholders’ engagement on the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill held in Ibadan.

Speaking during the event, the Minister for communications, innovation and digital economy, Olatunbosun Tijani represented by Banke Ajagunna, noted that the importance of the bill cannot be underestimated as it will enhance the digital economy and build trust between the government and the people.

The Minister called on Nigerians and the National Assembly to give the bill the needed support.

According to him, the consultative engagement is going on in all the states of the federation to seek the input of stakeholders on the bill.

He submitted that the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, 2024, is a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.

This bill, according to him, aims to drive economic growth through digital technology, improve public service delivery, and create a competitive environment for the Nigerian digital economy.

He noted that in a bid to migrate Nigeria into a smart country, the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy proposed the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill.

The Minister said the bill offers numerous opportunities for businesses to innovate and expand, with improved digital infrastructure and a supportive regulatory environment. Individuals will also benefit from improved access to digital services and better governance through e-Governance initiatives.

He highlighted the advantages of E-governance bill to include Economic Transformation and Establishment of a regulatory foundation to encourage digital commerce, cross-border trade, and innovation, positioning Nigeria as a major player in Africa’s digital landscape.

He added that the bill, when passed will encourage Modernized, Citizen-Centric Public Services.

“It will facilitate the digital transformation of government services to make them more transparent, accessible, and responsive to citizens.”

He also said the bill will ensure Digital Access for All, saying, “it will promote infrastructure and digital literacy programs to make digital services accessible across Nigeria, including underserved regions.”

Speaking earlier, the Senior Special Assistant on ICT and E-Governance to the Governor, Mr. Bayo Akande hailed the federal government’s National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill.

Mr. Akande, who observed that the nation is overdue for a digital economy, which is the order of the day, added that this bill will drive economic growth through digital technology.

According to Akande, “Despite advances in technology, Nigeria’s digital economy faces critical challenges, Nigeria lags behind countries with robust e-governance frameworks that empower citizens and protect consumer data. Without intervention, Nigeria risks losing economic opportunities in an increasingly digital world.”

He added, “though Oyo has already started to introduce digital methods in the governance space of the state, as the state recently deployed Business Process Automation, in a bid to make Oyo state government services go paperless, the bill is a step in the right direction.”

It also seeks to create export-oriented capacities in Nigeria’s digital economy, support international digital trade and investments, and provide a legal framework for these activities.

In attendance were various stakeholders including several Tech Ecosystem leaders.

Port Harcourt Refinery commences production

One of the oil refineries owned by the Nigerian state, Port Harcourt Refinery today commenced processing crude oil production.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Femi Soneye, disclosed this on Tuesday that Nigeria’s owned Port Harcourt Refinery which has been moribund for a long time has commenced processing crude oil production.

According to him, the refinery has kicked off with 24 percent capacity.

He noted that the Refinery is processing 60,000 barrels per day of crude.

The Port Harcourt refinery has a combined 250,000 barrels per day capacity.

Oba of Benin Disowns Planned Igue Festival in Lagos

The Palace of Oba of Benin, has distanced itself from a planned dramatisation of the Igue Festival by the Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE).

This is contained in a statement on Saturday, by Mr  Osaigbovo Iguobaro,  Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Igue Festival is an important cultural and religious event in the Benin Kingdom, and its performance is reserved for the Oba of Benin.

According to Iguobaro the planned event, scheduled for Sunday at the Muson Centre in Lagos, is being organised without the consent or consultation with the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.

“The Palace expressed serious reservations about the proposed drama, noting that it would distort the age-long custom and traditional performance of the Igue Festival.

“The Benin Traditional Council has approached the court to restrain ACERE from staging the event.

“The court has granted an order restraining the association from using the Oba’s image or promoting the event without his consent.

“This order was obtained on Friday against the event that is taking place on Sunday, November 24, 2024.

He advised the public not to be misled by any group claiming to promote Benin culture without consulting the Palace of the Oba of Benin.

Senate leader breaks silence over alleged exchanging blows with Senate President

After the allegations of fight at the Senate cafeteria on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele has denied allegations of a physical fight with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

It should be recalled that an investigative journalist, Jackson Ude had alleged that Bamidele and Akpabio had a big fight at the Senate cafeteria on Tuesday.

Bamidele had accused Akpabio of favouring northern lawmakers with key committee appointments while ignoring Southern lawmakers.

____According to Jackson, it took the intervention of Senator Sani Bello of Niger State to stop what would have become a blood bath as both senators allegedly held themselves by the neck while exchanging blows.

However Bamidele through his media team dismissed the accusations as baseless and described Ude’s actions as an attempt to spread falsehoods, pointing out that his political career, spanning over two decades, has been free of any history of physical confrontation, even during his tenure as a student leader.

_____The Senator revealed that such reports are aimed at creating division within the Senate and unsettling the political landscape.

He disclosed that, contrary to the rumors, he and Akpabio had a cordial engagement with the Chinese Ambassador and his delegation shortly after the alleged incident.

____Bamidele also warned against further attempts to tarnish his reputation, signaling readiness to pursue legal actions under the CyberCrime Act if necessary.

He assured the public that the 10th Senate remains a united and focused body, urging Nigerians to disregard the misleading reports.

____The statement read: “For the record, it is a verifiable fact that Senator Bamidele has never been involved in physical assault in over two decades of his political trajectory, not even when he was a young man leading the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as President.

_____“It is surprising that the purveyor of this misleading information in his selfish agenda and unprofessional conduct threw ethos of Journalism into waste bin and decided to feast on roadside gists to tarnish the image of the Senate Leader.

___“We are aware that the fake news is meant to cause disaffection within the Senate and by extension; heating up the political system.

“To think that the Senate Leader, President of the Senate and other principal officers of the Senate together received the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. YU Dunhai and his delegation few minutes after leaving the plenary on Wednesday is a significant testimony against Ude’s imagination.

____“Further to this, photographs of the Chinese envoys with the leadership of the Senate were widely published in today’s major national newspapers. It is equally verifiable that the Senate Leader and the Senate President both drove out of the National Assembly premises in the same vehicle yesterday.

____“This time again, the Senate Leader is sounding a note of warning to all attention seekers in the ilk of Ude to be careful and not take the Leader’s gentlemanliness for granted.

“Henceforth, the Leader will be forced to use the instrumentality of the law to protect himself and his office as enshrined in the CyberCrime Act 2015. We, therefore, urge the public to disregard this misinformation and treat it with the disrespect it deserves.