Economy
Projects Concession to Raise N647bn Revenue-ICRC
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), said the approval for the concessioning of its four projects by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would attract N647.7 billion revenue to Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ifeanyi Nwoko, Acting Head, Media and Publicity, ICRC, in Abuja on Friday.
Nwoko said the projects included the 360 MegaWatts(MW) Gurara II Multipurpose Dam and HydroPower Plant(HPP), and the 40 MegaWatts Kashimbilla HPP under a Public Private Partnership(PPP) model.
He said others included the Secure e-ticketing Solutions for the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Service, Warri-Itakpe Rail Service and the Device Management System, a project by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
“The approvals by FEC will bring about the generation of 400MW of electricity, infusion of private sector funds into the nation’s economic/infrastructure development and a total revenue generation of N647.7 billion.
“It will also help in the fight against crime, terrorism and insecurity while improving the effectiveness of the rail services in the specified routes,”he said.
Nwoko said the 360MW Gurara II HPP is a Greenfield project that would adopt a Build, Operation, Maintenance and Transfer PPP model.
He said the project would be executed by Messrs. CGCOC Group Co. Limited under an Engineering Procurement and Construction contract for a concession period of 30 years.
Nwoko said the dam, HPP and other complementary infrastructure would be executed within a concession period of 30 years.
” Within the concession period, a total revenue generation of 875 million dollars is expected.”
He said both the Gurara and the Kashimbilla HPP projects would bring about improved living conditions and employment and promotion of agriculture through irrigation.
“The two projects will also help reduce greenhouse gases as well as foreign exchange preservation.”
Nwoko said for the Kashimbilla 40MW HPP, the FEC’s approval was for the operations and maintenance of the hydropower plant.
He said one of the primary objectives of the dam, was to mitigate the environmental disaster associated with overflow of flood water, in various downstream states affecting more than six million people.
“These states include Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Delta, Cross River and Bayelsa.”
He said the hydropower component of the dam would also aid in ecological flood control, and water supply for a population of about 400,000 people.
Nwoko said it would also help irrigation potentials for about 3,000 hectares of arable land for farming as well as fishing to support food security.
He said the cost of the project was put at N7.68 billion, approved for a concession period of 15 years and would yield a total revenue of N85 billion.
Nwoko said the DMS which had the NCC as grantor, sought to provide a single control point for comprehensive device management for mobile communication devices in Nigeria.
“Specifically, the proposed DMS will support capabilities for tracking of mobile communication devices to eliminate fake and substandard devices.
“It would also provide detailed statistical information for stakeholders use, and support the fight against cybercrime and insecurity.
“It adopts a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Maintain and Manage PPP model for a concession period of 10 years at a cost of 26 million dollars.
“A total revenue generation of N86.6 billion,”he said.
He said the Lagos-Ibadan e-ticketing and the Warri-Itakpe concessions adopt a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Manage a Secure Ticketing Solution (Hardware and Software) for the Passengers’ Stations.
“The solution seeks to ensure the provision of electronic and manual tickets, provision of adequate infrastructural security, and deployment of adequate maintenance regime.
“It also seeks to provide an adequate training regime and provision of value-for-money throughout the life of the solution.”
Nwoko said the Lagos-Ibadan concession was approved at a cost of N1.1 billion granted to Messers Global Software Digital Solutions Ltd. and Datamataic Global Services Ltd as technical partner for a period of 10 years.
“A total of N112.8 billion will be generated from this project.”
He said the Warri-Itakpe counterpart would be executed at the cost of N860, 806,423, granted to Fane International Consult Ltd.
Artificial Intelligence Technologies Ltd. as technical partners, also for a 10-year term.
“Revenue generation is estimated at N63.3 billion,” he said. (NAN)
Economy
Investors Gain N183bn on NGX
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) continued its bullish trend on Wednesday, gaining N183 billion.
Accordingly, the market capitalisation, which opened at N59.532 trillion, gained N184 billion or 0.31 per cent to close at N59.715 trillion.
The All-Share Index also added 0.31 per cent or 303 points, to settle at 98,509.
68, against 98,206. 97 recorded on Tuesday.Consequently, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased to 31.
74 per cent.Gains in Aradel Holdings, Zenith Bank, United Bank For Africa(UBA), Oando Plc, Nigerian Breweries among other advanced equities drove the market performance up.
Market breadth closed positive with 34 gainers and 17 losers.
On the gainers’ chart, Africa Prudential, Conoil and RT Briscoe led by 10 per cent each to close at N14.30, N352 and N2.42 per share, respectively.
Golden Guinea Breweries followed by 9.95 per cent to close at N7.18, while NEM Insurance rose by 9.74 per cent to close at N10.70 per share.
On the other hand, Julius Berger led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N155.25, Secure Electronic Technology Plc trailed by 9.52 per cent to close at 57k per share.
Multiverse lost 7.63 per cent to close at N5.45, Haldane McCall dropped 6.07 per cent to close at N4.95 and Honeywell Flour shed 5.62 per cent to close at N4.70 per share.
Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 49.44 per cent.
A total of 320.10 million shares valued at N6.48 billion were exchanged in 7,943 deals, compared with 939.41 million shares valued at N12.81billion traded in 9,098 deals posted in the previous session.
Meanwhile, ETranzact led the activity chart in volume with 70.27 million shares, while Aradel led in value of deals worth N1.22 billion.(NAN)
Economy
Yuan Weakens to 7.1870 Against Dollar
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan, weakened 22 pips to 7.1870 against the dollar on Monday.This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day.
The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. (Xinhua/NAN)Economy
Bring Kaduna Refinery Back into Operation, Youth Group Urges NNPCL
Arewa Youths Initiative for Energy Reforms (AYIFER), has urged Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to do everything possible to bring Kaduna Refinery back into operation.
National Coordinator of the group, Mr Bashir Al’Amin, stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Al’Amin specifically called on the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari, to do all within his powers to rejuvenate the refinery and bring it up to global standard.
He said that having delivered the Port Harcourt refinery, coupled with the establishment of Dangote Refinery in Lagos, attention should be shifted to Kaduna refinery for easy spread of petroleum products.
“We are calling on Malam Mele Kyari to expedite action on Kaduna refinery so we can be at par with other regions in the country.
“We equally beg the NNPCL to do professional work in rehabilitating the old refinery and deliver a standard and functional petrochemical refinery and not a blending plant.
“Kyari should resist any temptation that could make him do something that can jeopardise his good image,” he said.
Al’Amin said that since the extinction of groundnut pyramid and textiles in Kano State as well as PAN in Kaduna State and with the Kaduna refinery getting moribund, a lot of youths had lost their jobs.
According to him, all their hopes in the north are tied to the legacy refinery, expressing the hope that God would use Kyari to deliver it well and on time.
He said that the group was solidly behind NNPCL in prayer and would be ready to celebrate the company if its expectations were met. (NAN)