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SDGs 2030: Economic Commission for Africa Worries Over Poor Data Availability in Africa

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Mr Oliver Chinganya, the Director African Centre for Statistics (ACS), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has expressed concern over poor data availability in Africa.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Communications Section of ECA on Wednesday.

The statement said Chinganya said this in a presentation during a virtual news briefing on modernisation of national statistical systems.

The briefing was the inauguration of a monthly engagment between ECA and the media and an avenue to facilitate regular access to experts.

Chinganya in his presentation made particular reference to Africa achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

While making reference to the SDGs Dashboard, he said that availability of data remained poor particularly in areas of gender and equality as well as climate change.

He said that although Africa had made progress in 15 out of the 17 SDGS, it was not enough to achieve the goals of Agenda 2030.

He said the SDGS dashboard was a tool created to track Africa’s progress on achieving Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063.

According to him, if Africa continues the current trajectory, it will be impossible to reach such goals in 2030.

“Out of the 94 measurable targets, Africa is likely to meet only five at the current progress rate,” he said.

On activities of ECA, Chinganya said a lot was being done in areas of demographic and social statistics, economics statistics and geospatial information statistics among others.

He stressed the centre’s realisation of the need to update the 2008 Systems of National Accounts (SNA), and international standard for recommendations on how to compile measures of economic activity.

“This is a process that ensures that new areas and developments are included in the measurements of our economies across the continent.

“We are assisting countries to revise how their economies are being measured,” he said.

He further highlighted the work of the centre with regard to the modernisation of National Statistical Systems in Africa, innovation, leadership and training.

The Director said COVID-19 came as a mixed blessing as the lockdowns made in-person data collection impossible in most cases.

According to him, recording deaths and births, for instance, became almost impossible.

According to him, the development precipitated adoption of modern technologies to facilitate data collection.

“Part of modernisation is innovation. For this reason we have created a data science campus.

“It has been twinned with the data science campus in Rwanda.

“This campus is really about tapping into the potential of big data, uses of administrative data and other sources including the use of modern technologies,” he said.

On media role in modernisation of national statistical systems, Chinganya said it was crucial, noting that journalists regularly utilised data and statistics to put stories in context.

He called on the need for journalists to collect data from government sources and for governments to make data available so that the progress of countries could be recorded.

The director assured that ACS would be organising series of sessions for journalists on data and statistics in collaboration with the ECA Communication and Media Relations Section (CMRS).

He said this would boost statistical literacy, adding that CMRS had announced plans to inaugurate an ECA Media Award to celebrate good quality reportage on data and statistics.

Meanwhile, Nita Deerpalsing, the Director Publications, Conference and Knowledge Management Division, ECA, urged journalists not to lose sight of their “crucial role” in helping Africa meet its development goals.(NAN)

Economy

Value Addition is new Standard in Mining Operations – Alake

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has declared value addition as the new indispensable standard for mining operations in the country.

Alake made the declaration in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Segun Tomori, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister had earlier said that the federal government had resolved to ensure compliance to value addition before permitting investors to operate.

He said that his seven-point agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on the global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria`s mineral resources.

According to the statement, the minister lauded a mining company, African Natural Resources and Mines Ltd.

(ANRML), during an inspection tour in Kaduna State, for its 600 million dollar facility dedicated to the mining and processing of magnetite iron-ore.

He described the move as in line with the government`s resolve for value addition, which is especially apt given President Bola Tinubu`s quest to develop the solid minerals, to boost Nigeria`s economic profile and to meet the global upsurge in energy transition.

“The company aligns with our vision of value addition and beneficiation through its processing of iron-ore, and I urge other mining companies to take a cue from them, “ he said.

He reiterated the government`s commitment to abstain from granting mining licenses to companies that lack the necessary plans for value addition.

The minister acknowledged that resilience, courage and laying a solid foundation were critical in contributing to the company success.

He added that such factors also serve as guidelines for President Tinubu`s administration in its efforts for economic transformation.

“ We have set our minds in this administration and invariably in Nigeria to achieve success, that is why Mr President is restructuring the economy.

“When this company (ANRML) started seven years ago, we saw one of the foundations through the video documentary, the amount of concrete that went in to erect a foundation, just to carry a giant edifice.

“That is what we are going through. When we get through the gestation period, the results will manifest, and it will herald prosperity, “he said.

The minister had stated that no license would be granted to companies wishing to enter the mineral sector without presenting a plan for value addition, such as processing and refining which has multiplier effect on the economy. (NAN)

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Economy

Life Insurance Records 95% Net Claims in Q4 2023-NAICOM

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The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) says Life insurance business recorded about 95 per cent net claims of the total claims in the fourth quarter of 2023.

A report by NAICOM in Abuja on Tuesday hinted that the record was due to the direct reflection of the ongoing regulatory measures by the Commission regarding claims settlements.

NAICOM said the insurance market average stood at about 71.

4 per cent of the N536.
5 billion gross claims reported at the close of the fourth quarter.

The Commission said the market also recorded retention of about 87.7 per cent for the life business, 54 per cent for non-life while the aggregate market average retention stood at 66.

7 per cent for the period.

It showed that the insurance industry sustained its progressive trend of positive market performance at the close of 2023 fourth quarter.

According to NAICOM, the insurance market recorded a milestone growth to close at N1.003 trillion, representing about 27 per cent growth compared to the N790 billion recorded in 2022.

”Major growth drivers in the non-life segment of the market were oil and gas and fire Insurances contributing 27.3 per cent and 24.1 per cent respectively.

”In a direct reflection to the “no-premium no-cover” policy of the Commission, the outstanding premium continues to decline.

”The premium posted 1.6 per cent as outstanding of all the premiums generated in the market during the period.

”Statistics also shows that the market recorded total assets of about N2.67trillion and capitalisation of N851billion in 2023,” NAICOM said. (NAN)

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Economy

No Mining License without Mineral Value Addition Plans-Alake Warns

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has warned that no mining license would be issued to prospective investors without requisite plans for value addition on minerals.

Alake gave the warning in a statement  by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori on Tuesday.

He said the Federal Government had resolved to ensure compliance before permitting investors to operate.

He said that his Seven -Point Agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria’s mineral resources.

He said the support of the executive and the legislature had enabled the ministry to showcase the solid minerals sector globally, resulting in his election as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to him, with the pact that led to the formation of the AMSG, there is now unity of purpose on the African continent regarding the issue of local value addition.

“We are no longer going to allow anybody or license any company that wants to go into the mineral sector without giving us a plan for local value addition,  like processing, refining and this has a multiplier effect on the economy.

“It instantly generates employment rather than a few people carting away lithium, gold, and the likes to other countries to sell.

“These minerals must now be processed in Nigeria, creating more value and beneficiation for local communities where they are sourced, ” he said.

Reports says that the minister had earlier received members of the House Committee on Solid Minerals who were on oversight visit to his office.

The minister commended the lawmakers for their support in repositioning the mining sector, stressing that boosting the economic profile of Nigeria required joint task by both the executive and legislature.

He acknowledged the significant contribution of sub-nationals to mining development, emphasising that state chairmen of  Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) and five committee members were nominated by state governments. (NAN)

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