Environment

National Park Service charges obsolete-CG

Published

6 years ago

May 15, 2019

National Park Service charges obsolete-CG

Agency Report

The Conservator-General, National Park Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, has stressed the need for rates charged by the service to be reviewed in line with the current realities in the country.

Goni made this known at the inauguration of a 10-men committee for the review of the National Park Service Tariff on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said “Regrettably, many of the rates charged for services rendered to the public in our National Parks do not reflect the current realities as most of our tariffs have become obsolete.

“It is imperative, therefore, to update these tariffs and identify new revenue bases for the service to contribute meaningfully to government’s efforts, hence the need for the constitution of this committee’’.

He said the committee is expected to take advantage of Information Communications Technology (ICT) to promote ease of doing business at in the national parks.“Take a cursory look at the following revenue sub-heads for possible review.

“Tenders fees, Earnings from guests house, Earnings from the use of Government vehicles, Earnings from Tourism/Culture/Arts/Centre/Park Entry fees, proceeds from Sales of Government Vehicles, Proceeds from Sales of Goods by Public Auctions.

“Rents on Government Properties, Earnings from Hire of Plants and Equipment and Earnings from the use of Government Hall amongst others.

“Your work should include a comprehensive appraisal of the various revenue generating activities, taking into consideration where we are coming from and where we want to be by developing a vision and setting attainable targets for all National Parks’’.

Goni said that with the dwindling fortunes from oil, government is now looking inwards for ways of cost reduction and how to revive the hitherto neglected sectors in a bid to diversify the economy.

“The Federal Government also considered it necessary to introduce policies to block revenue leakages.

“These policies include the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Remita e-collection gateway and also the introduction of Executive Order No.1 to ease doing business in Nigeria.

“All these are geared towards raising the revenue profile of the country and ensuring that revenues generated are properly harnessed and utilised for the development of our dear nation.

He however, revealed that the National Park Service has already started to introduce measures aimed at plugging leakages at its revenue points by adopting Information Communication Technology (ICT).

“We plan to deploy Point of Sale (PoS) machines to the various parks and revenue centres to ease revenue collection and accounting.”

The C-G however gave the committee up to August 15,to submit its report.

Alhaji Yakubu Kolo, the Assistant Conservator-General, Ecotourism and Chairman of the committee stressed the need for more funding for the operations of the Service.

He also called on the management of the park to introduce children’s playground at the park headquarters as a way of generating more revenue.

He, however, pledged full commitment of the committee members to accomplishing the task ahead of the committee.

“I want to assure you that all the members will work together to ensure that this tariff that is going to be reviewed will be to the benefit of the service and Nigeria at large.

“This is very key because we have to look inwards and ensure that all areas are covered and we will also look at the leakages and ways of blocking them,’’

Kolo said.Mr Martins Omole, the Conservator of Park, Finance and Budget, had earlier urged the committee to ensure that the objective of the inauguration is fully achieved.

“The committee comprised technocrats: so we believe that the committee will come up with a unified tariff.“That means that moving the revenue generation of the parks forward is in your hands,’’ Omole said.

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Environment

Earthic Energy To Establish Solar Manufacturing Factory In Nigeria

Published

8 months ago

May 26, 2024

The Gleamer

By Uche Onyeali

Indigenous clean energy company, Earthic Energy Limited has disclosed plans to set up a solar energy manufacturing factory in Nigeria.

Chief Executive Officer of the company, Miss Blessing Anulika Achebe gave the hint during the launch of the company in Abuja, at the weekend.

Miss Achebe, who disclosed that she has been in the solar energy business for five years, said though the journey had not been easy, but she and her partners are focused towards achieving the set goals of the company.

According to her, “The journey so far has not been easy, but I have been working with utmost determination, when I make up my mind to do something, I put in my best and God’s grace will always pave way for you with hard work.

“I have worked so hard to get to where I want to be today. I have tried so hard to make all my dreams come true. Like I said earlier, with the mercy of God everything has come to pass.”

On how she could cope with the competition in the sector, Achebe noted that her firm does not admit any factor that could stand as drawback, as a lot of women are already making waves in various sectors of the economy.

“Our determination is unhindered, though we acknowledge such competition as it paves the way for more resilience. Women are now taking over the world.

“I have been into solar for more than five years. Right now I have been pushing so hard and I see how the world is evolving around energy.

“I have made up my mind that said this is what I want to do. I said if I don’t get to where I want to be, there is no going back; I would go above the limit. I want to change lives; I want to make the world a better place. That is why I came up with ‘Earthic Energy Limited’ because the world revolves around the earth. The earth is where we live and that is why my colour is green and sun yellow. So I want to power the whole world.
“Our plan is to set up a solar energy factory in Nigeria where we can manufacture our own products,” she said.

She called for more investors and government at all levels to take advantage of Earthic’s services, which include solar streetlight installation, inverter/grid installation, construction, training/empowerment, as well as contract financing and partnership, supply/credit sales.

Speaking at the occasion, a Professor of Biochemical Pharmacology at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Zaruwa commended Miss Achebe for her vision and bold step into the clean energy sub-sector.
Professor Zaruwa, a former Vice Chancellor of Adamawa State University, Mubi, urged government at all levels, especially governors in the northern part of the country where there is enormous sun, to partner Earthic Energy to improve power supply in the country.

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