Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has signed the Instruments of Ratification of the Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Nigeria and five countries.
The partner countries are the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria; the Republic of Congo; the People’s Republic of China; the State of Qatar and the Republic of Singapore.
A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the signing followed approval by the Federal Executive Council ( FEC) With the execution of these instruments. It is expected that Nigeria’s aviation links with the respective countries will improve. The President had also signed Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.
The Executive Order is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation towards achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.
The President, pursuant to the authority vested in him by the Constitution, ordered that all ‘‘procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.’’
The Executive Order also prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.
It, however, notes that where expertise is lacking, procuring entities will give preference to foreign companies and firms with a demonstrable and verifiable plan for indigenous development, prior to the award of such contracts.
In the proclamation entitled ‘‘PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER 5 FOR PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF PROJECTS, PROMOTION OF NIGERIAN CONTENT IN CONTRACTS AND SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,’’ the President also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects.
It adds that ‘‘consideration shall only be given to a foreign professional, where it is certified by the appropriate authority that such expertise is not available in Nigeria.’’
