Illegal Importation Of Rice Through Land Borders Worries Minister, Holds Stakeholders Meeting

November 8, 2021

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar has expressed worries over the increase in the illegal importation of rice through land borders.

The minister, who spoke yesterday, November 7 at a meeting, in Abuja, with the Steering Committee of the National Taskforce on the illegal importation of rice through land borders, said: “the ministry is very concerned about the increase in smuggling and has convened this meeting to discuss critical issues in order to strategise and come up with concrete measures to enable the committee carry out its duties effectively.”

The Minister observed that the ban on rice importation had brought about a significant increase in local rice production and unlocked economic opportunities for rice investors in the country, insisting that the huge improvement in the rice sub-sector needed to be sustained for the country’s economic growth, as signified by the huge contributions of the agricultural sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP).

He said that this is in line with the Federal Government’s diversification policy.

”The resumed smuggling of foreign rice, especially through the land borders, is constituting a serious threat to these achievements.

”Therefore, if the smuggling is left unchecked it will jeopardize all government efforts to enhance the domestic rice industry and make them ineffective.

”The Federal Government and the private sector have invested a lot of resources in rice production and processing over the years, because of the government’s commitment to the development of the sub-sector through its various interventions.

“The Ministry has been supporting farmers, especially smallholders and rice processors, with quality seeds of improved varieties, production and processing machinery and equipment.

”Also, the provision of modern rice mills of various capacities, parboilers, dryers, colour sorters, in order to boost rice production and improve the quality and competitiveness of domestic rice.

”The Nigerian rice industry has recorded significant progress in terms of investments due to an increase in the quality and quantity of the milled rice and it has in turn, increased the competitiveness, consumer preference and patronage of our milled rice.

”There is no better time than now to maintain the rice production momentum, in order to achieve self-sufficiency for food and nutrition security ,job creation, wealth generation and import substitution,” the minister said.

In his remarks, the Comptroller General, Nigeria Custom Service, retired Colonel Hameed Ali said that the meeting had presented an avenue for the committee to deliberate and discuss how to curb insecurity and smuggling of rice into the country.

”The Nigerian Customs Service cannot fight alone in the operation of the border patrol, but needs other security agencies, such as the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, to beef up the joint operations of the taskforce.”

Chairman, Presidential Committee on Trade Malpractice, Alhaji Dahiru Ado, commended the ministry, the Nigerian Customs Service and other partners in their sustained efforts in tackling the menace of illegal rice importation through the land borders into the country.

He said that his committee would continue to track vessels that bring in rice into the country through Benin Republic and that the companies involved would be apprehended.

Source:NAN.

Kaduna Govt Goes Tough With Banned Street Beggars, Hawkers, Others

Editorial staff

November 8, 2021

The Kaduna state government has directed relevant agencies to ensure stricter enforcement of the laws banning almajiris, beggars and street hawkers in the state.

A statement yesterday, November 7 from Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to governor Ahmed el-Rufai reminded all residents that the state has laws protecting children and banning street begging and hawking.

The statement said that the government had directed the taskforce charged with enforcing the recent security restrictions, including the ban on motorcycles, to also take action against abuse of child rights, street begging and hawking as part of its mandate.

The statement appealed to all citizens to cooperate with the security agencies in the enforcement of the relevant laws, and upholding law and order in the state.

Source: NAN.

Stop Making Postgraduate Studies Tool For Degree Acquisition – Heads Of Postgraduate Schools

Editorial staff

November 8, 2021

Committee of Provosts and Deans of Postgraduate Colleges and Schools in Nigerian Universities (CPDPGCS) have suggested that Postgraduate studies should be more productive than being made a mere tool for Degree acquisition in Nigeria.

They advocated restructuring of the curriculum of postgraduate studies to promote critical and innovative thinking “rather than being a mere tool for degree acquisition.”

In a communique yesterday, November 7 after its 60th meeting at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, the academics called on TETFund to institute innovation fund in addition to the various research grants on ground.

“This should be available to take research through the development to application/commercialization stage to complete the R-D-A trajectory.”

The communique said that the existing curriculum could engender training of researchers who are competent to solve societal needs, as envisaged by the global sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The CPDPGCS urged universities to adopt problem solving instruction models in postgraduate training to encourage information analysis by students and help them form their own perspectives.

It also harped on allowing students to determine their own research topics rather than their supervisors to stir their creativity.

“CPDPGCS frowns at the increasing wave of knowledge theft in the ivory towers. University authorities should curb the menace with measures such as activation of plagiarism checker, and quality assurance mechanism, among others.

“Universities should ensure that postgraduate research reports (theses) are uploaded online (into the University repository) to reduce or curb the incidences of plagiarism.

“For the assurance of the quality of postgraduate research, every university should have a quality assurance operational manual apart from the postgraduate manual. It is thus imperative they have research management Office,” it said.

It advocated the strengthening of the supervision committee system for postgraduate students especially PhD students, emphasising strict adherence to NUC recommended carrying capacity for students’ supervision.

According to it, professional fellowships are needed to enhance professional efficiency while PhD is needed for lecturing in the university.

“The fellowship of any profession is a professional qualification and not a university academic degree.

“Therefore, medical doctors in academics should still be encouraged to take a PhD for their academic career progression. No university should equate a professional fellowship with a PhD.”

Zamfara Battles Desertification, Plants One Million Trees

Editorial staff

November 8, 2021

The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle has announced, his government is currently battling desertification and has concluded plans to plant one million trees to contain the spread.

The governor, who hosted the Zamfara state side event, at the ongoing COP26 in Glasgow, the United Kingdom, said that the tree planting project would be executed in partnership with the Nigeria’s Great Green Wall project aimed at also fighting soil erosion in the state.

He said that Zamfara is one of the frontline desert states in Nigeria with 50 per cent of its landmass under threat of desertification, coupled with soil degradation caused by annual flooding during rainy seasons.

“My administration ventured into the scheme to save the largely agrarian society cultivating millet, guinea-corn, maize, rice and other crops and guaranteeing Nigeria’s food security.”

Governor Matawalle lamented that climate change, which is a major driver to armed banditry bedevilling the state, is the result of the taking over of pastoralists’ grazing reserves, water and resting points,

Matawalle said that the state government is presently channelling resources to address these issues, including establishing modern pastoral settlements known as RUGA, where herders are being settled in one place with all the required amenities provided for them and their animals.

The project, according to him, had mitigated the perennial skirmishes between farmers and herders that gave birth to armed banditry in the first place.

The governor also said that the state government had already keyed into the World Bank-funded Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes programme, which has desertification control and landscape management as one of its components.

According to him, his administration is doing its best to protect natural habitats, protect and restore the eco-system and reclaim the land by building defences, including resilient infrastructure and agriculture.

“The state government requires collaboration with partners to raise the finances that will strategically support this drive.”

Source: NAN.

Osinbajo Wants Punitive Measures Against Military Intervention In Africa’s Governance

Editorial staff

November 7, 2021

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on the world leaders to rise in unison in discouraging military intervention in democratic governance in Africa.

He specifically asked that punitive measures should be taken by all the world organizations against such intervention.

Professor Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government today in Accra, Ghana on the political situation in the Republics of Guinea and Mali, proposed punitive measures and proactive preventive steps towards addressing military intervention in civil rule in the region.

According to him, the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Commonwealth, and other relevant or related financial institutions should act in unity simultaneously “to suspend a country, where there has been seizure of power, from these bodies.”

At the virtual summit, Professor Osinbajo also proposed engagement with the military junta and all stakeholders in Guinea and the enforcement of necessary “punitive measures that will ensure that the military junta does not overstay in power.”

The Vice President also restated Nigeria’s position calling on all leaders to always respect the principles of democracy and the constitutions of their respective countries.

Nigeria’s position on the situation in Guinea had been restated by Professor Osinbajo at the summit, by asking for the unconditional release of President Alpha Condé and calling for more pressure to be put on the country’s military leaders to return the nation to democratic rule.

Nigeria’s Vice President had commended the efforts of stakeholders in Mali and re-emphasized the need to strictly respect and follow the electoral timetable for transition to civil rule.

ECOWAS leaders in the communique issued at the end of the last special summit in Accra had, amongst other resolutions, decided to freeze the financial assets of members of the military junta, place a travel ban on them, while also demanding that the junta return Guinea to constitutional rule within six months.

Vice President Osinbajo, who leaves Abuja this morning, would be joined by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, and is expected back in Abuja later today.

Plateau Senator, Gyang, Sends 615 Youths To Farm With Special Training

Greenbarge Reporters

November 7, 2021

Senator Istifanus Gyang (PDP, Plateau North), has deployed 615 youths from 73 electoral wards of Plateau North to farm, with special training on post-season farming.

Senator Gyang, who spoke yesterday, November 6 at the opening of the training, said that the move is to empower his constituents with necessary skills to boost agriculture.

The Senator, who organised the training in collaboration with the Federal College of Horticulture, Gombe, said that people of the zone are mostly agrarian and hence the need for the training.

“What we have seen over the years is that we record a lot of waste after harvest.

“Not only that, we need to improve the process of packaging and marketing our products, so that we can draw a lot of profit from our farms,” he said.

Gyang stated that the country is an oil-driven economy but indicated that Nigeria needs to diversify if it must survive beyond oil.

According to him, there is the need to acquire the requisite knowledge as farmers to boost agriculture which is a viable alternative to oil.

The lawmaker called on the participants to take the training seriously as the materials used would be with them to always make reference to when needed.

He appreciated the people of Plateau North and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for availing him the platform to be elected to represent the constituency at the National Assembly.

Rep Musa Bagos (PDP, Jos South/Jos East), asked the participants to give the training all the attention it deserves because the knowledge acquired would last a life time.

“Some of you will be the next millionaires of the next generation through the training, because the next generation of millionaires will come from agriculture and not oil,” he said.

Provost, Federal College of Horticulture, Gombe, Dr. Babawuro Ali, said that participants would, among other things, be trained on dry season and irrigation techniques in agriculture.

Ali, who was represented by Japheth Amila, a lecturer with the institution, said that the participants would also be taught post-harvest losses in fruits and vegetables; the causes and management.

“They will also learn rice production practices as well as transportation and marketing of fruits and vegetables.”

Mrs. Sarah Dung, a potato farmer who benefitted from the training, said that it is the first time such a training is being held in Plateau North.

Dung said that she cultivates her potato more during dry season than rainy season because of potato blight which is more prevalent during the wet season.

She said that she learnt a lot from the training, including how to preserve her crops to avoid wastage.

Mr. Ezekiel Gyang commended the Senator, saying that such is what is expected from representatives in the national and state assemblies.

Gyang, however, hoped that at end of the training, participants would be giving some funds to start their farms to put into practice the knowledge acquired.

Source: NAN.

Report Illegal Distributors Of Fuel, Gas To Authorities To Avert Fire Outbreaks – FCT Minister

Editorial staff

November 6, 2021

The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has called on residents in the territory to report illegal distributors of fuel, kerosene and gas to appropriate authorities.

Ramatu Aliyu, who made the call today, November 6 while sympathising with victims and residents of the Kubwa Market fire at the scene that led to the loss of lives and propertu on Friday evening, said: “report anyone selling any flammable material near you either gas, fuel or kerosene.

“Report anyone that is not a legalised distributor of flammable materials or chemicals as there are depots made for things like these.

“There are assigned gas depots across the FCT and the government is still making more efforts to give us more gas plants.

“Natural disasters can occur anywhere but gas depots, most times, are kept away from human,” she said.

She appealed to FCT residents and members of the Kubwa community to be more law abiding.

“These laws are made to protect us, no matter the impact of the law.

“When we send Development Control officials you will be aggrieved and feel it is an infringement on your fundamental human right.

“But these laws are to protect you still the dangers would have been worse than the impact of these laws.

“We are lucky there was prompt support and response of the federal and FCT fire services,” she said.

The Minister frowned at the presence of fuel tankers directly under a transformer.

“As we speak there are more tanks seen with kerosene, if we had that much ripple effect, it would have been simultaneous and we would have lost more lives and property in this hard time.

“For instance, this is a tank, near a high tension wire, transformer and should there be a spark, it would be a ripple effect that will destroy thousands,” she said.

The minister, however, said that the likely cause of the fire would be investigated as well as whether or not the distributors were licensed to operate.

She commended the public for being calm as she described the incident as ‘’disheartening.

“It is disheartening when we lose loved ones and family, it is more disheartening when we have to visit them in pain and even bury our loved ones or see them deformed.

“We bear this pain with the families, we feel with them and may the souls of the departed rest In oeace,” she prayed.

The minister visited the Emergency Response Unit and Mortuary of the Kubwa General Hospital to ascertain the information given to her.

Mr Muhideen Lasisi, Chief Medical Director, Kubwa General Hospital, confirmed that the hospital recorded five deaths and 11 people with body burns.

“We have 11 living and five bodies brought to this hospital.

”’What the hospital has done in synergy with the government and security agencies is an example of service to the people.

“The minister has shown willingness and commitment to bear the cost of the service.”

Source: NAN.

Anambra Guber: Voting Continues Till Tomorrow, Sunday – INEC

Editorial staff

November 6, 2021

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended voting in Anambra governorship poll to tomorrow, November 7 to enable voters who are not able to vote due to malfunctioning of the Bimodal Accreditation System (BVAS) to do so.
Dr Nkwachukwu Orji,

The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, who made this known today, November 5 at a news briefing held in the INEC headquarters, Awka, said that the measure became necessary to enable more, if not all, eligible voters to cast their votes in the areas affected by the malfunctioning of the system.

He said that the BVAS malfunctioned because of software glitches, assuring that the commission is already working to rectify the problem.

“In line with existing regulations and guidelines of the Commission, any intending voter who is on the queue by 4.00 pm shall be allowed to vote.

“The extension of time arose out of several field reports that voters have had problems with accreditation.

” The Commission is currently investigating the reason the accreditation devices, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), have worked perfectly in some Polling Units, but not in others.

“In cases of malfunction of the BVAS, the Presiding Officer must inform the voters and polling agents that accreditation and voting shall continue tomorrow or at another time determined by the Commission.”

He said that deployment is adversely affected by transportation challenges in some locations.

“It must be noted that on account of security concerns, some of the transporters that were mobilized and collected 50 per cent of their sign on fee backed out at the last moment, leaving some of our ad-hoc staff stranded.

“Also, some of the trained ad-hoc staff backed out at the last moment. The Commission is on top of these challenges and extant regulations and guidelines will be applied.”

The INEC official appealed to all voters, candidates, stakeholders and political parties to remain calm and law abiding.

“We assure you that the commission is determined to a make all votes count.”

Source: NAN.

Cybersecurity: we’re Committed To Sustainable Growth Of Digital Economy, NCC Boss Vows

Editorial staff

November 6, 2021

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, has said that the Commission is irrevocably committed to boosting the nation’s digital economy through responsive regulations.

Danbatta, who spoke at the Commission’s 2021 Annual Cybersecurity conference, organised in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), said that the Commission will continue to be at the forefront in ensuring sound cybersecurity culture built on people, process and technology to bolster digital economy in Nigeria.

Represented by NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM), Adewolu Adeleke, the EVC, Professor Danbatta stressed the centrality of information sharing with stakeholders, and asked telecom consumers and the public to take advantage of NCC’s pervasive communications campaign, planned to create awareness and sensitize the public about the wiles of cyber criminals.

“Our various cybersecurity awareness initiatives and campaigns are helping the public to understand the risks in digital space and how to reduce the vulnerabilities that adversaries can benefit from. Our collective resolve is to continuously boost trust and confidence in our digital economy by ensuring adherence to sound cybersecurity culture and hygiene, internally and with external partners as well as stakeholders.”

He said that the increasing dynamics in the digital space, saying that the Commission recognizes the importance of ensuring and instituting appropriate cybersecurity measures to derive meaningful gains from the emergent digital economy.

“The growth of digital economies is changing how “trust” is valued by institutions, businesses, and the public. The increase in technological advancement has also resulted in increase in cybercrimes, as well as identity theft and fake news campaigns that have introduced fresh dimensions that affect the notion of trust in the digital era.”

The NCC Chief Executive said that trust and confidentiality promote a healthy digital environment, as gleaned from global best practices in order to guarantee the privacy and integrity of digital data.

He said that to improve digital trust and confidentiality, the digital economy should be built on trusted technologies and partnerships, ensuring strong cybersecurity that rides on public’s confidence, security, privacy and safety to bolster responsive regulations, transparency, accountability and digital governance.

“Acceleration of innovations and enterprise in the digital space amplify vulnerability opportunities, which malicious parties are quick to exploit, thereby slowing down the gains of digital economy. Notwithstanding, strong cybersecurity will have the advantage of reducing the surface of vulnerabilities in the digital economy that can be exploited. Thus, sound cybersecurity is a stimulus for secure and prosperous digital economy.”

Professor Danbatta affirmed that the launching of NCC Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC CSIRT), which is the telecoms sector’s version of the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ng. CERT) is a testament of the Commission’s resolve to promote a healthy digital environment in the telecom sector.

He called on cybersecurity stakeholders to key into the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS) 2021, and accelerate the adoption of its various components as cybersecurity is a collective responsibility and no single government, business or individual is immune or can do it alone.

The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major-General Babagana Monguno, who was represented by the Director, Communications at ONSA, Brigadier General Samad Akesode, recognises the commitment of the Commission in creating awareness on the implementation of national cybersecurity policy and promised even greater collaboration of ONSA with the NCC on the nation’s cybersecurity drive.

The event was attended by people from the academia, including the Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Chairman and other members of NCC Board of Commissioners, representatives of Chairman EFCC, and representatives of Directors General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Other attendees and participants include Directors and top management staff from many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, key players in the telecom ecosystem (including ALTON and ATCON), telecom companies, ICT firms, cyber security experts as well as representatives of institutions and agencies in the security governance sector, development enthusiasts, journalists and other communication professionals.

The theme of the event was “Building Trust in the Digital Economy through Cybersecurity and Sensitization on the Implementation of the National Cybersecurity policy and Strategy (NCPS).”

Nigerians Are Turning Their Backs On Sachet Water As Price Doubles

Editorial staff

November 5, 2021

Many Nigerians are now turning their backs on sachet water because of the recent rise in the price of each sachet, even as some people said the source of packaging the water is questionable.

Investigation showed that the unit price of sachet, popularly known as “pure water” was recently hiked by 100 per cent and now being sold at N20 from N10.

The Abuja residents, who spoke with NAN said they used to buy the sachet water with the erroneous belief that it was cleaner and healthier than taking tap water.

They said that with the recent price hike in the packaged essential commodity, they realised the possibility of some of the sachet water producers may just be packaging tap water and selling to unsuspecting consumers.

Mrs. Adams Yinka, said that life had not been easy for the family since the increase in the price of pure water, adding: “we no longer buy sachet water since there are other ways to get clean and healthy water.”

“Some of these sachet water are not even clean, anyone can buy a sealing machine and just pour anything in it and sell.

“Although bottled water is more expensive with the realisation that tap water can possibly be sold as pure water, some of us have to switch to the bottled water,” Yinka explained.

Another respondent, Hamza Jimoh, a resident of Kubwa, said: “since water is a major necessity, buying sachet water is unavoidable despite the price increase.

“I still buy sachet water, considering the fact that at N20, it is still very affordable and though bottled water is healthier, it is too expensive,” he said.

He said that boiling of water would have been a better option but the price of gas had also increased, thereby making it as a waste of resources.

“Boiling water, especially from the tap is also a means of getting clean and safe water, but it is even more expensive than getting bottled water, if one considers the cost of gas,” he said.

Miss Yinika Olowokere, a resident of Dutse said that she is no longer buying pure water but had upgraded to using bottled water.

“I no longer buy pure water, since the increase in price I have switched to taking bottle water.

“Boiling water is not an option either considering the current price of cooking gas,” she observed.

Mrs. Gbemisola Richard, a resident of Apo area said that she no longer bothered to buy sachet water since the increase in price.

“I just buy one bottled water and keep the bottle as container for tap water, which I drink directly from.

“It is easy for me to carry my water everywhere I go,” she said.

Richard said that she used to buy sachet water because it was very accessible, adding that the nylon itself could be harmful.

“We don’t know how they handle and treat the such nylon before selling it to us to consume the content as such there is need for the authorities concerned to look into this too.”

1...593594595...2,499 Page 594 of 2,499