AfDB Mobilises Stakeholders To Design Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones In Nigeria

October 11, 2021

President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has announced that the bank is currently working closely with some stakeholders to design Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones in Nigeria.

The bank and its partners, according to him, have already mobilized $520 million towards the program.

Dr. Adesina, who spoke today, October 11, at the Mid-Term Ministerial Performance Review Retreat held at the Presidential villa, Abuja, on the topic: ‘Nigeria’s Economic Resurgence:

Learning from the African Experience,’ said that the programme is expected to create at least 1.5 million jobs.

The main stakeholders the bank is working with are the Nigerian Federal Government, seven State Governments, the Federal Capital Territory, the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Trade, Industry and Investment, Water Resources, and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

According to Dr. Adesina, the key for this is the development of Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) across the country.

“These will be zones enabled with infrastructure and logistics, to support private sector food and agriculture companies to locate close to the areas of production, and to process and add value to food and agricultural commodities.

The AfDB boss suggested that Nigeria should establish Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones all across the country, as well as the e-Wallet System and Growth Enhancement Scheme, to boost farmers access to productivity.

He said that enhancing farm inputs should be reinstated and enshrined in law and cautioned that Policy reversals should be avoided.

Dr. Adesina insisted that Nigeria needs to boost food security, reduce the price of food, and ensure greater competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

He recalled that while he was Minister of Agriculture, he deployed a highly innovative mobile phone system to reach farmers with subsidized farm inputs, a program called ‘Growth Enhancement Scheme’ and the e-wallet system.

“To be clear, this was the first time in the world that such a system was deployed to reach farmers with subsidized farm inputs via mobile phones.

“And it worked! It brought in transparency. It brought in accountability. It brought in all the major commercial banks. More importantly, it delivered impressive results and led to massive food production. It reached 15 million farmers with high quality seeds and fertilizers, right in their villages. Nigeria’s food production boomed and expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons.

“The rice revolution started then, in Kebbi State and the Northwest, as we deployed innovative high-quality seeds of FARO 44 and FARO 52 rice, which we introduced to Nigeria from the Africa Rice Center.

“I remember visiting the Hadejia Valley irrigation project in Jigawa State, as women farmers told me “thank you Minister, we get our seeds and fertilizers right here via our mobile phones in our village and men cannot cheat us anymore”! I was elated.

“Prices of food fell, as productivity went up.

“The ‘Growth Enhancement Scheme’ and the e-wallet system have been adopted in Togo, Liberia, and other African countries. Yet in Nigeria where they were developed, they are no longer being implemented.”

The former minister cautioned President Buhari about people who would be telling him that it is the lack of rain that is leading to low food production.

“A little, maybe. That it is insecurity. Yes, maybe, to some extent. That it is middlemen. A little, maybe.

“But, Mr. President, the main reason is that farmers no longer have access to quality improved seeds, fertilizers, and farm inputs at scale.

“Farmers across the country are asking for the Federal Government to restore in their words “the popular Growth Enhancement Support Scheme and the e-Wallet system.”

“The Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Farouk Mudi said in March 2020 “These initiatives (the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme and the e-Wallet System) should be restored by the Federal Government. They will boost farmers’ production, create jobs and increase internally generated revenue for the States.”

Dr. Adesina advised the President to please relaunch the ‘Growth Enhancement Scheme’ and the e-wallet system and put millions of farmers at the heart of agriculture — at scale.

“If this is done, and run well, I can assure you that you will see a dramatic turnaround in national food production.

“Your Excellency, Mr. President,

The African Development Bank has helped to finance the revolution of wheat in Sudan, with heat tolerant varieties, by producing 65,000 metric tons of seed. To give you a sense of the magnitude of this, let me say that the largest airplane, the Airbus 380 aircraft, fully loaded with passengers, fuel, and cargo, weighs 98.4 metric tons.

“So, 65,000 metric tons of heat tolerant wheat in Sudan is equivalent to 660 Airbus 380 aircrafts parked on a landing strip.

“The impact was dramatic. In just two seasons, we helped Sudan to cultivate these heat tolerant wheat varieties on 317,00 hectares, which produced 1.1 million metric tons of wheat.

“The Prime Minister of Sudan, Abdallah Hamdok, said with this intervention “the country moved from 25% self-sufficiency to 54% in just two seasons. Sudan expects to become a net exporter of wheat within three years.”

He said that AfDB also supported Ethiopia to cultivate the heat tolerant varieties on over 184,000 hectares.

Interestingly, adding that these same heat tolerant varieties were introduced to Nigeria when he was Minister of Agriculture “and we worked hard to give them to farmers in the Lake Chad Basin.

“Your Excellency Mr. President,

You may wish to know that during the insecurity in the area, my staff at the time, led by Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, the then Executive Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, and his team, stayed in the fields, protected the seeds being multiplied, and risked their lives. When insecurity became much more serious, they moved the varieties to Kadawa valley in Kano.

“Dr. Olabanji deserves a national award.

I was on the farms in Kano with several Seriki Nomas or farmer heads. They could not believe that wheat could be as tall as they were! These varieties yield 5 tons per hectare compared to average yield of 1.5 tons per hectare – a 400% increase!

“Nigeria should take advantage of the work of the Bank on this and scale up cultivation of heat tolerant wheat across northern Nigeria.”

ABU Agric Research Institute Develops New Maize Variety For Nigeria

Editorial staff

October 11, 2021

The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State has successfully developed a new maize variety known as ‘Tela.’

In a joint statement today, October 11, Alex Abutu, Communications Officer, African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), West and Central Africa, and Yakubu Dodo, Information Officer, IAR, Zaria in Abuja, confirmed that the Federal Government had already approved the open cultivation of the variety.

The new variety of maize is resistant to armyworm, stem borers, and is also tolerant to moderate drought.

The statement said that the approval was contained in a certificate issued to IAR by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).

“The certificate, dated October 8, 2021, with permit code no. NBMA/CM/003 was issued to IAR for General\Commercial Release of Tela maize, effective from October 8, 2021, to October 5, 2024,” the statement said.

In granting the approval, NBMA considered the advice of the National Biosafety Committee, the National Biosafety Technical Sub-Committee, and the risk management report provided by the applicant.

“The Agency was convinced that there are no known adverse impacts to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, taking into account risk to human health.

“The permit, pursuant to this decision, is without prejudice to other extant legal requirements”, according to the statement.

It said that the permit authorised the holder and persons covered by the permit to commercialise the Tela maize variety.

Reacting to the decision, Professor Ishiyaku Mohammed, Executive Director, IAR, said that it is inspiring for IAR to secure NBMA’s approval for the commercial release of the drought-tolerant and insect-resistant Tela maize.

“This goes to further highlight IAR’s capacity and commitment to providing effective solutions to agricultural problems facing our farmers and optimizing food security for Nigerians.

“The approval will open the way to combating the devastating effects of both drought and insect pests, through the deployment of this new variety of Maize into our farming system.

“The next step is to further evaluate the performance of this new variety by farmers on their fields, in all the major maize growing belts in Nigeria,” Mohammed said.

He said that their intention is to seek another approval by the National variety release committee, before making the seeds commercially available for farmers to plant in the 2023 cropping season.

Dr. Canisius Kanangire, AATF Executive Director, said that the approval had shown that Nigeria is really the giant leading the way in Africa and ensuring that smallholder farmers benefitted from the technology.

According to him, the approval is a sign that progress had been recorded, especially in the quest to expand the options for smallholder farmers on the continent.

Dr Sylvester Oikeh, AATF Tela maize Project Manager, said this is the beginning of a new era for maize farmers in Nigeria.

Professor Rabiu Adamu, the Tela maize Principal Investigator, also said that with the release, the Institute has been permitted to conduct multi-location trials to evaluate the yield and adaptability of the Tela hybrids.

“The highest yielding hybrids exhibiting tolerance to drought and resistance to stem borer and fall armyworm will be released to farmers for cultivation.”

The Tela maize project in Nigeria is part of an international consortium coordinated by AATF, involving Bayer, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), and the National Agricultural Research Systems of seven countries since 2018.

The countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Source: NAN.

Former Editor-In-Chief Of Tribune, Olamiti, 20 Others Join GOCOP

Greenbarge Reporters

October 11, 2021

A one-time Editor-In-Chief of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper, Folu Olamiti and 20 other super Editors as well as renowned media managers have joined the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). Olamiti was also until recently, Resident Media Consultant to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

They were inducted into the 65-member Guild at its 5th Annual General Meeting/National Conference held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja Lagos middle of last week.

Others who were formally admitted into the Guild are Dr. Ise-Oluwa Ige, a 2016 PhD holder in Journalism from the prestigious University of Ibadan who is former Editor of Authority on Saturday newspaper and former Editorial Board Chairman and Managing Editor of Daily Times; former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the Sun Publishing Ghana Limited, and CNN African Journalist of the Year 2006, Shola Oshunkeye; a serial Award winner and one of Nigeria’s top investigative journalists, Dipo Kehinde and former Editor at Leadership newspaper and one-time spokesman for the Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, Hassan Gimba

Also inducted were former Daily Editor of Newswatch newspaper and Communication teacher, Dele Fashomi as well as the following:

Ignatius Chukwu

Victoria Ibanga

Olumide Bajulaiye

Celestine Okafor

Ayo Olesin

Joan Chioma Obinagwam

Biodun Durojaiye

Tajudeen Abdulkareem

Sakibu Olokojobi

Dumebi IfeanyiChukwu

Oluwadare Mayowa

Francis Chukwudi

Danjuma Katsina.

Rose Moses, a gender advocate and editor who started her journalism career in 1990 as Staff Writer with the defunct Satellite Newspapers Limited before she joined Champion Newspapers in 1993 till 2011, having also served as Managing Editor and member, Editorial Board was also on the list.

GOCOP, which now boasts of 86 members, was incorporated in 2015 by 11 professional journalists with the mission to sanitise online media industry in the country.

The journalists and publishers of separate online newspapers who came together at the time are as follows:

Malachy Agbo, formerly of THISDAY, now the publisher of The Citizen

Musikilu Mojeed, an award-winning investigative journalist and Editor-in-Chief at Nigeria’s Premium Times and former Investigative Editor of NEXT

Gabriel Akinadewo, Publisher of Freedom Online and former Editor of Nigerian Compass

Maureen Chigbo, Publisher, Realnews magazine and former General Editor of Newswatch

Isaac Umunna, Publisher, News Express and former General Editor, Africa Today.

Justus Nwakanma, Publisher, Daily Review Online and the former Editor of Daily Champion

Segun Adeleye, Publisher of WorldStage News Online and former Business Editor, The Nation and the Nigerian Compass

Femi Kehinde, Co-Publisher, African Examiner and ex-Editor at Green News

Chijama Ogbu, Publisher of The Rainbow and ex-Business Editor, The Punch

Dotun Oladipo, Publisher of The Eagle Online, a former Sunday Editor of the Nigerian Compass

Semiu Okanlawon, the Publisher of Nigeria Politics Online.

The pioneer President was Malachy Agbo while Musikilu Mojeed was elected Deputy President.

GOCOP is highly recognised as an assemblage of professional online journalists in Nigeria by government at all levels and private corporate organisations.

Petroleum Tanker Drivers Suspend Nation-Wide Strike

Greenbarge Reporters

October 10, 2021

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has suspended its intended withdrawal of the services of Petroleum Tanker Drivers earlier scheduled to commence midnight today, October 10.
A statement today, October 10, jointly signed by the President, Comrade William Akporeha and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, said that the suspension is as a result of the understanding reached with the Union by the management of NNPC at a meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State, today.
The statement added that it is also due to the expected outcome of the follow up meeting that is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, October 12 in Abuja.
“The suspension of our planned action is predicated on our belief that the understanding reached with the government today as well as at meeting of Tuesday 12th, October 2021 will be fulfilled to the letters.
“We wish to clearly make it known to all well meaning Nigerians that have variously appealed to us on these issues that our plan was not intended to inflict further pains on Nigerians but to ensure observance of minimum safety on our highways for the good of lives and properties.
“We are well aware of the impacts which our actions usually have on the people, businesses and the nation at large, but we cannot continue to watch as things continue to degenerate in our industry.
“In the light of the above, the Union will not hesitate to re- commence the action without any notice if the understanding reached in these two meetings are not fully implemented within the timeframe agreed.
“With this, our Petroleum Tanker Drivers are hereby directed to continue providing services for the efficient and effective distribution of Petroleum products to homes and workplaces across the country.
“Our Solidarity remains constant for the Union makes us strong.”

NNPC Appeals To Tanker Drivers To Halt Strike, Says It’s Addressing Bad Road Issue

Greenbarge Reporters

October 10, 2021

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has appealed to Petroleum Tanker Drivers to, in the interest and welfare of the Nigerian people call off its planned strike action.

The strike is about the condition of roads in various parts of Nigeria which are used for the distribution of goods and services including petroleum products.

In a statement today, October 10, the Corporation’s Group General Manager,

Group Public Affairs Division, Garba Deen Muhammad, said that even though it is not the responsibility of the NNPC to build or rehabilitate roads, any disruption in the distrubution of petroleum products to different parts of Nigeria will adversely affect the business of the NNPC and endanger energy security, which the country has enjoyed for a long time now.

“In recognition of this, the NNPC wishes to assure the Petroleum Tanker Drivers that in addition to the ongoing efforts by other agencies of government, the NNPC has initiated a process that will provide a quick and effective solution to the roads network challenges as expressed by the PTD.

“Having recognised that the major reason slowing down the rehabilitation of the road networks in the country is the paucity of funds, the NNPC has expressed interest to invest in the reconstruction of select Federal roads under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Task Credit Scheme.

“The thrust of the NNPC’s intervention is to make considerable funds available for the reconstruction of roads through it Future Tax Liability.

“NNPC as a responsible corporate entity recognises the legitimate concerns of the PTD, we however appeal to the leadership and members to reconsider their decision in the overall national interest.

“Accordingly, we urge PTD to immediately call off the strike notice and give the current efforts by government and its agencies a chance to solve the challenges in the interest of all.

“We also wish to strongly advice Nigerians not to engage in panic buying of petroleum products as the NNPC has sufficient stock to last through this festive seasond and beyond.”

Federal Govt Moves To Take Food Sufficiency, Security To Greater Height

Greenbarge Reporters

October 9, 2021

Farmer carefully packing harvested cassava tubers for transportation to the market

The Federal Government of Nigeria has moved to revitalize research into agricultural sector of the economy with a view to achieving food Sufficiency and security for the country.
Assenting to the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill 2021 yesterday, October 8 at the Presidential villa in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari emphasized the priority his government accords agriculture and food production in the continuous efforts at diversifying the economy.
With the amendment, the Council is expected to play a crucial part in coordinating research efforts in the agricultural sector towards achieving food sufficiency and security in the nation.
The President, who assented to the bills before his visit to Ethiopia, also approved the establishment of the Federal College of Agriculture, Kirikasamma and the Federal College of Education (Special) Birnin Kudu.

Only 41 Million Pay Tax In Nigeria – Inland Revenue Boss

Editorial staff

October 9, 2021

Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, has said that only 41 million pay taxes in Nigeria out of the over 200 million population in the country.

Nami who spoke today, October 8 at the ‘Public Presentation and Breakdown of the Highlights of the 2022 Appropriation Bill’ in Abuja, said that in spite of the 41 million tax payers in the country, Nigeria still earned lower than what its counterparts across Africa generates from Personal Income Taxes (PIT).

“If you also compare that with South Africa where they have a total population of about 60 million people, with just 4 million taxpayers, the total personal income tax paid in South Africa last year was about N13 trillion. You can now see that these things are not adding up.

Source: Vanguard.

How CBN Interventions Save Nigeria From Famine – Farmers

Editorial staff

October 8, 2021

Smallholder farmers as well as other stakeholders in the Nigerian agriculture sector have hailed series of intervention schemes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to support farmers.

According to them, such interventions have been responsible for the food security being currently enjoyed in the country and saved the country from experiencing famine.

They said that if such financial support valued at N798.09 billion to 3.9 million smallholder farmers had not been made available, food crisis and inflation would have become worse as supply became low and prices rose in the last few months.

Through various schemes, the farmers have cultivated 4.9 million hectares of land across the country under its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) of the apex bank.

A smallholder and beneficiary of the recent CBN financial support from Oyo State, Akinbowale Makanjuola, commended the CBN under the leadership its governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for the efforts towards reviving agriculture and enhancing economic growth.

He noted that CBN’s credit facilities had caused a major turnaround in smallholder farmers food production output, while urging the apex bank not to relent so that more smallholder farmers can benefit.

A rice farmer in Ofada, Ogun State, John Olawale, while commending the CBN and describing its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) as very good and beneficial to many farmers, said the programme has assisted in stemming illegal importation of food and has given incentive to local farmers to operate optimally while ensuring national food security.

Olawale said the ABP is a good effort by the government to protect local farmers by banning the importation of food items that the local farmers have a comparative advantage in production.

A former president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Ibrahim Kabir, explained that ‘‘The CBN intervention has surely helped the food system and without it, the situation would have been more uncomfortable.’’

It would, however, he said, be more impactful if the apex bank could reach more farmers, especially through AFAN, rather than directly through the commodity associations.

Source: Tribune.

Poultry Farmer Wins Princewell Trust Entrepreneurship Prize

Greenbarge Reporters

October 8, 2021

A River State based poultry farmer, Tekena Ovuru, has emerged winner of the September 2021 Princewill Trust Help the Hard Worker competition. The monthly competition is put together by a team of the Princewills Trust

Tekena Ovuru beat both Collins Moore and Kingsley Peterside to win the N100,000 cash prize.

A statement from Princewills Trust quoted Prince Tonye Princewill, who presented the cash award on behalf of his Trust, as saying that the aim of the Trust was to encourage hard workers and move away from the mindset of entitlement.

He called on the winner to make judicious use of the money and “give others like him the inspiration to do well, work hard and upgrade their business too.”

Help the Hard worker monthly competition is organised by a non-governmental organisation, The Princewill’s Trust for entrepreneurs, youths and Rivers state residents engaged in micro business ventures and all forms of hard work in Rivers State.

The winner, in his reaction to his victory said: “I got to know about Princewill’s trust on Facebook. I’m a poultry farmer, the name of my farm is Ovuru and sons farms, I’m into broiler chicken. I’m a graduate of Petrochemical Technology from UniPort. I also have a car in which I use for bolt. I saw 100k as the prize on Facebook. I know Prince Tonye Princewill very much.

“I know he’s into movies; his recent movie I think is 76. I’m so happy, I would like to meet him personally to say thank you very much for giving me another boost to my business. With this 100k, I can use it to buy two cartons of chicken and at least 7 bags of Ultima feeds for broilers.”

2023 Presidency: Atiku May Dump PDP As The Party Zoned Him Out

Greenbarge Reporters

October 8, 2021

From the body language of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, he is likely to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2023 elections to pursue his Presidential ambition.
Atiku, whose immediate reaction to the zoning of chairmanship of the part to the North was that zoning would not stop him from pursuing his ambition, was the party’s candidate that contested the 2019 presidential election with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku was quick to make it clear that zoning is not the problem of the country.
By zoning the chairmanship of the part to the North, it is clear that, though the party is silent on it, the Presidency will go to the South thereby foreclosing Atiku’s ambition.
It is obvious that Governors from the South, led by Nyeson Wike of Rivers State, are trying to make sure Presidential slot goes to the South. Wine in particular appears to be dictating the direction the part is going.
The National Executive Committee of the party, at its meeting yesterday, October 7, had approved the zoning of the position of the national chairman to the North.
The zoning committee of the party under the chairmanship of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State had made the recommendation public last week.
However, he had said that there was no decision taken on where the presidency will be zoned to.
This had generated heated controversy within the party as some stakeholders kicked against zoning of chairmanship.
Top shots of the party, including governors, presidential aspirants and others have been lobbying for the council’s decision on zoning to favour them.
A sharp crack was created after the zoning of the chairmanship to the North. It was gathered that PDP governors from the South led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State pushed for the zoning of the chairmanship to North.
The move is aimed at paving the way for the emergence of a southern candidate as the party’s presidential candidate.
The southern governors are demanding that the next president of the country must come from their region.
Briefing newsmen at the end of Thursday’s NEC meeting, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed that NEC had ratified the zoning of chairmanship to the north.
He said that all positions in the party currently occupied by people from the South will go to the North and vice versa.
Ologbondiyan said that NEC also agreed that the October 30 convention date was intact.

1...606607608...2,499 Page 607 of 2,499