Day: April 3, 2023

The Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, on Monday in Abuja inaugurated two committees to help boost agricultural development in the territory.

While inaugurating the committee, the minister expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the partnership on the projects.

She said that the committees are the Steering and Inter-Agency Technical Committees of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Projects in the FCT.

Aliyu stated that the projects would go a long way in bringing about the avowed promise of leaving behind a legacy that will chart an unhindered course for sustainable economic development in Nigeria.

She added that the first phase of these projects was the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), which was facilitated by the World Bank.

Aliyu said that it was aimed at helping northern part of Nigeria and the FCT to address critical challenges of regional desertification control and landscape management.

She said: “The projects align with the goal of Buhari’s administration to set out broader landscape restoration of 4 million hectares of degraded land, and the promise of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.”

Aliyu further stated that the implementation would take place in the six Area Councils of the FCT; particularly in the rural communities, and would cater for the farmers and farm groups, women and youths groups.

She said that the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme (SAPZ) was co-financed by the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

According to her, it aims at mobilising private sector entities to develop value chains for selected strategic crops and livestock in the participating states.

Aliyu also said that the programme would significantly drive the modernization of the FCT agricultural sector and reduce food imports.

It will also enhance value addition in livestock value chain, staple food crops and create new economic zones of wealth and jobs creation in rural areas.

She said that the steering committees of the projects were the apex decision-making bodies for the operation of the projects in FCT.

According to Aliyu, they have the responsibilities of providing guidance and taking decisions on the recommendations forwarded by the StateTechnical Committee and StateProject Management Unit (SPMU)

The Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Malam Abubakar Ibrahim, said that several states across the federation had already keyed into the programmes.

He said: “Today’s inauguration marks the official take-off of the programmes in the nation’s capital.”

Ibrahim stated that the projects aimed at addressing environmental challenges as well as reinvigorating the livestock sector to enhance sustainable agricultural production and improved food and nutrition security.

He, however, assured that in view of the huge expectations on the projects, membership of the two committees were carefully drawn from relevant secretariat’s departments and agencies (SDA’S) of the FCT Administration.

Responding on behalf of the members of the committee, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, noted that the implementation of the two projects could not have come at a better time than now when the capital city was in dire need of the implementation of innovative programmes.

” Programmes that have the capacity to rapidly guarantee the attainment of food and nutrition security, as well as improve the quality of lives of the growing population of the FCT.

Ibrahim said: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the issues of climate change and global hunger are interwoven, and experts have warned that unless urgent and necessary measures are taken, nations face immense threat of global food crisis.”

He assured the minister that members of the committees would put in their best to ensure that the objectives of the projects were realised.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, says it is on record that Nigeria recorded its highest rating in the fight against terrorism in 2022 since 2011 till date.

Yahaya said this at the opening of the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference 2023 on Monday in Abuja.

He said the efforts in Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in synergy with the sister services and other security agencies had significantly curtailed terrorism and insurgency that hitherto bedeviled the North East part of the country.

He said the continuous injection of trained troops and special equipment through Operations Lake Sanity and Desert Sanity to complement efforts by OPHK had been rewarding.

According to Yahaya, the insurgents and terrorists no longer have freedom of action.

He added that it had amongst other benefits resulted in massive surrender by the adversaries.

“These efforts, expectedly have enhanced troops poise and greatly improved the security situation and public confidence in the North East.

“In the past 11 years, from 2011 to date, Nigeria recorded its highest rating against terrorism last year, 2022.

“This is indeed a commendable effort and achievement by all of you, the other sister services, stakeholders and indeed our able predecessors,” he said.

The COAS said the Nigerian army was channeling more efforts towards consolidating on the successes with a view to completely neutralise the insurgents that fail to surrender.

He said that the outcome of the 2022 COAS Annual Conference in the North/West region of the Country had created the necessary impact that had continued to improve the success of army operations in the region.

He said the intensified offensive operations to eliminate bandits and other criminal elements in the regions had also yielded positive results.

According to him, the Nigerian army troops deployed for Operations Hadarin Daji and Forest Sanity have projected forces and intensified offensives to clear bandit enclaves.

“These operations have destroyed criminal hideouts, neutralized several bandits and subjected the remaining elements to situations where they are mostly either targeting civilians or on the run.

“We must therefore maintain the tempo and leave no stone unturned to sustain these commendable efforts.

“The peaceful conduct of the last general elections across the country including in spite of the sense of insecurity created by criminal elements in the South East region, was a testament to army’s resolve to ensure security in the nation.

“This, according to him, was made possible through successful conduct of Operation Safe Conduct 2023 across the nation which saw the Nigerian army along with the other services and agencies ensuring successful general elections.’’

He said additional efforts through Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA paid off in the South East.

He said this had resulted successful elections in the region; though IPOB/ESN and their supporters had threatened that there would be no elections in the zone.

“The elections or no election neither IPOB nor ESN nor any other group of individuals should threaten the integrity of this nation as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Accordingly, elections were therefore held in the South East and successfully too, just like in other parts of the country.

“Generally, our operations and decisive actions against the criminal elements have impacted positively on the security situation in the region, giving confidence to law abiding citizens in the South East.

“The Nigerian army will continue to perform its constitutional roles in collaboration with the sister services and other security agencies as well as civil authorities in the region,” he said.

The COAS commended personal over their professional conduct and apolitical disposition as well as their strict adherence to his directives and guidance during the just concluded general elections.

Yahaya said that various groups, organisations and distinguished individuals had commended troops’ efforts during the elections.

According to him, concerted efforts, commitments and dedication to duty by field commanders, officers and soldiers to ensure successes in various operations across the country are also commendable.

Yahaya urged participants of the conference to make deliberate efforts to come up with genuine and frank opinions and suggestions, as well as painstakingly evaluate the ongoing operations.

He also directed that deliberations should be focused on achieving the overall objective of better re-positioning the Nigerian army to deliver on its constitutional roles.

The Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj.-Gen. Anthony Omozoje, said the conference was deeigned to consolidate on the successes attained so far in all army activities.

Omozoje said that conscious efforts would be made to painstakingly appraise all operations with a view to finding better ways of improving on their successes.

According to him, the interactions therefore would focus on achieving the overall objective of better re-positioning the Nigerian army to deliver on its constitutional roles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the COAS uses the event to present a Toyota Hilux vehicle each to 14 deserving Army Warrant Officers as their official vehicles.

He also unveiled some locally produced Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles manufacture by the Defence Industries Cooperation of Nigeria and partners for army operations as well as inauguration of Historical Park.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, the Director General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said Nigeria recorded success through the genetic improvement of livestock for milk and meat production.

Mustapha said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

“We are successful in terms of inseminating the cows and now we are waiting for the first generation (F1) to be produced.

“These F1 are going to be genetically checked to see what characters they have taken,’’ he said.

The D-G said the success in terms of inseminating the cows and success in the area of maintaining the pregnancy were all recorded.

“Now, we’re just waiting for the delivery of the first generation cows in April and that is a success story, which means that Nigeria will have its first breed of these livestock.”

Mustapha expressed delight that the climatic condition the new breed of cattle were going to face would be normal and congenial to them.

He said that was because they had made sure that the semen used in inseminating the cows possessed similar characteristics with Nigeria’s condition.

He assured that harmonising the semen with Nigeria`s climatic condition had been taken care of, which was the major issue farmers faced with already developed variety of livestock imported into the country.

“So, in our own case, if we have done it to suit our climatic condition, it means that this is a success.

“What we are hoping to see is the character they have taken in producing the milk quantity.

“At least we are expecting 50 litres per cow a day and if we are lucky to have it, that also reflects success,” Mustapha said.

The NABDA boss hinted that their target was to inseminate 2,500 to 5,000 cows this year when they have the resources with the possibility of inseminating more than that.

He lamented that the basic challenge inhibiting insemination of this number of cows for productivity centered on resources.

He said with adequate resources, the project would continue as they would increase the number of cows to be inseminated.

“So, that is a success story and I’m glad you asked me this.”

Mustapha said the launching of the improved variety of livestock and cattle in the country would take place in April.

Responding to the immediate project embarked upon by NABDA, he mentioned using genome editing to increase the lifespan of shelf life of tomatoes, adding that this was very important.

According to the D-G, the project is a big one considering the amount of money expended on the production of tomatoes with the amount lost from post-harvest losses.

He said the post-harvest losses were due to climate and other chemical activities occurring within the tomato between the period of harvest and consumption.

“I think it’s very important that we take the tomatoes issue seriously so that we can fix it.

“When we fix this a lot of money is going to come into the country; we are supposed to be exporting tomatoes across African countries and even outside Africa,” he said.

The D-G maintained that there were many African countries in need of tomatoes, but unfortunately due to how fragile it was, it could not be exported.

He said following this, the agency in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDANEPAD), was embarking on the project as all machineries were in place.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian media on Monday inaugurated a nine-member board of the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman, to strengthen public confidence in the media.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commission was inauguration in Ikeja, Lagos by the Nigeria Press Organisation (NPO).

NAN reports that NPO comprises Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

Malam Kabiru Yusuf, the President of NPO and President of NPAN, at the inauguration, said that the commission would `watch the watchdog.

According to him, NPO is the umbrella body of owners, editors and reporters of print and online journalists in Nigeria, taking the responsibility of regulating its work and conduct.

“In deference to the dictum, that journalism is too important to be left to journalists, we have opted for a mechanism of co-regulation.

“This is done with the help of other actors like the civil society, especially the bar and non-media Non Governmental Organisations.

“Radio and television are already regulated, but the print, which is the oldest, and online, which is the newest, have escaped such control.

“The former warned by the lessons of history and the latter, by the amplitude of technology.

“Powerful and privileged Nigerians, irritated by the nosiness of the media, often express the wish for some checks on its powers. I sometimes think that such people take freedom for granted,” he said.

Yusuf, however, said that some journalists seemed all out to prove that their pen was indeed a sword for slaying real or imaginary enemies.

“The Ombudsman will call such people to order, to appreciate that the power of the press should be used for good, not for self-aggrandisement.

“To be effective, the physician has to heal himself, before he can apply the cure to others.

“We have selected a strong team to administer this medicine,” he added.

According to him, the nine-member commission will be chaired by Mr Emeka Izeze, former Editor-in- Chief and Managing Director of the Guardian Newspapers.

“Izeze is one of our very best. To work with him, we have selected other leading lights of our profession and that of our partners,” he added.

Yusuf listed other members of the commission to include: Malam AB Mahmoud, former President, Nigerian Bar Association; Prof. Chinyere Okunna, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul University, Awka; and Dr Hussaini Abdu, Country Director Care International.

Also among are: Mr Lanre Idowu, Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications; Mrs Eugenia Abu, Veteran broadcaster and author; Mr Edetean Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda.

Mrs Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, lawyer and former Editor, and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information, are also part of the team.

“We expect the commission to serve as an independent forum for resolving complaints about the press quickly, fairly, and free of charge.

“It must maintain high standards of Nigerian journalism and journalists’ ethics; and defend the freedom of the press and the right of the people to know.

“We invite all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to support this initiative. The media is wary of government regulation because politicians tend to have short-term goals.

“We are happy to submit to peer-regulation, by collaborating with civil societies, business and the professionals,” he added.

Yusuf commended the working committee, made up of the NPAN, NGE, NUJ and the Guild of Online Publishers, which worked together to develop the ombudsman mechanism.

Responding, Izeze commended stakeholders for the initiative and the confidence reposed on NMCC members.

He said that the commission was not to gag the media.

He said that the stakeholders had fought for so long to keep the media unaffected by the shenanigans of those who were in government at one time or the other in the country.

According to him, since the military regime to date, there have been certain distastes for the media and people always look for how to keep the media in check.

“What has happened lately is that we (media practitioners) haven’t also been keeping ourselves in check.

“Our responsibility primarily is not to come and gag the press, we will not do that. We think that we have to be fair to ourselves. We must always do the right thing.

“So, when the public is complaining, instead of waiting for the people who do not understand this job to pull us down, we will remember this commission and take the imitative to address the issue.

“People do not like their dirty stories being told in the public and there are too many dirty stories that have to be told, particularly in our environment, to make progress,” the veteran said.

According to him, the job is to give the public a channel for seeking redress.

“I assure you that with my colleagues here, we will attempt to do justice to your expectations and see how far we can go to help the media operate professionally.

“We will see how far we can go to help the media to observe some of those rules that we drew for ourselves and help the media to build what this nation needs.

“We cannot make progress in this nation without the media operating professionally, it is not possible,” he said.

The event was attended by the leadership of NPO, NPAN, NGE, NUJ, BON and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, along with other strategic media players and the civil society.

NAN reports that Mr Sam Amuka-Pemu, the Founder and Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, inaugurated the commission.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Ekerete Gam-Ikon, an insurance expert has advised elected leaders at all levels to adopt insurance as their strategic action toward improving Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in states.

Gam-Ikon, the Convener of Insurance September, an insurance platform, in a document on Sunday said the revenue could be generated by making those without insurance coverages to pay a fine.

The expert urged the leaders to direct members of their constituencies and states to register for health insurance scheme.

He said the leaders should also ensure that public buildings including offices, schools, markets, religious places, hotels and every public place were insured against risks of fire outbreak, collapse and flood.

Gam-Ikon advised the leaders to ensure that all their contracts were insured against non-performance and delayed delivery date.

The expert suggested that the contracts would include supplies and projects.

“Coordinate with the necessary legislative instruments to ensure insurance is fully operational in your Constituency and state.

“With all your people having health insurance coverage, you will address the major challenge of healthcare.

“Next is to ensure they live in safe and secured environments.

“Insurance is the best kept secret of rich people and rich nations.

“Start asking questions now and let the answers you get embolden you to consider doing something different in governance in our country using insurance,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN) is seeking to partner with Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on specialised and industry-specific trainings for Executives and Board of Directors in the telecom industry.

The President of SCGN, Mohammad Ahmad made this known when he led the organization leadership on a courtesy visit to NCC on Monday, in Abuja.

Ahmad, represented by Tijjani Borodo, a Director and fellow of the society, said that the NGO would also like to partner with the NCC in the area of capacity building initiatives for the sector.

“The Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria would like to partner with the commission on capacity building initiatives for the sector and the organisations regulated by it.

“The society hereby expresses her interest to partner with the commission on Specialised and Industry-Specific Trainings for Executives, Board of Directors, and the Executive Management of organisations in the Telecommunications industry around Board Leadership, Governance and Sustainability.

“The society would like to express her interest in collaborating with the commission to sensitise and create awareness of the guidelines within the sector and organisations regulated by it.

“We can provide framework for compliance and reporting of the anticipated corporate governance guideline.”

Ahmad said that the partnership was to promote good corporate governance and foster best practices in the communications sector and in the country.

“We strongly believe that the partnership will strengthen the commission’s position as a promoter of good corporate governance and setting an example to other regulators as a champion of excellence and progress,” he said.

In his response, NCC’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, represented by the Executive Commissioner Stakeholders Management, Mr Adeleke Adewolu, said the visit was one of great importance for several reasons.

Danbatta said that the SCGN and the commission have had fruitful professional relationships, adding that the NGO was instrumental to the development of the telecommunications Industry Code of Corporate Governance issued by the NCC in 2014.

He said that it was a pioneer code, which was carefully designed to enhance governance in the Nigerian communications industry and which led to the development of similar instruments by other sectors.

Danbatta said NCC had commenced the development of guidelines for the communications sector, adding that members of the SCGN have been part of that process.

He said the NCC had recognised that critical elements of its statutory mandate can only be realised when sector players adhered to best corporate governance and ethical standards.

“This is why we pioneered the development of sectoral Corporate Governance Codes and this is why we insist on the highest possible governance and ethical standards for our licensees.

“This is also why we consider it of utmost importance to strengthen our relationship with stakeholders like the SCGN,”Danbatta said.

He said one of the most important strategies that the NCC had adopted was to harness stakeholder views in the development of its regulatory interventions.

Danbatta also said that SCGN, in its role as a frontline advocacy group for sound governance and ethical business conduct, had been a worthy partner of the commission.

He said that the commission looked forward to many more years of fruitful professional relationship with the SCGN and its members at large.

Mrs Chioma Mordi, Chief Executive Officer, SCGN, said that the NGO had corporate members who spread corporate governance across various sectors.

Mordi called on the NCC to be a part of the society for continuous access to information in corporate governance, both locally and internationally.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SCGN is committed to developing and promoting corporate governance’s best practices and business ethics founded by Prof. Fabian Ajogwu.

The society had collaborated with some institutions to develop sectorial corporate governance codes and guidelines, as well as organise capacity-building training for their sectors and industries.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Stakeholders in the Nigerian fertiliser industry have scored the sector’s productivity and performance very high.

The experts gave the commendations in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

The Executive Secretary, West African Fertiliser Association (WAFA), Mr Innocent Ikuku, said Nigeria is the highest producer of urea in the whole of West Africa.

Ikuku said that the industry had recorded tremendous improvement in the last five years.

“The Nigerian fertiliser industry is one that has transformed significantly over the last five years.

“From having only a single manufacturer of urea, which was Notore in about 10 years ago, we come to a place now where we have three fertilisers manufacturers.

“Nigeria presently has capacity for more than five million tonnes of urea production annually. So, Nigeria is producing urea beyond what is able to consume.

“So, it means in terms of urea, there is enough supply for the market,” Ikuku told NAN.

He, however, noted that the other inputs required to make fertiliser balance, namely phosphate and potash, were still imported.

He said that the gap must be bridged for further growth and development of the sector.

Ikuku said: “Nigeria is gradually becoming the hub for fertiliser production and distribution for the whole of West Africa.

“This is because Nigeria is where you have excess nitrogen that can be supplied to other countries in West Africa.

“And we have installed capacity for blending that is far beyond what the country needs.

“So, Nigerian fertiliser sector is basically just taking off and if the environment remains friendly and we allow private sector to keep investing as they should, the sector is going to boom in the near future.

“And by implication this affects West African countries and that will improve access to fertiliser and consumption,” Ikuku said.

On his part, Mr Moses Negedu, analyst, Fertilizer Producers & Suppliers Association of Nigeria, commended the growth of the sector.

Negedu, however, said that the sector would experience more growth with the right policies.

“The Nigerian fertiliser sector is a green industry and we believe that since it is growing, there is potential for more growth.

“If we harness the government and private sector coalition then, the fertiliser industry has great potential for growth both for the domestic and international market.

“We must put in place the right policies to steer more growth in the Nigerian fertiliser industry,” Negedu said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), says that the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) Scheme generated a total of N35.1 billion for government as Customs Duty in 2021.

The authority said the sum of N408.3 million was also remitted as Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxes in 2021.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, the Managing Director, NEPZA said it ensured effective generation of customs duty and administration of taxes applicable in zones operation.

NAN reports that PAYE tax is one of the vital types of taxes in Nigeria that individuals pay to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) within their respective state of residence.

Section 19 of NEPZA Act mandates FTZs enterprises to file returns for statistics and data, while section 8 stipulates that enterprises operating in zones should be exempted from federal, state and local government taxes.

However, they are under obligations to pay all deferred taxes and duties when they extend their businesses to the customs territories.

The NEPZA boss further said that the scheme also generated a total of 19,125 employments in 2021

According to him, a total of 3,000 jobs skills have so far been transferred to Nigerians in 2021.

The managing director explained that the Federal Government approved the establishment of the Special Economic Zones Security (SEZSEC) to be operated by NEPZA.

He said it was for the very reason of creating a viable revenue option to reduce over-dependency on the downstream sector that the Nigerian government adopted the FTZ scheme and created NEPZA with an Act 63 of the parliament in 1992 to regulate and manage it.

“I can confidently say that the authority has done well in the actualisation of its mandate.

“We have experienced a turnaround in the last seven years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as he continues to show commitment and passion through the Federal Government’s unflinching support for the success of the scheme.

“For instance, in 2017, the present administration buttressed the role of special economic zones in Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP),” he said.

He said the SEZ model was used to accelerate implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), a four – year road map on industrialisation to create jobs and promote exports, which in turn would facilitate economic growth.

“The successes and prospects of the scheme have been in the last few years made manifest as a result of the entrants of private investors,” Adesugba said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria