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Kebbi Govt Donates N70m To Rice, Wheat Farmers

The Kebbi government has donated N70 million to rice and wheat farmers to facilitate procurement of improved seeds to accelerate paddy production.

The state governor, Nasir Idris announced this during a courtesy by the leadership of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN), in Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, Kebbi is famous in rice and wheat production in Nigeria and beyond, adding that his administration would sustain the tempo.

He said that his administration accorded premium to agriculture through viable farmer support services to encourage productivity.

“Now that the subsidy has been removed, the only alternative is to embrace agriculture, and government will assist wherever necessary; that is why I am making the donation of N70 million for the purchase of improved seeds to sustain the cultivation of both crops,” he said.

Earlier, Alhaji Bello Barade, the Chairman of RIFAN, said the visit was to congratulate the governor over his election victory.

Barade commended the governor over the appointment of two farmers as members of the State Executive Council (SEC).

This, he said, indicated the governor’s readiness to include farmers in the scheme of things.

According to Barade, farmers are cultivating crops three times in a year during dry and wet seasons, adding that the association was cultivating about 400 hectres of outgrower farms to enhance access to improved rice seeds in the state.

“The cultivation of 400 hectres outgrower farm in Bagudo Local Government Area, estimated to cost N70 million for distribution to the farmers,” he said.

He further sought for more support to encourage agricultural productivity.

Also speaking, Alhaji Ibrahim Suru, RIFAN’s National Financial Secretary, advocated for partnership with the state government to enhance inputs supply to the farmers.

He pledged continued support to government’s policies and programmes for sustainable social and economic development of the state.

09/13/2023
FCTA partners South Korea, Turkiye on vocational education, agriculture – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has said that the FCT Administration (FCTA) would partner with the Republic of South Korea on vocational education.

Wike also expressed willingness to partner with Turkiye on agricultural development.

The minister stated this when the Ambassadors of South Korea to Nigeria and his Turkiye counterpart visited him in his office.

He told the Ambassador of South Korea to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae, that he visited the country while he was the minister of education and discussed the issue of vocational education.

He described South Korea’s vocational education model as “impressive”, saying that the model enables students who do not want to go further, to have some skills.

“It was my desire that we would have concluded with that partnership then, but unfortunately, that was not to be.

“I would also like to reintroduce that as the FCT minister to see how we can also have that vocational school,” he said.

Wike added that he would like to introduce a hands-on model to the vocational schools and skill acquisition centres in the FCT.

This, he said, would be in partnership with the Republic of South Korea.

He said that he was impressed when he visited Samsung and noticed that sometimes, the company supplies refrigerators and cars to the vocational schools for practical purposes.

“I think we have to see how we can come back to that issue because vocational education is very key to us,” he said.

Earlier, Young-Chae informed the minister about his country’s collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Rural Electrification Agency.

He said that the aim was to build a mini electricity grid in the FCT which was ongoing.

He also disclosed that South Korea plans to introduce a grant project to help young businessmen start new businesses.

This, he said, was in addition to the Nigeria-Korea Model School in the FCT and other training programmes for teachers.

“In addition to that, we have launched a smart school project, one in each of the six geopolitical zones, to help innovate schools in terms of communication technology and teachers’ education,” he said.

In a related development, the FCT minister, while hosting the Turkiye Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hidayet Bayrakter, on Monday, said that FCT has large arable land for agricultural development.

He said that collaboration with Tirkiye in that regard would be beneficial for both countries.

On the Abuja metro rail line, the minister said that the FCT Administration has an open-door policy and would be willing to discuss with companies from Turkey.

Wike, however, appealed for a review of Turkish visa policy, pointing out that the policy of short-term, single-entry visas may not be good enough to enhance business collaborations.

Earlier, Bayrakter sought the collaboration of the FCT Administration in the construction of the second phase of the ongoing Abuja metro line system.

The ambassador said that Turkiye had very capable construction companies with experience in rail constructions as well as suspension bridges.

Some of the companies, he said, were involved in the construction of the metro system in Dubai and Qatar, in addition to building one of the biggest suspension bridges in the world.

He said that the companies have expressed interest in partnering with the FCT Administration.

He expressed the readiness of Turkish investors to meet with the FCT minister for further discussions on the second phase of the rail project.

09/13/2023
Flood Alert: 13 States, 50 Communities To Witness Heavy Rainfall, Flooding -NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said 13 states and 50 communities, mainly up North, are likely to witness heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding between September 13 and 17.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Farinloye listed the states and communities to include Kano State, with communities like Sumaila and Kunchi, likely to be affected.

He also said that Kebbi State, with communities like Argungu, and Katsina State, with Bindawa, Jibia, Kaita, Katsina communities would be affected.

Other states he said were Niger, with Kontagora, Mashegu, and New Bussa communities, as well as Kwara State, and Kosubosu community.

“Zamfara State, with such communities as Kaura Namoda and Shinkafi; Bauchi State, with Bajoga, Darazo, Kirfi, Azare, Jama ‘are, Itas, Misau; Taraba, with Bali, Donga, Lau, Serti, Mutum-Biyu, Yorro, and Borno State, with Briyel, Biu, Dikwa, Kukawa will be affected,” he said.

He also said that Adamawa with Ganye, Mubi, Demsa, Jimeta, Mayo Belwa, Numan, Shelleng, Song, communities as well as Yobe, with Dapchi, Gashua, Geidam, Kanamma, Machina, Potiskum would be affceted.

Gombe State with Nafada and Jigawa, with Dutse, Gumel, Gwaram, Miga communities were the other states and communities the territorial coordinator said would be affected.

Farinloye added that due to the rise in the water levels of Rivers Benue and Niger, communities along the two Rivers, up to Bayelsa were advised to take precautionary measures in the coming days.

He acknowledged the National Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) Central Hub, Federal Ministry of Environment Abuja in its predictions.

09/13/2023
FG Inaugurates Freight Services On Apapa-Ibadan Cargo Rail

The Federal Government has finally inaugurated the first cargo movement from the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor after initial concern over the under-utilization of the standard gauge rail line 2 years after its commissioning.

The inauguration was performed by the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, during his first official tour of the rail corridor on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

The minister kicked off the tour at the Ebute Meta station before proceeding to Apapa for the launch, then travelled to Ibadan using the 157 km rail corridor.

Three coaches of 30 wagons were loaded as the inaugural freight movement was kicked off.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it would start with 3 coaches per day with its Managing Director (MD) noting that the corporation had the capacity to scale up the numbers.

This effort is expected to decongest the Apapa port as shippers moved 92.28% of Nigeria’s total exports and 60.77 percent of imports through the facility in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1’22).

09/12/2023
NiMet Predicts 3-day Thunderstorm, Cloudiness Across Nigeria

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has Predicted thunderstorm and cloudiness from Tuesday to Thursday across the country.

The weather outlook released in Abuja, forecasts cloudy atmosphere on Tuesday with intervals of sunshine over the northern region.

It envisaged thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and Kaduna states in the morning hours.

“Further into the day, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna states.

“Thunderstorms are expected over parts of Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kwara, Kogi and Benue states in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are envisaged over parts of Plateau, the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Niger and Nasarawa states,” it said.

According to it, cloudy atmosphere is expected over the inland states of the South and the coastal states with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River states in the morning hours.

The agency anticipated thunderstorms over parts of Imo, Abia, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Ondo, Oyo, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states later in the day.

NiMet predicted cloudy skies on Wednesday with spells of sunshine over the northern region with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe states in the morning hours.

It forecast thunderstorms over parts of Bauchi, Kaduna and Zamfara states later in the day.

“Cloudy atmosphere is anticipated over the North Central region with thunderstorms over parts of Niger, Kogi and Benue states in the morning hours.

”Later in the day, thunderstorms are envisaged over parts of Plateau, the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa states.

“Cloudy atmosphere is expected over inland cities of South and coastal belt with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Enugu, Awka, Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Lagos states in the morning hours.”

NiMet envisaged thunderstorms and rains over parts of Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, Edo, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Lagos, Delta and Akwa Ibom states later in the day.

The agency predicted cloudy skies on Thursday with sunshine intervals over the northern region in
the morning with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Katsina states.
According to it, cloudy atmosphere is anticipated over the North central region with chances of thunderstorms over parts of Kogi and Benue states in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Niger, the Federal Capital Territory and Plateau states. Cloudy atmosphere is expected over the inland cities of the South and the coastal states with few thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Edo, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states,” it said.

According to NiMet, moderate to heavy rainfall could lead to flash floods. The public is advised to take necessary caution, avoid driving and walking through flood waters.

It advised the citizens to take necessary safety precautions as strong winds are likely to precede and accompany the thunderstorms.

“Disaster Risk Managers, Agencies and individuals should be proactive, to avert loss of lives and
property during the rainy season.

“All Airline operators are advised to avail themselves of weather reports and alerts periodically from NiMet for effective planning for their operations,” it said.

09/12/2023
Nigeria Lost $22.9bn To Gas Flares In 10 Years -NOSDRA

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is to part the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC) and Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to boost revenue generation through proper management of gas flares in line with global best practice.

This is in a bid to arrest huge revenue losses recorded and enhance revenue generation into government coffers.

According to RMAFC Public Relations Officer, Christian Nwachukwu, RMAFC Chairman Mohammed Bello Shehu disclosed this during an interactive forum with delegations from NUPRC and NOSDRA recently in Abuja.

Bello noted that in view of the current government’s efforts to shore up the Nation’s revenue generation, the gas sector of the economy must be given adequate attention with NUPRC and NOSDRA as regulatory bodies in determining quality and quantities of gas production alongside adherence to environmental standards for host Communities.

Responding, the Director of Economic Regulation and Strategic planning of NUPRC, Mr. Babajide Fashino noted that Nigeria is at the fore front of managing gas flares in line with global best practices for economic growth and sustainability. This is done with the introduction of a metering system and calibration of the meters for accurate records of gas management.

According to Babajide, the introduction of such technologies has gone a long way in reducing gas flares gas flaring in Nigeria from 40 per cent to a mere 7 per cent.

Earlier, the Director of ICT in NOSDRA, Mrs. Margaret Adeshida underscored the need for proper monetisation of gas flares in Nigeria, noting that Nigeria flared more than 4.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas leading to the country’s loss of more than $14.6 billion revenue between 2012 and 2021.

This is in addition to $8.3 billion loss in penalty for the wastages.

Mohammed Shehu therefore called on all the relevant stakeholders in the management of the gas economy including the revenue monitoring Committee of the present administration to salvage the Country by coming together to work out proper strategies to convert the gas flare to economic use for enhancing revenue generation into the Federation Account.

09/12/2023
UK Opens Temporary Visa Submission Centre In Enugu

The British High Commission in Nigeria has announced the opening of a new temporary submission centre for UK visas in Enugu State from Wednesday, September 13.

According to a statement by the UK Mission, the facility will operate out of the Omedel Luxury Hotel, 4/6 Link Road off Pascal and Jerk Bustop, Independence Layout, Enugu and will shortly offer a twice-a-week service.

UK Launches Temporary Visa Application Centre in Enugu

In a bid to enhance accessibility to UK visa services, the British High Commission in Nigeria has unveiled a new temporary submission centre in Enugu State, starting from September 13.

Situated at the Omedel Luxury Hotel, 4/6 Link Road, Independence Layout, Enugu, this facility will offer services twice a week, as per the UK Mission’s announcement.

Applicants can now choose Enugu as their preferred application location when applying for a UK Visa, in addition to existing centers in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.

This temporary submission center in Enugu has been designated as a Premium Location, with a fee of NGN 246,250. This fee includes access to a Premium Lounge appointment, courier return service, SMS notifications, general customer support, and guidance throughout the application process.

According to a statement by the British High Commission, it will closely monitor the demand for visa services and review and expand the service if there is sufficient demand. The location will be trialed for a minimum of three months to assess the service’s uptake and determine its continuation.

“The appointment system allows an applicant to select Enugu as their application location when applying for a UK Visa. This is in addition to current locations in Abuja. Lagos and Port Harcourt,” the statement read.

“The temporary submission centre in Enugu opens as a Premium Location meaning it will cost NGN246,250.00, which includes a Premium Lounge appointment, courier return, SMS notifications, general customer support and guidance.”

“TLS will trial this location for at least 3 months to assess uptake of the service and enable decisions on continuation,” the statement concluded.

09/11/2023
UAE Lifts Visa Ban on Nigerian Travelers After Parley With Tinubu

*President Secures Landmark Deal with UAE

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, September 11 in Abu Dhabi, finalized an agreement that has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.

After nearly a year, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially lifted the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travelers.

This significant development follows a historic agreement reached between President Bola Tinubu and UAE’s President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday in Abu Dhabi.

Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this announcement in a statement on Monday.

Under this groundbreaking agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines will promptly resume their flight schedules into and out of Nigeria.

Importantly, there will be no immediate financial burden on the Nigerian government as part of this arrangement.

The statement also highlighted the economic implications of this landmark deal. As a result of President Tinubu’s economic development initiatives and proposals, an agreed framework has been established.

This framework will pave the way for substantial investments amounting to billions of U.S. dollars into various sectors of the Nigerian economy and these investments will encompass areas such as defense, agriculture, and more, facilitated by the investment arms of the UAE Government, Ngelale explained.

Furthermore, President Tinubu also successfully negotiated a joint foreign exchange liquidity program between the two nations and the Presidency said the full details this program will be disclosed in the coming weeks.

President Tinubu expressed his appreciation for the UAE President’s unwavering friendship and commitment to collaborating in order to fully restore and enhance the quality of relations between the two countries.

It’s worth noting that the UAE had previously banned nationals from approximately 20 African nations, including Nigeria, from entering Dubai in October. This decision had elicited various reactions, and President Tinubu had pledged to address the issue once elected, ultimately leading to this positive resolution.

09/11/2023
Gunmen Kill 10 Persons, Injure One In Plateau

Tragedy struck the peaceful community of Kulben in the Gindiri District of Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau, as a group of gunmen unleashed a horrifying attack.

The assailants, in a senseless act of violence, claimed the lives of ten innocent individuals while leaving one person critically injured. The harrowing incident unfolded on a fateful Sunday night, forever altering the lives of the community’s residents.

Mr. Jerry Datim, a distressed member of the community, recounted the terrifying events that transpired.

“Last night, at about 8:40 p.m., some gunmen attacked Kulben community, killed 10 persons and injured one,” he painfully shared.

The attackers descended upon the village, their bullets tearing through the tranquility of the night as they fired indiscriminately. Panic swept through the community as people scrambled for safety, but tragically, some were unable to escape the hail of bullets, their lifeless bodies discovered later.

In the midst of the chaos, the community did what they could to alert the security forces to the unfolding tragedy.

“We alerted the security personnel, but before they got there, the attackers had moved from the community,” Mr. Datim revealed. The swift and ruthless nature of the assault left little time for intervention.

Despite the urgency of the situation, attempts to reach out to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, for an official statement were met with unavailability.

However, an unnamed senior police officer confirmed that the law enforcement agencies had launched a comprehensive manhunt to track down and bring the attackers to justice.

Axccording to him, the full force of the law would be employed to ensure that those responsible for this heinous act faced the consequences of their actions.

09/11/2023
Nigeria Requires N21trn To Bridge Housing Deficit – FG

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has said that Nigeria requires N21 trillion to effectively bridge housing deficit, despite efforts across the three tiers of governments.

The vice president stated this on Sunday in Sokoto at the groundbreaking for the construction of a 500-unit housing estate by the State government.

Shettima, who commended Gov. Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts to address the housing needs of his people, noted that the housing deficit in Nigeria remained a huge challenge.

“Nigeria has a deficit of 28 million houses and we will need N21 trillion to meet our housing needs. This step taken by the Governor is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other State governments.

“The governor has started well by completing the roads and flyovers he inherited,” he added.

Earlier, the governor explained that the housing estate would be for civil servants and would be sold to them when completed on an owner-occupier basis.

Aliyu said: “This is a project that was initiated by the former Governor of the State, Aliyu Wamakko but was later abandoned by the immediate past administration.

“But, we are determined to complete it for the benefit of our workers and the general public.”

Aliyu disclosed that the project located at Wamakko Local Government Area of the State will cost the State government N7.3 billion to complete.

The event, which was to mark the first 100 days in office by the administration was attended by Sen. Aliyu Wamakko and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari.

Others were the Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, Alhaji Bello Goronyo and former Deputy Governors of Sokoto, Mukhtari Shagari and Chiso Abdullahi-Dattijo, among others.

09/11/2023