The Federal Government has disclosed plans to encourage barge movement of containers from the Onne port and other Eastern ports to the hinterlands.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation/ Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, disclosed this recently during an assessment visit to the Onne port in Rivers State, which is currently being managed by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT).
Speaking during the visit, Ajani pointed out the need for the National Inland Waterways Authority and the Nigerian Ports Authority to collaborate with Boat and Barge Operators Association to synchronize and develop a methodology that will result to the movement of containers in barges from its current location to the hinterlands.
The Permanent Secretary, who commended the immense efforts of WACT to provide within the port a beautiful work environment that meets international best practice, said “they are doing a great job”.
According to her, these efforts is however, being hampered with a basic challenge of goods evacuation from the port as a result of some bad segments of the access road leading from Eleme Junction to Onne Port. She however, assured that government will proffer solutions to the situation in no distance time.
On his part, the Managing Director of WACT, Naved Zafar, said: ” We believe in Nigeria. And this believe has helped us set high ambition. It is equally the same believe that has made us to further expand and modernized the terminal”.
“The West Africa Container Terminal is equally committed to supporting the Federal Government’s drive to promote non oil export out of the country,” the MD added.
The Federal Government has urged the United Nations to support its efforts to achieve durable solutions to humanitarian crises.
Dr Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, made the call during a high-level meeting with Mr Martin Griffiths, the coordinator under UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief.
This is contained in a statement by Edu’s aide of media, Mr Rasheed Zubair, in Abuja.
The meeting held on the sidelines of the ongoing 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York.
She also briefed the meeting on President Bola Tinubu’s action plan to eradicate poverty.
The minister sought the support of UN for the presidential Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Trust Fund.
Other issues discussed during the high-level meeting centred on systematic and long-term response to Nigeria’s poverty under the SDGs target.
Edu also joined First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, at a side event to re-awaken Nigerians in Diaspora on the need to support the federal government’s renewed hope agenda.
She urged Nigerians in Diaspora to get involved, help to rebuild Nigeria’s economy and Nigerians out of poverty.
The Federal Government has revealed plans to improve the welfare of staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), to foster better working conditions.
The Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali, who made the disclosure recently during a familiarisation visit to the NRC’s Headquarters in Ebute-Meta, Lagos, affirmed that he would give priority attention to the implementation of the Presidential approval for the upward review of special allowance for Nigerian railway workers.
According to him, “The visit was to access and evaluate the performance of the Corporation in relation to Managerial coordination and implementation of existing rail infrastructure and ongoing projects with particular reference to Lagos-Ibadan and Kano-Maradi Railway modernisation”.
The Minister assured the NRC’s Management of the Ministry’s support towards realizing its statutory functions in all ramifications.
“The Federal Ministry of Transportation would take advantage of bilateral and multilateral agreements between Nigeria and several countries on trade and transfer of technology,” added.
Speaking further, Alkali pointed out that transportation constitutes a major organ in promoting economic growth across countries world wide. As such, the Ministry according to him, would ensure completion of Bola Tinubu Station of the Standard Gauge rail in a very short while
In a similar vein, he said the Ministry was working towards fixing the single-track carrying containers from Lagos to Kano within three months.
Alkali added that the Ministry was also working towards expansion of the Operational Scope of Kajola Rail Wagon Assembly Plant.
He however, affirmed that ” The familiarization tour of railway facilities and projects within Lagos was interesting, despite a number of discoveries that required urgent Executive action”.
Earlier, the Managing Director, NRC, Fidet Okhiria, who congratulated the Minister on behalf of the entire staff on his appointment and that
the NRC had faced challenges, which includes security threats and vandalism of critical infrastructure.
“We must commend the efforts of various security agencies for securing the NRC facilities for safety of our valued passengers and other stakeholders by arresting and prosecuting offenders”, he added.
He pleaded with the Minister to use his legislative experience to achieve his mandate of railway modernisation projects in the country.
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.
*Orders formation of loan recovery taskforce nationwide
Experts have argued that the ABP initiative failed to achieve the desired result due to improper management by the Federal Government and the CBN.
In the wake of the Federal Government’s recent threat to recover loans issued to Nigerians during the previous administration, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has taken swift action by issuing a directive to its members nationwide to reclaim loans disbursed to farmers during the 2018-2021 cropping seasons under the Anchor Borrowers’ Program (ABP).
At inception in late 2015, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had said the programme thrust of the ABP is the provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to smallholder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilise inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food.
By 2022, at least 4.8 million people had benefitted from the Anchor Borrowers Programme, authorities said at the unveiling of stacked paddy rice pyramids produced by rice farmers under the ABP initiative.
While some beneficiaries have cited insecurity, flooding, climate change and crop failure as reasons for their inability to repay the loans, government officials have said that while the farmers’ reasons are somewhat valid, many of the farmers saw the loans as ‘their share of the national cake’ which do not need to be repaid.
But the programme has been marred by loan default, even as food prices rose significantly within the years it took effect.
There are also reports that several farmers collected the loan to travel to Hajj or married additional wives from the proceeds of the Anchor Borrowers Programme. This, among other reasons, is why authorities resolved to take legal action.
“We find it very difficult to recover this loan,” Sahabi Augie, the immediate past Chairman of the Kebbi State chapter of the Rice Farmer Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), had said.
In a recent report on Nigeria, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that only 24% of loans under the ABP had been repaid.
The CBN, however, disagreed with the IMF, saying N503 billion of loans under the ABP had been repaid. This figure represents 52.39% of the total loans collected by farmers under the programme, according to the bank.
But a recent statement from CBN’s corporate communications department restated that only 48 per cent of the loan has not been repaid. The CBN said it released N1.079 trillion under the programme, out of which over N500 billion is due for repayment.
Interestingly, the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) seemed to tilt towards the IMF when, in December 2022, it said the CBN was having difficulties recovering the loans because most beneficiaries of the ABP were not Nigerian farmers.
Experts believe the failure of farmers who benefitted from the ABP to repay more than N500 billion extended to them by the CBN underscores a weakness in the initiative.
However, the critical decision to set up a taskforce and recover the loans by all means is following a high-level executive meeting between RIFAN and the Department of State Security (DSS) on August 29, 2023.
During the meeting, the recovery of loans issued to rice farmers between 2018 and 2021 was discussed extensively, leading to the issuance of a directive by RIFAN’s top leadership.
In the confidential memo addressed to RIFAN members, which was leaked to the NIGERIAN ANCHOR, Aminu Mohammed Goronyo, the National President of RIFAN, and Chief Livinus Ngwangwa, the National Secretary, provided detailed instructions on how the loan recovery process should proceed:
“Immediate Loan Recovery: All loans disbursed to beneficiary farmers from 2018 to the present date must be swiftly and effectively recovered. Farmers are given the flexibility to repay in either cash or paddy.
“Loan Repayment Account: Beneficiary farmers are required to channel their loan repayments to the designated loan recovery account: Account Name: RIFAN 2020/2021 Wet Season; Account Number: 0054122612; Bank: Unity Bank PLC.
“Documentation: Farmers are mandated to ensure that copies of their loan repayment records are sent promptly to RIFAN Headquarters. This documentation process is essential for maintaining accurate records.
“Recovery Task Force: RIFAN state chapters have been instructed to establish a dedicated recovery task force without delay. These task forces will work in close collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including the police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Civil Defense, and local traditional rulers, to oversee and facilitate the loan recovery process,” the memo instructed.
Beneficiary farmers were encouraged to fully cooperate with their respective RIFAN state chapters to facilitate the successful recovery of loans in adherence to the provided directives.
For additional information and updates, beneficiaries are advised to contact their local RIFAN chapter or visit the RIFAN website.
The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) is a prominent agricultural organization dedicated to supporting and advancing rice farming in Nigeria.
RIFAN plays a pivotal role in facilitating the Anchor Borrowers’ Program (ABP) to empower rice farmers and enhance food security in Nigeria.
The Federal Government is committed to revitalizing the maritime sector in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to enhance the welfare of Nigerians.
During a recent facility tour of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) Headquarters and various centres in Lagos, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, outlined his vision for the sector.
Oyetola emphasized the need for transformative measures in the maritime industry to position Nigeria as a major player. One of his key recommendations is the establishment of a national carrier through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to facilitate freight transport within the country.
Notably, Nigeria stands as the only member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) without a national shipping line flying its flag.
The Minister highlighted that creating a national carrier would help eliminate the burden of the 30% freight charge associated with chartering vessels. However, he clarified that his call for a national line should not be confused with advocating for the revival of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).
Furthermore, Oyetola expressed interest in NIMASA’s Modular Floating Dock, recognizing its potential to generate employment opportunities and curb capital flight. He urged the agency to engage stakeholders to support this initiative.
Addressing the potential of the Blue Economy, the Minister underscored that Nigeria, with one of the world’s largest wetlands, is well-suited for coastal tourism development. He also committed to exploring opportunities in fishing and other sectors to stimulate economic growth.
Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of NIMASA, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for establishing a dedicated Ministry for the Maritime sector. This move has long been advocated by stakeholders and Nigerians.
With the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, Nigeria joins seven other countries worldwide with standalone Blue Economy Ministries. Jamoh assured that this development positions NIMASA to elevate Nigeria’s global maritime presence.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare says the country has made significant progress in the implementation of the 2018 UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) declaration on Tuberculosis (TB) control.
Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, its Director of Public Health, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the Pre-UNHLM on TB National Stakeholders’ Consultation.
The event was organised by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria in collaboration with the National TB and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP).
The 2018 UNHLM on TB resulted in the adoption of the Political Declaration on the Fight against TB in September 2018.
Nigeria committed itself to implementing the declaration to achieve the targets set forth.
TB remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country ranking among the top 10 with the highest burden of the disease in the world.
Anyaike, who was represented by Dr. Urhioke Ochuko, a Deputy Director who currently oversees the Childhood Tuberculosis Unit, said that Nigeria had increased the number of TB cases detected and treated.
“We have detected more than 285,000 cases; we had a 60 per cent achievement of the target in 2022,” he said.
He said the country had also strengthened health systems.
“Nigeria has prioritised the strengthening of its health systems to improve TB control, including the training of healthcare workers and the establishment of more TB treatment centres.
“TB preventive treatment for Nigerians has also improved significantly from the pre-2018 levels,” he said.
He said that the Nigerian government had shown increased political commitment to TB control with some additional funding to TB control by the government and partners.
He, however, said that there were still significant challenges that the country was facing in achieving the targets set forth in the political declaration.
The official listed the challenges to include inadequate funding, low child TB case detection and low enrolment of diagnosed DR-TB patients on treatment,
He called on participants to equally explore the possibility of more investment for TB treatment as well as innovative TB financing strategies to match funding with the multiple interventions being rolled out.
Mr Mayowa Joel, Executive Secretary of Stop TB Partnership, said that the 2023 UNHLM special session would serve as an opportunity for a comprehensive review of the political declaration.
“The theme of 2023 UNHLM on TB is: ‘Advancing science, finance and innovation, and their benefits, to urgently end the global TB epidemic by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care,” he said.
He said that the UNHLM on TB is the most significant political meeting ever held on TB and the biggest opportunity to raise the political priority of TB.
“It secured commitment from Heads of State and governments for a coordinated global response, resulting in a substantial increase in financial resources for TB.
“That led to millions of lives being saved from premature deaths from TB,” he said.
He emphasised the need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive and coordinated response to UNHLM.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has launched a five-year National Strategy on Potato.
Speaking at the event on Thursday in Jos, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, said that the strategy would run from 2023 to 2028.
Represented by Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, the Director, Department of Agriculture of the ministry, Umakhihe said that the move was timely, following President Tinubu’s recent directive on the intensification of crop production.
The permanent secretary said that the move would usher in an era of productive competitiveness in the Nigerian potato industry.
He explained that the essence of the strategy was aimed at ensuring sustainable food and nutrition security in the country
Umakhihe added that the move also aimed at catalysing the rapid transformation of the Nigerian potato sector into a commercially viable sub-sector of the agricultural value chains into a major export product.
“Our goal is to stimulate economic growth through various agricultural value chain activities, thereby creating employment opportunities and improved livelihoods for our teeming youths and women.
“Let me assure you that food and nutrition security is a priority for the ministry and we are committed to achieving it.
“The ministry is embarking on massive production, processing, value addition and product development to be the bedrock for driving our industries.
“I have no doubt that the Nigerian Potato industry has the potential to become globally competitive given the country’s strong comparative advantage in production,” he said
The permanent secretary maintained that potato could be commercially grown in twelve states, adding that it holds well for the activities of many stakeholders.
He said government is aware of the challenges farmers are currently facing, adding that modalities have been adopted towards addressing them.
“The ministry is aware of the challenges in the agricultural sector, nevertheless I assure that necessary measures are taken to address them accordingly.
“Proactive initiatives, such as this National Potato Strategy creates avenue for inclusive collaborations to chart the way forward.
“I am optimistic this potato strategy document would be a springboard for the realisation of Nigeria’s aspiration to achieve food and nutrition security,” he added.
The permanent secretary thanked GIZ, a German organisation for supporting the initiative.
He explained that it is supporting the national strategy through its global programmes, Green Innovation Centres for the Agriculture and Food Sector-Nigeria (GIAE), and the International Potato Centre (CIP) Nairobi, Kenya.
The Federal Government has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its proposed 2-day nationwide warning strike over economic hardship.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Simon Lalong, made the call at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
The NLC in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NLC) said it would commence a 2-day nationwide warning strike from September 5 to September 6.
The NLC also threatened to embark on indefinite nationwide strike within 14 working days or 21 days from when the communique was issued unless the Federal Government addressed the excruciating suffering of Nigerians.
Lalong said that the appeal had become necessary in order to ensure robust line of communication with Nigerians and in particular the organised labour to forestall a breakdown of industrial peace.
He noted that the planned industrial action would no doubt reverse some of the gains already made by the administration.
According to him, in this context, it has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the NLC to suspend its intended two days warning strike.
“As such action would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded on our course to securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens at large.
“Furthermore, I would request that the Comrade Leadership of the NLC gives this government some time to settle and address the issues on the ground holistically.
“It should be realised that the Cabinet of this administration was only recently sworn in by Mr President and all cabinet members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs.
“Therefore, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC are some issues that I and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment are being briefed upon,” he said.
The minister however reassured Nigerian workers that this government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.
He also said that this administration would continue to pursue policies aimed at massive employment generation in all sectors of the economy.
Lalong added that this would enable government look into immediate challenges that have emerged out of its policies, saying “we cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace.
He also said that as a Minister of Labour and Employment, he was yet to be served official communication of the NLC communiqué, following its NEC meeting as required by law.
He further urged the NLC to do the needful by following laid down processes for handling such matters since the cabinet was on ground.
He assured that all the issues raised by the NLC would be looked into one after the other.
“Allow me to first express my sympathy and that of the government of President Bola Tinubu to Nigerians and in particular the workers.
“That is over the challenges that have arisen from the removal of petrol subsidy and other policies of the government aimed at renewing hope for the future of our dear nation.
“In light of these matters, I would like to reiterate my appeal to the leadership of the NLC to suspend the warning strike and subsequent future actions.
“To allow us to work together to amicably resolve these issues rather than embark on actions that would further worsen the conditions of the citizens of Nigeria,” he said.
He therefore announced that government would be meeting with the NLC by 3 p.m. on Monday (September 4)
The Federal Government has commenced improvement of facilities and infrastructure at Idu Train Station, Abuja, to improve service delivery.
Mr Fidet Okhira, Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), stated this after an inspection visit to the station on Wednesday.
Okhira added that the move was to improve customer service experience and ensure comfort, safety, and the safety of users.
He explained that the inspection became necessary following the unscheduled visit by the Minister of Transportation, Sen. Saidu Alkali to the station.
He added Alkali had highlighted some issues that needed to be corrected.
“My visit today is a follow up to ensure that all directives are duly followed and implemented.
“We appreciate the minister`s visit because it has put us on our toes and everybody, including myself, is busy getting the job done,“ he said.
He said that the three faulty lifts at the station have been fixed, while one of the three escalators was also working.
He explained that the remaining two escalators could only work in one way for now, adding that the remaining two were being fixed.
According to him, the NRC has keyed into the renewed hope of President Bola Tinubu and is determined to transform the railway service to serve the public better.
On welfare, the managing director said that the corporation had paid two months out of the five months allowances owed to cleaners and security personnel.
He explained that the delay was due to a shortfall in revenue generation since the train attack, adding that expenses had equally gone up.
“We will do all we can to ensure that the remaining balance is paid. This key to boost their morale to keep the train clean and safe for all users.
“Nonetheless, we are appealing for continued cooperation of the cleaners and security personnel to enable us to deliver quality services to the members of the public,” he said.
Okhira commended the Nigerian Police, the Army, and other stakeholders for securing the station and keeping it clean and serene.
