NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Economy/Business , Food Security

Nigeria targets 40 metric tonnes of cassava per hectare — FMARD

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By Leonard Okachie

Mrs Karima Babangida, a Director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has said that Nigeria has the potential to produce more than 40 metric tonnes per hectare (mt/ha).

Babangida said this on Thursday at a workshop on cassava production, held at the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, near Umuahia.

She described the country as the world’s leading producer of cassava with 10 mt/ha.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop, tagged “Capacity building of farmers to address yield gap in cassava production,” was organised for youth and women farmers in the South-East.

Babangida, who was represented by the South-East Regional Director of FMARD, Mr Felix Kehis, said there was need for farmers to intensify efforts to improve productivity.

According to her, increased productivity would attract more people and benefits to cassava production.

“Nigeria is the world’s leading producer of Cassava, in spite its low yield of 10mt/ha, compared to other countries such as Thailand.”

“However, the country has the potential of having good varieties that could give more than 40mt/ha,” she said.
Babangida said that the workshop was to ensure that the yield gap in cassava production was bridged.

She said the target could be achieved through the dissemination and adoption of improved technologies and innovation by smallholder farmers.

She said that the ministry would continue to support relevant activities of cassava value chain to utilise and produce improved cassava planting materials.

In a remark, the Abia State Director of FMARD, Mr Victor Ihediwa, said the ministry would continue to support relevant activities of cassava value chain.

Ihediwa urged the participants to put all they learnt into use toward achieving the national policy on food security.

In an address of welcome, the Executive Director, NRCRI, Prof. Ukpabi Joseph-Ukpabi, said that FMARD was working towards achieving food and nutrition security in the country through its various activities.

Joseph-Ukpabi, represented by Dr Namdi Eke-Okoro, urged participants to disseminate every knowledge they acquired at the workshop to other farmers.

A participant, Mrs Chinyere Agbai, expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying that the workshop had further enriched her knowledge in cassava farming. (NAN)

Education

CBN presents Edo Best Farmer Award to LAPO client

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By Joy Odigie

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Benin branch, on Thursday presented the Edo Best Farmer of the Year 2020 Award to Mr John Osagie.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osagie is a client of the Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Microfinance Bank.

Mr Renner Jumbo, CBN Branch Controller in Benin, said the award was presented under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF).

Jumbo said the scheme was a viable channel to boost food security and also to support the revenue diversification drive of the Federal Government.

He commended LAPO MFB for boosting credit in the agricultural sector as well as supporting the CBN’s drive to improve food production in the country.

Jumbo implored all eligible participating financial institutions in the state to embrace the scheme.

The CBN controller also presented  ACGSF Award to the first runner up, Mr Frankly Obawonyi, a client of the Prosperity Microfinance Bank.

In his remarks, Mr Remi Akande, Head, Communications, LAPO MFB, commended CBN for the award and its decision to hold the award annually.

Akande said LAPO MFB joined the scheme in 2012 as it aligned with its goal of farmers’ empowerment, poverty alleviation, food security and economic diversification.

He said that 34,000 farmers across 34 states of the federation, including FCT had so far benefited from ACGSF through LAPO MFB.

Also, Mr Linus Nwokolo, Head Development Finance Office, CBN Benin office, said the best farmer award was presented to any client of the participating financial institutions who paid back ACGSF loans as and when due.

Nwokolo said that CBN had not recorded loan default from LAPO and Progress MFBs under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund.

Commenting, Osagie and Obawonyi, the 1st and 2nd winners of the award, commended CBN for the recognition and promised to improve on their achievements. (NAN)

Economy/Business

CBN disburses N85bn as credit support to 80 health projects, says Director

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By Kadiri Abdulrahman

The CBN says it has disbursed over N85 billion to no fewer than 80 projects, under its Healthcare Credit Support scheme, the bank’s Director of Development Finance, Mr Yila Yusuf, has announced

In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, in Abuja, Yusuf said that the projects cut across medical, pharmaceutical, herbal and other related products, and a funeral home.

He spoke against the backdrop of the apex bank’s award of N253.54 million Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme (HSRDIS) grants to five researchers on Tuesday.

“In the healthcare credit support scheme, we have disbursed over N85 billion to more than 80 projects, mainly to reposition and enhance capacity of hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. We even financed a funeral home,’’ he said.

He said under the HSRDIS,  an empanelled body of experts, chaired by Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), received over 200 research entries, evaluated 68 and picked the best five entries for the grants.

He added that more grants would be awarded, as entries continued  to be evaluated, while the grants were being disbursed on a “milestone basis’’, rather than as a “bullet payment’’.

“Mr Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, has restated the apex bank’s commitment to support the growth of Nigeria’s health sector, while assuring that more grants will be awarded based on the recommendations of the Body of Experts,” Yusuf said.

He urged corporate organisations to support research and development for the overall good of Nigeria.

NAN reports that the CBN approved N100 billion credit support scheme for the healthcare sector in 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (NAN)

Foreign

UNICEF chief: $1bn more needed for COVAX COVID-19 vaccine rollout

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The UNICEF on Wednesday urged countries to contribute more money to help poor countries to access Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, saying around $1 billion was needed.

UNICEF, the world’s single largest vaccine buyer, is part of the World Health Organisation-backed COVAX programme to supply COVID-19 shots to emerging economies.

“We have been asking the world for more funding for UNICEF and our distribution to countries we still need about 1 billion dollars ,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said at Dubai’s World Government Summit.

That funding could be used to strengthen health systems in poorer nations and support the distribution of vaccines there, she said.

The COVAX initiative aims to deliver at least 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses this year, including 1.3 billion doses to lower-income countries.

Fore urged vaccine makers to sign licensing agreements so vaccines could be made locally, singling out Africa as one market that needed it.

She also said it was unlikely that the COVAX scheme would be able to cover the world in 2021.

“There is still more to do and we could do with more help and assistance,” Fore said. (Reuters/NAN)

General News

Rise above limitations – C &I Leasing urges women

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By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, C& I Leasing Plc., Mr Andrew Otike-Odibi, has advised women to rise above  challenges they face in the business landscape.

Otike-Odibi gave the advice at a webinar organised by the company to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day celebration in Lagos.

The managing director, who commended women in the company for brining passion to their jobs, said that women must rise to challenges in today’s dynamic business landscape.

“C & I women are fierce and bold, and they bring these to the table in all that they do, with so much passion.

“As the business landscape transforms rapidly, I charge all the women to continue to step up and take their place in leadership, even amid challenging times as we have seen recently,” he said.

Commenting,  a human development expert and leadership coach, Alero Onosode, remarked that there were misconceptions around the concept of gender equality.

According to Onosode,  while some people believe there are no obvious hindrances to women development, others feel there are certain roles or activities each  gender is better suited for.

She regretted that some people wrongly assumed that investing in women would not pay off, while some others thought that women were too emotional for leadership roles.

Onosode urged women to correct wrong narratives  by achieving full potential.

“Women must take a position to articulate and address misconceptions around gender equality because, sometimes, these come from a place of ignorance. We need to challenge the limitations, mindsets and biases including those that women carry.

“We need to have conversations around the values that we hold on to. We also need to challenge the cultural and societal expectations along with policies and systems,” she said.

Also at the webinar, Ibukun Omololu, a gender parity and women development enthusiast, said that gender inequality had been a barrier to socio-economic development for a long time.

Omololu said that increased women representation in leadership positions would yield better outcomes for organisations and societies.

“Women have unique leadership skills. We are focused, looking at issues from all angles.

“We get better outcomes in any project or business when there is equal representation and a combination of the unique leadership styles of men and women.

“We are clamouring for women to get to the top because they have contributions to make, and they should make those contributions in achieving business objectives,” she said.

Omololu called for women-centric policies in organisations. (NAN)

Judiciary

EFCC opposes plans by Maina’ s lawyer to withdraw from trial

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By Taiye Agbaje

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, opposed the plan by Sani Katu, SAN, counsel to Abdulrasheed Maina, Chairman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), to withdraw his appearance in the ongoing trial.

The EFCC counsel, Farouk Abdullah, urged Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to reject the oral application by Katu on the ground that it failed to comply with relevant section of the law.

Katu notified the court of his intention to withdraw from the trial.

“The matter is for continuation of hearing for us to bring another witness.

“Before then, we have a very simple application to make.

“It is to seek from this honourable court to specially withdraw from this matter.

“In making this application, we have all it takes to appreciate the court’s indulgence,” he said.

However, Abdullah opposed the prayer, saying the senior counsel did not comply with Section 349(8) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 in making the request.

“As rightly stated by the senior counsel, the matter is slated for continuation of defence.

“My lord, the defendant has a constitutional right to a counsel of his choice and a counsel in a matter can also withdraw at any time he deems fit.

“My only reservation is the noncompliance with Section 349(8) of ACJA 2015.

“In view of the noncompliance of senior counsel with the provision of extant law on withdrawal of counsel, we pray the court to refuse the application and direct that the business of the day be done,” he said.

Katu, who acknowledged that the section of the law provided that an application for notification to withdraw had to be made to the court not less than 3 days before hearing, said he had a discussion with the prosecution counsel “off record” on the issue before the sitting.

He, therefore, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him file necessary papers in compliance with the law.

Responding, Abdullah said the law did not give the court the avenue to use its discretionary power on the matter.

“The operative words: ‘shall notify the court’ is mandatory to rob the court of the discretion to direct otherwise.

“We therefore urge the court to discountenance his application for adjournment,” he added.

In his ruling, Justice Abang, who held that “what is off record is not before the court,” said the application for adjournment lacked merit.

“Obviously, he did not comply with Section 349(8) of ACJA,” he ruled.

The judge also said that Katu had not offered any explanation on his intention to withdraw from the case.

He said his plan to withdraw was to compound the issues before the court and to hold the court to ransom.

Abang, who refused the application, ordered the proceeding for the day to continue.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the course of the trial, Joe Gadzama, SAN; Adeola Adedipe, were among Maina’s lawyers who had withdrawn their services in the matter.

Maina and his company, Common Input Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N2.1 billion.(NAN)

Economy/Business

Customs intercepts smuggled goods worth N79m in Katsina

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Abdullahi Shugaba

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area Command in Katsina, says it intercepted smuggled goods worth N79million  between February and March 2021.

Mr Adewale Aremu, the state Area Controller of Customs (ACC), disclosed this when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina on Wednesday.

Aremu said the seized goods included 470 bags of 50kg rice concealed in different compartments of a fuel tanker.

“Others include 367 bales of second hand cloths worth over N30million; used Honda Accord salon car worth over N8million as well as 166 jerry cans of vegetable oil valued at N1.8 million.

“Also confiscated are 321 cartons of foreign spaghetti; 97 cartons of couscous; 110 cartons of macaroni; 65 cartons of milky creamer; 14 cartons of clinical plaster and 187 bags of sugar,” he said.

Aremu said the tanker with registration number KWL 427 TH has a duty value of N13.5million.

“The trailer used for conveying the second hand cloths is valued at N12.1million,” he said.

Aremu reiterated that the NCS will not relent in its efforts to track down smugglers in the country, pointing out that the practice was detrimental to the economy of Nigeria. (NAN)

Aviation

AIB investigates Air Peace Boeing 737-300 aircraft burst tyre — says official

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By Yunus Yusuf

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Nigeria says it has begun investigation into the  Air Peace Boeing 737-300 aircraft that had a burst tyre, while landing on Runway 18R , on Monday, in Lagos.

AIB’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Tunji Oketunbi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, in Lagos.

Oketunbi said the incident occurred as the plane was landing on Runway 18R on Monday, carrying 127 passengers and six crew members from Abuja Airport en route Lagos, but landed without causalities.

He said: “The Accident Investigation Bureau, Nigeria has been notified and commenced investigation into a serious incident.

“This incident involves a Boeing 737-300 with Nationality and Registration Marks 5N-BUQ operated by Air Peace Airline, which occurred around 9.31 p.m. (Local Time) on March 8, 2021.

“The aircraft, with 127 passengers and six crew members onboard, was en route Lagos from Abuja.

“The aircraft had a burst tyre on landing on Runway 18R of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and taxied to GAT to park. There was no injury or fatality.”

Oketunbi said that AIB required assistance of the public in the course of its investigation into the accident, explaining that it was open to receiving any video clips, relevant evidence, or information on the incident from any member of the public.

“Kindly contact us on our official communication channels: Mobile App: AIB-N, Website: www.aib.gov.ng, Twitter: @aibnigeria, Instagram: @AIB_Nigeria.

“Facebook: AIB Nigeria, Email: commissioner@aib.gov.ng, SMS/WhatsApp: +234807 709 0900, 0807 709 0928,” he said.

He added that the bureau would, however, appreciate respect for the privacy of the people involved, by both the public and the media, and not to assume the cause of the accident, until a formal report was released.

The general manager said, however, that the agency would soon release its preliminary report on the incident. (NAN)

Health

Bauchi State receives 150,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines

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By Ahmed Kaigama

Bauchi State government on Wednesday received 150,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines allocated by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Baba Tela, said this while receiving the vaccines at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.

Tela assured residents of the state that the government would soon commence the vaccination in line with the scheduled guidelines by NPHCDA.

He said that 80, 570 doses of COVID-19 vaccines would be administered to frontline health workers, government officials, traditional, religious leaders and security personnel.

Tela, also the Chairman of the state Task Force Committee on COVID-19 and Lassa fever, declared that “the vaccine is potent.’’

According to him, the vaccine has been administered across the world and all those who took it are doing well.

“The World Health Organisation has approved it, therefore, we in Bauchi are ready to take it,” the deputy governor said.

He further said that Gov. Bala Mohammmed, would lead other top government officials to take the vaccine after which others in the legislature and security would take their turns.

The deputy governor said that the vaccine would be distributed to the 20 Local Government Areas and 323 wards in the state where it would be administered to frontline health workers and other vulnerable people, including the aged and children.

He advised citizens to shun misinformation making the rounds about the vaccines, adding that it had been scientifically tested and certified fit for human use by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Tela assured that the quantity supplied to the state would be administered and urged the people not to be afraid but embrace the vaccine as the surest way of avoiding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking earlier, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA) said that the vaccines arrived late Tuesday night and was taken into the cold store to maintain its potency.

Mohammed added that the vaccines must be administered immediately in line with the direction of its usage, stressing that it was potent in fighting COVID-19 infection.

He assured the people that the government would ensure that the vaccine went round everybody in order to rid the state of COVID-19. (NAN)

Environment

NGO donates water schemes to 5 FCT communities

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By Tosin Kolade

WASH MATA Initiatives, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) with support from Bank of Industry (BOI) has donated one motorised water scheme to five communities each in the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the benefiting communities are; Shape, Shishipe II, Nunkuchi, Sumpe (GidanGogo) and Shere Nomadic in Bwari area council of the FCT.

Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, Chief Executive Officer WASH MATA Initiatives, noted that the group identified some communities that have not been reached in the FCT.

”If Nigeria will achieve the Sustainable Development Goal six on improved access to water and sanitation, she must be intentional by not leaving anyone behind.

“One of it is a nomadic community where their cows had to drink water first; you will see the women queuing to get water from dirty streams in 2021 in FCT here.

“We used a vulnerability risks assessment to find out which communities are vulnerable, to ensure that services rendered to those who really needs them are not just constituency project’’.

Onabolu listed difficult terrains, insecurity and issues of kidnapping as challenges encountered while intervening.

She stressed the need for data to be available to help in evidence based interventions to select communities needing support.

“There is need for measures to be put in place from project formulation to implementation stages to help sustainability in interventions’’.

She said another challenge in the communities was a gap in rehabilitation of broken down water infrastructure, saying that with training of community members on operation and maintaining through little contributions, it would go a long way.

“We need evidence based intervention; the same people are getting the water while those that are in hard to reach communities will be left with no water.

“With sustainability comes the need for training, provision of tools to be integrated into water supply plans from the beginning.”

Analysis from the World Bank Sanitation Programme estimates that inadequate sanitation costs Nigeria 3 billion dollars annually, about 20 dollars per person and 1.3 per cent of its Annual GDP.

The cost of inadequate water supply is also estimated to be within this amount due to the health care costs and productive time lost from water related diseases.

The bank said safe drinking water provision is one of the most critical environmental health interventions used to prevent water and sanitation-related diseases.

NAN reports that WASH MATA Initiatives also rehabilitated 3 hand pump boreholes (HPBHs) and two motorised boreholes, with no fewer than 12,500 people in the communities having access to safe drinking water. (NAN)

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