By Kingsley Okoye

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji-Uzor Kalu, has urged the incoming governments at all levels to partner the Church in accelerating the reconciliation of Nigerians.

Kalu made the call in Abuja on Friday at a mass to mark his 63rd birthday anniversary.

Kalu said there was an urgent need for the incoming administration to drive the needed peace and reconciliation in the country for the unity of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said he would be fully committed to help drive the reconciliation among Nigerians, the Church and government.

Kalu said there was so much hatred amongst Nigerians, noting that government must partner fully with the Church to further drive good governance in the country.

“I am going full out to reconcile the church and the government, and this is major, the government can not do it alone, the Church needs the government and the government needs the Church.

“So it is a partnership that can work and work very well, so I am going to be in front, driving it to make sure there is a true reconciliation between Nigerians, the church and the government.

“I tolerate all races in Nigeria and I want Nigerians to tolerate everyone and not descriminate, ” Kalu said.

He said he would use his contacts, as a recognised global business man, to support the incoming government, adding that the Church needs to work with the government.

“We need to tackle the challenges in the economy as soon as possible.

“No election is perfect, there is need for the reconciliation of our faith, and our people; there is so much hatred in the land everywhere you go amongst Nigerians.

“People should continue to make peace, let Nigeria not be like Sudan, I call on my fellow politicians to continue to work for the unity of our country.”

Kalu dismissed insinuations in some quarters that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu was sick, adding that the APC government would address the challenges faced by Nigerians.

“Our President-elect is not sick, it is not true, he is in good health and is safe.

“We need to think about the less privileged, about the masses, about the society; we need to think deeply that people must eat, we will come back to restructure this government.

“Nigeria has moved forward, and we will make effort to reconcile our self and the Nigerian people because Nigerian people have a very bad impression about the party I belong to.

“I nearly lost election in my constituency; this is where I have been state governor for eight years and people are saying elections were not credible, but the election is very credible.

“I want to praise the INEC; On my election I didn’t do anything; I was in my house, there was no money to give to anybody, I had no agent in my polling unit.

“I have not seen any election in the world that is very perfect, you must have issues,” Kalu said.

He said the 10th Senate collectively would be loyal to Nigerians, while urging Nigerians to also be loyal to the 10th assembly.

In his homily, Archbishop of Abuja Ignatius Kaigama, also prayed for peace and reconciliation of the country.

He said God had helped the celebrator in his 63 years of existence to overcome his challenges, saying that the celebrator had every reason to give God thanks.

He advised Kalu to continue to make God central in all his endeavour and urged him to remain courageous, inspite of challenges.

He urged politicians and leaders to fully identify with their Christian faith and not to be indifferent and anonymous on their faith.

He also urged the senator to continue to always speak out in favour of truth and Justice.

The clergy said the lawmaker had enormous responsibility, having been very impactful in the Senate.

“So we hope that he will drive the process of making Nigeria a better place; we are eager, we are thirsty, we are hungry for a better Nigeria and I think he is one person that can do that through his enormous contributions in the Senate.

“So whatever roles he plays in the Senate, let him play it well and maximally, so that we can have that desired change for a better Nigeria.

Participants at the mass were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, Chris Ngige of Labour Ministry and that of the Ministry of Niger- Delta Affairs, Umana-Umana.

Others were lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly, captains of industries, top government functionaries and diplomats.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Emmanuella Anokam

The MicCom Cables and Wires Ltd. has identified access to foreign exchange, electricity, and unfriendly policies on the importation of raw materials as major challenges confronting cable manufacturing in Nigeria.

The Chief Operating Officer of the company, Bukola Adubi who doubles as the President of the Cable Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CAMAN), made this known in a statement on Friday.

Adubi said with the national grid collapsing about 98 times since 2015, the cost of alternative sources of power for sustaining local manufacturing of cable was heavily on indigenous companies.

These challenges, she said, were further exacerbated by the Federal Government policies on the importation of raw materials for in-country cable manufacturing.

The MicCom boss described the situation as frustrating.

“From huge taxes to exorbitant import duties on raw materials, cable manufacturers have often decried the bottlenecks faced in importation of raw materials as these erode the bottom line.

Adubi, while emphasising the role of various categories of cables in the development of the energy value chain, called for measures to guarantee the availability of these essential materials.

She proposed zero import duty and access to the official exchange rate to improve the competitiveness of the sector deserved.

‘’If the cable industry, for instance, was granted some form of waiver or zero duty on raw materials, along with access to the CBN rate for foreign currency exchange, a great part of our challenges would have been resolved.

That’s a deliberate way the government can grow the subsector and make sure that we are internationally competitive because we do not have a vibrant source of raw materials,” she said.

Adubi called for the legal framework and right fiscal environment to encourage investment in copper and aluminum mines in-country.

She added that sourcing raw materials locally would help CAMAN member companies to reduce operational cost, increase their production capacity and reserves, create jobs, and generate more foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.

“From very complex cable sets like umbilicals used in subsea operations to the building of FPSOs, and numerous fabrications and constructions, you can’t rule out cables.

“But inadequate power supply is the bane of development for our industries. You can only imagine the cost expended to keep production running all through the year. It creates a significant impression on the bottom line.

“You need virile sectors to forge reasonable partnerships in Africa,” she said.

Commending the Federal Government through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on its efforts in ensuring patronage of locally-manufactured cables by the oil and gas industry, Adubi said the sector had shown significant growth of in-country value addition.

She said currently, local content was maximised in the oil and gas sector.

“I will especially thank NCDMB because they have ensured that the law is being implemented.

“It will be good if a lot more of our members enjoy that benefit. That’s a major part of our strategic plans as CAMAN for 2023,” she added.

Adubi further stated that at the moment only less than five member-companies were currently enjoying the benefits in this space. (NAN)(www.nannews.com)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Vivian Emoni

The President of the Gold Miners Processors, Producer Association, (GMPPA), Mr Auwal Bununu, has said that mining activities would create job opportunities and generate revenue, if effectively implemented.

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

He said that the sector would motivate industrial growth as a local source of raw materials and enhance the quality of lives in rural communities.

According to him, the sector, if effectively implemented, will reduce poverty, increase youth employment, provide infrastructure, healthcare, food security, environmental management and climate change.

“We need the resources to address all these problems, as the government needs to develop mining industries, to be able to achieve economic development.

“Through their direct operations, mining companies can generate profits, employment and economic growth.

“Partnering with government and civil society is to ensure that benefits of mining extend beyond the life of the mine itself.

“The mining industry has a positive impact on the natural environment, climate change, and social capital,’’ he said.

Bununu said the association was evolving private sector partnership for mineral and metal development, adding that the effort would generate revenue, attract investment as well as promote trading in the country.

He said that the association had reached out to almost all the mining countries to achieve its goals.

Bununu said that the association had also gathered all the mining operators to one umbrella, adding that the essence was to transform and diversify the country`s economies.

“Mining-dependent countries need to transform and diversify their economies, achieve higher living standards and reduce poverty and manage expectations of an increasingly informed population.

“That is what we are trying to ensure that we achieve the objectives. We want to make sure we leave a decent legacy to future generations,” he said.

The mining association boss called on private sectors to intensively participate on the mining activities and ensure they collaborate strongly with the government for a thriving industry. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vincent Obi

By Florence Onuegbu

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said it had paid over N50.7 billion to 13,928 retirees, from 2019 till date.

The Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Ajibola Ponnle, made this known during the 100th Retirement Bond Certificate Presentation Ceremony, organised by the Lagos State Pensions Commission at Ikeja.

Ponnle, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishments and Training, Mr Olawale Musa, said that the payments were made to retirees in the mainstream, local government, State Universal Board, Teaching Service Commission and other state parastatals.

She also said that the state government had paid accrued pension rights of N5 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts of 1,768 retirees, alongside their monthly contributions.

According to her, the present administration has been consistent in the payment of pension obligations to its retirees, thereby, maintaining leading role in the administration of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Ponnle said the Bond Certificates presentation ceremony was a testament to the state government’s faithfulness in the performance of its obligations to retirees.

She said that the government was grateful for the diligence and commitment of the retirees while in active service.

Ponnle added that it was the recognition of the need to protect their retirement benefits that informed the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

She said that the present administration was currently working on some reforms, based on global best practices, to reduce post-retirement financial difficulties.

The commissioner said that the state government was committed to building an environment that remained safe and secure for all residents.

Ponnle also said that the state government would continue to raise the bar of governance to improve the livelihood of all residents. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Emmanuel Afonne

A mushroom plant scientist, Prof. Sami Ayodele, has urged the Federal Government to create an opportunity for farmers to embrace mushroom cultivation to serve as alternative means of farming and income generation for the country.

Ayodele made the call in Abuja on Thursday while delivering the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) 22nd inaugural lecture with the topic: “Mushrooms: Friends or Foes.”

He said it was imperative for the government to sensitise citizens on the benefits of mushroom cultivation for wealth creation and poverty alleviation.

“It is imperative for the government to commence elaborate sensitisation of citizens about mushroom cultivation for wealth creation and poverty alleviation since it has a lot to contribute to the economy of the nation,” he said.

Ayodele, Professor of Botany, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, NOUN, said the country could earn as much as one trillion naira annually if the sector could be properly developed.

He noted that the mushroom sub-sector and its value chain could provide 30 million skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled jobs for the teaming unemployed graduates, vulnerable youths and women.

“Mushroom cultivation could have great economic and social impacts by generating income and employment for both women and youths, particularly in rural areas of developing countries.

“For instance, in China, it was estimated that the export value of mushrooms was about $1.6 billion and the total employment in the mushroom industry was over 30 million people.

“Out of this population, only 10 per cent are actual mushroom farmers, others fall within sectors such as food, beverage manufacturing, trading and management, transport, marketing, retailing, export and so on.

“The global demand for mushrooms has continued to increase significantly according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report, while the market for mushrooms is huge and growing exponentially.

“The world mushroom market as at the end of 2020 stood at about $45.3 billion with China producing the highest.

“In Africa, only South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Algeria and Morocco grow mushrooms on a large scale, while Nigeria, the giant of Africa, does not feature in African mushroom production scale, not to talk about world production scale,” Ayodele said.

He, however, cautioned that care must be taken to ensure poisonous species were not mistaken for edible ones when collecting wild mushrooms.

Ayodele who is also the Director in charge of NOUN Abuja Model Study Centre (AMSC), noted that toxins from poisonous mushrooms could cause extensive cellular damage, affect the autonomic system and the central nervous system.

He added that toxins from poisonous mushrooms could cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

Ayodele, therefore, urged the government to establish a national mushroom germplasm centre where documentation of all available edible and medicinal mushrooms in different regions of the country would be housed.

“There should be regular seminars, symposia, conferences and workshops by the mushroom scientists to sensitise the Nigerian public about the new trend in mushroom cultivation and its potential for food security.

“Soft loans should be granted to interested individuals particularly unemployed youths and graduates with training in mushroom science to establish small-scale mushroom farms to reduce unemployment.

“The pharmaceutical industries in Nigeria should exploit the medicinal potential of the bio-diversities of medicinal mushrooms in Nigeria for medicinal formulation,” he said.

The Vice-chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, while applauding Ayodele for his vision and lecture promised to establish a laboratory in the institution dedicated to mushroom research.

Peters tasked Ayodele to set up a research group for mushroom to enable him get the institution’s support.

He urged the government, especially the incoming administration, not to allow the research to end up as an academic exercise.

“I wish him (Ayodele) more success in his career and especially as I have made the pledge, I will be awaiting some proposals on my table.

“For all of us here, especially our professors and senior academics, this institution will count on you to continue to give us shining examples on how we march forward to research,” Peters said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma