NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Tinubu says global collaboration key to sustainable devt.

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By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday assured a global audience in the United Arab Emirates that Nigeria is ready to work with other nations to build a resilient, equitable and sustainable world for all.

Tinubu said this while speaking on the topic, “From Climate Imperatives into Economic Prosperity: Bridging Africa with the Global Energy Future”, on the second day of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The President declared that no single nation could walk the road to sustainability alone, stressing that global interconnectedness demanded collective action, knowledge sharing and mutual support, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman, said in a statement.

“The fight against climate change is not merely an environmental necessity but a global economic opportunity to reshape the trajectory of our continent and the global energy landscape.

“As leaders, stakeholders and citizens of our planet, we stand at a critical juncture in human history. To succeed, we must innovate, collaborate and act decisively as one global community,” he said.

Reiterating his administration’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, Tinubu assured the audience that the Nigerian government had developed actionable programmes in line with global expectations.

“We have embraced a vision of sustainability that aligns with global aspirations while addressing local realities.

“Our efforts are anchored on three pillars: Energy Transition, Climate Resilience, and Sustainable Development.

“My administration recognises the importance of reducing carbon emissions and a just transition to clean and renewable energy, promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth,” he said.

He added that Nigeria is developing infrastructure for the widespread use of Compressed Natural Gas and electric vehicles and harnessing the potential in solid minerals to support the green energy transition.

According to him, Nigeria is also implementing climate-smart agricultural practices to enhance food security and lessen its destructive environmental impact.

These, he said, included the introduction of the National Clean Cooking Policy to promote clean energy, environmental and health benefits and socio-economic development in the African region.

Tinubu said the government was working with local communities to implement solutions to mitigate the adverse consequences of the country’s environmental challenges.

He said these challenges – deforestation, desertification, coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution – threatened the livelihoods of millions.

He called on partner countries to collaborate in mobilising resources to tackle these challenges and embrace innovation and technology.

“To promote a Green Economy in Africa, we must focus on integrating sustainable practices in all sectors of our economy.

“These investments are capital intensive and require international support from partner countries, including multinational organisations, development partners and individuals,” he said.

He said Nigeria became the first country in Africa to initiate funding of green projects through Sovereign Green Bond proceeds, the third issuance of which is in progress.

“We urge investors to partner with us in this regard. Our administration remains committed to providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Nigeria.

“By partnering with global leaders and harnessing the power of technology, we are finding new and innovative ways to address our environmental challenges.

“We have arable agricultural lands for advanced technological farming, including a bright future for Artificial Intelligence,” Tinubu said.  (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

FG’ll deploy drones to maximise agricultural output – Kyari

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By Salif Atojoko

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, on Tuesday, said the Federal Government will deploy technology for all-year round farming.

The minister said this while briefing State House correspondents.

“The faster we clear land, harvest, chemical deployment, whether it’s pesticide, whether it’s herbicide, the better.

“We intend to use drone technology in doing that because what one drone can do, a hundred people cannot do in a day.

“So, we are going to use drones to fast-track agricultural activities, harvest quickly, and then make the land available for the next cycle of cultivation,” said Kyari.

He said his ministry would partner the private sector to support vibrant youths to take advantage of its mechanisation programme.

“It is very important to also educate our farmers that agriculture is no longer for the stomach only. It should also be seen as a business, something that will earn a livelihood.

“So, what we have seen that input support may not necessarily be what will incentivise our smallholder farmers to produce.

“I think we need to change the mindset and see how we can engage them in such a way that funding from the private sector should support agricultural production,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

FG ready for dry season rice cultivation, says Kyari

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By Salif Atojoko

The Federal Government has concluded plans for dry season rice farming in its phase two of support for farmers toward increased harvests and food security for Nigerians.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said this while briefing State House correspondents on Tuesday.

He said the Federal Government would support no fewer than 400,000 farmers to cultivate 200,000 hectares.

“Rice cultivation in dry season takes place in irrigated areas in the whole country, 36 states plus FCT.

“We are starting end of this month and early February in the southern parts of the country where we have already identified clusters where irrigation farming will take place and southern part of north-central zone.

“That is because the rain starts early and we are going to start doing the dry season farming much ahead of what we used to do.

“So, the northern part from the middle part of north-central to the upper part of north-east and north-west will be sometime a month later in February,” said Kyari.

He said another intervention by his ministry to boost food security was provision of tractors.

“We have started receiving some of the tractors that have been procured since October 2024.

“The 2,000 tractors from Belarus have started arriving in Nigeria. We should start delivering them to Abuja, where we are going to assemble some of them that are CKDs.

“Very soon, as soon as we finish the delivery and assembling, we are going to launch the tractors for onward distribution to our respective farmers,” he said.

He added that the Federal Government last week signed a deal to procure 2,000 John Deere tractors at the cost of $70 million dollars through the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund.

“No payment has been made so far on that one, but for the ones from Belarus, we have made an upfront payment 30 per cent,” said Kyari. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

We expect bumper wheat harvest – Agric minister

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By Salif Atojoko

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security,  Sen. Abubakar Kyari, says wheat farmers are expecting bumper harvest this year as a result of  support from  the Federal Government.

The minister said this at a media parley with State House correspondents on Tuesday.

He said the expectation of a bumper wheat harvest was based on the Federal Government’s  intervention in the phase one of dry season wheat production of 2024-2025, which ended on Dec. 27, 2024.

He said during the programme, that about 300,000 farmers were supported to cultivate 150,000 hectares, which meant  one farmer per half a hectare.

He said the Federal Government subsidised wheat seeds to the tune of 75 per cent, with farmers paying 25 per cent of the seed amount.

“Then, in terms of fertilisation, it’s also 50-50, just like we did last year, 50 per cent subsidy of fertiliser to the farmers.

“So, we’re waiting for the vegetative growth and also subsequently,  the harvest  sometime around March and April.

“We have a lot of expectations this year because the farmers have expressed  desires to go into wheat more than ever before, simply because of the attraction and the profit,” the minister said. 

He stated that Cross River became a wheat producing state, the first time a southern state joined the other 15 northern wheat producing states.

“It’s a pilot scheme that we’re going to have in the northern part of Cross River. Wheat, of course, is a crop that is cultivated in cold season and under irrigation.

“In addition to the dry season, we also intend to pilot wet season wheat cultivation in highland areas that are temperate, that are colder, places like Taraba , Plateau , and the same Cross River,”  Kyari said. 

He said from reports received from different parts of the country, there was considerable positive harvest generally in the  2024 farming season.

“We have a harvest that far exceeds that of the previous year in all the major staple crops that we have cultivated during the wet season in 2024.

“Going forward, we also have engaged and have launched the dry season cultivation of 2024 through 2025.

“We launched the dry season cultivation  Cross River, on Nov. 14, 2024, when we had the 46th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security which held at the International Convention Centre, Calabar. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

NSE wants young engineers embrace AI as critical skillset

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By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lagos Branch, has urged young engineers to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a critical skillset.

 

The Chairman of NSE, Lagos Branch, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, gave the advice at the graduateship induction ceremony organised for the young engineers by the branch, on Monday.

 

The event was organised by the branch in conjunction with the Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event has the theme: “AI Revolution in Engineering Entrepreneurship and Nation Building”.

 

Kesha acknowledged the potential risks associated with the advancement of AI, particularly the concern that AI could displace human workers in various fields.

 

She, however, said that embracing AI was important.

 

She said: “You can’t stop the moving train.

 

“It is either you jump on or you are left behind. We are advising you to jump onto the moving train.”

 

Mr Dideolu Falobi, Managing Director, Krestal Laurel, corroborated Kesha’s point, urging engineers to equip themselves for the challenges of and opportunities in the technological landscape.

 

According to him, once engineers understand AI principles and the practical applications, they can use it to do whatever they want and excel.

 

He said: “The contemporary issue which will determine our very close future is AI, the AI revolution; that is, equipping machines to be able to function as human beings.

 

“It is being deployed in all industries.

 

“For any young engineer, the education of today is incomplete if you are not conversant with the basics of AI and how to deploy them in whatever you want to do.”

 

Mrs Margaret Oguntala, the President of NSE, expressed desire to see all the inductees to become full corporate members of the NSE in the next four years.

 

She was represented by Mr Ayo Ogunaike, a former Chairman, Lagos Branch of NSE.

 

She highlighted the numerous benefits of membership of the NSE.

 

Oguntala informed the inductees that the NSE had strong presence, with five branches in Lagos and a total of 86 branches worldwide.

 

She announced that the annual general meeting of the NSE would be held in Ibadan.

 

NAN reports that 504 graduates from different fields of engineering were inducted into NSE at the occasion.

 

Earlier, the inductees held a procession from UNILAG Faculty of Engineering to the Oyebolu Engineering Resource Centre at the Works and Physical Planning Department, where they took their induction oath. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Tinubu true champion of black race—Support Group

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By Salif Atojoko

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) says President Bola Tinubu’s speech at the inauguration of Ghana’s new President, John Mahama, shows he is a Pan-Africanist and true champion of the black race.

Mr Emeka Nwankpa, Chairman of TMSG, in a statement on Monday, said that the speech was the best testament to the continent’s capacity to reinvent itself and build on its potential.

“Looking back at Tinubu’s speech as a special guest at the inauguration of Ghana’s newly elected president, it was not surprising that he used the platform to showcase Africa’s resilience against its myriad of challenges.

“This is a line he had constantly pushed at all his international engagements aside from promoting Nigeria’s interests.”

Nwankpa quoted Tinubu as saying that Ghana’s successful election addressed the question of whether Ghana and other African countries were capable of democratic and productive endeavours.

He said that Tinubu’s message could not have been more appropriate at a time of a resurgent military adventurism in some countries of West Africa.

“Anyone aware of Tinubu’s antecedents as a pro-democracy activist will not be surprised by his reference to the long years of unbroken democracy in Ghana and Nigeria.

“We see this as a fitting response to Africa’s critics on the strides the continent has made in development of democracy.”

The chairman said Tinubu’s speech was another bold statement of Africa’s readiness to live up to its historical capacity to govern its people and build its economy.

“Also interesting to TMSG is Tinubu’s position that African countries should not allow external interests to escalate normal differences and disagreements that could be amicably resolved by sincere brotherly dialogue.

“This is a statesman-like message that is needed at a time Africa is locked down by a renewed scramble by global players and superpowers contending for influence in the continent,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Africa has what it takes to develop itself – Tinubu

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By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu says that Africa has what it takes to develop itself and should look inward to improve intra-African trade in the interest of the people and the continent.

The President said this on his official X account on Monday, adding that he had successful conversations with the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, on the eve of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2025).

“We have the resources, the people and the capacity. We must look inward to improve intra-African trade and collaboration to benefit the African people and the continent.

“The time for Africa is now. We can. We must. We will,” said Tinubu.

The President departed Abuja on Jan. 11 to participate in the 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, invited President Tinubu to attend the Summit, which will take place in the Emirate from Jan. 12 to 18.

The Summit is expected to bring together global leaders to accelerate sustainable development and advance socioeconomic progress.

The event titled, ‘The Nexus of Next; Supercharging Sustainable Progress’, will enable policymakers, business, and civil society leaders to explore pathways to fast-track the transformation to a sustainable economy and evolve a new era of prosperity for all. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

 

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Group President, African Development Bank (AfDB)

African Energy Summit in Tanzania to accelerate electricity access-AfDB

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By Olawunmi Ashafa

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is set to host the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in collaboration with the World Bank Group, the African Union (AU), and the Tanzanian government.

The bank said in a statement posted on its website that the summit, scheduled for Jan. 27 and Jan. 28, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, will bring together key stakeholders to address Africa’s critical electricity access challenges.

It said that the event would convene African heads of state, government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, civil society organisations and academics to advance the continent’s electrification agenda.

AfDB noted that central to the discussions would be the ambitious ‘Mission 300 plan’, a joint initiative by the bank and the World Bank launched in April 2024.

According to the bank, the initiative aims to connect 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa to electricity by 2030.

It added that, with nearly 600 million Africans lacking access, representing 83 per cent of the global energy deficit, the summit underscores the urgency of accelerating electrification efforts.

“Launched in April 2024 by the AfDB and the World Bank, the Mission 300 initiative seeks to combine increased infrastructure investments with comprehensive policy reforms across the energy supply chain.

“With nearly 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity, representing 83 per cent of the global energy deficit, the summit highlights the urgent need for action.

“The summit will serve as a crucial platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices and mobilise resources to accelerate electricity access in Africa.

“Successful implementation of the Mission 300 plan is critical for economic growth, poverty reduction, and improved quality of life for millions of Africans,” it explained. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

President Bola Tinubu

Tinubu condoles with labour minister over mother’s death

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By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu on Friday extended condolences to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, on the death of his mother, Hajiya Hauwa’u Abubakar, at the age of 94.

The president, in a statement by his Spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday in Abuja, said the death of the nonagenarian was a loss that extended beyond her immediate family to the community far and near.

Tinubu joined the Dingyadi family in mourning the late matriarch and condoled with the government and people of Sokoto State.

While praying for the repose of the deceased’s soul, he urged her family to preserve the good memories she left behind by continuing with her good deeds. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

 

Tinubu to attend sustainability summit in Abu Dhabi

109 total views today

 

 

By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Saturday, Jan. 11, to participate in the 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2025).

Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, invited President Tinubu to attend the Summit, which will take place in the emirate from Jan. 12 to 18, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement.

“The Summit will bring together global leaders to accelerate sustainable development and advance socioeconomic progress.

“The event, ‘The Nexus of Next; Supercharging Sustainable Progress,’ will enable policymakers, business, and civil society leaders to explore pathways to fast-track the transformation to a sustainable economy and evolve a new era of prosperity for all.

“ADSW, a testament to the power of collaboration, has been held annually for over 15 years,” said the statement.

It said the forum would provide a global platform to foster multi-stakeholder cooperation in addressing global challenges and accelerating growth.

“It has birthed high-value agreements and strategic partnerships between governments, industry leaders, and clean energy pioneers worldwide, driving impactful alliances and advancing the sustainability agenda worldwide.

“At the event, President Tinubu will stress his administration’s reforms, including those related to energy sufficiency, transportation, public health, and economic development,” continued the statement.

The President and his entourage will also meet with the emirate’s leadership to discuss issues of interest affecting the two nations.

Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other senior government officials will accompany the President, who is due back to Nigeria Jan. 16. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

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