Salisu Sani Idris - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Fri, 2023

Nasarawa: Coalition urges youths to vote people of impeccable character

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

Coalition of Youth Groups in Nasarawa State has urged youths to vote for people of impeccable character irrespective of their religious, tribal or sectional backgrounds in Saturday’s Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Converner of the coalition, Malam Jaafar Loko, made the call at a news briefing on Friday in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

Loko also called on the youth to desist from promoting religious and ethnic politics as well as all forms of primordial sentiments over character and service delivery to the people.

He said: “Similarly, as we approach the election, we wish to call on the youths and by extension, the entire people of the state to once again conduct themselves in the most appropriate manner to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

” Nasarawa State belongs to all of us and we must do all that we can to ensure the sustainability of peace, stability and progress of the state.

”The coalition notes with concern the recent propagation of voting along religious lines in some quarters both within and outside the state.

” We commend all people of goodwill who vehemently condemned such a call and admonished that the electorate should vote for people of impeccable character”

The youth leader said that in the last three and half years, youths remained committed to administration in the state, its policies and ideals, while they have continued to follow developments in the state under the able leadership Gov. Abdullahi Sule.

Loko commended Sule’s friendly disposition to youth affairs, especially the consideration of many young people as aides and Chief Executives of MDAs.

He said that Sule gave them a voice and had equipped the youths with the required expertise, skills and knowledge to lead the state.

Loko said: “This is in addition to the regulariszation and recruitment of about 4,000 young teachers, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff in the state-owned tertiary institutions.

” We also commend his developmental strides in all sectors through the execution of projects that has a direct bearing on the lives of the citizenry.

”Notable among them include the construction of Bus terminals in Lafia and Karu, Urban and feeder roads across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.

“His efforts towards the generation of employment opportunities and wealth for our teeming unemployed youths through partnerships with the private sector are highly appreciated.”

Loko also applauded Sule for the sustainable peace that his government had worked hard to consolidate and ensure the security of lives and properties in the state.

He added: “We also note the progress made in the regular payment of salaries without having to completely depend on funds from the Federation Account. The increase in IGR from N7 billion to over N20 billion annually is highly commendable.

” For these and many other reasons, we the youths of Nasarawa under the umbrella of the coalition request all structures and manpower across the nooks and crannies of the state to mobilise public support for the reelection of Sule on Saturday.

” This we believe will go a long way to consolidate the already existing relationship between the government and young people in the state

”It will also provide the needed impetus for seamless youths empowerment and inclusion in decision-making in the state.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Fri, 2023

Economy/Business

Ramadan: Cleric cautions traders against price hike

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, Chief Imam of Area 10 Jumma’a Mosque, in Garki, Abuja, has cautioned traders against undue price hikes of food items as the Islamic month of Ramadan approaches.

The cleric made the call while addressing worshippers during the Jumma’a service on Friday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the cleric was giving a sermon titled: ‘Tips for Ramadan Preparation.’

NAN also reports that the month of Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, the month in which the Holy Qur’an was revealed.

The month is regarded by Muslims as the best month of the year, and the month of earning multiple rewards and forgiveness from God.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five known pillars of Islam.

The 2023 month of Ramadan is expected to start on March 21 or 22, subject to the sighting of the moon and confirmation by the office of the President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

Al-Yolawi appealed to traders, businessmen and women to fear Allah and maintain the prices of essential things needed during the Ramadan fast.

“In fact, it will be even more encouraging to have Ramadan Bonanza than to increase the prices of food items because of Ramadan,” Al-Yolawi said.

He said that charity is of the deeds highly encouraged in the month of Ramadan.

“It was narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas that Prophet Muhammad was the most generous person, and he used to become more generous in the month of Ramadan.

“In this month, Allah opens the gates of paradise and closes the gates of hell, and put the devil in chains. The Messenger of Allah says when it is the first night of Ramadan the devils are chained.”

Al-Yolawi explained that fasting in the month of Ramadan is a means of expiation for the sins committed after the previous Ramadan, so long as one avoids major sins.

” Our righteous predecessors were very attentive to the month of Ramadan; thus it is known that many of them used to pray to Allah six months after the end of Ramadan to accept their fasting.

” And then in six months, they would ask Allah to spare their lives to see the next month of Ramadan, so that they would have another opportunity to make this great worship, which is the fasting in the month of Ramadan,” Al-Yolawi said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Oluwole Sogunle

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Fri, 2023

General News

Polls: Coalition tasks INEC on functionality of BVAS, IReV

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By Angela Atabo

National Voters Drive Coalition (NVDC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address lapses recorded in the Feb. 25 elections and guarantee functionality and effectiveness of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The Coalition is made up of the African Primary Healthcare Foundation (APHF),Nigerian Physicians Advocacy Group (NPAG), The Compatriots ,Ready to Lead Africa (RTLA), Progressives Abia Youths (PAY) and Shift Nigeria .

Other supporting groups include Connected Development (CODE) and Accountability Lab.

Mr Godbless Otubure, President, Ready to Lead Africa, who made the call this at a news conference in Abuja, also urged INEC to ensure results were uploaded on INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV).

“Having acknowledged the importance of technology in our electoral system, we call on INEC to fully utilise the BVAS in accreditation and transmission and ensure professional conduct of its staff in organisation of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“INEC staff should endeavour to arrive at the polling units ahead of time for an on time start,” he said.

Otubure said that the Feb. 25 election was widely anticipated given the unprecedented number of major contenders and the promise of more transparency with the BVAS.

A member of NVDC, Ekejimba Kingsley, said the the coalition applaud the work of INEC.

Ekejimba, however, said the group was not blinded to the logistical challenges such as delayed arrival of INEC staff in over 75 PUs ,lack of preparedness such that electorate had to purchase inks and markers for INEC officials.

“Failure of Presiding Officers to upload PU results to BVAS, delay in transmission of PU results to INEC Result Viewing Portal.

“We hope that there have been lessons learnt and that necessary steps are in place to avoid a repeat of logistical shortcomings,” he said.

Ekejimba called on Nigerians to come out en mass to vote and monitor their votes to avoid result manipulation and to elect leaders that would be more accountable to the people regardless of age ,gender ,ethnicity among others .

He also appealed to security agencies saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a hitch free election to discharge their duties with diligence and honour.

Mr Hamzat Lawal ,Chief Executive ,CODE, said that the March 18 elections had given Nigerians another opportunity to decide who would lead them at the state level, urging citizens to make the most of it and make the elections a reflection of their wishes.

“We must not give up on this key assignment Go out on election day ,cast your votes and stay peacefully ,let us all be part of rebuilding our nation,” he said.

Ms Chiamaka Jonathan, Program Manager, Ready to Lead Africa (RLA), urged citizens to come en mass to excercise their civic rights adding that their votes would count.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that NVDC is a non-partisan citizen-led Coalition created to address voter apathy in Nigeria.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Thu, 2023

Politics

CODE tasks INEC on seamless gubernatorial, assembly elections

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By Angela Atabo

Connected Development (CODE), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct Saturday’s election in a manner to restore Nigerians’ confidence in the commission.

Mr Hamzat Lawal, the Chief Executive of CODE, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, ahead of the March 18 governorship and House of Assembly election.

Lawal said that the group had trained and deployed 20,000 observers for the 2023 elections through its Uzabe election observation platform.

He called on INEC to seize the opportunity of Saturday’s election to redeem its image by ensuring that the challenges that marred the credibility of the Feb. 25 Presidential election were corrected.

“With the deployment of Uzabe technology for election observation, we recorded many cases of widespread irregularities.

” We hope that these issues have been tackled by INEC and come March 18, citizens will be allowed to exercise their civic duty without unnecessary hitches and glitches.

“There’s also cause to point out that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and IREV technologies put a lot of faith in the electorate and this forthcoming election is another opportunity for INEC to ensure that their technology is functional .

INEC should also ensure that its guidelines on the usage of BVAS are adhered to; this is a call to INEC to restore the citizens’ confidence in our democracy. ”

According to Lawal , another crucial issue to address in the forthcoming election is the percentage of voters recorded for Presidential and National elections.

He said that at 27 per cent, Nigeria recorded its lowest voter turnout in spite of recording a total of 87.2 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collected.

Lawal said that reports from CODEs observers indicated there were many cases of technical disenfranchisement across the country such as lack of materials and late arrival of INEC officials at polling units.

He said that the proposed Oro festival announced by the traditional ruler of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom in Lagos State, Saheed Ademola, might disenfranchise voters.

Lawal therefore called on the Lagos State government and law enforcement agencies to address and put a stop to any activity that could threaten the turnout of the voters on election day.

Meanwhile, Mr Emmanuel Njoku , Director, Democracy and Governance, CODE, called on Nigerians to pay attention to the collation of results at the ward level to tackle fraud.

According to him, the ward is the most important link in the collation process.

Njoku said that the claim by some politicians that there was no law making it mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results electronically was false.

” Section 148 of the Electoral Act, gives the electoral body the power to make guidelines and regulations to ensure the full effect of the law.

“Section 60 (5) of the Act states that the presiding officer shall transfer the results including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot in a manner as prescribed by the commission.”

Njoku urged INEC to ensure that results were uploaded to its IREV portal in order to boost the credibility of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections on March 18.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Thu, 2023

Metro

FCT unveils self-service vehicle registration Portal

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By Yahaya Isah

The FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) on Thursday in Abuja unveiled Self-Service Vehicle Registration Portal for a seamless registration of vehicles in the territory.

The Director of DRTS, Dr Abdul-Lateef Bello, said it was no doubt that long before now, motor vehicle registration in the territory had been faced with various challenges.

These challenges, he said, had been largely due to manual procedures and characterised by the unwholesome activities of touts as well as unnecessary administrative procedural traffics.

“The myriads of these challenges with all the attendant systemic distractions on the general output of staff and the image of the DRTS can best be imagined.

“So, having done a comprehensive overview of the prevailing system on assumption of duty, as the Director, in March 2022, it became expedient to review and introduce basic innovations to reposition the directorate for quality service delivery.

This is “particularly with respect to motor vehicle administration in the territory,“ Bello said.

The director said that it was important to note at this particular point that the introduction of technology-based solution, which had proven to be a better solution to all human endeavours, was the only way out.

Bello said based on the prevailing circumstances, the service, however, deemed it necessary to introduce real-time online based internet registration portal for the residents of FCT.

This, he said, also conformed with international best practice which tended to eliminate completely the inadequacies of the prevailing circumstances in the motor vehicle registration in the territory.

“We make bold to assert that the introduction of the self-service vehicle registration portal in the FCT will be a game changer for motor vehicle registration with all the multiplier advantages.“

He said that the system would allow a client to register his or her vehicle from the comfort of their homes in real-time.

The director said it would also go a long way in reducing multiple registration of vehicles and further strengthen the integrity of the data base.

“The system will further reduce unwholesome activities, touting and other human errors to the barest minimum. It will also go a long way in reducing time as well as saving the energy involved.

“The system will no doubt stimulate revenue generation as well as leakages in the system,“ he added.

The director promised that as an agency saddled with the responsibilities of motor vehicle administration in the territory, it was poised to bring to bear every innovation needed to make FCT a trail blazer in vehicle registration.

Earlier, the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, while unveiling the portal, commended the service for leveraging on such a wonderful technology in making the process of vehicle registration very seamless and less stressful.

“This is a very wonderful thing to happen to the residents of FCT. The residents can now access the system, register their vehicles anywhere and at anytime via their electronic devices.

Bello urged the service to come up with more innovations that would make life much better for the residents of the territory, especially in area of adherence to traffic rules and regulations.

The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Thu, 2023

Metro

Association begs FCT Minister to shelves planned demolition of illegal estate in Apo

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Apo Hills Landlords Residents Association has appealed to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to shelved the planned demolition of illegal estate in Apo-Tapi and Lugbe.

The association’s Secretary-General, Mr Miracle Uduma, made the appealed while briefing newsmen during a peaceful protest by members of the association at the Crownprince Estate office in Asokoro, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FCT Administration, on March 10, lamented the proliferation of illegal housing estates and other developments along Idu Train Station, Apo Tapi and Lugbe areas of AMAC.

Uduma said that the landlords of the Apo hills who had been in the area for over six years were deceived by the developers that they have obtained original land title documents from the relevant agencies of the FCT Administration.

” We are here to appeal to the Federal Capital Territory Administration to come to our aid because we have been lied to and all of our investment are about to go down.

” This is a call for help because we have been lied to and right now our lives are in danger. Untill March 10, we do not know the truth about what was going on in our homes.

” We are totally uninformed about the dealings of most of this people who claimed to be developers who turnout to be land grabbers and it is a very big issue.

” We got to know about the situation when the Director of the Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima came on National Television and said that they were going to demolish illegal houses in Apo, which is where we reside.

” Until that interview by Galadima, we never knew or heard any idea that those land had no title.

”All the developers, all the Estate Owners have been playing us all along, they gave us falsified documents, claiming that they have land title in this place and encouraged us to built,” he said.

The secretary, who said most of the residents of the area were retirees, expressed readiness of the residents to pay contravention fees to the FCT to enable them retain their houses instead of being demolished.

Also, Mrs Lami Ayuba, the Chairman, FCT Chapter of National Institute of Town Planners, advised those who wanted to acquire property in the FCT and anywhere in the country to ask for the Allocation Letter, Land Use Approval, Building Plan Approval and Site Plan.

Ayuba also urged those who needed to acquire property to always get at least two professionals to verify the property before the transaction was concluded.

She revealed that there were lots of desperate syndicates in the city posing as government officials, defrauding the people.

” They can even enter government offices and pretend that they are officials because they have arranged with developers to pose as staff of FCTA and clear their papers.

” So, we are not even sure that the offices they enter are the legitimate offices, or the staff that attend to them are actually the legitimate officers.

” There is a process for approval; there is a process for land verification that you are supposed to go through but the problem is that most of the landlords at the point of buying these property don’t contact professionals to do due diligence,” she said.

She called on the FCTA to do something urgently to address the growing incidences of land grabbers by harnessing the energies of developers and channel them into positive use.

NAN reports that the Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, earlier raised alarm over the spike in adverts on social media by land grabbers and illegal developers of housing estates, at a news conference.

Galadima said that the department had served demolition notices to all illegal developers along the Idu Train Station, Apo Tapi and Lugbe Areas, where ”people are busy spending money”.

He said that the affected areas had not yet been detailed with designed layout, decrying ”but people are carrying fake title documents that they were allocated by AMAC.

” Our attention has been drawn to some areas of the city where people are developing without any title developments.

”And we want to educate the public and to inform them that some of these adverts are on illegal developments. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Grace Yussuf

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Thu, 2023

Politics

Ogbomoso South Assembly: Keffi youths canvass votes for Ayodeji Adegoke

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) , Keffi Local Government Chapter, has urged the people of Ogbomosho South Constituency in Oyo State, to vote massively for Ayodeji Adegoke, APC State Assembly candidate on Saturday.

Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Chairman of the council, who made the call in a statement, on Thursday in Keffi, said Ayodeji was the most competent and deserving candidate among all the candidates vying for the seat.

Idris said that it was time for the people of constituency to reciprocate the contributions of Ayodeji’s father, Dr Adewale Adegoke-Maigida, a philanthropist, to the development of the area by voting massively for his son.

The youth leader stated that it was on record that Adegoke-Maigida devoted all his energy and resources to empowering the people of Ogbomosho South throughout his career in public service.

According to him, there is no any other time better than now for the people to show solidarity to Adegoke-Maigida’s family by giving their block votes to his son.

Idris said: “Dr Adegoke-Maigida popularly known as Maigida, had in the past touched many lives through his Charity Foundation by taking care of people, both the privileged and underprivileged, within and outside Ogbomoso.

“And by extension to the Northern parts of the country where he works. During the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, he distributed palliatives in Ogbomoso to reduce the untold hardship occasioned by it.

“The distribution of the palliatives in Ogbomoso brought unprecedented joy to the less privileged who said it was not only timely, but also effective.

”The palliatives were also extended to those providing essential services such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, State Security Service and media establishments.

“In the light of aforementioned, therefore, Ayodeji deserves to be elected by the people of Ogbomosho South because of the antecedents of his father.”

The youth leader said that it was gratifying that Ayodeji had emulated his father in the area of youths empowerment and provision of basic social amenities such as boreholes to communities in the area, (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Thu, 2023

Economy/Business

Group seeks 35% female inclusion in energy sector

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By Taiye Olayemi/ Aderonke Ojediran

The Women in Energy Network (WEIN), an advocacy group, on Wednesday urged the incoming government to ensure 35 per cent women inclusion in the affairs of the energy sector in the country.

Speaking at a news conference in Lagos, Mrs Funmi Ogbue, National President of WEIN, represented by Mrs Charlotte Essiet, member, Board of Trustee, WEIN, said this was of utmost importance to the group.

Ogbue said women inclusion in the energy sector could be achieved through the creation of policies and initiatives that promote equal opportunities, gender diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

She noted that a recent report by the International Energy Agency said that women make up only 22 per cent of the energy industry workforce in Nigeria, and only 12 per cent occupy senior management roles.

“This highlights the need for concerted efforts to promote gender diversity in the sector, and we believe that the incoming administration has a critical role to play in this regard.

“WIEN is committed to working toward the goal of advancement of women in the energy sector.

“We will look forward to collaborating with the incoming government to create a more equitable and inclusive energy sector and to prioritise the advancement of women in the energy sector,” she said.

According to her, since the creation of the group in 2020, WEIN has been committed to the promotion and advancement of women in the energy sector.

She urged the incoming government to support training and mentoring programmes for women in the industry and encourage public-private partnerships that promote gender diversity in the sector.

She said to further impact on women, the group would be empowering more women in the sector in commemoration of the 2023 International Women’s Day.

According to her, this will hold March 24, in Lagos, with the theme: “Programmes & Initiatives for Equitable Access for Women in the Nigerian Energy Industry”.

She said the programme would be done in partnership with ‘Women in Shell Network’ and ‘Seplat Awesome Women’s Network’.

“Our first two breakfast sessions have successfully brought together women in the industry to discuss the challenges they face and share experiences.

“These sessions have provided valuable insights into the issues affecting women in the sector and we are committed to addressing these challenges through our upcoming event.

“As we all know, the energy industry is critical to the growth and development of Nigeria, and women play an essential role in driving innovation, excellence, and progress in this field.

“In spite their contributions, women still face significant barriers to entry and advancement in the energy sector.That is why the WIEN 2023 International Women’s Day Breakfast Session is so timely and essential,” she said.

Also, Mrs Bimbo Onakomaiya, Chairperson, WEIN International Women’s Day Committee, hinted that a mentoring programme for up-and-coming female practitioners in the energy sector would be launched.

According to her, the event will engage industry experts, policymakers, and advocates to share insights on the various programmes and initiatives aimed at promoting equitable access for women in the Nigerian energy industry.

“As we celebrate the progress we have made in advancing the role of women in the energy sector, we are also aware of the challenges that lie ahead.

“We have worked tirelessly to empower women through various initiatives and programmes, some of our key activities include: providing training and mentoring opportunities.

“We believe that women need to be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the energy sector. So, we have organised training and mentoring programmes that provide women with the tools they need to advance their careers.

“We have also invested in organising networking events because we understand the importance of networking in the energy sector, and we have organised several events that bring women in the industry together to share experiences, build relationships, and create opportunities,” she said. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Folasade Adeniran

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Wed, 2023

Agriculture

FCTA moves to transform fisheries sector to cash cow for national economy

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has restated its commitment to transform the fisheries sector to become a cash cow for farmers in the territory and the national economy.

The Mandate Secretary for the FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Malam Abubakar Ibrahim, made the pledge at the commemoration of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) in the FCT.

He said: “UN declared 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries (IYAFA) with the objective of drawing global attention to the important role that small-scale fish farmers and fish workers play.

”They are very crucial in improving human well-being, food security, poverty eradication and in the sustainable use of natural resources.

“Member nations are expected to use the occasion to show commitment and take practical actions to support and promote fishery activities.

” The event we are therefore witnessing today is consistent with that worthy declaration as well as the theme of the event which is Building a Global Safety Net for Small-scale Artisanal Fisheries & Aquaculture.”

Ibrahim, therefore, expressed readiness of the secretariat to continue to advocate and pursue the implementation of innovative programmes that would help in enhancing effective utilisation of the rich water bodies that abound in the FCT.

He said that fish was a very important agricultural product that was largely consumed due to its rich nutritional and medicinal values.

Ibrahim added: “It is therefore not a surprise that the sector is growing at an alarming rate as more and more Nigerians engage in fish production not just for the nutritional value, but economic benefits associated with it.

” It is estimated that a very large percentage of Nigerians, mostly youths venture into fisheries production annually.

”While, this scenario would have been seen as a positive development, the sad narrative is the fact that more than 90 per cent of these farmers still operate at subsistent and small-scale levels.”

He, however, said that fish farmers in Nigeria lacked the professional expertise and investable funds to enable them acquire quality inputs required to help them transit easily from household to commercial production.

This is with the view to bridging the yawning gap between demand as well as supply and reduce the huge foreign exchange that was spent on fish importation.

Ibrahim said: “These are some of the issues that the programmes of the Secretariat are aimed at addressing.

”The story of Fisheries Development in the FCT is one that is characterised by steady growth and improvements in terms of production capacity, quality processing and access to markets and competitiveness

“Part of the strategies that we have adopted is to encourage local fish farmers organise themselves as a body so that they can more easily benefit from the various fisheries support programmes of the Secretariat.

“So far, over 400 fishery cooperative groups have registered with the secretariat, and we have been working closely with the various Fishery Associations.

”They include: Cat Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria, (CAFAN) to promote diversification into other fish varieties.”

Ibrahim recalled that in 2022, the secretariat organised series of workshops to promote Tilapia production, as well as on the utilisation of locally sourced materials for feed formulation which is cost efficient.

He added: “It is worth knowing that the establishment of the FCT Fish Farm Estate in Bwari is designed to be an all-inclusive facility that offers services that are in line with global best practices.

” Even though operations at the Estate are not yet of the expected standard, the Secretariat has been taking measures to address issues of water supply, electricity and access roads.

“I can assure you that with the pace of infrastructural development taking place at the Estate, operations will take off soon.”

Similarly, the secretary said in 2021, as part of the pet project of the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, the secretariat constructed the FCT Aquaculture and Allied Trades Centre for Youth and Women at Kuka village in Kwali Area Council.

He stated that the centre was established to train women and youths in modern fish production techniques.

Ibrahim said: “It may interest you to know that after the first harvest in which the Minister of State took part in November 2021, more residents have been trained.

”They are currently engaging in fish production in different parts of the FCT with their products sold in markets within and outside the FCT.

” In October of 2022, the FCT Administration through the Secretariat provided assorted fishery inputs worth over N60 million to fish farmers in the FCT.

” The inputs which were sold at subsidized rates to farmers are being utilised and is providing the needed impetus for fish production in the FCT.

” This input support programme has received the approval of the Administration to be an annual event.”

Earlier, the secretariat’s Director of Administration and Finance, Malam Ishaq Sadeeq, called for urgent actions by stakeholders to restrategise and adopt new approaches that would help to enhance fish production in the FCT.

” We believe if the enabling environment is put in place, FCT has the capacity to produce fish that can effectively meet not only the local demands, but even beyond the frontiers of the FCT.

“Our desire in the FCT Administration is to transform the Fisheries sub-sector into one that can create jobs for our teeming youth population so that they can earn income and improve their socio-economic well-being.

Also, the Director of Fisheries of the secretariat, Ifeoma Okek, described lack of training, among others, as the major challenges facing the growth on Fisheries in the FCT. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Salisu Sani Idris
Mar, Wed, 2023

Education

British charity tasks Nigeria’s President-elect on out-of-school crisis

66 total views today

By Ruth Oketunde

The British charity, IA-Foundation, has urged Nigeria’s President-elect Sen. Bola Tinubu to take urgent steps to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, to restore hope to some 20.2 million out-of-school kids in the country.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, made the appeal in a letter to the president-elect, a copy obtained by a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Adeagbo’s letter comes ahead of a fund-raising event, slated for Kent in England on March 18, to bring global attention to the out-of-school problem in Nigeria.

The event is billed to take place at Bishop Justus CE School in Bromley, Kent, east of England.

It is expected to attract dignitaries, including Nigeria’s top UK envoy, Amb. Sarafa Ishola and a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

IA-Foundation, which is active in Nigeria is a British-registered charity, working assiduously since the past four years to tackle the out-of-school crisis in Africa’s most populous nation.

Adeagbo advised the in-coming administration to hit the ground running in tackling basic problems that had made millions of Nigerian children to stay out of school.

She said that government should increase budgetary allocation to the education sector, improve infrastructure and train teachers to turnaround basic education in the country.

According to her, although basic education is believed to be free in Nigeria, the entry barriers of registration fees and other payments required before enrollment have made many indigent families to keep their children at home.

“In 2022, we identified over 400 children in Bwari community in Abuja, whose parents could not afford to pay entrance fees of N7, 000 to N8, 000, to be enrolled into government primary and secondary schools.

“For children in this category, they want to get education but it is apparently expensive for their families,” the UK-based Nigerian, a chartered accountant recounted.

Adeagbo also pleaded with the president-elect to partner civil society and development agencies to accelerate development in the West African country.

“As a foundation, we will continue to remain committed to our vision of ensuring that we reduce the number of children without education in Nigeria,’’ she stated.

Adeagbo re-stated that IA-Foundation had been able to put over 100 children back to school in nine states in the country, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Nasarawa, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory.

“We have also donated more than 3,000 learning resources to ensure that no child drops out of school, due to a lack of learning materials.’’

Adeagbo said: “we are not satisfied yet because although what we have done is significant in terms of impact but it’s a drop in the ocean with 20.2 million children out-of-school.

“That is why this year, we are organising our annual fund-raising and charity event, tagged `Securing the Future’, to mobilise resources in the UK to cater for the needs of children in Nigeria.’’

NAN reports that on Sept. 7, 2022, the Federal Government faulted the recent report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in which it claimed that the number of out-of-school children had risen to little above 20 million.

Previously, it was estimated that Nigeria has little above 10 million children who are not in school for one reason or the other, but the figure was reported to have risen significantly due to rising insecurity and destruction of communities by armed non-state actors in the northern Nigeria and some parts of the south.

The federal government said the statistics does not reflect the true state of affairs in Nigeria, particularly in the subject matter of out-of-school children.

The federal government said it has a reliable template which it uses to determine the number of children born in Nigeria per time, and the number of out-of-school children, maintaining that the figure is not as high as UNESCO had claimed.

The government said it uses reliable template with National Population Commission (NPopC) to calculate this in order to arrive at a reliable and acceptable figure. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza