By Ikenna Uwadileke

Transmashholding (TMH), Russia’s leading manufacturer of railway rolling stock, says Africa is in dire need of modern railway infrastructure to propel the continent to rapid development.

The Chief Executive Officer of TMH, Mr Kiril Lipa, told newsmen in Moscow Russia, that absence of railway infrastructure in some major cities in Africa was a setback to the transportation sector on the continent.

While expressing the company’s willingness to expand the international footprint in the region, Lipa emphasised the need for African countries to invest more in railways.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that TMH is a leading manufacturer of passenger trains, locomotives, metro cars, trams, coaches, wagons, snow clearing equipment and engines for locomotives.

The company, which supplies railway operators in more than 30 countries, offers comprehensive maintenance and repair of rolling stock, manufacture of parts and components for the rail industry, among others.

According to Lipa, Africa has great potential for the rail industry since most of its produce are bulky such as minerals, oil and gas.

“In this regard, TMH is geared towards the needs of most African economies whose main focus is the export market with access to sea ports via rail and pipelines.

“Imports also come through the sea ports and are couriered to their final destinations by train.

“The African population is growing very fast and the cities are developing at a tremendous pace. For us we are looking into transporting minerals, oil and gas.

“There is therefore a need for cargo trains. We can also leverage on our technology to develop the rail infrastructure of most African countries.

“We are capable of providing this technology,” he said.

The Transmashholding boss further said that Africa is strategic not only to Russia but to the main financial and industrial institutions across the world.

He, however, said that basic trends must be met to actualise the dream.

“There are certain trends which are very basic and what we see in Africa are basic for the common world.

“We understand that the population is growing very fast, the cities are developing and the development of resources is quite intensive.

“And these resources are developed far in terms of distance from the seaports.

“So, these trends make the market very attractive in terms of rolling stock, specifically because the most effective way to transport mineral resources to the seaport is the railway excluding pipelines,” Lipa said.

He said that having the spread and the railway network would enable easy transportation of resources on the continent.

“There is a huge need for the development of Africa. The continent needs all kinds of rolling stock.

“That is why I believe that the continent will be developed; there is a huge need in the railway system network for all kinds of rolling stock for the population.

“And my belief is that Russia is quite capable of providing some critical components in terms of technology,” Lipa said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government has reiterated commitment in strengthening collaboration that will promote Nigeria’s export competitiveness, to achieve its economic diversification agenda.

Dr Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said this on Thursday in Abuja, at a capacity building programme for bankers, organised by the council.

According to Yakusak, the non-oil export sector plays a very important role in the economic development of the nation and ensures Nigeria’s participate in the global market space.

He said Nigerian exporters faced numerous challenges, ranging from knowledge gap, access to finance, cumbersome procedures and documentation, poor packaging among others.

”Access to bank financial services by exporters is one of the major challenges stifling the smooth growth of non-oil export.

“This is due to high interest rates and low disbursement of credit facilities to finance non-oil export trade.

“This has ultimately affected the nation’s non-oil export performance because most exporters lack the financial muscle required to set up modern export related industries and ensure production of high quality products.

“The NEPC, as a responsive agency, has identified capacity building as a priority for relevant stakeholders in the non-oil export value chain.

“We believe that when key stakeholders like bankers, are equipped with the necessary export knowledge and expertise, they will work more efficiently to complement each other toward the promotion of export business in the country,” he said.

Yakusak reiterated the importance of the banking institution to non-oil export saying that without the banks, no formal export trade could be undertaken.

“May I inform you that in the year 2022 non-oil export performance report, a total number of 30 banks participated in the issuance and processing of NXPs forms.

“This led to a total export value of 4.8 billion dollars, the highest recorded since the creation of the NEPC in 1976,” he said.

The NEPC boss said the responsibilities of export desk officers was critical in facilitating export processes and procedures.

He said: “This informed our decision to organise this special technical session for all of you.

“I am optimist that this programme will deepen your understanding of the processes in non-oil export trade and assist in providing efficient export advisory services to clients.

“Your participation in this training programme is therefore not only of great value to you and the bank you represent, but also important to the entire non-oil export sector and the nation at large.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 29 banks with about three to four staff each participated in the training. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Olawunmi Ashafa

By Lucy Ogalue

Jigawa State Government and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) have agreed to revitalise the state’s Maigatari Export Processing Zone.

The duo agreed when the Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, visited the Managing Director of NEPZA, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the Namadi, the Free Trade Zone(FTZ) has numerous potentials and benefits to the people and the country at large and needs to be made operational.

The governor said: “We felt that we have a free zone that has been lying fallow for some years and we need to bring it into operation.

“And the best place we should start this process is NEPZA, so we made contacts and the managing director agreed to see us in such short notice.

“We came here to solicit for their expert advice on how we can bring our free zone into operation and to solicit for the MD’s support in terms of licences and registration fees.

“We know that we are owing the authority and we feel that he (Adesugba) should be able to allow us some leverage so we can stagger the payment and resume operations.”

According to Namadi, the free zone has a lot of potentials and it is going to contribute to the economic development of this country.

“In addition to giving lots of opportunities to our youths to get employed among other things.

“So because of that, it is necessary that we put it into operation, and you cannot do that without consulting experts and I think NEPZA is the best place to come.

“And that is why we are here. We are happy with the discussions we had with the MD and the fact that he is so committed to make the free zone work. So we think the visit is fruitful,” Namadi said.

On time frame, the governor expressed optimism that before the end of 2023 the FTZ should come into operation as everything necessary to make it work was available.

On security, Namadi said: “Jigawa is so far the safest state in Nigeria but we are also security conscious and making sure that investors and the state is well secured.

Responding, the NEPZA boss expressed the commitment of the Authority to support the state and all other states willing to drive trade and develop the country’s economy.

Adesugba said: “We have been trying to work with the state to activate that free zone because we see it as a critical infrastructure that could do a lot for that part of the country.

“So we cannot say more than we are happy and we are going to work straight away on our first meeting to determine and structure the way forward.

“The governor has given us ultimatum that before the end of this year we should make it work but you know of course that we have a track record.

“We have done it for Kano, Calabar free zone and we are confident that with the kind of Governor we have, working with NEPZA we will definitely deliver this reactivation programme within the shortest period of time.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the issues which the duo planned on discussing includes revitalisation of the zone’s infrastructure facilities and hibiscus sorting, grading and packaging.

Other areas are bulk breaking centres and warehousing facilities, payment of outstanding operational licence fees from 2017 to date and formation of steering committee to bring up recommendations within five weeks. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Amb. Abdullahi Shehu, Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation on Tuesday encouraged investors from Russian to localise the production of their goods in Nigeria.

Shehu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Moscow urged the Russian investors to explore the enormous potential in Africa, particularly Nigeria.

Speaking on the just concluded 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Summit, Shehu identified trade as one of the areas Nigeria would focus in its economic cooperation with Russia.

According to him, with the platform provided by the summit we can see that there are areas that each country can focus on.

“These include the area of trade. Almost all African countries are interested in trading with Russia. But the point that the Nigerian delegation made is that trade is good but investment and financing are better.

“It is so because under the current geopolitical situation, it is hard to buy and sell and transport goods from Russia to Africa because the logistic chains have been affected by the sanctions.

“Therefore, the best thing to do is to encourage Russia to understand the African market.

“They should explore the possibilities of investment in Nigeria and take advantage of its huge market and localise the production of their goods in Nigeria,” he said.

The Ambassador emphasised that there was a convergence of needs and opportunities in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

“The needs are there and the Russian companies have the opportunities to invest in ICT, food production, energy and mining and other sectors.

“So, this is why Nigeria came with a vision to see that they sensitise the Russian companies with respect to graduating from trading to investment.

“And this cooperation is in vast areas with other African countries,” he said.

Shehu, who described the summit as a success, said that it did not only deepen the bilateral relations between Russia and African countries but it also fostered continental cooperation.

“So, now we believe that a platform for strategic partnership has been created,” he said.

NAN reports that the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum 2023 which held on July 27 and July 28 in St. Petersburg recorded the participation of 17 Heads of State and over 15 African countries represented. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Amb. Abdullahi Shehu, Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation has commended Russian government for granting opportunities to African students.

Shehu gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Moscow, Russia.

Describing the development as one of the significant gains of Russia-Africa Economic Summit, he said that it would further deepen the relationship between Russia and African countries.

NAN was one of the the media partners of the summit and had its Managing-Director, Mr Buki Ponle, present at the event.

Recall that Russian President, Vladimir Putin said that Russia’s teacher training colleges and universities plan to admit more students from African countries.

Putin said this at the plenary session of the 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum held on July 27 and July 28 at the Expoforum venue in St. Petersburg.

“A project was launched in 28 African countries for setting up open education for training instructors and teachers for pre-school establishments, elementary and secondary schools.

“Toward this end, we are planning to significantly increase the enrolment of African students in Russian pedagogical institutions of higher learning,” the Russian president said.

Reflecting on the first Russia-Africa Economic Summit in 2019, Shehu said that Russia made some gains in spite of the coronavirus pandemic and crisis between Russia and Ukraine.

“From the first summit in 2019 to now, the trade volume between Russia and Africa increased by about 60 per cent standing out about 18 billion dollars. We can say this is a significant progress.

“Specifically, after the 2019 summit, the coronavirus pandemic set in, which made it difficult if not impossible to implement most of the actions envisage in the political declaration that was issued.

“As soon as the coronavirus was going, this crisis between Russia and Ukraine also set in, which also became a major setback.

“Even if not for relations with Africa, but for the fact that the comprehensive sanctions were imposed on Russia was a major setback in the realization of the objectives of the summit.”

According to him, to some extent we can say some significant gains have been recorded.

“The other area of gain, I can tell you is where President Putin indicated that at the moment there are about 35,000 African students studying in Russia under the Russian bilateral scholarship with African countries.

“And he promised that by next year they are going to increase the number of scholars from Africa,’’ Shehu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams