By EricJames Ochigbo

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), says it has produced 45 million assorted tree seedlings for its afforestation programme across the country.

Dr Yusuf Bukar, the Director-General, NAGGW, said this at an interaction with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund in Abuja on Tuesday.

Bukar said that the agency had already distributed 10.8 million of the seedlings to farmers for planting as trees on farms to promote agroforestry.

He said that the agency had also rehabilitated 14,118 degraded landscape in different parts of the country.

“About 4,455 units of solar home lightening systems have been procured and distributed across the country, ” he said.

Bukar said that 3,102 units of solar street lights had also been procured and installed in rural markets, as well as boreholes and plant nursery sites.

He said the agency had also procured and distributed 6,300 units of super saver wooden stoves to families and inhabitants of rural communities to discourage indiscriminate tree logging for domestic purposes.

The director general also said that 128 units of solar powered pumps with trolley had been procured and installed for irrigation purposes across the 11 frontline states across the country.

“Forty-three units of solar powered boreholes and motorised boreholes have been constructed with complete accessories by the agency.

“We have constructed and equipped for off land training, five units of skill acquisition centres and 71 community plant nurseries, established for seedlings production.

“We have constructed a 14.6 km of rural feeder roads for ease of access and 110 tube wells have been constructed for irrigation purposes,” he said.

Bukar said that the agency had also trained 1,397 youths and engaged them as forest guards to protect the agency’s investments.

About 85 units of motorcycles have  been procured and distributed for the forest guards patrolling the agency’s investments so as to prevent indiscriminate tree felling,” he said.

He said that in the bid to empower women and youths, 205 units of grinding machines were procured and distributed to them.

“About 210,709 youths were engaged in direct tree planting and other related activities, 2,283 rural community members (women and youth) have been trained in off land livelihood activities.

”275 farmers have been trained on climate smart agriculture in dry land region,” he said.

Bukar said that the agency had established two Automatic Weather Stations for field data collection as well as an effective monitoring and evaluation system.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara) said the roundtable was to educate the lawmakers on the functions of the agency to ensure effective oversight. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara says the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) must continue in the task of propagating Nigeria well to help attract more investment to the country.

AbdulRazaq said this while receiving the agency’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, on Tuesday in Ilorin.

“NAN has always propagated Nigeria at the sub-national, national and international levels as the voice of Africa, and this is why NAN has never been brought to disrepute.

“You cannot go wrong by listening to NAN.

“Obviously, NAN’s mandate then in 1976 when it was set up and up till now is to propagate Nigeria at the sub-national, national and international levels.

“One will recall that moments after 1976, during the apartheid era, Africa did not have a voice. The voice of Africa then was NAN,’’ the governor said.

He urged NAN to continue to propagate Nigeria so much as to help in propagating Nigeria to enhance investments and attract more investors to Nigeria.

“NAN is an investment tool for Nigeria and we in Kwara in particular are looking forward to working with the agency,’’ AbdulRazaq added.

He then urged NAN to strengthen its ties and operations across all the levels, assuring that Kwara was ready to collaborate with NAN.

The governor commended the agency for planning to open district offices in Omu-Aran and Kosubosu in the Kwara South and Kwara North senatorial zones of the state, respectively.

“Who would have thought of Kosubosu, which is next to Chikanda, and from Chikanda the next place is Benin Republic? So, this tells you that NAN’s footprints are all over the place.

“If you go to the remote places, you will get all the right information,’’ he said.

Earlier, the NAN Managing Director had commended Gov. AbdulRazaq for his giant strides in developing infrastructure, healthcare and workers’ welfare, among several other projects in the state.

“Since yesterday (Monday) that we arrived in the state, we have noticed a huge repositioning in the whole state.

“This means your re-election is a testimony of what you did in your first tenure.

“Also, your re-election has helped to lower the political temperature in Kwara,” he said.

Ali, while explaining more about NAN to the governor, pointed out that the agency is the only News Agency from Africa that is resident in the United Nations.

“We are present in all the 36 states of the country, and in Kwara we have a 12-man team.

”We hope that with the support of the state government, our plan to re-open our district offices in Kosubosu and Omu-Aran will come to fruition.

“We will take you as a natural ally of NAN, which prides itself on the slogans ‘if you talk to NAN, you are talking to all’ and ‘no one knows Nigeria better’.

“So, with NAN, you can be rest assured that your trumpet which you are reluctant to blow will be blown to a high level,’’ the NAN Managing Director said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and Olawale Alabi

By Patricia Amogu

Red Carpet Protocol has said that all is set for the public presentation of three books covering national development, politics, and civil service, authored by Prof. Sylvester Monye.

Kunle Adebanjo, the spokesman of Red Carpet Protocol, the company coordinating the presentation of the books, disclosed this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

“We are delighted to be coordinating this prestigious event, which promises to be a significant gathering of notable personalities in politics, governance, and the civil service.

“The books to be launched offer valuable insights into national development, politics, and civil service.

“We believe the launch will contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on these critical issues,” he said.

The three books to be unveiled are: ‘A Compendium of Development Plans, 1999 – 2020’, `The Concession Of Asaba International Airport’, and `The Ministerial Scorecard’.

Adebanjo told NAN that Monye’s experience, expertise in governance, and background as a former Special Adviser to the President on Performance, Monitoring, and Evaluation lend credence, credibility, and relevance to the three books to be presented.

According to him, the fact that former presidents Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan as well as former President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki are scheduled to be in attendance testifies to the seriousness with which the presentation of the books has been taken.

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori,  former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha are expected to grace the event, Adebanjo said.

The spokesman for the company coordinating the event explained that the three books to be presented can contribute meaningfully to academic research and development of the country. (NAN)

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

By Mujidat Oyewole

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, on Monday emphasised the need to continue to properly harness information to address and improve the current situation in the country.

The Emir, while receiving the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Muhammad Ali during a courtesy visit to his palace, noted that information was very important.

He added however, that reporting activities was not an easy task and should therefore not be taken with levity.

“Our prayer is that Almighty Allah should continue to guide us, have mercy on us and make Nigeria continue to live in unity,” Sulu-Gambari said.

He noted that NAN has shown the capacity to help the country in the area of utilising information to further develop the nation.

”NAN has been doing well in this regard, and I am sure that is due to the pedigree of you the Managing Director, especially with what you have done in the media industry so far.

”I am sure the agency will go a long way in helping the country get better,” the Emir said, praying for more success and breakthrough for the agency.

Speaking on the country Nigeria, Sulu-Gambari noted that a lot of the situation in the country in recent times have been improving.

”We now have many of our sons and daughters around the country, already married to those of other tribes, while some have settled for the sake of business and job transfers.

“Nigeria is our father’s land that has come to stay and will not be divided by the special grace of Almighty Allah,” he said.

The NAN Managing Director, while speaking earlier, had said the ongoing upgrading of the agency’s services would boost their operations and enhance productivity.

He said his major reason for visiting Kwara was to further assess the agency’s facilities.

“We need to know the challenges and how to provide the necessary equipment to boost production.

“We will then see how to cover the activities of the state and the Emirate.

“I am from Kano and we share the same way of life with Ilorin. That is why I have come to first pay my respect to the traditional leader.

“You are closer to the people and as a great leader and Chairman of traditional rulers in the state, you know more about the activities in the state,” Ali said.

He then solicited the support of the Emir and assured that the agency would continue to work assiduously in order to supply reliable and current information to the public. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==========
Edited by Olawale Alabi

By Justina Auta

Stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory,  Nasarawa and Niger, have commended Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF) for its determined efforts at ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) and support to survivors.

The stakeholders include communities and beneficiaries of TCF’s goodwill in the two states and the FCT.

They made the commendation at a three-day learning activity for beneficiaries and other key stakeholders of the Flashlight Actions on Girls Safety (FLAGS) project on Monday in Abuja.

The FLAGS’ project is funded by the UN Trust Fund to end all forms of violence, enhance learning in safe spaces for survivors and ensure community involvement in the fight against GBV.

Chief John Gara, a traditional leader representing Masaka Community in  Nasarawa noted the reduction in cases of GBV in the area since the commencement of sensitisation, support and advocacies by TCF.

Garage said: “this was unlike other programmes that come and make no impact.

“The TCF has made an enormous impact in the community, especially the girl-child and even the boys were affected positively.

“GBV has reduced drastically in Masaka, unlike in the past when we used to have lots of cases due to the support of TCF.”

Gift Emmanuel, a beneficiary, who trains young girls in Durumi Community, said the project had enabled her to educate young girls about GBV, how to respond to it, preventive and referral pathways in their safe spaces.

“The programme has made me to know a lot of things I really did not know beyond the GBV and how to come out of it.

“I thought perpetrators could go unpunished, but now I know better.

” This project has been impactful in the last three years not just in my life, but also in the lives of my co-beneficiaries.

“Some of them were unable to speak out and were timid, aside the GBV or sexual abuse and physical abuse in the home.

“Alot of girls don’t even know that their parents could be a perpetrator and be the one abusing them either physically, emotionally or otherwise.

“So for the past three years, I can boldly say that the girls come to tell us what they have been going through, how the project has helped them and even their parents,” she said.

Similarly, Mary-Peace Sunday, a 16- year old beneficiary of the projects in Kugbo community, said she acquired more knowledge on ways to prevent GBV, where to seek help and also sensitise young girls on their rights and issues around violence.

“Through this project, I have learnt how to read and write about GBV, I know about safe spaces, perpetrators, survivors.

” My friends in school going through various forms of violence, I have taught them and even assisted a friend, who was raped and is undergoing counseling and other supports from the Amintacces in TCF.

Mrs Aisha Saidu, a member of the Community Action Committee (CAC) in Mpape, said: ” many people have benefitted from TCF.

“And as a member of the CAC, we have the responsibility of keeping our community safe from GBV.”

Mrs Tayo Erinle, Executive Director, TCF, said they had been able to reach and support over 40,000 in FCT, Nasarawa and Niger states.

Erinle, represented by Mr Adejumobi Fashola, Director of Finance, TCF, added that about 25 young girls had been granted scholarships and enrolled back to school to further their education.

“In the last three years, we reached over 40,000 persons in Nasarawa, Niger and the FCT with about 121 GBV cases.

“There is still a lot to do, we need more gentlemen in this fight and members of the CAC.

“We are here to brainstorm, reflect and think of new solutions on the way forward,” she said.

Mrs Nendirmwa Ohah, Project Manager, TCF said: ” The FLASH has been implemented in the last three years, which started in 2021 and will end in May.

” It was implemented in 10 communities in the FCT, Nasarawa and Niger and we worked with 750 beneficiaries, in which some of them are survivors of GBV and all are out of school girls.

“We have also been able to reach out to 40,000 persons in our communities of practice providing information on GBV prevention and response.

“And also creating awareness on the Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Act Child Rights Act.

“We have also supported survivors of GBV access services that would support them, increase their well-being and reintegrate them back to the society,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Gabriel Yough

By Busayo Onijala

Melissa Jones, Mission Director, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Nigeria says the newly launched Nigeria Plastic Solutions Initiative will create 10,000 jobs and generate $4.8 million in income.

Jones made this known in her remarks at the launch of the Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity, an initiative equally funded by USAID and the Coca-Cola Foundation, on Monday, in Lagos.

The launch had the theme, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Building a Sustainable Future.”

The Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity is a 24-month initiative being implemented by TechnoServe Nigeria,  in collaboration with its partner, the Growing Businesses Foundation (GBF).

This initiative seeks to tackle the critical challenge of plastic waste management in Nigeria through innovative recycling solutions.

Jones said the goal of the activity was to recycle 49,000 metric tons of plastic waste produced in Lagos and Anambra states over the next two years.

She added that by recycling plastics, the environment was safeguarded and pathways to economic empowerment for underemployed Nigerians unlocked.

According to her, Nigeria is the ninth highest contributor to plastic pollution, with about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, over 88 percent of which is not recycled.

The result of this, she said, is excessive plastic pollution, which threatens ecosystems, marine life, and public health.

“It is plastic pollution that clogs our waterways, mars our landscapes, kills thousands of marine animals, and releases toxins into the environment.

“Firstly, plastics recycling reduces the demand for virgin materials, curbing the energy-intensive process of producing new plastics by up to 90 per cent and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent.

“Recycling plastics also reduces the amount of plastic entering the ocean by 80 per cent.

“The 49,000 metric tons of plastics collected and recycled under the Nigeria Plastic Solutions Activity will contribute to efforts to achieve these targets and the overall goal of a more sustainable and circular plastics economy in Nigeria,” she said.

Jones added that asides improving the environment, plastic collection, sorting, aggregating, processing and manufacturing offers employment opportunities.

On her part, Small and medium scale enterprises and entry-level and semi-skilled workers particularly stand to benefit from this new value chain.

“Because barriers to entry in the recycling sector are relatively low, the National Plastic Solutions Activity will be able to employ marginalised groups including women, youth, and people with disabilities.”

She noted that USAID would provide an enabling environment to improve the competitiveness, sustainability, and profitability of numerous collectors, aggregators and recyclers.

On her part, plastics recycling is not just an environmental imperative, it’s a catalyst for sustainable development and economic prosperity.

General Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Mariam Khan said her company remained committed to creating shared opportunities and making a difference in communities.

She noted that the initiative was not just about cleaning up but also about positively impacting lives and creating jobs.

“This programme is a key illustration of what collaborative efforts can do for the society and the ripple effect of this will be significant,” she said.

In her remarks, Adesuwa Akinboro Country Director, Nigeria, TechnoServe said the activity aims to reduce plastic waste in Lagos and Anambra states by at least 49,000 metric tons, through inclusive, market-driven interventions along the value chain.

According to her, a fundamental aspect of the approach is the emphasis on developing market systems to drive the circular economy.

“We recognise the complexities within the plastic waste recycling value chain and are committed to addressing these challenges through innovative solutions that will enable sustainable practices and create inclusive job opportunities.

“Our collaborative model ensures that we remain accountable and effective in achieving our waste reduction and recycling targets, reinforcing our commitment to environmental stewardship,” she noted. (NAN)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Bayo Onanuga

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is fast developing a reputation for distorting and manipulating facts for his self-serving objective of discrediting the current administration.

In his latest press statement, the defeated PDP presidential candidate made wild claims on a number of issues that need to be corrected so that the public will not be misled into accepting fallacies as the truth.

The President Bola Tinubu-led administration believes that every true and patriotic Nigerian, regardless of political differences, should work to promote the unity and economic well-being of the country and not delegitimise genuine efforts of the Federal Government to encourage local and foreign investments into the economy.

Contrary to Atiku’s claim, the Tinubu administration, within its first year, has attracted over $20 billion into the economy. While President Tinubu was in New Delhi, India for G20 Summit last year August, Indian business leaders committed over $14 billion in new investments. A substantial part of this sum is already in the country.

In an unmistakable vote of confidence in the economic reforms being executed by the Tinubu administration, foreign investment in Nigeria’s stock market has ballooned, from N18.12 billion in Q1 2023 to N93.37 billion in Q1 2024, an increase of 415%. The last time Nigeria saw such level of investment was in the first quarter of 2019, when N97.6 billion was invested. The market, since Tinubu came to power, has broken records and created more wealth for the investors.

During President Tinubu’s recent trip to The Netherlands, the Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, announced a fresh $ 250 million investment by Dutch businesses in Nigeria.

Different sectors of the economy, especially telecoms, manufacturing, solid minerals, oil and gas, e-commerce, and fintech, are attracting new Foreign Direct Investments from discerning investors who know Nigeria is a good market for bountiful returns.

We found it strange that Alhaji Atiku could accuse President Tinubu of conflict of interest in the award of Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway to Hitech Construction Company which he claimed is owned by Chagoury family because the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, sits on the board of CDK, a tiles manufacturing company, based in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Nigerians should, by now, be well accustomed to Atiku’s hypocrisy on many national issues. Is it not amusing that the former Vice President, a man who openly said he formed Intels Nigeria with an Italian businessman when he was serving in the Nigeria Customs Service, a clear breach of extant public service regulations, is now the one accusing someone else of conflict of interest?

When he was Vice President of Nigeria between 1999-2007, he maintained his business links with Intels that won major port concession deals.

Was this not an abuse of office, a flagrant violation of his oath, that a company where he was a co-owner won major government contracts and concessions when he was vice president?

As Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation, he approved sales of over 145 State-owned enterprises to his known friends and associates and openly said during his failed campaign for the presidency last year that he would do the same, if elected.

It is important to state clearly that Seyi Tinubu is a 38 year-old adult who has a right to do business and pursue his business interests in Nigeria and anywhere in the world within the limits of the law. The fact that his father is now the President of Nigeria does not disqualify Seyi from pursuing legitimate business interests.

For the records, Seyi joined the Board of Directors of CDK in 2018, more than six years ago. He is representing the interest of an investor company, in which he has interest. He is not a board member because his father is a friend of the Chagourys. Information about owners and shareholders of CDK is a matter of public record that can be openly accessed from the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission and CDK’s. Atiku and his proxy did not need a little-known journal to recycle open-source information to make a fallacious argument. The Chairman of CDK and the highest shareholder of the company is respected General TY Danjuma (rtd). The Chagourys are minority shareholders in the company, and only one member of the clan is on its five-man board.

We wonder how Seyi’s membership of the board of CDK conflicts with Hitech Construction Company’s work on Lagos-Calabar Coastal superhighway.

Alhaji Atiku has been waging an unrelenting war against this all-important and transformative project for no justifiable reasons other than bad politics. Atiku knows that its grand success and other projects to be unfurled, such as the Badagry-Sokoto superhighway, will be a major boost for President Tinubu and finally upend his perennial presidential ambition.

If not blinded by political ill-will, Alhaji Atiku knows that the right thing for him to do is to applaud President Tinubu for the ambitious and audacious Lagos-Calabar Highway, which was authorised by the Federal Executive Council.

It is important to remind Alhaji Atiku that infrastructural projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway are used to galvanise the economy. In the US, President Joe Biden has used his $2 trillion bi-partisan infrastructure deal to revamp decaying American infrastructure and inject life into the US economy.

How can an elder-statesman be waging a campaign of calumny against the economic fortunes and prosperity of a country he wishes to govern or trying to scuttle a project that will bring prosperity to nine coastal states and the nation in general?

That Nigeria’s economy is being reclassified by the IMF as the fourth largest in Africa is stale news. This happened because of the devaluation of the Naira and President Tinubu’s determined effort to set the economy on the path of sustainable growth. Under the progressive, bold, inventive, and innovative leadership of President Tinubu, Nigeria will bounce back to where it rightfully belongs as Africa’s largest market and biggest economy.

The Tinubu administration targets a $1 trillion economy in the next few years, with audacious economic programmes and critical infrastructure projects in key sectors . With revenue rising in trillions and the creation of the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, which is poised to raise over N20 trillion this year alone, we have no doubt that the $ 1 trillion economy is realisable.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Vice-President Kashim Shettima is expected to depart Abuja for Dallas, United States of America, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit is organised by the Corporate Council on Africa.

Mr Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of The Vice-President, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Nkwocha said Shettima would join other political and business leaders across Africa, the USA and beyond for the summit.

According to him, the summit will feature high-level dialogues, networking business sessions and the plenary, all scheduled for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.

He said that the African leaders expected at the summit include, the President, Republic of Liberia; Joseph Boakai, President, Republic of Malawi; Lazarus Chakwera and the President, Republic of Angola, Joao Lourenço.

Nkwocha said other African leaders that would grace the summit are the President, Republic of Botswana, Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi, President, Republic of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Kingdom of Lesotho, Nthomeng Majara.

He said besides the summit’s plenary, Shettima would speak at the Roundtable on African Infrastructure Investment with a focus on impact and returns.

”He (Shettima) is also scheduled to speak on a high-level panel on agribusiness, focusing on transiting “from food insecurity to thriving agribusinesses.

”Additionally, the Vice-President will speak at a plenary session on Navigating Africa’s Energy Future as well as chair a session dedicated to promoting the ‘invest in Nigeria’ initiative.

”He is also expected to attend other meetings and engagements on the sideline of the summit.”

Nkwocha said that Vice-President Shettima is expected back in the country at the end of his engagements in the US. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi