By Mercy Omoike

AfricaFertilizer.Org (AFO) has organised a fertiliser technical working group workshop for stakeholders in the fertiliser sector to discuss and validate Nigeria’s 2022 fertiliser statistics.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day workshop ended on Thursday in Lagos.

NAN also reports that AfricaFertilizer is an initiative of the International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC), established to promote data-driven decisions for African food systems, by providing high-quality, reliable, credible, and timely fertiliser statistics and information in over 20 sub-Sahara African countries.

Mr Sebastian Nduva, AFO Programme Manager, told NAN that the purpose of the workshop at the national level was to garner relevant data to boost the growth of the fertiliser industry.

“The purpose of organising the technical group at the national level is basically to bring together all the stakeholders in the fertiliser value chain to lend credibility to the data and statistics we provide out there.

“So, we have the private sector and the government, research institutions and customs, among others to validate national statistics in terms of fertiliser consumption.

“We also make rudimentary demand projections for the subsequent planting seasons,” Nduva told NAN.

He added the meeting would enable players in the industry to resolve underlying and hindering issues affecting the distribution of fertilisers in the country.

“As a key output of this meeting, we have validated statistics for the country and as well get to resolve issues that are underlying and hindering the distribution of fertilisers.

“At this workshop, we take the validation exercise very critically and any data that is not agreed upon by the stakeholders, we go a step further and work with them on a one-on-one basis to make sure that whatever is put out there is accurate.

“This workshop is key in the fertiliser industry not only in Nigeria but in all of Africa,” he said.

On his part, Mr Sale Adamu, a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), said the workshop was important in driving the policies and decisions of the ministry.

“We are grateful to the IFDC for this workshop. It is a workshop where we take validated production data of the fertiliser sector.

“The data provided at the workshop will help to make the work of FMARD easier as the registrar of all fertiliser blending companies locally.

“The workshop enables us to have more information that we did not have previously from the various stakeholders that are invited to come and present what they have.

“It assists us to work better and when we have issues the data enables us to map out solutions to them,” Adamu said.

Also speaking, Mr Moses Negedu, a data analyst at the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, stressed the need for relevant data to drive the sector’s growth.

“This workshop is going to have a very positive impact because once we can validate data, then we can now know where we are in the fertiliser industry and where we should be.

“Now we know our apparent consumption of fertilisers locally and we see all the gaps that are in the sector, and we now know how to tackle them.

“We have a lot of government agencies here that can take the feedback of this meeting to the government and it affects the policies that will come and affect the industry, as a whole,” Negedu said.

Commending the organisers of the workshop, Mr Innocent Okuku, the Executive Secretary, West African Fertiliser Association (WAFA), said relevant data would drive the growth of the sector.

“WAFA’s intention is to get the private sector to work together to support the improvement in the fertiliser industry in West Africa.

“When you compare West Africa and indeed the whole of sub-Saharan Africa with the rest of the world, we are lagging far behind in fertiliser use which is the major reason why we are not able to feed ourselves and we depend on import for a number of food items that we require.

“So, increasing the use of fertilisers will lead to increase yield and ultimately help us feed ourselves the more and be less dependent on imported food.

“WAFA works with the IFDC and other partners across each of the countries in West Africa to look at the data of production, export, consumption and other things related to fertiliser to assess the progress we are making to get greater output for agriculture.

“This data allows us to see where we are and based on that take decisions about how we can progress in the journey to make sure we are able to feed ourselves,” Okuku said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The D-G Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Eli Jidere (2nd L), the Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr Adeleke Mamora (3rd L),UN Environment Programme expert (UNEP), Mr Brian Hojul (4th L) and others at the National Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on Energy Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

By Jessica Dogo

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Dr Adeleke Mamora, has lamented that Air conditioners (ACs) utilised in the country had less energy efficiency ratio (EER).

Mamora said this at the National Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on Energy Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

The one-day workshop was organised by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).

He also said that it was below internationally acceptable minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), adding that the importance of the workshop on scaling up energy- efficient and climate-friendly cooling in Nigeria could not be over-emphasised.

“It is a fact that Nigeria is the largest market in Africa and this applies to the cooling sector also.

“With the current growing population, combined with improving lifestyle, urbanisation and rising global warming, Nigeria will continue to experience growing demand for ACs, refrigerators and other cooling devices.

“Thus, becoming one of the fastest growing ACs and refrigerators market in the world.

“Unfortunately, most of the ACs utilised in the country have energy efficiency ratio (EER) below internationally acceptable minimum energy performance standards (MEPS),” Mamora said.

He said that Nigeria, through its National Energy Policy and Climate Protocols had joined the rest of the world to recognise energy efficiency as one of the most cost-effective means of providing energy security.

The minister said it would also increase economic productivity, reduce local air pollution, and help mitigate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

According to him, its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), an unconditional greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction target of 20 per cent and a conditional reduction target of 47 per cent below the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario by 2030 were set.

Mamora said: “To achieve this, energy efficiency best practices across all sectors, as one of the climate change mitigating priority measures, has set conditional target of 2.5 per cent per year reduction in energy intensity”.

The Director-General of Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) Prof. Eli Jidere says 80 per cent of electricity supplied in Nigeria is from fossil energy, the greatest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

He said ECN with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), had in 2017 conducted an energy audit of selected public buildings in Abuja.

According to him, the study showed that over 60 per cent of electricity consumed in public buildings was from space cooling.

Jidere said: “It should also be noted that 80 per cent of electricity supply in Nigeria is from fossil energy. the greatest emitter of CO₂ emissions.

“The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” is also anchored on the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency as key pillars.”

Mr Brian Hojul, a United Nations Environment Programme expert (UNEP), said this served as an opportunity to improve lives of every family save money on utility bills.

“I view this as an opportunity for us not only to improve the lives of everyday families to help a family save money on their utility bills.

“It will make your businesses more competitive. It will save public resources instead of the ECN and others spending so much on electricity bills free up those resources for other investments,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister inaugurated a National Technical Committee on Sustainable Cooling in Nigeria.

The committee comprises Energy Commission of Nigeria, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Federal Ministry of Environment (Dept. of Climate Change (DCC) and National Ozone Office (NOO}).

Others were Nigerian Customs and representative of the organised private sector.

The committee is expected to provide general guidance to the project’s implementation with focus on data collection, data analysis for updating MEPS, the ACs market monitoring and verification training. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

==========

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Leadership of the group in a group photograph cutting birthday cake with the IDPs

By Naomi Sharang

Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023, one of the foremost support groups that worked for the election of Sen. Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, on Wednesday fed no fewer than 3000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gesture was part of gestures to mark the 71st birthday anniversary of the president-elect by his supporters and well-wishers across the country.

The event which took place at the Dagba IDP Camp in Area 1, Garki Abuja, was attended by  leadership of the support group and politicians who broke their Ramadan fasting and a cut birthday cake with the IDPs including women, children and youths.

The Director-General of the group, Mr Realwan Okpanachi, said the gesture was in line with the generous and humble nature which Tinubu is known for.

He said that the choice of the IDP camp was another demonstration of the low-key birthday celebration as directed by Tinubu who is currently outside the country.

“The significance of this event is Tinubu’s love for the downtrodden. For the less privileged and the challenged in the society. That’s why we are here to celebrate with these people.

“If you listened to his directive, he said his birthday should be celebrated with the downtrodden. That’s why we’re here.

“We’re also here to tell them that the very reason why they’re here is the same reason why Tinubu is coming as President of the Rederal republic of Nigeria to tackle the problem of insecurity which has led them to this place in the first place, abandoning their homes, farming and businesses to seek refuge in this place.

“By the coming of Tinubu to office, he will provide security, education for their children and ensure that each and everyone here is rehabilitated and returned to their original homes to start life afresh as it used to be.

“So, there are no better people to celebrate Tinubu’s birthday with than this vulnerable group who he cares about passionately,” he said.

Okpanachi added that as representatives of the President-elect, they had given the IDPs a message of hope that he will make live liveable and bearable for them in particular and all Nigerians as a whole.

He disclosed that the initial projection of feeding the IDPs was put at 2000, but with the large turnout witnessed additional 1000 packages which had to be made so that they could have a memorable breaking of Ramadan.

Amina Musa, a mother of five and one of the beneficiaries who spoke in Hausa Language thanked the group and said the foods, drinks and fruits collected by her household would help them in breaking the fasting.

“We thank Baba Tinubu for this gesture to me and my family. The things I collected here today will help us to break our fasting. We wish him happy birthday too”.

Speaking on behalf of the IDPs, Idris Alilu, expressed appreciation for the kind gesture from Tinubu to have remembered them at this Ramadan season.

Alilu used the opportunity to pray for good health and divine wisdom for the president-elect to pilot the affairs of the nation commencing from May 29 Presidential Inauguration Day.

NAN reports that prayers were also offered for the unity and peace of the country following the aftermath of the 2023 general elections.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says findings from the ongoing investigation into multiple accounts of ex-agitaors linked to one BVN will determine the fate of protesting beneficiaries.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr Freston Akpor, Media Aide to the PAP Interim Administrator.

Akpor disclosed that names of all those involved in the alleged BVN fraud had been forwarded to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for investigation.

He said that the Amnesty Office also blamed bank officials for colluding with the ex-agitaors to aid the “financial crime”.

“So, investigation is ongoing, I must tell you there is nothing the PAP can do now over this matter until the investigation is concluded and then the ONSA will take a decision on what to do.

“This is a financial crime which is why the ONSA is investigating the matter.

“The policy is one name, one BVN. But in a situation where you have more than 30 names linked to one BVN, it becomes an issue.

“We discovered that 513 names were linked to 1370 accounts. And these are the people who have cases to answer.

“As it stands, those who are protesting are the people who fall within those who have multiple accounts linked to their BVN,” Akpor explained.

On the purported “gentleman agreement” with leaders of the ex-agitators to receive monies in bulk to pay the boys, Akpor said

“it is these same boys, that also complained that when the money is collected by this so-called leaders, the money doesn’t trickle down to them”.

A handful of ex-agitators on Tuesday gathered at the premises of the National Assembly to express anger over the stoppage of their monthly N65,000 stipends.

The PAP office had explained that the stoppage of payment was  necessitated by the issues surrounding BVNs of ex-agitators. (NAN)

=========

Edited by Deborah Coker/Isaac Aregbesola

By Lizzy Okoji

The U.S. government has announced an increment for its non-migrant visa application fee effective from March 30.

The U.S. Mission in Nigeria, which said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, disclosed that the increases were published in the Federal Register on March 28.

According to the U.S. government, the changes is in line with the Department of State’s commitment to facilitating legitimate travel to the United States for both immigrant and nonimmigrant travellers.

“The Department of State published a Final Rule regarding increases to certain non-immigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees and the Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexican citizens age 15 and over.

“These increases were published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2023 and will be effective on May 30, 2023.

“The fee for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs), and other non-petition based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas, will increase from 160 dollars to 185 dollars,” it stated.

The mission said that the fee for certain petition-based non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) would increase from 190 dollars to 205 dollars.

“The fee for a treaty trader, treaty investor, and treaty applicants in a specialty occupation (E category) will increase from 205 dollars to 315 dollars.

“NIV fees are set based on the actual cost of providing NIV services and are determined after conducting a study of the cost of these services

“The Department uses an Activity-Based Costing (ABC) methodology to calculate, annually, the cost of providing consular services, including visa services.

“The fees for most non-petition based NIVs were last updated in 2012, and certain other NIV fees were last updated in 2014,” it stated.

According to the mission, other consular fees are not affected by this rule, including the waiver of the two-year residency required fee for certain exchange visitors.

“The U.S. government also noted that Visas for work and tourism are essential to President Biden’s foreign policy, recognising the critical role international travel plays in the U.S. economy.

“Fee information can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, travel.state.gov, and on the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates,” it stated. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

====

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Alex Enebeli

An Enugu-based Non Governmental Organisation, Boys Champions (BC), has trained 120 boys on how to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against girls and women.

BC is a non-profit organisation that leverages mentorship, sports, education, peace building and empathy to empower boys, founded by the United Nation award-winning Nigeria, Noel Alumona, in 2018.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the boys, who were drawn from different schools in Enugu State.

A Team Member of BC, Chukwunonso Okolo, said the mentorship training was aimed at making young people better people in the society and teaching them how to respect girls and women.

He added that the training would help to raise responsible boys and men who would take actions to end violence against women and girls.

According to Okolo, the training will further reshape boys thinking of dominance and superiority over girls.

“We are actually making them to understand that both sexes can actually coexist and still achieve their dreams in life without suppressing the other because of their gender.

“We want to fix the society by mentoring these boys on the danger of GBV as we believed that fixing the boys will make the society a better place.

“We want them to understand there is no competition among boys and girls and this will make them not to hit their wives when they marry,” he said.

Okolo explained that the project focused on boys, stressing “if they are fixed, GBV would be minimized.

“So today, we are training about 120 boys from different schools in Enugu.

“And, it is going to be an interactive session as they will be allowed to ask basic questions and their perception on gender equality,” he said.

He said that the founder had it rough, which made him to share his experience to help younger ones.

“If you know him very well, whatever we are doing at BC it’s actually his life story,” he added.

Taking the boys on the topic “Guys vs Girls: Building Healthy Relationship,” a BC facilitator, Onyekachukwu Asado, said there was nothing wrong for boys relating with girls if they do it right.

He said that things that kept him and family going was those things he learnt while growing, urging them not to claim superiority over their girlfriends.

A participant, Michael Omotayo from the Good Shepherd Anglican Secondary School, commended the organisers, saying the experience he gathered would help him in treating women well.

“I learnt that both genders are equal,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

Retaining N-Power for youth empowerment, poverty alleviation

News analysis by Collins Yakubu-Hammer, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

When the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) was created by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, he charged the pioneer Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, to rescue Nigerians from poverty.

Earlier in 2016, the Buhari administration created the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), which was overseen by the office of the Vice-President, until the creation of the FMHADMSA in 2019, which then took over the NSIP.

The Ministry began overseeing the numerous intervention programmes with regards to tackling poverty, unemployment and insecurity through job creation.

This was to culminate with the lifting of projected 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years.

One of the cardinal points of NSIP is the N-Power programme whose focal point are young people, especially school leavers, non-graduates and school graduates between the ages of 18-35.

Under N-Power, graduates are expected to earn N30, 000; N10, 000 for non-graduates as monthly stipends from the Federal Government until they are exited the programme or secure permanent employments.

It has three core segments, namely N-Power Volunteer Corps (for graduates), N-Power Build (for non-graduates) and N-Power Knowledge, which is also a non-graduate programme for the ICT-inclined.

Being an all-inclusive programme, N-Power focuses primarily on unemployed Nigerian youths with the aim of developing their employability, entrepreneurship skills and capacity to lift them out poverty.

Since its inception the federal government has channeled a lot of human and material resources to enable it deliver on its targets.

One of the beneficiaries of N-Power Knowledge Programme, Mr Umar Ahmed Sarki, said that the programme was of immense benefit to youths.

“The N-Power programme is a good one. We thank the government for empowering the youths with monthly stipends. We hope it will be sustained by the incoming administration,” Sarki said.

Similarly, Miss Abigail Thomas who benefited from the same programme said she would use the knowledge gained from the training on software engineering to develop applications that would help in solving some of the challenges facing humanity.

“I have been here since February. It has been an amazing experience as we were paid transportation fare to get here and we get paid N1, 200 for daily feeding.

“We have been taught Javascript, how to build websites and other programmes. I thank God and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for this wonderful opportunity, and will definitely implement what I’ve learnt at the end of the training.

“The Federal Government should please sustain the programmes to give opportunities to other youths to benefit. This way, the vision of Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years will be achieved,’’ Thomas said.

A beneficiary of N-Creative, Mr Ngusha Elijah, said he would venture into the entertainment industry after learning how to write scripts for TV production.

“Since resuming on Feb.15, I’ve learnt a lot on how to generate interesting story ideas, write stories and create interesting contents.

“The Federal Government has done its best to ensure that unemployed youths are empowered. It will be highly appreciated if the incoming administration will sustain the N-Power programme.

“The programme has helped a lot of people. There are some people out there who have never earned N30, 000 before, but the N-Power programme has helped their lives. It is a step in the right direction to alleviate poverty.

“Even my younger sister is a beneficiary, so I can cite her as an example of how the N-Power programmme has been to Nigerians and should be sustained’,’’ Elijah said.

Another beneficiary, Mr Akighir Aondohemba, from Benue, said he would use knowledge gained from the training to build websites for business owners and create wealth for himself and his families.

“I want to appeal that the Federal Government should ensure that this kind of programme continues so that other Nigerians can benefit from it.

“The target audience should be people like me; people who are based in the rural and semi-urban areas of Nigeria.

“, with my knowledge, especially in using WordPress, I feel I can now build websites at affordable prices so that business owners living in rural areas will have websites.

“So I’m encouraging the Federal Government to continue with this programme,” Aondohemba said.

Experts say that successful application of skills learnt is imperative in measuring the outcome of any training programme and a facilitator on N-Creative (script writing), Mr Marvelous Abutu, said the beneficiaries are well equipped in that regard.

The Programme Manager on Software Training Mr Temitope Folorunsho, shares that same optimism.

“We teach them web design, graphics and basic ICT knowledge. So, my expectation is that they should learn this as if their lives depend on it.

“There is the need for the programme to be sustain by the next administration, because the impact is enormous”, Folorunsho said.

However, critics had alleged that the N-Power programme is shrouded with corruption and several forms of malpractices, allegations the supervising minister has denied.

“​The ministry has deployed a well-rounded mechanism for selection of eligible beneficiaries from across the country; this has been in place since the inception of the programme.

“Working with our service provider, program beneficiaries are boarded, trained and deployed to pre-selected places of primary assignment.

“When it came to our notice that there may have been sharp practices by some personnel of the Payment Service Provider (PSP) involved in the payment processes of beneficiaries, the matter was immediately referred to ICPC,” she said

In spite of the shortcomings, experts say the programme has been a major contribution by Buhari administration to fight youth unemployment and stimulate poverty alleviation.

Observers, therefore urge the incoming administration to consider the possibility of retaining the programme and making amendments to take care of identified lapses. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has congratulated President-elect Bola Tinubu on his 71st birthday.

The vice president conveyed his felicitations in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday in Abuja.

He prayed God to grant the president-elect more wisdom and strength in the years to come.

“Dolly and I rejoice with you, the family, friends and associates on this occasion of your 71st birthday.

“We thank the Almighty God for his grace and enablement upon your life that has made possible your many years of service and contributions to Lagos State, our nation and our great party.

“This occasion of your 71st birthday is unique, as it occurs as you prepare to take on your most significant assignment yet as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“All we can offer you in this solemn period is a prayer; that the Lord will help you in this assignment and give you good health, strength and wisdom to serve our people and our nation excellently.

“Happy Birthday! God bless you,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Federal Government has sought the support of relevant stakeholders for victims of explosions and violent attacks across the country.

Mr James Lalu, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), said this in a statement by Mbanefor Michaels, his spokesman, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Lalu was speaking when he received a delegation from the Humanitarian Mine Action Committee (HMAC) and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

He said that the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) provided a framework for the implementation of Victims’ Assistance in regards to survivors.

According to him, Article 11 and 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities captured the Rights of Persons with Disabilities resulting from Mines and explosive.

He urged the HMAC and GICHD to generate accurate and comprehensive data of victims of mine action with a view to addressing their plights.

“Medical care, rehabilitations, psycho-social and economic support is needed to support these victims.

“I therefore, urge the Mine Action Committee to engage in data collection of victims across board in order to ascertain the degree of interventions needed,’’ he said.

Mr Valon Kumnova of the GICHD charged the committees to be resilient and committed to assisting the victims of war as well as persons with disabilities.

He called on stakeholders to develop and ensure strategies, technical survey, gender diversity, information management, form treaties as well as an operational management.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purpose of the present Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote their dignity. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz