NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Economy/Business

Strong political commitment, others vital for SAPZ project success – Adesina

151 total views today

 By Lucy Ogalue

The President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, says strong political commitment, ministerial collaboration, and institutional support are vital for the success of SAPZ project.

Adesina spoke during the groundbreaking of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) project in Kaduna State on Tuesday.

He noted that the success of SAPZs across Nigeria would depend on five key enablers for effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

“Firstly, strong political will and commitment at the highest levels must be maintained,” he said during his address at the launch event.

“Secondly, policy continuity is essential. Policy reversals with changing administrations create uncertainty and discourage potential investors.

“Thirdly, cross-ministerial cooperation is required for coordinated delivery and successful outcomes of the agro-industrial zones.

“Fourthly, to secure continuity across all 36 zones, the initiative must be codified by the National Assembly through appropriate legislation.

“Finally, to ensure proper coordination nationwide, this effort must be backed by law and institutional structures,” Adesina said.

The AfDB President commended the Federal Government and Kaduna State for their consistent support in making the Kaduna SAPZ project a reality.

Adesina described the development as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards transforming and industrialising its agricultural sector.

“This achievement reflects years of dedication, vision, and consistency in policy direction,” he said at the event.

He praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s continued commitment to SAPZ as a presidential priority.

He also lauded Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, for continuing the legacy of former Governor, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai.

“What we witness today exemplifies the benefits of political stability and consistent governance,” Adesina said.

He recalled that the idea of agro-industrial zones began during his tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture over a decade ago.

“The project was delayed by institutional inertia and fragmented approaches, but today we celebrate its renewal and progress,” he said.

Kaduna SAPZ is part of the first phase, involving eight states and the Federal Capital Territory in the ambitious initiative.

The AfDB has invested $200 million in the $510 million project, co-financed by IFAD, IsDB, and the Green Climate Fund.

Adesina emphasised that SAPZ is more than a programme; it is a transformation agenda for Nigeria’s agricultural and rural development.

Vice President Shettima, representing President Tinubu, reiterated the government’s dedication to agricultural transformation for economic growth.

The SAPZ initiative aims to make Nigeria a leading hub for food processing and agricultural exports.

Kaduna is expected to serve as a model for other states participating in the SAPZ programme.

Government officials, development partners, and stakeholders present at the event pledged their full support for the project’s success. (NAN) 

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Ese E. Eniola Williams

Foreign

Korea reiterates commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria

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By Priscilla Osaje

The Republic of Korea has reiterated its commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria, particularly in economic cooperation, security, and people-to-people exchanges.

Mr Kim Pankyu, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, said this at a news conference to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Nigeria, in Abuja..

Pankyu said that since his assumption of office as Korea ambassador to Nigeria, the relationship between Korea and Nigeria had grown significantly.

He said that both countries have kept a stronger synergy in strengthening the cultural affinity they both shared.

According to him, Korean embassy business operations in Nigeria have an essential  favourable investment environment.

“During some meetings, many Nigerian government officers also recognised the importance of investment-friendly policies.

“Measures such as tariff and tax incentives will attract more investment from Korean companies benefiting both economies,” he said.

The ambassador said that one of the most notable milestones was the first-ever Korea-Africa Summit in June, where they facilitated high level discussions between Korea and Nigeria.

He said such high-level discussions resulted in meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Industry and Trade, and Minister of Tourism for the benefits of both countries.

“The Nigerian delegation participating in the Korea-Africa Business Summit and various forums in ICT, was a major step in strengthening Korea’s engagement with African countries, fostering inclusiveness and cooperation.

“This year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Nigeria. We are committed to further strengthen our ties, particularly in economic cooperation, security and people-to-people exchanges.

“Nigeria remains Korea’s most important trade and investment partner in Africa, it accounts for 10 per cent of Korea-Africa trade and over 70 per  cent of Korean project contracts in South Africa,” he said.

The ambassador said that in 2021, Korean bilateral trade increased by 38.6 per cent, reaching over 2.2 billion GBP an hour in Baku, South Korea and Antarctica.

He said that such was a meaningful addition to their partnership, which made their partnership truly important as 2.2 billion U.S. dollars reflecting their strong economic partnership.

“At the corporate level for example, Korean biotech company SD Biosensors HIV rapid test kit has been approved for packaging in Nigeria.

“This year, up to 15 million kits will be procured, looking ahead; I believe there is room for even great cooperation in trade and investment.

“Both countries are working closely to conclude key agreements as early as possible.

“The Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and the Trade and Investment Promotion and other MOU will mark a new chapter in our economic relations,” he said.

“With 40 years of experience in military and security affairs, I am committed to enhancing our security collaboration,”he  said.

He restated Korea`s commitment to increase support for capacity building in the Nigerian military and security sectors.

“We hope to finalise defence industry cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that have been under discussion for some time.

“We also have an opportunity to work with other Korean and other Nigerian companies to establish new military and security differences.

“Beyond the Economy and Security Partnership, the Korean Embassy actively supports cultural and development initiatives through Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korean Cultural Center”, he added.

He explained that some weeks ago, the Korean-Nigerian Information Access Centre was opened in Abuja, supporting Nigeria’s digital capacity-building efforts.

“I also had the pleasure of attending the ‘Korean Day’ event at the American International School Abuja, where students enjoyed Korean culture and cuisine.

“KOICA and Nigeria are also conducting a project to promote digital governance and multimedia learning in primary schools worth 13 million and 10 million U.S. dollars.

“Large-scale projects are to come in the next few years, the contributions and collaborations demonstrate the mutual trust and friendship between Korea and Nigeria.

“As ambassador, I will continue working to facilitate our longstanding partnership for the years ahead,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Economy/Business

NOSDRA restates commitment to curbing oil spillage

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By Diana Omueza

Mr Chukwuemeka Woke, the Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has restated the agency’s commitment to curbing oil spillage in the country.

Woke said this on Thursday, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the agency and F1 Consulting in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MoU is also aimed at providing oil spill training for members of staff of NOSDRA by F1 Consulting.

Woke, who expressed the agency’s readiness to implement the content of the MoU, said that the outcome would yield positive results that would boost the agency and safeguard oil host communities.

He urged all oil companies and stakeholders to contribute their quota and support the agency to deliver on its mandates.

“NOSDRA is an agency established by the Act of the parliament of Nigeria and we are not in any way going outside our mandate.

“With the establishment and signing of this MoU, we believe that this will go a long way in solving the problem of pollution and oil spillages in our various communities,” he said.

Woke also sought the support and cooperation of other agencies of government and the oil companies that were in the oil host communities to prevent and manage spillage.

He said that stakeholders must be more responsive in relaying information of spillage to NOSDRA and not hoard information from the appropriate authority.

In his remarks, Mr Jude Ndubisi, Lead Consultant of F1 Consulting, said the essence of the MoU was to institutionalise the national oil spill contingency plans directly to host communities.

“The national spill contingencies plan is the primary document that talks about spill response strategies as a country.

“This document for a very long time has not been institutionalised down to the host communities.

“So, we are trying to build a partnership and synergy with NOSDRA to bring the provisions of the national spill contingency plan down to the communities where the oil installations exist,” he said.

According to him, the oil spillage contingencies will train, guide and hold communities and individuals responsible for spillage.

He called for partnership with stakeholders and holders of oil licensing operations to train and create awareness to preserve the community and environment.

Mrs Katherine George, Director of Legal services of NOSDRA, said that the MoU was in line with the mandate of the agency

“We have looked at the establishment Act of the agency and we believe that this MoU is in tandem with the mandate of our agencies

“We believe that this MoU will accomplish the goals and mission of NOSDRA to zero tolerance for oil spillage,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Deji Abdulwahab

Economy/Business

Nigeria committed to balancing trade, strengthening local industry – Minister

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By Lucy Ogalue

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Sen. John Enoh, says the Federal Government is committed to balancing trade through policies that support local production while managing imports.

Enoh stated this while speaking on the nation’s trade strategy, at the 2025 Renewed Hope Global Virtual Town Hall Conference.

The minister emphasised the importance of evaluating the country’s balance of trade , whether in surplus or deficit when formulating economic policies.

He noted concerns that Nigeria remained an import-dependent economy and reiterated the need to expand and deepen the country’s productive capacity to drive exports and reduce reliance on foreign goods.

“The real issue is not just the volume of imports but the fact that we are not producing enough.

“We must expand local manufacturing and strengthen our industries to stay competitive in the global market,” he said.

Enoh said that the government had been deliberate in encouraging local productivity through various incentives, including import duty exemptions for manufacturers and industrialists.

“Since assuming office, I have approved countless import duty exemption certificates to industries to support local production.

“There are programmes such as backward integration policies aimed at boosting local capacity in key industries, including manufacturing and agriculture ” he said.

Eno reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria remained competitive in global trade.

He said that at the end of each fiscal period, the government assessed the country’s trade balance to determine policy directions.

He assured stakeholders that the government would continue implementing measures to create an enabling environment for industries and improve Nigeria’s export potential.(NAN)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Oil & Gas

FG reiterates commitment to Gas-to-power initiative

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CNG

By Thompson Yamput

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the gas to power initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that thr initiative, which was launched in 2021, aims to transform Nigeria into a gas-powered economy by 2030 through a series of policy reforms, infrastructure development, and investment attraction strategies.

Mr  Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL, said this at the groundbreaking ceremony of the five mini-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plants in Ajaokuta, Kogi.

Kyari said the projects play a critical role in promoting economic growth and contributing to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while creating opportunities for gas commercialisation and supporting the Federal Government’s flare down initiatives.

He said that the Mini LNG facilities would ensure the efficient transportation of gas over long distances, providing a cleaner and cheaper source of energy to households,mobility, industries, and businesses.

“This is particularly important for regions that currently lack access to gas pipeline infrastructure.

“The company’s strides in the upstream and gas infrastructure projects were sequel to the unwavering support of President Bola Tinubu in utilising gas resources to fuel industrialisation, achieve energy security and foster economic growth and development.

Earlier, Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi, thanked the federal government for locating the five Mini-LNG plants in the state.

Ododo described the decision as a step in the right direction in Nigeria’s march towards attaining energy security and economic growth.

“I wish to commend our President, Mr Bola Tinubu, NNPC Ltd and its partners,for finding Ajaokuta and Kogi state worthy of gas investments.

“It is our belief that the plants will unlock ample opportunities in investment, including direct and indirect employment for the state’s teaming population, hence our total support, ” Ododo said. (NAN)
edited by Sadiya Hamza

Health

FG reiterates commitment to confront quackery in health sector

238 total views today

Quackery

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to confront quackery in the health sector in order to address misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made this known in Abuja during the presentation of accreditation certificates to deserving medical laboratories.

Salako said that he would work with the security personnel to ensure the objective was achieved and for Nigerians to have confidence in legitimate healthcare providers.

“One of my priorities as a minister of state is to totally confront quackery in the health sector.

“To achieve this, I will need the services of the security personnel to ensure adherence,” he said.

According to him, laboratory bodies like the Medical Laboratory Service Council are essential in achieving this objective.

He charged the council to roll out all their assets and deploy technology to ensure that quackery was eliminated from the profession.

The minister congratulated the eight laboratories for their outstanding achievement and urged other laboratories in the country to emulate them by improving their infrastructure, manpower base, and processes.

“Accurate and reliable laboratory diagnostics, as we know, is the cornerstone of modern medicine.

“They enable early detection of diseases, guide appropriate treatment decisions, and contribute significantly to improving patient outcomes.

“The ISO re-accreditation of National External Quality Assessment Laboratory will undoubtedly enhance the quality and reliability of laboratory results leading to better patient care, reduced treatment errors, and improved public health outcomes,” he said

He said that the ministry would continue to prioritise medical laboratory science to ensure Nigerians have access to qualitative health care services.

In his welcome address, the Registrar of the council, Prof. Tosan Erhabor, said that the re-accreditation of the National External Quality Assessment Laboratory (NEQAL) by the South African National Accreditation Service (SANAS) to ISO 17043 was a remarkable achievement for the council.

He said it was also a triumph for every Nigerian whose health and well-being depend on the reliability of the medical diagnostics system.

He called on the minister to make a decisive government pronouncement mandating the participation of all government and private hospitals, private laboratories, to key into MLSCN Accreditation Service and MLSCN External Quality Assurance Proficiency Test EQA/PT Scheme.

“This policy will ensure that every laboratory in Nigeria will adhere to the rigorous standards.

In his remark, Dr Walter Kazadi, World Health Organisation W(HO) Representative and Head of Mission, said that accredited medical laboratories are vital to the healthcare system.

Kazadi, represented by Mr Jubril Kareem, a staff in the organisation, said that they play a critical role in ensuring reliable and accurate diagnosis, guiding treatment decisions, and providing data for effective disease surveillance.

He said it also signifies compliance with international standards, ensuring the highest quality of laboratory services.

According to him, the accreditation of these laboratories serves as an inspiration for others to strive for excellence.

“I encourage all laboratory professionals to remain committed to upholding the standards achieved through these accreditations and to continue contributing to the overall health and well-being of the nation,” Kazadi said.(NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba

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Foreign

We’re committed to regional dev’t- Moroccan official

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By Sumaila Ogbaje

The Moroccan Minister of Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, stated that His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, has a special interest in the success of regional development projects in Morocco.

 

Laftit emphasised that the king viewed the regional development initiative as a key driver for integrated, sustainable economic growth and human development.

 

He made this statement during the closing of the 2nd National Conference on Advanced Regionalisation, held under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, on Saturday in Tangier.

 

Laftit added that regional development required the collective efforts of all stakeholders to ensure prosperity and a decent life for citizens.

 

According to him, the royal message emphasises the need to take up the challenges that still stand in the way of optimal implementation of the advanced regionalisation project.

 

He cited the challenges of reinforcing participative democracy regionally and locally, and implementing the constitutional principle of territorial accountability.

 

Other challenges according to him include promoting regional attractiveness, and the ability of regions to develop financing mechanisms to cope with certain crises and adapt to changes imposed by the economic situation and future hazards.

 

The minister said the participation of several stakeholders in the event had enabled constructive and fruitful debates on themes relating to the challenges facing the advanced regionalisation project.

 

“These contributions also highlighted the opportunities offered by advanced regionalisation as a platform for strengthening local governance, spatial justice and efficiency in resource management.

 

“It was also a collective work space giving stakeholders the opportunity to reflect on promoting integrated development through the territorial implementation of public policies,’’ he said.

 

The President, Association of Moroccan Regions (ARM), Mbarka Bouaida, described the conference as a strategic movement that dealt with improving the environment and improving the economy of the country on a global and national scale.

 

Bouaida said the meeting had brought together a large number of organisations, experts, students, citizens and global companies from across all territories.

 

She said the continuity of the dialogue would allow citizens and companies to organise intervention and support programmes in the field of interest.

 

“It is necessary to improve government policies, with projects to improve innovation programmes and improve the coordination of knowledge of the economy and the national and regional economy is the priority of all parties.

 

“The role of the parties in investing the economy and the national economy and the regional economy is to ensure the balance between the private sector and public sector,’’ she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

General News

NNMDA D-G commits to promoting educational values, youth devt.

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By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), has expressed his commitment to adding more value to the education sector and promoting youth development for a better society.

Emeje gave the commitment during his conferment with a National Outstanding Award as ‘Vanguard of Good Leadership and Epitome of Hope’ by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in Abuja.

He said that given his humble educational background, he understood how needful it would be to make the educational system less burdensome for students.

Emeje also said that it was time for an overhaul of school curricula, alleging that Nigeria was still deploying outdated curriculum against the 21st century realities.

“Being in this position can only accord me the opportunity to make my contributions toward finding ways to better the educational system.

“NANS has the population and you are the end-users of the curriculum, meaning that whatever you don’t want should not be there.

“You need to utilise that number to engage stakeholders meaningfully,” he said.

Emeje said that he decided to accept the award, amidst many award offers, because of his disposition toward youth development, saying that he had always exhibited this in his engagements.

“When the youth pick you up on anything, if it is bad, they are right and if it is good, they are right; they are the most vulnerable people and the vulnerable people see things better.

“Consider me as one of you and I will be committed to the development of the country through NANS,” he said.

Earlier, Vice-President of NANS, Abdullahi Bilal, stressed the urgent need for the government to invest in the education system in order not to jeopardise the future of no fewer than 40.1 million members of the association.

Bilal said: “We need to increase the budgetary allocation of education, address the issue of out-of-school children in the country and ensure that the introduction of student loan by President Bola Tinubu is implemented to benefit Nigerian students and not targeted at commercialising public education,” he said.

He also expressed worries over what he called outdated curricula, stressing “our curricula should be directed toward solving the problems of the Nigerian nation.”

He said that NANS had always championed the course of advancing education in the country and would continue in that regard.

Bilal said that Emeje was chosen for the award because he had shown a trajectory that promoted youth development and that he had made meaningful contributions to the Pharmacy profession, among other interventions. (NAN)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

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