NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Economy/Business

FG lifts 5-year ban on mining exploration in Zamfara

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By Martha Agas

The Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration and other related activities in Zamfara, after five years.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake disclosed this at a press briefing on Sunday in Abuja.

Alake said the move was made following significant improvement on the security situation in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls  that the Federal Government banned all forms of mining activities in Zamfara in 2019, following alarming reports of banditry and its link to illegal mining.

Alake  said that insecurity in the state had been reduced to a manageable level to facilitate the operation of legitimate mining activities.

He said that reversing the ban would support efforts to boost the country’s economic profile, particularly as the state possessed critical minerals in commercial quantities needed for energy transition.

“The nation has a lot to gain from reawakened economic activities in a highly mineralised state like Zamfara that is imbued with vast Gold, Lithium, and Copper belts,” he said.

The minister explained that the ban had created a vacuum, which was exploited by illegal miners to rob the nation of its resources.

“The concomitant result was the colossal loss of revenue to the affected communities, local government, the state and the Federal Government as legitimate owners were forced to shut down operations,” he explained.

According to Alake, President Bola Tinubu is determined to address insecurity in the country by deploying intelligence-gathering and other security operations to neutralise merchants of insecurity

He stated that Tinubu’s strategy had led to the neutralisation of key bandit commanders, thereby significantly reducing incidents of insecurity across the nation.

“ A recent success was the capture of one of the most wanted bandit commanders, Halilu Sububu, in a covert operation in Zamfara.”

According to him,  the government is responsible for  protecting lives and property, and contingency plans have already been made to protect mining operators in Zamfara and other states.

He further explained that the strategies adopted to achieve the feat were increased intelligence gathering by relevant security agencies, who would work alongside the mining operators.

The minister stated that  lifting of the ban would also facilitate better regulation of mining activities in the state.

He added that the host communities would also benefit from the ban lift through the implementation of corporate social responsibility projects by the mining companies.

According  to him,  the move will ensure the country benefits from the state’s rich mineral resources, and the significant contributions of the sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

In another development, the minister explained the provisions of its Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with France, on boosting mining in the country.

He reassured that the agreement does not imply Nigeria was relinquishing control over its mineral resources or entering into any military pact with France.

NAN recalls that the minister on Dec. 1,  announced an MOU with France to develop joint projects to promote and diversify the value chain of the critical minerals in the solid minerals sector of both countries.

The partnership is also to open opportunities for the remediation of more than 2,000 abandoned pits in the country through environmental rehabilitation and post-mining projects intervention plans.

“The high point of the MOU is on training and capacity building for our mining professionals.

“We need all the assistance we can get in terms of capacity, technical, and financial support from abroad, and that wasn’t even the first we are signing,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

General News

FG’s policies, reforms will impact populace in 2025 – ICSAN

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By Rukayat Moisemhe

The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) says the populace will begin to feel the impact of the Federal Government’s different sectoral reforms to boost and revamp the economy in 2025.

ICSAN president, Mrs Funmi Ekundayo, made the assertion at the institute’s media parley on Thursday in Lagos.

Ekundayo stated that the different sectoral reforms which required gestational period would begin to gain a lot of traction in 2025.

She urged citizens to continue to be resilient for a positive horizon and a more prosperous Nigeria where the different reforms would have taken shape.

“Government has been doing a whole lot with regards to reforms but the room that is largest in this world is the room for improvement.

“We must improve the narrative as regards the country’s macroeconomic indicators and government must address inflation figures and continue with the right reforms in place to stabilise the economy.

“In a bid to diversify away from oil export, government must do better in the area of mechanised agriculture and provide the necessary support such as power and other essential infrastructure for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and manufacturing.

“We must develop the country’s human capital, spur innovation and ensure productivity is on the high side to create new economic growth opportunities,” she said.

The ICSAN president also urged government to address the cost of governance, ensuring it is at the barest minimum, to encourage the citizens to make the sacrifices required of them.

She added that government must expend more efforts to encourage digitalisation, while engendering policy sustainability.

“There is no environment with higher yields than Nigeria, but policy summersaults have been observed to affect investors interests.

“If we have a sustainable policy regime, investors will troop in and the economy will flourish better,” she said.

Addressing the new minimum wage increment, Ekundayo said the development was expected to significantly improve the purchasing power of Nigerians, particularly civil servants.

She noted that while the increment would help improve quality of life, standard of living, boost economic growth and increase productivity, it had the potential to inflate the economy.

Speaking on the institute’s achievements in the last one year, the ICSAN president said the institute had been able to record some remarkable milestones, forging partnership with various stakeholders.

She added that ICSAN had increased its penetration into the public sector to further entrench good public governance in the sector.

“We also unveiled our master’s in governance programme, signed several Memorandums of Understanding, got over 300 new members, collaborated with several state governments and began our penetration in the northern part of the country,” she said.

Ekundayo revealed that the institute’s old secretariat had been demolished, the award of contract signed off and work would soon begin.

She called for support in achieving the projected ICSAN tower, while the institute continued to partner with relevant stakeholders, provide value to members and make its contributions to national development.

She lauded the media for its worthy partnership in propagating the ethos of good corporate governance and pledged that the relationship would be deepened in the coming years. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Economy/Business

FG hands over 15 CNG buses to transport unions

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By Gabriel Agbeja

The Federal Government has handed over 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses to three transport unions in Abuja, to alleviate the burden of fuel subsidy removal on the residents.

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali, handed over the buses to National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).

Alkali at the ceremony on Thursday, said the initiative was in fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Clean Energy Transport Scheme.

He said moving to compressed natural gas would cut down carbon emissions, reduce cost of fuel for transport operators, and enable growth of a cleaner and more efficient transportation system.

The minister said the buses also symbolised the government’s commitment to empowering citizens, while transitioning to a cleaner energy economy.

“The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative is a bold statement of Nigeria’s intent to take control of its resources and utilise them for the benefit of its people.

“We have been exporting our raw materials for decades only to import finished goods at a premium.

“We exported crude oil and imported refined petroleum; we exported palm oil, cocoa, and rubber and imported soap, chocolate, and tires. The time has come to break this cycle,” he said.

According to him, the nation will not continue to export gas only to import products like fertilizers or other derivatives, but to harness the gas to power the economy.

“Nations like Japan, which import our gas, have demonstrated their transformative potential.

“They use gas to drive their transportation sector, reduce their reliance on petrol, and export vehicles like Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi to countries like ours.

“Why shouldn’t Nigerians benefit from the resources beneath our soil?” he said.

He said the buses doled out to the unions were tools to make a positive change in the country.

“They represent a commitment to sustainable growth, economic empowerment, and a greener future.

“ I call on the NURTW, RTEAN, and NARTO to ensure these buses are used effectively and maintained properly. This is not just about today but about creating a transportation system that will serve generations to come.”

He said the ministry would ensure effective sensitisation of transport owners, operators, passengers and the general public to make the initiative accessible to Nigerians.

The Programme Director of Presidential CNG Initiative, Mr Michael Oluwagbemi, said that residents of the FCT would enjoy 40 days free rides on the buses.

According to him, the initiative is safer, more reliable, and available.

“On these buses for the next 40 days, people will enjoy free transportation as part of the benefits of this administration.

“And after 40 days, they will enjoy a discount because of the work of  President Bola Tinubu,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

General News

Youths: FG, World Bank to provide 10m jobs in 5 yrs – Official

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By Franca Ofili

The Federal Government says it will collaborate with the World Bank, to provide decent jobs directly or indirectly to 10 million youths within the next five years.

Mr Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, said this when he hosted the World Bank team led by Mr Maheshwor Shrestha, World Bank Economist, on Thursday in Abuja.

Olawande said that forum would enable him to update the team on the various activities and engagements of the ministry in the past months.

“The focus of the ministry has been to achieve the establishment of a strong coordinated mechanism for all youth intervention focused on economic inclusion and we want data to inform all we do.

”Provide decent jobs directly or indirectly for at least, 10 million youths within the next five years and ensure that every youth is proficient in at least, two income generating skills.

“Expand our credit support funds by 50 million dollars to reach more young people, including businesses led by going women, people with disabilities and young people in rural areas.’’

The minister said the current reality showed that 60 million youths were in the labour bracket, and an additional 5.5 million would join the labour market every year.

He said that almost 58 per cent of Nigeria’s informal workforce was young people.

“Despite these data, we see these opportunities for the development of the country if harnessed effectively,” he said.

Olawande said the challenges hinged on deficient skills for job market, relevant vocational training and lack of access to capital and funds safety with infrastructural deficit.

In his speech, Shrestha said that no fewer than 60 million youths in Nigeria were underage at the moment.

According to him, it means that Nigeria needs to create enough opportunities for a huge pool of youths that are already there and that will be joining the way.

He said that every year, 5 and a half million would reach paid working age.

Shrestha said that only seven per cent of the youths were engaged in paid jobs.

“And even those are not permanent jobs; there are still informal jobs. So, if we look at overall, 93 per cent of the youths are working in an informal sector.’’

According to him, the bank is figuring out how to improve safety net support towards such people, adding that, “what we are doing now is to think about how the framework applies at the state level.

“So, I think we are starting to work with the Governors’ Board of Secretaries to see how this approach applies at the state levels,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Agriculture

FG, partners unveil 20m capacity fish hatchery in Cross River

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By Christian Njoku

The Federal Government in collaboration with development partners has established a model fish hatchery in Calabar, Cross River, to accelerate pisciculture and food security in the country.

The hatchery is designed with an annual 20 million fingerlings production capacity, a fully functional laboratory, classrooms and a research centre.

The facility was jointly funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Cross River Government, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Others include the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE ND), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Feed the Future Project, among other private sector collaborators.

Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, who inaugurated the facility on Thursday, said that apart from adding to food security, it would also serve as a hub for employment and income generation for youths and women in the aquaculture subsector.

“The South-South region holds a significant position as Nigeria’s oil and fishery hubs, motivating the provision of this facility to build the capacity of fish farmers and enhance productivity through research activities.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu is committed to advancing the nation’s agri-food system through technology and innovation for job creation, youth empowerment, and poverty reduction,” he said.

Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River, said that the model fish hatchery project was conceptualised to address the challenges of unavailability and inaccessibility of juveniles, which were identified as impediments to fish farming.

Represented by Mr Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Otu said the production of fish feeds at low cost would bring down cost of production.

According to him, it will also enhance sales and bring additional profit to fish farmers.

He appreciated Kyari for providing conducive environment for all the interventions the state had received from foreign organisations.

Mr Abiodun Sanni, National Project Coordinator, LIFE ND, described the project as a testament to effective collaboration, adding that it would encourage youths to embrace agriculture in the Niger Delta.

Sanni noted that while the project was expected to create jobs, wealth and enhace food security in the Niger Delta and Nigeria, it would also revolutionise aquaculture in the state.

Also, Dr Ben Odoemena, Chief of Party, USAID Feed the Future Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services, said 20 million juveniles stood for about N1.6 billion that would be injected into the economy of Cross River annually.

Odoemena said if properly maintained, conservatively, the hatchery would inject about N60 billion into the state  economy annually. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Ezugwu and Peter Amine

General News

FG lauds industrialist on minimum wage compliance

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By Chimezie Anaso

The Federal Government has commended Chief Akai Egwuonwu, an Anambra based industrialist, for complying with the new national minimum wage for his employees.

 

Mrs Benedene Oji-Ogbuehi, State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour, presented the commendation letter to Egwuonwu in his Awka office on Thursday.

 

Egwuonwu is the Managing Director of Stine Rice Mill and Zara Departmental Stores among others.

 

Oji-Ogbuehi said the recognition was in appreciation of his efforts to enhance the welfare of his workers and to encourage others to follow suit.

 

She said that it was necessary to commend the industrialist for leading the way for other private sector players to comply with the new wage policy in Anambra.

 

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Anambra commends you for being the first in the private sector to implement the new National Minimum Wage for your workers, despite the economic situation of Nigeria.”

 

She said apart from meeting the new minimum wage policy, the industrialist had demonstrated love for humanity by considering the wellbeing of his staff.

 

In his response, Egwuonwu said that increasing the wage of workers has become imperative given the increasing cost of living and falling purchasing power.

 

He said N70,000 was a far cry from what was needed to meet basic needs of the average worker in the current economy and called on businesses to give their workers minimum comfort.

 

Egwuonwu called in governments to provide better operating environment to enable businesses survive, assuring that the new wage would reach no fewer than 2,000 workers across his chain of companies.

 

“This was borne out of necessity, the N70,000 is actually not enough for anybody to live on in current Nigeria. A plate of food is N1,500, bag of rice is N92,000, they must look good and survive well. For them to meet these needs, I think the minimum should be N150,000 per month.

 

“Doing business in Nigeria today is not easy, we expect the government to provide enabling environment for us. We need cheaper energy, good roads, lesser price for fuel for cheaper transportation as well as tax holidays.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

General News

FG inaugurates 240kw solar plant at UNN

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By Hilary Akalugwu

The Federal Government on Wednesday inaugurated a 240 Kilowatt Solar Car Park donated by the Azura Power West Africa Limited to the Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, represented by Mr Sunday Owolabi, the Director of Renewable and Rural Power Access in the ministry, handed over the project to the university.

The project worth N900m was facilitated by an alumnus of the faculty and Managing Director of Azura Power, Mr Edu Okeke.

Adelabu said that energy played a crucial role in driving development, especially in sectors like education, healthcare, industry among others.

“The importance of ensuring that our institutions have access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy cannot be overstated.

“It is in this context that this project holds such significant value to our yearning and aspiration towards sustainable energy development for the country.

“By providing UNN with this state-of-the-art solar-powered car park, we are not only enhancing the university’s energy capacity but also contributing to the environmental sustainability agenda of our nation,” he said.

The minister commended the donor for providing solar electricity, saying that it will ensure uninterrupted clean power supply to the faculty of engineering.

“This uninterrupted power supply will boost learning, teaching and research in this faculty.

“We commend Azura Power for their unwavering commitment to the growth and development of renewable energy in Nigeria.

“This project is a testament to the company’s dedication to corporate social responsibility and its belief in the transformative power of renewable energy to address Nigeria’s energy deficits,” he said.

The minister also commended Crimeng Services Limited, the Contractor that handled the project, for delivering a quality according to specifications.

Speaking, Mr Ekundayo Ibeun, Managing Director of Crimeng Services Limited, said that the indigenous company had good track records in fields of energy provision, telecommunication engineering and building automation.

He said that the 240kw solar car park was done with indigenous content and innovation, together with application of technologies around the world.

“Some of our company workers will be in UNN to maintain the facility as well as help train some staff of UNN who will take over the maintenance after two years warranty of the project, while the duration of the project is 25 years.

Okeke, the Managing Director of Azura Power, said that the project was part of its company’s initiative that aligned with Nigeria’s energy transition goals of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on power sector reforms.

Okeke, an alumnus of UNN, urged other alumni and corporate organisations to look back and contribute to our institutions by providing resources to allow staff of the university to focus on education and empowerment.

Speaking, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of UNN, represented by Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, said that the solar car park was a big relief to the university as electricity supply had become a major challenge in the school.

“UNN commended Azura Power for this wonderful intervention. If other faculties in the university will get similar interventions, the problem of electricity supply in UNN will be over,” he said.

Earlier, Prof. Ikechukwu Ezema, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UNN said that the Azura project would not only provide the faculty with 240kw solar power in offices and classrooms but will also serve as a training facility for the students on solar installation, data collection and analysis. (NAN)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Maureen Atuonwu

President Bola Tinubu
General News

FG to strengthen policy towards sustainable growth in transportation sector

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By Gabriel Agbeja

The Federal Government has restated its commitment to strengthening national policy towards sustainable growth in transportation sector.

Dr Segun Obayendo, the Chairman Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA), said this at a news conference on the forthcoming 6th National Transport Conference in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference, which has “Sustainable Transportation in a Disruptive Era: The Challenges of Developing Economy” as its theme, is scheduled for  Nov.12 to Nov. 13 in Abuja

Obayendo said the effective policy and regulatory framework would be institutionalised to advance transportation sector in the nation to reduce congestion and enhancing urban and rural connectivity.

He added that such effort would tackle current challenges and promote sustainable growth in the transportation sector.

“The theme itself encapsulates the dual challenge of maintaining sustainability while navigating through a period of unprecedented disruption in the transport sector.

“We are at a juncture where traditional methods meet innovative technology, where the environmental imperatives intersect with economic growth and where policy meets practice.

“This summit will dissect these layers, offering insights from global experts, local innovators, and policymakers, “ he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s roads and highways form the backbone of the country’s transport network, as these arteries handle 90 per cent of all passengers and freight traffic.

He said the government had also determined to have robust national data bank of the transportation sector.

“This data bank will serve as a hub for collecting, analysing, and disseminating transport-related data to support informed decision-making and policy formulation in the transport sector.

“The objectives include monitoring of transport and logistics activities in Nigeria, providing transport intelligence to stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Transport and its agencies.

“Other are to offer data analytic services to support evidence-based planning and policy decisions.”

He said the data bank would enhance transport planning and policy formulation, improved transport infrastructure development, increased efficiency in transport operations and better decision-making for stakeholders.

In his remarks, Prof. Samuel Odewumi, Chairman, Planning Committee for the upcoming 6th National Transport Conference, said the conference aimed to revamp transportation infrastructure in developing economies like Nigeria.

According to him, conference aims to be a platform for robust discussions as the resource persons would present case studies, data-driven analysis and forward-thinking solution.

“ The stakeholders will also deepen efforts to propel transportation sector into a new era of efficiency, sustainability and inclusiveness, “ he said.

According to him, the major focus of the conference would be current state of transportation in developing countries; human and cultural issues in transportation as well as destructive technologies, innovations and governance. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

Agriculture

FG, IFAD-SAPZ to boost Nigeria’s agro-industrial dev’t

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By FeliciA Imohimi

The Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme have pledged to make all states across the country agro-industrial hubs by 2026.

Dr Dede Ekoue, Country Director, IFAD, made the pledge at the 1st joint Federal Government/IFAD Supervision Mission Wrap-Up of SAPZ on Friday in Abuja.

Ekoue said the gesture would be achieved through the implementation of the project in all states of the federation.

She said that the accelerated pilot intervention in Kano had proven to be highly effective model, laying strong foundation for the project’s future success and ensuring tangible benefits were reaching the targeted rural smallholder farmers.

The country director said the project had so far reached 1000 beneficiaries in Kano out of the 7,398 profiled farmers between September 2024 and September 2025 in the state.

She described the progress achieved so far at the early phase as a strong indicator of its potential to achieve its goal in upcoming years.

“We have already reached over 1000 beneficiaries under the pilot project, which demonstrates our commitment to the targeting strategy and our goal of inclusivity.

“The project is on the right path to meeting the SAPZ’s gender and youth representative targets, with 44.5 per cent of the beneficiaries being female and 28.8 per cent youth.

“As we progresses, we are on track to meet the 50 per cent female and 40 per cent youth representation targets in the targeted areas of Kano and Ogun States.’’

Ekoue identified the target of reaching 24,000 beneficiaries across Ogun and Kano by 2025 as ambitious and achievable.

She called for concerted efforts of all stakeholders to accelerate the pace of implementation and prioritise scaling up successful intervention.

“We must continue to strengthen our partnerships; leverage new technologies and adapt quickly to the changing agricultural landscape,” she said.

Ekoue identified other achievements of the project as capacity building for farmer-based organisations, establishment of demonstration plots, partnerships with local institutions, strong collaboration with state and local government and private sector engagement.

She said the project has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Commodity Alliance Federation.

According to her, the gesture is as an important step towards enhancing the livelihoods of farmers by opening new pathways to market opportunities.

Dr Kabir Yusuf, National Programme Coordinator, SAPZ, said the project’s overall development objective was to support the development of SAPZ in high food production areas to supply the domestic food market and create exportable surpluses.

According to him, it is also to capacitate smallholder farmers, small agro-processors and traders and community-based service providers including women and youth.

Yusuf said the programme was being piloted in Kano and subsequently, Ogun.

He said it would be implemented across the 36 states of the federation through the bye-in of the government.

“If the SAPZ project is implemented across all the state it will directly or indirectly create at least 500,000 jobs in each states outside the jobs that will spring up along the value chain.

“l am optimistic that as we have reach our pilot target group, we will rich our target in 2025 and the issue of food security will be history

“We will at that point develop infrastructure for our processing industry and by the end of 2026 we will have full fledge SAPZ and agro-Industrial development across the country,’’ he said.

Mr Musa Bukar, Director, Project Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMFS), said the supervision mission was to access the level of implementation of the project in Kano and identify key bottleneck.

“The mission is also to make recommendation on way forward to accelerate progress.

“SAPZ has successfully foster collaboration with key stakeholders including the Kano State ministry of agriculture, agro-pastoral development programme, among others.

“These efforts help assure that the project aligned with local needs and provides a strong foundation for the project’s successes and quality improvement,’’ he said.

Tabi Karikari, Chief Agro-Industrial Officer, African Development Bank (AfDB), who identified SAPZ as a game changer, said it was accelerated for its capacity to change any rural communities from zones of misery to becoming zones of prosperity. (NAN)( www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

Agriculture

FG releases 2 new chicken breeds, 14 new crop varieties

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By David Adeoye

The Federal Government has released two new chicken breeds and 14 new high-yield crop varieties towards increasing agricultural production and improving the nutritional status of Nigerians.

The release of the new chicken breeds and the crop varieties were announced on Thursday during the 34th meeting of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds/Fisheries.

The Chairman, National Variety Release Committee (NVRC), Prof. Soji Olufajo, presided over the meeting attended by committee members as well as researchers, geneticists, scientists and breeders.

Olufajo said the registration and release of the two new chicken breeds and the varieties of seven crops were based on the recommendation of its two technical sub-committees.

He said the new chicken breeds are Noiler and Cobb 500, while the high-yield crops are wheat, barley, maize, caassava, rice Castor and conchorus.

The technical sub-committee chaired by Prof. S. Ado during its 38th meeting on Tuesday deliberated on the 19 varieties received.

The sub-committee, after deliberation and consideration of the 19 submissions, recommended 14 varieties, which were put before the NVRC for final approval during the Thursday meeting.

In the same vein, the technical sub-committee during its 9th meeting on Wednesday deliberated on the two new chicken breeds received.

The sub-committee, chaired by Prof. Waheed Akin-Hassan, reported that the new chicken breeds – Noiler —- was a locally-developed dual purpose chicken while the Cobb 500 was a meat type chicken breed.

The two technical sub-committees thereafter put their recommendations before the NVRC for final approval.

The NVRC, after exchange of ideas and proper scrutiny of the recommendations put before it, announced the registration and release of the 14 new crop varieties and the two new chicken breeds.

He emphasised that the two breeds were already in the hands of end users, such as poultry farmers, consumers and researchers, saying the release and registration of the breeds are to make it official.

In his remarks, the Director of NACGRAB, Dr Anthony Okere, expressed optimism that the release and registration of the crop varieties would enhance food sufficiency in the country.

Okere urged farmers to embrace the newly released crops to enable them produce quality and quantity with little stress.

He commended the research institutions and other organisations which contributed towards the hosting of the meeting. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olawale Alabi

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