NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Agriculture

FG releases 2 new chicken breeds, 14 new crop varieties

346 total views today

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

General News

FG pledges affordable housing for low-income Nigeriens

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By Ahmed Musa/Angela Atabo

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwz has stated the Federal Government’s commitment to provide affordable housing for low-income earners in Nigeria.

Dangiwa said this at an event to mark the 2024 World Habitat Day in Abuja on Thursday.

The World Habitat Day is a day set aside by the United Nations to promote a better urban future.

The theme of the day is: “Engaging Youth to create a better urban future and Youth leading climate and local action for cities”.

Dangiwa said the government focused on policies to support lower-income individuals via the National Social Housing Fund, aimed at assisting Nigerians in accessing affordable housing.

He said the policy targeting youth involvement in climate resilience and urban development, to ensure active youth participation and promote inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.

The minister underscored the importance of addressing urbanisation challenges, raising awareness about housing needs, and providing sustainable urban shelter.

According to him, sustainable development is a shared responsibility, requiring the incorporation of youth perspectives into urban planning and development.

“The Federal Government is taking steps to address the housing deficit, investing in housing and infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope cities and estate programme.

“The programme aims to build 50,000 housing units in phase one, with construction underway across 14 states.

“A workshop on green building, in collaboration with the World Bank, was also initiated to incorporate sustainable climate practices into housing projects.”

Dangiwa reitrated government’s commitment to implement policies to support urban regeneration, improve housing finance systems and enhance the National Urban Governance Framework.

Mr Shehu Osidi, Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), said the bank would continued to provide affordable housing loans to young Nigerians, support institutions as well as contribute to the growth and transformation of urban centres. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Economy/Business

FG considers PPPs to fund key science, technology projects

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Okeoghene Akubuike

The Federal Government says it is considering private sector funding through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) for key projects in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

 

This is contained in a statement issued by Ifeanyi Nwoko, the Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in Abuja on Thursday.

 

Nwoko said Dr Jobson Ewalefoh, the Director-General (D-G) of ICRC, said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji.

 

Nwoko said the meeting, initiated by the ICRC D-G, aimed to foster partnership between the two government bodies to leverage PPPs for projects that enhance the nation’s economic and technological growth.

 

Ewalefoh said that science and technology if properly deployed, could serve as a key driver of the economic growth and progress of Nigeria.

 

“Many countries around the world have used science and technology to drive the economic growth and prosperity of their country and people.

 

“We are here to brainstorm with you and find ways by which we can deepen the usage of science and technology for the advancement of our country.

 

“Over the last two decades, countries and businesses have harnessed technology and innovation for upscaling their economy and improving the efficiency in their service delivery.

 

“That is where we want our country to go, and we believe that is the vision you are championing under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

 

“It is, therefore, my aspiration that your ministry will partner with the ICRC to see areas where we can champion private sector funding through PPP to develop some of the projects specific to the ministry,” he said.

 

The D-G informed the minister that there was already a collaboration with an agency under its purview but stressed that there were other key areas where PPP could be harnessed to deliver laudable projects in the ministry.

 

He said that the commission had streamlined its processes to accelerate PPP project delivery as well as deliver important services to the Nigerian people.

 

Ewalefoh pointed out that some key private sector operators had already verbalised their desire to work with the ministry in a PPP arrangement.

 

Responding, Nnaji expressed his excitement at the appointment of the D-G, saying that Ewalefoh’s wealth of experience would revolutionise the PPP sphere in Nigeria.

 

“Indeed, a square peg has been placed in a square hole,” he said

 

The minister emphasised that the ministry served as a key enabler of economic growth and has had the support of Tinubu which was demonstrated through major approvals granted the ministry.

 

He said that the president had approved methanol production, saying that although the implementation process was still being finalised, foreign direct investments for the project had reached more than 1.5 billion dollars.

 

“We want to go into beneficiation of raw materials and we have the Presidential Executive Order No 5 to back it, such that we don’t have to export our raw materials, but process it to a level before exporting.

 

“We are looking at doing green hydrogen too,” he said.

 

Nnaji noted that Nigeria could make a lot more from cassava export than it was currently making if the raw cassava was processed before export.

 

“We believe that with ICRC, we will partner in doing things right and enabling us to forge a better outlook for most of these projects.

 

“In methanol, we are going to involve ICRC more closely to see the way forward and how it can benefit the country better.

 

“I am happy that you are here; coming here shows that you know what you are doing. You are taking services to those that need it,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Aviation

FG to boost airline passenger experiences through inclusive regulation

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By Gabriel Agbeja

Capt. Chris Najomo, Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), says the Federal Government will improve airline passenger experiences through inclusive regulation.

Najomo said this in his opening remarks at the North-Central Regional Air Transportation Summit 2024 in Abuja.

He was represented by Capt. Donald Spiff, NCAA Director, Operations, Licensing and Training.

According to him, efforts will be made towards inclusive regulatory practices that foster sector growth, safety, service excellence, and improved passenger experiences.

“With the support of the minister, we at the NCAA are committed to rebranding, reinventing, and rejuvenating the Nigerian aviation sector for international competitiveness, sustainable growth and development.

“No doubt, a sustainable regulatory framework built on collective engagement and strategic collaboration is critical to achieving operational excellence, enhanced productivity, and sector growth without compromising safety standards.

“This approach, aligned with local and international regulations, is a cornerstone of the NCAA’s Strategic focus,” Najomo said.

He reiterated that the Federal Government would continue to address service deficiencies and poor passenger experiences stemming from inadequate funding.

According to him, the theme of the summit, “Building a Viable Aviation Industry for National Economic Growth and Development”, is designed to foster dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders.

He said that  the specific objectives of the summit included bringing together critical stakeholders to advocate for adequate funding, sound financial management and operational safety in Nigeria’s civil aviation.

He said that the summit would also review and enhance existing service standards to align with international standards and benchmarks set by IATA, ICAO and ACI.

“It will secure commitments from stakeholders to adopt adequate funding and financial management practices in line with the minister’s five-point agenda.

“It will also assessing existing local laws and international regulations to ensure compliance and improve funding, financial management, and safety.

“The summit will help in identifying gaps in infrastructure and technology to support financial management and operational safety, and recommending remedial actions,” he said.

Najomo said that the summit will also consider strengthening airlines and other service providers to enhance operational efficiency and international competitiveness.

He said that the summit would look into supporting the sustainable growth of the local airline industry,  while promoting compliance with national and international obligations.

“Developing a Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) to improve funding, financial management, service excellence, and operational safety.

“At the NCAA, we are optimistic that this summit will make an invaluable contribution to the Civil Aviation Master Plan currently being developed, and accelerate the achievement of both domestic and international goals.

“By enhancing operational efficiency, financial stability, and service excellence, we will create tremendous value for all stakeholders, “ he said.

He said that the NCAA had developed key Strategic Focus Areas (SFAs) as part “NCAA Project 2024”,  which had served as its KPIs and SMART goals for collective corporate governance efforts for 2024.

According to the NCAA boss, the Nigerian economy may be facing significant macroeconomic and developmental challenges, but surmountable.

“They can be overcome through implementing innovative approaches.

“At the highest levels of governance, President Bola Tinubu laid out an Eight-Point Agenda for economic restoration and growth, which redefined presidential priority areas of administration.

“This represented a clarion call for all government agencies to efficiently execute their respective mandates. The aviation sector aligned with the President’s priority areas through a Five-Point Agenda.

“This remains crucial, given the vital role civil aviation plays in national economic development, international trade and investment opportunities, “ he said.

According to him, the summit is timely and critical to achieving the statutory mandate and corporate goals of the NCAA. (NAN)(nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Environment

FG to harness Kogi’s natural resources for sustainable dev’t  

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By Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government has pledged to partner with the Kogi government to harness its natural resources for sustainable economic development.

Sen. Heineken Lokpobri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), stated this on Thursday in Abuja when Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi, paid him a courtesy visit.

He restated the federal government’s commitment to mobilise investments to stimulate mineral exploration activities in the state in view of crude oil deposits for overall strategic national interest.

According to Lokpobri, the Petroleum Industry Act mandates the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), to explore frontier basins in the country.

“We are doing a bid round currently, and as a policy, states are encouraged to participate in the upstream, all you need to do is to do the requisite exploration work towards getting oil in the substantial quantity.

“As a confluence state, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources will partner with the state government to provide necessary support to extract its resources to the markets,” he said.

Lokpobiri, who commended the governor for his good governance to the people and foresight, expressed optimism that crude production would hit 2.5 million barrels soon through concerted efforts.

Earlier, Udodo solicited the support of the ministry to harness its untapped natural resources, and to advance oil exploration.

“Kogi state is so blessed with many natural resources and in abundant quantity, hence we have been boasting about it.

“We need your support and guidance to unlock our potential to ensure that the natural gift bestowed upon us by the Almighty God starts working for us,” he said.

Also speaking, Asiwaju Idris, the Kogi Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, said the governor was consolidating on the development plan developed by his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.

He said it was paramount to fast track the blueprint, adding that the governor took it upon himself to gear a lot of investment towards securing the citizens, resources and investors.

Idris advocated establishment of a gas industrial park in view of the ongoing construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, which passed through the state.

This, he said, would encourage more industries and investors in the state to take advantage of the gas expansion plan.

“In Kogi state, we have more upcoming companies in the area of solid minerals, we have Dangote company expanding, and many other companies across the state because we are blessed with solid minerals.

“We know that the NUPRC has a lot to do to develop the frontier basin. We need to tap other minerals God blessed the state with under the Anambra frontier basin”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor was accompanied in the visit by his Chief of Staff, Ali Bello and other top government functionaries. (NAN)

Edited by Rabiu Sani Ali

General News

FG gives 60-day notice to title owners to pay ground rent

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By Angela Atabo

The Federal Government has given owners of its titled properties 60-day notice to pay their outstanding ground rent and other statutory charges  or face revocation of their Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, gave the ultimatum on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 29th Conference of Directors of Lands in the Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is “Equitable Land Stewardship: Challenges of Land Administration and its Impact on Climate and Community Rights’’.

“The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is aware that several owners of its titled properties have failed to pay ground rent and other statutory charges to the Ministry for several years now.

“This non-compliance has resulted in the loss of trillions of Naira in revenue to the Federal Government.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, this cannot be tolerated as this revenue is much needed to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda to Nigerians.

“As such all Federal C of O title owners are hereby given a 60-day notice to settle all outstanding ground rent and statutory charges. Failure to make payment within this period will result in the revocation of their C of Os,’’ he said

According to the minister, the federal government is in a state of emergency regarding land administration, economy, security, and social development.

Dangiwa said that the ministry also observed activities of various residents’ associations in federal government landed properties preventing officials from accessing the estates for billing purposes and enforcement of non-payments.

“We want to warn such associations to comply with the terms and conditions outlined in their respective C of Os. Failure to adhere to these requirements will attract the appropriate penalties and sanctions,’’ he warned

He said that the ministry upscaled the Electronic Certificate of Occupancy (e-C of O) and Land Titling System for all federal government-owned lands in the 36 states of the country.

He explained that the e-C of O system incorporates a web-based Advanced Workflow System (WNABS) and an Electronic Documentation Management System (EDMS) to streamline the review, approval, and issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.

Dangiwa said that the new system had significantly reduced administrative bottlenecks and processing times for federal land applications.

He said that the innovative initiative has resulted in the digital approval of over 600 e C of O applications as of October 2024 with a target to clear the backlog before the end of December.

“This will be integrated within the larger framework of the national land titling program that we are implementing with the World Bank and other partners,’’ he said.

Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said land use decisions must prioritise sustainability to mitigate the impacts of climate change, protect biodiversity, and ensure that future generations have access to vital natural resources.

“Land is not only an economic asset but also a cultural and social resource that holds deep significance for communities.

“Across Africa, land tenure is closely tied to identity, heritage, and community cohesion.

“Unfortunately, in many cases, communities especially rural and indigenous ones, are displaced or marginalised due to inadequate or inequitable land management practices.’’

Ogunbiyi, therefore, urged that in the pursuit of development, authorities should ensure that the rights of these communities were safeguarded.

He added that customary land rights should be recognised and the need for inclusion of local communities in land-use planning to promote fairness and avoid conflicts. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Agriculture

Stakeholders seek FG’s support for agroecology in Nigeria

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By Eric James Ochigbo

Some stakeholders in the agricultural sector have called for the Federal Government’s support for agroecology to enhance production of healthier food and to ensure environmental sustainability in Nigeria.

The stakeholders made the call on Thursday in Abuja, at the second regional workshop on agroecology organised by Bread for the World (Brot für die Welt) a German development organisation.

The workshop is titled” Advancing Agroecology in Nigeria: Building Pathways for Sustainable Agriculture.”

In the keynote address, Mrs Joyce Brown, Programme Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) explained that agroecology as a practice, includes different farming methods like mixed cropping, crop rotation, cover-cropping among others.

According to her, agroecology increases biodiversity, reduces need for chemical inputs and ensures increased productivity while enhancing Nigeria’s food system resilience.

Brown said that strict application of the principles of agroecology would also protect the environment as it is in line with nature.

She explained that agroecology focuses on building soil health through appropriate farming practices including agroforestry and use of organic fertilisers.

Brown said that adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) does not have any advantage over agroecology but rather poses more health and environmental risks.

NAN reports that a GMO is a plant, animal or microorganism that has had their genetic material modified in a way that does not occur naturally through a process called genetic engineering.

Brown said that GMOs have implications from biodiversity loss as a result of intensive chemical use, loss of indigenous seed varieties, health and cultural implications as well as labelling issues.

According to Brown, agroecology on the other hand strengthens local economies, ensures rural development, energy and water efficiency, environmental conservation and increased food productivity.

Stakeholders at the event recommended that the Federal Government should develop and implement an agroecology policy built on practical solutions and successes.

They also highlighted the need to integrate agroecology into national agricultural plans, and develop appropriate institutions to drive organic and agroecological farming in Nigeria.

The stakeholders further called for more training for farmers, extension workers, and policymakers as well as establishment

of farmer field schools and demo plots for peer learning.

In his remarks, Prof. Olugbenga Adeoluwa of the Department of Soil Resource Management, University of Ibadan, said that agroecology is not averse to new technology.

He, however, said that just like guns and bombs, not all technologies are safe for human and environmental consumption.

“Many people that are supporting GMOs do not understand the underlying agenda which is business, control and monopoly.

“We should understand this and not be fooled,” he said.

Also, Mr Andrew Kwasari, President of Sa’l’anwaraTumal Consultaire Limites (SCI) an agro firm, stated that there was a need to have in-depth research and conversations around improved seeds. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

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