NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
FG, partners unveil 20m capacity fish hatchery in Cross River
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

FG lauds industrialist on minimum wage compliance
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

FG inaugurates 240kw solar plant at UNN
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

FG to strengthen policy towards sustainable growth in transportation sector
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

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

FG releases 2 new chicken breeds, 14 new crop varieties
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

FG pledges affordable housing for low-income Nigeriens
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

FG considers PPPs to fund key science, technology projects
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

FG to boost airline passenger experiences through inclusive regulation
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

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

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