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Science & Tech

RMRDC diversifying to boost production, exports – D-G

Tolu Aiyegbusi

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) says it has taken steps to diversify the economy, strengthen international competitiveness, reduce import dependency and boost Nigeria’s productions and exports.

Director-General of the council, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, on the sideline of an event to celebrate his 100 days in office.

He expressed the desire to return the council to its original mandate of diversifying the economy through production, generating revenue and contributing to economic growth.

“Therefore, there is a need for RMRDC to diversify her economy, strengthen international competitiveness and transition from consumption and import dependency to production and export.

“Our vision is clear; to catalyse sustainable industrial development in Nigeria, ensuring that our country maximises its abundant raw materials resources for its prosperity and global competitiveness.”

The D-G promised to refocus and transform the Council into a world-class research organisation that would drive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, utilisation, supporting business growth and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

NAN reports that FG’s Renewed Hope Agenda is a transformative policy thrust aimed at real sector development which is one of RMRDC’s mandates.

“The Council will refocus its productivity and operational efficiency as a premier research institute.

“This will strengthen staff and improve welfare to achieve the best standards.

“In addition to boosting the Council’s visibility among research institutes to achieve remarkable productivity, we’ll also strengthen the Council’s place in the international arena.”

The RMRDC boss emphasised the need for research that directly feeds into the needs of the industrial sector.

“We need to ensure you have research that is easily commercialisable; we want research that the industries can accept and that will contribute to industrial competitiveness,

“The new research template designed by RMRDC has already been circulated to universities across the country with the support of the Nigerian Universities Commission.”

The D-G also said that the Council would soon launch an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector as well as enhance transparency in intellectual property and patent portfolio.

“We plan to engage donor partners and diplomatic missions in October, where the Council will present its programmes and explore potential collaborations.

“The RMRDC is also looking beyond traditional funding sources to support its initiatives.

“We hope that if it is successful, we will have substantial commitments that will help in funding some of the initiatives we have lined up,” Ike-Muoso said. (NAN)

Edited by Fatima Sule Abdullahi/Hajia Sani

Defence/Security

Why local defence production remains low in Nigeria– Balogun

 

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The failure of Nigeria to use the capacity of its Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) in 60 years has hampered the nations journey into self-sufficiency in defence capabilities.

 

This position was made known by the Chairman, Equipment and Protective Applications Nigerian Limited (EPAIL), Kola Balogun, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

 

Balogun, who is also the Secretary, Defense Industrial Association of Nigeria (DIAN), said the journey DICON after 60 years has not been impressive in terms of output.

 

“Now, looking backward, 60 years down the line of DICON journey to where we are today, has not been impressive by virtue of what has been their output.

 

“Output is the sense of what have they been able to come out with compare them with their counterpart in China and Brazil.

 

“I am very sure they set up Nigeria’s DICON and Brazil almost at the same time and if you look at what Brazil has been able to do with its own, it is very, very impressive.

 

“It is mind-blowing that they are producing helicopter, they are producing so many parts of defense target across the world and, we are supposed to have the similar threshold with that same organisation in Brazil.

 

“But however, the reverse is the case. One of those things I have realised is that some of us don’t believe in ourselves that we can do it, that we have what it takes to develop ourselves,’’ he said.

 

Balogun said that Nigeria had started realising that it must be decisive and determined to change things, adding that there were certain levels of sacrifice that everyone must make.

 

According to him, 60 years down the line, Nigeria is not producing helicopter or any major arsenal of war, which are things it must have to change its games plan.

 

“My exposure has revealed to me that we cannot trade with the whole world and get it right.

 

“We have to choose few partners while we come back home and define our standard and define a framework of licensing those who are going to be responsible for production of arm and ammunition and some other gadgets.

 

“We must introduce license in order to create a streamline of monopoly and the monopolies aspect of it is to create markets for them.

 

“It’s not a market for everyone. It has to be from the willingness to partake in the defence industry, must have financial capability; must be knowledge based; have footprint of what defence is all about’’ he added.

 

The expert said that Nigeria must be able to record astronomical growth in the next 10 years with the new DICON law that had birthed another private sector driven defence industry.

 

He commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the act into law, adding that Nigeria must harness the opportunities to develop its defence capabilities locally. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Oil & Gas

Stakeholders urge FG to discourage importation of LPG cylinders

By Emmanuella Anokam

Stakeholders in the oil and gas sector have called for the review of the zero per cent import duties on the importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders, to encourage local production.

The stakeholders, who spoke in seperate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2024 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) conference in Abuja.

NAN reports that the conference is designed to encourage local content and grow the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The stakeholders sought for 40 per cent upward review of import duties against the prevailing 20 per cent.

Mrs Nkechi Obi, Group Managing Director, Techno Oil Limited, urged the Federal Government to reverse the zero import duties placed on the importation of LPG cylinders and restore the initial 40 per cent, to discourage importation.

“We need policy reversal on that to encourage local producers.

“The unofficial explanation we are getting from some customs officers is that the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which the government wants to encourage its usage in Nigeria, has the same Harmonised System (HS) code with LPG.

“So, the import benefits placed on CNG equipment eventually affected LPG equipment; that is why they were tied together on the zero import duties.

“Harmonised System codes are commonly used throughout the import and export process for the classification of goods.

“For me, we don’t produce CNG cylinders in Nigeria because it involves advanced technology but we produce LPG cylinders here.

“For us to produce CNG cylinders, we have to change one or two machines, and we expect the government to encourage us to upscale our technology to 32, which we are planning to do.”

Obi suggested for exemption LPG HS code from that of the CNG, adding this would make the importers of LPG to pay higher duties.

“It will also enable the government to continue with its efforts to make CNG affordable in the country with zero import duties.

“The previous government protected those producing cylinders, so that import will not overshadow local production; they did that to encourage local manufacturing but when this government came into existence, policy changed.

“We only enjoyed that policy for six months before it was scrapped and replaced with the new zero import duties policy.

“Definitely; we have to produce CNG cylinders and the government needs to consider those that will go into that production. But if government policy is killing LPG cylinder production that we are doing, it will be very difficult to enter into CNG cylinder production.

“So, if there is anybody who can venture into CNG cylinder production, we the producers of LPG cylinders are here to do that and it is in our plan.

“But we are not encouraged to do it because of what happened to us in the LPG cylinder production because of the frustrating policy that’s encouraging importation,” Obi added.

An Economist, Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, said that the government must be deliberate about building the economy.

“In doing so, we should not be approbating and reprobating at the same time.

“There are companies in Nigeria manufacturing LPG cylinders and have the capacity to manufacture the quantities required.

“Why do we create business and job opportunities for some foreign companies and countries and deny Nigerians these opportunities?

“Our already scarce Forex will be utilised to import these cylinders and put more pressure on the exchange rate and external reserve, while local factories will be pushed out of business, with attendant job losses,” Ekechukwu said.

He said that efforts should be geared towards encouraging local manufacturers of LPG cylinders, contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

Oil & Gas

NNPC Ltd declares state of emergency on oil, gas production

By Emmanuella

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Tuesday declared a state of emergency on production in oil and gas industry.

The NNPCL has also called on all players in the industry to collaborate towards reducing the cost of oil production and boosting production to target levels.

Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL, stated this in Abuja at the ongoing 23rd edition of the Nigeria Oil & Gas (NOG) Conference and Exhibition holding from June 30 to July 4.

“We have decided to stop the debate. We cannot afford to negotiate further, we have declared war on the challenges affecting our crude oil production.

“Our biggest interest is to produce more oil and gas in spite of oil theft and other challenges.

“We have the right tools. We know what to fight. We know what we have to do at the level of assets. We have engaged our partners and we will work together to improve the situation,” he said.

Kyari said a detailed analysis of assets revealed that Nigeria could conveniently produce two million barrels of crude oil daily without deploying new rigs, but decried the inability of players to act in a timely manner as major impediment.

He said obstacles to effective and efficient production such as delays in procurement processes and old pipeline network were affecting the industry.

He said NNPCL would replace all the old crude oil pipelines built over four decades ago and introduce a rig sharing programme with its partners to ensure that production rigs stayed in the country.

This, he said, would be a medium to long-term measures aimed at boosting and sustaining production.

He expressed commitment to investing in critical midstream gas infrastructure such as the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline to boost domestic gas production and supply for power generation.

On Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Kyari said the NNPCL had keyed into the Presidential CNG Initiative drive.

He said in conjunction with partners such as NIPCO Gas, NNPCL had built a number of CNG stations, 12 of which would be commissioned on Thursday in Lagos and Abuja.

The Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Mr Mohamed Hamel, in an address, also advocated for natural gas infrastructure and penetration for energy stability and security. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Health

Local production of pharmaceuticals will ensure safety — Adeyeye

 

By Kemi Akintokun

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), on Friday says local production of pharmaceuticals is the surest means of providing quick access to quality, safe and efficacious medicines.

 

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC was speaking in Lagos in respect of an online publication that attributed 63 per cent drop in pharmaceutical importations in two years to naira devaluation and inaccessible forex.

 

According to Adeyeye, the publication fails to assert that the decline in pharmaceutical imports is partly due to increase in local production.

 

“As a responsible regulatory agency, it is important that NAFDAC speaks on the write-up and bring up its perspective within the context of improving access to medicines by Nigerians.

 

 

“The agency is not oblivious of the numerous challenges confronting the pharmaceutical sector in our country.

 

“At the recently concluded 74th World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized on the need to strengthen local production of medicines and other health technologies to improve access.

 

 

“It is in our humble opinion that in spite of the multitude of challenges confronting the local pharmaceuticals, local production is the surest means of providing quickest access to quality medicines. ,” she said.

 

She said after the inception of the current NAFDAC administration in 2017 some policies were formulated and targeted towards enhancing local production of pharmaceuticals in the country.

 

She said some of the policies that were already yielding results include, the Five + Five (5+5) Policy that was aimed at migration of previously imported products that can be manufactured locally.

 

Others are the Expansion of NAFDAC’s Ceiling list, Establishment of New Pharmaceutical Plants in Nigeria , NAFDAC Tariff Regime on Imported Products and international Certification and Risk Based Classification of Local Drug Manufacturers.

 

Adeyeye noted that the journey to attain the reduction of importation of drugs by 40 per cent can be achieved if all relevant stakeholders in the industry collaborate to change the narrative.

 

She said,  “the journey to achieve this lofty tasked, though a marathon, can be achieved in a very short time.

 

“All stakeholders and relevant government agencies in the country must collaborate to change the narratives in favour of enhancing domestic production of pharmaceuticals. (NAN)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environment

Group seeks end to fossil fuel production, usage in Nigeria

By Ruth Oketunde

The Fridays For Future (FFF) Nigeria and Climate Live Nigeria, has called for an end to fossil fuels production and usage in Nigeria.

Mr Kingsley Odogwu, National Coordinator and Country Representative of the organisation said this at the Climate Justice Road-walk campaign, on Friday in Abuja.

He said that the campaign was aimed at raising awareness on the effects of fossil fuels and the need for the Federal Government to transit to renewable energy sources.

He said that as world leaders gather at the UN climate talks in New York in Sept.,it was necessary for Nigeria to also put its voice and demand a rapid, just and equitable end to coal, oil and gas.

“Our world is in crisis and the biggest cause is fossil fuels, that is coal, oil and gas.

“The fossil fuel industry is responsible for 86 percent of all C02 emissions in the past decade, as they are driving a predatory and destructive economic system that harms people and the planet.

“The science is clear, what the world needs now is a rapid and just transition to an energy and economic system that is efficient, fair and universal.

“A system based on clean energy sources and produced with respect for nature and the sovereign rights of indigenous people.

“Across the world, people are fighting back against the fossil fuel industry, we are resisting the development of new pipelines, mines and infrastructure.

“We are also demanding that financial institutions stop funding fossil fuels and we want big oil, coal and gas companies to be held accountable and pay for the harm they cause,” he said.

He said that the organisation would be organising a Climate Music Concert on Sept. 17, to drive home its demands for fossil fuel phase-out and replace with renewable energy sources.

He added that this would protect the natural environment from pollution and over-exploitation.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Economy/Business

IATF Nigeria Roadshow: Experts seek production, manufacturing capacity boost to enhance AfCFTA trade

By Rukayat Moisemhe/Adebola Adegoke

Trade experts have emphasised the need to boost Nigeria’s productive and manufacturing capacity to facilitate trade, improve foreign exchange inflows and engender competitiveness under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

They spoke at a panel session of the 2023 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) Roadshow Nigeria with theme: “Growing Intra-African Trade amidst Increasing Regional and Global Geopolitical Challenges” on Monday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that IATF2023, scheduled for Nov. 9 to Nov. 15 in Cairo, Egypt, is organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat.

The event is a platform for businesses to access an integrated African market of over 1.3 billion people with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 3.5 trillion dollars created under the AfCFTA.

Mr Intong Eric Monchu, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Anglophone West Africa, Afreximbank, stated that AfCFTA’s implementation remained a critical arrowhead of the bank’s strategy to drive Africa’s economic integration.

Monchu, noting that the continent was blessed with abundant natural resources, observed that Intra-African trade level was pegged at 18 per cent; a very low value when compared with that of Europe and Asia.

He stated that Nigeria’s current export of raw commodities needed improvements and said that the Afreximbank was committed to supporting solutions tailored toward facilitating trade across the continent.

“Nigeria tops country to drive intra African trade because they have what it takes in the way they think, reason, drive, aggressiveness to move Intra-African trade.

“We must, therefore, stop being last in terms of trade while Afreximbank works to promote special economic zones, industrial parks with states and countries across the continent,” he said.

Engr Mansur Ahmed, Immediate Past President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), noted that the real cause of Africa’s failure was the inability to keep up productive manufacturing capacity.

Ahmed said the country needed to trade in manufactured goods, produce what is needed for consumption and also what is needed for exportation.

He lauded the Afreximbank for its efforts in creating financing systems and urged the bank to focus on promoting manufacturing.

Mr Olukayode Pitan, Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), noted that one clear challenge affecting the Nigerian economy was the absence of enough diversification.

Pitan, represented by Mr Leonard Kange, Divisional Head, Corporate, BOI, stressed the need for depth to diversify the country’s revenue, noting the volatility that accompanied its dependent on oil.

He noted that opportunities existed to earn foreign exchange in manufacturing sectors such as motor parts and cars, iron and steel, plastics, textile, energy, agriculture running into billion of dollars.

“As it is, Nigeria is exporting money and importing poverty and so it has become very important to support and develop our industrial base to drive economic growth and development.

“With the opportunities in manufacturing, it is glaring that the market is there and so we must do what is needed to take advantage of this market to begin to earn the much needed foreign exchange,” he said.

Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General, MAN, said the lending rate of credit funding to manufacturers was quite high, hindering competitiveness.

He added that the challenges of power, ability to scale, transportation and logistics, infrastructure, bureaucratic bottlenecks beguiled manufacturing.

“When extrapolated to the continent, the situation is not so different and until individual countries address these constraints, Intra-African trade may be difficult,” he said.

Mr Olatayo Omodiji, Head, Strategic and Corporate Communications, Nigeria Export Import Bank, said the reason for low Africa trade was because trade was more in primary commodities.

He noted that the composition of trade globally was mainly manufactured finished products and so that starting point would be to add value to raw material.

Omodiji also emphasised the need to develop infrastructure and technology for manufacturing to compete globally.

“Nigeria also needs to address issues of informal trade by getting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to be part of formal structure to grow trade.

“We must add value to agricultural products such as cocoa, leather, nuts, crude to boost trade while Nigerians work on their psyche to adopt Made In Nigeria goods massively,” he said.

Mr Emeka Uzomba, Senior Advisor, AfCFTA, Afreximbank, describing AfCFTA as the most developmental tool for Africa, urged the private sector to organise themselves to harness its opportunities.

He said some of the bank’s intervention tools included financing and equity risks to support development of industrial parks and special economic zones across Africa.

He pledged the bank’s support to providing more interventions tailored to drive MSME participation and growth under the AfCFTA.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Amb. Abdullahi Shehu, Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Belarus
Business , Economy/Business

Why Russian investors should localise production in Nigeria — Envoy

By Ikenna Uwadileke

Amb. Abdullahi Shehu, Nigerian Ambassador to the Russian Federation on Tuesday encouraged investors from Russian to localise the production of their goods in Nigeria.

Shehu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Moscow urged the Russian investors to explore the enormous potential in Africa, particularly Nigeria.

Speaking on the just concluded 2nd Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Summit, Shehu identified trade as one of the areas Nigeria would focus in its economic cooperation with Russia.

According to him, with the platform provided by the summit we can see that there are areas that each country can focus on.

“These include the area of trade. Almost all African countries are interested in trading with Russia. But the point that the Nigerian delegation made is that trade is good but investment and financing are better.

“It is so because under the current geopolitical situation, it is hard to buy and sell and transport goods from Russia to Africa because the logistic chains have been affected by the sanctions.

“Therefore, the best thing to do is to encourage Russia to understand the African market.

“They should explore the possibilities of investment in Nigeria and take advantage of its huge market and localise the production of their goods in Nigeria,” he said.

The Ambassador emphasised that there was a convergence of needs and opportunities in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.

“The needs are there and the Russian companies have the opportunities to invest in ICT, food production, energy and mining and other sectors.

“So, this is why Nigeria came with a vision to see that they sensitise the Russian companies with respect to graduating from trading to investment.

“And this cooperation is in vast areas with other African countries,” he said.

Shehu, who described the summit as a success, said that it did not only deepen the bilateral relations between Russia and African countries but it also fostered continental cooperation.

“So, now we believe that a platform for strategic partnership has been created,” he said.

NAN reports that the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum 2023 which held on July 27 and July 28 in St. Petersburg recorded the participation of 17 Heads of State and over 15 African countries represented. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

General News

Snakebites: Rising deaths heighten calls for local anti-venom drug production

The rising number of people dying from snakebites across the country has heightened the calls for local production of Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) vaccines, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Reports from across major snakebite treatment centres indicate that the incidences of the attacks have continued to rise with many victims unable to survive.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited major snakebite treatment centres in Kaltungo, Gombe State, and Zamko in Langtang, Plateau State, found that the cases had risen with the farming season at its peak.

Worst hit are the farmers who clash with the snakes in the fields as well as nomads that move inside the forests with their cattle.

NAN found that while some patients die in hospitals and specialist snakebite treatment centres, others die in the hands of herbalists.

Others also die at home while trying to manage the situation with relations.

 

Dr Abubakar Ballah, Chief Medical Director (CMD), Kaltungo Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre, told NAN that an average of 11 patients are received everyday.

The situation is the same in Zamko Comprehensive Medical Centre, a medical outpost of Jos University Teaching Hospital, and Bambur medical centre, Karim Lamido in Taraba, where even more scary figures are being reported.

Medics at the various centres blamed the rising number of death cases on the lack of ASV required for the treatment of bites from snakes in Nigeria.

Among such snakes are Carpet Vipers, Cobra and Puff Adder.

Dr Nandul Durfa, Managing Director, Echitab Study Group, the firm that supplies the ASV drugs to Nigeria, blamed the current acute shortage on the lack of supply.

He told NAN that the drugs are produced in Liverpool, U.K. and Costa Rica afterwhich they are imported into Nigeria at an exorbitant cost in view of the tough and cumbersome processes involved.

According to him, the drug production process starts from catching, caging and transporting the live snakes from Nigeria to the countries where the ASV will be produced.

“When the live snakes are taken there, they will be killed and the venom used to produce the ASV drugs.

“The drugs are then sent to Nigeria when it is convenient for the producers to do so.

“Very often, we may have an urgent need for the drugs, but the producers also have their schedules and shall only attend to us when it is convenient for them.

“Currently, we are in a desperate situation and need the drugs, but we can’t stampede them. So, you see, we are clearly at their mercy. What it simply means is that our destiny is not in our hands – which is quite dangerous.

“Again, when the drugs eventually come, they are usually very costly – that shouldn’t even be a surprise in view of the cost of production.”

Snakebites victim receiving treatment at a hospital

Durfa, a former CMD of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, said that a vial of the ASV drug costs 59 British Pounds at production.

“In view of the poor value of the Naira, the drug gets so costly for the victims that are mostly the poor farmers and cattle rearers,” he said.

He said that some state governors had often purchased the drugs to assist victims in their domains, but regretted that there were moments the drug could be out of stock, leaving everyone helpless.

To tackle the situation, Durfa said that Nigeria must produce the ASV drug locally.

“The producers of drug in Liverpool, Wales and Costa Rica are ready to transfer the technology to Nigeria and teach Nigerians how to handle the process. We only need to be wiling to invest in the process,” he said.

To ensure that the ASV drug is produced locally, Durfa said that his outfit applied for a kick-start of the process in 2006 and secured the approval of then President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

“Obasanjo approved that the project be funded from monies voted for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The then health minister, Prof. Eyitambo Lambo, tried in vain to secure the support of the officials of the MDGs.

Durfa said that his team renewed the effort to produce the ASV drug locally few years ago by approaching the immediate past Federal Government.

“We applied for a grant and the request was submitted to two ministries – industries and health.

“A letter was written to President Muhamadu Buhari recommending the local production of ASV by Echitab Study Group.

“We got a strongly worded letter by the Chief of Staff to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“We were made to understand that the Department of State Financing wrote a favourable response to our request. All papers were on the Governor’s table up to when he left office recently,” he fumed.

The physician emphasised the need for the nation’s leaders to support the effort to produce the ASV drug locally, especially with the encouragement being given to Nigerians to return to the farms to make Nigeria food sufficient.

“Now, there are many cases of snakebites, but no drugs. People are dying needlessly. It is a shame.

“If we manufacture the drug in Nigeria, we shall reduce the cost of transport and the huge amount paid to technicians in foreign lands.

“We shall also ward off payments for the handling of snakes up to U.K and Costa Rica.

“If we produce locally, the general cost will crash, there will be no long waiting time and we won’t face a severe shortage as we currently do.

“Technically, our technicians shall be trained on manufacturing the ASV, and shall focus on vaccines relevant to our needs.

“Other advantages include mass employment of our people including snake charmers, handlers, research fellows, among others.

“There will also be easy access to the ASV and we won’t have people just resigning to their fate and dying when they should not”.

Durfa particularly regretted a recent situation where a female student in the University of Yola died of snakebite, and declared that such death and many others like that were “quite unnecessary”.

He appealed to the Federal Government to critically look into the need to produce the ASV drug locally to end the scourge of deaths from snakebite across the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Agriculture , Environment

Beyond Badagry’s coconut festival

 

 

Beyond Badagry’s coconut festival

 

By Dianabasi Effiong, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

 

Most farm produce, seedlings, yams, cassava, rice, groundnuts and palm fruits, including harvests and Agric abundance, are celebrated in many cultures in Nigeria.

They usually set aside certain periods in the year for a carnival-like, elaborate celebration.

For instance, the Cassava Festival is observable in Buanchor, Eastern Boki and New Yam festivals in parts of Cross River.

Also, cassava festival (Usoro Iwa), initiated by an NGO, People, Environment and Sustainability Foundation, in partnership with All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, was unveiled in Akwa Ibom in 2018.

Tagged: `The nutritive wonders of cassava’, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission and Champion Breweries, the festival showcases culinary skills and ideas in cassava production.

Participants also use the platform in which the organisers freely distribute improved variety cassava stems to interested farmers to demonstrate their various talent base in cassava production.

At one of the events, the convener, Rita Otu, also unveiled her project, and according to her,  “It all starts with one stem’’, to drive the campaign to strengthen communities and institutions to produce and consume bio-fortified crops.

Vitamin A fortified cassava variety, including yams, are major staples with nutritional values for most Nigerian families.

They also serve as important feed sources in animal/ruminant husbandry and poultry production.

 

President, African Coconut Heritage Initiative (AGUNKEFEST),
Mr Mesi Doheto, addressing stakeholders during the flag-off of coconut festival in Badagry

 

Recently the African  Coconut Heritage Initiative (AGUNKEFEST), an NGO, announced the flag-off of coconut festival by planting over 500 seedlings in schools and other areas of Badagry.

AGUNKEFEST President, Mr Mesi Doheto, said that the festival’s flag-off was to begin coconut planting in the rainy season.

The festival normally holds in November but the group opted to plant coconuts in the 2023 fiesta.

“For this year, we brought students from different schools in Badagry because we want to initiate them into planting.

“We discovered that many schools in Badagry have land and this is a big opportunity for us to give them the seedlings so that they can plant them in their school environment.

“We are also catching them young, inculcating the idea of save environment and also giving the school economic power because in some years’ time, the coconut will begin to bear fruits,’’ he said.

Doheto said that 20 schools (10 primary and 10 secondary) were selected for the programme in 2023.

He said: “We gave each school 10 seedlings to plant, making 200 seedlings altogether. AGUNKEFEST team will visit the schools by November to monitor how they are growing.

“We also donated another 100 seedlings to Association of Coconut Growers (ACG), being a stakeholder in the sector.’’

He said that the coconut festival, to hold between Nov. 23 and Nov. 25, would have many personalities in attendance.

 

Traditional rulers and chiefs during the flag-off of coconut festival in Badagry

 

Also, the Coordinator of AGUNKEFEST, Mr Mustapha Ademola, said that coconut trees were important in the nation’s economy.

He said the seeds were constantly in demand and the fruits were raw material for many major industries, adding that Nigerians should always plant coconuts in their environments.

The Director, Research, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Dr Victor Adangbe, said that research was ongoing to meet expectations s of coconut stakeholders.

According to him, the research will focus on improved yields planting materials and disease-resistant seedlings among others.

Adangbe said farmers were being trained on effective field management and nursery management practices.

According to experts coconut production can service local consumption and attract major foreign exchange for growers.

Beyond the coconut festival, organisers, coconut growers and other stakeholders in the value-chain can explore ways to generate more income for growers.

An initiative to boost coconut production was, before now, inaugurated by Gov. Udom Emmanuel’s administration in Akwa Ibom with a multi-million dollar Coconut Plantation and refinery.

Government also distributed seedlings across the state to boost production for the coconut refinery.

A 2022 statistics from Coconut Growers Association of Sri Lanka (CGASL) offer an interesting insight for coconut stakeholders in Nigeria.

An accredited organisation of International Coconut community, the CGASL promotes, fosters and protects the coconut growing industry in Sri Lanka.

The statistics from the nonprofit organisation also show that coconut growers contributed $816.9million worth of exports for 2022 alone.

This is about N651.06 billion (N651, 069, 300, 000) at official exchange rate of N797 or N694.3 billion (N694, 365, 000, 000) at N850 in the black market.

The statistics from Sri Lanka also show that $407.0million was realised  from kernel based exports and $410.0million in non-kernel based exports while production exceeded 3.3 billion coconuts in 2022.

While 1.5 billion coconuts were processed by the industry, 1.8 billion coconuts were consumed locally during the year in focus.

The organisation of International Coconut community is a United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and The Pacific (UNESCAP) established in 1969.

It constitutes 20 countries across the Caribbean (1), South America (1), East Africa (1), Asia (8) and the Pacific (9).

Other countries include F.S Micronesia, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

The Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Vietnam are other member-states of UNESCAP.

Therefore, coconut growers in Akwa Ibom, Badagry and Nigeria can boost production for local consumption and international trade enhancement by adopting available best practices.

With their knowledge of pests and diseases control, research institutes like NIFOR can provide details on coconut pest and disease management for best pest and disease-free crops.

Pests and diseases include coconut Leaf Miner, the Red Weevil and coconut Scale, Mammalian Pests of coconut, Stem Bleeding Disease, Plesispa Beetle and Coconut Caterpillar, the Black Beetle, Termites, Bud Rot Disease, Leaf Blight Disease and Coconut Mite.

Farmers can collaborate with government, corporate organisations, individuals and research institutions such as NIFOR to foster growers’ sustainability and strengthening of the coconut plantation industry.

Efforts should also be made to ensure that coconut farmers in Nigeria adopt global best practices in planting and plantation management.

Help could be gotten in the selection of mother palms, nursery management and seedlings selection or how to get planting materials.

There should also be expertly advised on planting systems, management of young palms, inorganic and organic fertiliser mixtures and application as well as in soil and moisture conservation practices.

Expert opinion abound on planting coconuts around homes, utilisation of organic manure and application of Tissue Culture Technology on coconuts.

Expert say that intercropping of coconut lands are realisable through planting and management of intercrops.

Intercropping objective can be through intercropping coconut plantation with Plantain, Banana, Coffee, Cocoa, Pepper or Pineapples.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Badagry was founded in the late 1720s by Popo refugees from the wars with the Fon people of Dahomey (now Benin Republic).

It also stated: “Badagry was, for the next century, a notorious exporter of slaves to the Americas.’’

Badagry has come a long way; it can be popular as Nigeria’s major base for production and export of coconuts globally. It has the capacity.

Badagry can achieve this with the right attitude of stakeholders, non-state actors and the political will of those with the wherewithal to drive the process. (NANFeatures)

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

 

Edited by Vivian Ihechu