NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
ANRiN project exceeds target, delivers 6m services, tasks stakeholders on sustainability
Health

ANRiN project exceeds target, delivers 6m services, tasks stakeholders on sustainability

92 total views today

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, has rolled out its achievements in improving the health and well-being of children under five, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women in Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first phase of the ANRiN project would end on 30th June 2025, while the second phase, 2.0, would begin on July 1st, 2025.

The ANRiN 2.0, which has three components, would entail; basic package of nutrition services, convergence with food systems and
data-driven multi sectoral coordination and accountability.

Delivering a presentation at a four-day sustainability workshop in Kano, the Project Manager of the ANRiN project in Kaduna, Dr Zainab Muhammad-Idris, said over the course of it first phase, the project delivered a total of 6,267,880 services, exceeding its target of 5,784,983.

Muhammad-Idris said that the services provided by the project included vitamin ‘A’ supplementation, deworming, micronutrient powder distribution, and counseling on Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) practices.

She added that the project provided contraception services, including Short-Term Methods (STM) and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC), to adolescent girls.

Muhammad-Idris said a total of 146,897 adolescent girls received child spacing and family planning services, with 23,578 opting for LARC and 123,319 choosing STM.

At facility level, the project manager said that the project trained 60 Master Trainers, 120 Secondary Health Facility workers, and 510 Primary Health Care workers on various aspects of healthcare delivery.

She added that over 300,000 pregnant women were reached with MIYCN counseling, iron and folic acid supplementation, and intermittent preventive treatment for malaria.

Muhammad-Idris said the project established and strengthened 23 Grievance Redress Committees (GRCs) across the state, which serve as a platform for communities to provide feedback on the project’s services.

Speaking further, she recalled that the ANRiN project also provided emergency support to the Tudun Biri community (Drone attack victims) with food items, livestock, seedlings, agricultural inputs, among others.

The Chairman, Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN), Bashir Muhammad,stated that the project’s achievements demonstrated the impact of collaborative efforts in improving the health and well-being of children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women in Kaduna State.

Muhammad stated that such collaborative approach would be crucial in ensuring that the benefits of the project were felt for years to come, and that the health and nutrition needs of the state’s most vulnerable populations continue to be met.

He, therefore, said it was imperative that the stakeholders continue to work together to ensure that the gains were sustained for the betterment of the state and nation in general.

Muhammad restated the SCFN’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve nutrition outcomes in Kaduna State, emphasising the committee’s role in coordinating efforts to address malnutrition.

The State Nutrition Officer (SNO), Ramatu Haruna, lamented that malnutrition was a major public health issue in the state contributing to over 50 per cent of under-five deaths.

Haruna was represented by Jibril Isah, the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the State Primary Health Care Board.

He said that key MIYCN indicators revealed critical gaps with only 13 per cent of newborns receiving timely breastfeeding.

She explained that 41.1 per cent of infants were exclusively breastfed, and 12.3 per cent of children aged six to 23 months met proper feeding standards.

Haruna said that the state had 1,063 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), 31 Secondary Health Care Facilities, with 162 offering Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) services and 560 delivering MIYCN interventions.

Similarly, she said that one tertiary hospital and 31 secondary facilities served as Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) stabilisation centers, supported by community-based Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) services in all the 23 LGAs to strengthen capacity.

The SNO also said that 585 health workers from 162 PHCs had been trained on IMAM, alongside 1,620 community volunteers who have established 14,580 support groups statewide.

Earlier, Nutrition Specialist for ANRiN project in Kaduna, Hauwa Usman, said the workshop, which strategically brought stakeholders from various MDAs, was to review the achievements and lessons learned.

She added that the meeting was to strengthen capacity for sustainability planning and encourage multi-sectoral collaboration

NAN reports that ANRiN is a state-led and World Bank-funded performance-based project which aims to increase the utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five years of age.

Primarily, the project focuses on increasing access to and utilising a community-based Basic Package of Nutrition Services (BNPS) according to established targets to reduce malnutrition in Nigeria.

The programme is currently being implemented in 12 high malnutrition burden states in Nigeria.(NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

PDP stakeholders, leaders reaffirm Anyawu as substantive National Secretary
Politics

PDP stakeholders, leaders reaffirm Anyawu as substantive National Secretary

171 total views today

By Philip Yatai

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’ Eminent Stakeholders and Concerned Leaders have reaffirmed Sen. Sam Anyawu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of the party.

The stakeholders made the reaffirmation in a communique in Abuja on Monday, after a closed-door meeting to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis affecting the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders and the concerned leaders were drawn from the various states of the federation.

Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who read the communique said that Anyawu’s reaffirmation followed the resolutions of the stakeholders, in line with the Judgment of the Supreme Court.

Wike explained that the meeting was organised to review the state of affairs of the party and the need to reinforce internal democracy, equity and justice within the ranks of the party.

He said that the stakeholders resolved that the seemingly intractable crisis in the party was as a result of the inexplicable refusal of a few to adhere to the party’s constitution.

He particularly referred to Section 36(1) (a) (b) and (c); Sections 47(3)(5) and 48(1)(i) and the definitive Supreme Court Judgment regarding the position of the office of the national secretary of the party.

The minister expressed the stakeholders’ worry that the party was on an inevitable path to self- annihilation.

This, he said, was only feasible, if urgent steps were not taken to rein in the desperate, divisive and selfish tendencies that brought the party to its knees in the lead up to the 2023 election.

He added that the divisive tendencies, unfortunately, have found expression in the conduct of certain interests within the ranks of the party both at National Executive Committee (NEC), National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees levels.

The minister added that to finally arrest the inexorable drift towards extinction in the party, the PDP must, without further delay, respect the judgment of the Supreme Court.

“We, therefore, unequivocally reaffirm Sen. Sam Anyanwu as the duly elected and substantive National Secretary of our great party.

“In line with the provisions of our party constitution, only the National Secretary, Anyanwu, can issue notices of meeting of the National Convention, NEC, National Caucus and the NWC.

“To this end, all notices not issued by him and actions founded on them, including correspondences to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“Furthermore, it is clear from the constitution that only the National Convention, properly and duly constituted can remove Anyanwu as the national secretary, arising from his status as a member of the NEC of the party.

“We, therefore, demand that the acting National Chairman and the National Secretary jointly issue a notice to INEC with an attached agenda for the NEC meeting of the party, being the only pathway to abide by extant laws.

Wike reiterated the stakeholders’ commitment to the great party and urged all members to uphold the rule of law and respect constitutional mandate.

He also called on members of the party to resist all manoeuvres aimed at destabilising the party and support the efforts of the National Reconciliation Committee headed by Sen. Bukola Saraki.

The minister further said the stakeholders had resolved that the party must make an unequivocal pronouncement, zoning its presidential candidate to the South in the 2027 elections.

“This is in the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles and respect for our party constitution, after the unbroken years of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the north,” Wike said.

NAN reports that some of the stakeholders at the meeting included former Gov. Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu, former Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and former Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

Also at the meeting were the National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and former Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Philip Aduda.

Former federal and state lawmakers and some zonal and state party executives among others equally attended the meeting. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Stakeholders urge digitisation of justice system
Judiciary

Stakeholders urge digitisation of justice system

285 total views today

By Jacinta Nwachukwu

Some stakeholders in Nigeria’s judiciary have emphasised the urgent need to digitise the legal and judicial sector to address long-standing inefficiencies hampering effective justice delivery.

Speaking at the 2025 Justice Innovation and Technology (JIT) Summit on Tuesday in Abuja, Mrs Lucy Abagi, CEO of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), highlighted the persistent reliance on manual court processes.

She noted that the summit aimed to promote automation for timely and efficient justice.

Abagi said PPDC, with international backing, piloted the Justice Initiative in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Plateau states, using speech-to-text devices to enhance case management.

She added that more than 80 per cent of Nigerian courts still operated manually, and the initiative was designed to eliminate this.

“The Judic AI software, developed by young Nigerian tech graduates, has already been deployed in 16 courtrooms.

“Judges no longer need to write long-hand; instead, they get instant transcriptions, which also lightens the administrative burden,” she said.

She added that the technology could help reduce Nigeria’s backlog of awaiting trial inmates, currently estimated at around 80,000.

Bemshima Peter, CEO of Devon Technologies Ltd., also spoke at the summit, stressing the need for technological adoption in a sector that had trailed behind others.

He described Judic AI as a smart transcription and case management solution, already operational in 16 courts.

In spite of challenges like diverse accents and dialects affecting speech recognition, Peter said the company was working on multilingual capabilities for seamless communication.

National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Afam Osigwe, urged judges to become computer literate and advocated for the integration of virtual hearings to reduce delays and unnecessary physical appearances in court.

“Courts should offer virtual hearing facilities to all parties, not just expect litigants to make personal arrangements,” Osigwe said, calling the refusal of some courts to adopt such systems “unacceptable.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Devon Technologies, a legal tech firm, is working to reshape Africa’s justice systems through digital transformation and accessibility. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Nigeria Customs explains 4% FOB levy suspension
Economy/Business

Nigeria Customs explains 4% FOB levy suspension

478 total views today

By Muhammad Nur Tijani

The Kano/Jigawa Customs Area Command held a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday to explain the four per cent Free On Board (FOB) collection and its suspension.

 

Customs Area Comptroller, Dalhatu Abubakar, said that the new revenue law benefits all stakeholders, including exporters, importers, and customs agents.

 

He explained that the FOB collection had been temporarily suspended due to the termination of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) contract with service providers.

 

Abubakar assured that the NCS would resume direct collection of the four per cent FOB once the suspension is lifted.

 

“The FOB collection suspension is due to the termination of our contract with service providers.

 

“We are engaging stakeholders during this period to raise awareness about the levy’s importance,” Abubakar said.

 

The Comptroller noted that the suspension aligns with the NCS’s efforts to transition to direct levy collection by the service.

 

He added that the suspension period would enable the NCS to educate stakeholders on the necessity of the four per cent FOB, legally backed by Section 18 (1) of the NCS Act (2023).

 

“Our aim today is to discuss the ongoing FOB suspension.

 

“This engagement is ongoing, and we will invite you again in the coming weeks to further explain the levy’s purpose and significance,” Abubakar stated.

 

The Comptroller explained that the four per cent FOB, also known as the Financial Customs Service Operation (FCSO), is essential for NCS operations and stakeholder interactions.

 

According to Abubakar, the levy is legally mandated and vital for smooth customs operations.

 

Stakeholders at the meeting were educated on the benefits and legal basis of the FOB, while some expressed concerns about the additional financial burden. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

NOA, stakeholders engage on security, tax reform bills
General News

NOA, stakeholders engage on security, tax reform bills

379 total views today

 

By Rita Iliya

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Niger has engaged stakeholders to discuss the nationwide sensitisation on security, tax reform bills and get-rich-quick syndrome.

 

The Director General of NOA, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the meeting was a nationwide sensitisation campaign on five critical issues affecting the nation’s well-being, unity, and development.

 

Issa-Onilu was represented at the meeting on Monday by Mrs Onuoha Uchenna, Assistant Director, Finance and Account of the agency.

 

He said that the campaign focused on World HIV/AIDS day, security awareness, discouraging get-rich-quick syndrome, world human rights day, and tax reform bills.

 

“The challenges before us require collective action and active participation from all Nigerians,” he said.

 

He said the government had intensified efforts to provide free and accessible HIV testing and counselling services nationwide as well as ensure antiretroviral treatment was available and accessible to people living with HIV/AIDS.

 

He added that government has also partnered with local and international organisations to combat stigma and discrimination.

 

On security awareness, Issa-Onilu said the government was strengthening security architecture through better equipment, training, and increased funding for security agencies.

 

He also emphasised the need for citizens to reject shortcuts to wealth and embrace integrity, hard work, and opportunities provided through government initiatives.

 

The NOA boss further explained that the government was implementing reforms to make the tax system fairer and less burdensome for citizens.

 

He called on stakeholders, including traditional leaders, religious institutions, civil society organisations, and educational institutions to amplify the messages and extend their reach.

 

In his welcome address, Malam Yahaya Gbongbo, the state Director of NOA, said the agency launched the campaign on Nov. 6 in Niger to make people understand that security was everyone’s business.

 

He noted that NOA’s mandate was to communicate government programmes and policies to the people, adding that the agency was committed to doing that especially at the grassroots.

 

In his remarks, Mr Eze Pampas, Eze Ndigbo of Minna and Chairman, Resident Community Traditional Leaders Association in Niger, lauded NOA for its sensitisation programmes aimed at promoting national development and unity.

 

He attributed the prevalence of get-rich-quick syndrome among Nigerians especially the youths to injustice, corruption, and unemployment in the country.

 

Also Malam Bala Musa, Deputy Director in NOA in Niger, said the issue of tax reform bills has been a contentious issue and urged Nigerians to study the bill and understand its benefits.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Group canvasses democracy that delivers peace, prosperity, justice
Oil & Gas , Politics

Group canvasses democracy that delivers peace, prosperity, justice

940 total views today

By Naomi Sharang

Dr Kletsaint Akor, Chairman, Proponent Council, National Democracy Stakeholders Group (NDSG), has called on stakeholders to build a democracy that will deliver peace, prosperity and justice for citizens.

He made the call at the opening of Nigeria Democracy Week 2024, tagged: “Quarter of a Century of Sustained Democracy in Nigeria’s 64 Years of Statehood”, in Abuja.

Akor said that the occasion was a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment to the ideals that had shaped the country’s democratic journey over the past 25 years.

“As we gather here today, we are reminded of the resilience, sacrifices and aspirations that have brought us to this significant milestone.

“Democracy, as we know, is not just a system of governance; it is a collective effort that demands our continuous dedication to equity, justice and inclusivity.

“As we celebrate 25 years of democratic governance, let us remember that the true measure of democracy is not in the number of years it endures but in the lives it transforms.

“Let us commit ourselves to building a democracy that delivers peace, prosperity and justice for all Nigerians,” he said.

Akor called on the country’s leaders to prioritise transparency, accountability and the welfare of the people.

“The strength of a democracy lies not in its institutions but in the trust that citizens place in their leaders,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Steering Board of NDSG, Morgan Okwoche, said the most significant achievements of Nigeria’s democracy had been the peaceful transition of power between administrations, particularly across party lines.

Okwoche, however, identified some challenges in Nigeria’s democratic journey, including insecurity, economic inequality, civic apathy, insurgency in the north-east, banditry and communal insecurity.

“These issues have disrupted governance and have also eroded economic development,” he said.

Okwoche called on stakeholders to renew their commitment to the ideals of democracy and the vision of a united, inclusive and thriving Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, said that the past 25 years of uninterrupted democracy represented a triumph for Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Egbetokun was represented by the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olatunji Disu.

He said that the uninterrupted democracy was a statement of an enduring commitment to the principle of governance, the rule of law and the freedom that underpinned democratic systems.

“For the Nigerian Police Force, this period has underscored our vital roles as custodians of peace and security, which are fundamental to the success of any democracy,” he said.

Similarly, the Controller-General of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Haliru Nababa, said that there were no fewer than 83,000 inmates in 265 custodial centres across the country.

Nababa, who was represented by Assistant Controller of Corrections, Ope Fatinikun, added that there were also a total of 53,000 awaiting trials.

“Democracy has given the NCS space to operate. Democracy has been a good journey so far,” he remarked. (NAN)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

NNPC Ltd pledges collaboration with sports stakeholders to revamp football
Oil & Gas

NNPC Ltd pledges collaboration with sports stakeholders to revamp football

610 total views today

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has pledged to work closely with stakeholders in the sports sector to develop and commercialise sports, especially football, in Nigeria.

Mr Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), NNPC Ltd., made the pledge on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the National Sports Commission (NSC), the International Management Group (IMG) and the Afrosport Network, at the NNPC Towers.

Kyari, while addressing the delegation led by Alhaji Shehu Dikko, Chairman of NSC, said NNPC Ltd. was ready to be part of the initiative to revamp the nation’s football.

Kyari, in a statement by Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. expressed delight that the company was identified as a critical partner in the journey of making the country’s football sector work again.

“NNPC will be a prime partner in the journey to bring back value to our football, to reshape it, re-engineer it and bring happiness to our people,” Kyari stated.

He identified football as a tool of immense value that could bring untold benefits to the Nigerian economy and to the NNPC Ltd., as a company.

Speaking earlier, Dikko said football was fundamental to the economies of the best footballing countries in the world.

He added that President Bola Tinubu had already demanded immediate action to revamp the game.

He said that the multiplier effects of football were enormous and could facilitate the revamping of related industries across the value chain.

Dikko noted that IMG, which promotes the English Premier League, was invited as a technical partner to leverage their experience in the sport.

It would be recalled that NNPC Ltd. once had a football club, the NNPC FC, based in Warri, Delta, which played in the Division One of the then Nigeria National League before it was disbanded in 1989. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

0Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

Adoption of conflict sensitive climate action crucial for  lasting peace – Stakeholders 
Environment

Adoption of conflict sensitive climate action crucial for  lasting peace – Stakeholders 

529 total views today

By Angela Atabo/Emmanuel Oloniruha

Stakeholders in the peace-building, humanitarian and development space have emphasised the need to integrate climate sensitive approaches into resolving conflicts in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders unanimously agreed to this approach at the inaugural meeting of Nigeria Conflict Sensitivity and Climate Adaptation Facility (NC-SAF) on Thursday in Abuja.

NAN also reports that the meeting was organised by International Alert, with support from Irish Aid.

According to the stakeholders, climate-sensitive conflict action prioritises understanding and addresses the interconnections between climate change and conflicts.

They stated that by adopting climate-sensitive adaptation, Nigeria could mitigate climate-related conflicts, promote sustainable peace and development as well as enhance sustainable peace in vulnerable communities.

The Country Director for International Alert, Dr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima, said the meeting brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss the existential issues of insecurity facing Nigeria.

According to Nyulaku-Bemshima, Irish Aid is supporting International Alert to implement the “Powering Peace Through Climate Actions.”

This, he said, was because climate change was impacting communities, drying up grazing areas, making farming difficult and affecting food security, with productivity going down.

“As a result, the competition between occupational groups, such as headers and farmers, is increasing, becoming more intense and escalating conflicts in different parts of the country.

“Most conflicts in Nigeria are resource-based conflicts and so by that, we need to look at the issue of conflict and insecurity from a climate lens.

“This is because if we fail to do that, then the very drivers of the insecurity that we see will continue to fester,” he said.

Nyulaku-Bemshima said the banditry and insecurity in the north-west zone was impacting communities being influenced by climate change issues.

He said that most headers were moving south in search of grazing areas, thus creating tensions in those areas, such as the farmer-header conflicts.

According to him, the crises are being driven by climate change, thus necessitating the need to ask critical questions around insecurity and humanitarian development.

He said that a joint strategy would be required to address those issues at the national, state and community levels.

He called for conflict-sensitive policy-making to recognise the drivers of conflicts and respond to them.

Also speaking, Mr Dapo Oyewole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Cooperation, commended International Alert for the initiative.

He said that the Federal Government was committed to tackling the effects of climate change, which he described as a “global problem”.

He said that it required a holistic approach by government, civil society, international development community, and the citizens to find lasting solutions.

“Climate change tops the President Bola Tinubu administration’s agenda, with efforts focused on creating an enabling environment for prosperity, peace and security,” he said.

Oyewole said to tackle climate change, government had set up initiatives and interventions to bring critical stakeholders together by providing resources to chat the way forward.

Dr Kimaris Toogood, Peace and Development Advisor, Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, stressed the importance of recognising the role conflict sensitive approach played in the work of climate peace and security.

“By that I mean that the root of addressing and responding to climate change and conflict induced by climate change comes from understanding the root causes.

“It is only if we diagnose or understand the conflict correctly that our response will be able to be accurate, sustainable and resilient,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Building collapse: FG tasks stakeholders on solutions
Economy/Business

Building collapse: FG tasks stakeholders on solutions

489 total views today

By Lucy Ogalue

The Federal Government has urged stakeholders in the building and construction sector to find lasting solutions to incessant building collapses across the country.

The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. John Enoh gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja at the National Conference on the Building/Construction sector.

The theme of the event is: “Adherence to Standard Practices: Bedrock of Sustainable Development in the Building/Construction Sector organised by Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country has recorded several incidences of building collapses in recent times.

The Building Collapse Prevention Guild said Lagos State recorded the highest cases with more 351 buildings caving in the last 50 years.

The report showed that the 351 collapsed buildings in Lagos represented 55.28 per cent of the total of 635 recorded cases across the country during this period.

The Minister of State said: “I am aware of the several efforts by some on this matter. My mandate to you on this crucial matter, is to ensure safer, more reliable structures.

“This forum affords me a chance to relate with relevant stakeholders in the industry, to unite and collaborate for the common purpose of safety.

“I encourage everyone to focus more on the areas of pre-construction, construction and post-construction regulatory and enforcement framework in the promotion of public awareness, and capacity building enhancement”.

Enoh reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration to the security of lives and property of citizens.

“Putting a stop to the unending incidents of building and construction collapses is paramount and I believe adhering to strictly agreed standard practices will be a contribution to the priority of the administration.

“I look forward to very robust engagements and discussions, and hope that the outcome of this will be very enabling and very useful to getting this sector, the building and construction sector right”, he said.

Earlier, the SON Director – General, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke decried the non awareness of Industry stakeholders to the standards required for safe, durable and sustainable buildings in spite of numerous sensitisation.

“This knowledge gap exists not only among construction workers but also among suppliers and building professionals.

“Training and education are essential to bring everyone up to par with international best practices, but that may not be all there is.

“In the same way, our growing population requires a rapid increase in affordable housing, which brings with it the challenge of meeting demand without compromising on quality.

“Innovative materials, construction techniques and designs must be developed and standardised to meet this demand while maintaining quality and safety, “he said

He expressed the commitment of SON to promoting safe practices, ensuring quality and sustainable development via its initiatives.

“SON has worked closely and will continue to do so with industry experts and practitioners to develop and update standards for construction materials, techniques and safety protocols, ” Okeke said..

Meanwhile, the President, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, emphasised the importance of standards in building construction.

“The building industry is peculiar in the sense that there are codes and standards that govern activities from design to completion of projects.

“The efforts of the SON in the development/ domestication of codes and standards in collaboration with stakeholders must not go unnoticed but we need to do more.

“Nigeria is situated in sub-Saharan Africa with its inherent weather conditions different from that of the temperate and other regions hence the need for local codes and standards that addresses these peculiarities,” he said.

He urged the utilisation of initiatives such as the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) that covered building materials such as Cement, Glass, Steel, and Blocks among .

The COREN president said there was nothing wrong with the adaptation of foreign codes and standards, such as the British Standards and Eurocodes.

He, however, said that adaptation of such needed to address the local conditions and peculiarities in the country.

According to Abubakar, the adherence to standard practice, therefore, requires a robust monitoring framework, effective regulation and diligent enforcement where necessary. (NAN)

Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Stakeholders harp on harnessing Nigerian’s non-oil export for economic dev’t
Economy/Business

Stakeholders harp on harnessing Nigerian’s non-oil export for economic dev’t

593 total views today

By Lucy Ogalue

Some stakeholders have urged Nigerians to leverage available opportunities to increase non-oil exports for economic growth and development.

The Stakeholders spoke at the Nigerian Exporters Hub (NEXHUB) Abuja Export Conference 2024 in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was “Navigating the Future of Non-oil exports”.

The event was organised to mark the NEXHUB Abuja Subscribers’ inaugural shipment of 10 containers to China.

The products to be shipped include Cassia tora, sesame seeds, ginger and mica (solid mineral).

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, emphasised the need for the country to leverage on its numerous resources to grow its economy.

Uzoka-Anite, represented by Mr Dafang sule, Director, Federal Produce Inspection Service at the ministry, said that there was the need to develop and export all resources in the country.

She commended Zeenab Foods Limited,  a food processing and agro-commodity trading company, for  its efforts in promoting exports.

“This is the time to export, we need to take advantage of the moment. And the Federal Government has continued to ensure ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“We are urging Nigerians to play their part, give this administration a helping hand , just as Zeenab is doing today so we can make Nigeria better for us all,”she said.

Mr Dele Oye, President Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said that  there was the urgent need for an organised solid mineral market system.

“The lack of a structured market has been identified as a significant barrier to the sector’s growth.

“Unlike Ghana, where a government office efficiently processes mineral sales, Nigeria’s informal market leaves many miners without immediate access to cash.

“This system leads to long delays, with miners sometimes waiting decades to monetise their resources,” he said.

Oye said that NACCIMA was collaborating with NEXHUB to establish a more robust framework for mineral trading, thus processing basic minerals like mica locally before exporting.

“This initiative not only ensures compliance with government regulations,  it also aims to stimulate local economies by providing miners with quick access to cash.

“The commitment to creating a transparent market is essential for reducing criminal activities associated with unregulated sales.

“By offering direct access to international markets, NACCIMA aims to eliminate third-party intermediaries and significantly diminish the risks and uncertainties that have long plagued the sector,” he said.

Oye said that NACCIMA had established 73 locations across Nigeria, employing aggregators to connect local producers with markets.

According to him, this strategy allows even those in remote areas to engage in international trade, fostering economic independence.

He called on stakeholders from various sectors, including the media, to spread awareness about these opportunities, and a new era of prosperity and equity in the solid minerals sector.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director, Zeenab Group , Dr Victor Ayemere, said that the conference was organised to sensitise exporters to bring their commodities for easy export to the trade house in China.

According to Ayemere,  who doubles as Chairman of NEXHUB, the Federal Government, through the Export Promotion Council, has set up export trade houses across the globe.

“We were the ones assigned to handle the export trade houses in China and other Far East countries.

“So, Zeenab Foods set up the Nigerian Exporters Hub to enable the exporting public to export their commodities easily to the trade house in China.

“Zeenab has chosen the part of agro export. This is a laudable project,which tells us that we can survive as a nation.

” This is the time to export; we need to take advantage of the moment. And the Federal Government has continued to ensure ease of doing business in Nigeria.

” We are urging Nigerians to play their part, give this administration a helping hand, just as Zeenab is doing today so that  we can make Nigeria better for us all,” he said.

Also, the Managing Director of NEXHUB, Mr Babatunde Faleke, urged producers to look beyond insecurity challenges to tap the  benefits of exports and increase their production.

“What we need is even more engagement, let us scale up production so that we can have more to export,” he said.

Faleke,  who said that  infrastructure and logistics remained a challenge to movement of goods, however said that  the challenge was being addressed by the government.

NAN reports that the conference was attended by government officials, heads of agencies, various stakeholders and partners.(NAN)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email