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No law banning importation of maize, says minister

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No law banning importation of maize, says minister

Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobri, on Thursday, December 7, 2017 said that there was no law banning importation of maize into the country .

Heineken Lokpobri
Minister of State for Agriculture, Sen. Heineken Lokpobri

He made this known when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development in Abuja.

While responding to questions on why maize importation was being allowed into the country, Lokpobri said it might not be unconnected with three million metric tonnes deficit the nation suffered from its local production last year.

He noted that importation of the food item was not among the 41 others banned.

On his part, the representative of the Comptroller General of Customs, Aminu Dan Galadima, informed the committee that maize importation was not illegal.

According to him, N500 millionwas realised as import duties from it in Port Harcourt alone this year.

Also speaking, a Deputy Director in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Olukayode Oluwole, while answering questions from the chairman of the committee, said: “I am not competent to give reasons on how importers of maize get foreign exchange from CBN to import millions of metric tonnes of maize into the country at the detriment of local farmers.”

Upset by the response, the chairman of the committee, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, asked whether his declaration of incompetence be put on record since he was appearing as a representative of the Governor of the bank, he said “yes”.

“I know that my submissions before this committee are on record since you have already put me on oath.

“I can give you sufficient answers to any question raised on Anchor Borrowers Program on rice which has covered 31 States of the federation with its attendant gains and benefits,” Oluwole said.

Apparently annoyed with his submission, the committee chairman and members told him to withdraw from making any presentation on behalf of the bank since he had declared himself incompetent.

“In the first place, you were not the one officially invited by this committee for this investigative hearing but the CBN Governor whom you have not in any way represented well here on account of being incompetent as owned up by you.

“On account of this, this committee advises you to withdraw completely from any form of representation on behalf of the apex bank,” said the committee chairman.

By Naomi Sharang

IITA, NSE launch Nigeria Stockbrokers Agribusiness Group

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IITA, NSE launch Nigeria Stockbrokers Agribusiness Group

As agribusiness thrives in Nigeria, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Corporate Farmers International (CFI) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Thursday, December 7, 2017  launched the Nigeria Stock Brokers Agribusiness Group (NSBAG).

Kwesi Atta-Krah
Dr Kwesi Atta-Krah, Director, Country Alignment and System Integration, IITA

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the official launch was held in Lagos at the IITA premises in Ogba.

Dr Kwesi Atta-Krah, Director, Country Alignment and System Integration, IITA said that it was time to transform agriculture from a mere culture based to a business.

Atta-Krah said that agriculture as a culture was no longer productive.

“It has come to a point where agriculture should not be just a culture but a business.

“It has the potential of economic growth, job creation and revenue generation.

“There is need to create an avenue to engage private sector into agriculture for it to succeed.

“It is therefore, important for everybody to be responsible to ensure that this launch does not end here,’’ he said.

Atta-Krah said it was important for everyone to work together for the goals of the initiative to succeed.

Mr Babatunde Sobamowo, Chairman of NSBAG, said that the necessity of the group was to ensure a growth rate in agriculture contributions to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Sobamowo said that it was time to raise incomes, reduce poverty level among others via agriculture because farmers were losing money due to the fact that there was no platform to place agricultural products.

“It is time to leverage on the opportunities presented by governments at various levels through some laudable initiatives.

“This initiative will create a lot of business opportunities to be able to access cheap and long term funds at a very low interest rate.

“The average interest rate by the CBN is 14 per cent and there is nobody that can do business with that kind of rate,’’ he said.

Speaking on the sideline, Mr Solomon Olakanmi, Secretary of NSBAG,  told newsmen that it was about time the potentials in making agriculture a business was tapped into via the various value chains.

Olakanmi said that for agriculture to thrive it needed financial resources and the NSE would be playing an intermediary role between investors and producers.

“This will generate substantial income, jobs and wealth for the various stakeholders involved.

“All the sections in agriculture like production, processing and provision of necessary inputs, marketing, trading and funding will be adequately addressed,’’ he said.

The National Coordinator of CFI, Prince Ade Ajayi, said that the future of agribusiness would change with the emergence of NSBAG.

Ajayi said “the launch of NSBAG will turn around and reshaping the economy of our nation.

“CFI had a dream to develop the nation’s real sector economy through agribusiness in collaboration with agribusiness institutions like IITA, Agric Society of Nigeria, FIIRO, NSE,’’ he said.

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Low case finding, contact tracing hinder tuberculosis eradication

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Low case finding, contact tracing hinder tuberculosis eradication

The National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTLCP) on Thursday, December 7, 2017 identified low case finding and contact tracing as the major challenges hindering the eradication of tuberculosis in Nigeria.

Isaac-Adewole
Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole

Dr Adebola Lawanson, the programme National Coordinator, made this known at the review meeting organised by Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme in Lagos.

Lawanson said that due to the challenges, the Federal Ministry of Health had deployed health officers, resources and strategies to all the states to enable them to investigate, test and treat people for free.

“The review is to enable stakeholders at all levels and partners in the multi-resistant tuberculosis programme to interact and review the progress so far, identify key implementation challenges and possible solutions to tuberculosis.

“If one patient has tuberculosis, many people may be affected through contact, that is why we stress the need for every tuberculosis patient to be tested and treated on time.

“Those who have been coughing for two weeks or more, experiencing weight loss, night sweat and fever can be tested with machine and get their results within two hours.

“We have to look out for the success of the patient with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, because that is the more complicated tuberculosis,” she said.

Lawanson said that the programme major plan in 2018 was to limit those who would graduate into more complicated tuberculosis by providing more services for the patients.

“Overcoming these challenges will make us give quality care to our tuberculosis patients.

“In 2018, we will still continue with the contact tracing by collaborating with our partners, who provided a mobile truck known as “Wellness on Wheels Approach” for the exercise.

“The trucks are equipped with necessary machines and the main purpose is to take it to the people’s doorstep in every community and educate them on issues of tuberculosis,” she said.

Lawanson said that there would be massive sensitisation on tuberculosis in all primary healthcare centres to help them identify all the symptoms of tuberculosis.

Also, Dr Aderonke Agbaje, the Associate Director, Global Fund Programme of the institute, said that the review was an opportunity for key stakeholders from different states to provide solutions to the identified challenges hindering tuberculosis eradication.

Agbaje said that innovation had been introduced into the tuberculosis treatment by ensuring new case findings and mobilising local resources within their facilities.

“We have over 120 people for this programme, which is in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme.

“The significance of case finding is that every tuberculosis patient not placed on treatment will infect 10 people, which will also increase the spread of the disease.

“When we started the treatment, tuberculosis patients were placed on 24 months treatment regime, which was very long and tedious.

“This made us to introduce new treatment regime, through the collaboration of international companies that will be for just nine or 11 months,” Agbaje said.

By Oluwakemi Oladipo

Power generation: Government told to adopt safe, clean alternatives

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Power generation: Government told to adopt safe, clean alternatives

The Federal Government has been asked to diversify from fossil fuels for power generation to safe and clean alternatives which solar panels, wind and hydro offer.

ERA/FoEN
Iida Simes, a Finnish journalist, speaking during the workshop

Additionally, the authorities were called upon to halt and completely discard ongoing plans to build nuclear reactors in the country, and that details of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with nuclear firm, ROSATOM, and the recently signed agreement should immediately be made public and subject to the purview of relevant stakeholders.

The calls were made at a one-day workshop on Connecting Local Outrage to Global Campaigns Against Nuclear Plants in Lagos on Monday, November 27, 2017. The Centre for Social Change and Citizenship Education (CENSOCHANGE) in partnership with Journalists Initiative for Sustainable Environment (JISE).

Participants were drawn from civil society, the media, community-based organisations, and pro-democracy groups.

At the close of discussions participants observed that:

  • Nigeria is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels for power generation with a heavy price on the environment, lives and livelihoods of locals in the Niger Delta
  • Government’s much-touted plans to diversify from oil to cleaner alternatives has been more of mouth service than very concrete and verifiable actions
  • The Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) engagements with ROSATOM to build nuclear plants in Nigeria does not have the consent of majority of Nigerians and is shrouded in secrecy
  • There is total media blackout on matters relating to the planned nuclear plants. The Nigerian government has not been forthcoming on details of the MoU and recent signed agreement with Russia on construction of the reactors
  • Community/civil society consultation is lacking in the ongoing plans to build nuclear plants in Akwa Ibom and Kogi States. Vital groups including women and the vulnerable have been entirely left out in the processes
  • ROSATOM global track-record in relation to safety standards is allegedly questionable

The gathering thus charged government to ensure proper oversight on the activities of NAEC which, it notes, seem to have limitless powers in its engagement with foreign governments.

Participants also want the media to explore the possibility of using the Freedom of Information Act to demand information on the Russia-Nigeria nuclear reactor deal which, they allege, is still under the wraps of the NAEC.

They also demand consultative meetings with community/civil society groups on the plans to build nuclear reactors to sample their views.

“Community consultations which have thus far not been carried out in Akwa Ibom and Kogi states must include women and vulnerable groups to sample their views on hosting of nuclear plants,” the participants said in a communique made available to EnviroNews.

While demanding that more findings on ROSATOM track-record should be conducted, the forum emphasised: “The recently-released ROSATOM Risk Assessment Report by Greenpeace can serve as guide in taking further decisions relating to nuclear plants in Nigeria.”

In his welcome words, chair of CENSOCHANGE, Doifie Buokoribo decried Nigeria’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation which, he said, still left the nation with a fluctuating 4,000 megawatts of power, old infrastructure, and forced shut downs of power plants.

Buokoribo said that while it is commendable that the Nigerian government is interested in options outside of fossil fuels, the recourse to nuclear energy when the rest of the world is walking away from that path is very embarrassing and dangerous.

Presentations at the workshop included: “The Little We Know About Nigeria’s Nuclear Plans” delivered by Philip Jakpor of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria and “Some Nuclear Facts” by Iida Simes, a Finnish journalist.

Panel sessions were on the topics such as “Reporting Nuclear Plants in a Freedom of Information Regime” and “Avoiding Another Niger Delta Tragedy: The Role of Civil Society and Host Communities”.

Objectives of the workshops were listed to include:

  • Interrogate Nigeria’s carbonised economy and further drift towards danger and unsustainability through nuclear energy experimentation
  • Stimulate broad-based and structured debate on the secrecy surrounding recent agreements between Nigeria and ROSATOM in the light of the Federal Government’s much-touted transparency and ROSATOM’s track-records in the global energy sector
  • Amplify the role of the media in exposing the myths behind nuclear energy
  • Urge host communities, civil society and Nigerians in general to reject Nigeria’s plans to build nuclear plants
  • Encourage eco-friendly alternatives to the present energy generation sources for the sake of the Nigerian environment, economy and well-being of her citizens

Powerful winds spread wildfires in Los Angeles

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Powerful winds spread wildfires in Los Angeles

The largest of several wind-driven wildfires blazing north of Los Angeles was rapidly expanding to 400 square kilometres on Thursday, December 7, 2017 forcing authorities to order further evacuations.

Los Angeles fire
A fireman watches helplessly as fire consumes a building in Los Angeles

Much of Los Angeles and neighbouring Ventura counties are under the highest fire alerts through Saturday.

Wind gusts on Thursday were hitting 80 to 110 kilometres per hour and forecast to continue into the weekend, lowering relative humidity levels into the teens or lower, the National Weather Service said.

Across the region, more than 100,000 people have been evacuated.

The so-called Thomas fire, centred in Ventura on the Pacific Coast, was known to have destroyed 150 structures with 15,000 more threatened, according to state fire agency CalFire.

The blaze remained only five per cent contained, with more than 2,500 firefighters at the scene.

Nearly 500 fire engines were deployed, as well as 12 helicopters and 26 bulldozers.

“The fire continues to burn actively with extreme rates of spread and long range spotting when pushed by winds,” CalFire said.

“Firefighters continue to work aggressively to protect life and property while working on control efforts around the fire perimeter.”

The National Weather Service has described this week’s conditions as this year’s strongest and longest event of the dry, seasonal Santa Ana winds.

Two other major fires were burning in Castaic Junction, near the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park, and in the Kagel Canyon area.

Combined, the three largest blazes have scorched about 470 square kilometres, an area more than half the size of the city-state of Berlin.

Firms announce $3m partnership for off-grid energy investment

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Firms announce $3m partnership for off-grid energy investment

The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) and All On on Thursday, December 7, 2017 announced the creation of a $3 million partnership with the goal of expanding access to energy for underserved and unserved markets in Nigeria.

Off-grid lighting Africa
Off-grid lighting attending to the needs of energy poor communities in West Africa. Photo credit: unep.org

Over the next three years, both parties will jointly provide funding for up to 30 Nigerian small and medium enterprises that improve energy access through off-grid energy solutions spanning solar, wind, hydro, biomass and gas technologies. USADF will provide grant funding to the selected companies while All On will provide an equal amount of impact capital in the form of convertible loans and/or equity.

“We are proud to partner with All On to find sustainable solutions to the significant energy gap in Nigeria,” says C.D. Glin, USADF President and CEO. “It is through such collaborative partnerships that we can transform local energy access, identify unexplored opportunities, and bring affordable energy sources to those who need it most.”

According to All On CEO Wiebe Boer, “This partnership with USADF to provide blended capital for Nigerian owned off-grid energy companies is an innovative approach towards investing in Nigerian solutions to the country’s energy gap. We look forward to working with USADF to invest and support the growth of Nigeria’s future off grid energy sector leaders.”

Since 2013, USADF off-grid energy investments have already turned on the lights for over 120,000 people in hard-to-reach areas. USADF has invested over $7.5 million in 75 energy entrepreneurs in nine countries to bring affordable and renewable energy to rural communities across Africa. USADF is a key partner in Power Africa, a U.S. Government-led initiative aimed at doubling the number of people in sub-Saharan Africa who have access to electricity.

“Public-private partnerships are the cornerstone of the Power Africa model, and we are pleased to support USADF and All On to foster the growth of energy enterprises to bring reliable electricity to  more Nigerians,” says Andrew M. Herscowitz, Power Africa Coordinator. “This partnership demonstrates that ‘bankable’ projects do not just exist at the multi-million-dollar level. Nigeria’s off-grid energy sector is full of potential to serve a vast untapped market and this partnership will combine USADF’s grant dollars with private sector funding to produce even greater impact.”

All On is an impact investing company that works with partners to increase access to commercial energy products and services for under-served and unserved markets in Nigeria, with the Niger Delta as the priority region of focus. It seeks both financial returns and social impact to provide or improve access-to-energy for millions of households and SMEs. The company recently announced their first set of debt and equity investments.

Four Nigerian firms among 12 selected for ‘deal room’ at Africa 2017

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Four Nigerian firms among 12 selected for ‘deal room’ at Africa 2017

Twelve fast-growing African companies have been selected to win a place in the Deal Room – a special matchmaking platform for African companies – to be held at the Africa Forum 2017 on December 8 and 9 in Egypt.

Sharm El Sheikh
The Egyptian resort town, Sharm el-Sheikh, hosts Africa Forum 2017

The selected companies will meet and pitch their business to leading investors, private equity firms and venture capital firms to secure funding for their business expansion and growth. They will have a 30 minutes window to achieve this. The 12 companies – hand picked from over 100 entrants from across Africa that applied to participate – were chosen for their strong financial track record, solid revenue, and expansion and export potential. Leading African economic intelligence company Asoko Insight ran the selection process.

Africa 2017 is said to be the biggest B2B and B2G forum to take place in Africa this year, bringing together government delegations from over 30 countries and over 1,000 business leaders from across the continent. The Forum, which holds from December 8 to 9 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, was preceded by a Young Entrepreneurs Day, on Thursday, December 7 aimed to connect tomorrow’s future business leaders, with like-minded entrepreneurs and help them, through a series of workshops and discussions, take their businesses to the next level.

Speaking on the partnership, Asoko CEO and co-founder, Rob Withagen, said, “We are delighted and excited to be an official knowledge partner at the Africa 2017 Forum. African businesses are rapidly growing in number and sophistication, but the challenge of positioning themselves in front of institutional investors and global corporates, remains. Being part of initiatives such as this, designed to enhance private sector cooperation and drive investment in sectors of strategic interest within Africa, is at the core of our vision at Asoko”.

The Deal Room at Africa 2017 will focus on companies from three sectors: i) agri/agribusiness, ii) transport and logistics, and iii) light manufacturing. Each of these industry sectors align with the theme of Africa 2017 to promote inclusive growth and cross border trade in the African region.

The companies selected are : Variable Solutions Pvt Limited, Zimbabwe; Tabbris Oil Mills Limited, Nigeria; Wilson’s Juice Co., Nigeria; Lori Systems, Kenya; Berekotry Ltd., Nigeria; Simplex, Egypt; Tagaddod , Egypt; Sustineo Magnus Limited, Nigeria; Hamaressa Edible Oil Share Company, Ethiopia; Beza Mar Agro Industry P.L.C, Ethiopia; Naviacom, Tunisia;  and Heavymat Industry, Togo.

Measles vaccination committee told to promote healthy living among children

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Measles vaccination committee told to promote healthy living among children

The Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr Musa Dikko, has urged committee members of the 2017/18 Measles Vaccination campaign to ensure that every child in the area is vaccinated to promote healthy living.

measles-vaccination
A WHO team carrying out measles vaccination campaign at internally displaced people’s camp in Nigeria

Dikko said this while inaugurating the committee and sub-committees on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at the council secretariat in Bwari, Abuja.

The committee and sub-committees are: Area Council Measles Technical committee, Social Mobilisation Sub-Committee, Cold Chain and Logistics Sub-Committee and Waste Management Sub-Committee.

Others are: Monitoring and Evaluation Sub-Committee, Adverse Events Following Immunisation Sub-Committee and Training Sub- Committee.

The chairman also urged the committee members to be dedicated to the task given to them in order to save the lives of children, instead of focusing on the stipends they would get.

According to him, the privilege of being part of the working committee comes with a higher responsibility than selfish interests.

“Let us not forget that we are privileged to be picked among thousands to be part of saving lives and only the healthy is able to serve in a committee to save the unhealthy.

“The purpose of setting this committee is to save lives and it can only be done with resources, yet, we sometimes put these resources first before the main purpose.

“I hereby urge you to check very well and decide as individuals, which should come first. To save lives or our selfish interests, don’t allow people to die because of your personal interests.

“Put it at the back of your mind that someday, someone would tell you thank you for a job well done.’’

He urged the committee to put in their best in order to make positive difference in the council.

According to him, the council has set the pace in all its programmes which have direct bearing on the lives of people for others to follow.

Earlier, Mr Sunday Goji, Head of Department of Health in the council, said that the campaign which was scheduled for Feb. 2018 would require “close supervision’’.

This, he said was due to the need for intense collaborative efforts by stakeholders to enable the campaign achieve its goal.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign is being done with support from the Public Health Department of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

By Veronica Dariya

Government urged to resuscitate Ghari irrigation scheme

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Government urged to resuscitate Ghari irrigation scheme

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has called on Federal Government to resuscitate the Ghari Irrigation Project in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state to boost food production.

Abdullahi Ganduje
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State

Ganduje made the call on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at an interactive session with President Muhammadu Buhari and community leaders, held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

He said if rehabilitated, the facility would boost irrigation activities and encourage many farmers to embrace dry season farming in the area and boost food production in the state.

Ganduje also urged Federal Government to reconstruct the Kano-Kaduna-Abuja Road to reduce the number of accident being recorded along the route.

The governor said: “I want to use this opportunity to call for total rehabilitation of Kano-Kaduna-Abuja road to save lives and property being lost as a result of accidents.”

He announced that the Kano State Government planned to establish a Seed Development Company in collaboration with some research institutes in the country and urged Federal Government to support the initiative in terms of concession support.

He commended the Federal Government for making the Kano-Maiduguri, Kano-Katsina roads dual carriage and for constructing western bye-pass roads.

Ganduje said “the visit of Mr President to Kano has put to rest some mischievous speculations that you will not visit Kano.

“I want to assure the President that the government and people of Kano State will continue to support you.”

Organised by the Kano State Government to enable stakeholders to interact with President Buhari, the interactive session was attended by religious and community leaders, as well as members of the business community, among others.

President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in Kano on Wednesday for a two-day official visit to the state.

By Tukur Muntari

UN to spend $12.3m to curb famine in Somalia in 2018

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UN to spend $12.3m to curb famine in Somalia in 2018

The United Nations is to spend $12.3 million in famine prevention efforts in 2018 in Somalia.

Displaced Somalians
Displaced Somalians

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the funds would be disbursed by the Somalia Human Fund (SHF).

SHF, is a multi-donor country-based pooled fund established in 2010 to support the timely allocation and disbursement of donor resources to address the most urgent humanitarian needs.

Peter de Clercq, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, said the critical funds, part of the SHF Second 2017 Standard Allocation, will support 30 famine prevention projects in some of the worst-affected areas across Somalia.

“These SHF funds will allow humanitarian partners to continue their enhanced famine prevention response from Jan. 1, 2018,” de Clercq said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

He said almost two-thirds of funds are geared towards the integrated multi-sectorial response, providing food, clean water and life-saving health, nutrition and sanitation and hygiene services in areas where needs are the greatest.

De Clercq said the amount is only a small fraction of what will be required to sustain famine prevention efforts in 2018.

“Donors are urged to provide funding for the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan, which was part of the global launch on Dec. 1,” he said.

According to the OCHA, this standard allocation round, focusing primarily on national and international non-governmental partners (98 per cent of funds), brings SHF funding for famine prevention response in 2017 to more than $57 million.

It said over 37 per cent of these funds have been channeled directly through local NGOs as part of the Grand Bargain commitment from the World Humanitarian Summit to support localisation of aid.

According to the OCHA, poverty, marginalisation, armed violence, insecurity, political instability, natural disasters and a lack of economic development have driven up humanitarian needs for decades in Somalia.

OCHA said a lack of access to basic services, especially in the areas of education and livelihoods opportunities, can also easily tip residents into the vulnerable category in terms of relief needs.

The UN relief agency said famine prevention efforts need to be sustained into 2018, alongside scaling up of livelihoods support to prevent populations at risk from sliding deeper into food insecurity.

“Early funding in 2018, including through the SHF, will be critical to enable humanitarian partners to sustain the current life-saving efforts,” said the OCHA.

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