Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN- H-36

Accident

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Nov. 27, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) on Monday confirmed the death of three persons in a multiple accident on Ochadamu – Ayinbga road in Kogi.

The state Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Segun Martins who confirmed it in Lokoja said that the victims comprised two males and one female, all adults.

He said that six other persons were seriously injured in the crash which he said occurred at about 5p.m. at Ochadamu Community.

According to him; four vehicles: two trucks, a bus and a car were involved in the accident which occurred on Nov. 26.

He said that the corpses from the accident had been deposited at the morgue of the General Hospital, Ayingba.

Martins added that the injured victims were also receiving treatment in the same hospital.

He said that the FRSC had commenced full investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident.( NAN)
KKA/CHOM/PAD
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By Chioma Ugboma/Peter Dada

NAN-H-38

Atiku

By Wale Ojetimi

Lagos Nov. 25, 2017 (NAN) An APC chieftain, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, has said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s resignation would not have any significant effect on the party’s fortunes in the 2019 Presidential Election.

Olaosebikan said in a statement that for a politician of Atiku’s status to leave a party almost alone showed that the former vice president had declined in popularity and followership.

The APC chieftain noted that many had expected a torrent of resignations across the country following his exit “but surprisingly, the political space remains silent almost 48 hours after the much hyped resignation.”

According to the Oyo State based politician, the APC will perform better nationwide in the 2019 elections in spite of the defection

He said that Atiku should have exhibited more fortitude and greater mellowness in his dealings with the ruling party rather than abandoning it after all his efforts and contributions to the 2015 elections.

“Going through the resignation letter, I found out that the Turaki did not exercise enough fortitude. He allowed politics and ambition to take control of him.

“He should have stayed with his avowed position in 2013 that the All Progressives Congress was his last bus stop politically, and leave the rest in the hands of God,” Olaosebikan said.

Olaosebikan said the issue of no automatic ticket to President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term was in the best interest of the president, APC and the country as a whole.

“The declaration of no automatic ticket was merely portraying the president as a genuine democrat who believes in due process.

“It is in line with strengthening our democracy and our political institutions which we need to do with all seriousness,” he said.

The APC chieftain expressed optimism that President Buhahi would win the 2019 Presidential Election convincingly if he decides to contest.

“Muhammadu Buhari is not loved for money or any material thing; he is passionately loved for his strong character and piousness,” Olaosebikan said. (NAN)

WOJ

(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NPA reiterates importance of produce export—official

NAN-HE-

Export

By Uchenna Eletuo 07031241955

Lagos, Nov. 23, 2017 (NAN) The Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reiterated the importance of agro produce export to shore-up the country’s earnings.

NPA said that, it has designated the Lily Pond Terminal in Ijora and the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, specifically for the export of Agro-produce.

The NPA in a document signed by its General Manager Corporate and Strategic Communications Mr Abdullahi Goje made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

It quoted the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman saying that the organisation would work hard towards achieving the government export agenda.

“ The Stakeholders that works had already commenced on the reconstruction of the Access Roads leading to the Ports in Apapa,

“Security around the axis has been beefed up in collaboration with security agents,’’ Bala-Usman said.

According to the managing director the traffic gridlocks being experience now on the ports access roads in Apapa would soon become a thing of the past.

The document added that the NPA has begun the 24-hour port operations to re position the organisation in anticipation of increase in the volume of export activities.

It said that NPA is also partnering Terminal Operators to establish Export Desk in all the Terminals to facilitate the Export of Agro-Produce.

The Authority was also collaborating with agencies like the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to re-establish the rail tracks in all the Terminals in Lagos Ports in order to facilitate the conveyance of export Cargoes..

NAN reports that arrangements were on-going to direct empty containers to Holding Bays at Bonded Terminals to reduce trucks on our roads (NAN)

EUC”,,2017-11-23 17:10:26″

NAN-HE-4
Expo
By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Lagos, Nov. 23, 2017 (NAN) Some exhibitors and visitors at the recently concluded 2017 Agra Innovate West Africa have urged government to register its presence at such events for proper policy engagements.

The participants told the News Agency of Nigeria in separate interviews at the end of the agricultural expo and conference that the event was a good platform to engage with stakeholders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 4^th annual Agra Innovate West Africa expo and conference ended on Wednesday in Lagos.

The theme for this year’s expo was: “Optimising the Potentials of Agricultural Value Chains and Infrastructure to Strengthen Food Security, Export Capacity and Cross Border Trade in West Africa’’.

An exhibitor, Mr Olumide Ogunedojutimi, Business Development Manager, Saros Agrosciences, told NAN that the expo was a good ground to get closer to the farmers without going through a third party.

“Our company did a survey in 2016 which showed a huge gap at the farm level on how to use our products.

“We had a survey that showed that farmers were having problems using our products at the farm level, and we wanted to solve this problem.

“Formerly, we worked with our trade partners but our participation at this fair has proven to be a good platform. Most of our farmers have been able to ask questions and on the ground answers have been given.

“We also believe government can benefit from the immense traffic this event generates,’’ he said.

Ogunedojutimi urged the organizers to work on their traffic management and on sequence of their seminars to enable participants get the best of the event.

Another exhibitor, Mr Humphrey Otalor, Marketing Communications Manager, Dizengoff Nigeria, told NAN the annual event has been consistent in its delivery, quality of visitors and organization.

“We have been attending a lot of expos, including Lagos International Trade Fair, Agric Expo and Agra Innovate.

“Market linkages have been tremendous, quality of enquiries has been impressive and we had the right audience.

“Government can benefit from participation in this kind of event to get feedback on their policies from the stakeholders.

“Farmers need to know that what they see on the pages of newspapers concerning government policies will also be implemented consistently,’’ Otalor said.

Mr Busuyi Okeowo, Deputy Team Leader, UK government funded Growth and Empowerment in States (GEMS4), said the expo had been good for knowledge sharing among stakeholders.

Okeowo said the turnout was more impressive compared to previous years.

“It is been good for us, we have been able to share knowledge and lessons with people and we are sharing with agribusiness operators.

“We would suggest more policy makers next year so as to address the challenges, especially in financing agriculture,’’ he said.

A visitor, Mr Bolade Agboola, Managing Director, Latitudes Asset Management Ltd, said that it was a good ground to meet players in the agricultural value chains.

“I have been a visitor at this event consistently and it has been a good arena to interact with farmers, processors and fabricators.

“The atmosphere is cool and conducive,’’ Agboola said.

Another visitor, Mrs Fagoyinbo Francis, the General Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the programme was well-coordinated.

Francis lauded the impressive turnout of exhibitors and visitors, urging the organisers to keep up the tempo.

Earlier, the Programme Director, Mrs Folusho Olaniyan said that participants from over 20 countries within sub-Saharan African, across Europe, Asia and the United States of America attended the Expo in Lagos.

Olaniyan said that the expo was a credible networking platform for achieving their strategic organisational goals. (NAN)
ITM/COF/WOJ
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Wale Ojetimi)

Nigeria can produce enough cassava fructose for cola/soft drinks sector – Expert

NAN-H-16

Cassava

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Lagos, Nov. 22, 2017 (NAN) Nigeria’s cola/soft drink sub-sector could be serviced through the production of cassava fructose (fruit sugar) if well developed, a food processor, Mrs Yemisi Iranloye, has said.

In her keynote address at the ongoing Cassava Tech 2017 on Wednesday in Lagos, Iranloye said that Nigeria was not producing a litre of fructose used by the soft drinks and confectionery subsector.

Fructose is fruit sugar found in many plants where it is often bonded to glucose and commonly used as sweeteners in drinks and confectioneries.

She said: “We have to develop cassava processing so as to produce fructose, glucose and others for cola drinks, biscuits, sweets and others.

“Nigeria cannot boast of one per cent glucose production and not even a litre of fructose production.

“In spite of the fact that Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava, we do not rank in processing fructose,” she said.

Iranloye, Chief Executive, Psaltry Ltd, said that the most processed cassava commodities included food grade starch and industrial starch, noting that 80 per cent of food grade starch was still imported.

“Nigeria’s starch production sector only takes-off about 20 per cent of the food grade starch produced locally, while about 80 per cent is imported from China, Thailand and others.

“We are limiting ourselves in the cassava processing sector. Cassava can adequately replace corn flour.

“Food processors go for corn flour because it is cheaper than cassava flour at N150, 000 against N250, 000 per ton, respectively.

“Cassava is a notch product, so we should develop it,” Iranloye said.

Speaking on cassava chips export, the food processor said that export of cassava chips was not profitable because of raw materials.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that

Cassava Tech 2017, tagged “The Latest Development in the Cassava Industry,’’ is organised by the University of Greenwich, UK and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. (NAN)

ITM/WOJ

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(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-AE-2
Beneficiaries
By Kudirat Musa
Bali (Taraba), Nov. 22, 2017 (NAN) Some beneficiaries of FADAMA III Second Addition Financing (AFII) programme in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba have commended the programme implementation in the neighbourhood.

Mr Bem Nachigh, the spokesman for the beneficiaries in Bali community, conveyed the commendation when the FADAMA III (AFII) mission team visited the area on Wednesday.

He said that FADAMA project had made a lasting impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.

“In the FADAMA project, all the 40 household beneficiaries received all the items — agricultural inputs, food items, fishery products and livestock — sent to us through the project staff.

“Our joy has been restored because after our harrowing experience during the Boko Harem crisis. We were once hopeless, not knowing where to start from, but with FADAMA, we are now having hope,’’ he said.

Mr Kajiva Joseph, a non-beneficiary of the project, also commended the World Bank for the FADAMA project and its impact on the lives of the members of the community.

He, however, appealed for an extension of the project to cover those who had yet to benefit from it.

Joseph said: “We suffered together during the crisis but now, they are enjoying alone. We also want to benefit from the FADAMA project; we want to be happy like them.

“I want to use this medium to appeal to the World Bank, through FADAMA, to enrol Daniya, Bayan Dutse, Angwan Dugwer, Angwan Adamu and Tukurwa Kundi communities for the project.’’

The District Head of Bali, Inuwa Gidado-Misa, who welcomed the FADAMA internal mission team, commended World Bank for the project which was aimed at restoring the people’s livelihoods.

“We started benefiting from World Bank’s programme ever since the launch of FADAMA I project.

“The FADAMA I, II and III programmes are on agriculture, business and infrastructural development in our local government.

“FADAMA III (AFII) programme has particularly strengthened efforts to resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and improve their livelihoods.

“FADAMA has assisted us in dry season farming and rainy season farming. The project also promises to build a culvert for the access road to our farms in Bali.

“I pray that this programme should continue, while all its promises for Taraba and the local government are fulfilled,’’ he said.

Earlier, Dr Ben Herbert, leader of the FADAMA III (AFII) mission team, commended the project implementation processes in the area.

He thanked the district head, the beneficiaries and the state government for their contributions to the success of the project.

“We are happy to see the beneficiaries; we are also happy to note that the project is going on well in the community and the state as a whole,’’ he said. (NAN)
ROK/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

NAN-HG-3
Medical
By Edwin Nwachukwu
Lagos, Nov.22, 2017 (NAN) A don, Dr Acho Orabuchi, has advised Nigerians, especially the aged, to cultivate the habit of going for annual comprehensive medical examinations as preventive measures against diseases.

Orabuchi, a former adjunct professor, Paul Quinn College, Dallas, U.S., told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the culture of medical check was lacking among most Nigerians.

According to him, annual physical examination will entail the screening of the individual for various diseases, as well as for physical and mental examinations.

“A few Nigerians have taken advantage of the advanced medical care in America to ensure that annual examinations become part of their lives.

“ I talked extensively on the importance of this in my book, “Views from America: A Sojourner’s Memoirs- A Repertoire of Action for Nigeria’s Development”, which will be officially unveiled on Dec. 28, 2017 in Owerri, Imo.

“Periodic medical checkups help doctors to spot and treat issues before they develop in to something more complicated and life threatening.

“Cancer diseases are better managed and treated when detected early and the only way the early detection can happen is through periodic checkups,’’ he said.

Orabuchi said that free healthcare for the aged and subsidised for the poor would also encourage the culture of regular medical checkups.

He urged the three tiers of government to ensure that health facilities were adequately equipped and manned by qualified and competent healthcare providers.

NAN reports that in the book, Orabuchi bared his mind on the daunting issues and challenges of nation building.

The book is aimed at sensitising Nigerians on their roles and responsibilities that would bring about a better Nigeria.

The scholar stated in the book that Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora should join their potential with the government to achieve a more secured country and a robust economy.

NAN reports that the forewords to the book were written by Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President and Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity.

A former governor of Imo, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, wrote the preface. (NAN)
ENN/VIV/PAD
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Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Peter Dada

NAN-AE-8
FADAMA
By Kudirat Musa
Maihula (Taraba), Nov. 21, 2017 (NAN) The District Head of Maihula, Sulaiman Mohammed, has commended the FADAMA III Second Additional Financing (AFII) programme for restoring the livelihoods of people in the area.

Mohammed gave the commendation on Tuesday in Maihula, Bali Local Government Area of Taraba, when the Internal Mission teams of FADAMA III (AFII) programme, led by Dr Ben Herbert, visited the community.

He said that the intervention programme had really changed the lives of the beneficiaries, while reducing the suffering of the residents of the community.

“There are a lot of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maihula and they came from various states in the northeastern part of the country because of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“We have more than 3,500 IDPs who encountered problems and relocated from their communities; they have come back to their homes and most of them are farmers but they are financially handicapped.

“The World Bank assisted them through the FADAMA III (AFII) project so as to alleviate their hardship. Over 40 households have received food items, livestock and crops to start life afresh,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Umar Jibrin, the Chairman of the Community Action Plans (CAPS), commended the World Bank, on behalf of the people, for the Food Security and Livelihood Emergency Support Project of the FADAMA programme.

“Our people really benefited from the project; four households have received agricultural inputs to start farming and 36 households have engaged in livestock farming. The scheme has really tackled many economic problems in our community.

“We are still looking up to the World Bank, the Federal Government and the Taraba State Government to assist more IDPs because we want them to also enjoy what we have benefited from the project,’’ he said.

Mr Samuel Kyumen, Secretary of the IDPs group, said that the FADAMA III (AFII) programme had really facilitated efforts to restore hope and life to the IDPs.

“The FADAMA project supported us with numerous items like food items, livestock, farm inputs, capacity building and advisory services to do the right thing.

“These interventions have really helped transformed the lives of our people but we are appealing to the World Bank to extend the project to cover those who have yet to benefit from the project,’’ he said.

Earlier, Herbert, leader of the mission teams, commended the project implementation processes in the area and thanked the traditional ruler, the beneficiaries and the state government for their contributions to the success of the project.

“We are happy to see the beneficiaries; we are also glad to note that the project is going on well in the community and the state as a whole.

“This is part of the efforts of the Federal Government to support those who were affected during the insurgency.

“You must have suffered a lot by receiving a lot of displaced people from different states and communities; as result of that, your community was over-stressed.

“We are executing the intervention with the funds given to us by the World Bank and I want to encourage you to use whatever you have been given very well.

“I am assuring you that FADAMA is just laying foundation, compared to what is coming thereafter.

“The Federal Government has already initiated a bill on the creation of the North East Development Commission which will take care of all the areas in the North East that are affected by the insurgency.

“FADAMA has done very well with its food assistance, cash-for-work, infrastructure and livelihood support schemes,’’ he added. (NAN)
ROK/OOK
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Importers frustrating FG’s tomato policy, say stakeholders

NAN-H-15

Tomato

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Lagos, Nov. 21, 2017 (NAN)

Stakeholders in the agriculture sector say Nigeria is yet to feel the impact of the tomato policy six months after it was put in place by the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders told participants at Agra Innovate West Africa forum on Tuesday in Lagos that Nigerians were yet to feel the impact of the policy.

The federal government in April this year announced a new tomato policy aimed at promoting local production of fresh tomato, increasing local production of tomato concentrate and reducing post-harvest losses.

The policy restricts the importation of tomato concentrates to the seaports to address the abuse of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), stops the importation of tomatoes preserved otherwise by vinegar or acetic acid; and increases the tariff on tomato concentrate to 50 per cent with an additional levy of $1,500 per metric ton.

Nigeria imports an average of 150,000 metric tons of tomato concentrate per annum, valued at $170 million, mostly due to inadequate capacity to produce tomato concentrate.

Current demand for fresh tomato fruits is estimated at about 2.45 million metric tonnes per annum, while the country produces only about 1.8 million metric tonnes per annum.

But the stakeholders say many importers are frustrating the tomato policy.

“A lot of importers anticipated the tomato paste policy and filled their warehouses with imported concentrates before the policy even commenced.

” We hope by next year when the importers have exhausted all they have imported before the policy we would begin to see the impact.

“For now, the impact of the tomato paste policy is not yet there,” said Alhaji Abdulkarim Kaita, Managing Director, Dangote Tomato Processing Factory.

According to Kaita, it is one thing to put a policy in place and it is another thing to ensure it is fully implemented.

Emmanuel Ijewere, vice president, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), said that the policy was slow to have real impact because importers were taking steps at frustrating its success.

“It is taking time for the policy to have impact on the industry. The problem we have is that the importers have turned out to be a very powerful group.

“And this is so sad because not a single tomato produced in the country is used for the paste Nigerians are consuming at present,” Ijewere said.

The NABG boss said government realised the need to boost local production of tomato by enacting the policy but the importers are fighting back.

“This is the same problem we have with rice and chicken,” he added.

He said that the policy approach was focused on addressing the issue from the processing end so as to trickle down to the smallholder farmers.

Ejewere said that the country was losing $15 billion annually to post-harvest losses and called on government to educate farmers on best practices.

Also speaking at the forum, Olatunde Oderinde, Team Leader, Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE), said that Nigeria would only benefit from the tomato paste policy when all stakeholders were carried along in implementing it.

“We are yet to have a policy life cycle in Nigeria where every player in the industry is carried along and where their challenges are addressed holistically.

“Nigeria needs to work deliberately on policies that create inclusiveness. We need to sort out the issue of competitiveness to keep farmers productive.

“If we can provide them with a guaranteed market, the smallholder farmers will produce more,” Oderinde added.

NAN reports that more than 30 exhibitors were on ground while over 1,000 visitors were recorded on the opening day ofthe two-day expo and conference. (NAN)

ITM/WOJ
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(Edited by Wale Ojetimi)