Author: Isah Mukhtar

NAN-AE-4

Climate

By Ezra Musa

Kaduna, Sept. 4, 2017 (NAN) Mr Mohammed Zakari, Coordinator, African Climate Reporters, an NGO, on Wednesday called for the introduction of climate change as a topic in secondary schools.

This he said was necessary to enable students learn about climate change at early stage.

Zakari, who made the call at one day workshop in Kaduna, said the NGO had commenced sensitisation of 50 students in Kaduna State on the impact of global warming.

He also advocated introduction of new methodologies in teaching science subjects through local languages to enable students understand science subjects.

The coordinator said the workshop was part of effort by the NGO to reduce the increasing threat of climate change and the effect on humans, animals and plants in the society,

According to him, the exercise is also to enable students contribute to efforts geared toward reducing problems affecting the environment.

‘’We think it is high time to start introducing climate change topic in our schools so that the young ones start learning about climate change at the early stage,’’ he said.

He said the workshop was also aimed at saving Africa and the world at large from climatic-related diseases.

Zakari said the organisation had also involved climatologists and science journalists to educate the general public on climate change challenges to the environment.

He urged teachers to help students learn more about climate change in and outside classroom.

Declaring the workshop open, Malam Nurudeen Bello, a lecturer at the School of Health Science, Makarfi, said the knowledge of climate education would create more opportunities for young people to learn more about climate change.

Bello, who specialises in climate change, said that effort would also help the young ones to adapt to any environmental and natural situation and how to live in the environment.

“Our aim here is to teach students more about the causes of climate change and the various ways each and every one of them will contribute toward saving the environment against attacks.

“The world is going green and we must join the world to save our plants,’’ he said.

He named such attacks on environment as global warming, desertification, pollution among others.

“Scientific research throughout the past decades has demonstrated how climatic changes have impacted on the livelihoods of people around the world.

“We are hoping to teach more students about the subject, hoping to see that many other schools will emulate this so that together we can change the entire Africa.”

Some of the students expressed delight over the experience and knowledge they gained during the exercise.

They called for more of such training to enable them learn more about global warming and climate changes in their communities. (NAN)

EMZ/OFN/DUA

Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Dada Ahmed

NAN-AE-2
Income
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2017 (NAN) The FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) programme says it is collaborating with Nigeria Incentive Risk Sharing Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to increase the farmers’ income.

The FADAMA National Coordinator, Mr Tayo Adewumi, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Adewumi said that NIRSAL assessed FADAMA activities and became convinced that the programme had a structure that would facilitate the fulfilment of its mandate as to improving the production and income of farmers.

“We will continue to pass the message across to different states and see how we will continue to work together.

“African Development Bank (AfDB) is already knocking on our door and we are waiting for them; our door is open at any point in time for any organisation that is ready to improve on what we have done for our farmers to make them remain in business.

“Whenever such organisations come to us for interaction, we will show them what we have done before and let them know that both the off-takers and agro-dealers have never disappointed us,’’ he said.

Adewumi said that the Federated FADAMA Community Association (FFCA) was established to facilitate the farmers’ efforts to sustain their gains from the FADAMA project and be able to stand on their own thereafter.

“The associations are always on ground in some states and there is another sustainability plan we are putting in place.

“This involves the private sector agencies that are supporting us to drive the process and they are representatives of different economic interest groups that form the FFCA.

“Some states are doing well in terms of agricultural mechanisation and for those states that are just coming up under our Agriculture Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE), they need to work harder to be independent,’’ he said.

The national coordinator stressed that states that were still planning to sign up for AEHE should be aware that agricultural mechanisation was very essential.

He said that the number of tractors acquired for AEHE might be small but the scheme was a form of intervention which, if well-managed, would have a lasting impact on agricultural production.

However, Adewumi advised farmers to always monitor their harvests, saying that they ought to prepare and document reports on their specific harvests.

“You cannot do assumptions in a spontaneous way; all our intervention sites carry out geo-referencing.

“We are going to produce maps at end of the day; anybody that comes to us will know the particular areas in which we had made interventions.

“We, however, need to improve on our inputs voucher; we need to really improve on our public-private partnerships as well.

“We promise to continue to work hard and support our poor farmers; we actually want to put smiles on their faces,’’ he said. (NAN)
ROK/OOK
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NAN-AE-1
FADAMA
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2017 (NAN) Mr Tayo Adewumi, the National Coordinator, FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) programme, says the programme has now transformed into a movement.

He said this in Abuja on Wednesday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the two-day FADAMA technical meeting on farm inputs distribution mechanism and produce marketing.

Adewumi noted that in all the participating states, the beneficiaries were involved in all the value chain processes – crop processing, packaging and off-taking.

“That is the best way a project should be run and sustained.

“This is what we call value addition; value addition is very vital and it should involve processes like production, capacity building, processing and packaging,’’ he said.

The coordinator said that the participants of the technical meeting– agro-dealers, off-takers and FADAMA officials in states – were mobilised to boost the country’s agricultural production.

He added that they would also strive to implement President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda on food security by enhancing food production for local consumption and exports.

“ We are targeting not only the regional markets but also international markets. The Green Alternative programme of the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, is on course; we gather representatives from all states because they are all important in this gathering.

“We want to use the two days to rub minds, exchange our professional ideas and later articulate the lessons we have learnt at the end of the programme.

“We cannot assume that all is well in all the states but we want to say we have left the train station; the train is moving towards our final destination,’’ he said.

Adewumi said that in the course of programme implementation, there had been successes and challenges, adding, however, that by the end of the technical meeting, pragmatic solutions would have been proffered to all the perceptible challenges.

“We have not only invited off-takers and agro-dealers but we have invited the state FADAMA officers, so when they go back they would be able to re-echo all the decisions we have made at this forum.

“ We always appreciate agro-dealers for their wonderful job because seed security is food security.

“Our farmers are smiling because they now know the value of the programme and appreciate the seeds they are planting, they now see agriculture as a way of life and business; and they now have bargaining power,’’ he said.

Adewumi said that the timing of the meeting was apt because in 2014 when the FADAMA programme started, most of the participants did not know how to make project document work.

“Under the project management or donor project, our project document is referred to as a living document; at any point in time, whenever we want to implement a clause and we are facing certain challenges, we always go back to consult it and see the way out.

“The essence is for us to achieve the Project Development Objective (PDO) of the programme and be able to know that all the items listed in the project which have been implemented or achieved.

“We are doing all these to promote Nigeria’s agricultural development to serve as a tool for job creation, food sufficiency and engagement of the youth,’’ he said.

Adewumi described FADAMA as one of the Community Development Projects in Africa, saying that it had been very successful.

“It would not have happened if not for the zeal, commitment and efforts of all partners and Nigerians as a whole.

“Many youths have been trained from different states and the FADAMA collaboration has been excellent, it was not there before, we started in hard way; it is getting smoother and it will last longer.

“We want the relationship we have built to last longer and be sustained; we promise to continue to support our poor farmers and put smiles on their faces,’’ he said. (NAN)
ROK/OOK
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NAN-H-8
Death
Kano, Oct. 2, 2017 (NAN) A former Military Governor of old Kaduna State, retired AVM  Mukhtar Mohammed, has died in a London hospital at the age of 73, the family has confirmed.

A family source, Alhaji Lawal Musa, who confirmed the death to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday, said Mohammed died on Sunday night after a long illness.

Musa said the corpse  would be flown home for burial.
Mohammed was once Minister of Housing and Urban Development and a member of the Supreme Military Council in 1975.

He was military Governor of Kaduna State from 1978 to 1979.

Mohammed  was a member of the National Constitutional Conference in 2014, a chieftain of  Arewa Consultative Forum and the Chairman, Board of Directors of Freedom Radio, Kano.

He is survived by a wife and six children. (NAN)
MTM/YEE/JCE
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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim/Chukwudi Ekezie

NAN-H-6
Economy
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Oct. 2, 2017(NAN) An economic expert, Uche Uwaleke, has expressed support for the continued decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria to retain the country’s Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 14 per cent.

Uwaleke, an associate professor and Head of Banking and Finance at Nassarawa State University, Keffi, expressed the support in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The don noted that the rate of inflation in the country was higher than the policy rate; a development that had made the real interest rate in the economy to be in the negative.

Uwaleke explained that bringing down MPR would further pull the interest rate to the negative territory which would not augur well, especially for foreign investments.

“The positive macroeconomic indicators witnessed in recent times are still fragile and vulnerable to oil price shock.

“The Q2 GDP growth was chiefly driven by the oil sector.

‘’Similarly, improvement in capital importation was more from the highly volatile portfolio investment and retreating headline inflation is partly accounted for by baseline effect.

“Besides, at 16.01 per cent (August), the inflation rate is significantly higher than the upper band of nine per cent set by CBN.

“Real interest rate in the economy is negative since the rate of inflation is higher than the policy rate,’’ he said.

Uwaleke said one would have thought it was time to signal a gradual easing of the policy rate after being held at 14 per cent since July, 2016, to tame high inflation and stabilise the exchange rate.

He said that this was expected, considering the waning headline inflation, some level of stability in the exchange rate and the marginal positive growth in real GDP recorded in the second quarter.

“A lower MPR is expected to translate to reduced lending rates, increased access to funds by the real sector and cheaper cost of capital for firms leading to more job opportunities.

“ An accommodative monetary policy stance at this time is also expected to reduce the high cost of debt service by the government which has been crowding out public spending.

“But this is not the case, as a reduced policy rate will not be beneficial for the country’s economy at the moment,’’ Uwaleke said.

He said it was important to take cognizance of the uncertainty in the global environment, especially the normalisation of interest rates in the U.S.

The don explained that the U.S. environment had the effect of strengthening the dollar with adverse consequences for the economies of developing countries as well as the seemingly complicated Brexit negotiations.

“Therefore, taken together, it does appear that the balance of risks is in favour of not tinkering with the policy configuration for the time being to give some more space for the policies to work.

“ The primary mandate of the CBN, as spelt out in the CBN Act of 2007, is to maintain price and exchange rate stability, therefore, the decision to hold the rates is dictated by this obligation.’’

The expert, however, noted that complementary fiscal policies were therefore required to bring about full employment and inclusive growth in the country.

He said the implementation of the 2017 budget, especially the capital component in line with the government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, should be pursued vigorously.

According to him, the effort will ensure the success of the economic recovery and growth plan.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of CBN retained the benchmark lending rate and other monetary policy rates against a backdrop of macroeconomic stability.

The committee also retained 14 per cent, Cash Reserve Ratio at 22.5 per cent and Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent and Asymmetric corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR.(NAN)
LCN/DUA/JCE

Edited by Dada Ahmed

NAN-H-42
Accident
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, Oct. 1, 217 (NAN) Two persons died on-the-spot on Sunday in an accident which occurred on the Ajaokuta/Ayangba Road in Kogi State.
The Kogi Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Olusegun Martins, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the accident, which involved a car and a mini-bus, occurred at the Ogbabo/Ojodu-Idah junction on the road.
Martins explained that the accident was due to a head-on collision between the car, with vehicle registration number (Abuja) ABJ 647 KC, and the mini-bus with vehicle registration number (Abuja) RSH 931 HF.
The FRSC Sector Commander said that the two victims, a man and a woman, were among the 13 persons involved in the accident, saying that 11 others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
He said that the injured were taken to the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, for treatment, while the corpses were similarly deposited in the morgue of the same hospital.
According to him, the road has been cleared of the obstructions by FRSC personnel, to allow for free flow of traffic, while investigations into the cause of the accident will commence soon. (NAN)
KKA/PIO/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

NAN-21
Unity
By Joy Odigie
Benin, Sept. 30, 2017 (NAN) The Governors of Edo and Delta Mr Godwin Obaseki and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa have called on Nigerians to work for a united Nigeria as the country marks its 57th independence.

The two governors made the call in Benin on Saturday, after a courtesy visit by Governor Okowa on his Edo counterpart.

Speaking on achievements of Nigeria at 57 Gov. Obaseki stated that although a lot still needed to be done, the nation had not done badly in terms of development.

He further called on Nigerians to support government in its bid to make sure that Nigeria becomes economically strong as a nation.

Similarly, Okowa asked Nigerians to believe in the Nigeria project, adding that there was strength in unity while partnership of the people was needed to move the country forward economically.

Okowa said Edo and Delta would continue to maintain cordial relationship with a view to exploring areas of common interest for the benefit o the two states.

Meanwhile, the Police Command in Kwara said it had deployed over 2,000 of its personnel to ensure hitch-free independence celebration in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Command in Kwara, Mr Samuel Okasanmi, told to the News Agency of Nigeria NAN in llorin on Saturday.

He said the deployed officers and men were had reported at their destinations to protect lives and property of the residents, including government installations.

Okasanmi advised residents of the state to provide useful information for the police as their contribution toward helping the institution to curb crime.

In Abuja, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) has advised government at all levels to ensure that their actions and policies were in the national interest.

The party gave the advice in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Alhaji Ismail Ayodele, for mark the country’s Independence celebrations.

This according to the party will help address all issues pertaining to agitation for restructuring.

“National interest should be the cornerstone of all government policies and actions.

“This is the only way Nigerians of all ethnic nationalities will have a sense of belonging in the polity.

“It will also end various agitations for restructuring, self-determination and secession.”

“We should imbibe the spirit of love, peace, unity, equity, social justice and patriotism as we collectively redirect the ship of the Nigeria state to the path of rectitude and advancement, he said.

The party stated that it was time to build on the foundations of durable and sustainable democracy envisioned by our founding fathers.

“It is time to eschew politics of bitterness and brigandage that has impeded our growth as a nation.”

“We are grateful to God that Nigeria has remained united in spite of multifarious political, economic, social, ethnic and religious challenges that threatened its corporate existence.”

It however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing field for all political parties participating in the November governorship election

also speaking on the independence, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has urged Nigerians to rededicate to the cause of making Nigeria one of the greatest nations on in the world.

Malam Imam Imam, the governor’s spokesman quoted the Tambuwal in a statement to mark the nation’s independence

The governor stressed the need for more investment in education and technology to secure a bright future for Nigerian children.

“They are investments that will bring the best out of the next generation of Nigerians and enable us to reach our potential as individuals, communities, and nation.

“We must continue to put the right policies in place and ensure diligent implementation of such policies.

“This is important because our children hold so much hope for our future and no investment can be said to be too much for them,” he said.

Tambuwal said that from the beginning, his administration had realised the importance of education and had continued to accord the sector the necessary attention it deserved.

“We declared a state of emergency in the sector and in the process, admitted more than one million kids into school for the first time.

“We’ll continue in that regard until all children of school age who should be in school are in school,” the governor said.

He congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and all Nigerians on the milestone achieved by the country. (NAN)
Reporters, OFN/AK/DUA

NAN-AE-5
Product
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2017 (NAN) Mrs Maureen Ota, Business Development Leader, TMD Synergy Africa Limited, has called on poultry and livestock farmers to utilize Natural Clean Product developed by the company to boost production.

She made the call on Friday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

She said that TMD is a new company involved in water treatment and recycling.

She said that the product grows natural algae that fish feed on.

She said that the product is good for fish and poultry farming as well as piggery.

Ota said that the product contains healthy nutrients needed for the growth of birds and livestock.

“ The use of Natural Clean product will boost the growth and development of fish, poultry, pig and other livestock.

“The use of the product will also help to reduce the cost of buying animal feeds as it contains all the required nutrients needed by fish and other livestock.

“With the use of product, there will be no need for fish farmers to change water regularly,’’ she said.

Ota advised catfish farmers to utilize the product as it is economical and reduces the cost of buying feeds.

“Our product helps in the growth of positive algae that fishes feed on and provides the natural habitation for fish in rivers,’’ she said.

She said that fish that feeds on the product would be healthy, as the water in which they grow would not stink.

She said that it is profitable to use the product because it is organic, adding that fish which feeds on the product are good for human consumption.

Ota said that the droppings of chickens’ that feed on the product is one hundred per cent organic and pure manure. (NAN)

APA/ROK/AEA
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NAN-H-9

Election

Bolaji Buhari

Lagos, Sept. 29, 2017 (NAN) The Lagos State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has urged political parties to steer clear of violence during and after the Eti -Osa Constituency 1 election on Saturday.

The council’s state Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mallam Shakirideen Olofin, gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the election is to fill the vacant seat, following the death of the lawmaker representing the area, Mr Kazeem Alimi on July 18.

He urged all the participating parties to conduct their supporters peacefully so as to ensure the successful conduct of the poll.

Olofin explained that in any election, there would be winners and losers, and therefore, urged political parties to approach the exercise with the spirit of sportsmanship.

“IPAC enjoins all participating parties to comport themselves properly before, during and after the bye election”.

Olofin said that the state had been noted for peace and urged all stakeholders to ensure that the bye-election was a reflection of that notion.

He said the deployment of a new Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgar Imohimi and a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Sam Olumekun, to the state was timely.

Olofin said that IPAC welcomed both men while the state was looking up to them for the peaceful and fair conduct of the poll.

The PRO also urged residents of Eti-Osa with Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to come out en-masse and vote for candidates of their choice during the election.

He said that IPAC would render any required support for the successful conduct of the poll. (NAN)
BHB/NNO/YEMI

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-HE-14
Agriculture
By Franca Ofili
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2017 (NAN) The National budget will be ready by January 2018 to ensure non-interruption of agricultural activities, an official has said.

Mr Aso Vakporoye, Deputy Director, Economic Growth in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, spoke in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

Vakporoye  said all Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the agriculture, mining and solid minerals sectors had prepared their budgets to ensure uninterrupted activities.

He said that the government was determined to ensure that the farming calendar was not missed hence the need to pass the budget early.

“Government is putting more effort to address the issue of dry season farming because when the budget is passed on time, it will enable it provide funds for farmers promptly,’’ he said.

Vakporoye  had represented the Minister of Budget and National Planning minister, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, at the public Presentation and Capacity Building on 2017 Agric Budget Analysis on Wednesday.

The minister had promised that the budget would be ready by October for early passage by the National Assembly.  (NAN)
FNO/JCE
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Edited by Chukwudi Ekezie