Agriculture

Maize Farmers To FG | End Insecurity To Improve Farming And Food Production

Published

4 months ago

July 15, 2020

NCBN MEDIA

Maize Farmers To FG | End Insecurity To Improve Farming And Food Production

Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) President, Dr Bello Abubakar, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop the continuous attacks on farmers by bandits and herdsmen, so as to ensure the smooth running of the farming business in the country.

Abubakar made the call in Abuja at the inauguration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the association and input distribution for the wet season by the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme.

According to the MAAN president, the essence of food production is to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on food production.

Abubakar said insecurity in the country had made it difficult for farmers to go to their farms for fear of being attacked or kidnapped.

He decried the situation, saying it “needs to end in order for Nigeria to close any possible food deficit that will arise from the effect of COVID-19.’’

“We want to kindly plead with the federal government through the CBN to increase security presence in the country to safeguard farmers so that the impact of the pandemic on food production will be drastically reduced,” he said.

Abubakar also called for the review of the tenure of loans by the CBN for the possible extension from a year to two years and also review the stringent nature of providing personal guarantors.

“We seek your assistance to kindly look into the tenure of the loan for it to be extended to two years, the issue of personal guarantee for members should be reviewed and a better alternative be sorted out by the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI).’’

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He urged the benefiting farmers to utilise the opportunities being given to them through the anchor borrowers loans and inputs to ensure they were able to repay the loan.

“We call on our farmers to repay the loans promptly; our ability to repay the loan given to us is what will sustain the programme in the future.

“I urge the beneficiaries to strive and repay and not to see it as palliatives since it is given to them at low rate of five per cent.”

The chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Dan-Dutse Muktar commended the efforts of maize association in ensuring that there was the availability of food in the country.

He said Nigeria had what it took to compete favourably in the agriculture sector at the international level to earn foreign exchange.

Dr Adeleke Muftau, a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Maize Value Chain Coordinator called for synergy between the association and poultry subsector for robust poultry production.

Muftau said that maize was one of the major ingredients for poultry feed production.

He said that proper synergy between both subsectors would boost maize production because farmers would produce more with a steady market.

He said that this also would boost poultry production in the country through the availability of raw materials for poultry feed production.

He said such synergy would also ensure that there was no lacuna that would necessitate import waivers for maize importation, thereby, boosting local production.

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Agriculture & Nigerian Economy

NESG Postpones its 26th Summit Indefinitely

Published

6 days ago

October 23, 2020

NCBN

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has announced the indefinite postponement of its 26th summit which was scheduled to hold on Oct. 26 and 27.

A statement from the board of directors of NESG, on thursday said that the postponement was necessitated by prevailing circumstances in the country.

“The 26th Nigerian Economic Summit is a big conversation for action with the theme “Building Partnerships for Resilience” to focus on key national issues especially as we continue to manage the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on Nigeria’s economy.

“In the past years, deliberations and outcomes of the Summit drove a national discourse.

“But holding this year’s Summit from Oct. 26 to 27 without taking adequate cognizance of recent developments across the country that have accentuated the need to amplify the voices of our youth for the reform of our institutions and improve governance will be insensitive and inappropriate.

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“It is against this background that, after due consultation between the NESG and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning as co-hosts of the Summit, the 26th Nigerian Economic Summit has been postponed.

“A new date would be announced in due course. We regret the inconveniences to resource persons, participants, sponsors, the media, vendors, and the public.

“We believe that this is the right thing to do at this time,’’ it said.

“The NESG will deploy its convening and engagement capabilities to serve as a platform for driving issues affecting the Nigerian youth and ensure improved collaboration between our stakeholders.

“Finally, the NESG wishes to state that strong and transparent institutions determine the resilience of our economy and the effectiveness of our social justice system.

“Participation and effective engagement of our youth is crucial to the development and operation of our institutions, this is the only way to achieve the Nigeria of our dreams.’’

The Group commiserated with the nation and victims of recent violence across the country, urging the federal government to kick start a comprehensive reform of security institutions.

The Group also pledging its support to the authorities in resolving contending issues.

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Agriculture & Nigerian Economy

Senate to Debate Petroleum Industry Bill October 20

Published

3 weeks ago

October 9, 2020

NCBN

The Senate will on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, debate the petroleum industry bill forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National assembly last week.

The disclosure was made in an announcement by the Senate President, Ahmad lawan.

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According to Lawan, early debate on the petroleum industry bill is expected to avert any delay in consideration, resulting from the upper chamber’s decision to suspend plenary for one month to enable ministries, departments, and agencies of government defend their respective budgets for the year 2021.

Lawan added that the critical piece of legislation, after the debate on the floor by lawmakers, would then pass for second reading and be referred to the joint committees on petroleum; and gas for further legislative work.

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Agriculture & Nigerian Economy

Buhari Gives Breakdown of N13TN 2021 Budget

Published

3 weeks ago

October 9, 2020

NCBN

BUHARI GIVES BREAKDOWN OF N13tn 2021 BUDGET

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday presented the proposed 2021 budget of N13 trillion to the National Assembly.

According to the President, the budget termed budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience will address key economic issues as the country tries to recover from the impact of the coronavirus and the oil price drop.

President Buhari while giving a breakdown of the budget says the 157 percent increase in capital allocation to health was to cater to facilities’ maintenance as well as procurement of vaccines and hospital equipment.

While voting N35.03b in favour of basic health care provision funds out of the N484.49 billion provided for statutory transfers in the 2021 budget, the president emphasized that it was an improvement over the revised 2020 provision.

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He was also optimistic that the capital allocation to health would further accommodate other relevant projects needed at the primary healthcare level.

In a similar vein, the president announced that the sum of N380.21 billion has been earmarked for the Ministry of Health as 2021 recurrent allocation for payment of salaries and overheads in ministries, departments, and agencies.

According to him, it was part of the federal government’s efforts to enhance national security and human capital development.

He lamented that preparing the 2021 budget in a pandemic was quite challenging following the negative impact it had on the health sector and the economy as a whole.

While soliciting the support and cooperation of the lawmakers, the president urged them to expedite action for speedy review and passage of the 2021 budget.

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