The Nation Newspaper

Tag: develop

  • How Niger Delta can truly develop, by agitators

    How Niger Delta can truly develop, by agitators

    Members of Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC) yesterday said the Niger Delta could only develop if it was allowed to control its resources.

    The group, in a statement, said giving the area tokenism would not help it compete with other regions.

    In the statement posted on its website, the spokesman of the group, Wo1 Izon Ebi, said the group was not interested in settlement, but to be given the chance to control the mineral resources deposited in their environments.

    The statement reads: “The NDRC rejects the one billion naira offer to us by the FG and view it as insult to our group. We cannot be bought over with one billion naira, what is the one billion naira offer for? Is the one billion meant to buy our conscience or to bring us to the other side?

    “The NDRC cannot be bought with our own resources and wealth. All we are fighting for is Justice, Equity and ownership of our God given resources. We are sad that the FG is only interested in the oil fund just to implement the budget, rather than sincerely activating a process for lasting peace and development of the region is funding all their budget proposals and activities.

    “Rather than play politics with the critical Federal agencies saddled with the responsibilities of developing the region, like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Ministry for Niger Delta, the Federal Government should be sincere and separate the developmental needs of the Niger Delta form politics and political party and appoint technocrats and grassroots residents who understand the core developmental needs of the people of the area and how best to go about the implementation for the desired lasting peace and development to be achieved.”

    On the NDDC Master plan, the group said: “The NDDC master plan originally stipulated 15 years implementation, at the cost of $50 billion, the region has so far received $40 billion over the past 10 years, but sadly there is little or no evidence to justify the amount. Poor governance of self and institution are at the hearth of public sector delivery and challenges.

    “We call on Shell Petroleum Development Company, other multinational companies and other sister agencies to stop paying what it pays to the NDDC, until this present Board is properly constituted. This call has become necessary because the N135 billion and $1.1 billion allocation and other funds appropriated by the commission, with the present exchange rate is being stolen away by corrupt politicians.

    “Our call on Shell, other oil companies and contributory sister agencies to NDDC followed the revelation by the General Manager, External Relations SHELL, Igo Wali and the Managing Director NEITI, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji at a recent retreat in one of the states in the region, on how much various institutions and companies contribute to NDDC annually and every other year to support development in the region, without satisfactory evidence.

    “We are asking for accountability of the funds that have accrued to the commission from inception and how far they are used.”

    The agitators described Egba and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu as significant to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in achieving peace in the region.

    They, however, faulted the NDDC’s Managing Director, Nsima Ekere, for allegedly making “mockery of the region in his speech at a retreat. They quoted him as describing the agitating youths as “dangerous beasts that are frustrating the development of the region”.

  • Amosun: Govt alone can’t develop society

    Amosun: Govt alone can’t develop society

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged the private sector not to leave the development of society to government alone.

    Amosun said this yesterday during the inauguration of a four-storey Threeco Construction Limited office complex at Oke Aro.

    The governor, who was represented by House of Assembly Speaker Surajudeen Adekunbi, described the initiative as people-oriented and promised to support the firm in its efforts to develop rural areas.

    He said: “An initiative such as this aids development and creates more jobs for our youths.

    “We hope other well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations will emulate it and develop our communities as government cannot be left alone with development.”

    The firm’s Chairman, Otunba Muraina Banjoko, thanked the governor for attending the ceremony, saying it will spur the company to consider other development projects in Ogun.

    The four-story complex, he added, can accommodate a banking hall and other offices and was valued at N70million.

    Dignitaries at the event included member representing Ifo/Ewekoro in the House of Representatives Ibrahim Isiaka, Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa and Lagos lawmaker Ganiu Hamzat.

  • Develop innovation for nation’s development, Buhari tells varsities

    Develop innovation for nation’s development, Buhari tells varsities

    President, Mohammadu Buhari, has urged varsity professors to  channel their time and resources on research and innovation that will enhance the nation’s development.

    President Buhari said universities must think outside the box and concentrate on their core values of research and  innovation in order to get the country out of the woods.

    Buhari stated that it would be more effective if universities partner industries to achieving results oriented research.

    Represented by Prof. Ramon Yusuf at the 42nd convocation ceremony of the University of Benin, President Buhari urged universities to develop new product and pattern that will catalyze the much needed industrialization of Nigeria.

    His words, “I urged the universities to focus on their core mandate and it is clear that the chances of achieving greater heights and contributing more meaningfully to the national development are much higher than  when they focus, channel their energies and  resources into focal areas of core competency than when they spread themselves totally especially in the milieu of economic implementing.

    “Another aspect in  our universities that require a focus is the area of research and innovation which constitute an important component of the mandate  of  universities. In deed, it is a well known fact that no nation can develop or make meaningful progress without a solid research and development culture.

    “ Therefore, universities should pay closer attention to research and innovation with the ultimate aim of generating new knowledge and developing new product and pattern that will catalyze the much needed industrialization of Nigeria” he said.

    Chancellor of the institution, His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, Sarkin Kano, urged the university’s management to launch the university into the league of 21st century universities.

    Sanusi urged them to initiate programs, researches and community services in which critical areas as impact projects, eco-innovation, skills development and entrepreneurship.

    On his part, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki said his administration is investing massively to boost technical and vocational education of the people of the state which he said are critical to the economic survival of any given nation.

     

  • ‘Food industry under pressure to develop clean products’

    Promasidor Nigeria Limited Chief Keith  Richard has said the food industry is under pressure to develop clean products.

    At the just-concluded CEO Roundtable in Lagos, Richard  said stakeholders across the value chain, including producers, primary and value-added processors, retailers and distributors, needed an enabling environment to impact on the market through sale of good food products and farming practices.

    According to him, the food industry’s productivity growth has declined relative to major competitors due to the regulatory regime and gaps that hinder operators from developing and using innovation and new technologies.

    Urgent measures, he stressed,  were needed to produce food not only for export, but also for domestic consumption.

    Richard said the food industry was resource intensive, which puts local supply chains under greater pressure  to create a sustainable food supply for Nigerians.

    He explained that there was   huge potential to attract more global investment and funding into the Nigeria markets but the government needs to build partnerships between industry to anticipate new challenges and model potential solutions.

  • ‘AD’ll develop riverine communities’

    ‘AD’ll develop riverine communities’

    The Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Olusola Oke, has promised that his administration would ensure rapid development of riverine communities, if elected.

    He promised to make the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) more alive to its responsibility of redressing the neglect, suffering and impoverishment associated with the oil-rich riverine areas.

    Oke spoke in Agbadagba Obon and Arogobo in Ese Odo Local Government Area yesterday.

    He regretted that the neglect of the area and its attendant hardship had left the people wallowing in poverty.

    The AD candidate said he will reposition the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

    The people asked for a link bridge between Agadagba and Arogbo; connection of riverine communities to the National Grid and dredging of waterways for easy transportation.

    Oke assured the people that his government would take up the requests one after the other.

    He said: “We should not allow retardation. We should not allow the wheels of progress roll backwards, hence the need to vote for the AD to address all the wrong, neglect and injustice.

    “Since former Governor Olusegun Agagu left office in 2009, what this area has seen is total neglect.

    “Nothing has been added to the roads, water jetty and health facilities. Everything stopped where Agagu left it.

    “Today, the roads are even more deplorable and need attention. AD will give you the much-desired attention,” Oke said.

  • ‘Obaseki ‘ll develop Edo’

    ‘Obaseki ‘ll develop Edo’

    A former lawmaker representing Oredo Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Razaq Bello-Osagie, has described the choice of Godwin Obaseki as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the recipe for human and infrastructural development.

    Bello-Osagie said the decision of the party to pick Obaseki was because of his intimidating pedigree and ability to deliver on electoral promises.

    He hailed the leaders of the APC for ensuring a free, fair and transparent primary and the efforts at reconciling aggrieved aspirants.

    The former lawmaker urged Nigerians to be patient with the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari as, according to him, Nigeria was already in the intensive care when he took over power.

    He said President Buhari will reverse the economy through sound economic policies at different stages of implementation.

    His words: “The nation is currently faced with a plethora of challenges occasioned by accumulated years of poor leadership, mismanagement and massive looting of our common patrimony by those who were entrusted with leadership positions.”

    “What we have witnessed during those holocaust years was a wholesale collapse of our value system, culture of impunity and an appetite for primitive acquisition by those in authority”.

  • How to develop local economy, by Ooni

    How to develop local economy, by Ooni

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said there are many ways local resources can be used to develop economies of towns and communities to galvanise the larger economy.

    Ogunwusi, in a chat with The Nation, explained that he had begun activities to show how local resources could transform the economy of Ile-Ife through manufacturing of equipment and creation of services to empower locals and attract people to the ancient town.

    According to the monarch, he would use enough natural and human resources to create employment and promote local resources and talents.

    Explaining his three-prong approach, he said: “Socially, we need to bring modernity to our social activities to the level that they will attract people to Ife. We need to blend the two properly in our vision for the new Ife in the age of social media. We have been trying to work on that and we have not lost focus of the values of our tradition; we are not going to lose that.

    “We will blend it with the recent social norm and it will start from the area of social media; we will let people see things. The second one is the economic aspect of our development. I don’t talk the talk; I walk the talk.

    “To the glory of God, we are using the raw materials to make economic impact in the lives of youths, Ile-Ife, the state and nation.

    “We are blessed in this country with everything. We don’t need to go too far. There is nothing missing in Nigeria. Honestly, we should not be suffering. The country should not be a consuming nation but a productive economy. The dollar will come down naturally if we produce.

    “The third one is tradition. There are so many traditional values that I will propagate. Our generation does not even understand Yoruba. There are several children who don’t understand their language.

    “I want to bring the good old days back with empowerment programmes. I want to lead by example; I want to practise what I preach. In the palace now, we are building locally-made equipment – to process garri, cassava, groundnut oil, soya beans and soap. They have started working. We displayed those equipment here and the town is excited because things have continued to  unfold and crime rate is reducing. This throne is a call to service; it is a call to humanity. It is a call to uplift the people.”

    Ogunwusi is building a multi-billion naira resort in Ile-Ife.

  • Let’s develop rural communities, says Obasanjo

    Let’s develop rural communities, says Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerians in urban areas to develop  rural communities, instead of waiting for the government.

    Obasanjo recalled his childhood in his ancestral agrarian Ibogun village in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, saying there was neither a toilet nor clinic.

    He urged the people to embark on “village renewal” projects.

    The ex – President made the call at the weekend in his message at the 2015 edition of the Ibogun-Olaogun Day.

    Obasanjo noted that government alone cannot be expected to satisfy all the infrastructural needs of rural folks.

    According to him, the physical, social and educational development of the rural dwellers largely depends on whatever contributions members in urban areas can facilitate to such communities.

    He said Ibogun can now boast of a primary health clinic, modern toilets, good roads as well as a modern primary school all of which were products of communal efforts.

    Obasanjo said: ”As responsible people, we should not wait for the government.

    “When I was growing up in this community, there were no latrine, bathroom and clinic.

    “Today, several people would have died if the clinic we built through communal efforts had not been in existence.

    “Each of us can encourage village renewal; we don’t need to wait for the government if we don’t want to tarry for too long.

    “The need to raise fund for our community secondary school is borne out of the need that we can not wait for government to do it for us.

    “We have to carry our load by ourselves before we say the government should come to our aid. That is the reality today.

    “We don’t need to wait for government before developing our communities, particularly some of us who were raised in the village.

    “We should not wait for any government ticket. Let us think of what we can do for ourselves and our communities; what can we do for ourselves to make the rural communities more habitable for us.”

    Also speaking at the event, former Oyo State Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja said developing the rural areas would curb rural-urban migration in search of the non-existence “white-collar” jobs.

    Arapaja urged the rich to fraternise with the rural communities and establish industries there.

    “If Baba Obasanjo could be championing the call for rural development, there is nothing stopping us the younger ones to heed his call and go back to our rural areas to bring in development,” he said.

  • Obasanjo urge Nigerians to develop their communities

    Obasanjo urge Nigerians to develop their communities

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians residing in towns and city centres to develop their rural communities.

    He advised tham against waiting endlessly for the government to develop their communities.

    Obasanjo said in his ancestral village, Ibogun,  in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, there was neither a single toilet nor clinic for the villagers in his growing-up era, urging the people to embark on “village renewal” projects.

    The ex -president spoke  at the weekend in his message at the 2015 edition of the Ibogun-Olaogun Day.

    He noted that the government alone cannot be expected to satisfy all the infrastructural needs of the rural folks.

    According to him, the physical, social and educational development of the rural dwellers largely dependent on whatever contributions members that were born and brought up there could facilitate to such communities.

    He expressed the joy that Ibogun village can now boast of a Primary Health Clinic (PHC), modern toilets, good road network as well as modern structure for the primary school all of which were products of communal efforts.

    Obasanjo said: “As responsible people to our respective rural areas, we should not wait for the governments. When I was growing up in this community, there was no latrine, no bath room and a clinic.

    “Today, there are over a dozen of people who would have died if the clinic we constructed through the community’s self-effort had not being in existence.

    “Each of us can encourage village renewal; we don’t need to wait for government if we don’t want to tarry for too long. The need to raise fund for our community secondary school, is borne out of the need that, we can not wait for government to do it us.

    “We have to carry our load by ourselves before we say government should come to our aide. That is the reality today.

    “We don’t need to wait for government before developing our communities, particularly some of us who were raised from the village.

    “We should not wait for any ‘government ticket. Let us think of what we can do for ourselves and our communities; what can we do for ourselves to make the village communities more habitable for us.

    Also speaking at the event, former Oyo State Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja  said rural development  would curb youths’ rural-urban migration in search of the non-existence “white-collar” jobs.

    Arapaja urged the rich to fraternise with the rural communities and establish industries in those there.

    “If Baba Obasanjo could be championing the call for rural development, there is nothing stoping us the younger ones to take to his call and go back to our respective rural areas to bring development,” Arapaja said.

     

  • U.S to assist Nigeria to develop retail food industry

    The United  States (U.S) government has assured Nigeria of its  readiness  to  support   current  efforts on food security to  enable consumers enjoy stable supplies and reasonable food prices.

    Speaking with journalists in Lagos before the commencement of Retail Food Development Conference with Building Capacity to Create and Sustain Superior Performance in the Retail Food Business in Nigeria as its theme, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA’s) Regional Agricultural Counselor for Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Cameroon and Liberia, Kurt Seifarth said U.S will grant aid to help increase food production and ensure that the food chain works.

    He said the USDA had explored a number of tangible measures which, if implemented, would have a significant impact on food security and directly benefit consumers.

    According to him, supermarkets and other retail outlets  have key roles to play in feeding the population as  part of the food value chains, adding that it has become necessary to strengthen safety controls to help smallholders engage with large retailers on wider markets for their agricultural products.

    He said smallholders and large commercial retailers need an enabling environment with adequate training, storage infrastructure, new skills and methods with which to improve the resilience of their production systems.

    He commended the Federal Government for containing the outbreak of bird flu, adding that it demonstrated the  preparedness of the government to combat poultry  health emergencies.

    According to him, the bird flu impact on U.S was devastating with the  incidence and spread of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)  growing faster than expected.

    He noted that quick action and good biosecurity measures were the keys to control highly pathogenic avian influenza, adding that the U.S was quite unprepared for the avian influenza outbreak.

    He said the country was so shocked by the outbreak that it introduced a high surveillance programme with stringent biosecurity measures.

    The outbreak experienced in America which came to an end in June, was the largest animal disease outbreak the country has ever experienced.