The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Development

  • Dangote, Kogi to partner on development

    The Dangote group is to partner Kogi  State for infrastructural development.

    The president, Aliko Dangote, stated this yesterday in Lokoja when he visited Governor Yahaya Bello.

    According to him, the Dangote Group is determined to partner the government in agriculture, security and solid mineral development, after a meticulous study of its New Direction Agenda.

    He described the policy outlay as people-focused.

    His words: “What we intend to do is to look at infrastructural facilities in the state and identify more areas where we can complement the government…”

  • Ambode pledges inclusive growth in Lagos development

    Ambode pledges inclusive growth in Lagos development

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has restated the commitment of his administration to ensure all-inclusive growth in its developmental agenda.

    Ambode spoke at this year’s Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Connect Conference with the theme: Fostering Domestic Harmony Through Multi-Perspective Analysis and Graphic Display/Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century.

    The governor said the conference, which was organised for grassroots women, in was in furtherance of its inclusive growth policy.

    He said: “This essentially demonstrates our commitment to build a Lagos that works for all, irrespective of gender and socio-economic status.”

    Ambode, who was represented by Deputy Governor Dr Oluranti Adebule, said violence against women and the girl-child led to the establishment of the Domestic Violence Response Team (DSVRT) as well as the Mirabel Centre to assuage victims and enable them adjust to normal life.

    The governor’s wife Mrs. Bolanle Ambode said Lagos State believes women’s economic empowerment is crucial to poverty alleviation and domestic harmony.

    She said: “All efforts, therefore, must be geared towards interventions to address issues about women in the state.”

    Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Mrs. Lola Akande said the intention of the conference was to bring together leading and experienced women in private and public sectors to share and exchange experiences about issues on gender inequalities.

    The ministry, Mrs Akande said, had made direct impact on the community through critical intervention and organised programmes to end violence against women.

    She SAID: “To this end, the Lagos State government, through the Ministry, has trained women in skills (tuition free), using presently 17 functional Skill acquisition centres spread over the five divisions of the state, namely Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe.”

  • BUA subsidiary to invest $300m in sugar development

    BUA subsidiary to invest $300m in sugar development

    Lafiagi Sugar Company (LASUCO), a subsidiary of BUA Group, plans to invest $300 million in its sugar plantation in line with the Federal Government’s Backward Integration Policy (BIP) in the industry.

    The investment will achieve the firm’s goal of producing 1.2 million tons of sugar per year from the plantation when fully developed. The firm has just acquired 50 state-of-the-art equipment to fascilitate the plantations development.

    BUA Sugar Managing Director, Mr. Ibrahim Yaro,  said the firm acquired LASUCO because of its interest in the local production of raw sugar.

    He spoke when the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar and the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) Executive Secretary, Latif Busari Sugar visited  LASUCO to ascertain the progress of work at the plantation.

    Yaro said the 500 hectares earmarked for nursery development last year had been developed.                     “What is ongoing is the land clearing and development preparation for additional 5000 hectares, which would take the company through next year.

    “We are focused, determined and vigorously marching forward to meet our set targets with NSDC. LASUCO targets the production of two million tons of sugar cane yearly and this segment alone could produce over 4,000 jobs.

    “BUA is serious and is ever-ready to surprise Nigeria and Nigerians to become a mega local sugar producer and first sugar exporter in the country,” Yaro added.

    He said BUA Group remained committed to partnering the government in ensuring the success of the BIP for the sugar industry as well as in its drive to resuscitate and develop other areas of the agricultural sector.

    The Minister lauded the investments and extensive progress made on the plantation. She praised the management of BUA for its progress towards local production of sugar in the country.

    She said: “We are, indeed, satisfied with the pace of work and commitment exhibited by BUA on its sugar plantation. We hope other sugar companies will emulate the proactive steps employed by BUA to achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production.

    “This will eventually translate to positive gains in Nigeria’s efforts in becoming a sugar producing nation.”

    Busari lauded BUA for its steadfast commitment to attaining self-sufficiency in sugar through its investments in the once moribund sugar company.

    Noting that LASUCO operates the second largest sugar refinery in Sub-Saharan Africa, he urged the company not to relent on its efforts, to but continue to sustain its strategy to moving the country towards self-sufficiency in sugar.

  • Southeast Reps storm Senate over region’s Development Bill

    The controversial Southeast Development Commission Bill scaled the crucial second reading in the Senate yesterday.

    The Bill, sponsored by Senators Stella Odua and Samuel Anyanwu, scaled second reading as jubilation erupted in the chamber over the adoption of the legislation.

    The jubilation was led by members of the House of Representatives from the zone, who stormed the Senate gallery in solidarity with the zone’s senators.

    This is coming less than 24 hours after some northern groups issued an ultimatum to Igbo in the North to vacate the region in the next three months.

    The same Bill suffered a defeat in the House of Representatives a fortnight ago.

    Senator Anyanwu (Imo East), who led the lead debate of the Bill, said its passage will not impact negatively on the other zones.

    He said the passage of the Bill was critical in addressing the Southeast agitation about neglect through an integrative development plan that will promote and strengthen the residents’ sense of nationalism.

    There was not much debate on the Bill, apparently due to an appeal by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, that the Bill should be passed in the spirit of fairness and justice in the country.

    The Bill is titled: “An Act to Establish the Southeast Development Commission in the Federal Republic of Nigeria to act as catalyst to develop the commercial potentials of the Southeast and other connected matters.”

    Section 1(4) of the Bill provides said that the commission will exist for 10 years after which the President can wind it up, following the approval of the National Assembly.

    The section reads: “The President may, subject to the approval of the National Assembly, wind up the commission after 10 years.”

    The Bill also indicates that the management board of the commission shall consist of a Chairman and one representative each from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states as well as representatives of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice.

    According to the Bill, a member of the board of the commission shall hold office for four years and can have his appointment renewed for another four years.

    Some of the functions highlighted for the commission include release of policies and guidelines for the development of the Southeast as well as the conception of plans for development in accordance with set rules, while also producing regulations programmes and projects for the sustainable development of the South East.

    The commission is also expected to provide roadmaps for development of roads, education, health facilities, industrialisation, agriculture, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and commerce in the area.

    It is also expected to provide master plans for reduction of unemployment while also providing master plans and schemes to promote the physical development of the Southeast.

    It will estimate the cost of implementing such master plans and schemes while implementing all the approved measures for development.

    Unlike the bill rejected in the House, the Senate Bill does not impose any financial burden on the Federal Government as its operations will be funded by 15 per cent of Federal allocations due to its member states.

    When Senate President Bukola Saraki put the question to the senators, there was a resounding “aye” in the chamber.

    Saraki referred the Bill to the Committee on Establishment for more legislative work and for it to report back within four weeks.

    Saraki said: “The unity and development of a nation go beyond a bill. I want us all to see that we owe the responsibility to ensure the unity of this country.

    “We all have that role to play. In doing this as a Senate, we are showing that we are ready to look at the pros and cons of issues. But I think the issues go beyond just this bill.

  • 10,000 youths to undergo skills development training

    10,000 youths to undergo skills development training

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is set to begin the second phase of its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

    The scheme is under SMEDAN’s National Enterprises Development  Programme ( NEDEP) training  in 18 states.

    A statement by the SMEDAN’s Corporate Affairs Unit said the flag off ceremony would be performed by the agency’s Director-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda.

    The NIDSP programme is under a tripartite arrangement among ITF, SMEDAN and the Bank of Industry (BOI).

    The training is designed to cover 10, 000 participants, who will be trained in 54 centres across the 18 states.

    Earlier this year, SMEDAN trained over 10, 000 graduates of ITF vocational skills training on entrepreneurship and business development under the NIDSP programme.

  • apbn bemoans non-involvement of professionals in national development

    Last week, the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) held its presidential retreat in Asaba-the Delta State Capital.

    The 3-day retreat, which was attended by over thirty professional bodies from across the federation, had as its theme, “Roles of Professionals in the Economic Recovery and Growth”.

    The retreat featured paper presentation by renowned professionals from different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

    Delta Deputy Governor, Kingsley Utuaro, who declared the event open in an address admonished participants to cooperate with government at all levels in shouldering the task of economic recovery and growth.

    Utuaro was represented by Executive Assistant, (Boundary Matters), Chief Gweke Akudihor.

    He praised APBN for organizing the event stressing, “That this gathering is timely and long overdue considering the economic constraints, unfriendly regulatory policies, lack of professional touch to drive the economy, falling Naira rate, lack of consistency and continuity has led to the impoverishment of the Nation’s economy”.

    He bemoaned the lack of involvement of professionals to redirect the economy, stressing that their wealth of experience is required to salvage the Nigerian economy.

    He said the State government has through its SMART agenda revitalized the various entrepreneurial skills acquisition for unemployed, adding that it has also encouraged the establishment of various self-sustainable jobs for her unemployed.

    President, APBN, Dr. Omede  Idris said the retreat  was an annual capacity building program for the leadership member bodies of the association, stressing that the event “is a conscious effort to appreciate and address perceived limitation in our professional organization and pratices”.

    He said the themes and subthemes were carefully crafted to cover most or all aspect of our economies, professions and polity, adding this will further “stimulate our thoughts, interactions and contribution to nation building.

    He said the retreat will proffer recommendations on ways government can partner and collaborate with individual professional associations with its high pool of professional resources and competences while serving the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Olutoyin Ayinde, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, in a paper titled – “Developing Sustainable Human Settlements: Organise or Agonise”, examined the non-involvement of professionals in national development.

    Ayinde said  Nigeria has over 840 urban centres with well over 10 cities with populations of over a million…In another  decade, four additional cities will qualify as mega-cities, adding that most of them are unplanned and undergoing degradation.

    He said the “inevitable result of neglecting physical or urban planning is chaos in the settlement system”, stressing that this neglect is demonstrated in the failure of the physical and economic infrastructure of the Nigerian State.

    According to him, “No economy has ever grown to maturity if the human settlements fundamentals to development are dysfunctional or unorganised, because unsustainable human settlements and economic development are inversely related just as poor management and development are mutually exclusive.”

    He argued that the problem with Nigeria is not a lack of resources but inadequate planning and bad management of resources for the development of human settlements.

    Tony Agenmonmen, President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, in his paper titled, “Promoting Locally Made Products as Strategy for Recovery and Growth: The role of Marketing Professionals posited that under the prevailing economic climate, promoting locally made products was crucial, adding that it will stimulate the economy ,while strengthening local business and conserve foreign exchange.

    According to Agenmonmen, while the efforts of some state governments in promoting locally made products are laudable, there is still the need for proper product presentation in order for locally made products to gain increased visibility, acceptance and patronage.

    He noted that the present economic situation presents an opportunity for local products to thrive if only their presentations conform to defined standards, and their unique selling points efficiently communicated to an identified target audience through the various promotional tools.

  • ‘The Quartet’ moots film industry development fund

    ‘The Quartet’ moots film industry development fund

    Four major groups; The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Nigerian Film & Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), under the umbrella of ‘The Quartet’, have endorsed the establishment the National Film Development Fund (NFDF).

    The move, according to information, is to enable the nation deal urgently with the dearth of funding for film production activities, and investment opportunities yet untapped in the Nigerian film industry.

    According to the four federal government agencies whose mandates and activities directly and remotely rub on the Nigerian creative economy, the nation’s film industry was in dire need of access to funding, support and assistance to enable it up its contribution to the GDP of Nigerian from just over 1.5% to between 10% – 15% within two years.

    To achieve this feat, the industry which has thrived on the resilience and private windows of funding would require the institutionalisation of a funding regime for the country.

    The fight against piracy, intellectual property theft, effective distribution, sustainable marketing framework, digitisation and content development also topped discussions at the meeting which was held in Abuja last week.

    In a remark at the meeting, NFC’s Managing Director, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe commended other members of The Quartet for their resolve to push for the realisation of it objectives. He said that more than before, the nation requires the commitment of government agencies to deliver on their mandates, through attractive programmes and projects with positive impacts.

    The Nigerian film industry, he further said has the obvious trappings to provide job opportunities for Nigerians. The resilience and investment of those in the business of film making, Maduekwe said should be protected always to guarantee return on investment as well as incentives for new entrants.

    The Director General of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas with Cornel Agim, Director of Operations (NFVCB), Bunmi Cole, Director Broadcast Monitoring (NBC), Bitrus Dauda, Deputy Controller (PRS) of NCC, Ahaji Sanusi Sambo, Director Finance & Accounts (NFC), Mrs. Halima Oyelade Zonal Head, NFC Abuja, attended the meeting.

    The Quartet which was established in 2006 also decided to develop a robust plan of action that will promote the training of filmmakers and other stakeholders in both the art and business of film making. The group also engaged in talks to ensure that Nigeria’s creative economy is fully integrated into the diversification agenda of the federal government.

  • Aspirant promises infrastructural development

    A Chairmanship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State, Hon. Adesina Williams, has said she will provide infrastructural projects that will lift the Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), if she is elected.

    Hon. Williams, who had served a term in the LCDA as chairman, pledged her loyalty to all residents of the LCDA, including women, youths and monarchs. She promised to adjust wherever she had made mistakes during her first tenure.

    She said she would ensure that all the ongoing projects were completed, adding that she would start other projects that would benefit the residents.

    She spoke at a meeting with youths and the women wing of the ruling parting (APC) at her office in Igando.

    She promised to run an all-inclusive government, carrying everybody along to ensure harmonious relationship among party members.

    She said she renovated many roads, schools, hospitals as well as took care of the monarchs within the LCDA during her last tenure. She noted that many of the projects embarked upon were yet to be completed, appealing to the electorate to vote for her to enable her to complete her vision of making the LCDA one of the best in the state.

    She pledged to organise workshops that would enable youths and women to become productive and self-reliant.

    Williams assured the residents of the LCDA that her administration would continue to bring succour to the plights of the residents and do more in infrastructural provision as embarked upon in her first term in office.

    She implored residents, the party’s contestants and the opposition to continue to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in his efforts to transform the state to a mega city.

    She urged them to pray for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    She praised Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu whom she described as a great leader and mentor of all members in the party.

  • Our train of infrastructural development on the move, says Ambode

    Our train of infrastructural development on the move, says Ambode

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said yesterday that the train of infrastructure development and rehabilitation was on the move.

    He spoke at the inauguration of reconstructed 10-storey doctors’ quarters at the General Hospital, Lagos and refurbished Onikan Health Centre.

    The governor, represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr Tunji Bello, added that plans were at an advanced stage to upgrade health care facilities, including secondary health care facilities in Apapa, Epe, Ifako-Ijaye, Agbowa and Lagos Island Hospital.

    He restated his administration’s determination to reduce disabilities and maternal and child morbidity.

    “Since the inception of our administration, which will be two years in a couple of weeks, we have committed ourselves to infrastructural renewal and development that will enhance productivity and boost public servants’ morale to improve service delivery.

    ”I have confidence in the ability of our health care personnel to deliver excellent service comparable to what obtains in developed countries. As we strive to upgrade our health facilities with the provision of modern infrastructure and equipment, we shall continue to prioritise welfare and human capital development,” the governor said.

    He said the present administration would raise and sustain the confidence of the public in its health care service delivery.

    Ambode described Onikan Health Centre as a foremost medical facility established by the government, which had been overstretched by population growth.

    He said its upgrading became necessary following the standard policy of a functional secondary health care facility in each local government, as advocated by the Federal Government.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Jide Idris said the government will introduce the health insurance scheme this year so that Lagosians can access medical care.

  • Security essential for tourism development, says association

    The National Hotel Association of Nigeria on Thursday identified security as a vital element in the development of the tourism sector.

    The National Secretary of the association, Mr Jijiwon Akpovwovwo, said in Kaduna that security gives tourists the zeal to tour around.

    According to the hotelier, security is critical to the development of a nation, because it creates stability and attracts not only tourists, but investors.

    Akpovwovwo suggested that the provision of adequate security would go a long way in also improving other sectors of the economy.

    “The tourism sector contributes about 10 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and helps in generating employment.

    “Since tourists love visiting sites that are well protected, I urge government at all levels to provide adequate security in all the tourist sites,” he said.

    He, however, commended the present security measures put in place by the Federal Government.

    “I strongly believe that this will go a long way in encouraging investors and further boosting the economy.

    “However, I wish to state that the matter of security should not be left for the government alone, rather, it should be considered as our collective responsibility.

    “We must all work towards achieving a secure and stable nation; we must encourage what will be beneficial to the country,” he said.

    “Countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Mali, China and Israel make a lot of money from tourism

    “Harnessing these potentials will surely help in developing our economy and assist in reducing the recession,” he said.