The Nation Newspaper

Tag: European Union (EU)

  • EU: Sadamu LG gets 120,000 tree seedlings

    EU: Sadamu LG gets 120,000 tree seedlings

    The European Union (EU) has donated 120,000 assorted tree seedlings to Sandamu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    Alhaji Usman Ahmed, the Director of Agriculture, Sandamu Local Government Council, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sandamu on Monday.

    He said that the council had started planting the seedlings in its efforts to implement the four-year EU fuel wood balancing programme in the area.

    He said that the EU initiative was aimed at providing sustainable energy due to the deficit of firewood, while protecting the environment against desertification and boosting the economic well-being of the people.

    Ahmed said that the council had taken delivery of 10 varieties of tree seedlings from the National Planning Commission and the EU for distribution to interested farmers at no cost.

    He said that the varieties of the seedlings included eucalyptus, neem, albezia, moringa, jastropa,gum arabic, pawpaw, patenolra, cashew and depsonia.

    He said the target of the scheme was 1,500 farmers, adding, however, that only 214 farmers had so far indicated interest in the programme.

    “We encouraged the farmers to plant the seedlings either on their farms or in their gardens,’’ he said.

    Ahmed said that the programme would be executed under five planting models which included institutional planting, woodlots, home gardening, wind brake and plantation cultivation.

    “We are providing a hoe, a watering can and one litre of pesticides free of charge to those who partake in the programme,’’ he added.

    He said that programme was specifically aimed at providing sustainable energy because of the shortage of fire wood and addressing the growing menace of desertification in the area.

    Ahmed said that more than 100 youths had received training under the programme on how to construct clean cooking stoves, as part of efforts to empower the unemployed people in the area.

  • Nigeria to benefit from the 50m euros EU fish fund – EU official

    Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries will benefit from the 50 million-euro European Union (EU) fund set up to ensure sustainable fisheries development and marine security, an EU official says.

    Mrs Stefania Marrone, Head of Regional Cooperation Section in the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Marrone spoke on the sidelines of the meeting on “Regional Policy Process for the Development of ECOWAS Fisheries and Aquaculture Regional Policy and Strategy Frame Work of ECOWAP’’.

    She said that the programme would be implemented in various West African countries within a six-year period.

    The EU official said that the funding arrangement would strengthen governance and management of fisheries in the ECOWAS region.

    She said that it would also improve the handling of landed catch in major ports and other selected sites to reduce post-harvest wastage and increase fishermen’s earnings.

    She said that the programme, being financed by the EU Development Fund, was approved in June in Brussels.

    Marrone said that the establishment of fishery development programmes became imperative because of the recognition that the sector was one of the most globalised and dynamic industries in the world that required adequate protection.

    She also noted that fish farming had grown rapidly in the West African sub-region, saying that pragmatic efforts should, therefore, be made to boost its development, while giving substantial assistance to fish farmers in various aspects of the industry.

    Marrone, however, underscored the need for ECOWAS countries to stamp out illegal fishing by foreign commercial vessels, while building up national fleets and processing industries.

    She said that if the countries were able to do that, they would be in a position to generate billions of dollars as revenue and create jobs to ensure social and economic security.

  • EU worries over 372 trade barriers against exporters

    EU worries over 372 trade barriers against exporters

    The EU has expressed worry over 372 trade barriers against its exporters in 2016 largely by some of the G20 countries.

    The union in its annual report published on Monday stated that largest share of the barriers came from Russia, Brazil, China, India and Indonesia.

    The EU expressed concern that Russia introduced the largest number of new trade barriers faced by European exporters in 2016.

    According to the report, the measures introduced by Russia could potentially affect trade flows worth up to 12.26 billion euros (13.71 billion dollars).

    The report stated that along with Russia, the other countries topping the list of places that have introduced the most new protectionist measures in 2016 include Switzerland and Algeria.

    “We clearly see that the scourge of protectionism is on the rise. It affects European firms and their workers.

    “Wines and spirits, agriculture as well as fisheries were the sectors recorded with the highest number of new reported barriers.

    “It is worrying that G20 countries are maintaining the highest number of trade barriers,” Cecilia Malmstroem, the EU Trade Commissioner said.

  • NAFDAC advises exporters to stop embarrassing Nigeria

    NAFDAC advises exporters to stop embarrassing Nigeria

    The National Agency for Food And Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised Nigerian exporters to stop embarrassing the country by obtaining the agency’s certification of products.

    The Spokesman of NAFDAC, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, gave the advice while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja on the rejection of about 25 Nigerian produce by the European Union (EU) between 2015 and 2016.

    Jimoh explained that the EU had rejected the 25 exported food products from Nigeria for lack of standard.

    NAN reports that some of the food products on the EU rejection list from Nigeria include beans, sesame seeds, melon seeds, dried fish and meat, peanut chips and palm oil, among others.

    He therefore urged exporters to subject their products to NAFDAC’s standard and internationally accredited laboratories for proper certification.

    He said that the screening and certification of any product for export by NAFDAC was free of charge in spite of facilities, personnel and chemical reagents being used to conduct such tests.

    “The Federal Government is doing this as a deliberate policy to encourage our exporters and to satisfy international standards for exports.

    “We are now appealing to our exporters not to run away from product certification of NAFDAC, it is free and we don’t charge anything for such service.

    “We have adequate personnel and equipment to carry out such responsibility in the country,’’ Jimoh said.

    The spokesman lamented that the action of exporters has put the country’s image in bad light and also cause a huge loss to the exporters themselves which had implication to the economy of the country.

    According to him, NAFDAC had six functional laboratories that conduct various types of products test across the country.

    He also decried exporters’ penchant for bypassing NAFDAC and smuggling of their products at the detriment of the country’s economy and their income.

    Jimoh said that the agency had two functional laboratories in Lagos, one each in Kaduna, Agolo in Anambra, Maiduguri and Port Hacourt, while the one in Calabar had not been completed.

    He disclosed plans to establish another laboratory in Benue to serve exporters in the North Central part of the country.

    Jimoh, who is also the NAFDAC Director Special Duty, noted that the laboratory in Lagos had been accredited internationally and any product that gets approval from such lab would be recognised globally.

    He confirmed that the EU had certified the laboratory in Lagos and considered it as meeting the world standard.

    He disclosed that Kaduna laboratory was inherited by NAFDAC from the Federal Ministry of Health and later gutted by fire, but that the agency had built a new lab.

    The spokesman added that the Kaduna laboratory was built to serve all agricultural farm produce coming from the north for screening and certification and exportation.

    He added that the laboratory has required facilities and equipment and was now awaiting international accreditation.

    According to him, Agolo, a regional laboratory built by NAFDAC and inaugurated sometime in 2010 by former president Goodluck Jonathan, also has the capacity to serve exporters from the South East region.

    “The EU team that visited our lab in Lagos about a year and half ago were happy with what they met on ground.

    “We have two laboratories in Lagos, the one in Oshodi deals with food products, micro toxic, High Liquid Performance Chromatography and pesticide residues, while the one in Yaba deals mainly on drugs.

    “Laboratory is capital intensive and we cannot have it in every state; therefore those we have now serve states close to them.

    “We have the capacity and we are well prepared to ensure all our exported products from the country get NAFDAC’s clean bill of health as an agency charged with responsibility of quality control,” he said.

    Jimoh also urged the Nigerian Customs Service to continue to cooperate with NAFDAC in ensuring that such products were not smuggled out of the country.

    Meanwhile, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kano says it will convene a meeting with producers of agricultural products affected by the EU rejection policy to reverse the development.

    The state AFAN Secretary, Alhaji Garba Bichi, told NAN in Kano that the meeting would draw all stakeholders from across the state in order to find a lasting solution to the problem.

    “We have decided to convene a meeting with all those affected by the EU rejection on some agricultural products in order to address the issue.

    “The rejection is as a result of the failure of producers to meet standards due to incorrect application of pesticides and other agrochemical substances.

    “So we feel it is necessary to meet with affected farmers and other stakeholders to find a way out,” Bichi said.

    He assured that even though some of the affected products were not produced in the state, but the association would meet with the affected producers with a view to taking a collective decision on the issue.

    The scribe said the meeting was expected to come up with useful recommendations for immediate implementation and if possible seek technical advices from experts.

    An official of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in the Kano State told NAN on condition of anonymity that the council last year trained some farmers of a particular product, following the development.

    The official, who, works at the Enquiry Desk, said the training which was held in Kaduna, was conducted on melon and ginger where farmers were given technical advices on how to add value to their products and ease acceptability in the international markets.

  • NIS to rehabilitate training schools in four states

    The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede has pledged to rehabilitate the Service training schools in Kano, Sokoto, Rivers and Imo states.

    Babandede made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said that the measure was to ensure that‎ the schools are repositioned in line with international best practices for the training of officers and men of the Service.
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    Babandede said his vision was to restore the old glory of the schools when it used to train para-military operatives from the West Africa sub-region and beyond.
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    He noted that with the ongoing‎ recruitment into the Service, the schools need to be in top shape to accommodate and train the new recruits.
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    He said he had inspected facilities at the Kano training school during the combined passing out parade of 456 officers and border patrol corps with a view to getting first hand knowledge on the level of work done.

    He said that plans were underway to visit other training schools also with a view to repositioning them.
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    The NIS boss appealed to the respective state governments where the schools are domiciled to also support in the rehabilitation and equipping of the schools.
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    He said that some renovations had been carried out in the schools but more still needed to be done in terms upgrading their facilities to international standard.

    He said that the NIS was already collaborating with its international donor partners such as the European Union (EU), GIZ, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in the training of officers and men in the schools.

  • EU rejected 24 Nigeria exported products in 2016 – NAFDAC

    EU rejected 24 Nigeria exported products in 2016 – NAFDAC

    The National Agency for Food And Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says European Union (EU) rejected 24 exported food products from Nigeria in 2016 for failing to meet standards.

    The NAFDAC spokesperson, Dr Abubakar Jimoh made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    According to Jimoh, the five major products are groundnut, palm oil, sesame seed and beans that were illegally exported to the EU.

    He noted that from the information made available to NAFDAC, groundnut was rejected because it contained aflatoxin, which made the quality substandard.

    “The exported palm oil did not scale through the EU’s test because it also contained a coloring agent that was carcinogenic.

    “Beans was banned by EU sometime ago but it was illegally exported to European countries.

    “Beans was initially banned for one year, when EU was not satisfied with our exported beans in terms of quality assurance, it extended the ban by another two years, which expires next year.

    “NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies of the government are working round the clock to ensure that when the ban is lifted, we can then begin to export more agricultural products to EU,” Jimoh, who is also the NAFDAC Director Special Duties, said.

    He said most of the products that were smuggled out were not certified by the agency and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services at the ports.

  • Saraki lists Senate plans to lift Nigeria out of recession 

    Saraki lists Senate plans to lift Nigeria out of recession 

    …Says 2015 elections in Nigeria sets new standard for African countries

     

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday told the visiting European Union (EU) delegation  that the National Assembly was working on legislations aimed at pulling Nigeria  out of the current economic recession.

    Saraki also commended the EU for monitoring the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, which he said has set new standards for other African countries to emulate.

    The Senate President, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, told the EU delegation on Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group led by Mr. Santiago Fisas that the legislators are aware that without good economy that can sustain improved standard of living of the ordinary Nigerians, the legislature would not be seen to have succeeded.

    He said the Senate for example has identified 11 economic recovery bills which can help to create a veritable environment for private investment to thrive, jobs to be created, infrastructure to improve and the national Gross Domestic Product to rise.

    Saraki said, “We are focusing on the economy. We are working on how to continue to improve the economy. We are making all efforts to get us out of recession. We have our economy recovery plan. We are also looking at some priority Bills, infrastructure sector that will help to enable private sector participation which will bring more money for government in the social services sector, like education and health.”

    He commended the EU role during the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria as he saying, “For the first time we have been able to transfer power from one party to the other and in a peaceful manner. I think it has sent signal all over Africa. There was a peaceful transition in Ghana as well. It was almost done in The Gambia, but I don’t know what happened but we finally did it.”

    Saraki noted that “It is clear that whatever we have done well in Nigeria, has effect all over the continent. I hope that is the beginning of smooth transition. I want the EU to continue with the role you played and we thank God that it went well. I commend you and hope that it will encourage you to come back when next needed.

    “Let me also thank EU for picking our member in the National Assembly here as one of your partners. I know that in achieving that, Nigeria sees it as a positive move, and that you recognised us as important partner.

    “I discussed widely with some of our colleagues in the House of Representatives. They talked about democracy and election issues and as a government, I am sure they might have mentioned it to you, we are at the final stage of reviewing some of the existing laws that guide our elections.

    “We have learnt some lessons from the 2015 elections and we would see how we can improve on existing laws and see that new amendments when passed, will strengthen our democracy. Our focus is on the humanitarian crisis in the North East. We are also making an attempt on parliamentary actions on what we can do on gender issues.

    “There has been stop and start but I know we will get there. We are addressing that also. So, in the area of partnership, I hope you have been discussing with some of our colleagues on framework with the area of focus we can look at, where there can be partnership and can also be support for legislators. I think that will help us because we are going towards a period of time where we are looking at some of our laws that have been existing for more than two three, four decades with a view to review them.  Now and we have time to review someone them.

    “With what is going on now, it is time we brought those laws in line with today’s economy. So, this will help you determine the kind of support the legislators needs to help them address the challenges ahead for the country.

    “By and large, we talked about open parliament. For the first time, I think by next week, we are going to have a public hearing on the budget process to enable members of the public to have a say in the making of the Appropriation law. It has never happened before. We have not done this before. What we used to do is when we get the budget, we send it to Committees for defence. Now, we are engaging the public to improve the participation of the public in the budget processes”, Saraki explained.

    Leader of the EU delegation,  Fisas said their visit was to explore ways of enhancing the partnership between the European Union and the  Nigerian Parliament, particularly on how to deepen democracy, Human Rights, poverty alleviation, gender parity, Civil Society and Media interaction and how to find solutions emanating thereof.

    “We believe that relationship between states and the parliaments are important for the growth and development of democracy and development”, said Fisas who added that already the EU Parliament has entered into similar partnership with other countries like Ukraine, Georgia, Honduras, among others.

    He said the EU knew the importance of Nigeria in Africa and that fact informed the extension of its hands of fellowship to Nigeria’s parliament.

    Also speaking during the meeting, Senator Kabiru Gaya who was recently elected Vice President of the Inter Parliamentary Union of the African Group said the delegation had already met with the speaker of the House of Representatives and other officials of the National Assembly.

     

  • FG/EU partnership: Creating digital single market in Nigeria

    The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu on Tuesday said the Federal Government through the Ministry of Communications would partner with the European Union Commission (EUC) to create a Digital Single Market in Nigeria.

    The statement said the minister spoke during a meeting with officials of EUC.

    Mr Adebayo Shittu commended EU for choosing Nigeria as its first point of call to discuss the creation of Digital Single Market in Africa.

    He added that the size of Nigeria made it the most lucrative investment hub in Sub-Sahara Africa.

    According to him, Nigeria with its high return in investment and an emerging market makes it one of the new frontiers for investment and Digital Market consideration.

    The minister noted that the partnership was timely and called for more collaborative efforts as the ministry strives to implement its ICT strategic roadmap, e-Government and Mobile Broadband Plan.

    He pledged the ministry’s support for the initiative to diversify the economy by leveraging on ICT, as its benefits could not be over-emphasised.

    Shittu also directed that a committee be set up comprising the ministry’s agencies and Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) on the new Digital Single Market paradigm ahead of the EU/Africa Summit.

    According to him, the summit is scheduled to hold in November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    The statement also quoted the European Union Vice President/Commissioner on Digital Single market, Mr Andrus Ansip as saying “Nigeria is in a good position to benefit from global trade through the export of ICTs’’.

    Ansip said the collaboration would further bolster the congenial relationship that already exists between Nigeria and EU.

    He, however, promised to see Nigeria through the process of benefiting from this new digital initiative.

    Ansip listed the benefits of the collaboration to include the creation of jobs, improved access to digital goods and services and a level market place to buy and sell among others.

    He said EU was willing to extend investment fund to African countries, particularly Nigeria, given its demography and geography in the continent.

    The EU official added that Europe had earmarked Africa, and specifically Nigeria as the main pillar of Economic market, hence his visit.

    The EU vice president also requested the minister to champion the single Digital paradigm in Africa.

    The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Sonny Echono and the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Prof. Umar Dambatta.

    Others in attendance were; directors, and heads of agencies of the ministry, as well as representatives of the Nigeria Computer Society.

     

  • EU demands immediate release of El-ZaKzaky

    EU demands immediate release of El-ZaKzaky

    The European Union (EU) Heads of Mission has expressed reservations over the continued detention of the leader of the Shitee group, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, by Federal Government in spite of court order for his release.

    A  Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier ordered the immediate release of El-Zakzaky’s from the custody of security forces.

    The mission, in a statement in Abuja, urged the Nigerian authorities to ensure Zakzaky is released in accordance with the ruling of the court or is charged formally in accordance with Nigerian law.

    The statement reads: “The EU Heads of Mission note that the decision by a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering Mr. Ibrahim El-Zakzaky’s immediate release from custody by the State Security Service has not been enforced.

    “The EU underlines the universality of fundamental human rights, which includes the right to a fair trial and freedom from arbitrary detention. We find it worrying that Mr. Zakzaky has been detained for more than a year without having been brought to Justice.

    “We therefore urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure Mr. Zakzaky is released in accordance with the ruling of the court or is charged formally in accordance with Nigerian law and faces an impartial and balanced trial without further delay.

    “We encourage transparency and believe it is important that the findings made by all past or ongoing investigations into the violence that occurred in Zaria in December 2015 are published.

    “The EU Heads of Mission are of the view that all those responsible for the violence must be prosecuted according to the law and that anyone found guilty must be sentenced accordingly.

    “The right to peaceful assembly and association, as well as the right to free speech is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. The EU Heads of Mission also remind Nigeria that it is essential to promote religious tolerance and respect religious rights.

    “The EU Heads of Mission will continue to follow the judicial situation of Mr. Zakzaky and his wife closely.”

  • EU water project: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo meet deadline

    EU water project: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo meet deadline

    Three states — Bayelsa, Delta and Edo, have fulfilled the required 30 per cent counterpart funding to access European Union (EU) N2.4 billion grant for the water project in the Niger Delta region.

    Mr Albert Achten, the Leader of the EU experts team, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

    Achten, however, said that two of the five states targeted in the region had yet to fulfil the requirement in order to enjoy the grant.

    “These states are Akwa Ibom and Rivers. If they fail to pay the required 30 per cent counterpart funding, they will lose the grant.

    “For instance, Bayelsa, Edo and  Delta states are right now at the procurement stage and in no time, they will be to access the grants.”

    According to him, the EU and UNICEF have signed a five-year contribution agreement to boost rural water and sanitation project in the Niger Delta region.

    Achten, therefore, appealed to the defaulting state governments, in the interest of their communities, to contribute their counterpart funds to enable them to access the EU fund.

    He said that this would enable them to provide water for their communities.

    He said the project was important as it was expected to contribute to conflict mitigation in the region by improving access to basic social services.

    “This project will support the state governments and the rural water sanitation institutions in the five states to develop and implement needed reforms in the sector.

    “It will also deliver sustainable water supply, sanitation and hygiene services within communities and schools.”

    Achten said the roles and responsibilities of partners under the programme were being worked out just as the cost-sharing arrangements and coordination mechanism.

    “The water and sanitation component of this programme are mainly to enhance access to safe, adequate and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene services.

    “This component is already active in the five states and we are taking two local government areas per state.”

    He commended the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, for not only ensuring that the region utilised the fund but also for acting promptly on his earlier promise on the realisation of the project.

    NAN recalls that the initiative, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP), had been ongoing for some time, but needed to be sustained.

    NDSP was designed to be implemented from 2013 to 2017 to mitigate the conflict in the region by addressing the main causes of unrest and violence.

    Those issues include bad governance, youth unemployment and poor delivery of basic services.