The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Food

  • Nigeria, others set up councils to drive food targets

    Nigeria, others set up councils to drive food targets

    Nigeria and five African countries have set up Presidential-level Councils to drive implementation of the Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts agreed at the Dakar 2 summit.

    The Dakar Summit hosted by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), held on January 25-27 in Dakar, Senegal, to bring together governments, private sector, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and scientists to meet the escalating challenge of food security in Africa.

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    The other five countries are Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic,  Sierra Leone, and Zambia.

    This was one of the highlights of the ongoing AfDb Annual General Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

  • Food, beverage show expands with more countries, product

    Food, beverage show expands with more countries, product

    More than 300 businesses and brands are expected at this year’s Food & Beverage West Africa trade exhibition, with over 50 countries to be on show from June 11 to 13 at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Turkey, Dubai, China, India, USA, Indonesia, Italy, Egypt, and Tunisia are among those to have exhibitor pavilions.  This is an opportunity for countries to launch new products into Nigeria and West Africa as well as meet new partners.

    Now in its fifth edition, the exhibition is the continent’s largest food and beverage trade show, with over 6,000 visitors expected.

    The exhibition is organised by BtoB Events. Brad Smith, Exhibition manager, said: “This year’s is featuring more exhibitors, more countries, and more products…’’

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    “USA, China and Italy pavilions are joining Turkey’s, Dubai’s, India’s, Indonesia’s and Egypt’s. We are welcoming exhibitors for the first time from countries Mexico, Korea, Hong Kong, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iran, Libya, Turkmenistan, and Nepal.”

    The event is recognised for the number and range of overseas exhibitors from West Africa and beyond.

    “We pride ourselves on the international standard quality that our exhibition represents. We are bringing the global food and beverage industry to Nigeria,” Smith said.

    An international exhibitor, Xena’s Food Group is a Platinum Sponsor of FAB West Africa. Based in London, Xena’s is a wholesale food distributor specialising in premium-grade fresh condiments, oils, and ingredients.

  • 900 Kano homes receive food items from First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative

    900 Kano homes receive food items from First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative

    In a bid to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable households, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) has distributed assorted food items to 900 homes across 44 local government areas of Kano State.

    First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to put in place programmes and policies aimed at changing the lives of the citizenry for the better.

    These were contained in a statement on Thursday by Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi.

    The food distribution, which was carried out under the Social Investment Program Food Outreach Scheme, is part of the RHI’s efforts to reach out to persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

    Representing the First Lady, the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, assured Nigerians that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working to make life better for each and everyone.

    Each of the 900 households received a bag of assorted food items, aimed at providing temporary relief to the beneficiaries.

    Some of the beneficiaries of the Food bags distributed by the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI to vulnerable groups and persons across the 44 local government areas of Kano state on Thursday 23rd May

    The RHI has also pledged to support women farmers in the state through its Women in Agriculture program (WASP).

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    Kano Governor, Abba Babir Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Hassan Danjuma, donated land to women farmers and pumping machines to further assist the beneficiaries.

    The symbolic distribution of the food items was carried out by Hajiya Nana Shettima, while cheques were presented to women farmers in the state on behalf of the First Lady.

    The RHI has announced that Nasarawa State will be the next to receive the food truck, as part of its nationwide food outreach scheme.

    While in Kano the wife of the Vice President also visited Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital to sympathize with the Kano Mosque Fire Victims.

  • ‘We’ll fight food insecurity here’

    ‘We’ll fight food insecurity here’

    Foodpreneurs Hub has secured a $5 million investment from Fusen Funds, led by American billionaire, Chris Klaus, to revolutionise Africa food industry.

    Founded by two United States-based Nigerian women – Olushola Oladejo and Yosola Oke-Akinrinola, Foodpreneurs Hub empowers entrepreneurs through coaching, mentorship, and partnerships. It aims to drive entrepreneurship, promote food security, and foster growth in Africa.

    It offers coaching in product development, market research, business planning, and quality control.

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    One of such coaching is The FoodStars Business Scale-Up, a six-week initiative to empower entrepreneurs in the food industry through mentorship, training, and access to capital. Participants pitch their ventures, vying for funding of N1 million, among other prizes.

    Oladejo said Foodpreneurs will bridge the gap between theory and practical, ensuring students navigate challenges and seize opportunities.

  • Badagry LG to start food discount markets in May

    Badagry LG to start food discount markets in May

    The Chairman, Badagry Local Government Area, Mr Olusegun Onilude on Saturday said the council would start its food discount markets by May 2024.

    Onilude made the pledge in Badagry at the distribution of food items to over 500 people of Badagry Local Government Area.

    According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the free food items were given by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos to all the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of the State.

    According to the chairman, from next month, which is May, the council will start its own food discount market.

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    “We will reduce the prices of food items just as the state government is doing and be selling to our people at the council secretariat here in Ajara, Badagry.

    “All you need to do is to come over with little money and buy food items at reduced prices,” he said.

    The chairman said that the council had continued to provide free food items as palliatives to cushion the effects of economic hardship being experienced by the people.

    “In March, over 1,000 residents of the council were given food items such as rice, beans, and garri and we pledged that this will be a continuous exercise until normalcy returns to our economy.

    “Today, courtesy of Gov. Sanwo-Olu, another 500 residents of Badagry will go home with free food items.

  • Flip-flopping on food

    Flip-flopping on food

    As biting food inflation continues across the country, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has moved from one response to another, giving the impression that he does not appreciate the urgent need to deal with the issue without delay. 

    Last week, he announced a free food programme for the vulnerable people in the state, apparently to replace a food subsidy scheme he had announced earlier in the same month, which did not take off.  He said the “Akwa Ibom new deal” was “aimed at mitigating and bringing down the high cost of staple food items, starting with garri, rice and beans that today seems to be beyond the reach of the vulnerable people.”

    Under the new arrangement, the state government will give out 5kg of either rice, beans or garri. Eno explained: “We will give food vouchers to people whose names are in the social register, and then they will go to any market and redeem the voucher. The agent at the redemption centres will collate the vouchers, take them to the Bulk Purchase Agency, and they will be paid their money within 72 hours.”

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    Under the old scheme that did not take off, the Bulk Purchase Agency established by the state government was to sell 10kg bags of rice, beans and garri once a month to the vulnerable people in the state social register at subsidised prices. The governor had said the agency would “do a direct intervention in the market and get food to our people at a reduced price.”  Under the scheme, the state government selected the accredited market agents that would sell the staple food items to the beneficiaries, who were to pay 70 per cent while the government subsidised 30 per cent, including a provision of five per cent as service charge (interest) to the market agents.

    Whether the state government wants a free food programme that limits beneficiaries to one of three staple food items, or a food subsidy scheme that allows them to buy any of three foodstuffs at special prices, it should ensure that its intervention goes beyond making announcements. 

    At the time he introduced the first scheme that did not take off, the governor had observed, “We all know that there is real hunger in the land. Our people need food,” saying that was the reason for the intervention.

    The so-called Akwa Ibom new deal should take off without delay, and shouldn’t be like the old scheme that didn’t happen after all. This will show that the state government is serious.

  • Ogun, Germany to partner on food production

    Ogun, Germany to partner on food production

    Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has called for the exploration of available partnership options between Germany and the state, in food production.

    He said Ogun State is looking at ways of contributing to the food security agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

    Prince Abiodun made this known when he received the Consul General, German Embassy, Weert Borner, at his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office yesterday.

    He said his administration is on the lookout for partners in mechanised farming, adding that the state government will be supporting small farmers across eight extension services by teaching them how to grow.

    The governor also said tractors and other forms of mechanised farming equipment that would help his administration in achieving its plan would also be provided for farmers.

    “I will like to explore with you and have partnership that we can find with the German government in supporting us in our new resolve to up the ante in food production.

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    “Our new policy now is to partner anyone who wants to come and farm in Ogun State by providing the land, by ensuring that the lands are accessible, by also clearing the land.

    “To that extent, we are looking for partners in the area of mechanised farming and providing tractors and other forms of mechanised farming techniques that will help us in achieving our plan.

    “In the last few days, we’ve been deliberating on how to ensure we contribute our quota to the food security agenda of President Tinubu.

    “We believe we can easily be the bread basket of this nation and we are devising new strategies to achieve the objective in the shortest time.

    “We have an ambitious plan of ensuring that in the next 12 months, this becomes easily visible across the state. We welcome partners that will assist us in that part,” he said.

  • Katsina allocates N10b for food 

    Katsina allocates N10b for food 

    Over N10 billion will be used to buy grains for distribution at subsidised rate of N20,000 per bag to 2,166,000 residents of Katsina State as part of the state’s Ramadan relief initiative, it was learnt yesterday.

    About 400,000 households will benefit from discounts compared to market prices for the subsidised items, including maize, millet, and guinea corn.

    In a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibrahim Mohammad, 33,000 elderly and vulnerable families will also receive food and cash.

    Governor Dikko Radda spoke during inauguration of state and local government committees to ensure effective coordination of the exercise.

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    Malam Khalil Bai was appointed chairman of the committee with representatives from councils and organisations as members.

    Radda, saying the initiative was in partnership with the 34 local governments, noted 72,200 people will be fed each day of Ramadan, which translates into approximately 2,166,000 residents.

    The governor said council committees are to transfer proceeds to states for deposit into government accounts.

    Council committees will oversee cooking and supervise distribution at wards.

  • FAO: Food Price Index declines further

    FAO: Food Price Index declines further

    The benchmark for world food commodity prices declined for the seventh consecutive month in February, as lower international quotations for major cereals more than offset rising prices of sugar and meat, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has said.

    The FAO Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 117.3 points in February, down 0.7 per cent from January and 10.5 per cent from the same month a year ago.

    According to the index, conflicts and adverse weather are exacerbating hunger in the 45 countries assessed to need external assistance for food, according to the latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, a tri-yearly publication by FAO’s Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS.

    “Conflicts in Near East Asia and in West and East Africa are driving alarmingly high levels of the most severe phase of acute food insecurity,” the report added, with very high concerns for the situation of the entire population of the Gaza Strip in Palestine.

    Widespread dry weather conditions are expected to aggravate food insecurity in Southern Africa, the Index noted.

    Although aggregate cereal production is expected to grow modestly this year, among the 44 Low-Income Food Deficit Countries, low output gathered in 2023 and tightening inventories have pushed up import needs for several sub-Saharan countries.

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    It further noted that harvesting of cereal crops will begin next month in Southern Africa, where widespread and prolonged rainfall deficits in the El Niño weather phenomenon have  curtailed production prospects.

    Also, the Price Index decreased by five per cent last month to reach a level 22.4 per cent below that of February, last year.

    The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index decreased by 1.3 per cent from January to stand 11 per cent below its February 2023 value. International soyoil prices dropped markedly, underpinned by prospects of abundant soybean outputs in South America, while ample global export availabilities of sunflower and rapeseed oils pushed their prices down. World palm oil prices rose marginally in February due to seasonally lower production.

    FAO also released its preliminary forecast for global wheat production this yea, pegging it at 797 million tonnes, a one per cent increase from 2023. Lower wheat prices have elicited a six per cent year-on-year decline in winter wheat planting in North America, where output may, nonetheless, rise due to strong yield prospects.

  • Food, construction chemicals firms partner to enhance services

    Food, construction chemicals firms partner to enhance services

    Cormart, a player in chemical and food raw materials sector has partnered construction chemicals manufacturer, Fosroc, to enhance sevices.

    The partnership establishes Cormart as exclusive distributor and licensed producer of Fosroc’s construction chemicals in Nigeria.

    Martin Middernacht, Cormart’s managing director,  said: “This collaboration aligns with our commitment to innovation and quality. It empowers us to elevate standard of construction chemicals…”

    Johannes Flosbach, general manager of Cormart, stressed significance of the collaboration, saying the partnership strengthens Cormart’s  leadership in chemical manufacturing and expands its product range to meet demands.

    He added: “This collaboration is essential to innovate and cater to the  needs of the industry, further enriching our portfolio and reinforcing commitment to excellence.”

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    Carl Platt, Fosroc’s regional vice president of Europe and Kenya, noted the importance of partnering Cormart, saying: “Cormart is our key partner in Nigeria. They have capabilities to support pioneering design innovations and manufacturing improvements.

    ‘‘Our focus is to provide constructive solutions, and this partnership epitomises this philosophy: use of premium quality raw materials backed by expertise to create products with reliability, stability, and performance.”

    Diwakar Thiruvalam, of Cormart’s Business Unit, said “the partnership portrays our efforts to deliver construction solutions. Our strength, knowledge, and expertise will result in producing and distributing products that set new benchmarks in quality and performance.”

    Cormart, member of TGI Group, is a key provider of chemical solutions and food raw materials, delivering advanced products. Since its inception in 1980.