The Nation Newspaper

Tag: next year

  • ‘Nigeria won’t import rice next year’

    ‘Nigeria won’t import rice next year’

    Having closely monitored the progress of local farmers, the International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD) is convinced that Nigeria will be self-sufficient in rice production in 2018. JUSTINA ASISHANA reports from Minna

    It might well be the best piece of news to come out of Nigeria. At the rate rice farming is going, the country will not have to import the grain next year. This piece of information was released by Dr. Odoemena Ben, Country Programme Officer in Nigeria, International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD).

    Ben was speaking in Niger State as part of IFAD Value Chain Development Progra-mme (VCDP) fifth supervision mission team to the state. He said that with the attention being paid by governments at all levels and international agencies on rice production, the sector has received a boost.

    This means a lot to Nigerians and the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The administration took off on a plan to stimulate local food production and stem the outflow of import cash. This spurred increased cultivation of rice, for instance, in some states, one of which is Niger. As late as last December, it was clear that the administration and the rice growers meant business. The farmers grew the grain, processed and neatly bagged it.

    Ben corroborated that in Niger, adding that farming in general has received a lot of boost from both state and federal governments as farmers are being given farm inputs, fertilisers, seedlings, equipment and other implements that would improve the quality and quantity of farming in the country.

    Ben said that with the investment made in rice this year, the farmers across the country can produce more than three million metric tonnes of rice which would be more than enough until the next rice planting season.

    ”Niger is heading for self-sufficiency of rice before the end of 2017. I am very sure that if the path of what we are doing continues, we will be self-sufficient in Rice production. By next year, Nigeria will be able to export rice.

    He however called on states governments to fulfil their parts by paying their counterpart funds to enable the farmers enjoy more and give them increased yield in their farm produce.

    However, the Niger government has assured the International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD) of its commitment to pay its N87.1 million counterpart fund.

    The state Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Kabiru Musa called for patience during the team’s visit to his office.

    He said, “We appreciate you for being patient with us over non payment of counterpart fund. I assure you that we are going to discourse with the governor to make sure that the money is paid. The state government has approved the money, what is happening is that we are waiting for cash backing to pay our counterpart fund.”

    Musa lauded the project in the state, saying that it has impacted positively on farmers in the state thereby creating jobs, increasing their income and increasing food production, “Today our farmers can carter for their households with ease without going to borrow,’’ he said.

    He urged the project to extend their activities in the state to the 20 Local Government Areas that are yet to benefit as only five local government areas in the state; Kontagora, Wushishi, Bida, Shiroro and Katcha are currently participating in the programme.

    The state IFAD Project Coordinator, Dr. Ahmed Mathew said that over N83 million has been expended for infrastructures for Rural Farmers in Niger state to provide them with basic amenities and alleviate their sufferings.

    He said that the infrastructures were provided under the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) under the programme adding that the projects will help in increasing the productivity of the farmers in the state.

    He said that Solar Powered boreholes was set up for N9.5 million, rehabilitation and construction  of warehouses gulped N23 million while others cost N33 million..

    Ahmed further said that IFAD has helped the farmers in increasing their income while he stressed on the need for the state government to pay up its counterpart fund to enable them give the farmers more infrastructures.

     

  • 6,000mw coming, says osinbajo

    6,000mw coming, says osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said the Federal Government had plans to distribute 6,000 megawatts of electricity in the country by the first quarter of next year.

    According to a statement by Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President yesterday, Osinbajo spoke at Kaleta, Guinea, on Monday at the inauguration of a 240 MW Hydro-power plant.

    The event, where Osinbajo represented President Muhammadu Buhari, was part of the activities marking Guinea’s 57th Independence anniversary taking place on October 2.

    The Vice President praised the vision of the Guinean President, Prof. Alpha Conde, noting that the inauguration of the power plant was a “monumental accomplishment” in a short time.

    “It shows what can be done with commitment and vision,” he added.

    The 240 MW Hydro-power plant in Kaleta was built to serve mainly the people of Conakry, the nation’s capital city.

    The release noted that the event was witnessed by the Presidents of Congo and Niger, Denis Sassou Nguesso, and Mohamadou Issoufou, respectively.

    It added that there were also representatives from the governments of China, France and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

    The Vice President returned to Abuja after the ceremony.

     

  • Oil price may rise to $100/bbl next year

    Contrary to reports, oil will reach as high as $100 per barrel (bbl) in the second half of next year as demand strengthens and supply falls short of forecasts, a fund manager at Investec Asset Management in London, Charles Whall has said.

    According to Bloomberg, Whall who has worked in the oil industry for more than three decades, and manages about $1 billion of assets in energy equity funds, said demand will exceed supply by about 1 million barrels a day by the end of this year and a shortfall will persist into 2016, adding that oil probably will reach a range of $90 to $100 in the second half of next year.

    Saudi Arabia, the biggest oil exporter, is leading Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in a strategy of defending market share rather than prices and is pumping the most crude in about three decades. While Citigroup Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. say the nation will keep raising output, Whall says the limit may already have been hit.

    “The general picture could be quite wrong,” said Whall, whose funds have an “overweight” position on exploration and production companies, particularly in North America. “This looks like a much tighter market next year than people are anticipating.”

    Brent crude, a global benchmark, rallied 40 percent to $63 a barrel since reaching a six-year low on January 13. Prices could reach $80 by the end of the year, Whall said. They will average $85 next year, according to Investec’s base case.

    Saudi Arabia has been supplanted by Russia as the top supplier to China and that in

  • ‘Next year’s election will be the best ever’

    ‘Next year’s election will be the best ever’

    The founder and president of the Divine Ministry for Inter-Religious Harmony (DMIRH), Prophet David Oyekan, has predicted that contrary to the fears being expressed by many Nigerians that next year’s general elections will be free and fair and that it would be the best ever. His words: “The Divine will of God will surely prevail in 2015. Therefore 2015 election is going to be the most credible and the most peaceful election the Nigerian nation has ever witnessed. It will beat the imagination of the entire global community.”

    Oyekan, who made the above revelation in a document made available to The Nation, said God Almighty has a purpose and plan for Nigeria and that the grand design of the Creator must be achieved. According to him, God has a hand in the amalgamation of Nigeria and He is not happy with the acts of disunity in the country.

    The seer said God is angry with the Nigerian government over the ceasefire agreement signed with Boko Haram insurgents because if the government had followed the Divine directives that were conveyed to it earlier matters would not have come to such a sorry end. Nevertheless, he said Nigeria would overcome the Boko Haram saga, if the leaders of the country agree to do what God has decreed they must do. “Otherwise, we would have another dimension of trouble that would make politicians, religious leaders and the media to comply with the demand of God,” he noted.

    To avoid the wrath of God, Oyekan said the authorities must comply with the demands of God before the 2015 general elections. “That is why I’ve been making efforts to deliver the message, but people are not listening. The demand of God must be complied with by January 2015 to prevent this problem. If not, many politicians and religious leaders would die within two months,” he added.

    Oyekan said he has been trying since 2001 to bring to the notice of the authorities the Divine demand of God concerning the Nigerian nation. He said: “The Lord, the master of the universe, has not only revealed to me the genesis of Nigeria’s problems, but also provided a Divine intervention provision in the short term, the medium term and the long term strategy to put an end to Nigeria’s problems in accordance with His Divine purpose and plan for the Nigerian nation as it affects the global community at this end time.”

    Against this background, he has been sending spiritual revelations to various organs of government since 2001. But, he said the ruling elite have turned deaf ears to the demands of God because they do not believe in the relevance of spiritual guidance in nation building. The prophet gave 12 different instances of the Divine directives he sent to the authorities and the indifference displayed by those who were supposed to implement them.

    For instance, he said in August 2005 such revelation was sent to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, through the Aso Rock Villa chapel, for government to dedicate the independence anniversary of that year “to God Almighty in appreciation of what God has done for the nation for 45 years of independence of this nation and for returning democracy to Nigeria.” But, the directive was not obeyed by government; as the occasion was celebrated as usual.

    Oyekan said he also conveyed the directive of God to the Yar’Adua administration in August 2009, through the First Lady, to declare a three-day national fasting and prayer in preparation for the 49th independence anniversary and to organise a peace and unity summit in collaboration with all stakeholders before the 2010 Golden Jubilee Celebration. But, it was also not heeded. As a result, another one was issued in November of the same year, asking the government to declare a seven-day national prayer and fasting, from January 1 to 7, 2010, to usher in the blessing of God in the country’s Golden Jubilee year.

    According to him, after experiencing several frustrations trying to draw the attention of the Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the revelations, he shifted focus to the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the judiciary through the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). But, the CJN and opposition party equally refused to take the revelations seriously. Without spiritual foundation in nation building, he said the future development of such a nation is in great jeopardy. He noted that government has consistently refused to listen to him because he comes from a lowly background and nobody knows him.

    The founder and president of DMIRH, a spiritual non-governmental organization, said so many of the ills that have befallen the nation since 2001 are direct consequences of the disobedience of the directives. He indicted all the organs of government, including the fourth estate of the realm, the media, who have at one time or the other received the revelations, for the disobedience. Quoting from Isaiah 29 verse 13 and 14, he said the name of the Lord is always on the lips of Nigerians, but their hearts are far removed from Him.

    Oyekan said the amalgamation of 1914 was divinely arranged by God through Lord Luggard. He added: “This was to cement the unity of the nation. The success of the quest to keep Nigeria one during the civil war which ended in 1970 was a Divine arrangement. This is the reason why ‘go on with one Nigeria’ (Gowon) succeeded in that regard in 1970.”

    It was for the purpose of continuing to cement this unity, he noted, that former President Olusegun Obasanjo unknowingly gave a joint ticket to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and President Goodluck Jonathan. “It was a Divine arrangement to achieve the unity of Nigeria,” he said, adding: “For this unity to be cemented, God in His infinite mercy also guided Yar’Adua to grant amnesty to Niger Delta militants. This is because the enemy of the unity of Nigeria in 2005 predicted that the nation would disintegrate in 2015.”

  • Expect 10,000 megawatts next year, says Minister

    Expect 10,000 megawatts next year, says Minister

    Minister of Power Prof Chinedu Nebo has assured Nigerians that power generation would increase to 10,000 megawatts by December 2014.

    This, according to the minister, would guarantee 18 hours of uninterrupted power supply in every part of the country.

    Nebo spoke while briefing the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the activities of his ministry at the party’s secretariat on Tuesday.

    The minister, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Power, Hajia Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, lamented what he described as transmission challenges that could lead to system collapse.

    He said: “We envisage 10,000 megawatts by December 2014. With our short term, long term and immediate strategies that we have in place; in addition to working assiduously with other stakeholders in the power sector, we will get there.

    “We have the NIPP work going on, and the Niger Delta Power Company coming up for commissioning by December 2013, we look forward to 10, 000 megawatts come December 2014.

    Nebo went on: “If we succeed in making it more than that, we will be very happy. But we are focused on actually delivering 10,000 megawatts by 2014. And this by our calculations and data we have on ground.

    “We will give at least between 17 and 18 hours of power supply to Nigerians. The 24 hours power supply will happen but we are working steadily towards that”.

    The minister said the private sector is expected to inject more funds into the power and participate more in distribution.

    Also speaking at the forum, the minister of state said the current system collapse was caused by over grown shrubs around transmission areas, adding, however that the problem was being addressed by a technical team put in place by the ministry.

    The two ministers said that the process in the power sector is a sensitive one because every aspect of the process must be in place before transmission could be meaningful.