The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rescue

  • Gov joins military operation to rescue abducted civilian

    Gov joins military operation to rescue abducted civilian

    Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda unexpectedly joined a combined team of security personnel yesterday to foil an attack by bandits on the residents of Zakka village in Safana Local Government Area.

    The operation led to the rescue of a 33-year-old man already abducted by the bandits, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Mohammed said.

    The governor was in the area to flag off an empowerment programme sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the Katsina State House of Assembly when he received a distress call that terrorists had invaded  Zakka .

     “After the intelligence report on the planned terrorist attack was revealed to Governor Radda around 1pm, he immediately called off his involvement in the colourful empowerment programme of the Katsina House of Assembly Deputy Speaker,” Mohammed said.

    Read Also: 17 years after, lack of census has created information vacuum for Nigeria – NPC

    He added: “Mr Governor and a few members of his entourage then joined a combined team of security personnel comprising men of the Nigeria Police, Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji, ground troops of the Nigerian Army, and personnel of the Community Watch Corps, to engage the terrorists at Zakka Forest before the criminals advanced to the hills.

    “A 33-year-old man was bravely rescued by the gallant troops after a heavy gun battle with the terrorists, which lasted almost 30 minutes. The terrorists were fortunate to escape without suffering any casualties after their callous mission was thwarted.

    “After repelling the bandits, Governor Radda directed that the abducted man rescued by troops be taken to the hospital for urgent treatment, as he was shot in the leg by the bandits.”

  • Gallant rescue

    Gallant rescue

    • Soldiers’ retrieval of suicide bidder from Lagos Lagoon is act of heroism

    Soldiers in the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, on Monday, said they stopped a woman who plunged into the Lagos Lagoon in a bid to kill herself from committing suicide. The woman, identified as Mrs. Francesca Spark, jumped into the lagoon close to 81 Division Officers’ Mess in Marina, Lagos, but gallant officers of the Army plunged in after her and fished her out.

    A statement by Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant-Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, said troops of 65 Battalion of the Army deployed at the officers’ mess sighted Mrs. Spark as she plunged into the lagoon and swiftly applied their military riverine skills and ingenuity to rescue her. The exact date of the incident was not made clear, but a masked picture of the rescued woman was shown. According to the Army spokesman, the woman “was given first aid and stabilized by the battalion medical team. After stabilization, the family was contacted and she was handed over to her husband, one Mr. Spark Oghene Ovie residing at Awoyaya, Lagos.”

    The Army statement further said the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Major-General Muhammed Takuti Usman, praised the soldiers for being observant, and for their ingenuity, courage and gallantry. He expressed pleasure that soldiers brought their training in disaster management to bear in a critical situation where the life of a fellow citizen could have been lost, noting that the rescue was a military operation other than war as gets conducted during emergencies or natural disasters.

    By all means, the soldiers deserve all the applause they can get for the great act of gallantry in plunging after Mrs. Spark after the suicide bid. And there are many to applaud the officers for: their eagle-eyed alertness that saw the woman take the plunge, their selfless composure in swiftly plunging in her trail to rescue her, and the alacrity in applying medical care that stabilized the embattled woman. It is also to be highly commended that the military restored Mrs. Spark to her family rather than pursue the controversial line of applying the law that criminalises attempted suicide, which amounts to double jeopardy for the suicide victim.

    Read Also: N2.17tr Supplementary Budget will be judiciously applied – Tinubu

    What could have led a person to consider all life’s options so foreclosed as to resort to suicide is a matter for mental health medics to properly interrogate. But we recall that in February, last year, the ninth House of Representatives processed a private member bill that sought to decriminalise suicide by replacing the stipulated penalty of one year imprisonment for attempted / failed suicide in the Criminal Code Act, 2004 with sentence to compulsory counselling and community service for a period not less than six months. In his argument for the proposed amendment bill, its sponsor, Rep. Francis Waive (APC, Delta) noted that mental health challenges such as depression, long term substance abuse, schizophrenia, mood disorder, psychosis and other psychiatric disorders are the most common risk factors linked to suicidal behaviour. He said inter alia: “Research has also shown a strong link between suicide and mental illness/disorder. However, it continues to be treated as a crime in Nigeria. This means that a person who survives a suicide attempt will be harassed, arrested and punished by the state with an imprisonment term of up to one year. This (amendment) bill suggests that suicidal people are in need of effective treatment, counselling and assistance, not punishment. Penalising attempted suicide is hardly a prevention method, instead the law should direct the appropriate authorities to assist the traumatised attempters…”

    We are not certain how that amendment bill eventually ended up in the last assembly, but we agree totally that suicide bid, rather than being a criminal act, is an act of desperation and misguided cry for help in acute distress. We argued before that what the suicide bidder needs is care, not punishment; and rather than that any form of penalty be stipulated against him/her, the bidder should be referred for mental health attention. That is where we slightly differ from Army personnel in the case of Mrs. Spark, highly commendable as their acts are. Handing the lady back to her husband may not adequately address her challenges – especially since it was under the husband, apparently, she piled up destructive venom and headed out to the lagoon unchecked. The woman needs urgent mental health care and socio-economic therapy as would assuage the conditions that motivated her to suicide attempt.

    This incident serves as another wake-up call to communal sensitivity. Mrs. Spark must have betrayed some signs of her acute desperation before heading out to the water edge, but nobody including her husband noticed. Shame! And there is as well the onus on the power elite to work at making living conditions conducive to lessen the disposition to suicide.

  • Online ready-made foods to the rescue

    Readymade online food services are becoming profitable ventures for investors in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) business, Jane Chijioke reports.

    To reduce the pressure of cooking in homes, she established an online food retailing service.

    Mrs Helen Onyeka Obasi founded Next Alternative Foods to make available homemade foods to customers who barely have time to prepare good meals.

    She ventured into the business in March, last year, providing various African dishes. Using the internet as a medium to reach her audience, her outdoor services have recorded huge profit.

    Within one year, she has been able to secure 85 percent customer bases within and outside her environ – Surulere.  She has also established a logistics firm which she leases to other food outlets.

    She said: “Online marketing has helped me in this business. I have been doing my business with ease.  I have become the next alternative for my clients who do not have time to prepare food at home or not having gas available when they want to eat, put them as ease from the stress of going to the market to get food stuffs and also providing quality homemade foods for worker at workplaces.’’

    Online already made foods services have become emerging markets for investors in the fast food business also know as Quick Service Restaurant (QSR). Hardly do they go unnoticed within the Lagos metropolis as dispatchers of these various online food retailing outlets are seen on high ways maneuvering traffic to deliver ordered foods.

    With the proliferation of online foods services, such as Foodstantly,  Gofood,  Angelous Kitchen, Sallyopy Fruit Delivery, Citychops,The Kitchen, among others, and also the already existed fast foods who are taking advantage of the digital space, emphasis is placed on quality, packaging, taste, and timely delivery to  build a sustained relationship  with consumers.

    They argued that the advancement in technology and the accessibility of the internet has made it possible for already made foods to strive on such platform. Also, the perception of Nigerians towards having made foods delivered to them is fast becoming the trend.

    Owners of many outlets visited said Nigerians were adapting to the culture of eating breakfast, lunch and dinner through online services.

    They affirmed that e-marketing has attracted more patronage to their brands using a low-cost outreach, noting that the food business is profitable.

    In 2014, the  Association of Fast Food and Confectioneries of Nigeria (AFFCON)  recorded over 800 QSR, generating about N200 billion yearly, with a workforce base of over 500,000.

    Also, in 2016, it noted that the food industry was worth over N1 trillion.

    Since its penetration into the market in the 1970s with Mr Biggs, owned by United Africa Company (UAC), QSR has grown providing ready meals of local and intercontinental taste to the wealthy and middle-income earners.  The increasing population provides a long-term potential to the business, hence, the quick turnaround for profit for investors.

    For Mrs Obasi, food business is profitable. “Lagos alone is a very big market. It is so populated and everybody needs to eat.  The number of fast foods and restaurants in the country is still not enough to feed the population.  With food you cannot go wrong,” she noted.

    Ms Chika whose outlet – Delightables – is barely four months old is planning to subscribe to online retailing. She was optimistic of increased sales with online marketing.

    “It is the trend of marketing and already made foods cannot be excluded.  It’s all about making life easy for everyone. We need to reach out to every segment of the population.  At present, if you are not marketing your products online, you are obviously at a loss.”

     

    Challenges

    Most of the online food outlets are faced with logistic issues. Having their own logistics firm would invite more cost on the business. To solve this problem, many subscribe to various channels to dispatch their foods. For instance, Jumia Foods with its wide logistics availability has become a one-stop shop for various food outlets to subscribe to.

    However, some of the business men complained that the Lagos traffic has negatively affected the business as sometimes customers reject food delivered due to the accumulated time consumed.

    Mrs Obasi explained that it takes more than two hours to make a delivery. For her to make a quick delivery, she ensures her customers place orders ahead of time.

    A worker at The Kitchen, Lekki, Lagos, said for timely delivery of ordered foods, the company uses various means, including Gokada.  He was worried that free delivery,which the company does for its customers within Lekki, most times, has become a loss to the business.

    “At times it is cheaper to order online than the traditional way of getting the item yourself from the restaurant. When you calculate the product and the delivery, it is quite a loss.  At times, customers will make an order of N1, 000, by the time you calculate the fare to deliver the food, it is twice the amount ordered. So, that is part of the problem.”

     

    Price

    The price of the food is dependent on the item bought. While some have food whose prices are as low as N500, others place a fixed amount for a delivery to be made.

    Similarly, a minimum order worth  N9, 000 is required to have free delivery from Mrs Obasi’s Next Alternative Food.

  • NHIS crisis: Fed Govt, House to the rescue

    • Council, students issue threats

    The crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is far from being over. The governing council that suspended the schemes executive secretary has threatened to quit if its decision is reversed. Students’ unions are also plan to storm the NIHS office today. But the Presidency and the House of Representatives are intervening, report VINCENT IKUOMOLA, VICTOR OLUWASEGUN, ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE and YINKA ADENIRAN.

    For the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof Usman Yusuf, this is not the best of times.

    His suspension, the second in less than 18 months, has pitted workers’ unions within the scheme against one another.

    The embattled NHIS boss had showed up at work a day after his ‘indefinite suspension’ last Thursday by the scheme’s Governing Council.

    The unions staged protests and counter-protests on Monday.

    Security agents had hectic time controlling the organised protests staged by three unions at the NIHS Abuja headquarters by pro and anti-Yusuf.

    The unions are the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) and Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU).

    According to the Governing Council, Yusuf was suspended over alleged gross misconduct.

    Other allegations against him include: fraud and severe infractions, public procurement infringement, unlawful staff posting, willful defiance of Council directives, violation of Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy and superfluous arrogation of projects.

    Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole had on July 6, last year suspended Yusuf over similar allegations.

     

    Students’ union bodies plan protest

     

    The National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) said it has mobilised and concluded plans to storm the NHIS office with other students unions tomorrow.

    The mission is to sack Yusuf from office.

    The students’ union body said, aside the fraud and sundry allegations against Yusuf, “Tertiary Institution Students’ Health Insurance Program (TSHIP) under the NHIS supervision has become another fraud and scam”.

    In a press statement by its spokesman Ibrahim Olawale Seriki, NUNS said: “While this is considered as bad precedence for our generation and those unborn, NUNS, National Association of University (NAUS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has jointly resolved to launch an action against this shameful act targeted at rubbishing the integrity of dear country and administration of President Muhammadu Buhari particularly as we approach electioneering year.

    “The NHIS ES earlier suspension by Health minister in July 2017 was over N919 million fraud allegations which he refused to honor until his controversial reinstatement in February 2018 by the Presidency.

    “The TSHIP under the supervision of NHIS has become another fraud and scam, it is best described as gambling on students’ lives, students are forced to pay the sum of N3, 500 each per session for TSHIP a charge increased recently from N2, 500 with approval of NHIS despite it woeful effectiveness and serial complains of poor and inconsistent fulfilment of statutory roles of HMOs by Students across the country.

    “Students have not benefited from this programme as expected, students die on daily basis following poor implementation of TSHIP, it is assumed to be a conspiracy between NHIS management and HMOs to defraud the students as well endanger their lives as we bank on imaginary health insurance policy (policy which does not work in real sense).

    “A student of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo State, is medically stranded with no aid from TSHIP; the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, lost a student to reckless TSHIP; the Federal University of Technology Minna lost a student to the same failed insurance program; a 100 level student of the University of Abuja died recently over ineffective TSHIP, just as a student of same university (a victim/survival of an accident with permanent disability) is yet to get compensation and one is still financially stranded in National Hospital as we speak among many others too numerous to mention.

    “The incessant refusal of executive secretary to suspension to pave the way for a thorough investigation is a pointer to guilt and culpability stand of the ES even before the investigation, hence, the students’ move to act in defence of the constituted authority and restoration of sanity in our system towards complimenting the effort of Federal Governments’ fight against corruption and most ultimately to end the failed TSHIP and continuous murder of students by HMOs under the NHIS supervision with ineffective and fraudulent TSHIP programme.

    “Nigerian students, lovers of justice, admirer of rule of law, crusaders of due process and life savers are hereby invited to join us as we move to eject the adamant suspected Fraudulent ES who is refusing to stay aside from office for investigation on tomorrow (Thursday, October 25,)

    “Our prayers are the immediate vacation of the ES from office until investigation is concluded and immediate probe of TSHIP Programme and discontinuation of the program by NHIS.”

    But the Federal Government reinstated him on February 6, 2018, after an administrative panel found him not guilty of the allegations of abuse of office and maladministration.

    Yusuf officially resumed work on February 8, 2018, after he was given the clean bill.

    A protest staged by members of the NHIS chapter of ASCSN to prevent Yusuf from gaining access into the office, was countered by their NCSU colleagues.

    The situation that almost degenerated into security breach was however contained with the intervention of a combined team of police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

    But the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu yesterday said the Presidency has stepped into the NHIS crisis.

    Shehu, who featured on Channels Television Sunrise Daily in Abuja, said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha and Health Minister Prof Isaac Adewole, had intervened in the NHIS crisis with a view to finding lasting solutions.

    The SSA noted with regret that the NHIS crisis had been ethnicised and politicised by some interest groups within and outside the agency.

    Shehu said: “Did the board follow due process in suspending this gentleman? There are opinions that said ‘no they haven’t’.

    “Again, we all have to do the right thing all of the times. I don’t deny the fact that there is a lot of work to do – (the crisis) is complicated by the fact that the whole thing about the NHIS has been ethnicised and politicised.

    “Even a political party was issuing a statement on matters that are unknown to it. I’ll tell you one thing, as we speak now, you know that no matter whatever mistakes this gentleman may have made, and that is to be proven because I don’t have the records to say yes or no, he has launched a major reform in that institution, which had blocked access to public resources.

    “Money from the NHIS is not money belonging to government, it is money taken from your salary, from my salary.

    “If we have been enlisted, we are supposed to get treatments when we fall ill. Then, you should ask the question, in 13 years of the NHIS, how many Nigerians have received the treatments.

    “Yet, you have HMOs, these vendors, taking N5 billion every month, money that is just being shared and somebody came and said, `look, this can’t go on’ and with strong support from this administration, the N5 billion has been reduced to N1.3 billion.

     

     

    “And even at then, the administration is not satisfied. We want to see healthcare delivered to the citizens of this country. So, there is a lot of work to do.’’

    The presidential aide, who stated that he was not in the position to challenge the allegations of wrong doings levelled against the executive secretary in some quarters, however, maintained that the two chambers of the National Assembly had previously cleared the executive secretary of the allegations against him.

    He also dismissed the accusation of “double standard” by the Buhari administration while dealing with cases of corruption being levelled against public servants or political office holders in the country.

    According to him, it was wrong to compare the case of former SGF Babachir Lawal to that of the NHIS scribe.

    “Well, there is no double standard there either than to say that the pictures that the government is looking at, many Nigerians, perhaps, may not be seeing those pictures,’’ he added.

     

    Fading faith in scheme

     

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) yesterday called on the government to strengthen Nigerians’ faith in the scheme.

    The Association, which described the health insurance scheme as a vital tool in the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage, harped on the urgent need to improve enrolment to the scheme, which is currently put at less than five per cent coverage.

    Oyo NMA Chairman, Dr. Akin Sodipo made the call yesterday at the NMA House at a press conference to kick-off the weeklong annual event to celebrate medical and dental practitioners in the country.

    The event christened: “2018 Physicians Week” which is to run from October 21 to 27, is said to be “in recognition of the sacrifices and dedication to the wellness of their immediate communities and the Nation at large, and to also look at those factors that militate against the provision of effective healthcare by the Nigerian doctors.”

    The celebration themed: “Universal Health Coverage- Leaving no one behind”, according to Sodipo is chosen after analysing key issues affecting “our health care delivery system vis-à-vis quality of lives of Nigerians and in line with the aims and objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015.”

    He said the UHC will enable everybody and all communities access the needed promotional, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services.

    Sodipo said: “The healthcare delivery in our country is still largely out of pocket which constitutes about 70 per cent of our health expenditure as opposed to the recommended 30-40, abysmal low coverage by NHIS which is still less than five percent, poor budgetary allocation to health (less than five per cent of the total budget), inequitable distribution of human resources for health with inverse distribution of health personnel compared with the population with over 70 per cent of health personnel serving 30 percent urban dwellers as against less than 20 per cent health personnel serving over 70 per cent population living in our rural areas, generally low doctor/health workers to patients ratio, low per capita income, poor access to healthcare facilities among others.

    “In recognition of the importance of health financing in the achievement of UHC, a fundamental strategy to address our abysmal poor health indices, there is urgent need to improve enrolment in our National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) from the current less than five per cent coverage. Nigerians are increasingly losing hope in NHIS as a tool, which is vital to the attainment of UHC.

    “To achieve UHC, it is, therefore, important to strengthen the NHIS and explore other health care financing system like community-based health insurance which some states have keyed into. This scheme will significantly cater for the informal sector especially the rural dwellers.

    “There is also the need to ensure that our leaders muster enough political will for quality and effective healthcare services in Nigeria.”

    The NMA also called on the Federal Government to immediately constitute the council of the MDCAN and its sister profession, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN).

     

    House investigate suspension of NHIS boss

    The crisis rocking the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) got the attention of the House of Representatives yesterday. The Green Chamber said it will investigate the suspension of the scheme’s Executive Secretary, Prof Usman Yusuf.

    The House passed a resolution to raise an ad-hoc committee to investigate the issue.

    The House resolution was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion of urgent importance by a member, Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa) on the floor yesterday.

    Moving the motion, the lawmaker said the latest NHIS crisis came barely five months after the executive secretary was ‘controversially’ reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari from an indefinite suspension slammed on him by his supervising  Health ministry on July 2017 over similar alleged gross misconduct, corruption and nepotism.

    Douye noted that the suspended executive secretary flouted the authority of the NHIS Council by violently breaking into the Abuja Head Office of the Scheme on Monday, “aided by almost 50 heavily armed policemen and overpowered the security men.

    “The staff at the premises, including women were indiscriminately teargassed and manhandled.”

    “This very critical sector, on which the hope of our universal health delivery is  hinged, far from being a theatre of health it has degenerated into a theatre of war, with so many scandals in recent times.”

    Duoye’s colleagues condemned the scandals while contributing to the debate, with a member, Tobi Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu), lamenting: “this government claims to come and fight corruption but it is so sad that this impunity is happening”.

    Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau), however, cautioned his colleagues not to be judgmental since the motion is investigative.

    According to him, “it does not need debating as it is investigative in nature.”

    When Speaker Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed by the majority.

     

    Council threatens to resign if suspension is reversed

    •Leave us out of your problems, HMOs tells ES

    The crisis took a fresh dimension yesterday as members of the Governing Council threatened to vacate office should the presidency reversed Yusuf’s suspension and investigation of infractions against him.

    This is as the Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) urged the executive secretary to leave it out of its problems with the scheme governing council.

    Announcing the suspension last Thursday, the council said the executive secretary would not be allowed into the office premises for the administrative panel investigating the allegations to do a thorough job.

    But, the executive secretary insisted that the council lacked the power to suspend him, hence their directive to him to proceed on indefinite strike would not stand. Challenging the council, Yusuf argued that only the President who appointed him has the power to remove him from office.

    Speaking to The Nation on the lingering issue, a source within the scheme doubted the possibility of council members working with the NHIS boss given their experience with him.

    The source who pleaded for anonymity noted that Yusuf was in the habit of flouting the directives of the council.

    Responding to the question on what would be the council’s next line of action should the Presidency quash the suspension and investigation instituted against the NHIS boss, the source said: “You see, one thing is clear, since this council was inaugurated till date, nothing has happened at the scheme. No instruction given to the ES was carried out. So, if he should be reinstated by the Federal Government, it is clear that the council and the ES can’t work together. So, we have to review that relationship.”

    When pressed further to know if the council members would resign, the board member said: “We will walk away. We cannot work with him anymore. The council will work away. We can’t work together.

    “The issue is this, in the course of this discussion; we need to clarify who has the superior power. The council formulates policies, serves as checks and balances to the management of all agencies.

    “So, if there are infractions, it is the prerogative of the council to question those infractions and investigate those infractions and whoever is been investigated shouldn’t be seating on the council as at that time. So the law is very clear about that.”

    Reacting to some of the allegations against the Council by Deji Adeyanju, a social crusader, Lekan Ewenla, representative of the HMOs on the Board of the NHIS governing council said there was no correlation between the HMOs and the infractions raised against the executive secretary.

  • Youth entrepreneurship: NGOs to the rescue

    Youth empowerment and entrepreneurship are critical to eliminating extreme poverty and ensuring economic growth. Some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are working to offer youths Gskills to start their own businesses. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) said more than 66 million young people aged between 15 and 24 across the world are unemployed.

    Nigeria is one of the nations affected, with unemployed youths accounting for more than half its unemployed population. This, according to experts, has made the need to increase skills training for youths compelling.

    Already, some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have risen to the challenge. One of them is Afterschool Centre for Career Development (ACCD), a non-governmental, capacity development organisation committed to inspiring, investing in, and engaging young people.

    The NGO, which also facilitates growth opportunities for youth start-ups, was designed to encourage faster private sector growth by providing grants for start-ups; improving vocational training, and providing opportunities for retraining and volunteering.

    Specifically, the organisation is exploring opportunities in alternative energy solutions sector, where it targets solar power to create jobs for youths. According to the NGO, solar energy has great job opportunities.

    Faculty Lead, Afterschool Centre for Career Development, Miss Esther Eshiet, said the organisation was tackling youth unemployment and lack of energy access by training graduates in clean energy entrepreneurship.

    She said the organisation had launched Unwana, a national solar jobs project, which is part of its green jobs programme aimed at creating awareness, catalysing market demand and training skilled solar engineers and entrepreneurs to provide after sales services.

    This intervention, Eshiet said, will improve the uptake of solar energy solutions and greatly reduce dependency on fossil fuel.

    Delivered in partnership with ASteven Group and Verge Development Solutions, she said the solar engineering training will provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in the solar energy field and become successful solar energy entrepreneurs and engineers.

    Eshiet added that the entrepreneurs will take part in practical activities to understand what can go wrong during the installation, the required panels, quality of products, and problems to look out for, among others.

    She said the organisation was keen on equipping solar entrepreneurs with all the right tools required to run their businesses.

    According to her, the beneficiaries will be able to launch their own sustainable energy enterprises to earn money for themselves while expanding energy access in their communities.

    Beyond the training component, Eshiet said the project was also providing start-up investment loans of up to N1 million to trainee solar engineers and entrepreneurs.

    ACCD is also focusing on improving the employability of graduates through volunteer and internship opportunities.

    The organisation has created an online platform called Opportunity Hub that links young people to available resources.

    Through the platform, it provides information on conferences, post-graduate degrees, vacancies and skills-development opportunities. It currently has more than 42, 000 subscribers on the platform.

    The Faculty Lead said the organisation has developed an e-mentoring programme, which enables young people have access to career services online through Opportunity Hub. It also allows them gain personal support and mentorship to realise their professional dreams.

    Another area the NGO has broken new grounds was in promoting access to finance for start-ups.  In collaboration with Heritage Bank and PIND Foundation, Afterschool Centre for Career Development held an ‘Access to Finance Workshop’ to expose Nigerians to the numerous funding opportunities available for entrepreneurs in high impact sectors.

    The sectors include manufacturing, technology, agriculture, real estate and retail. The workshop was attended by 121 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Calabar, Cross River State.

    The organisation also held a digital summer academy, where winners emerged at the end of the Academy’s Pitch Fest programme.

    One of them included Emilia Omini Okoi, who won the first prize with her idea, tagged ‘Revamp,’ an online portal to teach people to reuse and recycle their existing wares to wealth.  Her first prize included an HP Laptop and a six- month incubation and data support.

    The second prize winner, Francis Benjamin, won an HP Laptop, three months incubation and data support for his BandAid idea – a content curation platform for life bands and entertainers nationally.

    Third prize winner, Precious Inyang, won a Lenovo IdeaPad laptop, one month incubation and data support for Readlearn- a targeted learning platform for young people preparing for examinations.

    The Runner ups for the fourth and fifth prizes went to Smith Nkereuwem of Jalo App and Keyu Patrick, for her gerontology service idea for retired civil servants.

    Similarly, Start Hub, a tech incubator, based in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, is driving the growth of innovative digital companies.

    Start Hub is a lab with business centre facilities and all-in-one-open-space for entrepreneurs to leverage on Nigeria’s strength and capitalize on opportunities in the global economy.

    Its aim was to stimulate economic growth in the tech community by providing key ingredients like seed funding, mentorship and access to business expertise.

    Others are networking opportunities, peer review, pitch development, product testing and introduction to investors.

    As part of its entrepreneurship project, Start Innovation Hub is providing business training to young entrepreneurs.

    Its Founder, Johnson Hanson, said the hub conducts training programmes to tackle youth unemployment through entrepreneurship.

    According to him, the hub trains, nurtures, and supports entrepreneurs as they launch, grow and operate successful businesses.

    Hanson said the support he received from actors in the national and global start-up ecosystem and his participation in international fora where young entrepreneurs are given the right opportunities and support were crucial to his success.

    He said of all the ICT Hubs in Akwa-Ibom, Facebook chose Start-Innovation hub as its key partner, and that so far, more than 500 youths have been trained on entrepreneurship and ICT. There are over 145 people in the hub.

    Hanson believes that through greater investment and capacity building in digital literacy and skills development, Nigeria will be able to narrow employment gaps and create an environment in which everyone can thrive in the marketplace.

    Working with Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE), the hub has also been able to empower women in the region to start and run businesses using digital tools, ensure full, non-discriminatory education and skills training, and broaden access to finance and markets.

    The aim was, according to Hanson, was to promote women’s economic empowerment as a catalyst for growth in all sectors and also boost employment.

    Having graduated from the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, with a major in Engineering, Johnson has over time developed himself to an information and communication technology (ICT) expert. He is now a role model for youths seeking a career in ICT.

    As a tech entrepreneur, Johnson is following his dream to shape the future of tech entrepreneurship in Africa.

  • Economy: Automobile investments to the rescue

    To the Federal Government, turning the economy around is a task that must be accomplished. It has adopted an automotive policy that will restore assembly plants, develop local content and reduce pressure on the balance of payment. Edo State Government has keyed into the diversification strategy by sealing a $500 million auto assembly plant deal with Chinese investors. COLLINS NWEZE writes on the deal’s expected impact on the economy.

    WHERE is global focus on the automobile industry. The sector is being watched with keen interest as an engine of growth with capacity to generate employment opportunities.

    Besides, it is viewed as a sector that can encourage the growth of other satellite industries, enhance technology transfer and serve as catalyst for the expansion of the economy. And the Federal Government is not leaving anything to chance. It is beaming the searchlight on the sector as part of ways to diversify the economy from oil.

    As a matter of fact, the government plans to revamp the automobile policy and set up auto parks to promote the sector, the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah has disclosed.

    Speaking at the Nigeria-German Business Forum in Lagos, the minister said the government will also grant fiscal incentives, including a five-year tax holiday for pioneer foreign businesses.

    “Revamping the auto policy is in the works. The auto-policy is being finanalised and signed into law,” he said, adding that the turnaround in auto-industry will happen very soon.

    According to the minister, the government will continue to support foreign companies operating in Nigeria through fiscal incentives.

    Many states are already helping the government to explore business and economic opportunities in the automobile industry.

    Edo Automotive Industry Investment Forum

    The administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki recently organised the Edo Automotive Industry Investment Forum as part of efforts to link the vast economic opportunities in the global auto industry.

    The forum was in line with the state’s economic diversification strategy, in addition to the $500 million auto assembly plant deal between Edo State Government and Chinese investors.

    At the forum, the first of its kind in Benin City, were 36 chief executive officers of leading global auto brands and component suppliers. They include representatives of BMW, NISSAN, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, Bosch, Jaguar, and Deloitte, a consulting company as well as Uber.

    Others were representatives of the global auto makers, including: Graffiti SA, Nissan, Toyota, Deloitte, Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA), Automotive Industry Development Center, DataDot Technology, Standard Bank of South Africa, International Finance Corporation and Afropulse Group.

    The meeting between the Edo State government and chief executives of German, Japanese, American, British and other European car manufacturers, was premised on the emerging investor-friendly climate in the state and how the companies can leverage on the Benin Auto Park’s proximity to the Benin Industrial Park.

    The forum offered the opportunity to unveil the state government’s agenda for the auto sector and the opportunities for investors. The prospective investors had the opportunity to visit the auto trading site on Sapele Road and the future trading site at the Industrial Park, also on Sapele Road.

    It also featured a session on the state government’s blueprint for the automotive sector which includes job creation for Edo people, the local sourcing of car components amid an environment of high exchange rate regime and volatility, which makes local sourcing of components cost-effective.

    In his presentation, Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen South Africa, Thomas Scheafer, said: “We have the mandate of our parent companies to be here. What we are trying to do in Nigeria is to reach out in a brotherly fashion and say to you, ‘come on, let’s get this done.’ For years, we have been discussing with the government. But, now, we are committed to finding out ways on how to get Nigeria to where it should be and play its role on the continent.

    “Edo State will be the nucleus for us as Nigeria as a large automotive industry that is worth exploring. Nigeria is good for at least two million cars a year. That will multiply the jobs on the continent. So where does it start?

    Speaking on Governor Obaseki’s commitment to driving the state’s diversification as a major pull, he said: “We invested in Rwanda, one of the smallest countries on the continent. Why? Because they have great policies and because they wanted to create employment. In Rwanda, we put our money where our mouth is. We are ready to invest in Nigeria and today, we are happy with what we have seen in Edo State and the commitment of the governor.”

    Director, Sales/Operations, Nissan South Africa, Jim Dando, said the automotive industry was excited about the wave of diversification in Nigeria, particularly in the automotive sector, noting that it was great news that Edo State government was taking the lead.

    He said: “We have been discussing the industrialisation of Nigeria for some time now. With the previous government, we were able to create an industrial and automotive policy. What we need to do now is to put the automotive policy in place and drive it with states like Edo.”

    To the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Jelani Aliyu, the Benin Auto Park has at least two scenarios for growth, “with this support by the state government, I see the state becoming a hotbed for automobile sales. The first instance will see the state grow from supplying used cars to brand new cars. Also, we see the influx of automobile component makers, who are also here.”

    Obaseki told investors that the state has a thriving automotive market that services the Niger Delta market, parts of the North and even South Western Nigeria, as “Benin City boasts of a stock of not less than half a million cars. We want the companies to work within and even go beyond what the national automotive council provides.

    According to Aliyu, across the globe, the automotive industry plays both strategic and catalytic role in economic development with its contribution to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

    For instance in South Africa, the auto industry alone contributes seven per cent of GDP as it is considered as critical component of the economy where it generates 350,000 jobs translating as the second largest employer of labour. The industry also boasts of a market of 600,000 new cars with zero importation with 12 per cent of exports.

    In Egypt, it employs directly and indirectly, 600,000 people in and attracted an investment of over $5 billion. It is the second source of foreign exchange after the Suez Canal.

    The auto industry plays extensive role in driving the growth and development of Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises (MSMEs) with respect to automotive parts, components and services and the attendant job creation. The Benin Auto Park will contribute to the plan by the Obaseki-led administration to support the growth of over 20, 000 micro, small and medium enterprises in addition to the creation of over 50, 000 associated jobs in the next four years.

    During a visit to auto dealers on the Benin-Sapele Highway by participants at the forum, a dealer with Idris and Sons Motors told the delegation that the corridor hosts at least 100 dealers, with thousands of vehicles in their inventory.

    Road to industrilisation

    Building an industrialised society demands a great deal of work. Aside the need for strong, supportive structures that drive innovation and mechanisation of process, there is also the unyielding vision of a leader to drive the process and ensure that in the long run, the vision is sustained.

    Hence, many industrial societies are sustained by formidable structures and institutions that ensure not only ample supply of human resources but also drive innovation among the populace.

    So, in a case where the focus is to ramp up manufacturing, it is only logical to groom the manpower, attract investors, and create the enabling environment for everyone to work harmoniously with the right policy framework.

    In Edo, Obaseki has his eyes on the ball. With a daunting vision to recast the state as an industrial hub in Nigeria, he is pulling every available string to attract investors, build local capacity and create wealth for the state and its people.

    The governor’s vision for driving industrial growth and development revolves around the belief that local capacity development is essential. This conviction informed his prioritisation of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which according to him, is the bedrock of the vision to transform Edo into an industrial hub.

    To achieve this, the government under his watch, has embarked on the construction of workshops, classrooms, laboratories, resource centres and purchase of top-of-the-range equipment for the Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), in Benin City, formerly known as Benin Technical College.

    The reconstruction work will equip the college with requisite equipment for world-class technical and vocational education and training. The redesigning of the college is aimed at developing local capacity for the companies that are setting up in the state.

    As part of the state’s industrialisation drive, the rehabilitation of the college will provide a facility for model technical education to produce critical technical manpower for industries making in-roads into the state, in the wake of a spike in investments by manufacturing companies, among others.

    As part of the reconstruction work, nine existing buildings will be refurbished, while four classroom blocks, two workshops, a specialist training centre as well as general site for works and services, will be constructed.

    The college will be fitted with equipment that would enable students obtain skills and knowledge in various aspects of vocational education to enable them act as drivers of the industrialisation policy in the state in line with global trends.

     

    •To be Continued

  • NCWS urges governemnt to rescue Dapchi girls

    NCWS urges governemnt to rescue Dapchi girls

    The National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has urged the Federal Government to do everything within its powers to rescue the abducted Dapchi school girls.

    President of the society, Mrs. Gloria Shoda, made the call in a statement in Abuja. She said the abduction was a national embarrassment.

    She advised President Muhammadu Buhari to act quickly to avoid a repeat of the 2014 Chibok girls’s saga.

    110 students of Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, were abducted by suspected insurgents on February 19.

    The incident came four years after the same terror group invaded a female school in Chibok, Borno State, and took more than 200 girls into captivity.

    More than 100 of the girls are still in captivity despite repeated promises by the government to ensure their release.

    The statement reads: ”We are pained as mothers to see another group of our children being abducted by the sect. It is most unfortunate that it is happening again after the Chibok experience.

    “We are yet to overcome the Chibok abduction saga, and having another is a very sad happening in our lives as mothers. How long will we continue to live in fear of our children being abducted by?

    “We need the Federal Government and security agencies to do all they can in the shortest time possible to rescue our daughters. We won’t watch the sect destroy the lives of our daughters.”

    She also urged the Federal and state governments to prioritise security of schools to stem further attacks.

  • Food security: local rice production to the rescue

    Food security: local rice production to the rescue

    The involvement of states in rice production is boosting the Federal Government’s policy on the diversification of economy from oil to solid minerals and agriculture.  DANIEL ESSIET writes on how local rice production has not only reduced capital flight but crashed the price of the commodity.

    After training as an economist in the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom (UK), Rotimi Williams came to Nigeria on a visit His destination was Nasarawa State, where he was attracted to rice production.  He decided to give it a try.

    Today, Williams farm – Kereksuk Rice Farm – is one of the largest commercial farms not only in Nasarawa State, but in the country.

    He explored technologies on how to become a successful rice grower and since then, there has been no looking back. Though he spends a lot on irrigation, he records good returns at the end.

    Despite the hitches, including as labour shortage, depleted soil cover, pest attacks and lack of marketing infrastructure to sell the produce, he has become famous in rice production.

    The collateral effect of the unending clashes between itinerant herders and farmers in neighbouring Benue State notwithstanding, Williams has become a part of the rice revolution in the country.

    The growing interests of individuals and corporate organisations in rice production have a long-term and sustainable future for thousands of young and old folks.

    According to government sources, about 15 million metric tonnes of rice were produced locally last year,

    Making the claim at the inauguration of the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) in the state, the Director of Agriculture in the Kano office of the Federal Ministry of Agricultural, Muhammad Adamu, said that in Kano alone, 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice was produced in 2016.

    Although the Federal Government has set a 95 per cent self-sufficiency target in rice, only 50 per cent of rice consumption is currently being met locally.

    A whopping N365 billion of the government’s hard-earned resources goes into rice importation, The Nation learnt.

    The question on the lips of many is: “Why spend such huge amount of money on rice importation when the country has the potential of growing enough rice to support her growing population and generate surplus that can be exported?”

    The tonnage of rice being produced in the northern states of Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara, Jigawa and Sokoto, is insufficient for the estimated 180 million population.

    But more states governments are buying into rice farming, as some state governments have acquired thousands of hectares of land to boost rice production in their respective domains.

    The states include: Anambra, Niger, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, Delta, Kwara, Kogi, Anambra and Ogun.

    As of the last count, only two out of the 36 of states are yet to embrace rice production. Many of the states now plant thrice yearly.

    Kano

    Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said his administration is proritising rice cultivation. He told reporters in a chat of his plan to replace the age-long groundnut pyramids with rice pyramids.

    Besides, rice, Ganduje assured his administration will continue to provide the right environment to encourage massive production of rice, wheat and tomatoes.

    He assured that rice farmers would be provided with said with incentives to increase production.

    Kebbi

    In the Northwest state of Kebbi, rice production has become a success story. The government has earmarked about N10 billion for the establishment of a rice mill.  The production capacity of the proposed mill is 100,000 tonnes annually. It will be complimented with silos with capacity to store 18,000 tonnes of paddy and a warehouse for storing additional 12,000 tonnes of paddy.

    The facilities are expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 3,500 people and its procurement will reach out to 50,000 farmers.

    Katsina

    Going by its claim, Katsina State Government has sunk N200 million into rice and cotton production under the Anchor Borrowers Programme.

    Governor Aminu Masari’s Special Adviser on Agriculture, Dr. Abba Abdullahi, told reporters in Katsina:  “We have rice and cotton farmers that collected the CBN loan under the Anchor Borrowers Programme to boostrice and cotton production and the programme needs supervision.

    “We used the funds to supervise and inspect all the rice and cotton farms in the 34 local government areas of the state.

    Ogun

    Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Adepeju Adebajo identified agriculture as one of Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration’s cardinal programme.

    She said a lot of investment had gone into the sector since the inception of the administration.

    According to her, the administration is encouraging the production of indigenous variety OFADA. She said the government will leave no stone unturned to promote and improve the production of OFADA brand.

    The commissioner added that the production of Nerica 8 and Faro (short and long grains) varieties would be promoted to domesticate in the Gateway State, the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) launched last year by the Federal Government to reboot the economy.

    The state, through direct intervention and assistance from development partners including: World Bank through FADAMA and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), has recorded a quantum leap in rice production.

    Apart from the direct public sector supported intervention, the efforts of other private sector smallholder farmers in various farmlands across the state have all contributed to the success story.

    Imo

    The Imo State government is taking a cue from Lagos State as it has announced a plan to go into a partnership with Kebbi State. Its Governor Rochas Okorocha said that such partnership has become imperative to tackle the prevailing economic situation. According to him, the partnership programme would majorly be in rice production.

    LAKE Rice

    The brand name is derived from the partnership between Lagos and Kebbi states. At the inception of his administration, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode struck a a rice production deal with his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu. The result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two states in Lagos on March 23, 2016, on the production and distribution of rice, is the LAKE Rice which has become a household name in Centre of Excellence and some parts in the Southwest.

    At the signing, Governor Bagudu said: “Nigeria cannot afford to continually depend on imported rice. What we are doing is to pioneer a collaboration that will bring other states on board later as we believe that our potentials are enormous and we must have pacesetters to start that process of joint collaboration for our collective good.”

    His host said: “Lagos is the largest consumer of food commodities in the country by virtue of its large population. The state has the market with the required purchasing power. The state has an estimated consumption of 798,000 metric tons of milled rice per year which is equivalent to 15.96 million of 50 kilogram bags with a value of N135 billion per annum.

    “We have the economic prowess to produce rice locally. The era of imported rice is gone. The reality is for all of us to embrace the consumption of local food and commodities. Lagos State presently consumes 6,000 heads of cattle daily which may increase to 8,000 in the next five years.”

    Anambra

    The story has changed for Anambra State, which was producing only 80,000 metric tonnes of rice per annum. “We have since tripled that production volume”,  Governor Willie Obiano said, adding “from a yield of 244,235.25 metric tonnes of rice that we achieved in 2016, we have increased our production output to 322,000 metric tons per annum.

    “With this achievement, we have effectively surpassed our annual consumption figure of 320,000 metric tons in the state. We are not relenting. We are waiting for more investors. The Committee on Land Acquisition has earmarked 67,000 hectares of land that will be given out to big farmers who want to set up large mechanized farms in Anambra State.”

    Kogi

    The Kogi State government has renewed its commitment to embrace the Federal Government’s policy on agricultural revolution policy. It Governor Yahaya Bello said the commitment has begun to yield positive results, assuring that its rice will soon bridge the gap between demand and supply across the nation.

    Bello’s media aide Kingsley Fanwo said in Lokoja during an appraisal of the state government’s agricultural plan that “we are poised to strengthen our lead in cashew production as well as take over the leading role in cassava and rice production, because of our comparative advantage in these crops. Kogi State has declared a state of emergency in the agricultural sector long before the unstable revenue generation in the state. The visionary administration has placed agriculture on the front burners of its economic prosperity plan known as the New Direction Agenda.

    “A massive revolution is going on across the state in the area of rice production. Kampe Omi Dam Project is breathing down on the leading rice producers in the country.  Our rice mill is near completion and by the end of the year, the nation will be shocked by the magnitude of work put in place to ensure rice sufficiency in the country.

    “We are also working on the Ibaji Rice Farm, which has the potential of causing a revolution in the nation’s rice production. We attach great importance to the value chain and the multiplier effect agriculture can have on the economy of our dear state.”

    Ebonyi

    Ebonyi produces over 1.2 million tonnes of rice annually. The state has 72, 000 hectares for rice plantation with a target of six tonnes per hectare production.

    The government said it has borrowed N10 billion from the Federal Government to finance agricultural activities.

    Its Governor Dave Umahi said the loan would be used to support farmers, especially, those involved in rice production.

    He said the state plans to establish mega rice cities in the various local government areas to boost rice production.

    Umahi said: “We want to domesticate rice production in Ebonyi State and we are going beyond individual production.

    “We are now beginning to see how we can institute what we call rice mega cities in each local government area where by we have 5,000 hectares of land dedicated for rice production in each of our local government areas.

    “Already, we have four rice mills that are in operation and you also see private people that are milling with their traditional machines. We are planning to cultivate 100,000 hectares of land to produce 400,000 tonnes of rice in the next two years.

    Benue

    The Benue State government accounts for 1.5 million metric tonness of rice to reduce the national rice consumption deficit of 4.3 million metric tonnes.

    Governor Samuel Ortom said the state is working to meet the national food supply needs.

    Nasarawa

    The Nasarawa State government is collaborating with the Pakistani Government on the production of basmati rice production and new rice seedlings have been procured from Pakistan.

    Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura broke the news at the fifth combined convocation of Nasarawa State University. He said: “New rice seedlings from Pakistan have been procured and I have already directed the commissioner of agriculture to start experimenting on the possibility of Nasarawa becoming a basmati rice producer as our efforts to add value to the system.”

    The power of commercial rice production

    Farmers in Kebbi and Lagos are leading the way in commercial rice production, benefiting from new seedlings and marketing opportunities that have helped them to overcome climate stresses and fend for their families.

    The partnership between the states has helped rice farmers to adopt better crop varieties, use water more efficiently and adapt to climate change.

    It has also promoted post-harvest technologies like rice milling and packaging, processing activities and stronger links with input dealers and micro-finance institutions.

    The project gives households opportunities to raise their income by developing new rice-based products like rice flour and husks for fuel and exploring the use of rice in fortified foods, including vitamin-rich cereals.

    With renewed government interests in the rice production sector in recent years, Lagos has the potential of becoming a rice granary.

    But, making this a reality requires the strengthening of rural infrastructure including roads, irrigation and milling and processing facilities, as well as boosting the farmers’ ability to market their produce.

    Impact of states’ involvement

    The President, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aminu Goronyo, said annual rice production in Nigeria has increased from 5.5 million tonnes in 2015 to 5.8 million tonnes in 2017.

    He said that in 2015, Nigerians spent below N1 billion on rice consumption, adding that while spending has drastically reduced, consumption had increased because of increased local production of the commodity.

    “The consumption rate now is 7.9 million tonnes and the production rate has increased to 5.8 tonnes per annum.’’

    Goronyo said, adding “the nation is making reasonable progress”.

    According to him, the annual rice production in Nigeria has increased, attributing it to the  CBN’s Anchor Borrowers Programme(ABP) with a total of 12 million rice producers and four million hectares of FADAMA rice land.

    Since the introduction of the programme, many states have created economic linkage between smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors, thereby increasing agricultural outputs and significantly improving capacity utilisation of processors.

    To stakeholders, the involvement of states in rice farming could take millions of Nigerians out of poverty and reposition the economy.

    Speaking on the development, the Project Director of Cassava Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA II) Project, Prof. Kolawole Adebayo, predicted an overall increase in rice production.

    He said: “Younger and commercially-oriented farmers will be encouraged to go into rice production. Nigeria‘s rice production potential will be boosted. Value chain opportunities supporting rice production will also contribute to the nation’s economy.”

    Mandate for growth

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the value of importation has declined by 83 per cent within the last three years from N107.7 billion in 2014 to 17.9 billion in 2016, NBS data state.

    The numbers of rice mills (both integrated and cottage) have increased by more than 50 per cent as the government and private sector continue to make more investments in processing.

    The average crop yield per hectare of the crop has risen from 2.5 metric tonnes per hectare to an average of four and five metric tonnes of the same acreage, owing to renewed government commitment.

    The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme

    The ABP, launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015 in Kebbi State, is targeted at creating a linkage between anchor companies involved in the processing and SHFs of the required key agricultural commodities.

    The fund was from the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Fund. The ABP evolved from series of consultations with stakeholders, comprising federal ministry of agriculture and rural development, state governors, millers of agricultural produce and smallholder farmers to boost agricultural production.

    Goronyo said that under the ABP, RIFAN in the next 24 months would commence rice importation to West African countries as the necessary arrangements had been put in place.

    He said: “For self-sufficiency, adequate and enough paddy for production ABP, which started in Kebbi state has been extended to 26 states. As a step further, RIFAN is in collaboration with some agencies to replicate the CBN APB programme in some states to increase production.’’

    Local rice production: $600 million saved

    A whopping $600 million (about N216 billion) is believed to have been saved from the importation of rice alone from Thailand and other countries since the nation’s domestic mass production flooded the markets under the ABP.

    Agriculture & Rural Development Minister Audu Ogbeh said rice imports from Thailand had dropped from 644,131 metric tonnes to about 21,000 metric tonnes between September 2015 and September last year.

    Echoing him, Information Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed, said: “In fact, the Thailand Rice Exporters Association has recently revealed that within a spate of just two years – From September 2015 to September 2017 – Nigeria’s rice importation dropped from 644,131 Metric Tonnes to just about 21,000MT.

    “There is more good news to report: As a result of this administration’s success in local production, some investors from Thailand have shown interest in establishing rice milling plants in Nigeria, and this is sure to further boost rice production in Nigeria.

    “Four investors from Thailand are already in discussion with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to establish rice milling plants in Nigeria.

    “You must understand that the investors from Thailand are here because they have lost over 600000 metric tonnes of imported rice into the country and it is a good decision to participate in what is happening here.

    “A few years ago, this would not have been possible since Nigeria was not considered a top rice producing country. Today, Nigeria is one of the largest producers of rice.”

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted Nigeria’s rice imports to fall by 500,000 tonnes to 2.5 million tonnes in 2016, from the previous year’s imports of three million tonnes. The USDA post also forecast that rice imports will drop further by 400,000 tonnes to 2.1 million last year.

    The challenges

    It is not yet Uhuru for local rice production. The bottlenecks at the ends of the production chain have not been totally eliminated.

  • Obasanjo: only ‘popular movement’ can rescue Nigeria

    Obasanjo: only ‘popular movement’ can rescue Nigeria

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reaffirmed his anti-President Muhammadu Buhari battle yesterday in Lagos when he said only a popular movement can enthrone a progressive leadership required to make Nigeria a great country in Africa.

    He said Nigeria had disappointed Africa in providing needed leadership in post-military era.

    Although, the ex-president did not specifically mention any regime, he said the nation deserved a better leadership to enable it play a front role in Africa’s socio-economic growth. He said the way out of the development quagmire is for the masses to form non-partisan “popular movement” that would serve as a credible alternative.

    The former president spoke yesterday at the 15th Lecture and International Leadership Symposium with the theme: Leadership and Performance in Africa: The Challenge of the Continent’s Economic Competitiveness, organised by Centre for Value Leadership (CVL) at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    CVL is a leadership think-tank founded by Prof. Pat Utomi.

    Obasanjo said: “The first generation of leaders in this country, whatever you say about them, gave us independence. They helped in the transition from colonial power to indigenous leadership. Within their knowledge, their experience and exposure, these first generation of leaders did their best. But then, they made mistake, which led to the transition to the military era. Later, there was another transition to democracy.

    The ex-president also said security matter should not be politicised or treated as emotional issue, noting that insecurity does not recognise anyone’s emotion or cultural beliefs. Obasanjo said he disagreed with a statement credited to former United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama, who said Africa needed to build strong institutions and not strong men.

    “I believe we need both strong institutions and strong leaders. If there are no strong leaders, we will not be able to build strong institutions. If strong institutions are established and our leaders are weak, those strong institutions will collapse,” Obasanjo said.

    In a special statement last month, Obasanjo discredited the two main political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He went ahead to form the Coalition for Nigeria Movement.

  • Cyber-armies, others to rescue

    Cyber-armies, others to rescue

    The entire information communication technology (ICT) firmament was taken by surprise last year when the WannaCry and Petya ransomware outbreaks hit businesses globally, causing unprecedented disruption. Serious vulnerabilities, such as BlueBorne, were discovered in almost every connected device. There are emerging trends worth examining as nation-states build walls against cyber espionage activities.

    The Country Manager, Check Point South Africa, Doros Hadjizenonos, said while these large-scale attacks and vulnerabilities dominated news headlines, there were other significant cybersecurity trends developing behind the scenes which could disrupt peoples’ daily lives.

    These trends are the result of increasing reliance on digital technologies, and of government and private-sector organisations collecting and using more and more sensitive personal data, which increases potential for personal loss, when information is stolen or manipulated for criminal or political purposes.

    Hadjizenonos identified these emerging cyber-trends and proffered solution about how to assure preparedness to deal with, and nullify their impact.

     

    Cyber-armies to defend citizens, borders

    We will start to see national governments deploying cyber-armies to protect their interests, and those of their citizens.  These state cyberdefence forces will patrol national Internet infrastructures to protect citizens and critical infrastructures such as power and water utilities, banking networks and more, in much the same way that conventional armies and police forces are used to protect national borders, and keep citizens safe against conventional crime.

    Such defenses against cyberattacks do not need to be elaborate:  80 to 90 per cent of attacks can be prevented with basic security controls, such as firewalling, intrusion prevention, careful network segmentation and regular patching of vulnerabilities.  These measures go a long way to actually preventing attackers from being able to penetrate systems and cause damage.

    During 2018, we will become even more reliant on and immersed in our hyperconnected world.  Every network we use could be targeted wherever we’re connected, and the information we digest manipulated without us being aware of it happening.  Now more than ever, we need to better secure networks and data so that we can trust the services we use, and ensure the integrity of the data we produce and consume.  The future is coming, and we can see what it holds for us – so this time, we need to be ready.

     

    Cryptocurrencies’ regulation

    With the use of cryptocurrencies increasingly associated with criminal and illicit online activity, will we see more stringent regulation start to be applied to them?  They’ve become the payment method of choice for the criminals behind ransomware outbreaks and for funding other illegal activities.

    The significant resource needed to create cryptocurrencies – it’s estimated that one single bitcoin transaction uses as much energy as the average American household consumes in a week – has also driven the emergence of Crypto miners, new quasi-malware tools which are being used to generate revenue by hi-jacking the CPU power of unsuspecting computer users to generate currency, often without the users’ knowledge or consent.

    As the value of Bitcoin has hit an all-time high of $8,000, the systems surrounding these currencies are also likely to be targeted by criminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities  either in the user credentials of cryptocurrency exchanges, or in systems using blockchain technologies.  A combination of these factors could well cause international government and law enforcement agencies to take action over the abuse of cryptocurrencies, which will in turn adversely affect the value of the currency itself.

     

    Fake news

    ‘Fake news’ was recently named one of the words of 2017 by dictionary publisher, Collins.  In recent years, breaching data and posting it publicly has become a common force for (supposed) truth about the activities of individuals, businesses or even countries, exploiting social media to help stories spread rapidly.

    But of course, this same technique is also being used as a weapon to damage reputations and spread propaganda by leaking false information, under the cover story of “we hacked them and got hold of their secret data.”

    Research following the 2016 U.S. Presidential election showed that the most widely-shared news stories during the election were fake.  What’s more, a Stanford University study showed how difficult it is for individuals to distinguish between real news and fake or paid-for content online.  Spreading fake news has been proven to work in influencing and driving public opinion – and we can expect to see this technique increasingly used in 2018.

    To help limit its spread, businesses and government bodies need to better protect and safeguard the data they hold, and we all need to get better at identifying fake news online.

     

    Hacking by legit firms

    Linked to the growing tide of fake news is the use of hacking by legitimate organisations, including businesses and governments, to steal information from or about rivals, or to influence public opinion.  A key example was the hacking attack on the election campaign of French President, Emmanuel Macron, just hours before the polling booths opened.

    We can expect to see more and more ‘trusted’ government and private entities use activities that are normally associated with cybercriminals to gain an advantage over a real or perceived adversary – simply because the reward is considered to be greater than the risks of being found out.  This again highlights the need for all organisations to better protect the data and intellectual property they hold, to stop attackers exploiting it for their own ends.