The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rubber

  • Ogun seeks optimal utilisation of rubber potential

    Ogun seeks optimal utilisation of rubber potential

    The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo has emphasised the need to maximise the potential of the rubber sub-sector to strengthen the economy, boost employment opportunities and enhance foreign exchange.

    Owotomo made this known at a meeting with the Managing Director, of Divine Vision Cash Crop Farmers Limited, Evang. Oluwatosin Jeremiah and the Chairman, National Rubber Producers Processors and Marketing Association, Ogun State Chapter, Mr. Oladele MacDaniel in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    He said rubber production contributes significantly to the economy by providing job opportunities and raw materials for agro-based industries, explaining that Ilushin Rubber Estate in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area was undergoing re-organisation to set the pace for rubber production in the state.

    The Commissioner, according to the Ministry’s Press Officer, Mr. Gbenga Moronfolu, noted that the government was fully aware of the importance of the sub-sector and ready to partner with genuine agricultural investors.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu to flag off N750 million ‘trader money’ for 15,000 beneficiaries on February 14

    Earlier, Evang. Jeremiah stated that the company and others were in the state to identify where they could get a steady supply of rubber and establish a plantation, expressing determination to grow and promote the rubber value chain, towards improving Nigeria’s economy and securing global relevance.

    He solicited the government’s support for land to establish a rubber plantation, promising that his company would produce quality environmentally-friendly products, in line with global best practices.

    On his part, Mr. MacDaniel implored the government to create an avenue for giving out agricultural subsidies to rubber farmers, adding that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) should be enhanced to develop the sub-sector.

  • Codeine: Blanket ban can cause loss of 23,000 jobs – union

    Workers in the chemical and non-metallic sector on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government against blanket ban of codeine to save the nation about 23,000 jobs.

    Mr Babatunde Olatunji, the President of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLAMPE) made the plea while answering questions from journalists in Lagos.

    Olatunji decried the impact the ban would have on job creation and urged the Federal Government to find a way of controlling the use of codeine rather than an outright ban.

    The nation reports that Federal Government had in May directed the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to stop further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine.

    The Federal Government said that NAFDAC should stop it as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations with immediate effect in response to the gross abuse of codeine usage in the country.

    Olatunji said that the ban on codeine could lead to about 23,000 workers losing their jobs in the industry as many companies manufacturing cough and pain relief drugs could be forced to close down.

    He said that instead of the blanket ban, government should adopt a system in which prescription of the drug would be strictly adhered to.

    According to him, this will prevent closure of many pharmaceutical companies in the country and the attendant job losses.

    “Codeine is an analgesic which is similar to those of morphine but it is much less potent as an analgesic and has only mild sedative effects.

    “It is also used in the treatment of cough, diarrhea as well as other chronic conditions such as arthritis and migraine,’’ he said.

    The labour leader said it was unfortunate that some criminally minded people were using the product as addictive substance.

    “This can lead to downsizing and many of the workers will be thrown into the labour market.

    “This defeats one of the cardinal policies of job creation and job security by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,’’ he said.

    Olatunji urged government to strengthen health agencies such as NAFDAC, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to ensure strict adherence to prescription of drugs before being sold or administer to any person.

  • Presco Oil to begin rubber cultivation

    Management of Okomu Oil Plc said it would begin cultivation of its rubber plantation in 2018.

    It said the rubber board wood garden for cultivation of the rubber plantation was ready.

    The company’s Managing Director, Mr. Felix Nwabuku, stated this while presenting cash reward to hardworking workers during the end-of-year party held last weekend.

    Mr. Nwabuku said the firm planned to cultivate 100,000 hectares of oil palm across the country with a view to employing over 50,000 workers.

    Nwabuku explained that the firm planned to divest from oil palm cultivation because it was the right thing to do.

    He said Nigerians are lazy towards engaging in agriculture because many of them have land where they could plant something but refused to go into agriculture.

  • Plastics, rubber fair coming

    Trade Fair focussing on plastics and rubber products will hold in October, in Dusseldorf, Germany.

    At a briefing by Trade Fair Services Limited, the West African Regional representative of the organisers, said the event would hold  at the Messe Dusseldorf exhibition grounds to showcase the latest developments in the industry, and present the innovative paths that will shape the future to over 200 000 visitors.

    Every three years, exhibitors, trade visitors from all continents come together to deepen existing, or create new business relations with a view to stimulating development work in dialogue between suppliers and prospective customers, the fair managers, said.

    At a briefing in Lagos, the German representatives of the fair organisers, made a presentation on the benefits of investing in Germany and how the Visa and Consular sections are poised to assist in making attending the event this year from Nigeria, stress-free.

    About 3,000 exhibitors are expected.

  • ‘Katsina Assembly can’t be rubber stamp’

    ‘Katsina Assembly can’t be rubber stamp’

    Katsina State House of Assembly Speaker Yau Gwajo-Gwajo spoke with reporters in Lagos on the Shema Administration and the pattern of executive/legislature relationship in the state. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports the excerpts:

     

    How has it been in the last six years you have been the Speaker of theKatsina State House of Assembly?

    It has been challenging but God has made it easy for me. This is my second term as the speaker. For me, the credit goes to the Almighty Allah and my wonderful colleagues. I must say that I have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with my colleagues. They made my job easy.

    I have been in politics since 1991 during the two-party system of the Ibrahim Babangida military regime when I was elected as councillor. Then, I was a teacher. So, I can say, with all humility, that I have gotten some experience, too.

    What is the relationship between the executive and the legislature in the state?

    It has been very cordial. It has been excellent. The reason for this peaceful relationship is simple. Our governor has only one vision, and that is how he can contribute his own quota to the development of the state. Of course, he has been doing this even before he became the governor. And since we are also here for the development of the state, it makes our job easier. You see, there is need to have a focused and prudent leadership. Whether at or at the federal level. Once the leadership is focused, it makes transformation of the state an easy job.

    How would you rate administration?

    It is focussed. And so, the state is not doing badly. We have a leader who knows what governance is all about; that it is not a tea-party. He knows that it is about the destiny of the people; about the common wealth of the people. If you are not prudent and focused, you cannot have the kind of development we are witnessing in the state presently.

    Do you know that education from primary to tertiary education is free in the state? Do you know that health care, too, is free, particularly, for infants and people above 60? Do you know that accident victims are treated free, even to the point of surgery? There are over 200 new schools built and more are still being built. Do you know that more than 400 students are outside the shores of this country on scholarship reading all kinds of courses? It is only in this state that we don’t differentiate which tribe you belong to. As far as we are concerned, we are all Nigerians. Also, we are one of the few states whose legislative arm enjoys full financial autonomy just like the judiciary. And when you have financial autonomy, it makes you more independent. And that is why we don’t need to inform the executive when we are going on any over sight functions.

    Critics say your oversight functions are mere rubber-stamp functions. How would you react to this?

    Let me say this. Our own oversight functions are real. We make resolutions, which are sent to the executive. I want to thank the governor at this point because there is really no resolutions that we have sent to him that he hasn’t acted on. When it comes to the budget, most of our resolutions are designed within the budget, and 75 per cent of the budget goes to capital projects and this is within the resolutions of the House. So, when he is preparing the next budget, we are always represented. Also, we go for our oversight functions every quarter, item by item, subhead by subhead, according to their releases so that we can cross check what is in the paper with what is on the ground. Beyond that, each and every one of us in the house also return to the house to give account of what the executive has executed in our constituencies, these are various ways by which we carry out our oversight functions.

    There are two major parties in the House. How have you been able to lead your colleagues, such that there has been no tension in the House and with the executive?

    I said earlier, if your mission is about the good of the people, then, it won’t be that difficult to lead your colleagues. The moment we all enter the chambers, we forget partisanship because we are all representing our people. Our goal is to serve our people, not parties. We don’t play politics in the House. Of course, outside the chambers, you can have majority leader or minority leader discussing with their members, but once we are inside, there is no difference.

    So, you insist the House is not rubber stamp of the executive?

    Having explained all that I have said so far, will it be fair, even to you, to now challenge the executive for no just cause? This is not a popularity contest, mind you. What would be the essence of confrontation with the executive? I just told you that most of our resolutions in the House are carried out by the executive. The budget is also a manifestation of our resolutions. Now tell me, on what ground are we going to confront them? I know that some states legislature are not in good terms with their executive but that does not mean every other state legislature should be in disagreement with the executive, not when the executive is performing. We have our full financial autonomy. As we speak now, some of my members are not in the country and the executive is not aware of it. The governor is not aware of this now. Is that not part of the independence we are talking about? So, how can we now be a rubber stamp? Is it only when we are confrontational and heat up the polity that we are not rubber stamp? I beg to disagree.

    Do you support the creation of more states?

    For me, it has more of advantages than its negative. Unfortunately, we don’t have leaders who are accommodating. If we do, there won’t be need looking for or agitating for more states. Everybody needs to be represented, however, small the group may be. Some of our leaders, who are privileged to lead us, when they get the opportunity to do so, they only concentrate development within a particular tribe or section. Of course, such a thing can only divide the people, and that is why this state is different. Be rest assured that if the governor gets three cars for example, it is given that it is the three senatorial districts that would get it. One for Funtua, one for Daura and one for Katsina. There is no preferential treatment here. I think states creation agitation is essentially because of injustice of unequal development or no development at all. If the leaders are justifying the resources available to them, I am sure there wont be this kind of agitation for states creation. Even if there would be, it won’t be this high.