The Nation Newspaper

Tag: United States of America (USA)

  • Buhari administration, investors’ friendly – Olajiga

    Buhari administration, investors’ friendly – Olajiga

    The Chief Executive Officer of the largest locally owned cashew processing company in Nigeria, FoodPro Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ayo Olajiga, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as investors friendly.

    Olajiga said this on Wednesday in Ilorin in an interview.

    Olajiga explained that the support he has received from the Bank of Industry ( BOI ), is huge hence the backing from the Federal Government for the institution ( BOI ) to function well.

    He said the fact that the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, came to commission the extension of the factory recently was a testimony that this administration encourage the Private sector.

    He said the company has contributed to the unemployment situation of the country with its employment of over 400 people.

    “Through domestic processing of raw cashew nuts, we have created more than 400 direct jobs and several thousand indirect jobs for farmers, vendors, suppliers and artisans who form the heartbeat of FoodPro’s value chain.

    “With 90% of FoodPro’s employees being women, we are humbled by the role we play in impacting communities and improving economic and social development conditions in our host community.” Olajiga said.

    He explained that the company has been in operation since 2013 and recently ramped up its capacity from 1,000 to 5,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts per annum making it the largest locally owned cashew processing company in Nigeria.

    Olajiga added that FoodPro factory is the only factory certified by the African Cashew Alliance for Food Safety and Quality.

    He said the company’s plans is double its operating capacity further to 10,000 tonnes, commence export of packaged and branded goods, including existing brands – Lion Cashew & Go Nutz as well as a range of additional products that are currently in the development phase.

    Olajiga explained that most of the company’s outputs are exported to the United States of America ( USA ) with other retain brands across local store in the country.

    He said the choice of Kwara State as where the factory was located was because of its strategic location to where the company source for its materials from, coupled with the state government’s friendly business policies.

    He commended the Bank of Industry ( BOI ), for its support to the company and the Kwara State government.

    NAN

  • Yam export: FG to train farmers on best agronomy practices

    Yam export: FG to train farmers on best agronomy practices

    The Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme, says it will train farmers on best agronomic practices for yam farming to avoid rejection of the produce at the international markets.

    Prof. Simon Irtwange, the Chairman of the committee, disclosed this plan in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

    The chairman said that poor agronomic practices during farming contributed to the rejection of the country’s produce at the international market, hence the need for the training.

    NAN recalls that the Federal Government had announced that the country would commence exportation of about 74 tonnes of yam to Europe and United States of America (USA) by June 29.

    Irtwange said the committee was partnering with the Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria to carry out the training.

    He noted that the training would help sensitise farmers on the use of pesticides as well as other requirements for the produce.

    According to him, we are also in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to provide improved yam seedlings to the farmers.

    “The committee is supposed to provide technical guidance for anybody who wants to go into yam export.

    “The exporter must be conversant with the standards for yam export and it the job of the committee to take exporters through the standards so that they will know what the requirements are.

    “The committee will also make sure that farmers under the Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, are trained on farming, processing and marketing.

    “IITA has told us that seedlings will be made available and we want to promote businesses around the yam seedlings value chain,’’ he said.

    Irtwange said that the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) had made its yam conditioning centre in Zaki Biam, Benue State, available to exporters for the cleaning, wrapping and packaging of the produce before export.

    “The first requirement for any intending yam exporter is to get your exporters registration certificate from the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, then you come to the technical committee and we show you what to do.

    “What we are trying to have is a Nigerian yam pack house in Lagos and all regulatory agencies will be there to certify the produce.

    “The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will be there to make sure that it is truly yams that are in the cartons, SON will be there to make sure that the yams are exportable varieties and conform to standard weighing about 2kg with a net weight of 20kg per carton.

    “The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) will also be there to make sure we do not export diseases to other countries.’’ the chairman said.

    NAN recalls that Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, inaugurated the committee in February to sensitise farmers and exporters on required international standards of yam before exportation.

    The committee which is private sector led, has representatives from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) as its members.

    Other members of the committee include the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), NEPC, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), among others.

  • N/Korea accuses U.S. of plot to assassinate president

    N/Korea accuses U.S. of plot to assassinate president

    North Korea is accusing the United States of America (USA) and South Korean of a joint plot to kill its leader, Kim Jong-un, according to state media report.

    The ministry of state security said a terrorist group backed by the CIA and South Korea’s intelligence agency had entered the country to attack Kim with a bio-chemical substance.

    It said North Korea would find and “mercilessly destroy” the terrorists.

    It comes amid high tensions in the region.

    North Korean news agency KCNA claimed the alleged plot included the use of “biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance”.

    The Supreme Leader would have been targeted at a military parade and public procession, with the results not visible for six to 12 months afterwards, it said.

    It alleged that a North Korean, identified only by the surname “Kim”, had been “corrupted and bribed” by South Korean intelligence services while he was working in Russia.

    It listed several payments made to him, and said on his return to Pyongyang he was instructed to provide detailed information about a frequently used event ground and to assess possible methods of attack.

    “Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organisations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique,” Pyongyang said.

    A war of words between the West and North Korea has escalated in recent weeks, with the communist enclave   threatening to carry out a sixth nuclear test.

    A week ago, North Korea conducted its second failed ballistic missile test in two weeks.

    The U.S. has sent a warship to the region and installed a controversial anti-missile defence system in South Korea.

     

  • Trump confesses: I thought being President would be easier

    Trump confesses: I thought being President would be easier

    President Donald Trump of the United States of America (USA) has confessed that he never expected being a president to be as tough as it has turned out.

    Trump said this as part of the celebration to mark his first 100 days in office.


    Reflecting on his first 100 days in the White House, President Donald Trump told Reuters Thursday he’s been surprised by aspects of his new job, including how much work it is when compared with running his business empire.

    “I loved my previous life,” Trump said. “This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier.”

    According to Reuters, Trump also said he was surprised at how little privacy he has now, despite being used to not having much of it in his “old life.”

    The president, who never held public office before he was elected to the nation’s highest office, told the news agency he’s still getting used to his 24-hour Secret Service protection.

  • U.S Presidency: Trump hands over businesses to sons

    U.S Presidency: Trump hands over businesses to sons

    U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has announced on Tuesday that he would be leaving his businesses before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017, to concentrate on the presidency. He said his two sons, Don and Eric would manage them, with other executives.

    “Even though I am not mandated by law to do so, I will be leaving my businesses before Jan. 20 so that I can focus full time on the Presidency.

    According to him, no new business deals would be undertaken by his businesses during his presidency.“Two of my children, Don and Eric, plus executives, will manage them.

    Trump added that he would hold a press conference on a range of issues bothering on his businesses.

    As some of his Cabinet nominees became controversial, the incoming president also promised to address his rationale during the press conference, as well as other issues of interest.

    “I will hold a press conference in the near future to discuss the business, Cabinet picks and all other topics of interest.

    “Busy times!” He said.