Day: April 3, 2023

The AFOS Foundation, a Germany-based autonomous and charitable organisation, says it is investing about 5.5 million euros as Intervention in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

The Chief Executive Officer and Country Representative of the foundation, Mr Oladipupo Akoni, said this in a statement on Monday.

He was speaking at the first stakeholders roundtable in Lagos.

According to Akoni, the foundation was developed to support micro and small businesses and the rising middle class in developing and emerging nations.

“AFOS foundation has invested heavily towards development of the sector through capacity building, value-driven organisational development, management development, corporate governance, and product development interventions.

“It is strengthening the Nigeria agricultural sector by improving the performance of smallholder farmers, agricultural companies, microfinance banks, as well as their networking across the sector’s value chains.

“Since the commencement of its agricultural project activities in Nigeria in 2017, AFOS Foundation has reached over 45,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria with the resultant positive impact on their skills, productivity and earned incomes.

“We target to reach 60,000 smallholder farmers by the end of 2024,” he said.

He said that to consolidate on its achievements in Nigeria projects were now focusing on improved agricultural practices for smallholder farmers.

“We are also focusing on institutionalised dual vocational training systems, value-based management training, and development of an agricultural training centre.

“These are in addition to micro-insurance product development, agric finance training and sensitisation for the microfinance sub-sector, ” he said.

He said that the projects would be of immense benefit to the country’s agriculture sector.

“The ongoing project will have tremendous impact on the Nigerian agricultural sector by addressing its skills and development challenges.

“It will also address capacity replacement, especially in this era of massive emigration,“ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AFOS Foundation is a charitable foundation developed to support micro and small businesses and the rising middle class in developing and emerging nations, is strengthening the Nigerian agricultural sector by improving the performance of small farmers, agricultural companies, microfinance banks (MfBs), as well as their networking across the sector’s value chains.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, says it is on record that Nigeria recorded its highest rating in the fight against terrorism in 2022 since 2011 till date.

Yahaya said this at the opening of the Chief of Army Staff First Quarter Conference 2023 on Monday in Abuja.

He said the efforts in Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in synergy with the sister services and other security agencies had significantly curtailed terrorism and insurgency that hitherto bedeviled the North East part of the country.

He said the continuous injection of trained troops and special equipment through Operations Lake Sanity and Desert Sanity to complement efforts by OPHK had been rewarding.

According to Yahaya, the insurgents and terrorists no longer have freedom of action.

He added that it had amongst other benefits resulted in massive surrender by the adversaries.

“These efforts, expectedly have enhanced troops poise and greatly improved the security situation and public confidence in the North East.

“In the past 11 years, from 2011 to date, Nigeria recorded its highest rating against terrorism last year, 2022.

“This is indeed a commendable effort and achievement by all of you, the other sister services, stakeholders and indeed our able predecessors,” he said.

The COAS said the Nigerian army was channeling more efforts towards consolidating on the successes with a view to completely neutralise the insurgents that fail to surrender.

He said that the outcome of the 2022 COAS Annual Conference in the North/West region of the Country had created the necessary impact that had continued to improve the success of army operations in the region.

He said the intensified offensive operations to eliminate bandits and other criminal elements in the regions had also yielded positive results.

According to him, the Nigerian army troops deployed for Operations Hadarin Daji and Forest Sanity have projected forces and intensified offensives to clear bandit enclaves.

“These operations have destroyed criminal hideouts, neutralized several bandits and subjected the remaining elements to situations where they are mostly either targeting civilians or on the run.

“We must therefore maintain the tempo and leave no stone unturned to sustain these commendable efforts.

“The peaceful conduct of the last general elections across the country including in spite of the sense of insecurity created by criminal elements in the South East region, was a testament to army’s resolve to ensure security in the nation.

“This, according to him, was made possible through successful conduct of Operation Safe Conduct 2023 across the nation which saw the Nigerian army along with the other services and agencies ensuring successful general elections.’’

He said additional efforts through Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA paid off in the South East.

He said this had resulted successful elections in the region; though IPOB/ESN and their supporters had threatened that there would be no elections in the zone.

“The elections or no election neither IPOB nor ESN nor any other group of individuals should threaten the integrity of this nation as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Accordingly, elections were therefore held in the South East and successfully too, just like in other parts of the country.

“Generally, our operations and decisive actions against the criminal elements have impacted positively on the security situation in the region, giving confidence to law abiding citizens in the South East.

“The Nigerian army will continue to perform its constitutional roles in collaboration with the sister services and other security agencies as well as civil authorities in the region,” he said.

The COAS commended personal over their professional conduct and apolitical disposition as well as their strict adherence to his directives and guidance during the just concluded general elections.

Yahaya said that various groups, organisations and distinguished individuals had commended troops’ efforts during the elections.

According to him, concerted efforts, commitments and dedication to duty by field commanders, officers and soldiers to ensure successes in various operations across the country are also commendable.

Yahaya urged participants of the conference to make deliberate efforts to come up with genuine and frank opinions and suggestions, as well as painstakingly evaluate the ongoing operations.

He also directed that deliberations should be focused on achieving the overall objective of better re-positioning the Nigerian army to deliver on its constitutional roles.

The Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), Maj.-Gen. Anthony Omozoje, said the conference was deeigned to consolidate on the successes attained so far in all army activities.

Omozoje said that conscious efforts would be made to painstakingly appraise all operations with a view to finding better ways of improving on their successes.

According to him, the interactions therefore would focus on achieving the overall objective of better re-positioning the Nigerian army to deliver on its constitutional roles.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the COAS uses the event to present a Toyota Hilux vehicle each to 14 deserving Army Warrant Officers as their official vehicles.

He also unveiled some locally produced Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles manufacture by the Defence Industries Cooperation of Nigeria and partners for army operations as well as inauguration of Historical Park.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Olaolu Modupe-Oni, Medical Director, HealthGate Medical Centre, has highlighted the need for regular physical exercises to improve brain health, manage weight and reduce the risk of diseases

Modupe-Oni gave the advice on Saturday at an inter-house sports competition, organised by Holy Child Educational Home, with the theme, “The champion in Me”, in Abuja.

He said: “We need to get active and exercise our bodies.

“There are diseases that stem from children not being active. Also being active helps them in their educational endeavours.

“Children need these exercises because it is not only adults that are obese, we also have children obesity.

“Competitions help in the release of positive endorphins when you exercise and it is essential to us all,’’ he said.

He noted that children rarely exercise but focus more on the digital devices like the phones, laptops, computer games and television, which gives them little time for exercises, hence, they are prone to obesity and other diseases.

“We live in a digital era, kids are always in front of laptops, ipads, television and they hardly get any physical activity done.

“These kind of engagements also foster healthy competitions, cooperation amongst them and a sense of camaraderie, and provides academic guidance,’’ he said.

He also advised parents to disclose the medical history of their children to school authorities to enable them know the activities that the students can engage in that will not affect their health.

Mrs Ajibike Olufemi, the school Director, said the inter-house sports activity was to build the students confidence, discover talents and connect them with relevant stakeholders that would groom them for the future.

“There is a high level of potentials and talents in them that we want them to tap from, build on it and make the best use of it.

“We also want them to shun social and negative vices by instilling in them positive and healthy values in such a way that they can have self-confidence, determination and strive hard for success.

“We have some sports council officials that are here to actually identify talents who they can build up and train,’’ she said.

Miss Esther Joel, a student and one of the participants, said engaging in sporting activities is to prepare her pursue a career in basketball.

Similarly, Mr Okewu Anthony, another student, said: “sport makes me happy, makes my brain function well and I intend to pursue a career in the military, so this activity will help me to be strong, agile and ready for the task ahead.’’

One of the parents, Mrs Oluwakemi Annafi, said “the event was an opportunity for parents to network and also to encourage some of us and our children to be medically and physically fit.

“This sporting event enables the children to improve intellectually, gives them a sense of competition and confidence to participate in competition and win.’’

Similarly, another parent, Mrs Ngozi Uzokwu, urged the school to partner with others towards harnessing the sporting potentials of the students to enable them pursue careers and represent the country in sports.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nigeria will on May 29, 2023 have a new leadership that will steer the affairs of the country in the next four years. The new administration will inherit some humongous challenges especially in the areas of national security which the country has been contending with for over a decade.

Apart from dousing the misgivings generated by the conduct of the presidential election, the incoming administration has a bigger challenge of finding solutions to the multiple internal security challenges in all the political zones of the country.

These include insurgency and terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, pipeline vandalism and massive oil theft, as well as killings and violent separatists’ agitations.

Although the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been conducting operations across the country to decimate the various security threats, the new administration will be confronted by the urgent need to totally dominate the environment and restore peace and order across Nigeria.

This means that the incoming government must urgently search for funds to prosecute the war, restore civil authority, resettle displaced persons, address the causes that gave rise to insecurity and properly manage the thousands of insurgents and their families who surrendered to military authorities.

Luckily for the incoming government, there have been lots of successes recorded in the fight against insecurity in the country through joint military operations involving the Army, Air Force, Navy and other security agencies.

For instance, the tempo of military operation under the Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in the North East has led to mass surrender of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists and their family members to troops in different fronts.

Available record revealed that more than 82,000 terrorists and their families surrendered as at the end of 2022, while hundreds of terrorists were killed or captured in various operations in the region.

Military authorities confirmed about 900 arrested terrorists awaiting prosecution and thousands of others including terrorists’ commanders, collaborators and logistics suppliers killed in land and air operations by the Nigerian military.

In the Niger Delta region, the military joint task force, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) has in 2022, destroyed 37 militant camps and over 1,883 illegal oil refining sites in the region.

According to the Commander, OPDS, Rear Adm. Aminu Hassan, 699 suspects were arrested in the effort to secure the operational environment for oil and gas companies and ensure safety of citizens.

The operations helped to save the nation over N53 billion worth of crude oil, diesel, kerosene and petrol; and recovered 90 assorted illegal weapons and large caliber ammunition.

In spite of recent military successes in all regions, including the North West where prominent bandits were eliminated, the incoming government should focus on enhancing intelligence gathering and sharing, including leveraging technical and communication aspects of intelligence in support of the armed forces.

Although the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Samuel Adebayo, recently said the Defence Intelligence Agency had successfully dominated the threat environment with a combination of special intelligence operations and non-kinetic activities, the government should push them to take more measures to deny enemies of Nigeria the cohesion and capabilities to operate.

They should therefore be empowered and equipped to enhance tactical and technical intelligence drive on all frontiers to sustain the gains recorded and further secure the country.

The new administration will also have to devise ingenious ways to manage the thousands of insurgents who voluntarily surrendered to military authorities, as well as support the thousands of displaced people returning to their homes, especially in the North East, after years of exile.

It is also imperative for the government to sustain the ongoing community-based reintegration of deradicalised insurgents to ensure sustainable peace in the country.

Emphasis on military response to the profound security and political challenges confronting the country will not provide the desired outcome.

Amnesty and negotiations should continue to be pursued to mitigate the conflicts, especially where military actions failed. The 2009 amnesty programme for militants in the Niger Delta region should guide the administration in that regard.

The Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DRR) of insurgents through Operation Safe Corridor started in September 2015, should also be given prominence.

So far, more than 2,000 repentant members of Boko Haram and ISWAP have been rehabilitated, deradicalised and integrated into the society with tremendous success.

According to the National Centre for Counter Terrorism in the Office of the National Security Adviser, transforming those who took up arms into normal civilians is crucial to ending violent extremism.

National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, also said at a workshop organised by the centre in Abuja on Amnesty Management, Deradicalisation and Community-Based Reintegration, that there should be greater focus on preventing radicalisation of young people by violent extremists.

Monguno agreed that the DDR would fundamentally re-establish state control, secure stability and initiate a process leading to sustainable development of the country.

He however cautioned that rushing to grant amnesty would be counter-productive to national security if there are no established policies and legislations, national ownership and coordination mechanism for the amnesty programme.

“Thus, the cooperation of communities is unavoidable in the quest for Government to consolidate on the gains of ongoing Counter-Terrorism Operations while measures to win the hearts and minds of the population are critical, and gradual resettlement and reintegration of affected communities is crucial for success.

“This involves military, political, civil social, economic and humanitarian interventions, implemented within a multi-stakeholder platform,’’ the NSA said.

The NSA said government, its partners and other stakeholders have been successfully implementing the DDR strategy developed in collaboration with International Organisation for Migration.

Thus, the incoming administration should strengthen the programme, including mechanisms to monitor the beneficiaries reintegrated into the society.

It is therefore imperative that in pushing its security agenda, the incoming government should source for new funding for the defence sector and develop solutions to underlying causes of insecurity in the country, which should include tackling extreme poverty, access to education, health care and justice, as well as unemployment.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, the Director General of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said Nigeria recorded success through the genetic improvement of livestock for milk and meat production.

Mustapha said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

“We are successful in terms of inseminating the cows and now we are waiting for the first generation (F1) to be produced.

“These F1 are going to be genetically checked to see what characters they have taken,’’ he said.

The D-G said the success in terms of inseminating the cows and success in the area of maintaining the pregnancy were all recorded.

“Now, we’re just waiting for the delivery of the first generation cows in April and that is a success story, which means that Nigeria will have its first breed of these livestock.”

Mustapha expressed delight that the climatic condition the new breed of cattle were going to face would be normal and congenial to them.

He said that was because they had made sure that the semen used in inseminating the cows possessed similar characteristics with Nigeria’s condition.

He assured that harmonising the semen with Nigeria`s climatic condition had been taken care of, which was the major issue farmers faced with already developed variety of livestock imported into the country.

“So, in our own case, if we have done it to suit our climatic condition, it means that this is a success.

“What we are hoping to see is the character they have taken in producing the milk quantity.

“At least we are expecting 50 litres per cow a day and if we are lucky to have it, that also reflects success,” Mustapha said.

The NABDA boss hinted that their target was to inseminate 2,500 to 5,000 cows this year when they have the resources with the possibility of inseminating more than that.

He lamented that the basic challenge inhibiting insemination of this number of cows for productivity centered on resources.

He said with adequate resources, the project would continue as they would increase the number of cows to be inseminated.

“So, that is a success story and I’m glad you asked me this.”

Mustapha said the launching of the improved variety of livestock and cattle in the country would take place in April.

Responding to the immediate project embarked upon by NABDA, he mentioned using genome editing to increase the lifespan of shelf life of tomatoes, adding that this was very important.

According to the D-G, the project is a big one considering the amount of money expended on the production of tomatoes with the amount lost from post-harvest losses.

He said the post-harvest losses were due to climate and other chemical activities occurring within the tomato between the period of harvest and consumption.

“I think it’s very important that we take the tomatoes issue seriously so that we can fix it.

“When we fix this a lot of money is going to come into the country; we are supposed to be exporting tomatoes across African countries and even outside Africa,” he said.

The D-G maintained that there were many African countries in need of tomatoes, but unfortunately due to how fragile it was, it could not be exported.

He said following this, the agency in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDANEPAD), was embarking on the project as all machineries were in place.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Stakeholders in the Nigerian fertiliser industry have scored the sector’s productivity and performance very high.

The experts gave the commendations in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.

The Executive Secretary, West African Fertiliser Association (WAFA), Mr Innocent Ikuku, said Nigeria is the highest producer of urea in the whole of West Africa.

Ikuku said that the industry had recorded tremendous improvement in the last five years.

“The Nigerian fertiliser industry is one that has transformed significantly over the last five years.

“From having only a single manufacturer of urea, which was Notore in about 10 years ago, we come to a place now where we have three fertilisers manufacturers.

“Nigeria presently has capacity for more than five million tonnes of urea production annually. So, Nigeria is producing urea beyond what is able to consume.

“So, it means in terms of urea, there is enough supply for the market,” Ikuku told NAN.

He, however, noted that the other inputs required to make fertiliser balance, namely phosphate and potash, were still imported.

He said that the gap must be bridged for further growth and development of the sector.

Ikuku said: “Nigeria is gradually becoming the hub for fertiliser production and distribution for the whole of West Africa.

“This is because Nigeria is where you have excess nitrogen that can be supplied to other countries in West Africa.

“And we have installed capacity for blending that is far beyond what the country needs.

“So, Nigerian fertiliser sector is basically just taking off and if the environment remains friendly and we allow private sector to keep investing as they should, the sector is going to boom in the near future.

“And by implication this affects West African countries and that will improve access to fertiliser and consumption,” Ikuku said.

On his part, Mr Moses Negedu, analyst, Fertilizer Producers & Suppliers Association of Nigeria, commended the growth of the sector.

Negedu, however, said that the sector would experience more growth with the right policies.

“The Nigerian fertiliser sector is a green industry and we believe that since it is growing, there is potential for more growth.

“If we harness the government and private sector coalition then, the fertiliser industry has great potential for growth both for the domestic and international market.

“We must put in place the right policies to steer more growth in the Nigerian fertiliser industry,” Negedu said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria