Business

Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project To Gulp $400m

Published

13 years ago

January 11, 2013

The Federal Government has earmarked $400 million in the 2013 budget to fast track the Trans-Saharan Gas Project. The Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Dr Ghaji Bello, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja.

He spoke at the opening of a two-day technical workshop on Presidential Infrastructure Championship Initiative (PICI). Bello said the project would foster and transform the economy of African countries and impact on the lives of the citizens.

The workshop organised by The New Partnership For Africa`s Development (NEPAD) has as its theme, “PICI: A Panacea for Sustainable Growth and Development for Africa”.

“As a sign of its commitment, the Nigerian Government has made a provision of $400 million in the 2013 budget in order to move the project up to the next stage. “We are not just doing project for the sake of doing project. We are doing it to advance development, progress and to impact on the lives of the citizens of our continent,” he said.

He stated that three countries, Nigeria, Niger Republic and Algeria, were involved in the project, adding that the project would also involve the running of gas pipelines from Calabar to Niger Republic into Algeria and then to Spain.

He said the project was critical to the economic transformation of the countries adding that “Africa needs to drive its development”.

Bello, however, urged African countries to make infrastructure a priority, “until the challenge is tackled the trajectory of Africa’s growth will remain slow”.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA), South Africa, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, said PICI was a continental infrastructure aimed to develop the continent and would drive regional development for the next 27 years (up till 2040).

PICI is a project to act as a catalyst for the rapid and sustainable development of the region and to spur continental infrastructure development as initiated in 2011.

The Trans-Saharan gas pipeline, which is also known as NIGAL pipeline and Trans-African gas pipeline, is planned to transfer natural gas from Nigeria to Algeria and to Spain. Seen as an opportunity to diversify the European Union’s gas supplies, the idea of the Trans-Saharan pipeline was first proposed in the 1970s.

On January 14, 2002, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Algeria national oil and gas company (Sonatrach), signed a memorandum of understanding for preparations of the project.

The Minister of State for Works, Amb Bashir Yuguda, has restated Federal Government’s commitment to the actualisation of the Trans-Saharan Road Projects (TRP) to enhance socio-economic activities among the states. He gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Algerian Embassy, led by the Secretary General of Trans-Saharan Road Liaison Committee, Mr Ayadi Mohammed.

Yuguda said that Nigeria was aware of the value of the road which passes through six nations. “Trans-Saharan Highway with a total length of 4,680 kilometre traverses six countries in the Sub-Saharan region, namely Nigeria, Niger Republic, Chad, Mali, Algeria and Tunisia. “The main axis of the project starts from Lagos on the West Atlantic Coast and terminates at Algiers on the Mediterranean Coast of North Africa.

“The construction of the roads would further promote trade, unity and facilitate easy transportation of Goods and services across the nations,” he said.

Yuguda assured the team of the Federal Government’s support to the nation for the actualisation of the road. He also said that Government had done feasibility studies on the road and had put into consideration the concessions for the trans-Saharan roads to enhance speedy completion.

Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has solicited support in fighting smuggling and other economic crimes at the Nations border.

The Area Comptroller, Olukayode Afeni made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun.

The comptroller stressed the need for the public to provide timely and reliable information to the Service, saying noting that fighting smuggling is a collective effort

“I urge the general public to join hands with NCS by providing timely and credible information that would help toward suppressing smuggling and other economic crimes.”

“Together, we can build a prosperous nation where compliance is the norm, and criminality has no place,” he said.

Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to combat smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade, as well as generate revenue for national development.

Chinedu Wosu

Business

IFAD: Nigeria Leads Global Push For Youth, Women Investment In Agriculture

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council has concluded in Rome, with Nigeria taking a prominent leadership role in advancing global agricultural development priorities, particularly strategic investment in youth and women.

The biennial meeting, themed “From Farm to Market: Investing in Young Entrepreneurs,” underscored the growing recognition of young people as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across global food systems.

The session opened with the election of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as Chairperson of the IFAD Governing Council.

Having previously served as Vice Chair, his emergence as Chairperson reflects the strong confidence reposed in Nigeria by Member States, recognising the country’s constructive engagement and leadership in promoting global food security.

In his acceptance remarks, Senator Kyari expressed deep appreciation to Member States for the trust placed in him, pledging to serve with humility, diligence, and a strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural women and men across the world.

Addressing delegates during the session, the Chairperson emphasised that prioritising youth and women in agriculture is key to unlocking economic opportunities, accelerating innovation, and driving inclusive growth.

He noted that such investments would ultimately strengthen global food systems while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.

Senator Kyari also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of Nigeria’s national priorities.

He noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at IFAD aligns with the President’s directive to boost agricultural productivity, expand economic opportunities for youth and women, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and market shocks.

The Minister further praised the IFAD Nigeria Country Office, led by Country Director Ms Dede Ekoue, for translating global development commitments into measurable outcomes for rural communities.

He highlighted the office’s role in strengthening agricultural value chains, empowering youth and women, and improving resilience among smallholder farmers nationwide.

Business

Expert Tasks FG On Food Imports To Protect Farmers

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has been urged to balance consumer protection with farmers’ sustainability by ensuring timely food imports, input subsidies expansion and price stabilisation mechanisms to secure investments across the agricultural value chain.

An agriculture expert, Dr Fatai Afolabi, gave the advice at a forum organised by the Plantation Owners’ Forum of Nigeria (POFON), in collaboration with the Oil Palm and Other Oil Seeds Value Chain, themed ‘Current Government Food Strategy, the Concomitant Effects and Implications for Food Security in Nigeria’, and held in Lagos, Wednesday.

Afolabi cautioned that the recent food import policies, while easing consumer prices, could undermine local farmers and long-term food security if not carefully managed.

He noted that Nigeria’s food system was navigating an exceptionally difficult period, marked by inflationary pressures, climate variability, insecurity in major food-producing regions, and rising energy and logistics costs.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily relax restrictions on selected food imports was understandable, noting that the market had responded swiftly with a reduction in prices of major staples.

However, the convener observed that while the policy had brought much-needed relief to consumers, it posed significant challenges for local farmers and agriculture value chain investors.

“While output prices have fallen, the cost of producing food in Nigeria remains stubbornly high.

“Farmers continue to contend with expensive fertilisers, rising transport costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply, weak road infrastructure, and inadequate storage and processing facilities, which result in significant post-harvest losses.

“This situation, where farmers sell produce at declining prices while production costs remain elevated, has created widespread distress across agricultural ecosystems,” he said.

Afolabi said the effects were being felt across all segments of agriculture, with rice farmers among the hardest hit.

He said reports from producing states indicated that about 3,500 rice farmers were considering exiting rice cultivation after incurring estimated losses of over N93 billion.

He added that cassava farmers were selling produce at prices that barely covered harvesting costs, leaving them unable to recover their investments.

According to him, vegetable and edible oil producers are also under pressure as imported vegetable oil brands reduce demand for locally processed alternatives.

He added that cocoa farmers continue to battle price volatility in international markets amid rising domestic labour and maintenance costs.

Afolabi noted that tree crops such as oil palm and cocoa, which require long gestation periods, were particularly vulnerable to sudden market disruptions that undermine investor confidence and discourage new investment.

He said the effects extended downstream to agro-processing and value addition, with soybean farmers supplying vegetable oil processors experiencing reduced demand and lower prices.

He said the development threatened not only farm incomes but also rural employment and agro-industrial growth, raising concerns about national food security.

According to him, sustained losses could force farmers out of production, increasing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and exposing the country to global supply shocks, foreign exchange pressures and long-term vulnerabilities.

Afolabi cited India and the Netherlands as countries offering useful lessons in balancing consumer protection with farmer sustainability.

He said India deploys food imports strategically during shortages, while complementing them with strong domestic support systems.

He added that the Netherlands, despite being one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, supports farmers through input subsidies, tax incentives, affordable energy, strong cooperatives, and close integration with research and extension services.

He said agricultural students in both countries also benefit from subsidised tuition, transportation and meals, as well as grants and start-up support for farm enterprises.

“This approach ensures generational continuity and innovation in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigeria’s current food import policy could play a stabilising role if complemented by deliberate measures to protect local producers.

He recommended carefully timed imports to avoid peak harvest periods, strengthened price stabilisation mechanisms, aggressive subsidies for critical farm inputs, and support for agro-processors to remain competitive.

He also called for clear communication of policy intentions to reassure farmers that import measures were strategic and temporary.

“Food imports should function as a strategic shock absorber rather than a permanent market feature.

“Government should develop and publish a national crop production and harvest calendar for major staples and align import decisions with documented supply gaps.

“Affordable food and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive goals. With thoughtful coordination and sustained support for farmers, Nigeria can achieve both,” he said.