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FG Commits N211.5bn To Exportable Crops

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13 years ago

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A national survey report
has revealed that N211.5 billion was committed to exportable crop farming activities during the 2011/2012 survey year.
The report issued in Abuja last Monday by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), was prepared by Consultative Committee on Agricultural Export Commodities in collaboration with the agency.
It said that the other collaborative agencies were the Central Bank of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The report said that of the figure, “own fund” led the list with N134.19 billion (63.44 per cent), followed by micro credit institutions with N36.86 billion (17.42 per cent).
The N134.19 billion own fund referred to personal fund committed to any of the 14 exportable crop farming activities by a holder.
Community banks’ recorded the lowest amount of N1.30 billion (0.61 per cent), according to the report.
It stated that disaggregating the own fund into states, Kaduna State recorded the highest with N9.51 billion (7.09 per cent) followed by Kano State with N9.45 billion (7.04 per cent).
Ekiti has the lowest amount of N0.61billion (0.45 per cent).
The report said that cooperative banks contributed N12.62billion (6.00 per cent), Bank of Agriculture N2.10 billion (0.96 per cent), commercial banks N1.41 billion (0.67 per cent).
The community banks contributed the lowest amount of N1.30billion (0.61 per cent).
It said that the ages between 30 and 49 years committed the highest fund to exportable crop with a percentage of 47.99.
This was followed by holders of ages 50 to 64 years with 30.99 per cent while the age group of 15 to 29 had the lowest percentage of 5.20.
“Overall, 984,235 holders reported the use of improved seedling. Kano State reported the highest number of 168,138 (18.17 per cent), followed by Katsina State with 123,006 (12.62 per cent),”
Niger State, according to the report, did not report the use of improved seed/seedling.
It stated that Lagos and Bayelsa states reported the least number of holders that used improved seed/seedling with 41 (0.01 per cent) and 250 (0.03 per cent) respectively.
“A total of 27 states and Federal Capital Territory planted cashew on a total land area of 120.17 (‘000) hectares.
”Kwara planted the largest hectares of land of 31.49 (‘000) hectares (26.20 per cent), followed by Imo with 11.86 (‘000) hectares (9.87 per cent)
”The least areas planted were recorded in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states with 0.01 (.000) hectares and 0.55 (.000) hectares respectively,’’ the report said.
”Cocoa was cultivated in 18 states on a total land area of 1,363.60 (‘000) hectares.
“Cross River cultivated the highest hectares with 327.91 hectares (24.05 per cent), followed by Ondo state with 321.97 hectares (23.61 per cent)
“The least cultivated land areas were 0.04 hectares, representing 0.003 per cent by Imo and 0.18 hectares (0.01 per cent) by Rivers State,’’ the report said.
It said the total production by the 18 states was 370.01 metric tonnes with Ondo State contributing the highest with 92.22 (‘000) metric tonnes (24.92 per cent), closely followed by Osun with 74.10 (‘000) metric tonnes (20.03 per cent).
The report said the least production was 0.01 (‘000) metric tonnes (0.003 per cent) by Imo and 0.09 (‘000) metric tonnes (0.24 per cent) by Bayelsa.

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Association Woos Govt, Coys On  Boat Operators  Employments

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6 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The leadership of Bonny Maritime Boat Association has called on Rivers state Government and oil companies operating in the state to provide sustainable employment to unemployed boat Operators.
The Association also want the government, companies and other relevant employers of labour to provide trainings for boat Operators to enhance their skills
Safety Officer of the Association, Comrade Kingdom Kingsley made this known in  a  telephone interview with  The Tide.
He noted that most of the boat Operators and owners plying Bonny route lacks jobs due to the fleets of boats introduced by Bonny Road Transport that had taken over the passengers to the Island
He noted that passengers are no longer patronizing boats owned by the Association, thereby rendering the operators redundant
“Most of our operators can not afford to feed their families due to no jobs, we don’t want to indulge in crime, government should fix our members with  sustainable jobs to take care of their immediate needs”
He called on oil companies operating in the state to engage their skilled boat Operators in their companies to reduce the sufferings faced by the Association.
The Safety Officer called on the state government  to made funds available to unemployed youths in the state to start up business than roam the streets.
He noted that provision of funds to youths would reduce crime rates and reposition their mindsets for a better life
“The  youths of Rivers state are suffering, have no job to feed their families, thereby indulging in criminality daily”
“The youths need empowerment,  jobs,  recreational facilities and better things of life as citizens of this Nation”, Kingsley said.
CHINEDU WOSU
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FG Approves $1 Bn AFCFTA Credit Facility For Nigerian Exporters

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6 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The Federal Government has approved a whooping $1bn credit facility to support Nigerian exporters and small scale businesses to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost production, competitiveness and intra-African trade.
The $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility is also expected to address some of the financing gap being faced by Nigerian exporters and enhance the competitiveness of African businesses within the continental market.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, disclosed this  during the second quarter 2026 meeting of the AfCFTA Central Coordination Committee held in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Obilor-Duru Okechi, Oduwole said the financing facility represented a major opportunity for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand operations, modernise production processes and increase exports to African markets.
The statement partly read, “?The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s export-led growth agenda under the African Continental Free Trade Area, unveiling opportunities for businesses to access a US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility aimed at boosting production, competitiveness, and intra-African trade.”
She noted that despite the progress Nigeria had made in implementing the continental trade agreement, many local businesses continued to face obstacles that limited their ability to take advantage of the single African market.
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“Many businesses still face challenges relating to export documentation, certification, standards compliance and market access,” the minister said.
She explained that the Federal Government was addressing these bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation measures, simplified AfCFTA guidance tools, stakeholder engagement programmes and stronger collaboration with institutions such as the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Oduwole stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework by domesticating key AfCFTA protocols, particularly the Digital Trade Protocol, to position the country as a major player in Africa’s growing digital economy.
The minister also highlighted some of the gains recorded in Nigeria’s AfCFTA implementation efforts.
According to her, the expansion of Nigeria’s Air Cargo Corridor Initiative to Rwanda, increased collaboration with development partners and private sector players, as well as sustained engagement with state governments, were helping to deepen awareness and participation in the continental market.
In her welcome address and first-quarter update, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, Mrs Patience Okala, provided details of the financing initiative.
Okala said the $1bn AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Credit Facility was targeted at large African businesses with a minimum financing capacity of $10m.
She revealed that the National AfCFTA Coordination Office was working closely with fund managers to facilitate access for eligible Nigerian companies and had begun assembling a pilot group of businesses to ensure that Nigeria maximised the opportunities provided by the facility.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NIWA Harps On  Avoidance Of Leaking Boats

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6 days ago

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June 12, 2026

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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has advised Nigerians against boarding boats that require constant bailing of water in the interest of their safety.
 NIWA Area Manager for Cross River and Ebonyi, Mr Stanley Onuoha gave this warning in an interview with Newsmen in Calabar.
Onuoha who spoke on waterway
safety, said that passengers should take responsibility for their safety by inspecting boats before embarking on any journey.
According to him, repeated scooping of water from a boat is a clear indication that the vessel may be leaking.
“If you are entering a boat and see people using a bailer to remove water, it is the first signal that the boat is leaking,” he said.
He urged passengers to check the integrity of boats, including seating arrangements and other visible safety features.
The Manager restated the importance of using safety jackets, saying that damaged jackets may fail during emergencies.
He further said that passengers should ensure that safety jackets were appropriate for their body sizes in order to guarantee effective flotation.
 Onuoha reiterated the need for passengers to fill manifests before departure to aid accountability during emergencies.
The NIWA official further advised travellers to monitor weather conditions and avoid boarding boats when the weather is unfavourable.
According to him, poor weather conditions can trigger strong tidal waves capable of affecting small boats commonly used on inland waterways.
He said that waterway journeys should be embarked upon between 6.00a.m and 6.00p.m for clearer visibility.
Onuoha said  the Authority had continued to sensitise riverine communities to the need for safety precautions during waterway journeys.
He stated that sustained awareness campaigns and enforcement measures had contributed to safety waterway safety in Cross River.
CHINEDU WOSU
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