Maritime
LASG Acquires 2,134 Hectares Of Land To Boost Agriculture
The Lagos State Commis
sioner for Agriculture, Mr Toyin Suarau, on Saturday, said that the state had acquired 2,134 hectares of land from neighbouring states to promote agriculture.
Saurau said this at an Agriculture Seminar organised by Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) with theme: ‘Repositioning Agriculture for Youths Empowerment, Rural and Economic Development’ in Lagos, recently.
The commissioner, who was represented by General Manager, Lagos State Coconut Development Authority (LASCODA), Mr Oladeji Alao, said that the state government had invested much in agriculture to empower youths.
“Before 1960, Nigeria was an agrarian society, we are suffering because of our over reliance on oil. Many countries used the resources from agriculture to build structures.
“The average age of a Nigerian farmer today is about 55, which means youth have a role to play in agriculture to bring the nation back to the path of fortune.
“Lagos State has 84 hectares of land in Osogbo out of which 20 hectares is used for palm produce, while others are used for rice farm, cassava and mills.
“We have also acquired 1000 hectares of land in the same Osun, 500 hectares in Ogun and Oyo each and 50 hectares in Abuja to encourage farming,” the commissioner said.
According to him, the state has developed estate farming and cluster farming because of the challenge of space in the state.
He said that the state had fishery estates, poultry estates, vegetable estates and Green House Technology to guard wastages.
“As part of the state government’s effort to attract youths into agriculture, we have agric youth empowerment scheme and provision for irrigation facility.
“Our loan for agric must be single digit if we want to make agric attractive to youths, the interest rate must not be high, hence it will not be profitable,” he said.
The Guest Speaker, Mr Isaac Oluyi, while delivering a lecture entitled ‘Reclaiming the Lost Paradise Through Agricultural Entrepreneurship’, called for the use of technology in agriculture business.
“For agriculture to be attractive it must be driven by technology. We can make use of technology to change our fortune through agriculture.
“Agriculture has gone beyond hoes and cutlasses. Resourceful youths should understand that agric is a good business, and youth must have entrepreneurial mind set. We need people with creative minds.
“Agriculture is not about food production but about environment, innovation and technology, about collecting storage processing, packaging, marketing, financing, training, mentoring and many other things.
“Hunger is a problem that many youths can proffer solution to and make fortune,” Oluyi said.
He urged youths to stop complaining rather engage in crop cultivation, animal rearing, processing, distribution, marketing and many others.
In his words, the National President of BYO, Mr Khalil Aminu, said that the organisation was aimed at initiating ideas and programmes in line with the ‘Change Agenda’ of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“No economic growth can be attained with underpowered youths, the Lagos BYO initiative has embarked on novel and timely venture which aligns with the policy trust of the Federal Government,’’ Aminu said.
The BYO boss, called on Nigerians to support the government’s policies, mandated other states to emulate the stride of Lagos chapter.
Mrs Lucy Ajayi, the National Vice President of the organisation said, countries were making big money from agriculture.
She said if only Nigeria could go into agriculture, the problem of unemployment would be a thing of the past.
“We can feed ourselves as a nation and export products if 100 million of us can go into agriculture.”
According to her, the organisation has acquired 100 hectares and 125 hectares of land in Lagos and Ogun respectively for BYO’s Agricultural Cooperative Society Scheme.
Earlier, Prince Wale Oyekoya, Chairman, Agriculture, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry urged all states to take advantage of agriculture to improve on their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Maritime
Illegal Migration: NIS, NIWA Move To Strengthen Partnership
Following the spate of illegal migration into the country by migrants, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have concluded plans to strengthen their partnership to curb illegal migration through the Lagos State waterways.
The plan to deepen partnership was discussed when the new Comptroller of Immigration Service in charge of Lagos Seaports and Marine Command, CIS Joseph Dada, visited the NIWA, Lagos Area Manager, Mrs Sarat Braimah in Lagos.
Speaking at the visit, Dada said the service would fare better in achieving its mandate with a strategic partnership with the waterways regulator.
“We have some challenges on the waterways, even though we do patrols. Collaborating with NIWA will guarantee stronger waterway operations.
“We are not saying people shouldn’t migrate or ‘japa’ from Nigeria. Migration is part of life and people have a right to seek greener pastures.
“However, they must do it the right way. They have to get their passports, visas and travel through the appropriate channels”, he said.
Dada lamented that several Nigerian ladies are victims of human trafficking for prostitution usually disguised as job offers for care workers abroad.
Also Speaking, Managing Director, NIWA, Mrs Sarat Braimah, welcomed the idea of strategic collaboration with the NIS, stressing that both agencies are working for the common good of Nigeria and its citizens.
“We expect this collaboration to prohibit illegal migration. Migration is part of life and as you observed earlier, it fosters tourism, culture and development.
“Nonetheless, we will assist the NIS in achieving their objective, which is that people shouldn’t migrate illegally.
“A lot of passengers board ferries from Marina jetty to Badagry and Port Novo. We don’t know their final destination or verify their identity; but we’re open to NIS partnership to carry out migration checks”, she said.
She noted that NIWA could train immigration officials on how to go onboard vessels safely, and also provide boats, lifejackets, among other equipment, when the Immigration make such requests.
Maritime
NPA To Generate N629bn Revenue In 2024 -MD
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says the authority will generate N629.89 billion in 2024.
NPA is also seeking for N200 billion loan from Afrexim Bank for ports development.
Managing Director, NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, stated this while defending the 2024 budget before the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours in Abuja.
He said the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) was also listed as one of the financial institutions from which to source the loan.
Koko said the total projected expenditure was N464.32 billion, while the operating expenses were projected at N212.03 billion and the capital expenditure stood at N252.29 billion.
“Part of the main trust of the 2024 budget is the urgent need to rehabilitate, reconstruct and moderate the dilapidated port infrastructure facilities”, he stated.
The Managing Director said defects in the facilities were hampering efficiency and productivity in the ports, saying that the defects include the quay walls and the replacement of old gravity walls.
According to him, another is need for rehabilitation of Escravos breakwaters.
“This is aimed at improving port efficiency and increasing cargo traffic through investment funding from the financiers, UKEF and Afrexim”, he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Nnolin Nnaji, said the agency is very dear to the country, hence the need for the committee to visit some of the facilities outside Lagos.
“We need to see those things you are telling us. The House of Representatives is very serious about budget defence, while they do screening on the other side, budget defence is here”, he said.
He commended the Managing Director for the budget presentation, saying that he believed in the subsequent budget
“We accept this budget, and we will move further with it”, he assured.
The lawmaker also said the drainage channels were full of wreckages and expressed concern over lack of information on wreckage removal.
Nnaji noted that as long as the NPA avoided the wreckage, it will keep occurring because of the abandoned ships facilities.
Maritime
COWA Distributes Food Items To Members In Abuja
In a bid to cushion the hardship and hunger faced by ordinary Nigerians, the Customs Officer’s’ Wives Association (COWA) has distributed food items to its members in Karu Customs Barracks, Abuja.
National President, COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who flagged off the exercise, said the distribution of the food items was part of COWA’s plans to ease life for its members.
“This is not the first time COWA is conducting this initiative of distributing food items to the members and non-members of the association, and we decided to distribute these items considering the season of Ramadan.
“Everything we are doing now is for you. Please register so we can make provision for all of you. This will help us keep proper data of everyone and we will continue doing this subsequently to alleviate the situation”, Adeniyi said.
She further said food items were also being distributed to COWA members across all Customs formations in the country.
Some of the food items distributed include rice, spaghetti, noodles and cooking oil.
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