Business
FG Solicits Support For Agric Transformation Agenda
The Federal Government has called on stakeholders in the agriculture to support its Agricultural Transformation Agenda to boost the sector’s perfiormance.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ezekiel Oyemomi, made the call in Enugu at the 39th regular meeting of the National Council on Agriculture.
Oyemomi explained that the transformation agenda would enhance productivity through the agricultural value chain approach, reforms in the management of input delivery and marketing of agricultural produce.
According to him, the meeting aims at developing implementable action plan toward realising the objectives of the agenda.
Oyeyomi disclosed that government had taken some far reaching policy decisions and urged the stakeholders to work toward the success of the programme.
Earlier in an address of welcome, Prof Martin Anikwe, the Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, described the occasion as apt.
He said that the meeting was taking place at a time when the global food crisis had led to shortfalls in agricultural production, coupled with the rising commodity prices.
“Not only is food getting more expensive, but it is also becoming increasingly expensive to produce. The soaring price of fertiliser is a case in point,’’ Anikwe noted.
He emphasised the need for the country to build capacity to produce more food as the best way of achieving the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
Our correspondent report that commissioners for agriculture, permanent secretaries, directors and the private sector participants from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are attending the three-day meeting.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.