Business
Stakeholders Want Completion Of 25,000 Silos
Stakeholders in Anambra State have urged the Federal Government to complete the 25,000-tonne silo complex located in Igbariam, among others still under construction in various parts of the country.
A survey by The Tide source revealed that the agrarian Igbariam community in Anambra East Local Government Area hosts the largest farm settlement in the South-East zone.
According to our source, 10 gigantic silo cones of 2,500-tonne each had been erected while the necessary fittings inside the silos had yet to be fitted.
However, other structures meant for support services for the silo complex had reached 70 per cent completion.
The site foreman for Mecca Nigeria Ltd, the company handling the project, Mr Vincent Umeh, said that the project had been under construction for over two years because it was being executed in phases.
Umeh attributed the delay in the completion of the project to paucity of funds.
He said, “As you can see, about 70 per cent of the work had been done on all the structures as well as the 25,000-tonne capacity silos; I believe the work would be completed soon.
“We are always on ground to continue but you know the issue of funding by phases of work done is affecting the straight completion of the project.
“It is primarily meant for grain storage as the temperature of the silos would be artificially modulated to preserve grains.”
The Anambra State Government had recently constructed a road linking the Onitsha-Enugu Road, the silo complex and the farm settlement area in the community.
Umeh urged the government agency supervising the project to push for its completion due to its socio-economic and agricultural benefits to the people of the area and Nigerians in general.
Similarly in Kano, a silo under construction in Gaya Local Government area of Kano State, had yet to be completed, an official said.
Acting Federal Director in the state, Alhaji Adamu Muhammed, said ”The Federal Government has only one silo in Kano State, which is yet to be completed.”
He said when completed, the silo, located behind the local government Secretariat, would store 25,000 tonnes of grains.
The ministry had commenced the training of farmers on post-harvest preservation of produce, he added.
According to him, the training is aimed at refreshing the minds of farmers on the importance of local silos, with a view to making the best use of it.
He said, “For now, there is no measure in place to prevent post-harvest losses except the normal traditional way of storing farm produce in most parts of the north, especially in rural areas.
“Local silos are still being used for storing large quantities of farm produce, especially in the rural areas.”
Meanwhile, in Katsina, the Federal Director of Agriculture in the state, Dr Abdu Aminu, has advised farmers to package grains for storage inside air tight sacks, to prevent insect infestation.
Aminu said that grains being stored for a long time should not be stored in sacks that allowed air passage.
He said that the ministry would continue to enlighten farmers on modern storage methods because poor food storage was one of the greatest challenges of agriculture in Nigeria.
The director noted that the 250,000-tonne capacity silo located in Dutsin-ma local government area of the state was not yet functional.
Aminu added that the silo was for the storage of grains such as maize, guinea corn and millet.
He said the government purchased grains from farmers during glut to provide a Guaranteed Minimum Price and prevent post-harvest losses.
In Lokoja, our source learnt that construction work on the 25,000-tonne silo had been completed.
Consultant to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the project, Mr Isaac Ogwuche, told newsmen that completion of the project was delayed due to paucity of funds.
He, however, said the challenge had been overcome.
Ogwuche said that the silo was designed for the storage of grains only.
In Ilorin, the Silos Manager, Kwara Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Atofarati Usman, also said the 25-tonne facility was functional.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with a firm, Sweetcrude Ltd., has announced detailed selection criteria for the inaugural “Champions of Nigerian Content Awards”, designed to honor outstanding contributions to local content development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The Tide learnt that the event, scheduled to hold 21st May, 2025, at the NCDMB’S content tower headquarters in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, will recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing Nigerian Content in 2024.
The Tide further gathered that the ceremony will coincide with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), which promises to spotlighting industry excellence and contributions to national economic transformation.
A statement by the Board’s Directorate of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination says the event has 12 Award Categories, which include, “Nigerian Content Icon of the Year”, “Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award”, “Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the year”, and the “Nigerian Content Independent Upstream Operator of the year”.
Others are, “Nigerian Content Midstream Operator of the year”, “Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the year”, “Nigerian Content International Service Company of the year”, Nigerian Content Indigenous Service Company of the year”, and the “Nigerian Content Innovator of the year”.
Also included are, “Nigerian Content Financial Services Provider of the year”, “Nigerian Content Media Organization of the year”, and “Women in Leadership Award for Promoting Gender Equality and Empowerment”.
According to the NCDMB, the criteria for oil and gas operators will include key and empirical benchmarks such as Production output for crude oil and gas volumes, Compliance with Nigerian Content Plans (NCPs) and Nigerian Content Compliance Certificates (NCCCs).
Other criteria are adherence to NOGICD Act reporting requirements, such as submission of Nigerian Content Performance Reports and Employment & Training Plans.
The Board’s statement added that similar criteria will apply to financial institutions, media organizations, and individuals, ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process.
“Winners for the Nigerian Content Icon of the Year, Innovator of the Year, and Women in Leadership Award will also be selected based on measurable performance indicators.
“The Advisory Committee of Industry Titans will Oversee the process to uphold the prestige of awards. The Committee consist of distinguished experts set up to oversee nominations and validate winners”, the NCDMB said.
Members of the committee, according to the Board, include: Pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr. Ernest Nwapa; Secretary-General, African Petroleum Producers Organization, Dr. Omar Farouk; and former Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, Mr. Woke Akinyosoye.
The Statement quoted the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, as emphasizing that the awards aim to becoming the oil and gas sector’s equivalent of the Oscars, celebrating genuine impact rather than mere participation.
“This recognition is reserved for those who have gone beyond compliance to drive tangible growth in Nigerian Content.
“With a focus on credibility, compliance, and measurable impact, the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards is poised to set a new standard for excellence in Nigeria’s energy sector”, the NCDMB Executive Scribe said.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Nigeria’s apex Banking institution, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has declared that Federal Government’s debt servicing increased to N696billion in January 2025.
The CBN’s recently published Economic Report revealed a precarious fiscal position, which worsened in January 2025 as debt servicing obligations exceeded total retained revenue by a wide margin.
According to the report, the Federal Government’s debt servicing obligations for the month stood at N696.27bn, while total retained revenue amounted to only N483.47bn, indicating that debt service alone consumed about 144 per cent of all government earnings.
This development highlights the growing debt burden and dwindling fiscal space facing Africa’s largest economy.
According to the report, despite slight improvements in some revenue categories, the retained earnings were grossly inadequate to cover obligatory debt repayments, exposing the government’s continued reliance on borrowing to meet basic obligations.
The report further revealed that retained revenue in January 2025 only recorded a marginal 0.89 per cent increase when compared with the N479.21bn generated in the corresponding month of 2024.
”FGN retained revenue declined in the review period, owing largely to lower receipts from Federal Government Independent Revenue and FGN’s share of exchange gain.
“At N0.48tn, provisional FGN retained revenue was 69.19 and 70.40 per cent below the levels recorded in the preceding period and monthly target, respectively”, it revealed.
While this points to stagnation rather than growth, the marginal rise was wiped out by the overwhelming debt service obligations.
The retained revenue components showed that the Federation Account contributed N167.69bn, while the VAT Pool Account delivered N90.73bn.
By: Corlins Walter
The Federal Government has announced plans to commence the payment of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears owed workers in the Federal Civil Service.
A statement issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), which was signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, said the outstanding arrears will be paid in instalments, with workers set to receive N35,000 per month for five months.
It clarified that the first tranche of the wage award arrears would be released immediately after the April salary payment.
“The wage award arrears was not paid with the April 2025 salary; it will come immediately after the salary is paid”, the statement read.
The Federal Government had earlier disbursed wage awards to federal workers for five months as part of efforts to cushion the impact of economic reforms. However, five months’ arrears remained unpaid.
The AGF office further reiterated the government’s commitment to fully implementing all policies and agreements relating to staff remuneration and welfare, noting that such efforts were geared towards enhancing productivity and operational efficiency across ministries, departments, and agencies.
The N35,000 wage award was introduced in 2023 as a palliative measure to support workers following the removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic adjustments.
In January this year, the Federal Government assured workers that it would clear the arrears of the N35,000 wage award, just as it also said the government had resumed the payment of the wage award.
The government also reiterated its commitment to addressing issues in the National Minimum Wage agreement reached with the Organised Labour in 2023.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, had disclosed the government’s commitment towards implementing agreements with trade unions during separate meetings with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress and Congress of University Academics, in Abuja.
The Nigeria Labour Congress had criticised the Federal Government over the delay in the payment of the minimum wage for certain workers in the federal civil service.
Also, the Federal Government had earlier blamed the delay in payment on the prolonged approval of the 2025 budget.
By: Corlins Walter
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