Business
92% Registered Farmers Now Access Subsidised Seeds, Fertilisers – Minister
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has said that92 per cent of the more than 11million registered farmers have access to improved seeds and fertiliser.
Adesina made this known in Abuja at the ongoing four-day Public Affairs Forum with the theme “The Jonathan Administration: Four Impactful Years.’’
He said “the Jonathan-led administration was able to end 40 years of corruption in fertiliser distribution in 90 days.
“This was made possible through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme of the Federal Government that created an enabling environment for the private sector to drive the agricultural sector.
“Today, we have about 11million registered farmers across the country and 92 per cent of them have access to subsidised fertilisers and seeds.’’
Adesina said before the Jonathan-led administration, there were only five seed companies in the country, but now increased to 84 seed companies.
The minister said the growth had increased availability of improved seeds to farmers from 5, 000 tonnes to 171,000 tonnes.
He said the Federal Government’s efforts in transforming the fertiliser sub-sector had attracted five billion dollars of private investment to the sub-sector.
He added that Olam Rice had invested 125 million dollars in rice production and processing in the country, while Dominion Rice and Dangote Rice invested 40 million dollars and 1billion dollars respectively in rice production and processing.
Adesina said the Federal Government had inaugurated Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centres to enable farmers to have access to heavy farm machines at subsidised rates through GES scheme.
According to him, 1,200 centres will be established across the country before the end of the year.
He noted that there would be a total of 600,000 tractors, 15,000 power tillers among many other heavy farm machines, stressing that “government wants hoes and cutlasses kept in the museum.’’
The minister urged farmers across the country to support President Goodluck Jonathan “so as to benefit more from his good intentions for farmers.’’
Earlier, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Mr Doyin Okupe, said the Forum was to enlighten the public on the achievements of the Jonathan-led administration.
He explained that the Forum was necessary “as there are false stories by a section of Nigerians on progress made by this administration.’’
Okupa said 48.5 per cent of the national budget went to states and local governments, while the other 48.5 was left with the Federal Government.
He added that with the funds, the Federal Government took care of the military and foreign affairs and was still involved in other sectors like primary and secondary education.
The special adviser urged Nigerians not to focus attention on the Federal Government alone, but also hold states and local governments accountable for the funds they received.
Business
Debt Servicing Hindering Nigeria’s Dev – IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has opened up on Nigeria’s socio/economic development issues, saying that the country allocates the majority of its revenue to debt servicing, leaving limited funds for critical development projects.
Disclosing this while speaking during the Fiscal Monitor press briefing at the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, David Furceri, Division Chief of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, emphasised the need for Nigeria to adopt more effective revenue mobilisation strategies to ease this financial burden.
Furceri noted that Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio stands at around 60 per cent, significantly constraining the government’s ability to invest in social and economic programmes.
Although the debt service-to-GDP ratio has declined from nearly 100 per cent to 60 per cent, he stressed that the country must further reduce the share of its revenue allocated to debt repayments by focusing on broadening its tax base.
He said, “There is a need to grow the revenue-to-GDP ratio. For a country Like Nigeria, the Debt Service-to-Revenue is about 60 per cent. What that means is that a larger part of the revenue of the country goes into debt servicing.
“What we recommend for countries like Nigeria, if they can improve their revenue mobilisation, they will be able to reduce the portion of the revenue that goes into debt servicing.
“It is important to broaden the tax base in order to have more revenue and especially in Nigeria to put in place a system and mechanism that is transparent and efficient to assist the government in collecting more revenue”.
He called for the implementation of a transparent and efficient tax collection system, urging the government to improve its fiscal operations to generate more income.
Also, the IMF’s Fiscal Monitor Report released last Thursday highlighted projections that Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio, currently at 50.7 per cent, is expected to drop to 49.6 per cent by 2025.
It noted that the country’s public debt includes overdrafts from the Central Bank of Nigeria and liabilities from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.
“The overdrafts and government deposits at the Central Bank of Nigeria almost cancel each other out, and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria debt is roughly halved”, the report noted.
Business
SON To Simplify SMEs Certification Process
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has revealed plans to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the country by simplifying access to certification and standards, in line with global best practices.
According to the agency, its initiative at the forefront of this drive is the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme, designed to assist local manufacturers in maintaining quality and safety standards, a key requirement for gaining consumer trust and penetrating international markets.
Acting Regional Director for SON in Lagos, Theresa Ojomo, disclosed this during the annual Walk for Standards event held in Lagos to mark World Standards Day.
She stated SON’s role in facilitating the growth of small businesses through programmes tailored to their needs.
“We have brought it down to the very small micro-organisations, encouraging them that they can imbibe standards”, she said.
She noted that businesses operating with minimal infrastructure could ensure quality in their production processes with SON’s support.
Ojomo explained that SON had made the process of adhering to standards more affordable and less burdensome for SMEs.
“We have brought in schemes that are very low in the economy because they always complained that it’s costly to have standards and quality.
“SON conducts only one inspection per year for micro-enterprises to ease the compliance process. The government and SON are ensuring that as small as the unit is, you can imbibe standards”, she remarked.
The Head of Codex, Nutrition and Tobacco Monitoring at SON, Yunusa Mohammed, reiterated that the organisation was committed to ensuring that consumers get value for their money by enforcing quality and safety standards.
“The ultimate aim for developing standards is to ensure quality and safety. Without testing the product to the requirements of the product standard, there is no way you can give that assurance”, he said.
Mohammed noted that SON had invested in state-of-the-art laboratories across the country to further support SMEs by offering testing services that help small businesses certify their products for both local and international markets.
Business
Group Partners Police Against Piracy In Nigeria’s Waterways
Active Marine Surveillance Coast Guard limited, a private security agency, has stated its preparedness to assist the police and other security agencies to check piracy along the nation’s waterways.
Director General of the Security outfit, Commander Godwin Amare, said this during the passing out parade of over 150 members of the Coast Guard in Port Harcourt.
He said apart from checking piracy, Active Marine Surveillance Coast Guard limited also provides security at jetties across the state and check pollution along the waterways, as well as mount security surveillance across the country.
Amare, however, said his security outfit needs the support of the state and federal governments in the discharge of its functions..
He said with government support, the problem of insecurity will be reduced in the states.
Amare also stressed the need for the government to engage the outfit in the provision of security in the state, adding that by doing so, government will also be creating employment opportunities for the people.
According to him, it’s men can also be engaged in the provision of security at strategic locations across the state.
He used the occasion to commend the Deputy Director General of the outfit, Captain Dain Elekima Joyfull, as well as Captain Emberra Michael Niyikpen, and Pastor Anthony Afakwa, for their support.
Speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Cp Mustafa Bala, who was represented at the occasion by SP Luka, urged the newly passed out officers of the Civilian joint taskforce and Active Marine Coast Guard limited to be professional in the conduct of their duties.
He also pledged to provide them with the necessary support.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Commandant of the Civilian Joint Taskforce, Commander Richard Akpobari, said his group is prepared to support the security agencies to curb criminalities in the state.
According to him, the situation aims to reduce the burden of providing security in the state.
By: John Bibor
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