News
FG To Make Agric Economic Mainstay – Minister
The Chairman, Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has expressed confidence that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration will reposition the agric sector to become the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
Adamu (APC-Nasarawa West) made this known at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum yesterday in Abuja.
“Now we have reasons to believe that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is serious; serious because the President has said it time and again, since campaigning for presidency and at his inauguration and recently at the presentation of the budget proposals.
“He, Buhari, has emphasised on getting agriculture back on track and we believe him.
“He is a man of honour, we believe as most Nigerians have testified, he is a man with integrity.
“He is a man of his words and from the budget proposal in front of the National Assembly, one has reason to believe that he is serious, he wants to do something in the agricultural sector.”
Adamu said the foundation would soon organise a stakeholders’ workshop with the objective to contribute to the enhancement of the agriculture sector.
The senator noted that certain steps were taken in the past that brought agriculture to enviable height but lamented that those steps had been abandonment.
He noted that unless care was taken the good intentions of the president for agriculture could be derailed.
“There are those who are always walking from behind the scene; they can easily derail the efforts and commitment of the current administration.
“And in order to ensure that we guard against the possibility of that happening, we believe that we need the views of stakeholders in the sector.
“We have contributions we can make to ensure that this practice of government after government, coming and organising seminars and going is different this time.
“We have enough materials that we can go and hit the ground running.”
He said the workshop was opened to stakeholders in the sector to contribute their quota to move agriculture forward.
He said that the workshop would come up between February 2 and February 3 at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Ádua Centre, Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, ruled out increasing taxes as a way of offsetting the deficits in the 2016 Budget proposals presently before the National Assembly.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, said the government will rather concentrate on improving taxes’ collection.
Stressing that the government does not want to increase the suffering of Nigerians, the minister said the government is aiming to increase corporate tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) collections by at least 20 per cent.
He spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The minister was accompanied by governors Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Willy Obiano (Anambra) and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa).
Udoma said: “We expect about 20 per cent increase in VAT collection, which is conservative in terms of our revenue projections. We are expecting much more than that.
“With reference to the budget, one thing we are determined not to do is to cut any of those capital projects, because we need them to stimulate the economy. We are going to work with the National Assembly, to see how we can get savings.
“One of the areas we are looking at is our cash call elements. The minister of state for petroleum is looking at how we can cut our cash call elements which is about N1trillion by innovative financing. So, he is discussing with some oil companies and looking for some innovative financing which might pick up some of the financing so that we reduce our financial output and contribution by the Federal Government,” he said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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