Business
Poultry Farmers Tasks FG On Export Policy Review
Poultry farmers in Abuja have called on the Federal Government to review the nation’s policy on exportation of agricultural raw materials to create employment opportunities for youths in the sector.
A cross section of the farmers said this in separate interviews with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, on the sideline of activities marking the Christmas celebrations.
Some of them said the problem of inaccessibility of raw materials was among the challenges militating against local production of poultry substances and job creation in the sector.
They also said that lack of adequate raw materials could hinder growth in the revenue generation of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Others appealed to government to review its policy on exportation of materials used for processing of poultry feed to enable the business to thrive.
A farmer in Kuje, Mr Kunle Adeniyi, said that he stopped rearing poultry birds in April due to impact of unfriendly government policies on materials.
Adeniyi lamented that the price of vaccines, building of the poultry cage and other facilities required for the poultry farming had increased.
He said although government established policy to encourage people to engage in the farming, there were stringent principles that made it impossible for people to achieve the goal.
According to him, one major factor affecting poultry farming negatively was high cost of feed required for provision of nutrient.
“Instead of government to design policy that will bring about result in price reduction, it is rather exporting maize, when we can actually process such raw materials into finished products
“No country ever develops like that, government must review its policy to encourage poultry rearing and boost food production in Nigeria.
“It should monitor policies that are made to ensure the effective implementation; when you export raw materials it should enhance our economy.
“If you want to create jobs, is it by exporting raw materials? Government must review its policy to bring about self sufficiency and sustainable food security.
“We can never grow in the sector through such means; rather, government must come up with measures to process raw materials, to create more jobs and increase the GDP,” Adeniyi said.
Another farmer in Bwari, Mr Clement Nwanze, said that the business operation yielded profit for him, in spite of the ugly incidence of crisis that ensued during the Christmas celebration in Bwari.
He said inadequate finances, high cost of feed, vaccines and insecurity of the birds were major challenges in poultry production.
According to him, rearing of poultry birds is good because “I had a good-turn over, despite the fact that it was my first time in the business”.
“I started by rearing 22 chicks in July that matured into Broilers, although I lost three in the process the turn over was profitable, Nwanze said
“By this time next year, I hope government will have reviewed its policy on exportation of raw materials, to enable poultry farmers to key into agriculture as source of sustainable economy”.
A farmer in Nyanya, Mrs Mary James, decried cost of maize, millet, rice and fish often used in the feed production of poultry.
She urged government to ban exportation of such materials to create room for local production of poultry feed.
James said “if that is done government will be doing poultry farmers great help, because not only will many people venture into it, it will also reduce cost of doing poultry businesses”.
“Exporting a finished product that has added value will promote Gross Domestic Product, but to export raw materials which are major source of production, will lead to business loss.”
She noted that if that was done, it would help to improve the culture of poultry production and ensure profit maximisation in the business.
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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