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FG Begins Agric Mechanisation Programme, 2022

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The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, has disclosed that the Federal Government will kick-start its agricultural mechanisation programme in the first quarter of 2022.
The minister disclosed this at the opening of the Feed Nigeria Summit 20213 with the theme, “ Post Covid-19: A Repaired Food System, Pathway to a Revived Economy,” in Abuja, on Monday.
The essence of the programme is to ensure food and nutrition security, jobs creation, economic development, as well as ensure farmers have the machines to drive the mechanisation programme.
Nanono said the potentials of the sector were enormous and needed to be optimally explored for its huge benefits, including creating jobs and economic growth.
He added that this and other laudable programmes of the ministry were in line with the administration’s focus and commitment to diversifying the economy, through agriculture.
The minister disclosed that under the mechanisation value chain, about 632 local government areas across the country would benefit from the mechanisation programme.
On sugar importation, Nanono said he was optimistic that in the next two years, Nigeria would not need to import sugar into the country, because Nigeria would be producing five tonnes of sugar every year.
He said that Nigerians must grow what they eat, adding that there was an appreciable level of self-sufficiency in rice production in spite of the smuggling of the commodity from neighbouring countries.
“ You have to produce what you eat and eat what you produce,” the minister said.
Also speaking, Private Sector Chair, Feed Nigeria Summit Organising Committee, Prof. Eustace Iyayi, said that formidable partnership were very important in finding solutions to the issue of food insecurity.
He noted that while the Federal Government had provided some interventions to address the issue of food insecurity, the outcome of the summit would, hopefully, provide a lasting solution to the challenge.
In his goodwill message, Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Institutes and Colleges, Rep. Munir Danagundi, described the theme of the summit as apt.
He noted that the pandemic had affected all facets of life, including agriculture, and urged the summit to examine the food system in the country so as to address the needs of every Nigerian.
Also, UK Acting High Commissioner, Gill Atkinson, said that the theme of the summit was fundamental to Nigeria’s future, citing private companies as key players in the future of agriculture and critical partners in promoting  food and nutrition.
Atkinson noted that the impact of the Covid- 19 pandemic had led to rising cost of food and inflation.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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