Business
FG Committed To Make Agric Alternative Revenue Source -SON
The Director-General,
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, said the Federal Government was committed to making agriculture alternative source of income to oil.
Odumodu told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that SON had established food laboratory to support the Federal Government’s plan.
He said that the laboratory would enable the exporters of Nigerian agricultural produce to take advantage of the laboratory to certify their goods for international acceptance.
The D-G said that after the produce would have been tested and certified in the laboratory, the internationally-accredited laboratory would not be able to reject them at the international market.
“Our organisation has lots of challenges with imported goods than those manufactured within. In our last statistics, less than five per cent of sub-standard products were imported goods.
“Once our agricultural products are accepted in the international market, we can be rest assured that we will be able to generate more income to the poll than oil,” he said.
Odumodu said that the organisation would partner with states, local governments and farmers to ensure that products like cocoa, timber, cassava, yam, cashew, palm produce, rubber, groundnut and others enjoyed global reckoning.
He said that this was the best time to strengthen the agricultural and industrial sectors to boost non-oil exports and increase the country’s foreign exchange in the face of the dwindling oil situation.
In a separate interview, the Director-General, Raw Materials and Research Development Dr Hussaini Ibrahim, told our correspondent that the council was committed to make farmers partake in its cluster programmes to foster economic growth.
“We involved the agricultural sector as part of strategy to accelerate the pace of development in the micro, small and medium enterprise in the country as engine for industrial and economic advancement,” he said.
Business
NCAA Certifies Elin Group Aircraft Maintenance

Business
SMEDAN, CAC Move To Ease Business Registration, Target 250,000 MSMEs

Business
Blue Economy: Minister Seeks Lifeline In Blue Bond Amid Budget Squeeze

Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is seeking new funding to implement its ambitious 10-year policy, with officials acknowledging that public funding is insufficient for the scale of transformation envisioned.
Adegboyega Oyetola, said finance is the “lever that will attract long-term and progressive capital critical” and determine whether the ministry’s goals take off.
“Resources we currently receive from the national budget are grossly inadequate compared to the enormous responsibility before the ministry and sector,” he warned.
He described public funding not as charity but as “seed capital” that would unlock private investment adding that without it, Nigeria risks falling behind its neighbours while billions of naira continue to leak abroad through freight payments on foreign vessels.
He said “We have N24.6 trillion in pension assets, with 5 percent set aside for sustainability, including blue and green bonds,” he told stakeholders. “Each time green bonds have been issued, they have been oversubscribed. The money is there. The question is, how do you then get this money?”
The NGX reckons that once incorporated into the national budget, the Debt Management Office could issue the bonds, attracting both domestic pension funds and international investors.
Yet even as officials push for creative financing, Oloruntola stressed that the first step remains legislative.
“Even the most innovative financial tools and private investments require a solid public funding base to thrive.
It would be noted that with government funding inadequate, the ministry and capital market operators see bonds as alternative financing.
-
Sports13 hours ago
Ezeji Urge NFF To Investigate Igenewari George’s death
-
Niger Delta13 hours ago
D’Gov Hails Amananaowei-Elect, Ogboloma Chiefs Council …Wants Accountability, Transparency In Traditional Administration
-
Sports13 hours ago
Group Plan To Discover Africa next football stars
-
News12 hours ago
Make in Nigeria conferences and Exhibitions; PHCCIMA, others laud organisers for boosting SMES
-
Oil & Energy13 hours ago
“PENGASSAN Orders Halt Of Gas Supply To Dangote Refinery
-
Education12 hours ago
Students Eulogises PGSA Leadership Role in RSU dev
-
News13 hours ago
Nigeria At 65: RSG Holds Special Church Service …Cleric Calls For Peace
-
Niger Delta13 hours ago
Delta, Tantita Security Services Inaugurate Classrooms for Inmate Education