Business

IFAD Earmarks N1.5bn To Boost Rice, Cassava Production

Published

10 years ago

April 24, 2015

The International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has says that it had set aside N1.5 billion to boost rice and cassava production by small farm holders in Nigeria in 2015. The IFAD Country Portfolio Manager, Mrs Atsoko Toda, disclosed this in Lokoja at the opening of a two-day workshop on small farm holders’ productivity enhancement component.
He explained that part of the money will be used to train small farm holders in the areas of sustainable agricultural practices and production techniques.
According to her, access to fertilisers and agro chemicals as well as improved cuttings and certified rice seeds will also be provided for the category of farmers under focus.
She added that farmers will be trained on how to add value to rice and cassava production so as to enhance their income, create wealth and jobs for the youths.
According to her, the programme tagged IFAD-Value Chain Development will go a long way to achieve food sufficiency for the country.
Toda explained that IFAD decided to focus on rice and cassava because of their capacity to quickly increase the total volume of food available to the people.
She added that processors will also be encouraged to produce polished and stone-free rice so as to discourage Nigerians from going for imported rice.
She explained that the workshop was organised to deliberate upon and arrive at a strategic framework for the implementation of the component two of the IFAD-VCDP.
The coordinator said that Anambra, Niger, Ogun, Taraba, Benue and Ebonyi were the six states selected for the implementation of the Programme.

Business

CBN Comptroller Warns Against Naira Sale

Published

4 days ago

August 11, 2025

The Tide

Branch Comptroller of the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN), Port Harcourt, Mr. Tom George Ibiso, has cautioned members of the public against the selling of the Nigerian currencies, the Naira.

Ibiso said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after being inducted as fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria in Port Harcourt.

The induction took place during the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the institute in Port Harcourt.

“I encourage the public, please do not go about selling currencies that we give out for use”.

He also called on marketers to put the nation’s currencies into judicious use.

“I will appeal to marketers, please use it consciously so that we don’t keep changing our currencies over and over”, he said.

Ibiso, who commended the institute for the award, said the gesture will spur him to greater heights as far as his work was concerned in the CBN.

According to him, he would ensure the availability of the currencies: “I will make sure that currencies are as many everywhere, that Banks are being given currencies and I encourage the public to not go about selling these currencies that we give out”.

The CBN Port Harcourt Branch Comptroller, who said he has been in public service for a long time, described the award as a big surprise, pledging not to disappoint the public.

By: John Bibor

Business

Flight Distruption Looms, As Aviation Workers Prepare For Strike

Published

4 days ago

August 11, 2025

The Tide

Tension is currently brewing in the aviation sector over the likelihood of distractions in flight across the country, as Nigerian aviation workers’ unions have issued a notice of service withdrawal to the Federal Government, effective from Monday, August 11, 2025.

The notice was contained in a statement signed by the General Secretaries of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAPS), and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCCSTRE), which was made available to aviation correspondents.

The unions lamented the prolonged delay in implementing a new salary structure for workers under the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), despite the conclusion of salary adjustment negotiations with the agency’s management eight months ago.

“Recognising that notice of ultimatum has already been issued and served by our branches, which our national unions have adopted, a seven-day notice of withdrawal of services from today, Thursday, the 31st day of July, 2025, is hereby issued,” the statement read in part.

After the expiration of the ultimatum, the union insisted on a total withdrawal of services by 5:00 hours on Monday. The workers, through their strike notice, directed all NAMA staff to stop all services with effect from Monday, August 11, 2025, at 05 hours indefinitely.

“All Airlines and allied companies, as well as the flying public, are hereby informed of the above-stated action and advised to make alternative travel arrangements.

“All staff shall comply with this directive, and only joint communication from the National Secretariats of the above-named Unions shall be heeded with regard to further directives on this matter”, the letter stated.

It was sent to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and copied to the Managing Director/CEO of NAMA, FAAN, the Commissioner of Police, Airports Command, the Directors of State Security (All Airports), and Airline Operators of Nigeria.

The strike notice implies that all flight operations will be suspended, and the entire industry will be grounded, causing disruptions to travelers and the economy.

By: Corlins Walter

Business

Freight Forwarders Raise Alarm Over Govt Reforms Sabotage

Published

4 days ago

August 11, 2025

The Tide

The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called for the deregistration of four associations with a request for the withdrawal of their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificates for national interest.

This follows what is perceived as an agenda to sabotage government reforms in the Marine and Blue Economy sectors,

NAGAFF said it had carefully observed recent actions by the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, (ANLCA), Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (AREFF), National Association of Air Freight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC), and National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, (NCMDLCA) since the appointment of the current Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, Mr. Kingsley Igwe.

These groups have publicly aligned with a court judgment obtained by Mr. Lucky Amiwero of NCMDLCA in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/765/2018, claiming that CRFFN lacks the authority to regulate customs agents and collect Practitioner Operating Fee (POF), even when the CRFFN has appealed and filed a stay of execution, rendering the ruling unenforceable.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, National President, NAGAFF, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, said those who no longer believe in CRFFN’s mandate should exit the stage, adding that the government should investigate the economic and regulatory sabotage being carried out under the guise of activism.

He said: “These groups have often failed in their statutory financial obligations to CRFFN. ANLCA and NCMDLCA must align their identities with the new Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.

“We recommend that CRFFN consider the deregistration of these four associations and request the withdrawal of their CAC certificates in national interest.

“Despite these distractions, NAGAFF remains proud of the performance of the current Registrar. Under one year, he has shown exceptional leadership, including: expanding CRFFN’s funding beyond POF to improve financial sustainability; commenced the training of one thousand freight forwarders in 2025, a capacity-building initiative which has seen a successful training of 300 freight forwarders already; and driving digital modernization and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen CRFFN’s regulatory role.

“We hereby pass a vote of absolute confidence on the leadership of the CRFFN Registrar/CEO under the supervision of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola.”