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The Federal Government on Friday in Abuja received the report of a Technical Committee set up to prevent the rejection of agro-exports from Nigeria.
Receiving the report, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo, assured the committee of the political will to implement the recommendations.
According to Adebayo, the implementation of the committee’s recommendations will increase the export basket of agricultural commodities and foreign exchange earnings for the country.
“It would, therefore, require a synergy between the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the private sector to yield these fruits.
“I am, however, convinced that beyond the strength of your recommendations, there is the need for adequate attention to their implementation.
“You all are aware that government cannot do it alone, therefore, the cooperation of the private sector and other non-state actors will be critical in achieving the objective for which your committee was put in place.
“Suffice it to state that the recommendations of the Technical Committee are to be driven by the private sector with the government providing the enabling environment,” he said.
The minister, however, urged stakeholders in the agro-export business to support the implementation of the recommendations.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Suleiman Audu, said that food safety, technical barrier, non-adherence to best practices and disregard to basic requirements were largely responsible for the rejection of Nigeria agro-exports abroad.
According to Audu, the committee recommends that the ministry should sensitise farmers and operators in the agricultural value chain to secure and adopt Global GAP certifications in collaboration with the private sector.
He also emphasised the need for a dedicated budget to fund the Global GAP training, traceability and certification of all their farmers, to enable their products qualify for exports under the Federal Government initiative.
“The private sector should be enabled by the Federal Government to develop QR Code Traceability Card for the registration of all the operators and their agricultural commodities.
“This is in order to enhance transparency, traceability and engender visibility and acceptability for exportable agro commodities,’’ Audu said.
He said that the ministry should collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and research institutes to scale up research and development activities critical in improving produce, products, packaging and labeling requirements.
“Similarly, all relevant regulatory authorities in the agro export value chain should commence the process of automating their processes and procedures; synchronize them with the APUs, in order to curb infractions and ensure that only quality and certified products are exported,’’ Audu said.
He further said that the trade ministry and the private sector should collaborate with Nigerian Incentive based Risk Sharing insurance and Agricultural liabilities (NIRSAL) SAT-C programme, to support logistics hubs and develop transportation facilities and aggregation facilities.
“This is in order to reduce overhead costs and create momentum for trade.
“The Federal Government through FMITI, should enable the private sector to collaborate with all agencies involved in agro export activities to create a one stop shop through the use of technology (Application Programme Interface – API), to enhance ease of export.
“The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in collaboration with FMITI should produce documents, jingles and offline promotional campaigns in major Nigerian languages,” he said.
The Alternate Chairman, Capt. John Okakpu, said that the committee exhaustively deliberated on the problems of the rejections of Nigeria agro export commodities in foreign markets and provided efficient and sustainable recommendations to the anomaly.
“It is worthy to note that the support and enablement from the government has stimulated some of our members from the organised private sector to come out to participate in the process of driving the agro export activities in the country.
“Due to the dwindling income that is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, it is pertinent for the government to use its scarce resources for other important sectors of the economy.
“While the organised private sector mobilise funds to implement the recommendations of the problems of rejections of agro export commodities.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the committee was constituted by the Minister on May 26, to look into the issue of rejection of Nigeria agro-exports at the international market and proffer appropriate recommendations to halt the trend.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has disbursed N500 million loan to 4,630 farmers in Nasarawa State from 2017 to date. Mr Noel Dilli, Head of Project Monitoring and Remediation Office in Nasarawa State office made the disclosure at a stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Lafia. He said that the farmers were given the loans to assist them in production of different farm produce, to harvest and process the produce for value addition. Dilli explained that 3,000 farmers got the loan in 20172018, 500 got in 20182019, while in 2020, 1, 130 farmers got the loan respectively. He said that nothing happened in 2019 as a result of coronavirus pandemic that ravaged the entire globe which Nigeria was also affected. Dilli regretted that despite the laudable efforts to assist farmers to boost production, more than 80 per cent of the beneficiaries in the state were yet to repay their loans. “Lack of repayment of the loans has brought setback to the programme thereby affecting chances of more farmers to benefit from the facility. “So, we have set machinery in motion to recover the loans that was supposed to be paid back within six months,” he added. He appealed to farmers to always repay whatever loan they collected for overall development of the country. On her part, Onerno Obaseki, Assistant Manager, Agricultural Value Chain-Production and Integration Services (AVC-PIS) of NIRSAL PLC, commended stakeholders for their participation and useful suggestions at the meeting. Obaseki urged farmers to embrace the NIRSAL’s approach to farming as a business to move from peasant to sustainable agribusiness. She assured farmers that if they embrace the approach of farming, it would help in ensuring food security in the country. Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Musa Mohammed representing Rice Millers Association of Nigeria, commended NIRSAL for their intervention in the agricultural sector. He added that the intervention had improved productivity in both farming and processing of harvested produce, while appealing for more investment in the sector to enable the country to become self-sufficient in food production. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting had in attendance farmers from the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, processors and the media among others. ( (NAN)
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Credit Agricole Du Maroc (CAM), Morocco, toward the promotion of sustainable agriculture of both countries.
The Head, Corporate Communication, NIRSAL PLC, Anne Ihugba, said this in a statement on Friday, in Abuja.
Ihugba said this would be through the facilitation of finance and investment, trade and support systems across agricultural value chains with emphasis on smallholder farmers.
She said the Managing of NIRSAL Plc, Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed and Mr Tariq Sijilmassi, the Chairman of the Management Board of Credit Agricole Du Maroc (CAM), signed the MoU on behalf of their institutions.
She said that by this MoU, they were committed to the mutual prospecting and implementation of agriculture-oriented projects that benefit both organisations and their host countries.
Speaking at the event, Abdulhameed elaborated on NIRSAL Plc’s areas of need to include the development of financing products that suited the seasonality of agriculture and other farming contexts, and the difficulties smallholders experience in keeping to the terms of conventional bank financing products.
Abdulhameed expressed confidence that innovative financing products that speak to the peculiarities of agricultural primary production would be of immense benefit to the agriculture financiers.
He said that it would help financiers to maximise the benefits and incentives in the 75 per cent Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) issued by NIRSAL Plc for primary production projects.
According to him, it will also help diligent borrower to enjoy Interest Drawbacks (IDB) of up to 40 per cent.
He said that leveraging NIRSAL’s CRG facility commercial lenders in Nigeria have injected over N152.8 billion into the agriculture sector in the last six years, with credit crystallization rate still below one per cent NIRSAL Plc.
“A pacesetter in the modern, innovative use of blended finance to spur the growth of agriculture, has been a reference point for emerging Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) across Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
According to Abdulhameed, CAM is a more experienced institution from which NIRSAL Plc is eager to learn.
Established in 1961, CAM is a universal bank that ‘finances all sectors, with agricultural expertise as a particular vocation within the framework of national investment programs.
CAM works to enhance agricultural activities and stabilise rural populations by sustainably improving their standard of living beyond its agricultural expertise.
It is also involved in several other financing projects, particularly in rural areas, through its network of 543 branches across the Kingdom of Morocco. (www.nanews.ng).
(NAN)
The Nigerian Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Loans (NIRSAL Plc) has facilitated the flow of over ₦73 billion into Nigeria's agricultural processing industry from various sources.
NIRSAL Director General Aliyu Abdulhameed revealed this at a press session in Abuja.
He said that these sources include money deposit banks, development fiers, private equity investment firms and other official institutions.
“This is to carry out our mandate to create a stronger link between the Nigerian Agricultural Value Chain (AVC) segments and the subsequent link of AVC with commercial bank fictions,” he said.
He said NIRSAL Plc's strategic support to Agro Processors, which operates within AVC's midstream segment, creates a profit-driven ecosystem where farmers in the AVC upstream segment have a trusted market in the form of Agro Processors who buy the farmers products.
“NIRSAL Plc's support comes at a time when developing economies are increasingly shifting from producing only raw materials to producing and adding value to increase economic activity, drive foreign exchange earnings and widespread social development.
” Other beneficiaries of NIRSAL Plc's fice facilitation include pre-upstream, upstream and downstream AVC operators involved in production and input supply, mechanization service provision, primary production and logistics.
“This feat, which has contributed remarkably to the Federal Government's agricultural promotion campaign, was achieved through NIRSAL Plc's effective deployment of its Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) instrument,” he said.
Meanwhile, he explained that NIRSAL CRG is the main product of NIRSAL Plc which is used to share credit risks related to agribusiness with commercial banks and fiers by 75 percent.
” possible losses in a credit transaction, NIRSAL Plc has increased its confidence to lend to players in the Agric sector, a sector once widely regarded as a no-go area in fice circles.
Backed by CRG, farmer and agribusiness groups that prior to the introduction of NIRSAL CRG had difficulty obtaining loan approval from commercial banks, now enjoy smoother approval processes for the loans they need to expand their operations, increase their profits and improve their livelihoods. .
” To further support Nigerian farmers and agribusinesses, NIRSAL Plc, through its Interest Repayment Scheme (IDB), goes the extra mile to reward diligent borrower behavior through discretionary repayments of up to 40 percent. percent of interest paid on agribusiness supported by NIRSAL CRG. loans
“To date, NIRSAL Plc has paid more than £1.64bn, the effective interest rate for borrowers with good credit history,” he said.
According to him, the injection of ficia into the agricultural sector through NIRSAL Plc has resulted in extensive socio-economic growth.
“Agribusiness owners have been able to expand their operations and increase their staff strength, with NIRSAL CRG grantees witnessing a 20-60 percent increase in capacity utilization, productivity, the number of markets served and the value of sales," he said.
NIRSAL Plc's latest achievement, he said, also coincides with the development of Nigeria's Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Program across the country to which NIRSAL Plc is offering its support.
The head of NIRSAL also made it known that, in accordance with NIRSAL Plc's office facilitation mandate, SAPZ would mobilize private sector investment in targeted areas to improve productivity and integrate commodity production, processing and marketing. agricultural.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says 3,000 entrepreneurs from Niger Delta will benefit from the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) loans.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that PAP had started training programmes to prepare Niger Delta youths including ex-agitators for loans offered Bank of Nigeria-backed NIRSAL scheme.
PAP is facilitating the process through capacity building to help entrepreneurs in the region get qualifications required to apply for the loans.
The first phase of the training, which has 60 youths in attendance, is currently ongoing in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.
The Interim Administrator, PAP, Retied Col. Milland Dikio, said on Tuesday that 3,000 entrepreneurs had opportunities to benefit from the loans to expand their businesses.
He explained that NIRSAL would select 30 youths for the pilot survey of the loan initiative after the trainings.
Dikio, who was represented Adviser on Project, Mr Godwin Ekpo, emphasised that PAP was only acting as a guide to give qualified entrepreneurs from the region an opportunity to access the loans.
Dikio told the ex-agitators that the loans were not grants and should be paid back within the terminal period to enable NIRSAL extend the gesture to others.
He said that the loans offered free of collateral with low interests but must be secured facilitate repayments.
He said PAP decided to facilitate because such opportunity was in line with his vision to turn the youths, especially the ex-agitators to entrepreneurs.
He said the loans were for those who were already running their businesses to help them expand their ventures in order to generate more jobs for people.
“NIRSAL is supporting the SMEs with soft loans to enable them expand their businesses. As PAP, our vision is to help our delegates become entrepreneurs and/or employable citizens contributing to the economy.
“So, we look out for opportunities where they can access some level of funding to take their businesses to the next level.
“We have other people that will be joining after this; this is just a pilot scheme. The partnership is one that will grow and we have a larger number.
“It must be stated again that this is not a grant; these are low interest loans, single digit with no collateral that will be paid back after a while.
“The tenure of repayment and other conditions are stated in the papers they will sign. We hope that these delegates will become more successful entrepreneurs in future as a result of this funding.
“Some of them are into agriculture, small scale businesses and we hope this fund will help them expand,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the lead consultant, Mr Paul Tyokosu, said the essence of the training was to enable the entrepreneurs have access to funding and skills to promote their businesses.
He urged the trainees to think of farming, agro-businesses and other agricultural value chain to expand their businesses and create more employment opportunities.
“This is designed to boost your capacity to grow your business. When you expand your business, you will help solve the problem of unemployment. Always ensure that your income is more than your liabilities,’’ he said.
One of the trainees, Amatari Ogon, who runs a poultry farm, commended Dikio for introducing Niger Delta youths to opportunities that would empower the youths.
“This training has shown that the amnesty boss has the passion for the empowerment and development of the Niger Delta region. It has exposed me to tips that will help me expand my poultry business,” Ogon said.
Source: NAN
The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), said it had taken advantage of new technological innovations that would enable it meet customers’ expectations and serve their needs.
Dr Ismail Adewusi, the postmaster general, made the assertion during the Special Day of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) at the 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair (LITR) in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the fair, holding from Nov. 5 to Nov. 14, has as its theme: “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value”.
Over 200,000 visitors are expected while about 1,500 exhibitors from 16 countries are participating in the 35th edition of the fair.
Adewusi said: “Having embraced innovation, NIPOST has taken advantage of the new technology, developed new business models and new products and services that meet the needs and expectations of the current dynamic markets.
“Aside the full automation of NIPOST Counters, the International Postal System (IPS) and integrated postal management system (IPMS) now in place in NIPOST are some of the audacious steps in appropriating the availability of ICT to adequately serve the needs of our army of technologically-driven customers.
“Our E-commerce and haulage/Logistic ventures are gradually taking centre stage in business networking while SMEs and MSMEs constantly take advantage of our competitive rates to deliver goods and services,” he said.
He was represented Oladapo, general manager, NIPOST e-Commerce and Logistics.
Furthermore, the postmaster general said that NIPOST was currently providing ficial services to its customers.
He said: “NIPOST in a bid to support sustainable development goals banking to the unbanked is currently providing ficial services such as, cash and other International fund transfer like Western Union on our counters”.
Adewusi said also that NIPOST is in partnership with NIRSAL Microfice Bank and urged customers that they could access the bank in various NIPOST offices.
Besides, he said NIPOST’s awareness campaign at this year’s Fair is stamp denotation, EMS and Parcel, Address Verification System, Bulk post and Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department, Philately etc.
He assured customers of the organisation’s commitment to effectively and efficiently provide them with quality services.
He added that handling of their items was currently in line with the global best practices as quality bubble wraps had been introduced and used to protect and safeguard their items from moisture and breakage.
Earlier, MrsToki Mabogunje, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the Trade Fair was specially packaged to showcase innovation in goods and services of indigenous businesses and enterprises in Africa.
According to her, the aim of LCCI is to connect businesses and create value between manufacturers, customers, major sector companies and consumers products and services at the Fair.
“This year’s Trade Fair is specially packaged to showcase innovation in goods and services of indigenous businesses and enterprises in Africa, there a platform for connecting with partners that is best served across the world,” she said.
Source: NAN
Collins Yakubu-Hammer
The Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) says it is ready to partner with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to strengthen their livelihoods even after retirement.
Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed, Managing Director and Managing Director of NIRSAL, revealed it during his opening speech at the 17th All Nigeria Editors' Conference (ANEC) 2021, hosted by the Editors Guild ( NGE) Friday in Abuja.
Abdulhameed said there were many opportunities and services at NIRSAL that the NGE could benefit from, adding that they were ready to partner with the guild.
“What NARSAL would do with the NGE is talk to them through a technical team set up by the guild and create a model to show upstream and downstream how the guild can benefit from the different opportunities. by NIRSAL.
“Then we optimize these models so that when we put one naira, we can get three naira back, because it doesn't make economic sense to put one naira and get one naira.
“The agricultural sector is subject to science and modeling. So when we optimize your project with you, we then optimize the hardware solutions. Then we approach the bank.
“My call to action for the guild is how can we work with you to create a technical pilot model to benefit the guild,” said Abdulhameed.
He urged guild members to understand that agriculture is a business enterprise, adding that the sector contributes around 24 percent of Nigeria's gross domestic product.
He pointed out that in Brazil and Egypt, especially in the Nile Valley, agriculture has been passed down from generation to generation, saying it has the potential to improve the livelihoods of citizens.
According to him, it is unfortunate that many farmers think that agriculture only begins and ends with production.
He said that production is an aspect of agriculture, that there is a need for other chains like packaging to improve value.
The Nigeria News Agency reports that the conference provides a platform for relevant media actors across the country to fertilize ideas for improved efficiency.
Source: NAN
By Benson Ezugwu
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) has restated its commitment to realising its vision of “transforming the economy, delivering inclusive growth and positively impacting the lives of Nigerians”.
Aliyu Abdulhameed, NIRSAL Plc’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday.
He is quoted as making the commitment during the official launch of the Gbagolo Integrated Farms Limited and TOAJ Nigeria Limited projects in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Abdulhameed said the NIRSAL, in its bid to actualise its vision, supports all sizes of businesses, whether small, medium or large across the length and breadth of the country, and both projects were testaments to this.
With both projects, the poultry and cocoa value chains in Cross River State received a boost that is expected to generate significant gains for the local and national economies.
This follows the issuance of a 50% Credit Risk Guarantee (CRG) and 20% Interest Drawback (IDB) by the NIRSAL Plc on the respective loans of Gbagolo Integrated Farms Limited – a livestock producer and TOAJ Nigeria Limited – a cocoa dealer.
Leveraging on its CRG – an instrument that NIRSAL Plc utilises to share agribusiness risks with ficiers – NIRSAL Plc facilitated the approval and disbursement of N81.8 million and N150 million from Union Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc respectively.
Gbagolo Integrated Farms Limited will use its N81.8 million Term Loan to fice the purchase of 25,000 Point of lay birds, 25,000 capacity battery cages and feeding compliments.
TOAJ Nigeria Limited, on its part, will channel its N150 million Export/Trade Fice facility towards the sourcing and purchase of cocoa for export.
“The injection of these fices into the poultry and cocoa value chains in Cross River State will create a positive knock-on effect for players along each segment of both value chains and the agribusinesses’ host communities at large.
“Specifically, the purchase of 25,000 Point of Lay birds by Gbagolo Integrated Farms Limited will impact poultry feeds sellers & other inputs suppliers in the pre-upstream Value Chain segment; producers/sellers of Point of Lay birds in the upstream segment, and consumers of Eggs and Spent Layers in the downstream segment,” the statement said.
Abdulhameed said that, as a guarantor, NIRSAL Plc’s intervention positively impacts both the lender and the borrower, as well as the overall economy.
This, according to him, implies that the lender invests safely and earns competitive returns; the borrower’s capacity utilization and productivity is increased, and the economy reaps the benefits of the backward integration occasioned by increased local production at the expense of importation of essential goods.
He urged all agricultural value chain stakeholders in the South-South region and the entire country to leverage NIRSAL’s CRG as the collateral required for getting commercial bank ficing for their agribusinesses.
The TOAJ Nigeria Limited’s facility is expected to support the thousands of farmers who supply its inventory by providing them with a secure, sustainable, and guaranteed offtake market.
According to NIRSAL, the export of cocoa will increase Nigeria’s stake in the global cocoa market and boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
The statement quoted Mr. Peter Akpaudoh, Union Bank Plc’s Area Business Executive, who was also present at the launch event, as stressing the value in the suite of NIRSAL’s value offerings.
Mr. Uchenna Agbowo, Business Executive, Commercial, South-East, Sterling Bank Plc, ficiers of TOAJ Nigeria Limited, is quoted as saying that, at 10%, the bank had the highest loan book for agriculture amongst commercial banks in Nigeria.
He stated that the bank had been enjoying NIRSAL’s support and would continue to count on it for the safety of their agribusiness investments.
According to the Managing Director, TOAJ Nigeria Limited, Mr. Taiwo Sunday, NIRSAL’s support has helped the company to acquire a 5,000 MT-capacity warehouse in Osogbo.
He said that the company had been expanding its frontiers to the South-West for the purpose of export and, with NIRSAL’s support, it can now engage more farmers, procure more cocoa, and employ more staff.
Gbagolo Integrated Farms Limited and TOAJ Nigeria Limited are among hundreds of agribusinesses that have been supported by NIRSAL Plc to boost their operations.
Only weeks ago, NIRSAL Plc said it supported ADT Russet Ltd in Lagos with a 50% credit guarantee on a N1.15 billion facility to source and export cocoa beans.
With these projects, NIRSAL Plc says it has now facilitated over N128 billion for agriculture and agribusiness across the country since its inception.
This, it said, translates to the creation of jobs, driving the growth of rural economies, and positively impacting Nigerian lives.(www.)
Source: NAN
By Edith Ike-Eboh
Investorfor sustainable business development in the country.
Mr Bitrus Nabasu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, disclosed this while briefing newsmen, on Sunday in Abuja.
“Therefore, in an effort to stimulate finance to this critical sector, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), introduced a N250 billion intervention facility to help motivate investment in the gas value chain.
“A description of the intervention facility can be found on the CBN website www.cbn.gov.ng and the ministry’s website at www.petroleumresources.gov.ng,’’ he said
He said the large scale projects under the intervention would be financed under the Power and Airlines Intervention Fund (PAIF) in line with existing guidelines and regulations of the Fund.
According to him, the small scale projects and retail distributions will be financed by NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank and other participating institutions under the Agribusiness Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Schemes (AGSMEIS).
The facility, he said, was designed to improve access to financing for private sector investment in the gas value chain, stimulate investment in the development of infrastructure to optimise the domestic gas resources for economic development
He listed other objectives of the facility to include provision of platform to fast track the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as the fuel of choice for transportation and power generation as well as Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) for domestic cooking, transportation and captive power.
“It will also fast track the development of gas-based industries particularly petrol chemicals (Fertiliser, Methanol, etc), to support large industries such as agriculture, textile and related industries.
“Provide leverage for additional private sector investment in the domestic gas market and boost employment across the country,’’ he said
The Permanent Secretary said the facility would also finance gas processing, small scale petrochemical and gas cylinder manufacturin plants as well as LCNG regasification modular systems.
Nabasu said it would equally finance Auto Gas conversion kits or component manufacturing plants; CNG primary and secondary compression station, micro distribution outlets and service centers for LPG.
“In addition, the facility will service the development and enhancement of auto gas transportation system conversion and distribution infrastructure, enhancement of domestic cylinder production and distribution by manufacturing plants.
“Also; LPG wholesale outlet and many other mid to downstream gas value chain related activity recommended by the ministry,’’ he said, adding that parties with the capacity to develop and operate any of the fore listed projects are expected to demonstrate project development experience.
According to him, interested parties will need to demonstrate technical and commercial capacity as well as show evidence of experience and capacities to engage in their proposed businesses to enable them access the fund.
“At a minimum, interested parties shall provide general information of interested parties, past experience and evidence of technical capabilities and organisational structure,’’ he said
He added that interested parties shall be responsible for planning, preparations, engineering and execution of the project, including CNG compression and storage facilities for on line stations, virtual pipeline network among others
He said the ministry had invited proposals from interested parties such as manufacturers, processors, wholesale distribution, SMEs and retail distributors in the gas value chain business.
“Details of submission criteria could be found at the ministry’s website.
“All proposal shall be submitted to the ministry for endorsement and evaluation into confidential box provided on the 10th floor, Room 3, Block D, NNPC Towers, Abuja,’’ he said (NAN)
Source: NAN
By Ismaila Chafe
President Muhammadu Buhari received a briefing on the Modular Irrigation System, an innovation that allows farmers to irrigate their farms independently without relying on river basins.
The Executive Vice President / Director General of the National Agency for Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (NASENI), Professor Mohammed Haruna, who briefed the President, presented a sample of the innovation to Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Friday, Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the presentation, Haruna said that a solar-powered pump has been developed to draw water from the borehole for small and large-scale irrigation projects.
According to him, the system is transportable and will allow individual farmers to irrigate their farms themselves.
He said: “The modular irrigation system is an innovation and an invention for the agricultural sector.
“It's a process in which we have developed a program so that individual farmers can irrigate their farms without waiting for river basins.
“In this case, we have developed a solar-powered pumping system; the water can come from a borehole, if there is no river or stream nearby.
“As a result, these are mobile devices; the pumping machine and solar power supply are also mobile, a farmer can fold it up in his house and bring it to the farm whenever he needs it.
“The good thing about the program is that we have demonstrated, in collaboration with NIRSA (Nigeria Incentive Risk-based Sharing System for Agriculture), a parastatal body of the Central Bank of Nigeria), that it is possible to have three agricultural seasons in a year.
“So this means that a farmer can be engaged in his own activities without necessarily looking for alternative employment.
“Three harvest seasons per year, that's what the modular irrigation system is. It is a collaborative effort between NASENI and NIRSAL.
Haruna assured that the modular irrigation system would be widely available in the country for farmers.
“We want it to be nationwide, but the program started from Adamawa State.
“The sample that you saw, illustrated and the video, is where we started as a pilot. We have now presented this issue to the President and his directive is that wherever possible all farmers should benefit, ”he said.
According to him, the aim is to make the mechanism affordable for interested farmers across the country because the capacities are enormous.
He said that depending on the size of the farm, the farmer could take the least, the medium or the large, or could acquire more than one, saying the costs will vary.
“When there is a stream or river nearby, you don't need to drill a borehole, that means it can be pumped from there. Where there is none on the farm, a borehole is needed.
“A large farm may require more than one borehole due to the yield. So, it's affordable.
“But as I say from the pilot project, because we invested so much to have the prototype and deploy it on the farm and see it, it cost us more, but with the intervention and some subsidies from the Bank. central, it is possible that we have a range from N25,000 to the highest at N125,000. This is our goal. "
Haruna revealed that he also briefed the president on the progress of the agency's helicopter assembly initiative, saying all necessary components had been received from Belgium.
According to him, engineers and technicians are now trained in the assembly process, maintenance and commissioning.
He said: “Up to now, the helicopter's status now, we have received completely disassembled components from Belgium and we have trained our engineers and technicians on all aspects of its assembly, maintenance and repair process. commissioning.
“We have also trained pilots, in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.
“This helicopter has been fully assembled, helipad and other facilities in place, very close to here. It's on our site in Karshi, Abuja.
“The Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Aviation, the Civil Aviation Authority and other agencies that have mandatory regulatory activities to do are in the process of performing.
“So far, it's a successful project.
He said he discussed "pre-fabricated technology" with the president, which he said is a method of having building facilities, house building materials designed, a factory designed, a classroom or laboratories designed. , in which the materials are composite materials.
He added, “The normal architectural design of the house is done, everything is done in the field, and then these components are put together. In three weeks, you can have a complete house ready.
“It's not new technology. It has been around for a long time in Europe, because of the extreme weather conditions.
“It is now that we see that it is necessary to acquire this technology, to domesticate it and to use it to meet the challenges we face, to rebuild the northeast, even the northwest and n anywhere.
“Originally we acquired it only for the laboratories, for a quick installation of the laboratories, both the building and the equipment of NASENI, but now with the existing challenges it becomes necessary that we acquire this technology in large part, so that the reconstruction of our villages and hamlets can be faster.
“Even the other centers that we are building are today's technology.
“The important thing is that 100% of the raw materials to develop these flame retardant and weather resistant composite materials are available in Nigeria. "
Regarding NASENI's partnership with state governments and the private sector, the head of the agency said "it is working."
He said “there are some private sectors that have marketed patented or proven NASENI products and then mass produced them.
“INNOSON Motors, GEOMTECH which produces NASENI prepaid meters, Keke NASENI and now we have two companies that have emerged. NASENI is helping them to have a solar manufacturing plant as well, just like we have in Karshi.
"So many state governors have shown interest by visiting our youth skills development facility, helping them tap into what's available in states, across the country."
Regarding the national project for the rehabilitation, refurbishment and redeployment of tractors, he revealed that six States had so far committed to it.
According to him, so far about six states are actively involved in the implementation of the laudable project, adding that the tractors repaired, rehabilitated, redeployed to farms are actively working. (NAA)
(NAN)