Agriculture
Enugu farmers, SMEs, others benefit from World Bank project
Farmers, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and others have benefitted from the World Bank-assisted Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project in Enugu State.
The Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, disclosed this during a two-day World Bank 9th Implementation Support Mission held in Enugu.
She explained that the APPEALS project had impacted greatly the agricultural sector in Enugu State.
In her words, “Many farmers in the state have also benefited through capacity training, technology demonstration, construction of aggregation and processing centres.”
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The deputy governor said the support by the APPEALS Project had impacted farmers in enhancing their productivity across the three priority value chains of rice, cashew and poultry.
She added that 15 aggregation/cottage processing centres were currently being constructed across various locations in the state.
“I wish to assure the World Bank Task Team Leader for APPEALS, Manievel Sene, that we are doing everything possible to ensure the construction of 13.3 kilometres of access roads.
“We are working to fast-track the implementation of energy and more,” she said.
In his remark, the National Project Coordinator, APPEALS, Alhaji Mohammed Jobdi, said the plenary was aimed at interacting and reviewing what APPEALS Project had done.
He explained that the gathering would offer them an opportunity to interact with experts on what the state had achieved and address issues facing the project in the state from achieving its objective.
Earlier, the Acting State Coordinator of Enugu APPEALS, Mrs Ihuoma Eze, said the current project implementation status across the components would be reviewed and opened for advice from the team.
This, she said, would help to achieve the project development objectives to improve agricultural productivity, including Small and Medium Scale farmers to enhance value.
“The implementation will also enhance agricultural value chains of poultry, rice and cashew,” she said.
The coordinator explained that the project activities of APPEALS were in line with the agenda of the Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Enugu farmers, SMEs, others benefit from World Bank project
The Borno Government has announced the creation of Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Development to align its
Development strategy with Federal Government initiatives, and boost the state’s economic potential.
Gov. Babagana Zulum made the announcement on Tuesday during the swearing in of two commissioners at the council chambers of the Government House.
Zulum underscored the importance of livestock and fisheries as vital sectors with untapped revenue potential.
He emphasised that the new ministry would focus on high-yield livestock breeds, milk production and fisheries, targeting both domestic consumption and export opportunities.
The governor said that “no state government can make substantial money in livestock alone, but we believe with the right investment and political will, the sector can generate significant revenue.”
He said that the growing demand for milk by yogurt companies and the proximity of Maiduguri to Asian and Arab markets, are great opportunities for dairy exportation.
The governor, therefore, assigned the Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Kadafur, to oversee the activities of the new ministry, citing his practical experience and passion for livestock development.
He said “livestock development is not just about academic qualifications, it is about practice and the deputy governor has demonstrated capability in that regard.”
According to him, the ministry will prioritise procuring high-yielding livestock varieties, enhancing milk production and creating sustainable rural projects to support
Local communities.
He said that projects in Mafa, Gajiram and in Southern Borno will soon be launched under the new ministry’s purview.
The governor urged civil servants and ministry personnel to take ownership of the new initiative, adding that the ministry’s success would contribute to the states
Long-term economic stability and self-reliance.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) has commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation.
The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units which were established in 1965 and 1989.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the old plant refines a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the new plant refines 150,000 bpd.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a 1.5 billion dollars loan to rehabilitate the facility which contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.
NAN) reports that Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd. is leading the team to inspect the first lifting of petroleum product from the facility after its rehabilitation.
Alia appoints head of agric company, others
Gov. Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Akule as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Benue State Agricultural Development Company (ADC).
The governor also approved the appointment of Dr Aondoakaa Asambe as Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on Livestock Development and Animal Transboundary Disease Control.
The appointments were announced in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday.
According to the statement, the governor also appointed Mr Abraham Agogo as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Mobilisation.
The statement added that the appointments take immediate effect.
It said that Akule brings over 15 years of experience in agricultural systems, community development, research and development, and food processing.
He holds a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and is a Certified Fellow in Agricultural Systems Development under USAID and Lagos Business School.
Meanwhile, Asambe, a member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association and a registered veterinary surgeon with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, has been a lecturer at Federal University, Dutsima, for the past 12 years.
He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi).
He also holds a postgraduate degree in Food Animal Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
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