Agriculture
IFAD urges NDDC to provide $30m for implementation of LIFE-ND project
By Matthew Eloyi
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to provide 30 million dollars counterpart funding to fast-track implementation of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project.
National Project Coordinator, LIFE-ND, Mr Abiodun Sanni, made the call at the project Third Joint Implementation Support Mission Wrap-up meeting, on Thursday in Abuja.
It was gathered that LIFE-ND was being implemented by IFAD and the Federal Government to support the Nigeria Green Alternative Roadmap for Agriculture and Strategic Framework aimed at enhancing youth empowerment and job creation as well as support the NDDC master plan for the development of the Niger Delta region.
According to reports, the strategies were motivated by the waste of potentials and growing restiveness among estimated 22 million unemployed youth especially in rural areas who need economic opportunities to improve their livelihood.
Sanni said that the LIFE-ND was targeting nine states including Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo.
He said that the NDDC at the inception of the project in 2019 pledged 30 million dollars to fund three states of Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Imo.
“However, from the commencement of the project in 2019 till date, the commission was yet to meet up with its commitment, the lapses are major challenge to the timely implementation of the project,” he said.
He called on the NDDC to match its commitment with action by providing its quota to the development of the region.
Sanni said the overall goal of LIFE-ND was to realise a transformed rural economy in which the rural population can derive prosperity and equal benefits.
He said the central thrust of the project was to use the incubation model to drive and promote agribusiness enterprise development among women and youths in rural areas of Niger Delta region.
According to him, the project is supported by a strategic Project Development Objectives (PDO) to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women through agribusiness development on sustainable basis.
In his remarks, Country Programme Manager, IFAD, Mr Patrick Habamenshi, said that the amount available for stipends and working capital for incubators and incubatees remained one of the greatest challenge of the project, adding that it need to be addressed to achieve the set objectives.
He further frowned at increased risk of dropping the three NDDC funded states during the midterm review due to the failure of the commission to mobilise its counterpart funding.
The Programme Manager, who emphasised the need for strong advocacy in Cross River State, said that IFAD was exploring viable option to bridge the 32 million dollars funding gaps from co-financing partners.
He said the project would adopt proactive steps to address impact of inflation on support available for incubatees and salaries structures of operating cost to fast track commencement of the project in Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and Imo States in 2022.
Also speaking, Director, Project Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Ubandoma Ularami, assured the commitment of the ministry in ensuring availability of fund to ensure full participation of the nine benefiting states.
Ularami said that the ministry would collaborate with the National Assembly to ensure adequate funding of NDDC, to meet its counterpart fund of the three states lagging behind.
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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