Aso Villa Reads for 04/12/2019

Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is to review for approval, the Anambra state government’s request for n5billion to be made available for farmers in the state for mechanised agriculture. The CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this when he visited the state in the company of a high powered federal government delegation including the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, the Governor of Kebbi state, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu and top CBN and federal agriculture ministry officials. The team was on a one day fact finding visit to Coscharis farms, Anaku in Ayamelum Council Area, aimed at assessing the impact of N2billion CBN funds earlier provided to the farms and unraveling the state’s success story on rice production. During the visit, the team toured the farm’s expansive rice field where harvesting was ongoing with mechanized harvester as well as other facilities belonging to the farm after which they met with members of the rice farmers association in the state at omor rice field. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Ogbe in his remarks, said President Muhammadu Buhari is investing heavily in agriculture because of its belief that unless Nigeria is able to feed its people, it cannot boast of being independent, adding that with what is happening in Anambra, the country will no longer be importing rice soon. Global Patriot News reports.

The Federal Government Monday, signed an agreement with Russia on the supply of potash, a major raw material for the production of fertilizer. The agreement which was signed at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, is described as a milestone in fertilizer production in the country. Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji signed on behalf of the Nigerian government, while Dmitry Konyeaev signed on behalf of the Russian company that will supply the product. Speaking at the event, Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, who is also the Chairman, Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, said that entering the agreement with Russia was another milestone in the life of the current administration, led by President Muhammadu Buhari. “It is another milestone in President Buhari’s effort to increase farm production and to support farmers. As you all recall, President Putin of Russia hosted African leaders recently at a summit and our President was there. “During one of the side meetings, President proposed the possibility of Nigeria buying Potash from a company in Russia and today we witnessed the culmination of that discussion, where Nigeria and Russia have signed an agreement on potash purchase by Nigeria,” he said. He said the move, which has checked the excesses of middlemen, would further boost the supply of fertilizer at an affordable rate to Nigerian farmers. “What we have just witnessed will help in stabilising the price of NPK brand of fertilizer that we produce locally. The beauty of this deal is that it is a direct purchase, no commission agent and also because of the involvement of the two Presidents, the price is very competitive,” the governor explained. In his remark, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji, who signed on behalf of Nigeria, said so far over 19 million bags of fertilizer had been blended by Nigeria in the last two years. “Between 2017 when the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative started and today, over 19 million bags of fertilizer have been blended by this programme at a price of N5,500, and more importantly, we have revived some of the blending plants that were moribund. Today, as we approach the programme for 2020, 26 local blending plants, which include some of the old and new ones have joined the programme. Business Day reports.

The Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Wednesday, stated that it is seeking a review of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development, NOGICD, Act to enable it extend the enforcement of local content to ongoing railway projects across the country. Speaking in Bayelsa, at the ongoing 9th Practical Nigerian Content,Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, disclosed that the review of the NOGICD Act would prevent a proliferation of regulatory agencies and would enable the Board ensure the enforcement of local content in railway projects and other critical sectors of the country. According to Vanguard, Wabote stated that the extending local content to these critical sectors would help drive Nigeria’s economic development and help reduced cost of production in the long run. With regards to the sectorial and regional market linkages, he promised that the NCDMB would validate and prioritize opportunity sectors for local content development.

President Muhammadu Buhari has just commissioned the 2019 National Security Strategy to tackle security challenges in the country. The event took place at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja. Commissioning the strategy document, Buhari said its main objective is the “achievement of a safer and more secure nation.” He explained that the new road map was a product of elaborate discussions between all security organs and Ministries Departments and Agencies of the government. Prior to the commissioning, the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno, gave the highlights of the new strategy, which was reviewed from the first one issued in 2014. “The focus of today’s strategy is multi-dimensional and it’s to guarantee the safety of human lives. “The approach is comprehensive and looks at how agencies will collaborate to guarantee security for our country”, he stated. The leadership of the National Assembly, service chiefs, ministers and heads of MDAs attended the event. Punch reports.

As reported by Punch, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday reassured Nigerians of their safety under his administration, promising that he remained committed to fighting insecurity, especially insurgency. He spoke in Kaduna where he unveiled additional Made-in-Nigeria Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for the Nigerian Army. The vehicles, code-named Ezugwu MRAP, will be used for counter-insurgency operations by the army. They were produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, an indigenous company. The President launched the vehicles at the opening ceremony of the 2019 Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference. Reassuring Nigerians of their safety, Buhari said, ‘‘This is a commitment we have made and will continue to keep.”