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Agriculture

Lagos to establish 250-hectare feedlot, ranch

 

Feedlot
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, July 28, 2022 (NAN)  Lagos State Government is to establish a 250-hectare feedlots/ranch in Igbodu, Epe, through private sector investment to boost production in the red meat value chain.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, told  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that the project was to mitigate against shortage of supply caused by strikes and other challenges.

Feedlots are  agricultural operations where animals are kept and raised in confined situations…that congregate animals, feed, manure and urine, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area.

In the arrangement, feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking feed in pastures or fields.

Olusanya said that the project would be in phases as more private feedlots were being expected to set up in the state.

She said that investors were already indicating interest.

According to the commissioner, the state has acquired more land in Epe but would implement the project  in phases.

“We have actually called on investors, put out an expression of interest.

“We have investors who actually showed interest, they have applied and done screening.

“We are just trying to clear, put a bit of infrastructure in place and get private investors to invest.

“We are doing 250 hectares in the first instance, that is phase one; we have acquired more land  at Igbodu, Epe, and we are hoping to be able to increase it,” she said.

Olusanya said that the project was to demonstrate that cattle could be reared on ranches or in feedlots as against open grazing.

“The idea is to get private investors to come into the value chain so we establish feedlots, individual feedlots.

The official said that the government intended to have a centralised facility maintenance company or a private sector player to help to oversee the activities in the feedlot.

“In Nigeria, we eat almost three million or more herds of cattle yearly.

“Lagos alone consumes more than half of or almost half of that, and if we consume that much, it makes sense to bring this product or livestock closer to Lagos.

“We have seen the impact of long-term closure of roads, road blocks, food amalgamation and association issues; when they go on a strike, the impact is mostly felt in Lagos.

“How can we begin to mitigate such things so that in the future, if you are even having crisis, we are not badly affected.

“It is not that we will not be affected, we will  be affected but not badly affected to the extent that it becomes a security issue.

“That is why we are doing some of this things to see that cattle can actually be reared on ranches or can be reared in feedlots,” she said.

The commissioner said that the state government had already begun a pilot feedlot project at Badagry, adding that some of the cattle were sold during the last Eid-El Kabir celebration.

“They were very big cows; those that purchased the cows from us can attest to the fact that those cows were different.

“In fact, some people thought they were international breeds that we brought into the country but they were cows we procured here locally when they were young and groomed them for about 18 months.

“Lagos of the 21st Century should be able to establish ranches and feedlots,” she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Agriculture

Rotary Club partners LASCODA on coconut planting in schools

 

Coconut

 

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, July 26, 2022 (NAN) The Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic says it will partner the Lagos State Coconut Development (LASCODA) to plant coconut trees in all the primary and secondary schools in the state.

Mr Gboyega Bada, President, Rotary Club of Eko Atlantic, 2022-2023, stated this on Tuesday at the 2022 Tree Plantation exercise of the club at Air Force Primary School, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Bada said that the club was ready to partner the state government to plant coconut trees in and around Lagos, including all schools.

He said that the tree planting was one of the major project of the club to safeguard, promote green environment and educate students.

According to him, July is a tree planting month for us in Rotary Club and we have decided to come to this school to plant trees.

“July 14 is internationally recognised as the tree planting day but for Rotary Club, the month of July, we are permitted to celebrate the tree planting season or programme and that’s why we are here.

“We decided to plant coconut because it is is an economical crop that needed to be populated among students and residents of Lagos.

“We are happy that the school gave us the opportunity to plant coconut trees and flowers in the school compound. We will replicate this in all schools going forward.

“We will partner with LASCODA to plant coconut in and around Lagos. We want to plant coconut tree in all schools to populate the crop and also generate revenue for the state.

“Every part of coconut tree is useful, from the flesh, the husk and the water. Coconut tree has huge economic value.

“We want to partner LASCODA to further increase coconut production to meet our demands,” he said.

Bada commended the Nigeria Air Force for the opportunity to plant the crop in their premises adding that the students would be more familiar with the history of the crop in Lagos.

“We are happy that the Nigerian Air Force gave us the permission to use this school for our tree planting project tagged the International Tree Planting Day.

“When you look at the coat of arm of Lagos state, what you have there is two coconut trees. That is to show you the importance of coconut to Lagos.

“I am happy that we have one of our member who is also a coconut farmer in India here to support us. We are going to populate coconut trees in and around Lagos, in every school and that is the promise.

“Every school in Lagos state, we are going to go there to plant a tree and that is our determination.

“We also know that every part of coconut tree is very useful, it has economic benefits and the internally generated revenue of Lagos state is going to increase when we start this project,” he said.

Mr Sadananda Melanta, President Elect, 2023-2024, said that coconut tree was very friendly to the environment with great benefit to the community and state in general

Melanta said that everything about coconut was reusable adding that there was a need for all hands to be on deck to promote the crop.

“Coconut plantation is one main criteria in tree plantation back home in India, I have up to 400-500 coconut planted in my farm. I am basically a farmer that is why I’m here.

“Nigeria is a good community and area for coconut plantation. Coconut is good for beautification and friendly to the environment, everything in the coconut is usable right from the coconut leaves.

“Let us work together as a team and we will see that our programme is a very nice one going forward,” he said.

Mr Dapo Olakulehin, the General Manager, LASCODA, said that the Lagos State Government was making a lot of efforts to promote coconut value chain through various intervention programmes in the state.

Olakulehin said that the state government was ready to partner with the club to further promote coconut development while commending the club for creating a platform for the Lagos State Government to exhibit one of its heritage.

“The founding fathers of Lagos then know the reason why they put coconut tree on the Lagos coat of arm, economic importance, environmental importance, and health benefits you have it in coconut.

“When you look at the coastline, the only crop that can grow there is coconut; it is the only crop that can withstand the breeze and weather.

“When you look at Lagos Island, especially the Brazillian quarters, in there culture you cannot remove coconut from their history that is why we have almost everything about coconut.

“But in the last 20 to 30 years, the awareness about coconut is going down, go to our sea coast and our coastline, you don’t see coconut there again.

“That is why the Lagos State Government is making a lot of efforts to promote coconut because if you are not careful in the next 50  or 100 years, you may just be seeing the picture of coconut just in the calendar and in books,” he said.

Olakulehin said that there was a need to replant coconut along the coastline to prrvent ocean surge.

“This is what we want to revive. We want to revive that and am happy that Rotary Club of  Eko Atlantic is doing this.

“We as government are doing it already, we are trying to plant coconut in the schools but you know government has a lot of things in our hands you cannot do enough.

“Along our coastline, we need to replant coconut trees. Most of the problems we are facing in Lekki and the ocean surge, it is because our coconut wall we built has collapsed and that’s why we are exposed.

“Most of the coconut are not there again, so we are trying to initiate coconut belts. The Rotary Club can also come in this area,” he said. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Agriculture

Lagos govt trains, empowers 500 rice farmers

Presentation of empowerment inputs to rice farmers in Lagos State at Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe on Wednesday.

Lagos govt trains, empowers 500 rice farmers
Rice

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, July 20, 2022 (NAN) The Lagos State Government has trained and empowered 500 rice farmers from three senatorial districts to improve rice production by 20 per cent in the state.

Mr Kehinde Joseph, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly, House Committee on Agriculture, stated this at the opening ceremony of a three-day training for rice farmers at Agricultural Training Institute, Araga, Epe on Wednesday.

Joseph said the training and empowerment programme was organised by the state government through the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rice.

The theme of the training is:  “Good Agronomic Practice (GAP) for Lagos Rice Farmers.”

Joseph said that the farmers were drawn from the three senatorial district of the state namely Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that farmers received knapsack sprayers, bags of fertilisers, rice seedlings and farm coats.

Joseph said that the programme was part of the state government empowerment to the rice farmers to attain food self sufficiency.

He said that aim of the programme was to develop the rice value chain in line with the on going Imota rice mill.

According to him, we believe that instead of us going to the north to purchase the paddies for Imota mill when completed, it will be much better to train our own farmers in Lagos.

“We will buy back every paddy from them after harvest.

“We discovered that majority of the farmers in the southern part of the country are not into rice farming and since we are bringing a very large rice mill into the country, the best thing is to train them so that they will know better on how to grow the paddy.

“With what the Lagos State Government have been able to do today, we will give them seed, fertiliser, coat, chemicals and training manual.

“I believe within the next three to four months, they will start harvesting the rice and the state government has promised they will buy it back from them.

“Indirectly, government have been able to empower a lot of residents.

“This is laudable programme. All the necessary assistance through the legislative means that they needed, the house of assembly will surely give it to them,” he said.

Joseph noted that with the empowerment and other agricultural programmes, the state government, was working toward achieving food sufficiency.

He said that the house of assembly would continue to support agricultural development.

Ms Abisola Olusanya, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, said the programme was designed to improve the production of paddy in the state by educating the farmers on improved farming methodology and techniques.

Olusanya noted that the training would expose the farmers to good agronomic practice and equipped them in the act of modern rice farming.

She urged the farmers to take good advantage of the training and ensure judicious use of the inputs adding that the opportunity would help them meet their daily requirements and making Lagos a food-secured environment.

Olusanya said that the expectations from the rice farmers was to train their children and members of their communities in order to expand the development of the rice value chain in the state and Nigeria at large.

“This programme is to teach rice farmers best agronomy practice around rice farming, at least if we don’t even have as much land as other parts of the country, we are able to have increase yields.

“This is to get rice farmers from Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry and teach them new methodology and agronomy practice that will help them,” she said.

Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, said that the past and present government had invested a lot in rice production since 2008.

Fashola noted that the government had recorded recent successes in the development of the rice value chain especially with the establishment of the two lines of 16 metric tonnes per hour rice mill in Imota, Ikorodu, which would soon be inaugurated.

He said when completed, the mill, would require over 200,000 tonnes of paddy yearly to produce about 2.4 million 50kg bags of rice.

“However, the government has realised that such investment may not yield expected dividend without an investment in the capacity building and training of rice farmers in the state.

“Thus, the state through the Ministry of Agriculture embarked on training of rice farmers and empowering them to improve their livelihood.

“This year, 500 rice farmers had been trained and are being empowered with knapsack sprayers, bags of fertilisers, seeds and farm coats,” he said.

The special adviser noted that the programme was to assist farmers to produce at least 20 per cent of rice paddy that would be in need in the Imota mill before the end of 2022.

According to him, the state government has developed a target of using the land cultivable for rice within the state to attain about 20 per cent paddy requirement for Imota rice mill.

“Rice is an important staple food coming only after wheat and maize world over.

“Between 2008 and 2015, more than 1,000 youths have been trained and empowered in the state in production, processing and packaging of EKO ofada rice and EKO rice.

“A rice mill is on its way, and by God’s grace, before the end of this year, it will be inaugurated and rice milling in Lagos state will start in earnest,” he said.

“For this year and 2023, 20 per cent of the paddy for our rice mill must come from the state and for us to be able to achieve that, that is why we are having this training and empowerment for all our farmers.

“This inputs should not be diverted, or used for other things and must not be sold. It must not be kept in your houses, we want you to use it for the intended purpose.

“With this, we hope that a substantial paddy will be produced and at least, we should be able to get up to 2,000 tonnes and above from the farmers that we are empowering today,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Agriculture

Farmers urge FG to fast-track tractor importation from Brazil

Tractors

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, July 15, 2022 (NAN) The Lagos State chapter and South-West zone, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has urged the Federal Government to fast-track the importation of tractors and other implements to ensure food security.

Dr Femi Oke, the Chairman, AFAN, Lagos State and South-West zone, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

According to him, the speedy importation of the 10,000 tractors and other agricultural implements into the country will ensure increased productivity in that sector of the economy.

Oke said that the recent pronouncement by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, concerning the importation of the tractors had been dragging for too long.

He said that Nigeria required urgent steps to encourage mechanised farming to ensure food sufficiency.

“We have been hearing about the government’s resolve to import tractors for sometime before the new minister of agriculture came on board.

“We think, definitely, something better might come out of it this time.

“Some years’ back, during the tenure of the immediate past Minister of Agriculture, Malam Sabo Nanono, he said that tractors were going to be imported from Brazil and farmers would be able to access it.

“We were very happy then that the government was taking this huge step to boost food production.

“For so long, over two and a half years before he left office, nothing was heard of the tractors.

“But we think if the present minister of agriculture can fast-track the procurement of the tractors, definitely, it will help the farmers,” he said.

The association chairman also suggested that the tractors should be allocated to cluster areas, where farmers could easily access them.

He said that farmers were seriously in need of mechanised equipment to boost their productivity.

According to him, it is not every farmer that can afford a tractor because it is very expensive.

“The tractors will boost our food security as well as encourage farmers that are thinking of having one hectare to easily increase it to between five and 10 hectares.

“If we are able to get the tractors as promised, it will really help our farmers,” Oke said.

NAN reports that Abubakar had announced that Nigeria would partner with the Brazilian government on the supply and distribution of 10,000 tractors to farmers across the country.

The minister said that the move would fast-track the mechanisation of the country’s agricultural sector and boost economic development.

Abubakar said the partnership with their Brazilian counterparts would ensure the provision of 10,000 units of tractors, 50,000 units of assorted implements and equipment for assembly in Nigeria.

According to him, the collaboration also includes142 turnkey factories for agro-processing, as well as training of the project beneficiaries for a period of five years. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Folorunso Poroye/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Agriculture

Nigeria faring well in global biotechnology space – NBDA

Biotechnology

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, July 7, 2022 (NAN) The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NBDA), says Nigeria is faring very well in global biotechnology space.

Dr Rose Gidado, the Deputy Director, Agricultural Biotechnology Department, NBDA, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

Gidado said that biotechnology has come to stay in the country.

She expressed optimism that the recent signing of the Act establishing the NBDA by President Muhammadu Buhari would further spur the agency to do more.

Gidado said that biotechnology has a lot of benefits not only in agricultural sector but in the environment, medicine and industrial sector.

“We now have an Act establishing us but we have been in existence for over 20-years without it. Now that we have a legal backing, it will further spur us to do more.

“What this means is that we are being recognised. We are going to operate legally now and biotechnology has come to stay in Nigeria,” she said.

Gidado said that the benefits of biotechnology cut across many sectors of the economy.

“Biotechnology is not just in the area of agriculture, it is also in environment. It is used for environmental restoration, deforestation, mitigation of climate change effect, enhances the mitigation of green house gases.

“Also in the area of medicine, it is used for diagnostic, greater medicine, cheaper medicine and improved medicine service.

“It is used in the production of more enzymes and designing of food to meet the needs of some ailment like diabetes.

“Nigeria is faring very well in global biotechnology because we already have crops that have been comercialised,” she said.

Gidado noted that Nigeria was the first country to commercialise cotton and cowpea beans in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

“We have the cotton, cowpea, and Nigeria is the first country to comercialise cowpea in the world and Africa in 2019, while cotton was approved in 2018.

“Farmers have access to commercialised seeds and they are experiencing high yields.

“Our latest is the Tela maize which is currently undergoing trial phase with farmers in some parts of the country.

Gidado said that the agency needs more funds to upgrade its facilities to be able to do more in biotechnology.

“We need more funds in the area of crop and animal improvements,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Agriculture

Lagos residents consume N4.5bn food daily – Sanwo-Olu

L-R. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget & National Planing and National Convenor of United Nation Food Systems in Nigeria Mrs Olusola Idowu; Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture Ms Abisola Olusanya; Commissioner, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Sam Egube; Ondo State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Igbasan Emmanuel and Ogun State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Olaolu Olbimtan during the Southwest zonal densitisation workshop, on Implementation of Food System transformation Pathways 2022.

 

Workshop

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, June 4,  2022 (NAN) Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says residents of the state consume about N4.5 billion worth of food daily just as he reiterated commitment to food security.

Sanwo-Olu said this at the opening ceremony of a two-day zonal sensitisation workshop with the theme:  “Implementation of Food Systems Transformation Pathways in Nigeria 2022,”  on Monday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning in collaboration with Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Lagos Ministry of Economic, Planning and Budget.

NAN reports that Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti are participating with a Lagos as coordinating state for Southwest goepolitical zone.

The governor represented by Mr Sam Egube, Commissioner for Economic, Planning and Budget, said that the state had decided to take the bull by the horn in guaranteeing food security for people with different agricultural and food value chain.

According to him, Lagos has a rich history of economic growth and transformation.

“Although it covers only 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s territorial land mass making it the smallest in the country.

“It accounts for over 60 per cent of industrial and commercial activities. Lagos is a coastal state and has an extremely limited arable land space and home to about 21 million people.

“Its residents consume about N4.5 billion worth of food daily and 50 per cent of beef produced in the country running into several billions in other trading activities with markets cutting across all the local government areas in the state,” he said.

He called for joint collaboration among Southwest goepolitical zone to implement the Food Systems Transformation Pathways 2022.

Sanwo-Olu added that improving the food systems would influence positive changes and as well address multiple challenges being experienced in the country.

He said that the state agric roadmap was a deliberate effort to develop the agricultural sector by way of interventions from the public and private sector, international technical and donor organisations.

“I am aware that the need for states across the six geopolitical zones to be adequately sensitised on the implementation of the National Food Systems Transformation Pathways is the basis for this workshop.

“It gives me great pleasure to note that Lagos State was selected to host the South West geopolitical sensitisation which I consider as an acknowledgement of the positive impacts our policies and efforts are making in the agricultural sector.

“As a state government, we will continue to provide infrastructure and incentives to support all private sector initiatives where required.

“History has shown that any society that is unable to provide food guarantee, its security is open to abuse and utmost danger,” he said.

The governor commended the efforts of the Federal Government on its unrelenting efforts to ensure that the food systems summit in conjunction with the United Nations is developed.

“I assure you that the Lagos State Government is fully committed to achieving a food secured Lagos and Nigeria through partnership with all national and sub-national entities as well as private sector and international technical and donor organisations.

He urged all participants at the workshop to show commitment by sharing ideas and opinions on the selected programmes slated to kick-start implementation.

Mr Mathias Schmale, the Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations, commended the Federal Government for its consistent efforts toward sustainable food systems in the country.

Schmale who was represented by Mr Isiaka Ibrahim, UN Coordinator in Lagos, reiterated that the UN would continue to work with government and as well strengthen collaborations with all stakeholders in support of this transformational journey.

“Today marks another important step in the highly anticipated transformational change we have worked for in partnership.

“The zonal sensitisation workshop is designed to onboard all of us as we begin to bring synergy across states and regions.

“The momentum at which the Federal Government is accelerating the national food systems transformation pathways is highly commendable.

“Today, the government has identified three critical priority actions to be addressed at all levels to achieve food security and reduce malnutrition among the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in Nigeria.

“They are to achieve a sustainable food system that works for all;  to ensure the achievement of all SDGs in the next decade.

Mrs Olusola Idowu, the National Convener/Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said an implementation team made up of key stakeholders had been constituted to develop an implementation plan.

Idowu noted that the workshop provides an opportunity to present and discuss the identified priority actions selected for implementation from January 2022.

She added that it would help to define and assign roles and responsibilities for effective implementation of the priority actions.

Idowu noted that the workshop was being held in all the six geopolitical zones concurrently from July 4 to 8, focusing on three low hanging fruit programmes and 80 priority actions.

“Please, I make this passionate appeal that we all ensure that  this implementation stage is truly for implementation.

“Wherein, we do less talk and more action so that we can impact lives of Nigerians,” she said.

M. Abisola Olusanya, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, said that food systems remained an important part of the national economy.

Olusanya said that effective food system had contributed to a variety of solutions to developmental challenges.

She said that there had been dialogues amongst all relevant stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones of the country since 2021 which gave birth to the National Pathways for Sustainable Food Systems. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Politics

Lawmakers seek extension of PVC registration, expansion of centres

Lawmakers seek extension of PVC registration, expansion of centres

 

Registration

By Olayinka Olawale/Oku Offiong

Lagos, June 30, 2022 (NAN) Some Lawmakers in Lagos State have appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the voters registration exercise by at least 30 days.

The lawmakers include Mr Desmond Elliot, Lagos State House of Assembly member, representing Surulere constituency I; Mr Kehinde Agoro, Secretary to the Surulere Local Government Area and Mrs Barakat Bakare, Council Leader, Surulere Local Government.

They made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

Elliot said that everybody had a right to be registered adding that they should be given ample time to do so.

“We are encouraging everyone to go pickup their PVC because they registered and voting is their right.

“Moreso, we should also let them know that going to do another registration means double registration and that is not allowed.

“The best thing for them is to go back to their respective local government and pick their cards up especially for those who registered since 2011 to 2021, while others for 2022 should still be expecting their own.

“I also want to be joining my voice with those clamouring that the registration exercise be extended. Please, INEC should try and extend it.

“We are praying and hoping that they will do so because everybody has a right to be registered,” he said.

He urged Lagos residents  to participate in the 2023 elections, pick the people of their choice and see how the country could be better.

Elliot also urged them to hold their representatives responsible at various levels.

Speaking with NAN, Agoro said that INEC should obey the voice of the majority that was calling for an extension of the registration.

“As a government representative, I will join my voice in calling for the extension of PVCs registration.

“I am call for an extension because the majority is what the majority want and it must be honoured. We in Surulere are also calling for the exercise to be extended.

“We hope that INEC will listen to our yearnings,” Agoro said.

Bakare also urged INEC to extend the registration exercise by at least 30 days.

She said that INEC should move the registration centre close to people in the grassroots.

“I  want to clamour and plead with INEC for an extension. Even if it is not up to the 60 days we’re clamouring for, or at least 30 days for more people to be captured.

“I am more worried about the market women who may for one reason or the other not want to leave their petty business for a minute.

“Many business women don’t want to leave their location.

“I will want to suggest that INEC moves the registration centre close to the markets. This way, more market men and women can be captured.

“I will also discuss it with my council Chairman on how INEC can expand its registration centre closer to the market.

“We are pleading with INEC for an extension, if not 60 days but at least 30 days, “ she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

OOG/OKU/VIV

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Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Politics

Okada ban: Surulere LGA to set up taskforce for effective implementation

Ban

 

By Olayinka Olawale/ Oku Offiong

Lagos, May 30, 2022 (NAN) The Secretary to Surulere Local Government Area, Mr Kehinde Agor,o says the council will set up a taskforce to ensure smooth implementation of commercial motorcycles ban in the area effective June 1.

Agoro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos that the council Chairman would inaugurate the taskforce as soon as the ban takes effect.

He noted that council boss had met with motorcycle association in the area on the development and how to map out other routes to ease movement.

He commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for bold step in banning commercial motorcycles in the state.

NAN reports that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on May 18 issued a ban on operations of commercial motorcycles in some areas of the state from June 1.

According to him, chairman has setup a taskforce to ensure that the law is well implemented in Surulere and its environs.

“To be honest with you, the government cannot do everything alone, Gov. Sanwo-Olu had given that order and we need to follow suit.

“Whatever challenges are coming, we will tackle them immediately.
“The chairman is going to be setting a taskforce to ensure that the law is implemented.

“We need to have that taskforce and we are ready for them to start operating.
“We have spoken to the motorcycle association on alternative routes, so they can take people to their various destinations and they promise to look into it.

“We will continue to engage them to know whether they have actually come to a conclusion,” he said.

Agoro said that majority of the riders have started relocating to other nearby local governments that were not affected by the ban.

He added that the ban would affect the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the council adding that they would look inwards to other areas to augment it.

“We are beginning to see a lot of the riders move their business to other local governments that have not sanctioned them.

“We understand that it going to also increase the IGR of these local governments but ours will reduce.

“We need to bridge the challenges we will face in our IGR because our revenue is going to reduce because of the ban.

“We are ready to get that looked into as well,” he said.

Agoro noted that the taskforce would also monitor movement from adjoining local governments such as Mushin to ensure that there’s no trespassing.

“Surulere is very close to Mushin Local Government and Mushin is not among the enlisted area affected by this ban, so definitely, there will be chances, whereby, motorcycles will be entering into Surulere.

“We have a taskforce squad already, they are to make sure that these policies as instructed by the government is implemented.

“We don’t have a choice, the law is the law, we just have to make sure we do what we are supposed to do.

“Banning commercial motorcycle riders will reduce our IGR in the local government but that will enable us to also look into other sectors to augment.

“It’s  a shame that we are not allowed to make decisions ourselves,” he said.

Agoro noted the banning of motorcycles in the Lagos Central would  extend to the other districts with a matter of time.

“Lagos is a mega city and as a mega city transportations such as motorcycles should not be found in such a state.

“There will be challenges caused by the ban but we are looking at alternative means of transportation in the area.

He urged residents to endure the development as the council would organise tricycle and minibus to move people closer to their destinations.

”We need to go back to our drawing board and get those tricycles which have not been banned yet to go to the various destinations of our people.

“The people at the grassroots are at the receiving end and they are already complaining.

“We will survive in it; they are already doing it; they are already searching for other means of survival.

“It is now our duty to ban motorcycles in Lagos Central the minority just have to adapt to it.

“We need to initiate that to the local Government under Lagos Central cause the decision we make in Surulere Local Government might be different from the one Eti-Osa is going to take.

“The use of taskforce in the local government is to ensure the safety of the masses and be able to identify anyone that doesn’t not belong to the rightful association of the transporters.

“It is also to help avoid cases such as kidnap and robbery from underground evil transport workers.

“We will be involving the use of identity cards amongst our transport workers in the local government in future. It is a step but we will get that done,” he said.

He appealed to the residents of the area to adjust and adapt to the new law adding that the council would organise a forum on other available opportunities.

“We will get there and we will be engaging the residents very soon, so we can talk and offer opportunities,” Agoro said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Agriculture

Lagos govt warns illegal abattoir operators

Abattoir

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, May 26, 2022 (NAN) The Lagos State Government has warned operators of illegal abattoirs and unapproved slaughter slabs in the state to desist from the act or face the full wrath of the law.

Dr Gbolabo Kehinde, the leader, Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance (MEC) Team, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, said this on Thursday in Lagos.

Kehinde led the team and taskforce on an advocacy and enlightenment campaign to the butchers in some identified illegal abattoirs in the state.

He said that the ministry embarked on the advocacy and enlightenment campaign to ensure healthy food from farm to table.

Kehinde said that illegal abattoirs were located on Iganmu Street, Lagos Island and Dosunmu, off Freeman Street and Lagos Island areas of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that during the visit of the team to some of the illegal abattoirs, some of the operators made spirited attempts to quickly clear their slabs.

Kehinde urged the butchers to stop their illegal activities saying that, the state government has started the construction of a modern abattoir at Simpson to cater for the people on Lagos Island.

“The government does not want you to operate this illegal abattoirs henceforth. We have raided this place severally and you have continued your illegal activities.

“There are approved abattoirs at strategic locations such as Itire, Bariga and Ijora.

“You can use these ones pending when the one at Simpson will be completed.

“You can go there to slaughter your animals and bring it here for distribution but you must apply for a meat shop permit.

“The next time we come here, we will not tolerate any illegal activities. We received information from residents of your illegal activities,” he said.

One of the the chairmen of the illegal abattoir who spoke on anonymity said that the Iganmu and Lagos Island illegal abattoirs had been in operation for over 10 years.

He said an average of 10 cows were slaughtered on daily basis there.

He, however, complained about the distance, cost of logistics from Lagos Island to the approved abattoir in Bariga.

He pleaded with the state government to ensure quick completion of the approved abattoir under construction in the area.

“This place has been operating for over 18 years and is one of the oldest in the area. We will obey the government directive,” he said.

Mr Shehu Omoowo-Olatunji, Secretary of the Freelance Butchers Association of Nigeria, Lagos Island, said the meat sharing house was established in 2020.

“We are newly formed, we started operation three years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, to enable people have access to meat,” Omoowo-Olatunji said.

He said the group was already in consultation with the ministry on how to achieve standard meat shop.

“We are trying to meet the requirement for a standard meat shop. We have been told that we can’t continue to operate in open place. We need to apply for a permit for meat shop,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Angela Okisor/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Agriculture

Lagos, FAO, UNIDO plan N1.69bn investment to boost coconut production 

From left; Mr Jean Bakole, Regional Director, UNIDO Regional Office Hub, Mrs Shade Jaji, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Ms Abisola Olusanya, State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Fred Kafeero, the FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS and Mrs Tokunbo Emokpea, Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Agriculture during the validation workshop for the development of coconut value chain in Lagos State on Tuesday in Ikeja. (NANphoto)

 

Coconut

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, May 24, 2022 (NAN) The Lagos State Government, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) are proposing 4.01 million dollars (N1.69 billion) investment to boost coconut production in Lagos from 2022 to 2027.

The  proposed figure is contained in a document presented to stakeholders in the coconut value chain at a validation workshop for the Development of the Coconut Value Chain on Tuesday in Lagos.

The workshop was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations / United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in conjunction with the Lagos State Government for stakeholders in the coconut value chain.

The document titled: “The Executive Summary of the Startegy Document and Discussion,” was presented at the event by Mr Severin Oman, FAO representative.

In his goodwill message, Mr Fred Kafeero, the FAO Representative to Nigeria, said that the Lagos State Government had demonstrated high commitment to agricultural development and attainment of combination of appropriate policies in the agriculture sector.

Kafeero said that the main purpose of the meeting was to validate the draft upgrading report.

According to him, the feedback from the workshop will enrich the document and form a basis for a robust upgrading document for the Lagos State Government consideration and investment.

“It is my conviction that once validated and formally endorsed by the government, the document will form an important instrument in forging strong partnership between the state government, FAO and UNIDO.

“It will also initiate the development of a shared vision and core strategic options for the value chain development.

“I am pleased to be part of this very important validation workshop where the draft report of the strategy document for the upgrading of Coconut Value Chain Development in Lagos State is to be validated.

“It is worthy mentioning here that the I am, therefore, happy that the Lagos State Government has taken the initiative to develop the coconut value chain.

“The Lagos State Government together with the FAO is co-financing the initial phase of the project.

“FAO is jointly implementing the VCA with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) under the FAO-UNIDO jointly managed project – Agri-Food Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA).

The first phase of the project includes the analysis of the value chain to identify constraints and opportunities and develop concrete actions for the upgrading of the coconut value chain.

Also speaking, Mr Jean Bakole,  the Regional Director, UNIDO Regional Office Hub, Nigeria, pledged UNIDO’s availability to work in collaboration with the FAO and Lagos State Government to provide technical support in the development of the coconut value chain.

Bakole said that this would boost the development of its agribusiness and agro-industry sector as well as promote its economic diversification programmes.

“I thank Governor of Lagos State and his deputy and the Commissioner for Agriculture for making frantic efforts to diversify the economy of the state by focusing on the agricultural sector and initiating this laudable project.

“It is really heart-warming to note that the state government has accorded the sector and particularly the agro-industry/agribusiness development, as one of the key drivers of its economic diversification programmes.

“I also want to commend the consultants who were engaged in the field survey and the development of the draft Lagos/FAO/UNIDO Coconut Value Chain Strategic Intervention Document.

“I am very happy to participate in this workshop to validate, improve and discuss the strategy document and way forward,” he said.

Mrs Shade Jaji, Secretary to the Lagos State Government, said that the state government was reviving the coconut plantations as well as supporting farmers in line with its THEMES agenda.

Ms Abisola Olusanya, the Commissioner for Agriculture, said that Lagos has the potential to grow 10 million coconut trees in five years in line with its Agricultural and Food System Roadmap (2021–2025).

Olusanya said that the successful implementation of the value chain analysis project document would ensure the sustainable development of the coconut sub-sector and the agricultural sector in general in the state.

She noted that the state government was fully committed to unlocking the potential of coconut and ensure that it competes withglobal coconut economies of the world.

Olusanya added that the state would provide the necessary support and an enabling environment for private businesses in the coconut value chain to thrive successfully.

“I hereby use this medium to call on prospective investors both foreign and local, as well as, the private sector to come into this space.

“The state will provide the necessary support and an enabling environment for your businesses in the coconut value chain to thrive successfully.

“I also want to assure our stakeholders, value chain actors and prospective investors that the state government is fully committed to unlocking the potential of coconut to compete with global coconut economies of the world,” she said.

She noted that one of the cardinal programmes of the state was the provision of world-class agricultural facilities to support its teeming population. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma