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Good Governance: Foundation tasks Nigerian journalists on investigative reports

Good Governance: Foundation tasks Nigerian journalists on investigative reports

By Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Investigation
Hamburg, Sept. 28, 2019 (NAN) Dr Kole Shettima, the Regional Director, MacArthur Foundation, has advised Nigerian journalists to embrace and do more investigative reporting to promote good governance and deepen democracy in the country.

Kole gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency Nigeria (NAN), on the sidelines of the ongoing 11th Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC19), on Saturday in Hamburg, Germany.

He said that media practitioners could make positive contributions to national development if they held public officers and the private sector accountable.

The director, who noted that investigative journalism could be painstaking and risky, said, however, that the risk was part of the challenges and hazards like in any other profession.

“Some investigations take as long as six to nine months or more before a credible report is published.

“But, it is worth the trouble if it is meant to expose a fraud, hold individuals and organisations accountable and responsible for their actions or inaction.

“I believe that any good investigative report will greatly influence policies, decisions and actions,” Kole said.

On the conference, he said that it was interesting interacting with people coming from diverse backgrounds and sharing experiences, knowledge and skills.

“For instance, I attended a session on artificial intelligence investigation and came out empty after about one and a half hours because I don’t understand the issues.

“I also attended a session on marine investigation; how to track ships and boats. I think this is also a new phenomenon in journalism that must be of interest to Nigerian journalists,” the director said.

According to him, this underscored the interest of the foundation to sponsor some journalists from Nigeria to attend the conference, draw experiences and practice the knowledge on return home.

Kole also called on media proprietors and governments to provide the enabling environment for journalists to discharge their constitutional obligations.

NAN reports that the 4-day conference attracted about 1,800 delegates from across the world, including Nigeria.

The organisers say it is designed to further popularise investigative journalism as well as support and promote good governance in the society. (NAN)
MST/ETS

=======

Economy

AfDB tasks Nigeria on food exportation

AfDB tasks Nigeria on food exportation

By Mustapha Sumaila
Export
Abuja, Aug. 27, 2019 (NAN) The African Development Bank (AfDB) has advised Nigeria to formulate appropriate and sustainable strategies to promote agro-industrialisation to foster domestic and export competitiveness in the agro-business industry.

The statement by the bank’s Communication and External Relations Department, reported Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Advisor on Industrialisation to AfDB President to have given the advice at an event on Tuesday.

It further disclosed that Oyelaran-Oyeyinka gave the advice at the Feed Nigeria Summit 2019 held in Abuja.

He explained that once such strategies were put in place, the outcome would generate jobs, reduce poverty, improved livelihoods and quality of lives through increased contribution of manufacturing to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said Nigeria like other African countries needed to focus on exporting processed agro-products in general.

The advisor said it was important to identify which were priority products for individual countries in terms of food security and export advantage.

“There are various possible explanations for the lagging capabilities in agro-industrialisation as well as the subsequent declining exports from Africa particularly in high-value agro-products.

“Firstly, the products may be qualitatively inferior and as such non-competitive for high-income international markets.

“Secondly, the productivity of African farmers is low, compared to other developing countries. This is because human and technological capabilities including advanced knowledge and mechanisation are disturbingly in short supply.

“We need to unravel the factors underlying the production and exports of agro-products from Africa that have been steadily declining over the last several years.

“This is an age when the most profitable markets are in semi-processed and processed products and the narrative of our region as the toiler for, and supplier of, raw materials for foreign factories must end if we must attain the core SDG goals.

“We must attain all goals especially 1-3 and eight: “end poverty,, end hunger, good health and Well-being, decent work and economic growth,” he said. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Polio: Nigeria marks 3 years free of wild polio, significant milestone for Africa

Child being given polio vaccine . (Photo credit bbc.com and WHO)

Polio
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Aug. 21, 2019 (NAN) Nigeria on Wednesday marked three years free of endemic wild polio, the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, has said.

Moeti made this known on Wednesday during telenews conference, saying it shows that Africa had passed a milestone threshold of three years with no case of wild polio virus detected.

“It also signifies that the nation’s progress in fighting the crippling viral disease can result in the whole of WHO Africa region to be certified and declared polio-free early 2020,” WHO director said.

Moeti said that this three-year landmark sets in motion a comprehensive evaluation process by the Africa Regional Certification Commission to determine if the entire WHO African Region of 47 countries could be declared to have eradicated Wild Polio Virus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Africa’s last case of wild polio was recorded in Borno on Aug. 21, 2016.

Children suffering from Poliomyelitis

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that invades the nervous system.

It can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours; the virus is transmitted from person-to-person through ingestion of infected fecal matter

Following infection, the virus is shed intermittently in excrement for several weeks with little or no symptoms in majority of cases.

The initial symptoms of poliomyelitis include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness and pain in the limbs.

The latest Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) figures show that there have been a total of 65 cases of wild polio worldwide- 53 in Pakistan and 12 in Afghanistan- so far recorded in 2019.

Moeti, “We are confident that soon we will be trumpeting the certification that countries have, once and for all, kicked polio out of Africa.”

The director commended the continent’s resilience and strong commitment to stopping the virus in overcoming the tough challenges.

“The path to eradicating polio in Africa has been a monumental effort of multinational coordination on an unprecedented scale.

“It involved providing vaccinations to hundreds of millions of children and conducting immunisation campaigns in some of the most remote locations in the world, with vigilance and exhaustive surveillance to timely detect outbreaks, including among people on the move.

“It has involved men and women volunteering in the thousands, sometimes putting themselves in harm’s way, some even sacrificing their life for this work,” she said.

Moeti noted that the successes recorded were possible with the perseverance of countries and partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative who have mobilised the financial and technical resources to get the job done.

On the challenges that could hinder progress, she said they included inaccessibility due to conflict and insecurity in some areas.

“Variations in campaign quality, massive mobile populations and, in some instances, parental refusal have prevented health workers from reaching all children everywhere with polio vaccines alongside suboptimal routine immunisation coverage.

“As a result, outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived polio virus– a rare occurrence in communities with low levels of population immunity– are still possible in several countries across Africa.

“This August’s milestone on wild polio is a positive sign of progress across the continent, but our work has not yet done,” Moeti said.

The WHO director urged Nigeria and other African countries to remain vigilant in the immunisation and surveillance efforts.

“Every country must continue to ensure that it is closely looking for the virus and reaching every child with vaccines,’’ Moeti said. (NAN)
VIV/GOK
==
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye

General news

Nigeria, Cameroon collaborate to exchange in trade data

Nigeria, Cameroon collaborate to exchange in trade data
By Muhammad Adam
Trade
Yola, Aug. 20, 2019 (NAN) The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has engaged in strategic collaboration with its Cameroonian counterpart to encourage mutual exchanges in cross border trade data.
Mr Kamardeen Olumoh, the NCS Comptroller in charge of Adamawa and Taraba States, made this known while reviewing the activities of the command from January to July 2019 on Tuesday in Yola.
Olumoh said that the bilateral agreement was designed in a way to manage the security challenges along Nigeria-Cameroon borders.
He said the core objective of the collaboration was to enhance trans-border security aside mutual exchange and sharing of cross border trade data.
“There has been strategic and operational collaboration between the Customs administration of Nigeria and Cameroon on how to manage the security challenges along our common borders.
“The collaboration is designed to encourage mutual exchange and sharing of cross border trade data,” Olumoh said.
He observed that engagement of border communities in information gathering was vital toward effective performance of Customs personnel.
On revenue generation and anti-smuggling activity, he said the command had received four new patrol vehicles from the Federal Government to enable it step up its anti-smuggling war.
“Federal Government had responded positively to our demands where four new brand vehicles were delivered to the Command.
“In line with the core service of the command, between January and July 2019, the Command had generated N105.945 million, which represents 44.66 per cent increase compared to previous years.
“That means the command at the end of July 2019, had so for achieved 71.26 per cent of its annual target of revenue generation,” Olumoh said.
He noted that in the first quarter of 2019 the command’s revenue generation went up by 22.17 per cent.
He said shortage of officers to patrol the vast international border of Nigeria and Cameroon was a major obstacle facing the command. (NAN)
AMA/OSA/MST
Edited by Shittu Obassa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

African Games: Commonwealth, African gold medallists lead Nigeria’s Taekwondo team to Morocco

By Muhyideen Jimoh
Taekwondo
Abuja, Aug. 15, 2019 (NAN) Nigeria’s Taekwondo team to the 12th African Games in Morocco will be led by defending African Champion, Uzoamaka Otuadinma [female middle -73kg].

Also included in the team are experienced athletes like the Commonwealth gold medallists, Shola Olowookere [male feather -68kg] and Josephine Esuku [female fin -49kg], the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Top male athletes that made the final list include Arinola Abdullateef [male fin -54kg], Abdulfathi Sanusi [male fly -58kg], and Ifeoluwa Ajayi [male bantam -63kg].

Bright Paul Kolade [male light -74kg], Peter Itiku [male welter -80kg], Sunday Onofe [male middle -87kg], and Benjamin Okuomose [male heavy +87kg]

Top female athletes that made the final list include Sekinat Adebayo [female fly -49kg], Chinazum Nwosu [female bantam -53kg], and Helen Okoko [female feather -57kg].

Vivian Ndu [female light -62kg], Elizabeth Anyanacho [female welter -67kg], Uzoamaka Otuadinma [female middle -73kg] and Chiamaka Onumonu [female heavy +73kg].

The team is under coach World Taekwondo Kyung Hee University South Korea Trained International Coaches, Sani Lawal and John Victor.

Nigeria will begin hostilities at the Taekwondo event on Aug. 20 at the Résidence Ziraoui venue, Rabat.

Team Nigeria comprising 462 athletes and officials participating in 22 sports departed Nigeria on Thursday for the Games via a chartered flight.

The 12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco, will hold from Aug. 19 to Aug. 31. (NAN)
MUYI/KOLE/MST
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Foreign

USAID invests $15m in Nigeria’s Agribusiness sector to boost 5000 businesses

USAID invests $15m in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector to boost 5000 businesses
By Lizzy Okoji
Agribusiness
Abuja, Aug. 6, 2019 (NAN) The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday in Abuja launched a 15 million dollars Feed the Future (FTF) Nigeria activity to boost agribusiness to improve at least 5,000 small and medium enterprises.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-year investment plan will be implemented in seven states in the country, including Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi amd Cross Rivers.
The programme also aims at growing the initial 15 million dollars investment to 300 million dollars with an expectation of 200 million dollars in new agricultural finance and 100 million dollars in new agricultural investments.
Dr Adam Saffer, Chief of Party, USAID’s FTF Nigeria activity, said the FTF agribusiness plan seeks to strengthen enabling environment to promote private sector investment in the agricultural sector.
Saffer said that to achieve this, the programme was focusing on three main components, which includes improving ease of doing business in the agricultural sector, broadening access to finance and promoting investment opportunities.
“Nigeria has tremendous potentials to becoming world class producer of grains and feed itself as well as feed the region.
“We believe that Nigeria has the ninth arable land in the world, plenty of good soil, rain, human resources so we are focusing on creating a legal and regulatory framework that is attractive to farmers.
“Secondly, is to get the banks to understand, to be more interested and to reduce the risk of making loans in agriculture, so this could be bank loans but they could also be input loans from the agro processors.
“The third pillar is attracting investment into the agriculture arena, creating new plans, new feed mills and not only bringing in Nigerian investors but international investors.
“At the end of the day, we are looking at the agro business sector of Nigeria being not only able to improve incomes and job opportunities but also better quality food for the Nigerians.
“Lower import of food, better pricing along the value chain. Nigeria is one of the greatest potential to take advantage of the agric sector,” Saffer said.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, lauded the FTF project, saying it is in line with Nigeria’s plans of improving the agricultural sector and reducing the nation’s reliance on oil.
Osinbajo, who was represented by Dr Andrew Kwasari, his Senior Policy Adviser, said that the synergy between the Federal and State Governments and the United States was strategic to achieving the FTF Nigeria plan.
The vice president said that the agric sector was key to the growth of the nation’s economy as it employs the largest proportion of the nation’s pollution, which are the youths.
“When you take 15 million dollars and attempt to raise 300 million dollars that is the way of the future and that is the way spending as an enabler should be done by government and donors partners.
“This is the way that the Federal Government has been working and I believe that we can do more and the more that we can do is enabling the environment for agric businesses to thrive.
“We have seen a lot of progress in working with investors and partners in the agric sector across the country.
“Seeing in this room today the federal government, state governments and the United States working together is a good one.
“I hope to see more of this collaborations and we shall be exploring how best we can further this relationship,” Osinbajo said.
The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, urged the Federal Government, state governors and partners, to work towards the sustainability of the FTF Nigeria agribusiness plan.
Symington said that it was the hope of the U.S. to see Nigeria growing something, packaging, producing, selling and even exporting agric produce.
“The goal of this project is to mobilize 300 million dollars of investment in Agriculture, amounting to more than N1 billion.
“It is a big piece but not a sufficient piece to meet the challenges ahead,” Symington said.
Governors and representatives of the implementing states present made commitments to ensuring the success of the FTF agribusiness plan as they called for support for a technology/mechanised driven agricultural system. (NAN)
LIZ/BOLA/MST
Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

FIFA ranking: Dudu-Orumen commend Eagles position, called for better technical crew

By Monday Ajogun (08034514384)
Commendation
Benin, July 27, 2019 (NAN) The Chairman, Edo Sports Commission, Godwin Dudu-Orumen, has commended the Super Eagles of Nigeria for currently occupying the 33rd position in the latest FIFA ranking.

Making the commendation on Saturday in Benin, Dudu-Orumen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the team needs a better technical crew to sharpen sports activities.

“The current 33rd position was as a result of winning a bronze in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Tunisia.

“The statistics looks impressive. I’m one of those who doesn’t really pay more attention to FIFA ranking, I want to see a good football during play and want we have achieved.

“The football authority should task the technical crew to give us a better performing team,” the chairman said.

Dudu-Orumen urged the technical team to come out with new approach to the game as a key factor to dominate in any continental tournament.

NAN reports that the Super Eagles moved up to 33rd place in July as against 45th in June in the FIFA World Rankings released on Thursday. (NAN)
AJOM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nigeria needs productive population, not just numbers – UNFPA

Nigeria needs productive population, not just numbers – UNFPA
By Christian Njoku
Population
Calabar, July 11, 2019 (NAN) Dr Yakubu Aliu, Programme Analyst, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says Nigeria needs a productive population and not just a large number of people.
Aliu said this at a programme to commemorate the 2019 World Population Day (WPD) on Thursday in Calabar.
The WPD is an annual event observed on July 11 and seeks to raise awareness of global population issues.
He said population was not about counting the number of citizens in a country but ensuring that the number of the citizens counted was productive.
According to him, Nigeria has a youthful population with a large number of young persons that are still depending on the fewer working class citizens in the country.
Aliu said that the situation had given rise to a high dependency ratio in Nigeria.
The UNFPA official said to get a quality population and not just population control, women need to be educated and allowed to make choices for their lives and reproductive health.
He said that this was necessary so they could decide to have fewer children and effectively use contraceptives.
Aliu said it was UNFPA’s vision to ensure that by 2030, every woman has access to family planning and address unmet needs, zero preventable maternal deaths and zero gender based violence including female genital mutilation.
“We know that scientifically, no matter how developed a country is 15 per cent of its pregnant mothers would require medical attention for complications like haemorrhage, eclampsia, long obstructed labour, infections or complicated abortion.
“It is the women that give birth to the population and we know that given birth too early, too late, too frequent or too many contribute to maternal mortality.
“It is sad that Nigeria is a very religious country that has citizens that prefer to pray instead of doing the right thing.
“So, many women prefer to go to prayer houses to deliver which contributes to complications,” he said.
Aliu added that for Nigeria to meet up with the 2030 target of UNFPA, it must put up deliberate policies to reap demographic dividends.
The UNFPA official said the government needs to ensure that it reduces the dependency ratio by having more working class citizens than dependent citizens.
“So, first, you have to ensure reproductive health and fewer children who will be able to have better education, health, economic prosperity, gainful employment and good governance.
“As the population reduces, the quality of the population improves, you have less dependants, more productive population, improved life expectancy and economic prosperity,” the UNFPA official said.
Similarly, the State Coordinator of the National Population Commission (NPopPC), Mr Billy Eteng, said if Nigeria did the right thing, it would not have the problem of over population in the future.
Eteng said it was important to empower the women because they were important members of the work force.
“If we continue getting them pregnant without education and empowerment, we would not be helping ourselves.
“Nigerians must engage in family planning as it does not make sense anymore to have a large family that you cannot cater for; the men should support the women in this drive,” he said. (NAN)
CBN/AOS/MST
Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

Nigeria vs S/Africa: Battle for bragging rights by 2 old foes

Nigeria vs S/Africa: Battle for bragging rights by 2 old foes
By Victor Okoye
Preview
Abuja, July 9, 2019 (NAN) The Super Eagles’ opponent in the quarter-final of the ongoing 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt are not an unfamiliar foe as pride and glory awaits the winner of this mouth-watering duel.
Bafana Bafana of South Africa’s reward for expertly out-playing and stunning the heavily favoured seven-time champions and hosts Egypt is a date with old foes Nigeria at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday.
The rivalry between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Bafana Bafana of South Africa can be ranked side by side along that of Ghana and Cameroon.
Nigeria and South Africa are making a return to AFCON since 2013 in South Africa where they were crowned champions having failed to qualify for the last two editions.
The Super Eagles have gradually picked form having started their campaign in the group stage on a rather sluggish note, managing to beat AFCON first-timers, Burundi and Guinea, by a lone goal each before slumping to a disappointing 0-2 defeat to Madagascar to finish as runners up in Group B.
They however look hungry and proved their character by beating defending champions Cameroon 3-2 in the last 16 on Sunday in Alexandria.
China-based striker Odion Ighalo stood particularly tall with his brace, silencing the few doubts that had crept in over his ability to lead the line.
With Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi also breaking his AFCON duck, it seems Coach Gernot Rohr might be getting his team into tune at just the right time.
Bafana Bafana on the other hand had shown that they are indeed true contenders when they took on hosts Egypt in the last 16 on Saturday.
Against all odds, the South Africans came out tops with a lone goal victory to qualify for the quarterfinals, having themselves struggled to make it out of the group stage as one of the best third place finishers with three points in Group D.
Fortunately for Bafana, the tide of history had ‘somewhat’ turned in their favour in recent times.
Having previously only beaten the Nigerians once, in 2004, Stuart Baxter’s men put in an admirable display in Uyo two years ago to emerge 2-0 victors.
That qualifier, and the 1-1 return in which the Super Eagles dominated but were denied two apparent goals in Johannesburg, saw both teams qualify for this year’s competition with a match to spare for the Eagles.
Both teams have met thirteen (13) times, with Nigeria running out winners on six occasions, South Africa winning twice and both sides settling for a draw five times.
While Nigeria has not failed to make it to the semi-final of six out of eight last editions it participated in (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2013), South Africa has only made it to the semi-final twice (1996 and 1998).
Both sides have been talking tough ahead of the all-important clash with Coach Gernot Rohr quoted as saying that his charges are very much looking forward to Wednesday night’s clash, which brings together once more two teams who were involved in the same group in the qualifying campaign.
Rohr is not one to forget sharp pains inflicted by lower-ranked teams, and the fury of what happened in Uyo on June 10, 2017, – his first loss as Eagles’ manager in a competitive match – could be deduced in the way he spoke on arrival in Cairo, though he insisted that Nigeria is not thinking of revenge but simply a place in the semi finals.
“We are here to win. It is not going to be an easy match, but surely if you have to win the Africa Cup, you will not expect to be faced with easy matches at this stage.
“We know ourselves from the qualifying campaign and it will be no holds-barred on Wednesday. It is not a matter of revenge; it is about reaching the semi finals,” Rohr was quoted as saying.
Nigeria’s army includes three members of the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa in 2013, namely defender Kenneth Omeruo; midfielder and skipper Mikel John Obi, and forward and deputy skipper Ahmed Musa.
There is also forward Ighalo, who topped the scorers’ chart in the AFCON 2019 qualifying race with seven goals, and is joint top scorer in the ongoing finals with three goals, alongside Senegalese Sadio Mane.
Indeed, Ighalo’s man-of-the-match performance was the tonic the Eagles needed to overcome the Cup holders on Saturday.
There is also goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who turns out for South African Premier Soccer League side Kaizer Chiefs.
He has not had many opportunities with the senior team but is number one at the ongoing finals.
On the other hand for Bafana Bafana, it remains to be seen if Coach Baxter will make any changes to the team that was so excellent against Egypt.
Given that he refused to make a substitution before the 90th minute last time out, lest he upset the formula he had stumbled upon, the likely answer is no.
Thembinkhosi Lorch at the very least will surely keep his place on the left in attack, especially after the South Africa’s player of the year slotted neatly into Egypt’s bottom corner.
It’s unlikely the Scot will risk their ire once more. Not to mention the attack, which is complemented with the effervescent threat of Percy Tau on the other side, now looks genuinely threatening.
The truth is everyone was surprised by Bafana’s relentless outing. Their success in starving Salah et al of meaningful possession was driven by a determination that had been seen too rarely of late.
The question now is can Baxter find a way to replicate it again by grounding the Super Eagles?
Only time will tell as the African continent eagerly awaits the outcome of this great rivalry between two old foes from 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Cairo International Stadium. (NAN)
VO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Nigeria external reserves stand at $45bn as at June – CBN

Nigeria external reserves stand at $45bn as at June – CBN
By Mustapha Sumaila
Reserves
Abuja, June 24, 2019 (NAN) The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the country’s external reserves now stand at 45 billion dollars as at June, 2019.
The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this while reeling out the policy road map for his five years second term in Abuja on Monday.
Emefiele said the bank put all necessary measure to ensure the steady growth of the country’s external reserves after the recession.
“I am delighted to note that our external reserves have risen from 23 billion dollars in October 2016 to over 45 billion dollars by June.
“Inflation has also dropped from 18.72 per cent in January 2017 to 11.40 per cent in May.
“Our CBN purchasing manufacturers index has risen for 26 consecutive months since March 2017, indicating continuous growth in the manufacturing sector.
“As a result of measures implemented by the CBN which improved access to raw materials and finance for manufacturing firms GDP growth has risen for seven consecutive quarters following the recession.
“And, our exchange rate has appreciated from over N525/$1 in February 2017 at the Bureau De Change window to N360/$1.
“With improved inflow of foreign exchange, the exchange rate has remained stable around N360/$1 for the past 27 months,” he said.
According to him, with concerted efforts by the monetary and fiscal authorities the bank implemented a series of measures which led to the recovery of the economy from the recession by the 1st Quarter of 2017.
Speaking on recovery efforts, Emefiele said part of the measures deployed to support the recovery included tightening of the monetary policy rate in order to rein in inflation.
He said the bank also created an Investors and Exporters Window which allowed exporters and investors to inflow and sell their foreign exchange at the prevailing market rate.
“In order to reduce our reliance on the importation of items which could be produced in Nigeria, we restricted access to foreign exchange on 43 items.
“We also deployed our intervention funds to support growth and productivity in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
“These measures helped to support the attainment of our monetary policy objectives such as a reduction in the inflation rate, stability in our exchange rate and improved accretion to our external reserves,” he added. (NAN)
MS/IAA/MST
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Muhammad Suleiman Tola