From Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has stated that the strategic focus of the ministry’s master plan for diversification and growth of the economy was  partnering with private and development capital.
Enelamah, while speaking in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday, at the eighth National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment, stated that the challenge in every economy was  infinite demands and finite resources.  According to him, with limited resources, the diversification and growth plan, otherwise known as the MITI Plan, which is based on a partnership with the private sector, will serve as a fulcrum for economic revival.
The minister stressed that, based on resource constraints and low price of commodities, including oil, it  has become necessary to partner with the private sector to leverage and catalyse resources and development capital
He explained that the three pillars in the policy framework of the MITI Plan, were “creating a business-friendly environment; ensuring coherence among monetary, fiscal and structural reform policies so that the economic policies of government are coordinated and targeted at the common purpose of structural transformation to diversify as well as elimination of distortions and sustained growth.”
President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the establishment of the Presidential Council on Ease-of Doing Business, which is  chaired by Vice President  Yemi Osinbajo.
The minister further stated that Nigerians must see the connection, adding that  the global perception was that the countrywas a tough environment in which to do business.


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AGRICulture: FG set to build first agric city in Abuja

From Magnus Eze, Abuja

The Federal Government would soon launch the development of an agriculture city at Kwali, one of the area councils in the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that 15,000 hectares of land have been secured for the project, in partnership with Aso Savings.
Ogbeh said the city was designed for young people interested in agriculture to come and take spaces and get involved in farming, including livestock and fisheries.
He explained that those interested would be funded through the anchor borrower’s scheme, while machinery, seeds and other inputs would be provided by agriculture companies.
The minister stated that 17 rivers and streams in the area were being dammed to create irrigation for all-year farming.
He said: “We shall develop the place into an agricultural city; provide facilities, provide accommodation, including security. I appeal to young people to partner us so that they will be able to feed themselves.”
Ogbeh also disclosed that 42 investors from the European Union indicated interest to visit the country in February next year, during President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit to Germany.
He said many of them expressed interest in Nigeria’s  agriculture.


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AGRICULTURE: Ogbeh opens agric conference
From Magnus Eze, Abuja

Related News

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, is expected to lead other major players in the sector  to a conference aimed at transforming agricultural production in the country.
The two-day programme holding in Abuja will explore practical steps of realising the Agriculture Promotion Policy 2016-2020 (Green Alternative) of the present administration.
Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of RACMI, organisers of the event, Mr. James Sagbamah, at a press conference in Abuja, said the minister’s keynote would be on: “Transformation of Agriculture in Nigeria: A Viable Sector for Sustaining Economic Development and Poverty Alleviation.”
Bank of Agriculture, universities of agriculture and research institutions as well as agricultural agencies will make presentations, while the roles of the private sector and civil societies in the actualisation of food security will also be highlighted.
Women and youths from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory will participate in the conference that serves as a spring board for the Grassroots Agriculture Support Programme, where 3, 600 young farmers are to be empowered through training in various aspects of agriculture value-chain.


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NCC: NCC collaborates with FRSC

From Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja

Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has said the commission would ensure an environment that would help develop infrastructure that would support the NCC and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
Speaking in Abuja when the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and his team paid him a courtesy visit, Dambatta  said the commission’s eight-point agenda would support robust co-operation and collaboration between the two agencies.
The FRSC Corps Marshal thanked the commission for the “122” toll free short code, which the public could use to get information to the corps for emergencies and other vital messages.
According to him, globally, road safety management has gone digital, especially in the areas of documentation, emergency response and road users’ profiling.
He stated that this makes for easy information retrieval, knowledge sharing among the road safety management personnel and speedy integrations among road management officials and the public.
Oyeyemi disclosed the NCC and FRSC would engender a new vista in information sharing and documentation within the corps.


Akubundu lists 4 priority areas for NEPAD

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Princess Gloria Akubundu, has listed four areas of priority that would help her drive the mandate of NEPAD, and that of the Federal Government.
The four priority areas include rebranding and relaunching NEPAD Nigeria, human capital development, realigning engagements with development partners and economic diversification with emphasis on agriculture and food security.
Akubundu, who shared her plans for the sub-regional body with journalists in Abuja, stressed that such plans could only come to fruition if the management and staff of the agency would support her with their expertise and commitment.
She said: “I don’t care to ask questions about the past achievements of NEPAD, but my attention will focus on steps to take, in line with the desires of the government to consolidate the achievements and strengthen the agency for more effective services.”
The NEPAD national coordinator equally reassured international and local partners of the renewed commitment of the management of the agency towards the delivering onº its mandate.
She added that the agency has always been open to new partnership and collaboration with public and private organisations, particularly those  interested and committed to the visions and aspirations of the regional agency.