Agriculture
Stakeholders Laud ECOWAS Trade Scheme
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre for Values in Leadership, said cross border trade promoted by ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) was vital to promoting trade and economic integration in the region.
Senior Vice President of the organization, Mr Rasheed Adegbenro, said this in Abuja on Monday during a policy dialogue on combating corruption along Nigeria-ECOWAS trade routes.
In a paper entitled “Inhibitions to Domestic and Cross Border Trade and Remedial Measures by all Stakeholders’’, he said trade activities rewarded producers of goods and services through revenue, and government, in tariff revenue.
Adegbenro said that apart from the benefits, disruption and challenges in economics could frustrate or cause dislocation in the economy where appropriate measures were not in place to mitigate abuses along a trader corridor.
“No sacrifice is too great to formalise the current informal trade very dominant in the region.
“This can be achieved by reducing administrative documentations with human intervention required in the processing of trade transactions,’’ he said.
Adegbenro said in order to improve cross border trade, trans-regional trademarks should be promoted to improve brand equity of manufactured products in the region and reduce product discrimination.
He said that Public-Private Partnership should be adopted to evolve a national trade bank as export development financial window.
He called for appropriate funding of National Approval Authority (NAC), to be promoted to facilitate frequent meetings of the authority.
Adegbenro said the application for ETLS should be done online to reduce human intervention in the approval process and associated bottleneck.
“Nigeria should give high priority to creation and linkage with the railway network in the region,’’ he said.
Trade Policy and Facilitation Unit, Deutscche Gesellschaft Fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Mrs Omoyemisi Akinola, called for application of Trade Route Incident Mapping System (TRIMS).
According to her, GIZ is a mechanism that will help to formulate evidence-based policies.
Akinola, in her paper on TRIMS, said that for traders and transporters, route mapping was an initiative that would help them to report delays, harassments and irregular payment while moving goods.
She said that TRIMS was co-funded by German Government and the European Union and implemented by Pro-Poor Growth and Promotion of Employment (SEDIN) programme, GIZ Nigeria and that it was a six-year project.
Akinola said that the objective was to tackle the issue of non-tariff barriers in Nigeria and support the country’s strive to improve its doing business and global competitiveness rankings.
She said that TRIMS would help to address multiple levies, delays, harassment and other illegal non-tariff barriers.
Akinola said that so far, more than 2,200 reports had been received as of March, 2017 from the pilot state, Ogun.
She said with TRIMS, more than 4,000 traders had been sensitised and educated on other relevant issues for traders, including HIV and AIDS.
She recommended the regular training of the officers, especially with regards to the scope and limits of the protocols and related matters.
Mr Chris Kaka, a management expert, said border official operated in total disregard of ECOWAS protocol of free movement of persons, goods and capital.
Kaka, who is with Chartered Institute of Financial and Investment Analysts Nigeria (CIFIAN) called for the sensitisation and awareness creation for traders on their rights and obligations in the conduct of their business.
He said that there was need for advocacy towards the review of ECOWAS court provision-private party breach of trade related grievance.
Kaka called for capacity building, anti-corruption reform, reduction of government agencies along trade routes and border posts.
He also called for the training and retraining of officials to inculcate and sustain strong ethical behaviour in the discharge of their duties as border agents of government.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
-
Rivers20 hours ago
Orazi Gas Explosion: 3 Confirmed Dead
-
Rivers22 hours ago
ONELGA BOSS ADVICE YOUTHS ON PEACEFUL PATH
-
Women19 hours ago
Girl-Child Development And Early Marriage
-
World20 hours agoPope Francis urges global dialogue to prevent world war
-
Rivers20 hours ago
JONAPWD Elections: Commissioner Inaugurates 5-Man Committee
-
Politics21 hours ago
When Women Unite To Pray For SIM
-
Business19 hours agoUSAID Re-emphasizes Agricultural Collaboration With Nigeria
-
Featured20 hours agoWe’ve Only One House Of Assembly Led By Oko-Jumbo, Fubara Clarifies …Signs Into Law N1.188trn Rivers 2025 Budget