Agriculture
‘Insecurity Stalls N200bn In Agro Allied Industry’
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) says an estimated N200 billion planned investment in an agro allied industry has been put on hold in the country over insecurity challenges.
The President of LCCI, Mr Babatunde Ruwase, disclosed this in Lagos during ‘Security meets Business” Dialogue session organised by the chamber.
Ruwase said that there was no better time to consider the business dimension of security challenges than now, adding that food security was at risk as agricultural production was being threatened by security concerns.
“No meaningful business can be done in an environment that is insecure. Security of life and property is a very critical factor in the investment environment and a major consideration in investment decisions.
“The impact of these security challenges on business and investors’ confidence is phenomenal. Not much investment activities are taking place in the North-Eastern part of the country.
“Attacks by herdsmen on farming communities across the country are not abating, resulting in increasing loss of lives.
“Many rural farmers are holding back from the current planting season because of the fear of attacks by herdsmen.
“Agricultural activities are being negatively impacted. Already food inflation is at 20 per cent as against 12 per cent for core inflation,” he said.
Ruwase said that the oil and gas sector was facing fresh threats of attacks on oil installations, adding that there was 10 per cent increase in insurance premium on security related risks in the last one year,
He said that an estimated N78 billion was being spent by ICT and Telecoms companies in replacing stolen and vandalised equipment.
According to him, Nigeria’s position in the Transparency International Security Ranking has dropped to 149 out of 163 countries because of security challenges.
Ruwase acknowledged the efforts and progress of the government and security agencies in addressing the problem of insecurity in the country, but said that a great deal still needed to be done.
The US. Consul-General, Mr John Bray, said that that private investment of U.S. companies in Nigeria were more than 8.1 billion dollars.
Bray said that in spite of the security challenges, some American companies had thrived, while some that could not cope had left the country.
He said that to address the issue, the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Trade and Industry of U.S. and their Nigerian counterpart would hold dialogue to identify impediments in business environment.
The Consul-General said that the dialogue session would forge collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve on security in the country.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that combating terrorism successfully was the greatest challenge facing most nations in the 21st century.
Buratai was represented by Maj.-Gen. Enebong Udoh, Grand Commander, 81 Division of the Nigerian Army.
He said that the Nigerian Army was poised to confront all prevailing and evolving internal and external threats in order to guarantee the nation’s territorial integrity at all times.
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”.
