Category: Featured

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

Kenya will host the inaugural Africa Food Show in 2020, the show is expected to bring together policymakers, industry executives, farmers and consumers to learn about emerging trends in trade on agricultural commodities, organisers said on Tuesday.

David Wang, the Chairman of MIE Groups, the event organiser, said this in Nairobi.

The premier event, which will take place in Nairobi from June 24 to 26 in 2020, will help showcase food products, processing and packaging technologies to investors as well as consumers.

“Africa Food Show will provide a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs to gain a better understanding of the market for agricultural commodities in the continent,’’ Wang said.

Wang said that Kenya’s strategic position as a logistics hub informed the decision to host the inaugural continental food summit that is expected to unlock opportunities for local farmers, processors and distributors.

“Kenya has modern infrastructure, policy support, growing foreign direct investments that are an incentive for hosting African Food Show and highlight untapped opportunities to global agricultural commodity traders.’’

The inaugural Africa Food Show, which will be held concurrently with China Trade Week, is expected to position Kenya as an attractive investment destination for agro-processing.

Lucy Njenga, Director of Policy Research and Regulation in the Ministry of Agriculture, said the event would boost the government’s food and nutritional security agenda.

“We are open to hosting an event that will provide an opportunity for farmers and investors to exchange knowledge on technologies and innovations that are key to promote food security and incomes through value addition,’’ said Njenga.

She said that Kenya would leverage the Africa Food Show to attract additional investors in value chains such as storage, processing and distribution in order to lift the fortunes of smallholder farmers.

Fadi Kaddoura, Vice President in charge of Sales and Marketing at MIE Groups, said the event would feature exhibitions alongside the business-to-business meetings.

The meeting is expected to raise the visibility of the continent’s major agricultural commodities.

The commodities will including cereals, fresh produce, spices and nuts.

The average price per litre paid by consumers for National Household Kerosene increased to N319.94 in August 2019 from N316.03 in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The bureau, in its “National Household Kerosene Price Watch (August 2019)” obtained from its website on Tuesday in Abuja, said the increase is by 1.24 percent month-on-month and 10.80 percent year-on-year.

The report by the bureau indicates that states with the highest average price per litre of kerosene were Abia, N375.55; Enugu, N365.47; and Ebonyi, N358.33.

It also said that states with the lowest average price per litre of kerosene were Abuja, where it sold for N245.50; Kwara, N261.11; and Benue, N261.90.

“Similarly, average price per gallon paid by consumers for kerosene increased by 0.19 percent month-on-month and by 11.92 percent year-on-year to N1, 213.53 in August 2019 from N1, 211.18 in July.

“States with the highest average price per gallon of kerosene were Gombe, N1, 400; Adamawa, N1, 360.00; and Borno, N1, 355.

“States with the lowest average price per gallon of kerosene were Bayelsa, N1, 030; Akwa Ibom, N1, 079.58; and Osun,N1, 085.22.”

The NBS said that in arriving at the statistics, field work was carried out by its staff in all states of the federation, supported by supervisors who were monitored by internal and external observers. (NAN)

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

The Benue State Government disclosed on Tuesday that it plans to conduct its local government councils election in the state on Nov. 30.

Gov. Samuel Ortom made the announcement at the inauguration of the state Local Government Service Commission, the state Planning Commission and a member of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) in Makurdi.

Recall that the last local government poll was held in June 2017. The two years tenure expired in July 2019.

Meanwhile, the governor has appointed caretaker chairmen to the run the affairs of the councils before the election.

The governor said that the State Independent Electoral Commission had confirmed that it is ready to conduct the election on Nov. 30.

“I held a meeting with the state electoral commission; we agreed that tentatively, the local government election will hold in November.

“I am aware that the law requires the state to provide 40 per cent funds for the conduct of the election while the local councils provide the balance 60 per cent.

“We will ensure that the funds are made available for the exercise,’’ Ortom said.

He cautioned the service commission against use of federation allocation funds for overheads instead of executing projects.

“I want to know the exact staff strength of the local government councils. I also want to know the ghost workers in the local councils.

“If you go to Guma local council where I come from, you will see less than 20 people at the secretariat but the same council has over 900 staff in its payroll.

“Some people are working elsewhere but collect salaries as council staff. They are mechanics, business people, they don’t go to work but receive salaries monthly,’’ he said.

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

The national headquarters of North East Commodity Association (NECAS) in Yola has been sealed up by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offence Commission (ICPC) over allegations of fraudulent activities.

Daybreak.ng learnt that the office was sealed on Monday night.

According to NAN, a competent source in ICPC office in Adamawa said the commission also sealed a warehouse holding 100 tractors believed to belong to NECAS.

“The commission in one of its operation arrested one Mr. Stephen Maduwa , the Adamawa State Chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria .

“After the arrest of .Maduwa, three warehouses that are linked to him were searched at Bachure and Bekaji in Yola.

“After the search, the warehouses were found to be containing 164,000 bags of maize, 412, 401 bags of sorghum, 698 bags of rice and 508 bags of fertilizer,” the source said

The source said the commodities were estimated to be worth N2.10 billion.

The ICPC Commissioner in the state, Mr Idris Bakori, however, refused to comment on the .matter, insisting that the issue was still under investigation.

The Federal Government assisted NECAS to acquire 600 tractors and farm inputs for distribution to farmers in the Northeast region.

However, communities and farmers complained of the diversion of the items and called for the government’s intervention.

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

South African authorities have finally granted landing permit to Air Peace Flight B777 to enable it to evacuate some Nigerians escaping from xenophobia in that country.

Nigeria’s Consul- General in Johannesburg, Mr Godwin Adama, made the confirmation in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

Adama spoke against the background of a complaint by the Managing Director of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyema.

Onyema had said that the refusal of South Africa to grant the permit made it impossible for the flight to leave Lagos at 1 a.m. for Johannesburg to convey the second batch of returnees.

But Adama said the permit had been granted the airline and that the flight would be late in the night of Tuesday.

Adama said, “They want Nigerians to arrive during the week, they are taking-off from here midnight.

“I do not know the exact time but they will be leaving (South Africa) midnight.

“I do not know why they were denied the landing permit. I think it is an airline operational issue. They did not get it yesterday but they told me that it came late yesterday (Monday).

“It was weekend and they were going to get it this morning; the airline did not tell me it was deliberate, but they explained to me that they have gotten it.

“Our manifest arrived last night towards the close of work and they were to take-off 1a.m. Nigerian time yesterday (Monday) but they did not because it was late.

“I have gotten it now so they will be able to make me know the time of their arrival here so that we can know when to take-off.”

Adama said buses provided to convey Nigerians wanting to return home were still at the mission premises and everyone was there.

“We are still really working on the number (320) to see how we can fill up the airline capacity with anyone that is readily available.

“We have more than enough, we are even trying to ensure that the aircraft is filled up that is why we are readily taking people who are on ground now.

“We have more than enough to fill the aircraft, the delay has also helped us because as we call names to board we see some people cleared at the last minute.

“The truth is they are people who have not been cleared, those who are ready to go are all here and we are trying to queue them up.

“We may not even be able to take all of them who are hopeful,” he added.

Adama said that the next batch of evacuation would be based on the Federal Government’s directives.

Source: NAN

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

No fewer than 500 women have been screened for free Breast Cancer in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital as part of efforts to curbing the prevalence of the disease in the state.

The medical outreach took place at the Lifefount Hospital, an Ilorin based medical facility in collaboration with African Research Group for Oncology.

Also included in the three days medical mission, which ended on Saturday, were free mammography and ultra sound for the beneficiaries.

Speaking to Journalists on the exercise, the Medical Director, Lifefount Hospital, Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Adeyeye, said there was need for women, who are mostly victims, to be breast aware in order to have cancer free society.

Dr (Mrs) Adeyeye urged them to embark on self breast examination through frequent check of their breasts.

“All women should be aware of their breasts, they should be doing self breast examination by checking their breasts. And for those who are still menstrating, they should check their breasts. When they start their menses the first day, they should count till seventh day. They should check their breasts between the seventh day and tenth day. Because that time, the breasts will not be as bulky as they used to be at other days of the month.

“And for women who are already in their menopausal years, they can choose a particular day of the month, to always check their breasts. Apart from checking one’s breasts by oneself, they should find time to come to the hospital, may be once in a year or six months for doctors to conduct clinical breast examination for them, which is very good.

“My advice also is that women, aged 40 years and above can do mammography at least once a year while people who are lower in age than 40 can do breast ultra sound”, Dr (Mrs) Adeyeye said.

She said the medial outreach conducted free of charge, would have cost the beneficiaries between N50,000 to N60,000.

She added, “We can not say this is particular cause for breast cancer but there are risk factors, and that is one of the things we are also paying attention to, for this particular medical outreach that Lifefount Hospital is having with African Research Group for Oncology.

“The attention was paid to people who have first degree relatives, like people whose mother, parents, sibling or child has had breast cancer before, because they are also at risk. Because they share same genetic being.

“We are also doing this for people, who have breast complaints; breast lump, breast pain, nipple discharge. Those are the things we are focusing on”.

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

As part of humanitarian services, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), today, concluded its 3-day medical outreach in Wauru Jabbe Community in Yola South Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State.

The Nigerian Air Force said that the humanitarian effort was aimed at assuaging the plight of victims of the recent flood disasters that ravaged some parts of Adamawa State.

The outreach, which took place at the Wauru Jabbe Primary School was coordinated by the NAF Medical Services Branch, in compliance with the directives of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for the Branch to provide medical assistance and relief materials to the affected communities.

Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola in a statement said that the outreach catered for the medical needs of over 59,000 persons, including women, children and the aged, in order to avert outbreak of diseases as well as provide needed healthcare services.

The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, thanked the NAF for the proactive step taken to support the state government’s efforts at providing succour for the flood victims.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Adamawa State, Mr Kennedy Barthimaus, the Governor noted that, apart from its significant contributions to security, NAF’s humanitarian efforts in the state have always been exceptional.

While, observing that the gesture would further bolster the existing cordial relationship between the State and the NAF, urging the people to take advantage of the NAF intervention to access quality healthcare services to ameliorate their medical challenges.

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

The federal Government does not have comprehensive records on the treaties and protocols it signs into.

The Chairman of the House committee on treaties and protocols, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai disclosed this on Monday.

He lamented that as at today; “the nation does not have a comprehensive and up to date record of published treaties to which it is a signatory, pointing that the federal government has ratified only 11 out of the 400 treaties and protocols it has entered into with other nations and multilateral organizations.

“There are about 400 Treaties Nigeria has signed and ratified but it’s about 11 that have been domesticated. And today, we have treaties that have financial implication in line with the law but not yet domesticated”, he disclosed.

According to the chairman, the National Assembly would not be able to fund these counterparts funding because it has not been domesticated and have no force of law in Nigeria.

“It is only when it is domesticated that it is enforceable and has a force of law in Nigeria and you can be able to apply in terms of funding in those key areas.

“There are so many Treaties we are going to review in the coming days. Look at the Aviation agreement we are talking about with China, the recent agreement on transportation ministry in terms of roads and others. Those have not been domesticated and yet want counterpart funding, does it make sense,” he revealed .