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Tag: FG

  • FG set to enforce new standards for air conditioners

    FG set to enforce new standards for air conditioners

    The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has organised a high-level training workshop to build stakeholder capacity on the newly approved Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners in Nigeria.

    The training was done in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

    The workshop, held on Tuesday in Lagos, is part of the project titled “Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria NDC Review,” funded by the Clean Cooling Collaborative.

    The project seeks to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to energy-efficient and low-Global Warming Potential (low-GWP) cooling technologies, aligned with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

    In his address, the Director-General of ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, emphasised the urgent need for sustainable cooling solutions in light of rising demand and environmental concerns.

    He said Nigeria must adopt innovative and climate-friendly technologies that reduce energy consumption and minimise environmental impact.

    Abdullahi noted that the ECN, as Nigeria’s lead agency on energy planning, is spearheading this re-orientation in partnership with UNEP and SON.

    He explained that the revised MEPS, approved by the Federal Government in June 2024, are now ready for implementation.

    He said the workshop was convened to raise awareness on the new standards, build technical capacity for compliance, promote stakeholder dialogue and feedback, and strengthen collaboration between government and private sector actors.

    He added that effective implementation would contribute to national climate action efforts and align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

    Also speaking, Mr Lawal Ismaila, Head of Electrical at SON, said the MEPS aim to phase out inefficient and environmentally harmful air conditioners that consume excessive power and emit dangerous refrigerants.

    He said the older models consume more energy and contain gases that damage the ozone layer, expose the population to harmful ultraviolet rays, and increase the risk of cancer.

    According to him, the new standards promote energy-saving, environmentally friendly models that provide more efficient cooling with less power usage.

    Ismaila urged manufacturers, importers, and end-users to become more aware of the dangers of outdated systems and the advantages of adopting modern, energy-efficient alternatives.

    Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), said that a country like Nigeria needs efficient energy systems to support growth and development.

    He noted that MEPS would help the country attain energy efficiency, prevent the importation of substandard cooling equipment, and support Nigeria’s commitment to net-zero emissions under global climate agreements.

    He called for broader advocacy and robust stakeholder engagement to ensure the effective adoption and enforcement of the standards.

  • Insecurity: FG to implement proof of address system nationwide

    Insecurity: FG to implement proof of address system nationwide

    The Federal Government says it will implement the Proof of Address (POA) system across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country as part of measures to address insecurity and improve service delivery.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at the North-West, North-East, and North-Central Geopolitical Zones stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting.

    The event was organised by the Office of the SGF in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to drive President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the nation’s key challenges.

    Akume, represented by Mr Nadungu Gagare, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the meeting marked the formal inauguration of the nationwide POA sensitisation, starting with the Northern Geopolitical zones.

    He said previous meetings had been held with stakeholders in Abuja, which produced key resolutions and a communiqué that was disseminated to all states.

    ”The POA initiative is designed to provide every resident with a verifiable and secured address, which will be integrated into administrative processes across the public and private sectors,” he said.

    According to him, the initiative will enhance national security, improve planning and service delivery, and promote a more structured society.

    In his remarks, the ALGON President, Mr Bello Lawal, described the meeting as timely and critical to the future of grassroots governance, national security, and socio-economic development.

    Lawal noted that the local government system, being the closest to the people, plays a vital role in functions like street naming and house numbering, which formed the basis of the addressing ecosystem.

    He lamented the long-standing neglect of these functions, which he said had contributed to fragmented urban and rural addressing systems, poor service delivery, slow emergency response, and inadequate planning data.

    ”In many rural communities, households lack recognised addresses, undermining access to services and effective law enforcement,” he said.

    Lawal added that the POA system would offer a transformational opportunity to formalise address identities for households, businesses, and facilities nationwide.

    In the same vein, Mrs Rose Mibwala, General Manager, Postcode and Addressing System at the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), said the initiative reflected a collective commitment to building a secured, inclusive, and digitally integrated Nigeria.

    ”For NIPOST, addressing is no longer just about mail delivery; it is a cornerstone of digital identity, financial inclusion, national security, and effective service delivery,” she said.

    Mibwala commended the collaboration between NIPOST and ALGON on the POA system and lauded efforts to integrate postcodes and addressing into local governance structures.

  • Food security: FG to review agricultural laws

    Food security: FG to review agricultural laws

    The Federal Government has taken steps to review Nigeria’s agricultural laws to promote agriculture development and enhance food and nutrition security in the country.

    Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, stated this on Monday at the opening of the stakeholders’ workshop and input on the  Nigeria Agricultural Laws Reform in Abuja.

    Abdullahi said that these laws which are the subjects of review or amendment, have been enacted for a very long time to provide the legal frame works for the promotion of development of the agricultural sector.

    ”The sector’s dynamism is evident in the shift from traditional farming practices to more modern techniques, diversification of crops and livestock and adaptation to changing weather patterns.

    ”This is in addition to the challenges of  insecurity, climate change and high input costs which continued to affect agricultural inputs.

    ”In view of the above, it is imperative to formulate legal frame works to facilitate the key aspects of improvement in Nigerian agriculture aimed at addressing the problems affecting the sector,” he said.

    He said that government policies and initiatives are aimed to boost agricultural production to meet the food needs of the growing population.

    Abdullahi said that efforts were being made to support small holder farmers through access to finance, training and technology.

    He said that there was a growing awareness of the need to address gender inequality in agriculture and empowering women to participate in decision- making and access resources.

    Abdullahi said the review of the Nigerian Co-operative Societies Act was a priority, as it was intended to feature among the President legacy achievements under his Cooperative Revamp and Reform Initiative.

    He said that the federal government’s approach to agriculture is multifaceted, encompassing policy development, financial support and infrastructural development.

    ”The goal is to create a thriving and sustainable agricultural sector that can contribute to food security, economic growth and overall well- being of Nigerians.

    ”Some of these laws have, however, become obsolete, archaic and outdated necessitating this assignment,” he said.

    In his remarks, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry,  said a strong and robust legal framework was crucial for the agricultural sector.

    Earlier, Mr Isimbabi Garba, Director, Legal Services in the ministry underscored the urgent need to reform and reposition Nigeria’s legal framework to support a modern, vibrant, and resilient agricultural economy.

    Garba said the event also represented a significant step towards strengthening the country’s agricultural sector and ensuring food security for the nation.

    “Agricultural law reform is crucial to Nigeria’s economic growth, food security and sustainable development.

    ”The law plays a significant role in shaping the agricultural sector, and updating our laws will help us address emerging challenges and opportunities.

    ”Agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, and reforming our laws will help us enhance productivity and efficiency, promote sustainable practices, support small-scale farmers, attract investments and improve food security,” he said.

    He said the ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola  Tinubu is taking a bold and timely step to ensure that Nigeria’s laws reflected the realities of today and the aspirations of tomorrow.

  • FG approves new Senate Building for UNIBEN

    FG approves new Senate Building for UNIBEN

    The Federal Government has approved the construction of a new Senate Building at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, in Benin on Sunday.

    Ehanire said the letter  for the construction of the building,  as approved by the Federal Executive Council, was received by the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Edoba Omoregie.

    She said that the construction of the building would commence immediately.

    According to Ehanire, UNIBEN is one of  Africa’s leading tertiary institutions and  one of the most sought after by students seeking quality higher education.

  • FG doles out N60bn for agro-livestock in Gombe

    FG doles out N60bn for agro-livestock in Gombe

    Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has confirmed the receipt of N60 billion support from the Federal Government for the establishment of a 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Industrial Zone in the state.

    Yahaya disclosed this in Gombe on Saturday during a ground-breaking ceremony for the establishment of the zone.

    He said that the President Bola Tinubu’s administration had pledged N120 billion support towards the establishment of the zone and out of that released part of the money.

    He stated that the initiative was aimed at building a prosperous and sustainable future in livestock development in the state.

    He said that the zone, which will cover a total area of 184 hectares, would house an ultramodern abattoir, an international livestock market, fattening hubs, a tannery and leather factory, a world-class grains and livestock feeds market, and an in-land dry port.

    “Each facility is designed with cutting-edge infrastructure to enable safe, efficient, and large-scale processing and commerce.

    “The Gombe Ultramodern Abattoir is set to transform meat processing in Gombe State, and indeed the entire Northern region of Nigeria.

    “This automated facility will enable hygienic, efficient, and globally compliant processing, packaging, and distribution – serving both domestic and international markets.

    “By eliminating the outdated practice of transporting live animals under unsafe and costly conditions, we pave the way for a smarter, safer livestock economy,” he said.

    The governor said that the project would provide job opportunities, enhance productivity, encourage import substitution and increase foreign earnings along all segments of the livestock value chain.

    Yahaya commended Tinubu for his support towards harnessing the huge potential in the livestock sector.

    On his part, Alhaji Idi Maiha, the Minister of Livestock Development, restated the Federal Government commitment to the development of the livestock sector.

    Maiha said that the Agro-Livestock Industrial zone aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve animal processing capacity for local and international consumption.

    He commended the governor for his initiative to revamp the livestock sector, adding that the facility when completed would process 500 bulls, 1,000 small ruminants and 3,000 poultry birds daily.

  • Nigeria condoles with India over tragic plane crash

    Nigeria condoles with India over tragic plane crash

    The Federal Government on Thursday condoled the Indian government over the tragic crash of Air India Flight-171 in Ahmedabad.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this in a statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Spokesperson of the
    Ministry.

    Tuggar said, “Nigeria expresses profound sorrow and extends its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India over the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.

    “This devastating incident which claimed the lives of over 290 individuals has left the global community in mourning.

    “Nigeria stands in solidarity with India during this period of immense grief and unfortunate loss.

    “While initial reports indicate no Nigerian citizen was aboard the flight, the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi remains in close contact with Indian authorities to verify this information and provide consular assistance where necessary.

    “In this moment of shared sorrow, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to global aviation safety and supports the call for thorough investigation into the crash with a view to preventing  such tragedies in the future.”

    The minister further commiserated with the families of the bereaved and all those affected by this tragic incident.

  • Nigeria: FG, States urged to entrench integrity in public service

    Nigeria: FG, States urged to entrench integrity in public service

    Nigerians have cautioned that nepotism and faulty recruitment processes, among other factors, are militating against an integrity lifestyle in the public sector. A 2020 Integrity icon, Philip Ezegbulam, has admonished public servants on the need for honesty.

    Ezegbulam, who is regarded as a public servant par excellence and renowned for resisting bribes and other sharp service practices, made the call during a radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He revealed that his decision to uphold integrity in public service was borne out of a personal conviction not to be swayed by “worldly things” and that he has never regretted the lifestyle of honesty in service.

    “I decided to imbibe the culture of integrity and good character, so I was able to stay on until now, and nothing can sway me—staying focused is a personal thing, so I chose to stay focused.

    “The Bible says to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. If you are embedded with the culture of discipline and you fear God and study the Word of God, there are many things you cannot delve into. Money will come, money will go, we will leave it and go. We have brought nothing to this earth and will take nothing out of this earth.

    Ezegbulam, who will be retiring from public service in about a fortnight, urged employees in public offices that discipline is the watchword for being persons of integrity. He further disclosed that he’s using his lifestyle to encourage younger people despite the difficulties associated with being honest, especially in the public sector.

    “What I’m doing now is to model younger people. I use my story to illustrate to them that it’s doable even though the terrain is difficult and unfriendly – they can do it, he stated.

    Programme Officer at Accountability Lab Nigeria, Mnenga Shiiuwa, decried the way and manner of recruitment of workers in the public service. This recruitment, which is driven by jobs-for-sale, nepotism, cronyism, favouritism, and a culture of impunity, continues to undermine the display of integrity in the public sector.

    Shiiuwa urged the federal and state governments to return to the basics and ensure recruitment processes are credible, transparent, and competitive. He added that wrongdoings must be punished going forward, and institutions and agencies responsible for enforcing ethical standards must carry out their mandate.

    “The reason we don’t have integrity pronounced in the public service is because of the nature of recruitment in the public service. As we speak today, recruitment in the Nigerian public service is done by the ‘Federal Civil Service Commission,’ but in actual sense, people come into service because they know someone who knows someone who knows someone.

    “Unfortunately, recruitment at the Federal Civil Service Commission happens almost every day of the year. There is a fallout of this faulty recruitment. Consequently, the civil servants are meant to owe their allegiance to the service. Still, because they come in through some politicians, they owe their loyalty to the politicians who are their political godfathers.

    “Institutional weakness from those agencies that are supposed to regulate the ethical conduct of the civil servants is also a problem.

    “the public service used to have a code of conduct that every public servant used to have, but in the last 15 to 20 years, many public servants recruited into the Nigerian civil service, 95% of them don’t know what that code of conduct is about – there’s no training about it, they are not informed about it,” he claimed.

    Shiiuwa downplayed the narrative of poor remuneration as encouragement for a corrupt lifestyle by some public servants, stressing that DCP Francis Erhabor (retired) Ezegbulam and other celebrated integrity icons are withstanding the monetary temptation while in service.

    He lauded PRIMORG for promoting integrity amongst citizens over the years while disclosing that the Lab is envisioning a more robust campaign for integrity lifestyle in Nigeria.

    “There are a lot of factors affecting integrity, but remuneration is not a reason to misbehave in the service; an example is Retired DCP Francis Erhabor, who was earning less than N3000 and was not paid for over 6 months, yet he refused to take a kobo from Nigerians on the road or Police station. This is to tell you that people who are determined to live this out do it irrespective of where they find themselves”.

    Nigerians who called into the radio programme highlighted various reasons why integrity in the public sector is a mirage and why public servants are rarely persons of integrity. Here are what some of them had to say:

    Abdullahi Mustapha, a Public servant from Bida, Niger state, says, “The Nigerian system discourages integrity because there is no motivation in terms of wages and salaries. Our systems need to be upgraded. We should promote integrity, and in the long run, things will change.”

    Princess Amazing Grace from Apo, Abuja: “99.9 percent of the service officials are corrupt. Nigeria is a highly inflated, imploding society. One factor that contributes to a lack of integrity is a poor family upbringing. We are taught integrity from childhood, which is the challenge nowadays.”

    Frank from Abuja: “We have a very poor reward system in this country, and that’s one of the things that affect our integrity.”

    The radio programme hailed recent acts of integrity by an officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Ugochukwu Orji, who rejected a N10 million bribe from a fleeing ritual suspect, and a pilgrim identified as Hajiya Zainab, who returned $5,000 to the owner while on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program that draws the government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

    The program runs in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation.

  • June 12: FG told to immortalise Humphrey Nwosu

    June 12: FG told to immortalise Humphrey Nwosu

    The Ndi Igbo Intellectual and Cultural Development Organisation (NIDO) has urged the Federal Government to immortalise the former Chairman of the National Electoral Commission , Prof. Humphrey Nwosu.

    NIDO, a pan Igbo socio-political pressure group, said this  in a statement  by its Director of Communications, Mr Christian Afulike to newsmen in Owerri, on Wednesday.

    Afulike, who described the late Nwosu as the “unsung hero of Nigeria’s democracy”, said that it was imperative to honour the Anambra-born academician as a way to boost the morale of serving staffers of the electoral umpire.

    He argued that failure to honour Nwosu would be double standards as the June 12, 1996 presidential election had already been acknowledged by government to be credible and its outcome, recognised, hence the adoption of June 12 as Democracy Day.

    “It reeks of double standards to recognise the election as the most credible in the history of elections in Nigeria; recognise the outcome of the election; and at the same time pretend to forget the brain behind the entire process.

    “This is unacceptable and is surely at the heart of the abysmally poor performance of Nigeria’s electoral body  in all other elections conducted in the country since then.

    He called for the naming of a befitting national edifice  after the late Nwosu.

    He said this would encourage serving and future electoral umpires in the country to serve with diligence and integrity thereby strengthening the nation’s democracy.

    He also urged the Anambra government and other state governments, particularly those of the south east geopolitical zone, to ensure the immortalisation of the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu as he was “a worthy Nigerian deserving of such honour.”

  • FG’s reforms to crash food prices – Minister

    FG’s reforms to crash food prices – Minister

    The Federal Government has said that its agricultural reforms was designed to ensure food availability, affordability and accessibility for all Nigerians.

    Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this to newsmen in Maiduguri.

    Kyari highlighted the government’s ongoing interventions in the agricultural sector to tackle food insecurity and revive the national economy.

    He said the ministry had adopted a multi-pronged strategy to confront challenges such as insecurity, flooding, and import dependency, particularly in critical areas like wheat and rice production.

    “As part of efforts to reduce the over six million tonnes of wheat currently imported annually, we have launched a national wheat farming programme,” Kyari said.

    He noted that Cross River has become the first southern state to join the wheat production drive, marking a significant milestone in diversifying the crop’s geographic spread.

    Kyari, also said fertiliser distribution under the programme had boosted rice production by 58,000 tonnes, enabling the federal government to subsidise rice supply to states affected by flooding.

    “In addition to wheat, the ministry has championed a successful rice programme, leading to positive harvests nationwide,” he said.

    The minister stressed the need to protect both consumers and producers, noting that “80 per cent of our food is produced by local farmers.

    “Our immediate priority is to address affordability and ensure every Nigerian has access to safe and nutritious food,” Kyari said.

    With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, Kyari said the government was focused on mechanised agriculture and youth empowerment to guarantee long-term food security.

    He said that the government was also working to restore national assets, including tractors and essential equipment to boost productivity.

    To reduce post-harvest losses, Kyari announced a bilateral agreement with Brazil focused on the preservation, processing, and storage of perishable food items.

    He also said Nigeria had partnered with Belarus to provide aggregation services aimed at significantly increasing output.

    The minister warned against misuse of government-supplied agricultural machinery, urging farmers to make judicious use of such equipment.

    He further revealed that only three of Nigeria’s silo sites were currently functional, but plans were underway to reactivate the remaining facilities.

    “The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will collaborate with stakeholders to ensure these critical storage facilities are fully utilised,” Kyari said.

  • FG assures farmers of security support

    FG assures farmers of security support

    The Federal Government has assured farmers of adequate security to return to their farmlands ahead of this year’s rainy season to boost agricultural activities nationwide.

    Minister of State for Defence, Alh. Bello Matawalle, made this known during an interview with journalists in Maradun, Zamafara, on Sunday.

    He said forest guards had been deployed to secure farmlands, and modern surveillance technology was being used to monitor and combat criminal activities.

    “We are taking all necessary steps to ensure farmers return safely to their farms with full protection from any security threats across the country,” Matawalle stated.

    He added that the government plans to develop indigenous defence and warfare systems to address security challenges and potentially supply them to other countries.

    Matawalle urged governors to provide logistics support, including accommodation, operational vehicles, and intelligence gathering, to assist in securing rural communities.

    He criticised some governors for engaging in blame games rather than supporting Federal Government efforts in addressing insecurity.

    He stressed that security is everyone’s responsibility and called for public support for President Bola Tinubu’s combined military and non-military strategies to end criminality nationwide.