TheNewsGuru

Tag: rice

  • Buhari lied about claims on rice revolution – Atiku

    Buhari lied about claims on rice revolution – Atiku

    The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar said the claim by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on rice production false and misleading.

    In a statement issued by Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization on Tuesday, noted that “on several occasions, the Buhari administration has bragged that their biggest achievement is reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign rice. Recently, President Buhari himself made this boast when he said to British Prime Minister, Theresa May on April 16, 2018 as follows:

    “We have cut rice importation by about 90%, made lots of savings of foreign exchange, and generated employment. People had rushed to the cities to get oil money, at the expense of farming. But luckily, they are now going back to the farms. Even professionals are going back to the land. We are making steady progress on the road to food security.”

    This claim was also made by the minister of agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who on May 2, 2018 said as follows:

    “Unemployment in Thailand was one of the lowest in the world, 1.2 per cent, it has gone up to four per cent because seven giant rice mills have shut down because Nigeria’s import has fallen by 95 per cent on rice alone”.

    It added that, ” however, recently released data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Markets and Trade Report has proven these claims by President Muhammadu Buhari and his government to be false.

    “According to the World Markets and Trade Report of the USDA, which is a public document, Nigeria imported three million metric tonnes of rice in 2018, which is 400,000 metric tonnes more than the quantity of the product imported in 2017.

    “It does not end there. The report shows that there has actually been a steep drop in commercial rice production from its 2015 peak under the previous Peoples Democratic Party administration.

    According to the report “Nigeria had consistently milled 3,780,000 metric tonnes annually – a drop from 3,941,000 metric tonnes recorded in 2015.”

    Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation appealed to President Buhari and his government “to be truthful to the Nigerian public, rather than claim progress they have not made, because no matter how far and fast falsehood has travelled, it must eventually be overtaken by the truth.

     

  • How forex ban on rice, other items lifted Nigeria out of recession – Emefiele

    The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday said that its decision to restrict foreign exchange for importation of 41 items and other complementary policies were effective in bringing the country’s economy out of recession.
     
    It said the policy was well thought out as it assisted greatly in boosting the country’s foreign exchange reserves, which currently stand at about $42.46bn.
     
    The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said these at the opening session of a workshop on monetary policy implementation amidst global economic protectionism.
     
    The CBN had on June 23, 2015, placed a restriction on accessing forex in the official forex market for the importation of some goods and services.
     
    The aim, it said then, was to encourage local production of the items, conserve the foreign reserves, resuscitate domestic industries and boost employment creation.
     
    Some of the items barred from accessing forex at the official market were rice, cement, poultry, tinned fish, furniture, toothpicks, kitchen utensils, table wares, textiles, clothes, tomato pastes, soap and cosmetics.
     
    Also affected were private jets, roofing sheets, metal boxes, wire rods, steel nails, security and razor nails, ceramic tiles, glassware, cellophane, plastic and rubber products
     
    Speaking at the workshop on Wednesday, Emefiele said the restriction was a policy that was carefully crafted with a view to reversing the multiple challenges of dwindling foreign reserves, contracting Gross Domestic Product and an embarrassing rise in the level of unemployment confronting the country.
     
    For instance, he said the real GDP grew by 1.40 per cent in the third quarter of 2017, up from 0.72 per cent, and contraction of 0.91 per cent in the second and first quarters of 2017, respectively.
     
    Represented at the event by the Director, Monetary Policy Department, CBN, Mr Moses Tule, the governor explained that there had been improvement in the country’s reserves following the implementation of the policy.
     
    He said, “In today’s world, countries have used trade protection repeatedly as a policy to resolve negative perceptions and shocks in their respective countries.
     
    “In other words, should Nigeria, with insatiable taste for foreign goods to the detriment of the domestic economic realities, throw its borders open to indiscriminate importation of goods and services?
     
    “This was the prevailing condition in Nigeria before the introduction of restriction of official foreign exchange for the importation of 41 items.
     
    “The implementation of the (restriction of forex for the importation) 41 items, in addition to the other complementary macroeconomic policies, no doubt, was effective in lifting the Nigerian economy out of recession.”
     
    He added that the apex bank would continue to come up with monetary policy initiatives that would assist in improving the lives of Nigerians.

  • Flood destroys 280 hectares of rice farms

    Flood has destroyed 280 hectares of rice farm in Iguoriakhi and Iguomo in Ovia North-East and Ovia South-West local government areas of Edo.
    The state Chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Mr Dirisu Abdulsalam, told newsmen on Thursday in Benin that farmers close to the riverine areas in the state were worst hit by the flood.
    He appealed to government at all levels to come to assist farmers following the destruction of thousands of hectares of rice farmlands by flood in several communities in Edo North, Edo Central and Edo South senatorial districts.
    Abdulsalam noted that the flooding would negatively affect government’s drive at sufficiency in rice production in the country.
    He said that the association was evolving modalities to ensure the farmers were ready for dry season farming, to make up for the destruction.
    “The association will be sensitising rice farmers for dry season farming to make up for the shortfall occasioned by the destruction of rice fields by flood.
    “There are many problems in rice production and the worst of it at the moment is that flood has eroded or washed away crops and even submerged some of our members’ houses.
    “Therefore, we appeal for assistance from government and international donors so that our farmers will not go and commit suicide,” he said.
    According to him, flooding will reduce rice production chain in the state, adding that the affected farmers have lost millions of Naira investment.
    He, therefore, appealed to the state government to make tractors available to rice farmers, noting that the state had no single tractor.
    Abdulsalam said Edo was one of the major rice producing states in the country.
    He expressed regrets that the state government was not giving priority to rice farmers in terms of provision of certified seedlings and funding.
     

  • Nigeria may experience shortage of rice in 2019 – Ogbeh

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says if appropriate measures were not taken to replant after the recent flood, the country may be in serious trouble with rice production.
    Ogbeh disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the inauguration of National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) Molecular Facility and the 2018 seed fair and Farmer’s field day.
    He said that the flood had affected some major rice producing states, adding that the country might experience scarcity of rice, if not addressed.
    “We have to find out a way to assist farmers, who were affected by the flood; places like Jigawa, Kebbi, Anambra and Kogi were majorly affected. Farmers lost everything they planted.
    “There are different varieties of rice that are being produced at NASC like faro 66 and 67 which are flood tolerant.
    “We hope to get them into the field in large quantity for farmers to plant in the near future.
    “We are also hoping that as soon as the rain seized, we are encouraging farmers to replant so that the residual moisture on the soil plus irrigation can give us another crop by the end of December or early January.
    “Otherwise, we will be in serious trouble for rice, millet, sorghum and maize next year,” he said.
    The Minister expressed his pleasure and honour to be given the opportunity to chair this year’s Seed Fair and Farmers’ Field Day and inaugurate the NASC Molecular Laboratory.
    “ It is quite heartwarming to note that NASC has over the years kept faith in its drive to ensure the availability of quality seeds to farmers.
    “Also, this event is being used as a platform for creating awareness among our great farmers and the farming communities to showcase the different improved crop varieties that can enhance the productivity and increase national food security.
    Also peaking, Dr Philip Ojo, the Director-General, NASC, said that the 2018 event was opened with a Road Walk from the Federal Secretariat to the Minister of Agriculture.
    “This was followed by a Symposium. All the events were geared towards creating improved seeds awareness among our great farmers and the farming communities, especially in the Federal Capital Territory.
    “I wish to state categorically that improved seed use is the most cost effective means of enhancing agricultural productivity.
    “It is important to inform you all that between the 2017 and 2018, a lot of successes have been achieved in the Nigerian Seed industry.
    “NASC collaborations with other stakeholders have started yielded positive results such as the NASC Molecular Facility that will soon be inaugurated.
    “The facility which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under the BASICS Programme will help in the development of the Cassava Seed System in the country and enhance productivity,” he said.
    The director-general appealed for more support from the state governors in order to step up the agency’s regulatory activities to rid the market of fake and adulterated seeds.
    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the yearly event has: “Enhancing Improved Seed Adoption towards achieving Food Security and Wealth Creation,” as its theme for 2018.
    NAN also reports fake seeds confiscated by the council were burnt by the Minister, during the event. (NAN)

  • Customs intercepts petrol tanker loaded with 1000 bags of rice [ Photos]

    Customs intercepts petrol tanker loaded with 1000 bags of rice [ Photos]

    The Nigeria Customs Service, Zone “B” Federal Operations Unit (FOU), has impounded a petrol tanker, a J5 bus and a truck filled with 1000 bags of smuggled rice, on the Kaduna-Zaria axis.

    The Controller, FOU Zone B, Usman Dakingari said that the suspects had been arrested and investigation had started.

    He also said that another truck conveying smuggled rice, concealed in a bigger bag of maize, was also seized.

    Therefore, the smugglers stacked thousands of bags of 50kg bag rice in petrol tankers to give the impression that what they are carrying are petroleum products.

    He noted that the smugglers were arrested after intelligence information and regular surveillance by customs officials in Kaduna State.

    Dakingari revealed further that the smugglers have also devised the method of mixing bags of rice inside bags containing grain, adding that this is to give the impression that the bags contain only maize.

    The Customs comptroller vowed that he and his men are determined to rid the zone of smugglers. He adviced those who engaged in smuggling to desist from the illegal act or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.

  • Edo IDPs rice scandal: Obaseki’s Chief of Staff drags newspaper to court

    Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, Mr Taiwo Akerele, has dragged The Guardian Newspapers before a Benin High court on the footing of what he calls “general and/or exemplary or aggravated damages for libel.

    The case which was filed on Mr Akerele’s behalf by his twin brother, Kehinde, a legal practitioner relates to a report which the newspaper published earlier in the year with the title, “Probe of Alleged diversion of relief materials begins in Edo”.

    Recall that at the time of the report, which was published by many other local and national dailies, 4,781 bags of rice out of the 6,822 ostensibly approved for the Internally Displaced Persons Camp at Uhogwa in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state by the Federal Government that was reported missing was generating controversy.

    The rice scandal which the state government insisted was judiciously disbursed saw the Nigerian Police inviting Chief Dan Orbih,Chairman of the Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for questioning after he said the governor must account for the missing bags of rice.

    But in reaction, the state government said that all the bags of rice and other items like shoes, apart from the ones that were damaged in storage before they were allocated, were distributed to the Internally Displaced Persons camp and other orphanage homes within the state.

    According to the Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said: “The allegation is laughable and completely false and is a design of detractors to smear the image of a performing government”.

    He said, “They have tried and failed on all other fronts, now they have stooped lower to a commodity as cheap as rice.”

    However, Akerele in his four paragraph claims before the court is asking it for an order for the newspaper to pay him a total sum of N2,250,000.00.

    He is asking for N250 million as general and/or exemplary or aggravated damages for libel and another N2.5 million as costs.

    In addition, Akerele is asking the court for an order so that the newspaper and one other, can publish a ” well- worded retracted and apology in a similarly conspicuous manner”.

     

  • NEMA DG, Maihaja, paid N400m demurrage to clear N414.8m Chinese rice donation

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) paid a whopping sum of N400 million in demurrage to clear rice donated by the Chinese government for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East which is valued at N414 million, the Director General of the agency Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, has said.

    Documents submitted to the committee by the ministry of finance dated July 20, 2017 indicates that the total quantity of the rice is 6,779 metric tonnes valued at N414.8 million while the federal ministry of agriculture paid another sum of N272.5 million as duty.

    However, the figure of N400 million excludes the cost of transporting the rice from the ports to the ware houses of the agency and further revealed that about half of the goods are still at the ports accumulating more demurrage.

    The House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness has expressed dismay over the inefficient handling of the Chinese rice donations to internally displaced persons in the North East, saying the officials in charge did not discharge their functions well, leading to unnecessary spending of taxpayers’ money.

    The lawmakers were reacting to the presentations made by government agencies during its investigative hearing on breach of public trust by the National Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday.

    While making a presentation before the committee, representative of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller General Ekekezie Kaycee (T and T), said three batches of the Chinese rice donation arrived at the Nigerian port on the 9th of May, the second, 15th August, and the last, 11th September, 2017 respectively.

    She added that the value of the rice, which came in 151 containers in total, as stated on the bill of lading are as follows: 7, 405, 222 Yuan, 9, 219, 650 million Yuan and 11, 247, 973 Yuan, at an exchange rate of 46.2450 Naira to one Yuan.

    Altogether, she informed the committee, 3, 779 metric tonnes of the rice have been cleared, leaving a balance of 3000 metric tonnes. She identified the two companies that did the clearing as Global view nig ltd and Baltic Air and Maritime Services.

    Similarly, the representative of the minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr Iloma Simon, said while making a presentation before the committee that they procured waivers for the rice from the ministry of Finance at 3 separate times when the goods arrived at the port. His Agriculture ministry counterpart said, in his own summary, that the ministry paid for the clearing of the rice and provided warehouses for storage but is yet to receive any consignment as at today.

    In his summission, the director general of NEMA, Engr Mustapha Maihaja, said the agency could only start clearing when it received the bill of lading six months later.

    He added that due to the emergency situation, the agency relied on section 43 of its establishment Act and engaged Global View Logistics and Baltic Air and Maritime Services without following due process on procurement. The first clearance was done in January, 2018. He also added that the 110 containers of rice cleared have been taken to Borno and Yola.

    This disclosure enraged the lawmakers who were angry that the poor handling of the clearance of the rice led to a cost of N400 million taxpayers’ money on payment for demurrage.

  • ECOWAS to make self-sufficiency in rice a reality by 2025 – Official

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says its rice offensive programme would make self-sufficiency in rice a reality in the sub-region by 2025.

    Mr Ernest Aubee, Principal Programme Officer and ECOWAS Head of Agriculture Division, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

    Aubee said that the programme had been designed to enhance rice production in all member states

    ‘‘The programme will basically look at how the region can increase its production so as to meet consumption needs and reduce import.

    ‘‘It will also create job opportunities for our own farmers especially youths and women.

    ‘‘It will also improve the value chain so that it could be of high quality and nutritionally suitable for us as ECOWAS citizens to consume.’’

    Aubee added that rice has become a highly strategic commodity in West Africa and is the largest source of food calories on the African continent.

    ‘‘ECOWAS countries imported around nine million tonnes of milled rice in 2014, representing a cost of 4 billion Euros.

    ‘‘To avoid risks of civil unrest and the scenarios of increased global food prices, there is an urgent need to increase rice production, processing, value-addition, and marketing in West Africa to achieve self-sufficiency.

    ‘‘Currently, the region depends on imports from Asia to fulfil about half of its consumption needs.

    “ECOWAS has initiated a regional offensive to reach rice self-sufficiency by 2025.’’

    However, the regional offensive for sustained recovery of rice production in West Africa Programme was approved by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in June 2014.

    Aubee said that this offensive was aimed at reducing imports to zero level by 2025.

    He said the joint collaborative spirit aimed at supporting the rice offensive would energise rice production in the sub-region.

    ‘‘It will also bolster a regional public-private partnership which makes self-sufficiency in rice and economic prosperity a reality in West Africa.

    ‘‘The fact book is a briefing document on key rice parameters in the ECOWAS region, opportunities and business cases aimed at attracting anchor investors.’’

    He added that the commission has been in partnership with CARI in four countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Tanzania to promote rice production in Africa.

    ‘‘We are member of steering committee for CARI for the whole of Africa and also a very active member in Nigeria Rice Advocacy Platform, helping to support rice cultivation in all rice production states.’’

    He explained, CARI Phase I has been successful in the four countries in the efforts to make Africa self-sufficient in rice.

    NAN

  • OBJ@81: My parents didn’t wait to see the results of their sacrifices – Obasanjo

    OBJ@81: My parents didn’t wait to see the results of their sacrifices – Obasanjo

    Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, disclosed that his major regret in life is that his parents left too early in life without reaping from the fruits of their sacrifices in his life.

    The two-time Nigerian leader who is marking his 81st birthday, said the early death of his parents and their failure to enjoy the fruits of the sacrifice they made while raising him continues to make him sad.

    He made the disclosure at a ceremony to mark his birthday at Marque Events Centre located within the premises of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

    Obasanjo said he wished his parents lived long to witness his success in life.

    “One thing I always miss and remember is that my parents left this world too early. The sacrifice they made, they did not wait to see the results. How I wish they had waited to see and eat fruits of their labour,’ Obasanjo said.

    The former president, however, said he draws consolation from the Yoruba belief that the dead always look behind to see happenings after them on earth.

    With that belief, he said he was sure his late parents would still be happy in their graves even now.

    “But going by what Yoruba believe and say, that the dead always watch over their beloved ones and see happenings around them, I am convinced that my parents are happy in their graves, as they watch over me,” he said.

    On his birthday, Mr. Obasanjo said he would continue to appreciate, praise adore and worship God, just as he admitted that all those who worked and are still working with him are loyal.

    He expressed his appreciation to his aides and workers. Obasanjo said his success would not be without their commitment and loyalty.

    He advised people to serve humanity, noting that it is when humanity is serve that one can serve God.

    He said he did not believe that God has created a bad situation for Nigeria, or in any particularly country in Africa.

    “We must be able to serve humanity, if we can’t serve humanity, we can’t serve God. I do not believe God had created bad situation for Nigeria, or any particular country in Africa. If things are not going right, we must blame ourselves,” he said.

    The former president urged Nigerians to take seriously governance and moral values among other things to get things right in the country.

     

  • We will deliver local rice below N10,000 per bag – Bagudu

    Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi says the state will work together with farmers and millers under the Federal Government’ Anchor Borrower Programme to deliver local rice below N10,000 per bag.

    The governor gave the assurances Sunday night in Birnin Kebbi at a dinner hosted in honour of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The minister is on a two-day working visit to Kebbi with a team of journalists to showcase and assess the government agricultural revolution.

    Bagudu who commended the President Muhammadu Buhari led Government policy on rice called for more investments by the public and private sector.

    The governor said that the mobilisation of 70,000 farmers and N11 billion spent on the pilot scheme had yielded so much dividends and attracted national and global attention to the state.

    He said in addition to the two major rice milling factories – Labana and Walcot – , there were so many small and medium scale millers springing up in the state.

    Bagudu disclosed that Labana and Walcot rice milling factoriies had N55 billion demand for paddy.

    The governor also disclosed that the Dangote group recently visited him and were concluding plans to set up a rice milling factory in the state.

    He said the partnership between Kebbi and Lagos states on rice value chain that produced the Lake rice had solved the challenge of glut by providing ready made market for farmers.

    The governor, who is the Chairman Presidential Task Force Committee on Rice and Wheat Production noted that the level of investment in the state had proved that agriculture is the easiest sector for diversification

    He said the huge investments had also shown the confidence the investing community had in the Buhari’s administration.

    For his part, the minister appreciated the governor for honouring him and members of his entourage.

    He said Kebbi’s goal is to be a trailblazer in using the Anchor Borrowing Programme to transform the agriculture sector.

    Mohammed said the programme aimed at food production, job creation, income generation and self sufficiency had been a tremendous success the state.

    The minister said he led the media to the state to show to the world that the government agriculture policy is working and yielding results contrary to the claims of naysayers.

    Besides agriculture, the state commissioners gave score cards of the giant strides of the governor in roads, health, infrastructure development, culture and information technology.