Day: September 7, 2023

Dr Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, has said that Africa is determined to deliver a sustainable economic future for Africans by tackling climate change.

Salako made the assertion at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) on Thursday in Abuja while addressing aviation correspondents.

The minister was returning from Africa Climate Summit (ACS ) of high level African leaders held in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday.

Salako said that addressing climate change would encourage more investment that would advance annual climate finance flows to Africa .

According to him, the summit occurred at a pivotal juncture, offering the region an exclusive stage to spotlight the continent`s priorities, solutions and needs regarding climate action to the global community.

“ As a continent, it is critical that climate action spurs socioeconomic development for us. We know that with robust planning and increased investments in the region, this is achievable.

“ Africa is already bearing the brunt of a climate crisis it did not cause but our continent, with our significant renewable energy resources, critical minerals, vast carbon sinks, and growing population, can be a strong solution center.

“ In Nigeria, we have articulated our unchanging position to advance climate action without jeopardizing economic development, ‘’ he said.

According to him, the Nigeria has designed an ambitious energy transition plan to achieve universal access to energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060 while prioritising industrialization, job creation, and economic growth.

He said the nation had started establishing partnerships with both public and private sector players, driving innovative policy changes, advancing renewable energy projects including on-grid solar and electric vehicle deployment.

The minister further said that the nation had started exploring innovative financing mechanisms like carbon trading to lay the foundation for an all-encompassing transition.

According to him, climate action and environmental sustainability are central to achieve food security, poverty eradication, sustainable job creation and security.

Salako said the ASC was organised to position Africa well in its decisions and requests during 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held from Nov.30 to Dec. 12 at the Expo City, Dubai. (NAN) (www.newsnan.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Tremma Agro Services, an agro-ecosystem firm in Africa, is poised to inaugurate an “incubator hub” in Nigeria, a project designed for agro-entrepreneurs and viable innovators ready to kick start businesses.

The agro-ecosystem is aimed at supporting the food production systems in farms and gardens.

Dr Emmanuel Abuhson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja on Thursday.

Abuhson told journalists that the inauguration of the programme is scheduled to hold in September and will develop and build up practical skills, and nurture entrepreneurial ideas among young people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the main objective of the project is to nurture, equip, and support agro-entrepreneurs as well as strengthen youth participation in agriculture.

The project is also aimed at making Africa a hub for agro-business to thrive.

“Less than five per cent of investments in Africa go to agriculture due to the risk factors in the business.

“Agriculture should be youth-driven to ensure food security in Africa, especially in Nigeria.

“Again, the rate of failure of investments in agro-businesses is another gap that needs to be bridged, hence the need to curtail it.

“We can build agro-businesses to become profitable and viable. This way youths can drive the sector.

“One thing that stands out for us at the “incubator hub” is changing the narrative. We want to see young educated people with good agro-business initiatives empowered to start, nurture, and grow their businesses and become empowered to kick-start viable businesses and make profit.

“When youths are driving the agri-business sector, we will no longer struggle with food security, food crisis, and under-capitalisation in the agro eco-system.

“Educated youths can conveniently run lucrative agro-businesses” he said.

He maintained that the project which is scheduled to last two months, is aimed at grooming young people between 18 and 38 years of age on agro-business within an eight-week incubation period.

“After the incubation period, the participants will face judges, who will determine the winner of the most outstanding and viable innovation award using a set of criteria and guidelines.

The winner, he said. will win a seed capital of one million naira. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, has said that the President Bola Tinubu administration has performed well as he marks his 100 days in office.

Hamzat made the remarks during a special prayer to commemorate 100 days in office of President Bola Tinubu, held on Thursday at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos Island.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu was inaugurated as the 16th President of Nigeria on May 29.

According to him, the past 100 days of this government have been very encouraging as different achievements and various initiatives are put in place by the Federal Government.

Speaking on the achievements of the Federal Government so far, the deputy governor stated that the administration had performed well.

“The first 100 days had been about economic reforms and enactment of laws than infrastructures.

“We can see judiciary reform, tax reform, education upgrade, which are part of the many things this administration has done,” he said.

Justifying the petrol subsidy removal, Hamzat said 93 per cent of the nation’s revenue was used for debt payment on fuel subsidy and the country was almost bankrupt.

“The fuel subsidy consumed more money than the Ministry of Works and Education put together and government is saying it is not sustainable as a nation,” he said.

Similarly, the deputy governor said that Nigerians have cause to give thanks to God for sustaining the country as there are many countries going through worse challenges.

Hamzat added that Nigerians have reasons to thank God for the peaceful moments the country had enjoyed in spite of the challenges witnessed.

According to him, every nation has challenges but it is the responsibility of the government to face those challenges and tackle them.

He cited examples of Sweden, Libya, Iraq and some other countries that are currently undergoing different challenges.

On Lagos State Government achievements since assumption of office for the second tenure, the deputy governor noted that a lot of initiatives had been put in place, which include the commencement of Blue Line Rail for commercial purposes.

“Lagos State Government is the only sub-sovereign that is funding rail from its balance sheet, no other sub-sovereign has done it anywhere in the world and this took a lot of financial engineering for us to build,” he said.

He disclosed that the red line would soon commence service.

Hamzat noted that the project is massive and would convey passengers from Agege through Ejigbo and Yaba within ten-minute interval.

Earlier, the Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Abdul Abou, who was represented by the Bashorun of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy said the country had witnessed a lot of transformation and policy reviews in the last 100 days of the Tinubu administration.

Abou was optimistic that the transformation would yield positive results for citizens and the country in due course.

He charged Nigerians to continue to pray for the president to come up with policies and reforms that would be in the best interest of Nigerians.

The sheik also commended the Gov. Sanwo-Olu Babajide administration for the successes recorded so far in the state in the last 100 days.

According bto him, the governor has been able to put measures in place to alleviate the pains experienced due to fuel subsidy removal by sharing palliatives to the most vulnerable in the state.

“Also, the recent commencement of the commercial Blue Rail Line will reduce traffic in the state,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria