News

Minister Calls For Harnessing Of Potentials In Animal Production To Boost Socio-economic Status

Published

5 years ago

March 16, 2020

Alhaji Sabo Nanono, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, has called for concerted efforts of stakeholders in harnessing the potentials in animal production in order to boost the socio-economic status of Nigerians.

Nanono made the call during the 45th Annual Conference of Nigeria Society for Animal Production (NSAP) on Monday in Bauchi.

The minister who was represented by Mr Muhammad Yusuf, state Director of the ministry, said “this is because animal agriculture is an essential source of livelihood for millions of people in the country’’.

“Animal agriculture is an essential source of livelihood for millions of people and as such deserves a concerted effort in harnessing the inherent greatness in it to boost the socio-economic status of the citizenry.

“This certainly, requires a resourcefulness that transcends self aggrandizement which has been observed to be one of the banes of development in this sector.

“I therefore wish to appeal to this conference to provide the right platform for addressing the incessant cases of professional rivalry amongst the prominent actors.

“If we are able to achieve professional harmony most of the challenges that have bedevilled the livestock sub-sector will be easily surmountable,’’ said the minister.

He said that with the projection of Nigeria’s population presently at 205 million, it may reach about 400 million by 2050.

“The demand for livestock products such as meat, eggs, dairy and leathers will be more than double within this period,’’ he said.

The minister said livestock production and productivity has to increase commensurably in quantity and quality by about 60 per cent in order to satisfy the demand for animal protein and livestock products.

Nanono congratulated the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of NSAP and all the members for organizing the conference.

He commended LOC for steadiness in aligning with government aspiration to redirect efforts from an oil dependent mono-economy to a vibrant and diversified national economy driven by agro-industrial development.

Speaking, NSAP President, Prof. Augustine Ani, said the NSAP, in pursuance of its objectives, had continue to provide forums to discuss issues relating to the promotion of all aspects of animal production in Nigeria.

He stressed that NSAP, in every annual conference, through its conference resolutions had continued to influence government policies affecting animal production in Nigeria.

Our correspondent reports that the theme of the annual conference was ‘Animal Agriculture: Exploring the Goldmine of Nigeria’s Agro- Revolution’.

PHOTO: File

News

EFCC Orders Arrest Of Dismissed Officer On Lege Miami’s Show

Published

51 minutes ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has condemned the actions of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, who was recently spotted participating in a matchmaking programme on social media platforms hosted by popular entertainer Lege Miami.

The agency has ordered his immediate arrest for retaining official EFCC property, including an identity card, following his dismissal for certificate forgery.

The anti-graft agency, in a statement on its official X handle on Monday, said Folarin served as a driver at the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Directorate.

He was, however, dismissed after investigations confirmed he had forged his academic credentials.

It said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, condemned in the strongest terms, the involvement of one of its former staff, Olakunle Alex Folarin, in a matchmaking programme running on Lege Miami social media platforms.”

“Folarin was recently dismissed from the Commission for certificate forgery. He was a driver at the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.”

The statement said EFCC Executive Chairma,n Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered Folarin to be arrested and emphasised that Folarin’s actions should not be associated with the commission.

“The Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has ordered his arrest for being in possession of some Commission’s properties, including an identity card, which he should have handed over upon being dismissed from the EFCC.

“The public is advised against associating Folarin’s post-dismissal conduct with the EFCC,” the statement concluded.

News

NERC Transfers Regulation Of Electricity Market To Bayelsa

Published

1 hour ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has transferred regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State to the Bayelsa Electricity Regulatory Agency.

In a notice on its social media handles on Monday, the commission said this was in compliance with the amended 1999 Constitution and the Electricity Act 2023.

“In compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued an order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Bayelsa State from the Commission to the Bayelsa State Electricity Regulatory Agency,” the commission said.

Recall that with the Electricity Act 2023, the commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the interstate/international generation, transmission, supply, trading, and system operations.

The Act also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes and requests NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations in the state to the state regulator.

The transfer order by NERC directed Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc to incorporate a subsidiary distribution company to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Bayelsa State from PHED.

PHED was also directed to complete the incorporation of PHED SubCo within 60 days from August 21, 2025.

“The subcompany shall apply for and obtain a licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from BYERA, among other directives,” the commission said.

It concluded that all transfers envisaged by the order shall be completed by February 20, 2026.

With this order, Bayelsa has joined states like Lagos, Imo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, Niger, Edo, Oyo and Plateau, which have got the power to regulate electricity markets.

The state can now generate, transmit, and distribute electricity while issuing licences to investors within the value chain.

News

Things To Know As INEC Begins Physical Voter Registration Monday

Published

1 hour ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission commenced the physical, in-person phase of its 2025 Continuous Voter Registration exercise across Nigeria today, Monday, August 25.

This follows the online pre-registration that commenced on August 18, 2025.

In an update on its X handle on Monday, the commission provided details of the schedule, locations, and eligibility of voters.

INEC said in-person registration will run Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and urged eligible Nigerians to complete their registration at INEC state or local government offices in their area.

The commission said those eligible to register or update their details include:

New voters aged 18 and above who have not registered before.

Holders needing to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Voters seeking to transfer their registration to a new location.

People who need to update or correct their voter information (name, address, etc.).

The electoral umpire asked registrants who completed online pre-registration to proceed to their INEC State Head Office or LGA office to finalise the process.

The commission also published a list of registration centres on its official portal.