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As part of efforts to speed up it mechanization programme in the agriculture sector, the federal government has revealed it would receive the first batch of tractors out of the 10,000 tractors expected from Brazil under the Green Imperative Project.

The federal government signed a $1.2 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Development Bank of Brazil for agriculture mechanisation in Nigeria.

The government intends to improve agriculture mechanization and set up modern agro centers across the country with the credit facility.

Addressing journalists in his office on Friday during the Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the 2021 World Food Day with the Theme: Our Actions are our Future. Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, said the Green Imperative programme which is expected to address the long standing agricultural mechanization problem is underway.

According to him, the programme would ensure adequate supply of tractors and other implements to farmers on a public-private partnership arrangement. The model adopted is sustainable and would ameliorate the low production challenge due to lack of sufficient machinery.

Abubakar also said the Federal Government has lifted a total of 4,205,576 Million Nigerians out of poverty in the last two years.

He said that it was achieved through the Ministry’s strategic policies and programmes and by extension the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020 of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Government, which sees agriculture as the alternative to oil for meaningful economic diversification. Dr. Mahmood Abubakar stated that ‘’the ERGP envisage that investment in agriculture can guarantee food security, have the potential to be a major contributor to job creation and will save foreign exchange required for food imports.

The Minister stated that “our various empowerment initiatives along production, processing and marketing of agricultural commodities we have lifted a total of 4,205,576 Nigerians out of poverty in the last two years. This is going to continue as part of Mr. President's promise to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within the next 10 years.”.

In his remarks, FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Fred Kafeero, said that “everyone of us has a role to play in ending hunger by changing the way we produce, adding value to our food products, making food choices that improve our health; and by reducing wastage and loss of our food.”

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The Vice-Chancellor of the newly established Federal University of Agriculture Zuru, Professor Musa Isiyaku Ahmed, has said the university will start academic activities in September as planned.

Briefing journalists during a visit to the Commissioner of Higher Education in Birnin Kebbi, he added that all the necessary academic arrangements had been concluded to ensure a smooth start.

He added that when the university takes off fully, it would boost agricultural activities in the state, generate more revenue and boost employment opportunities.

“We have developed the academic brief for the university. We have also developed curricula for the 23 programmes that are supposed to be at take-off stage,” he added.

He pointed out that the university would run seven colleges, including Science, Agronomy, Animal Science, Food Technology, Home Economics, Fisheries, Forestry and Wild Lives, Veterinary Medicine and Economics and Extension, with about 28 departments.

“The university has also developed its website to serve as a window to the outside world, and that is why we intend to commence our academic activities by September 2020,” he said.

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FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ZURU, KEBBI STATE
 

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION FOR THE PROJECTS LISTED BELOW

The Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru under the year 2020 approved budget of the University desire to procure furniture for the newly acquired liaison office in Abuja and maintenance of its premises at the temporary site, Zuru.

i.             Lot 1 - Supply of furniture to the Liaison office, Abuja;

ii.           Lot 2 - Maintenance of University temporary site premises at Zuru, Kebbi state;

iii.          Lot 3 - Rehabilitation of internal roads within the University premises;

iv.          Lot 4 - Rehabilitation of front perimeter wall, gate and gatehouse;

v.           Lot 5- Provision and installation of solar power backup in four classrooms & administrative block.

vi.          Lot 6 - Equipping and furnishing of principal officers offices;

vii.         Lot 7 - Renovation of borrowed houses; and

viii.       Lot 8 – Engagement of Security Out-Fit for residences and offices, Zuru, Kebbi State.

2.0     Competent and qualified contractors/suppliers are by this advertisement invited to collect submit a quotation for the project. The scope of the project is contained in the Bill of Quantities.

3.0    COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENT:

Bidders are expected to collect Tender Documents from the temporary Office of the Registrar, No 25, Lateef Jakande Crescent, Apo, Abuja, from Thursday 7^th to 14^th  September, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements are as follows:

i.             CAC – Evidence of registration with CAC;

ii.           Current Tax Certificate – Evidence of Tax payment for the immediate past three years;

iii.          Evidence of PENCOM compliance;

iv.          Evidence of ITF compliance;

v.           Evidence of NSITF compliance; and

vi.          BPP IRR - Evidence of Bureau of Public Procurement Interim Registration Report.

4.0    SUBMISSION

All completed tender documents should be returned by hand on or before 12noon, Thursday 14th September 2020 in one (1) hard copy in a sealed envelope addressed to: Registrar, No 36, Lateef Jakande Crescent, Apo, Abuja.

Signed:
REGISTRAR

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The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), has inaugurated a 28-member Nigeria Agro Set-Up Committee with a mandate to reinvigorate national agricultural activities across the country.

This is part of the plans to lead the charge and target of $250b in export revenue for the country by 2040.

According to the PriceWater Coppers (PwC’s) report, between 2016 and 2018, the country’s total agriculture exports was driven by sesame seeds, fermented cocoa beans, cashew nuts, ginger, crude palm kernel oil, soya beans, frozen shrimps and prawns, among other commodities.

The Committee chaired by Chief Executive Officer of ABX WORLD, Captain John T Okakpu, is an assemblage of representatives of the Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), private sector agro industry technocrats, high flying managers, retired agric related multinational practitioners, agric export logistics experts, agric-based scholars, government bureaucracy experts, senior military officers (active and retired), who are expected to innovatively position the agric value chain for improved exports.

Members of the committee are: Arch Kabir Ibrahim (AFAN); Brigadier General Kapeh Alwali Kazir (Nigeria Army); Prof. Obiora Edwin Madu (Multimix); Prof. Simon Irtwange (FUAM); Prof Charles Asadu (UNN); Abdulkarim Kaita (Dangote Group); Mudiaga Okumagba (FedEx/Red Star); Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Ugbuji (Nigerian Army); Ifechukwu Anajekwu; Jane Machunga; Ogunfunmilayo Oluwole (NAQS); Ernest Ihedigbo; Eniola Elizabeth; Amede Achingale (AWEP) and Wing Commander Shuaibu Hamza (Rtd).

Others are Deputy Controller of Customs Suleiman Chiroma (Customs); Dr. Chinyere Akujiobi (FMARD); Idowu-Ogbo Medaiyedu, Esq (FMF); Kamal Mustapha; Olatunji Lawal; Dr. (Mrs) Gloria Ahmed and Mrs. Hindatu Adbul; Tony Ifeakandu and Alhaji Ismail Tahir.

While inaugurating the committee on June 18, 2020, the Permanent Secretary, FMITI, Dr. Sani-Gwarzo, charged members to collaborate with relevant government agencies to facilitate the purchase, certification, and transportation of agricultural commodities from the farm-gates to the points of exit.

He said the country needs a system that can control, facilitate export and entrench international acceptance standards. 

This, he said, can only be achieved through synergy between the Ministry, relevant MDAs and private sector.

Also, a work plan of five to 10 years with targets and time lines will be developed to boost production for sustainability purpose.

“This is a very welcome development as it would stimulate developing agricultural commodities export thereby generating more jobs and foreign exchange.”

Responding on behalf of the Committee members, the Chairman, Okapku said they would work assiduously towards the set goal, which is to recognise the need to promote and encourage interest of agriculture in Nigeria.

He said that they would work vigorously towards inculcating in the youths a sense of patriotism and nationalism, serving the immediate community and other countries with agriculture produce, which will compete favourably in international markets and to promote and educate the generality of Nigerian farmers on the best practices of agriculture.