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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.

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FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ZURU, KEBBI STATE
 

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE UNIVERSITY

FUAZ/R/DP/Vol. 1                                                                                                    7th May, 2020

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, a newly established University wishes to invite qualified, interested and eligible Consultants and service providers to submit Expression of Interest (EOI) for the projects tabulated below.

1.0.1 Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) from Consultants for the projects under category.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

Interested Consultants and Service Providers are required to submit the following:

1. Certificate of Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
2. Tax Clearance Certificate corresponding with the company annual turnover for three years (2018, 2019 & 2020).
3. Evidence of compliance with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) by inclusion of current Certificate of Compliance from the Industrial Training Fund.
4. Evidence of compliance with Pension Reforms Act 2004 by inclusion of current PENCOM Compliance Clearance Certificate.
5. Evidence of VAT Registration with TIN Number.
6. Evidence of interim registration of firm on the National Database of Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers with Bureau of Public Procurement (BPPIRR) Contractor database; and
7. Evidence of current NSITF compliance certificate.

3.0    OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Company’s detailed Profile with copy of Article of Association Memorandum of Understanding if joint venture and company’s registration with relevant professional bodies.
2. Evidence of Financial Capability to execute the Projects (Bank Support).
3. Verifiable evidence (Photocopies of letters of awards and completion certificates and interim performance certificates for ongoing projects) of previous experience in similar jobs, at least three (3) in the last five years.
4. Annual Audited Account for the last three (3) years (2017, 2018 and 2019)
5. Name, e-mail address and telephone numbers of contact person for the project.
6. Affidavit of disclosure that none of the persons connected with the bid process in the procuring entity has any pecuniary interest and that the company is not in receivership of any form of insolvency/bankruptcy nor in debarment and that the company nor any of the Director (s) of the company has been convicted of financial crime.
7. Bidders Letter Headed Papers should bear the RC Number and Names of the Directors with their phone Numbers.
8. An affidavit confirming that all information presented/attached are true and
   correct.
9. Any other information that will further enhance the qualification of the company.

4.0       BID SUBMISSION:
SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) DOCUMENTS FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES.
Interested Consultants shall submit one original and one photocopy of their sealed Expression of Interest (EOI) documents in a sealed tamper-proof envelope clearly stating the name and Lot Number of the project, addressed to: THE SECRETARY, UNIVERSITY TENDERS BOARD, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ZURU temporary office on or before 12 noon, 14TH MAY, 2020. The Documents should be deposited in the Tender Box at the Temporary office. 

5.0    BID OPENING:
Opening of the received Bids for Expression of Interest (EOI) will commence immediately after the deadline at 12.00 noon 14th May 2020 in the temporary office.

6.0    PLEASE NOTE:

1. All CAC, VAT, PENCOM, BPP IRR, ITF, TAX Certificates and any other document may be referred to Security Agencies and other Relevant Bodies for verification.
2. The Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru reserves the Right to reject any or all the submissions that do not meet up with all the requirements as specified; and Consultants are not permitted to Bid for not more than two lots in a category and only technically successful bidders will be invited for the next stage of the bidding process.
3. This Advertisement shall not be construed as a commitment on the part of the FUAZ; nor shall it entitle potential consultants to make any claim(s) whatsoever  or to seek any indemnity from the University by value of such company having responded to the Advertisement.
4. For further enquiry, contact the Registrar by email; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Signed:
REGISTRAR

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Emir of Zuru, Maj. Gen (rtd) Muhammad Sani Sami, Sami Gomo II, has declared his total support for the takes off of Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru (FUAZ), Kebbi State.

The Royal Highness, made this known on Tuesday during the courtesy visit of the University top management and Kebbi State government representative, led by Commissioner for Higher Education Prof. Muktaru Umar Bunza and Commissioner for Information and Culture, Hon. Mamuda Warrah at his palace.

He said: “Zuru community is ready to support the takeoff of the University. Some of sons and daughters of the soil are ready to donate their houses for the takeoff of the university.

“I am ready to support you within Kebbi and outside the state. I want to urge politicians to allow the Vice Chancellor to work, you should stop all politicking and allow him to work. Enough is enough, we thank you”.

The Commissioner for Higher Education told the Emir that, the team were in Zuru due to respect Kebbi state government has for the Emir and to seek for his support and blessing.

Earlier, the Interim Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Musa Isyaku Ahmad informed the Emir that the University will take off by September, this year, stressed that 90% of the work, which were academics and administrative, to ensure the smooth taking off of the university have been done.

He promised that, the graduates of the university would be job creators, not job seekers adding that, the programmes of the university would be focus on vocational and entrepreneurs to enable them stands different among others graduates in the country.

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The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that it would provide zero interest financing options for two million smallholder farmers nationwide under its Agric for Food and Jobs Plan.

It said the plan was aimed at mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s agricultural sector.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, told journalists at a press briefing in Abuja that the AFJP scheme would be a joint venture including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Central Bank of Nigeria, private sector operators and farmers.

“This programme will be achieved through investment in the sector by way of providing zero interest input financing options such as fertilisers and seeds to farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to produce harvests that could be sold domestically and internationally,” he stated.

Nanono said the programme, which the FMARD had perfected plans to inaugurate, would run for a duration of 12 months with an aggregate of two million hectares of land.

He explained that the scheme would link farmers to markets for off-take through out-grower schemes and improve crop yields per hectare.

The minister said, “This will in turn ensure food security in the post COVID-19 era and position smallholder farmers to be drivers of economic growth by evolving from subsistence farming to commercial production.

“The AFJP targets two million smallholder farmers across the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT and aims to produce 10 million tonnes of food which include carbohydrates, animal protein and edible oils within the next 12 months.”

According to Nanono, priority crops and livestock targeted by the AFJP for local markets include rice, maize, sorghum, groundnuts, cowpea, cassava, and millet.

Others include horticulture, palm kernel and cotton, while sesame seeds, hibiscus, cocoa, hides and skin, horns and hoofs are targeted for export.

The minister said the government would continue protecting jobs in the sector to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the food s