Business
LCCI lambasts FG’s N60bn phones-for-farmers policy
LAGOS: The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have lambasted the federal government over the proposed N60 billion phones-for-farmers policy saying it is a misplaced priority.
On Tuesday, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote disclosed the federal government intends to spend N60 billion to purchase mobile phones for 10 million rural farmers across the country. She said that the fund had has already been provided and the distribution will commence in the first quarter.
Reacting to this development in an interview with Biztellers, the Chairman, Agric sector of the LCCI and Managing Director of Bama Farm Food, Prince Wale Oyekoya, said the Federal Government’s intention would not make any meaningful impact on the lives of the farmers.
“Imagine our Federal Government wants to give rural farmers N60b cell phone, is this what our poor farmers need now with the high interest rate of 28 per cent. This is part of corruption we are talking about; it is a way of laundering our money by the federal government. Farmers need working capital and not cell phone, who will be recharging the phones for them? Is it still the federal government that will do that?” he said.
According to him, the Nigerian farmers need a single digit interest rate on agric loans, input research and development, tractors, working capital and other amenities to excel in agriculture, adding that, Nigeria is one nation that is endowed with goodness of nature , wonderful weather, excellent soil texture and great business environment.
He urged the federal government to provide basic infrastructure that would make agricultural business venture progress and less stressful, adding that the government should invest more in farmers with a single digit interest rate on agric loans instead of giving out cell phones.
On Thursday, Minster of Agriculture, Dr. Adeshina Akinwunmi though denied that the FG was spending N60 billion to purchase the mobile phones, he however strongly defended the policy. Adesina said the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, was totally misquoted on the issue as there “is no N60 Billion for phones anywhere.
The Minister said agriculture today is more knowledge-intensive and they are willing to modernize the sector, and get younger (graduate) entrepreneurs into the sector, “and we will arm them with modern information systems.
“Whether small, medium or large farmers they all need information and communication systems. Connecting to supermarkets and international markets require that farmers know and meet stringent consumer-driven grades and standards.”
He added “In today’s supply chains, the flow of information from buyers to farmers must be instant, to meet rapidly changing demands. Unless farmers have information at their finger tips, they will lose out on market opportunities.
“Our goal is to empower every farmer. No farmer will be left behind. We will reach them in their local languages and use mobile phones to trigger an information revolution which will drive an agricultural revolution.”
On why the need for cell phones, Dr. Akinwumi explained that Nigeria has 110 million cell phones, the largest in Africa, but regretted that there is a huge divide as the bulk of the phones are in urban areas.
“The rural areas are heavily excluded. For agriculture, which employs 70% of the population that means the farmers are excluded and marginalized.
“In today’s world, the most powerful tool is a mobile phone. As Minister of Agriculture, I want the entire rural space of Nigeria, and farmers, to be included, not excluded, from the advantages of mobile phone revolution.
The Phone-For-Farmers scheme is part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the federal government introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture. The goal of ATA is to add 20 million metric tones (MT) to the domestic food supply, or 5 million MT per year, by 2015, and to create a total of 3.5 million jobs by 2015.
According to the Minister the goal of ATA is to transform agriculture to grow food, create wealth and generate jobs. The focus is on expanding domestic food production, reducing import dependency and expanding value addition to locally produced agricultural products.
Adesina set out to eliminate decades of corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors through radical policy reforms, reduce the role of government and expand incentives for the private sector to drive the transformation and modernization of Nigeria’s agriculture. One of such reforms brought about the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS).
The scheme which kicked off last year is a special agricultural scheme of the Federal Government aimed at delivering subsidized farm inputs to farmers and facilitates a shift from subsistence to commercial farming.
GESS is hinged on the use of technology to enhance effective distribution of various farm inputs, especially fertilizers, to farmers. This is in line with government vision of making agriculture the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy.
With the program, Government sought to withdraw from direct fertilizer purchase and distribution, and introduce an alternative system of distribution built on the voucher system. Under the scheme, registered farmers receive e-wallet vouchers with which they can redeem fertilizer and seeds from agro dealers. The GESS is a 3-year scheme and the first cycle was implemented last year.
The scheme has been designed to encourage a private sector led market development process, ultimately geared towards improving Nigeria’s competitiveness and food security. Through this scheme, government will subsidize the costs of seeds and fertilizers for farmers by 50%, while providing soft loans to the seed and fertilizer companies and agro-dealers to sell their inputs directly to farmers and build their supply chains to get to rural areas.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina who introduced the program, described it as the best way farmers can access the direct subsidy of agro-inputs.
He particularly explained that the introduction of allocating fertilizer and seedlings directly to benefiting farmers through electronic vouchers to their mobile phones has helped eliminate the activities of middle men who for decades have been preventing farmers in the country from enjoying such subsidy from government.
But reports from farmers at the end of the planting season last year show lots of complains from farmers across the country as to their inability to access the subsidy or in some cases getting the subsidized inputs after harvesting.
During a tour of five states of Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Nasarawa and Benue by reporters sometimes last year, farmers expres their disappointment over the scheme.
In Taraba State, the picture was not rosy. The farmers complained that they didn’t receive their two bags of fertilizer and two bags of improved seedlings in time. One of them was Hamman-Tukur Baba-Anda, a 72-year-old farmer. He said though he got his two bags of fertilizer, they came late. He lamented that if he had gotten them in time, he would have gotten about a hundred bags of maize instead of the 28 bags he got.
“We should have gotten it from January, February to April, but this time it came around June/July. May be it is from you,” Baba-Anda said.
Not all the farmers in the state got fertilizer. Out of the 75,000 farmers that got registered for the program, only 22, 000 were able to redeem their allocation, according to the state director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Samuel Adaji.
The story was slightly different in Gombe State where the federal coordinator of the GES scheme in the state, Mallam Muhammad Umar Deba, said out of the 148,032 farmers registered for the GES program, 144,000 farmers redeemed their fertilizers.
“I couldn’t get even a single bag of fertilizer or seed,” said Malam Usman Bangu, an old farmer, in flawless English. But those who got their allocation in the state called for creation of more redemption centers as they said the ones in the state were too small to cater for them.
For Mr. Akin Balogun, the scheme had made the purchase of fertilizers more difficult and urged the government to review its implementation.
Mr. Shedrack Madlion, the Executive Director of the Admiral Environmental Care Limited, an NGO, stressed the need to put in place checks and balances to ensure success of the initiative.
Madlion observed that the e-wallet scheme had only succeeded in arousing the farmers’ interest, but its implementation had fallen short of expectation.
It was in an attempt to review its implementation and move agriculture away from development program to business that the ministry came up with a modern way of reaching the farmers using new tools like mobile phones.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is of the view that his administration’s renewed focus in driving international and local investments into livestock sector of the agricultural value-chain will end the crisis of farmer-herder clashes, eradicate hunger and poverty in addition to promoting economic prosperity.
President Tinubu said this Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Nigerian Government and the JBS S.A, one of the top three largest meat processing companies globally.
“What we are doing right now is that we are solving a problem that afflicted humanity in that part of Africa, clashes between farmers and migrating cows that have caused some life and bloodshed when there is a modern, civilized way to solve those problems and even bring a successful economy out of it.
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“We are trying to turn a situation of tragedy, hopelessness into economic opportunity, see through problems and see the opportunity that is involved in it.”
The Nigerian leader called on the company to see the considerable potentials in what he called the $2.5billion livestock investment opportunities in Nigeria, especially with its huge population and tap into it, given JBS S.A’s globally recognized expertise in the area of guaranteeing food security.
“We’ve heard so much about you in terms of the reputation, and we believe in the partnership we are forging today.
“Food security is extremely important. As we talk right now, there is hunger. However, there is huge hope. And you are one of those hopes that we are looking at.”
President Tinubu told the JBS top executives that Nigeria is ready to do business with them, assuring them of a good return on their investment.
Prior to his visit to Brazil, President had commissioned a team of Nigerian officials and private sector players to take the advantage of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio to conduct a study tour of Sao Paulo, Brazil and explore the opportunities in livestock development, meat processing, seed development and multiplication for key grains.
In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muhktar Mahia, who led the delegation, reported to the President that the team embarked on guided, extended and intensive tours of companies on the scale of their global reach, the integrated nature of their operations as well as the deployment of advanced technology. He added that from their interactions with various companies, JBS S.A. was chosen being the second largest meat processing company in the world with the capacity to process 33,000 cattle daily and over eight million birds daily, using advanced zero-waste practices. The company employs over 200,000 people across its subsidiaries in more than 50 countries in the world including United States, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia among others.
Wesley Batista, founder and President of the JBS group, said the company is the largest employer of labour in Brazil with over $79 billion dollars revenue already in year 2024.
“We are glad to work with Nigeria to work together to develop the livestock industry there. We think it’s a good opportunity for our business in Nigeria and Africa as we believe Nigeria can be the center of supply of protein to many countries in Africa. We look forward to working with you. We are almost in December and this year is almost gone. We hope to be in Nigeria as soon as possible,” the founder and Chief Executive said.
Other members of the delegation included Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security Hon. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Co-chairman Presidential Livestock Reform Committee, Professor Attahiru Jega, the Secretary of the Committee, Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahya, and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Aisha Rimi.
The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has disclosed an investment of ₦742 million over the past three years to position Nigeria as a premier tourism destination at the annual World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, NANTA’s immediate past president, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, revealed that the funds were used for exhibition pavilions, magazine publications, and logistical support for members attending the prestigious trade show.
“In three years, NANTA has spent ₦742,226,100 to deliberately put Nigeria on the global tourism map at the WTM. This was achieved with only skeletal support in 2022 and 2023,” Akporiaye said.
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According to Akporiaye, the association received minimal support in its early years of participation.
In 2022, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and Air Peace contributed by placing advertisements on the Nigerian pavilion and in the association’s magazine. By 2023, Ibom Air joined the effort, supporting NANTA with adverts, while La Campagne Tropicana maintained its support.
The 2024 edition, however, marked a turning point. Akporiaye noted that for the first time, Ibom Air went beyond advertisements to co-exhibit, alongside Eko Hotels and Sabre Travel Network. Their contributions made Nigeria’s representation at WTM more robust and impactful.
“Sabre Travel Network also supported us, so we had their graphics, as well as Ibom Air’s, displayed on our stand. Their contributions made our 2024 participation very grand,” she added.
Akporiaye highlighted that 90% of the funds for WTM participation came directly from NANTA members, underscoring their commitment to Nigeria’s tourism development.
“This shows that we are true patriots, and we deserve national recognition for our efforts,” she said.
NANTA began attending the WTM in 2022 to fill the gap left by Nigeria’s absence from the event for over 10 years.
The association saw the need to promote the country’s tourism potential and create international business opportunities for its members.
“It’s been a wonderful and successful three years that NANTA has participated in WTM, filling the gap left by Nigeria’s absence for over 10 years. We are glad to have handed over the baton of Nigeria’s participation at WTM to the Nigerian government this year,” Akporiaye said.
Through its participation, NANTA has secured affiliations with international tourism boards, organized product training for members, and raised awareness about Nigeria as a destination.
These efforts have also led to partnerships with global airlines and travel boards, fostering significant growth for members’ businesses.
“Our participation at WTM has helped members’ businesses grow significantly. We have formed partnerships with airlines and travel boards worldwide.
“Our greatest achievement at WTM is drawing Nigeria’s attention back to the need to exhibit at the global travel market,” Akporiaye said.
The initiative has also inspired members to expand their horizons into global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events.
Dangote Cement Plc, a leading cement manufacturer, has donated multi-million Naira educational support projects to secondary schools in Lagos as part of its social investment initiatives.
The company in a statement explained that the move is aimed at complementing the government’s efforts in providing quality and sustainable education in the state.
It was gathered that the projects were commissioned and handed over to various schools in the Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area, align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education. These goals focus on ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education, as well as promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The projects, warmly received by both teachers and students, include 100 dual school desks for Ilado Community Junior High School and Wahab Folawiyo Senior High School, alongside a refurbished and fully equipped Chemistry Laboratory at the Government Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi.
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Also donated were reading tables, chairs, and bookshelves for the library at Government Junior Secondary School, Ikoyi.
A celebration also took place at Falomo Junior High School and Ireti Senior Grammar School, both in Ikoyi, where the company donated 20 brand-new desktop computers to the ICT departments of the schools.
At the event at Government Junior College, Ikoyi, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, explained that social investment is a key part of Dangote Cement’s operations.
He said the company is dedicated to giving back to society and supporting the sustainable development of local communities, especially in areas where it operates.
Pathak’s address was delivered by Wakeel Olayiwola, the Head of Social Performance at Dangote Cement Plc.
He said, “education holds a pivotal role in the development and empowerment of the youths in the country. As a cornerstone for societal advancement, it serves as a critical tool for personal growth, economic development, and national progress. An educated youth population not only fosters individual success but also contributes significantly to the nation’s overall wellbeing.
“At Dangote Cement, we believe that providing quality education to our youth is vital and should not be left solely as the government’s responsibility. Thus, we aim to partner with the government to enhance educational development in this regard.
“The projects we are handing over today are part of our 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for selected schools within the neighbourhood of Dangote Cement Plc’s Head Office in Ikoyi, Lagos. These projects were selected based on need assessments in collaboration with the schools.”
As a responsible corporate entity, Pathak noted that Dangote Cement’s commitment to societal wellbeing, with investments in four key areas: Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure, and Economic Empowerment programmes.
“This year, our plants in Ibese, Ogun State; Obajana, Kogi State; Gboko, Benue State; Okpella, Edo State; and our Pan-African operations have launched several social investment projects. These efforts contribute to the quality of life in our host communities and support sustainable national development,” he added.
Pathak thanked the Lagos State Government, the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, and the school management teams for their collaboration in identifying the schools’ needs and ensuring the timely completion of the projects.
Dr. Idowu Olufunke Oyetola, Tutor General and Permanent Secretary of Education District 3, Lagos State Ministry of Education, who was represented by Bolaji Rotimi Ajayi, Director of School Administration, praised the long-standing partnership with Dangote Cement, noting that the schools selected for the donations were fortunate beneficiaries. “We hope for more collaborations that will positively impact education,” she added.
The principals of the recipient schools expressed their gratitude after the formal handover of the projects.
Odunlami Olubunmi, Principal of Ilado Community Junior High School, Ikoyi, thanked Dangote Cement for the new desks, stating that the donation would significantly improve the learning environment for the students, helping to prepare them for a brighter future.
Bamidele Ayotunde, Principal of the school with the refurbished laboratory, urged other businesses to follow Dangote Cement’s example in supporting local schools, pointing out the positive impact of the laboratory’s renovation on the school’s learning environment.
The Principal of Ireti Senior Grammar School, Ikoyi, whose school received the new desktop computers, described the donation as a positive development and expressed hope for more support in the future.
Pupils also shared their appreciation for the contributions. Abiola Jamaudeen, a lab prefect at Government Senior College, Ikoyi, promised that the laboratory would be used to its fullest potential and well-maintained.
Lawal Rumayzo Abdulsalam, a student at the school, said the new library equipment would foster better reading habits and create a more conducive environment for learning, ultimately preparing them for success. Some students even performed special songs to welcome the Dangote team to their schools.
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