Business
FG, AfDB to create agro-processing zones nationwide
The Federal Government is set to roll out a Special-Agro Industrial Processing Zones Programme aimed at concentrating agro-processing activities in demarcated areas.
This is to be in partnership with the African Development Bank and other stakeholders.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who received a briefing on the status of the collaboration on the plan in the State House on Friday, commended the progress so far achieved.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said the plan was part of the Buhari administration’s efforts to transform agricultural productivity in the country.
According to the statement, the collaborative plan is meant to boost productivity and integrate production, processing and marketing of selected commodities.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, and his counterpart in the Industry, Trade and Investment Ministry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, were also at the meeting.
Briefing Osinbajo on the progress made so far in the implementation of the programme, AfDB’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Ms Toda Atsuko, said the bank in collaboration with other stakeholders was ready to start the first phase of the Special-Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, having completed a joint appraisal mission across the 36 states with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Osinbajo commended the efforts of all stakeholders on the project noting that “this is a very good progress that we have made and we must ensure this actually works.”
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, welcomed the partnership to establish agro-processing zones across the country, noting that it would be to the benefit of farmers and the agric sector at large.
Associate Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr Donald Brown, who joined virtually, said the organisation would co-finance the project with the AfDB with the view to creating an important opportunity for small-holder farmers in Nigeria to improve their farm yields, enhance their income and livelihoods.
Already, IFAD is working with about 150,000 Nigerian smallholder farmers.
Business
Naira loses N81 to dollar in one day
Naira loses N81 to dollar in one day
The naira lost N81.34 against the US dollar at the foreign exchange market on Thursday
FMDQ data showed that the naira fell to N1,154.08 per dollar on Thursday from N1,072.74 on Wednesday.
This represents a 7.04 per cent loss against the dollar compared to N1,072.74 per dollar traded the previous day.
At the parallel market, the naira also depreciated N1,100 per dollar on Thursday from N1, 040 on Wednesday.
This is the second time the naira would be depreciating against the dollar in three days amid fears of depleting foreign exchange reserves.
Nigeria’s foreign reserves dropped to $32.29 billion as of April 15.
Business
Govt paying N600bn for fuel subsidy monthly — Rainoil CEO
Govt paying N600bn for fuel subsidy monthly — Rainoil CEO
The CEO of Rainoil Limited, Gabriel Ogbechie, has claimed that the federal government resumed the payment of the controversial fuel subsidy following the devaluation of the Naira in the foreign exchange market.
Ogbechie made this statement on Tuesday during the Stanbic IBTC Energy and Infrastructure Breakfast Session held in Lagos.
He pointed out that with Nigeria’s daily fuel usage at 40 million liters and the foreign exchange rate at N1,300, the government’s subsidy per liter of fuel falls between N400 and N500, culminating in a monthly total of approximately N600 billion.
He said; “When Mr. President came in May last year, one of the things he said was that Subsidy is gone. And truly, the subsidy was gone, because immediately the price of fuel moved from 200 to 500 per liter. At that point truly, subsidy was gone.
“During that period, Dollar was exchanging for N460, but a few weeks later, the government devalued the exchange rate. And Dollar moved to about N750. At that point, subsidy was beginning to come back.
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“The moment the two markets officially closed, officially the market went to about N1,300. At that point, that conversation was out of the window. Subsidy was fully back on petrol. If you want to know where petrol should be, just look at where diesel is. Diesel is about N1,300 and petrol is still selling for N600.
Furthermore, he said that NNPC being the only petrol importer in the country implies that there is an ongoing subsidy, as prices had to be fixed.
Earlier yesterday, the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai, said the federal government is spending more on petrol subsidy than before.
In addition, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Veŕheijen, said that the Federal Government reserves the right to pay fuel subsidy intermittently to cushion hardship in the country.
“The subsidy was removed on May 29. However, the government has the prerogative to maintain price stability to address social unrest. They reserve the right to intervene.
“If the government feels that it cannot continue to allow prices to fluctuate due to high inflation and exchange rates, the government reserves the right to intervene intermittently and that does not negate the fact that subsidy has been removed,” she said.
Govt paying N600bn for fuel subsidy monthly — Rainoil CEO
Business
Breaking: Dangote brings diesel price down to N1000/litre
Breaking: Dangote brings diesel price down to N1000/litre
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a further reduction in the price of diesel.
When it commenced operation a few weeks ago, Dangote Petroleum Refinery pegged the price of diesel as N1,200.
While rolling out the products, the refinery supplied at a substantially reduced price of N1,200 per litre three weeks ago, representing over 30 percent reduction from the previous market price of about N1,600 per litre.
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However, on Tuesday, a further reduction of N200 was noticed in the price, with the product now pegged at N1,000.
This significant reduction in the price of diesel, at Dangote Petroleum Refinery, is expected to positively affect all the spheres of the economy and ultimately reduce the high inflation rate in the country.
The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had during the Eid-el-Fitr celebration said if the cost price of diesel comes down, the inflation rate will be substantially reduced.
Dangote spoke when he visited President Bola Tinubu in his residence in Lagos State to celebrate the end of the Ramadan fast with him.
Breaking: Dangote brings diesel price down to N1000/litre
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