FG gets fresh $134m loan from AfDB for agric projects – Newstrends
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FG gets fresh $134m loan from AfDB for agric projects

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FG gets fresh $134m loan from AfDB for agric projects

The Federal Government has secured a loan facility of $134million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to help farmers boost seeds and grain production in the country.

This is contained in a statement issued by Anthonia Eremah, Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, on Thursday, in Abuja.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made his know at the unveiling of the 2024/2025 National Dry Season Farming in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

Kyari explained that with the re-introduction of the national dry season farming to boost year-round agricultural production, the loan would be handy and guarantee national food security in the country.

The minister said the initiative is under the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project.

He said the federal government had declared an emergency on food production to enable all Nigerians to get easy access to quality and nutritional food at affordable rates.

Kyari also said government wants to use the agricultural sector for national economic revival through increase in production of some staple food crops such as wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, soybean, and cassava during both dry and wet season farming.

He added that 107,429 wheat farmers were supported under phase 1 of the 2023/2024 dry season, and 43,997 rice farmers under the second phase of the 2023/2024 dry season.

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The minister said recently, government supported 192,095 rice, maize, sorghum/millet, soyabean and cassava farmers under the 2024 wet season across the 37 States including the FCT.

He said Cross River was leading 16 other states in wheat production, adding that over 3000 wheat farmers have been listed to benefit from the support to grow the grain.

Kyari noted the Cross River government’s commitment to wheat production.

He said it informed why the federal government is partnering with the state to kick start the maiden wheat production and enlisting them among states commencing the current 2024/2025 dry season farming.

“The 2024/2025 dry season farming, the project is targeted to support 250,000 wheat farmers across the wheat-producing states with subsidised agricultural inputs.

“This is to cultivate about 250,000 hectares with an expected output of about 750,000 metric tonnes of wheat to be added to the food reserve to reduce dependence on importation of the product and also increase domestic consumption.

“Equally the programme will provide support to 150,000 rice farmers under the second phase to cover all the 37 states, including FCT, with an expected output of about 450,000 metric tonnes,” he said.

 

FG gets fresh $134m loan from AfDB for agric projects

(NAN)

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Bitcoin races above $100,000 mark on Trump appointment

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December 5, 2024

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Bitcoin races above $100,000 mark on Trump appointment 

 

Bitcoin surged above $100,000 for the first time on Thursday, a milestone hailed even by sceptics as a coming-of-age for digital assets as investors bet on a friendly US administration to cement the place of cryptocurrencies in financial markets.

Reuters reports the new price came on Donald Trump’s decision to pick a crypto fan to head the US securities regulator, reinforcing optimism the new President will push through measures to deregulate the sector.

According to the report, the total value of the cryptocurrency market has almost doubled over the year so far to hit a record over $3.8 trillion, going by data provider CoinGecko.

The cryptocurrency soared through the mark, having enjoyed a blistering rally since the November 5 election of Trump, who pledged on the campaign trail to make the United States the “bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world”.

The digital unit has raced over 50 per cent since Trump’s victory — and around 140 per cent since the turn of the year.

However, the unit’s advance — it hit a record of $103,800.44 before easing to just below $103,000 in the afternoon — had stalled in recent weeks, sitting just below $100,000 as traders awaited new catalysts to buy in.

That came with news that Trump settling for a major crypto proponent Paul Atkins to take over as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Atkins, an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008, founded risk consultancy firm Patomak Global Partners in 2009, whose clients include companies in the banking, trading and cryptocurrency industries.

An announcement from the Trump transition team noted that Atkins had been co-chairman of the Digital Chamber of Commerce, which promotes the use of digital assets, since 2017.

“Paul is a proven leader for common sense regulations,” Trump said in a statement that emphasised Atkins’ commitment to “robust, innovative” capital markets.

Trump stated, “He also recognises that digital assets and other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.”

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Shell Nigeria: We awarded $1.98bn contracts to indigenous firms

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15 hours ago

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December 5, 2024

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Shell Nigeria: We awarded $1.98bn contracts to indigenous firms

Shell Companies in Nigeria said they awarded contracts worth $1.98 billion to indigenous companies in 2023 as part of steps taken to enhance local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The contracts, awarded by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), indicated a three percent increase from $1.92 billion, recorded in 2022.

SNEPCo’s Managing Director, Ron Adams, disclosed this at the 13th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, which had the theme, “Deepening the Next Frontier for Nigerian Content Implementation.”

Adams, who was represented by Business Opportunity Manager for SNEPCo’s Bonga South-West Aparo Project Olaposi Fadahunsi informed participants that several benefitting companies had taken advantage of the patronage to expand their operations and improve their expertise and financial strength.

He said: “Shell companies execute a large proportion of their activities through contracts with third parties, and Nigeria-registered companies have been key beneficiaries of this policy aimed at powering Nigeria’s progress.”

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According to him, Shell companies also implemented projects under the Human Capital Development Fund, including the Niger Delta University learning centre and digital library project and the Federal University of Technology Information Technology Hub. Both projects were inaugurated this year, in collaboration with SPDC Joint Venture partners – Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies and Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC).

On his part, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (oil), said Nigeria will continue to produce fossil fuels despite pressure the pressure on African nations, due to energy transition.

He said: “All the nations that say we should stop the production of fossil fuel, we will never stop the production in Nigeria; no country in the world will stop it.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, said it has      deepened its operations through strategic restructuring of critical operational units with the aim to increase oil production and sustain indigenous capacity.

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Company, Mele Kyari, who was represented by the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr. Udobong Ntia, at the13th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content forum, emphasized the significance of the PNC Forum as a unique opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on progress, share best practices and identify strategic opportunities for growth.

He said: “The PNC has spawned several initiatives to address stakeholder concerns and maximize the benefits of our rich resources. We have a shared responsibility to empower local firms and drive innovation to ensure a robust oil and gas sector that meets both local and global demands.”

Shell Nigeria: We awarded $1.98bn contracts to indigenous firms

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Complete meter upgrade latest Jan 1, 2025, NERC tells DisCos

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15 hours ago

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December 5, 2024

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Complete meter upgrade latest Jan 1, 2025, NERC tells DisCos

THE Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC,  has extended the deadline for meter upgrades from distribution companies, DisCos, to their customers on January 1, 2025, after which they risk sanction.

Recall that the regulatory agency had given November 24 as the deadline for this process but the DisCos failed to meet a certain percentage of the target population for the scheme.

The metering programme is set to be upgraded from Unistar to Standard Transfer Specifications, STS, meters by the DisCos for all their customers.

Vanguard learned that there are no official figures of the percentage of Nigerians that had complied with the directive, out of the 6.1 million metered customers from the 13.3 million registered electricity customers in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.

NERC, on its X handle, gave the ultimatum during the fourth guarter of 2024 NESI stakeholders meeting.

The regulatory body vowed to impose penalties on any defaulting DisCos

It said in a statement:  “NERC has directed DISCOs to rapidly conclude the migration of STS-Meters for all their customers to prevent disruption of service.

“During the Q4 NESI stakeholders meeting, the commission warned that daily penalties would be imposed for each meter not migrated effective from 1st January 2025.”

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The commission placed the responsibility of the DisCos to replace all obsolete/faulty meters within their franchise, insisting that DisCos are neither allowed to charge customers for the replacement of these meters nor transfer customers to estimated billing.

Recall also that the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, had a few weeks ago, warned the distribution companies to cease all activities related to the planned replacement of Unistar meters.

Citing sections 17(j), (l) (s), 116 (2), 124, 125, 138 and 155 of the FCCPA Act 2018, the agency noted:  “The FCCPC notes with concern recent rumours that its directive to Ikeja and Eko electricity distribution companies (IKEDC and EKEDC) to immediately cease all activities related to the planned replacement of Unistar meters may be flouted.

”The directive remains in full force, and any attempt by these DisCos to proceed in contravention of it will attract severe consequences.

“Contrary to recent rumours, the approval of new meter prices by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has no connection with the proposed replacement of Unistar meters by Ikeja Electric and EKEDC.

”The planned replacement has been invalidated by both the FCCPC and NERC, and there is no indication that the affected DisCos have breached our directives.”

“It is essential to clarify that Ikeja and EKEDC cannot proceed with the withdrawal or replacement of the Unistar meters unless they fully comply with NERC’s order on Structured Replacement of Faulty and Obsolete End-user Customer Meters in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (Order No. NERC/246/2021).

“The order mandates that meter replacements must be prompt, without disrupting service and at no cost to the consumer, ensuring that consumers are not subjected to estimated billing due to delayed installations.

“The FCCPC’s position remains clear: non-compliance with these directives by Ikeja and EKEDC will not be tolerated. Any breach of this directive will attract stiff penalties, in line with the provisions of existing consumer protection laws.”

Complete meter upgrade latest Jan 1, 2025, NERC tells DisCos

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