Friends of Amaka Amakom are celebrating her birth anniversary and extolling her impacts on humanity and footprints in the energy sector of the economy.

Prominent among her well-wisher is Engineer Ojo Abdulqadri who is also a big player in the LPG sector of oil and gas.

In a lengthy worded post, Abdulqadri described Amakom, a native of Nsugbe in Anambra State, as an exceptional character who exudes genuine love and care to people around her.

The post reads in parts: “”As we navigate the complexities of life, we encounter a myriad of individuals, but only a select few leave an indelible mark on our existence. While some people exemplify genuine love and care, others masquerade with feigned sincerity.

” The legendary 2Face even had a disillusioning experience with one particular Amaka, prompting him to lament in his song “Amaka Disappoint Me”. However, I have had the privilege of meeting an extraordinary Amaka, whose remarkable character and unwavering reliability have never faltered .

“On this special day, I extend warmest wishes to the authentic and exceptional Amaka, who has not only been a true friend but also a sister in every sense of the word. May your birthday be as remarkable as you are!”

Amakom is a renowned administrator whose tireless efforts and visionary leadership is leaving an indelible mark on the business world.

Abdulqadri added “So let us celebrate this woman—this daring, focused, and goal-oriented force of nature. Let us learn from her example and dare to dream bigger, focus harder, and pursue our goals with unrelenting determination. For in doing so, we honor not only her remarkable achievements, but the boundless potential that lies within each and every one of us.

In 2024, Covenant Chukwudi, a visionary digital platform architect, founded Business Desk to tackle a pressing issue faced by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria – the cumbersome process of government and permit filings. With a passion to build innovative solutions, Covenant aimed to create a seamless and affordable platform for businesses to access essential services.

In a statement by Covenant Chukwudi the director, he said “ we recognized the struggles SMEs faced in navigating the complex registration and filing processes, often resulting in wasted time, resources, and missed opportunities, and as such we envisioned a platform that would simplify these tasks, making it easier for businesses to focus on growth and development.”

Business Desk is committed to providing low-cost, efficient, and reliable registration and filing services to SMEs. By leveraging technology and expertise, the platform aims to bridge the gap between businesses and government agencies, ensuring a hassle-free experience.

The Company offers a range of services, including:
CAC business name registration from ₦5,000, Seamless registrations and government filings & Expert support and guidance.

By providing affordable and accessible services, Business Desk seeks to empower SMEs, foster entrepreneurship, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth. With a user-friendly platform and dedicated team, the brand is poised to make a significant impact in the business community.

Under Covenant’s leadership, Business Desk is committed to continuous innovation, expansion of services, and strategic partnerships. The brand envisions a future where SMEs can thrive, unfettered by bureaucratic hurdles, and is dedicated to making that vision a reality.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Africa Methodist Council (AMC) has charged African Governments on the continent to reduce their over dependence on foreign aids, noting that Africa must begin to look inwards for all its needs.

The President of AMC and Presiding Bishop, Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Reverend Paul Boafo, yesterday stated this while addressing journalists on the sidelines of its heads of conference summit and Africa Methodist Women’s conference in Lagos with the theme: ‘A revitalised Methodist movement for the transformation of Africa’s socio-political and economic landscape’.

He lamented that over the years, Africa has been over-dependent on foreign aids such as manpower, health care, education, agriculture and the likes, advising them that sourcing for these services locally are far cheaper compared to relying on foreign aids.

The cleric also stated the need for African Governments to deepen its level of cooperation and network to change the economic narrative of Africa.

According to him, “This is why Africans can help Africans. We should learn from ourselves and by doing so, it makes it simpler and cheaper. Meanwhile, in Africa, if you come to places like Nigeria, they have hospitals. The church has hospitals and schools, and the church has other things that are being manned by Nigerians or Africans and not by foreigners.”

He added: “So, at this conference, we will be learning from ourselves to know the kind of projects we can do together and the knowledge we can share and transfer.”

Speaking on the theme, he said the Methodist people right from the very beginning have been known to be catalysts in society, bringing about transformation, innovation development and working with the marginalised in society to see to the needs of the poor and needy.

He noted that as a church, it is seeking new ways and ideas to remain relevant in society.

The cleric lamented over the increasing rate of theologies taking advantage of people’s vulnerabilities to cart away with their hard earned resources.

“And so if as Methodists, we know the truth, and we can preach the truth and present Christ as part of this conference, how do we then go back knowing the ills and the evils in society to address it in our communities, so that our people will be informed, so that our people would be equipped to know the truth from the false theologies that are going on?” He asked.

Also speaking, the Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, said it has always been the dream of the Methodist for Africa to be united properly, saying that the forum is an opportunity for brainstorming and reasoning together to address critical issues to have a common vision of being seen as true preachers of the gospel.

“The society needs us, and we must give the society the best that would be achieved from this meeting. So, as Africa and Africans we need to sit down together to look at issues that would bring about the desirable state of Christianity in our continent,” he said.

According to him, some of the challenges hindering Africa’s progress is the lack of selfless leaders, noting that the incessant cases of coup d’etat on the continent are as a result of greed and selfish interest.

He also called on the need to revisit the African youth exchange platform, saying that African Governments must not lose sight of the initiative aimed at fostering youth knowledge transfer on the continent.

“We must not lose sight of this initiative. It will help us not to depend on other continents for survival. It is time for us to look at ways to be self-sufficient. Whatever we need to take care of ourselves is within us,” he added.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has expressed worry over what it termed the present administration’s inadequate policies and implementation mechanisms.

The 59th president of the Institute, Innocent Okwuosa, who spoke at a press briefing yesterday, stated that the Tinubu administration has been wrong in policy implementation, calling on the government to put a human face to some of the inconsistent policies that have been churned out over the past one year.

Fielding questions from journalists about President Tinubu’s first year in office, he said the President has done very well in churning out economic policies, but lamented that these policies were still being challenged by lack of effective implementation.

In his words, “They have been very wrong in implementation and you can see that we still have policy inadequacies.

“For instance, the fuel subsidy removal that was announced the first day in office, we expected that subsequently, the government should have taken some action to ameliorate the suffering of the masses.

“The hike on electricity tariffs also came at a time when the masses are suffering from the effects of exchange rate and fuel subsidy. We expected that the implementation should have been done with a human face to those policies.”

He, however, urged the federal government to refer back to the tenets of some of the agencies for accountability and transparency created by President Olusegun Obasanjo ‘s regime to check against bad behaviour in public offices

“The President has done very well in churning out economic policies and there is a very long list of what the President has done in terms of those policies, but there have been some implementation challenges and neglect in some areas,” he added.

“Just because we are accountants and we always focus on accountability, I expect this government to progress on what Obasanjo has done especially when the President himself is an accountant so that we can hold people accountable for what they do, because we see a situation where there are no consequences for bad behaviour and I think this is an aspect the government needs to pay much attention to,” he advised.

“There have been inconsistencies in policies, policy reversals and when you begin to have policy reversals it is an indication that there is no consistency in government. It could also mean that there were no consultations before those policies were churned out.

“One other area is the budget that were based on some assumptions that no longer hold, for instance, there is a N800 to the dollar exchange rate in the budget, but today dollar is about N1500 to the dollar and as per the oil production which was put at 1.8 million barrel per day, so we are saying that the government should revisit the budget and cut down on expenses on the cost of running the government,” he averred.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Lagos State Government has lauded Jumia for its investment drive in Nigeria’s e-Commerce industry.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, explained that Jumia’s significant milestone achievements have revolutionised the entire logistics and e-commerce landscape in Nigeria and Africa at large.

The governor stated this during the launch of Jumia’s integrated warehouse in Lagos.

Represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, he said Jumia’s journey in Nigeria has been nothing short of extraordinary, pointing out that from simple beginnings, it has grown into a leading ecommerce revolutionising the way Nigerians shop and do business. 

He added that the new warehouse with its cutting edge technology and vast capacity will significantly enhance Jumia’s ability to serve its customers efficiently while also meeting the ever-growing demands of the ecommerce sector.

“It is a bold economic step forward in ensuring that goods can be delivered faster, more reliably and at a lower cost. We are proud to support initiatives that drive economic growth and provide employment opportunities for our people. This warehouse will create numerous jobs, and provide skill development opportunities further strengthening our local workforce,” he stated.

He, however, reaffirmed the State’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for businesses to flourish with robust infrastructure, favorable policies and unwavering support.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jumia Nigeria, Sunil Natraj, said the launch of its integrated warehouse marks a key moment for Jumia Nigeria, stressing that it also consolidates its operations under one roof.

On his part, the Chief Supply Chain Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Richmond Otu, said the warehouse would eliminate the need for first-mile transportation between multiple warehouses and sorting centers, resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions thereby demonstrating Jumia’s commitment to sustainability.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has stated that agritourism would generate foreign exchange and boost food production in Nigeria.

The Minister who made this known at the Celebration of 2024 Inaugural World Agritourism Day themed “Food Security for All” in Abuja recently, said agritourism would also enhance the agricultural sector, encourage both local and foreign investors as well as achieve food and nutrition security.

He stated that the development of agritourism would lead to agricultural revolution, encourage industrialisation for wealth and job creation, as well as growth in the non-oil sector.

Abdullahi noted that agritourism comprises a range of activities, including farm tours, agriculture festivals, farm stays, and educational programmes that connect visitors with the agricultural landscape.

He added: “It will benefit farmers ,who gain additional income, tourists who gain insights into agricultural activities relating to Agritourism ranging from farm tours and workshops to seasonal festivals and tastings of farm produced ,among others.”

Gilbert Ekugbe

Champions Breweries Plc has expressed optimism in the Nigerian market despite the harsh terrain for doing business in the country.

In a statement, the company said going forward into 2024, it remains committed to navigating the dynamic business environment with resilience and strategic foresight.

The company’s Managing Director, Dr. Inalegwu Adoga, said its current theme, ‘Excellence, the New Frontier,’ encapsulates its commitment to business transformation through continuous improvements and innovation.

“By focusing on operational, quality, commercial, and brand excellence, we are chasing new frontiers of organisational excellence and driving our company forward in every aspect to stay competitive as a formidable market leader in our domain,” Adoga said.

The statement also announced the impressive financial performance and strategic milestones it achieved during the fiscal year in 2023.

Speaking during its 48th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, the company’s Chairman, Mr. Imo-Abasi Jacob, stated that its audited financial results for 2023 revealed remarkable progress, with substantial gains across various financial metrics.

“Champion Breweries Plc experienced a significant surge in revenue, reaching N12.7 billion, propelled by robust market demand and strategic expansion initiatives.

“Furthermore, the company’s profit after tax surged to an impressive N1.58 billion, demonstrating its capability to generate sustainable profits and create value for stakeholders,” he noted.

He stressed that despite facing economic challenges such as cash shortages, fuel subsidy removal, and currency fluctuations, Champion Breweries Plc exhibited resilience and adaptability throughout the year.

The company successfully launched three new products, implemented cost-saving measures, and commissioned a new Mash Filter, showcasing its commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

Moreover, Champion Breweries Plc remains actively engaged in community initiatives, exemplified by the impactful “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign, emphasizing inclusivity and social responsibility.

In addition to its financial achievements, Jacob announced a strategic acquisition that would further enhance the company’s market position and growth prospects.

He revealed that EnjoyCorp Limited, one of the leading holding companies in the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors, has acquired 100 per cent of Heineken B.V.’s shareholding in The Raysun Nigeria Company Limited, including an 86.5 per cent stake in Champion Breweries Plc. This acquisition will strengthen Champion Breweries Plc’s market position and opens new avenues for growth and collaboration.

“We extend our appreciation to Heineken for its invaluable contribution to Champion Breweries Plc and welcome EnjoyCorp’s commitment to our growth trajectory,” added Mr. Imo-Abasi Jacob. “With this acquisition, we are confident in our ability to drive sustainable growth and value for all stakeholders,” he added.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has announced plans to revive moribund fish terminals in the country.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made this known a tour of the institute of Marine and Technology in Lagos.

According to him, discussions are ongoing with investors on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement of also establishing fish harbours across the country.

In his words, “Fishing is an important aspect of what we want to do as a ministry in terms of contribution to food security because they are a major source of protein. We are going to be talking more on how best to increase the output from the fishery sector.”

“We will be talking about activating the fish terminals that have gone moribund in some parts of Nigeria. We are currently talking to an investor on a PPP basis on the possibility of establishing a fish harbour. These are all geared towards increasing the production of fish both for local consumption and export,” he said.

He also stated that plans are ongoing to ensure that stakeholders in the fishery businesses are supported and protected 

He urged the Institute to step up its ante to ensure that it contributes meaningfully to the economic growth of Nigeria, job creation, improve livelihood and environmental sustainability.

The minister also stated the need to build local capacity and productivity to satisfy local consumption. 

Gilbert Ekugbe 

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has stated that Nigeria’s coca export accounted for 29 per cent of total agricultural export valued at N1.24 trillion in 2023.

According to him, cocoa also represented 5.6 per cent of total non-oil exports recorded in 2023.

Kyari stated this during a courtesy visit by the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC) in Abuja.

He stated that in January 2024, a tonne of cocoa bean was valued at N1.8 million while it is being valued at N11.2million per tonne presently in the Nigerian market. 

“This implies that cocoa development in Nigeria is economically viable for investment both locally and internationally,” he said.

He however stated that NCMC is also to guarantee quality, transparency and sustainability in the cocoa value chain, maintaining that the establishment of NCMC is premised on the importance of cocoa to the economy of Nigeria. 

“It is on record that Nigeria generated N356.16 billion worth of cocoa beans and its allied products in 2023 which makes it the highest agricultural contributor to the GDP,” he stressed.

“I was made to understand that the NCMC is in a good position to implement the National Cocoa Plan being championed by both Federal Ministries of Agriculture & Food Security and Industry, Trade and Investment. This is with a view to boosting the production of Cocoa and for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the league of Cocoa producing countries in the world,” he noted.

On the issue of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) threats to Nigerian cocoa, he pledged the commitment of the Ministry to support the European Union (EU) to embark on the assessment as was done for other cocoa producing countries

“Also, it is noteworthy that the African Development Fund (AFDB) has funds to support the development of cocoa in Nigeria as mentioned by the NCMC Chairman. Therefore, this Ministry will work through the NCMC to access this fund for the development of the Cocoa sector and the implementation of the National Cocoa Plan (2023-2032),” he assured.

“I therefore urge this all-important noble Committee to put all hands-on deck to champion the way forward for Nigerian cocoa thereby achieving all set objectives of NCMC,” he implored.

Speaking on the brief on NCMC, the Chairman NCMC and Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Engr. Abdullahi Abubakar, said the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security approved the establishment of the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC), a national coordinating body expected to guarantee quality, traceability, transparency, and sustainability in Cocoa Value Chain on 2nd August 2022 for the purpose of developing a framework for the regulation and monitoring of Cocoa sector’s activities. 

He added that the NCMC at their inaugural meeting came up with a draft bill for the establishment of the National Cocoa Management Board/Commission for the management of cocoa value chain in the country.

“The NCMC shall establish a data bank for all Multinational Companies and Exporters of Cocoa Beans from Nigerian Ports,” he stated 

On the achievements recorded so far, he said NCMC has been able to bring together relevant stakeholders towards chatting a new direction for the cocoa sector and has held three previous meetings out of which two were sponsored by Outspan Nigeria Limited and Traceability and Resilience in Agriculture & Ecosystem (TRACE) project respectively. In view of the funding challenge of NCMC, we seek the support of HMA towards funding of the Committee activities. 

“NCMC has enabled a proper coordination within the cocoa industry which was lacking due to non-regulation of the cocoa sector in Nigeria, unlike Ghana with full regulation while Cote d’Ivoire has partial regulation,” he averred.

He also pointed out the need for the implementation of the 10 year National Cocoa Plan (2023-2032) by the NCMC.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has emphasised on the need for governments across the globe to invest massively in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to revolutionise agri-food systems.

The Director General, FAO, QU Dongyu, explained that AI and the ongoing digital revolution would inevitably transform the world and its agrifood systems, while also solve global challenges.

Dongyu at the Business Federations of the G7 (B7) meeting in Rome, said AI is not just a technological shift, but a force driving fundamental economic and social transformation at the broadest level, stressing that AI recognizes its power to bring potential benefits to a wide range of populations and to contribute to improved efficiency and sustainability.

He noted that, “Digital agriculture can revolutionise how we produce, distribute and consume food.” 

He also highlighted the potential benefits for farmers and stakeholders across agrifood systems to include improved pricing data, minimising food loss and waste, enhancing food safety and stimulating adoption of better seeds, fertilizer and sustainable practices.

The Director-General emphasised the central role that data plays in AI and digital technologies, noting that quality data is needed to train innovative tools and to accelerate actions such as agrifood systems transformation. 

Qu also urged private-sector actors to increase their ambition for climate action and to show more accountability towards their supply chains and the communities in the countries from which they source, buy and sell their products

“Another absolutely critical area for collaboration and harmonisation of approaches is in the energy sector. Decarbonization by 2050 is “simply not possible” without addressing energy consumption across agrifood systems,” the Director-General said.

The FAO Director-General spoke at a session focused on charting new courses for cross-border global cooperation, joined by Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

To broaden the positive impact of such enabling innovations, FAO is working closely with all partners, including governments, academia, the private sector, civil society and international organizations, advocating for a robust approach with targeted, coherent and comprehensive strategies and actions implemented in synergy and in compliance with ethical principles.

“FAO has a formidable database in FAOSTAT, data is central to FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and has an innovation lab to experiment with new sources and methods. One takeaway from those initiatives is that data ecosystems require significant investment and effective collaboration. FAO stands ready to engage and partner with the B7 group and the private sector in this area,” Qu said.

Gilbert Ekugbe and Ugo Aliogo

The Chief of Mission the Taiwan Government in Nigeria, Andy Liu, yesterday, stated that the trade volume between Nigeria and Taiwan stood at $500 million in 2023.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2024 Taiwan Business Forum in Nigeria, he stated that the trade volume declined from $1 billion in 2021, to $500 million after imports from Nigeria matched Taiwan’s demand for imported agricultural products from Nigeria.

According to him, Taiwan was a net importer of Nigeria’s agricultural products especially sesame seeds, maintaining that despite the decline in trade volume, Nigeria still remained a destination for Taiwanese businesses.

In his words, “The highest peak of trade reached about $1 billion in 2021. It was the peak of the COVID 19 with Nigerian enjoying a trade surplus trading with Taiwan. We imported more of Nigeria’s agricultural products such as sesame beside from oil related products.

“In 2021, we had a huge demand for agriculture products for our food processing industries.”

“In 2022, the trade declined because the provider of the Nigerian food products had already matched our demand, so from 2022 to 2023, we experienced a declined to about $500 million which is still a great value because the both countries are still trading so we might see some level of increase in the nearest future,” he assured.

He bemoaned the high level of adulteration of Taiwanese products, saying Taiwan has been suffering all kinds of counterfeit and piracy all over the world.

He stated that to address the challenge, the Taiwanese government had been sending delegates to different parts of the world to showcase the quality of Taiwanese products.

“We have been having our delegates visiting the world to prove that we are victims of piracy, but we are going to use the platform to show that we have good and quality products so as to let the world know who are true providers of these quality goods. “We are very glad to come to Nigeria to demonstrate who is the true owner of quality brands, the most unfortunate thing is that counterfeiters always come to different countries and run away when they have made their profits, but our suppliers would stay to provide good quality products, but also provide after sale services,” he said.

“We are here to provide our services and also guarantee the quality of our products,” he assured.

Also speaking, President, Globe Industries Corporation, David Hwang, blamed the influx of counterfeited products from China for the decline of profit margins.

“Our businesses are going down because of counterfeited products. We found out that these adulterated products are cheaper than the original products and this is hitting deep into our profit margins.

“We are here to find partners so that we can do business in a different way that will benefit both international and local businesses,” he said.

On his part, the Director General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Sola Obadimu, said one key attribute about Taiwan was that they were focused on African businesses, assuring that that the quality of their products was guaranteed.

He assured that NACCIMA would continue to work with Taiwanese companies to drive business growth for both countries.

“We will continue to interact with Taiwanese companies while we would also work behind the scenes,” he assured.

Gilbert Ekugbe 

Development partners have announced plans to pledge towards the annual $4 billion needed to provide clean cooking access for 250 million African women by 2030.

According to a statement sourced from African Development Bank (AfDB), the pledge which would be made at the Clean Cooking Summit to be held on today, May 14^th, in Paris, aims to drive significant change in clean cooking access for the nearly one billion Africans using polluting fuels, which cause the premature deaths of approximately half a million women and children every year.

The African Development Bank Group President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina is expected co-chair the Clean Cooking Summit, alongside President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway, and International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol.

According to the statement, women and girls spend up to five hours a day collecting fuel and cooking which leaves little time for education, social or economic activities, lamenting that worldwide, the annual economic cost of women and girls’time searching for fuel wood is estimated at $800 billion while the health costs are as high as $1.4 trillion

The report added that the capital investment needed to ensure universal clean cooking access in Africa by 2030 is accessible, pointing out that the $4 billion needed annually is a small fraction of the $2.8 trillion invested globally in energy each year.

The statement added that the summit aims to mobilize this much-needed finance, saying that it brings together governments, development partners, private companies and NGOs to make concrete commitments and develop action-oriented strategies to accelerate progress on clean cooking.

“They are expected to pledge increased funding for clean cooking, with development partners committing to allocate a higher share of their energy portfolios and to work through private capital arms to bring more financing,” the report stated.

It stated that governments will prioritise clean cooking in national planning, create funded implementation programs, and introduce proven policies to support scaling clean cooking solutions.

On his part, the AfDB boss has committed the Bank’s strong support and outlined a three-pronged approach to achieve universal clean cooking access in Africa. 

“It entails governments directing at least 5 per cent of their annual energy investments towards clean cooking solutions and having multilateral and development finance institutions set aside a significant share of their annual energy financing for clean cooking solutions, including concessional blended financing and guarantees,” he said.

At COP28, Adesina said that the Bank Group would channel $2 billion for clean cooking over the next decade and also joined global leaders in rallying around the Africa Women Clean Cooking Support Program launched by Tanzania’s President Suluhu Hassan.

Gilbert Ekugbe 

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has lamented that about 40 per cent of food crops are lost due to plant and pest diseases every year.

According to a statement obtained from its website, the staggering loss affects global food security and agriculture, the main source of income for many vulnerable rural communities.

FAO also stated that climate change and weather extremes are also impacting plant health and altering ecosystems, while creating new niches for pests to thrive.

To commemorate this year’s International Day of Plant Health FAO is shining light on the importance of leveraging innovation to protect plants, which are indispensable essential for sustaining life on earth.

“This year’s observance focuses on the many innovations that cut across areas where plant health is crucial such as plant pest monitoring to protect agricultural production and digital systems to ensure the safe international trade in plants. We have no option but to leverage innovation, technological advancements and tools to protect plants,” said FAO Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol.

“The unprecedented global challenges we face, such as the unrelenting climate crisis, demand innovative approaches and digital technologies to support countries with stronger pest surveillance and early warning systems,” she added.

The UN-designated International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) is a key legacy of the International Year of Plant Health 2020. Ever since then it has been raising global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development. This year’s celebrations at FAO include a high-level event.

International travel and trade, which has tripled in volume in the last decade, has led to increased interconnectedness among countries and regions. This underlines the importance of ensuring that people, goods and commodities crossing borders do not carry pests and diseases affecting plants, animals and humans.

Through the IPPC, FAO is implementing the Africa Phytosanitary Programme to build capacities and supporting countries in using the latest scientific evidence and digital technology in detecting plant pests.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The World Bank has stated that $260 billion annual investment would be required to reduce global agri-food emissions by half in the next six years.

According to a statement obtained from the World Bank’s website, the annual investment is also critical to achieve the net zero emissions by 2050.

The multilateral institution also revealed that payoffs for investing in cutting agrifood emissions are even much bigger than the costs.

The report added: “Twice as much money is spent yearly on agricultural subsidies, many of which harm the environment. While cutting wasteful subsidies can finance some of this investment, additional financing is essential to get to net zero.”

The World Bank stressed that making these investments would lead to more than $4 trillion in benefits, from improvements in human health, food and nutrition security, better quality jobs and profits for farmers, to more carbon retained in forests and soils.

The statement added that the global agrifood system presented a huge opportunity to cut almost a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions through affordable and readily available actions, while continuing to feed a growing population.

“While the food on your table may taste good, it is also a hefty slice of the climate change emissions pie. The good news is that the global food system can heal the planet –making soils, ecosystems, and people healthier, while keeping carbon in the ground. This is within reach in our lifetimes, but countries must act now: simply changing how middle-income countries use land, such as forests and ecosystems, for food production can cut agrifood emissions by a third by 2030,” the World Bank Senior Managing Director, Axel van Trotsenburg, said.

The statement added that low-income countries could chart a different way forward by avoiding the mistakes made by richer countries and seizing climate-smart opportunities for greener and more competitive economies.

“Preserving and restoring forests would promote sustainable economic development in low-income countries given that more than half of their agrifood emissions come from clearing forests to produce food.

“Action should happen across all countries to get to net zero, through a comprehensive approach to reducing emissions in food systems, including in fertilizers and energy, crop and livestock production, and packaging and distribution across the value chain from farm to table,” World Bank averred.

Gilbert Ekugbe

DKT Nigeria has expressed concerns over the high rate of unwanted pregnancies in the country.

In a statement, DKT added that to checkmate the high level of unwanted pregnancies in the community, it organised an outreach programme to give women the power to take charge of their reproductive health and advance the well-being of their families.

According to reports, the rate of unwanted or unintended pregnancies in Nigeria is substantial, ranging from around 11 per cent to over 25 per cent in some regions, with a high proportion of these pregnancies ending in unsafe abortions due to the country’s restrictive abortion laws.

The statement also stated that the outreach was to close the knowledge gap among women of reproductive age in low-income areas, raise awareness on the use of modern contraceptives, especially Intrauterine devices (IUDs).

The Hospital Sales and Clinical Service Team, led by Mrs. Faustina Ekundare, gave a comprehensive health talk to women in Makoko and performed free vital checks on them.

She said residents who were willing to adopt a family planning method were also given free contraceptive services along with appropriate counseling from the knowledgeable DKT team.

Ekundare stated that, “The primary aim of this initiative is not just about preventing unplanned pregnancies, saying that the main goal of the outreach is to foster a positive culture of informed choices and empower individuals to take charge of their health and future.

“Our outreach embodies the belief that every person deserves the right to plan their family on their terms, ensuring a brighter, healthier tomorrow for all.”

In addition to continuing to inform communities about the advantages of family planning and providing them with a full range of contraceptive services, DKT Nigeria is committed to carrying out more outreach programs and training initiatives in other underserved regions of the country to ensure that every provider is well-equipped with adequate training and family planning products.

The outreach was conducted in memory of Phil Harvey, the founder of DKT International, an American philanthropist who established programmes like DKT to provide subsidised contraceptives to underdeveloped and impoverished nations.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The Senior Pastor, Foursquare Gospel Church (FGC) Jebako, (A city on the Hill), Reverend. Mike Oluwadipe, has listed some steps Christians must follow to become devoted to God.

According to him, commitment and loyalty are the critical virtues required of Christians to become devoted to God.

The Reverend during his sermon themed “A devoted family” at FGC’s May Thanksgiving service at the church’s auditorium, also identified honesty, integrity, patience, faithfulness, compassion and consistency as other qualities Christians must possess in large quantity to win the heart of God.

Speaking on the theme, he said a devoted family is a committed, faithful and a true family with penchant for doing God’s will on earth.
“Devotedness, commitment and loyalty are critical for family to move forward,” he stated.

He bemoaned the current high rate of divorce in believers, stressing that a lot of families have shattered in less than six months into marriage due to inability to sacrifice their time, heart and resources for God.

“We must be flexible and develop a sacrificial heart to make our families work. Devotion, faithfulness and commitment should be vertical (toward God) and horizontal (towards man). There is nothing too little to commit to God. “The best way to demonstrate your devotion to God is to be devoted to the people we see around us,” he urged.

In his words, “We must live exemplary lives. Christians must live a transparent life.

The quest to make money has made so many families crash, but we must delight in the Lord who has given us the little and would eventually make it plentiful.”

He charged Christian families to remain devoted for the world to be a beautiful place, while also calling on fathers to take charge of their responsibilities in their respective families to remain connected to God’s blessings and riches on earth.

Reverend Michael Abiodun Oluwadipe is a Pastor by call. His primary education date back to 1968. By 1976, he had graduated from Secondary Modern School before graduating from Teachers’ Training College in 1981, College of Education in 1986 and later University Education in 1995.

He has worked in the church as a Cadet Counsellor, Teens Counsellor, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Secretary, Usher etc before he had the call of God on him in 1995.

In the year 2000, he attended the LIFE Theological Seminary Ikorodu where he was trained to teach and preach the word of God. He was ordained a Reverend in the year 2007 to the glory of God.

Gilbert Ekugbe 

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Food Price Index (FPI) has showed that world food commodity prices edged higher in April as a result of rising meat prices and modest upticks for vegetable oils and cereals that offset decreases for sugar and dairy products.

The UN food body’s FPI, which tracked monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally traded food commodities, averaged 119.1 points in April, up 0.3 percent from its revised March level, while down 9.6 percent from its year-on-year level.

The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 0.3 per cent from March, ending a three-month declining trajectory while global wheat export prices stabilised in April as strong competition among major exporters offset concerns about unfavorable crop conditions in parts of the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United States of America. 

FAO attributed the increase in maize export prices to high demand amidst mounting logistical infrastructural damages in Ukraine and concerns about the production in Brazil ahead of the main harvest while its All-Rice Price Index declined by 1.8 per cent, due largely to falls in Indica quotations driven by harvest pressure.

The statement also attributed the 0.3 per cent increase in March to higher quotations for sunflower and rapeseed oil offseted slightly lower prices for palm and soy oil.

The FAO Meat Price Index increased by 1.6 per cent in April from the previous month, as international poultry, bovine and ovine meat prices all rose as world pig meat prices fell marginally, reflecting slack internal demand in Western Europe and persistently lacklustre demand from leading importers, especially China.

Its Sugar Price Index declined 4.4 per cent from March to stand 14.7 per cent below its April 2023 level, saying that the decrease was mostly related to improved global supply prospects, notably due to larger-than-previously-anticipated outputs in India and Thailand and improved weather conditions in Brazil.

FAO noted that its Dairy Price Index decreased marginally, by 0.3 per cent, ending six consecutive months of increases, led by sluggish spot import demand for skim milk powder and by lower world cheese prices, impacted by the strengthening of the United States dollar. 

World butter prices, by contrast, increased amid steady import demand.

For its 2024 forecast for wheat, it also released a new cereal supply and demand brief, slightly raising its forecast for the world total cereal production in 2023 to 2 846 million tonnes, a 1.2 per cent increase from the previous year, maintaining that the revision primarily reflects new information from Myanmar and Pakistan.

Gilbert Ekugbe 

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has stated that Africa would require an increase in infrastructure investment of $78 billion by 2050 to properly develop the abundant unused land and vast water resources on the continent.

The AfDB Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, called for a coalition of public commitment and private sector finance to awaken Africa’s “staggering” agricultural potential, and set the stage for the continent to feed itself and contribute to global food security.

Adesina also made an impassioned plea for greater cooperation between governments, public and private sectors to transform agriculture production in Africa to “feed the world.”

During a panel discussion that was co-organised with CNN International, global leaders and experts agreed that Africa has the land and water to achieve this lofty ambition but lacked significant investments and regulatory frameworks 

“The potential is undeniable, but nobody eats potential. We have to unlock that potential,” he declared.

He said that the participation of the private sector and the creation of well run and administered public regulatory bodies are required to unlock the potentials.

He pointed out that Africa has plenty of water and emphasised that it is critical to tap into the potential by making far wider use of modern irrigation techniques, including those offered by AI (artificial intelligence). 

“We need more of the private sector, we have weak and poorly functioning utilities, we need to improve governance. Significant concerted action will help create an agricultural sector worth some 1.3 trillion dollars by 2030,” he added.

The panel delved into how targeted investment and advanced technologies could address the pressing needs of 2.4 billion people without adequate food and 2.2 billion lacking safe drinking water across the world, showcasing Africa’s role in this global challenge.

The AfDB boss also stressed the importance of small-scale farmers and the need to provide them with new varieties of heat-tolerant and water-efficient varieties. 

“Access to new technologies comes at a price but we have shown at the Bank the amazing effect climate efficient varieties can make,” he said.

The AfDB’s president said that the bank has invested $3 billion in water projects alone in the last three years, connecting 15 million people to water and 17 million to sanitation, but millions still faced shortages. 

He drew attention on initiatives like the African Water Facility and called for more similar approaches. The African Water Facility, hosted by the Bank, provides grants and expert technical assistance to prepare bankable innovative water projects ready to attract private investment throughout Africa.

On his part, Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, appealed to global investors: “We have the land. We also have abundant water. What we need are financial resources and management expertise to transform these assets into productive agriculture.”

Musokotwane highlighted the vital role of technology in maximising resource use, particularly in agriculture, to secure food for the world.

Echoing this sentiment, the Chief Executive Officer, of UPL Limited,Jai Shroff, shared insights from recent agricultural innovations in Zambia. 

“We introduced a shift from corn to sorghum, which is more drought-tolerant. The results were outstanding with sorghum achieving 100 per cent yield while surrounding corn crops perished,” Shroff explained.

He further advocated for large-scale farming as a vehicle for economic transformation, as witnessed in Brazil, emphasizing the need for secure land rights to attract long-term investments. 

However, Adesina provided a caveat, reminding attendees of the importance of small holder farms, which produce a significant portion of Africa’s food. “While we push for modernization and scale, we must not overlook the smallholder farmers who are the backbone of our rural economies,” Adesina stated.

The panel also addressed the economic and environmental costs of securing water through non-traditional means.

The president of Lamar Holding, Lina Noureddin, discussed the high cost and energy demands of desalination, a critical technology for water-scarce regions. 

“Desalination is currently 2–3 times more expensive than accessing surface or groundwater. Despite this, it’s essential for regions like North Africa where water stress levels are exceedingly high,” Noureddin explained.

Adesina challenged misconceptions about investment risks in Africa, highlighting a recent Bloomberg analysis, which found that the default rate on infrastructure loans in Africa is significantly lower than other regions. 

“The perception of risk often overshadows the reality. Africa’s actual default rate is comparatively low, and we have mechanisms like partial credit guarantees to mitigate risks further,” he clarified.

The panelists decried the premium Africa pays for water security and agricultural productivity due to outdated infrastructure, climate challenges, and underinvestment. 

They called for a paradigm shift in how investments are channeled into the continent, advocating for innovative financing models, better risk management, and enhanced support for technological adaptation.

Gilbert Ekugbe 

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has called for a global commitment to address the significant discrimination hindering women in playing their part in the attainment of global food security.

According to FAO, despite comprising 39 per cent of the global agricultural labour force, women encounter significant discrimination, confronting challenges in land and livestock ownership, access to quality and secure jobs, equitable pay, participation in decision-making processes, and accessing credit and financial services while also calling for global commitment to address these entrenched disparities to enhance food security, drive economic prosperity, and advance gender equality within agrifood systems.

Meanwhile, the UN food body welcomed the resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 as International Year of the Woman Farmer, explaining that the resolution, which was proposed by the United States of America and adopted by consensus, invites FAO, in collaboration with the other UN Rome-based Agencies, to facilitate the implementation and observance of the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

It also invited UN Member States, organisations of the United Nations System, other international organisations and stakeholders, including civil society, private sector and academia, to increase awareness of the crucial role that women farmers around the world play in agrifood systems, as well as their contributions to food security, nutrition and poverty eradication.

In this regard, the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 would serve as a platform for the adoption of effective policies and actions against the barriers and challenges that women farmers face across agrifood systems, as well as to promote gender equality and the empowerment of all women in agriculture.

The observance will also highlight the vital role of peasant women and other rural women in ensuring the economic survival of their families and contributing to both the rural and national economies.

The move according to FAO, also reaffirmed its commitment to deepen its focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, which included advocating for policy frameworks that seek to address social norms and structural constraints and utilising gender-transformative approaches to a greater extent in our projects and programming for inclusive rural development.

Gilbert Ekugbe

Yiaga Africa has called for the urgent need to review electoral laws for improved Local Government elections across the federation.

The Director of Programmes, Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, at an advocacy roundtable on legislative reform for improved Local Government elections in Lagos, said electoral laws should be amended in line with the electoral act 2022 which currently provides in section 150 that local government elections should be conducted in line with the provisions of the electoral act that regulates area Council elections.

In her words, “They do not need to change all of it, but amend some sections. We want to see issues around the timeline of the elections to guarantee that every four years there is a local government election in Lagos State and every other State, the second is on tenure of office and the new electoral law proposes four years for local government and it also creates a sense of autonomy for them. The proposal is also to amend the Lagos State electoral law to have a four year tenure local government chairperson and the council.”

“The first thing is to join the call of a lot of Nigerians asking for local government autonomy to be part of this current amendment, the tenth assembly is in the process of amending the constitution. The ninth assembly passed it, but it failed at the State level, but we are hoping that this time around, the State assemblies would vote in support of the provision to amend the constitution for local government autonomy,” she averred.

She also pointed out the need to fund State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), lamenting that funding still remains one of the greatest challenges hindering local government elections.

“There is an urgent need to fund SIECs for administrative and fiscal autonomy for the SIECs to be able to function and conduct elections as at when due. We believe that the review of this law, we would strengthen the independence of SIECs and also provide some clarity around elections should be conducted and most importantly, to build citizens trust in the process of Local Government elections,”she urged.
Also speaking, the Founding Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said States have been wielding undue influence on the local government and undermining its growth, pointing out that Local government are dissolved by the state yet the court has declared such steps as null and void.

Afolabi said: “The funding of the Local Government comes through the State Government by virtue of the constitution, it makes it difficult for the Local Government to be entirely independent. So, the State is then bestowed with the responsibility to support the conduct of the local government election and what we see is mismanagement of the election to their own advantage.”

“As election observers and experts, this has been the major challenge especially in the last few years of our democratic practice, where local government elections are often swept by one party that is in control of the state, making the election worthless and discouraging peoples participation. This reality makes the Local Government election processes partial, not free,” the Founding Director bemoaned.

Gilbert Ekugbe

Dubai-based leader in Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residency by Investment (RBI) solutions, Imperial Citizenship has expanded its operations with the launch of its new office in Lagos, Nigeria.

The move according to the company signifies its recognition of Nigeria’s growing political and economic influence, alongside its rising population of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) seeking international travel freedom and security.

Speaking at the launch, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Imperial Citizenship, Mr. Zaid Al Hindi, Nigeria’s position as a leading African economy, coupled with its increasingly mobile and globalised population, creates a significant demand for its services, maintaining that over 800,000 of all its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) would be cultivated in Nigeria.

In his words, “Our presence in Lagos allows us to directly address this need, offering Nigerians strategic solutions for enhanced global mobility, international diversification, and a secure environment for themselves and their families.”

He noted that Imperial Citizenship’s expansion aligns with Africa’s growing importance on the global stage, even as the International Monetary Fund (IMF’s) outlook for sub-Saharan Africa is gradually improving, after four turbulent years as the continent’s growth is expected to rise from 3.4 per cent in 2023 to 3.8 per cent in 2024, with growth projections reaching 4.0 per cent in 2025.

The Founder said Imperial Citizenship’s expansion aligns with Africa’s growing importance on the global stage, recognising the increasing desire of Nigerians to participate in the international community. 

“Through CBI and RBI programmes, Imperial Citizenship offers Nigerians access to visa-free travel to a wider range of countries, potentially stronger passports for international business ventures, and the security of alternative citizenship in times of political or economic instability,” he stated.

“Imperial Citizenship leverages direct government partnerships, ensuring transparency and efficiency throughout the application process. This is particularly important for Nigerians seeking stability and security in their chosen destination countries,” he stressed.

Gilbert Ekugbe 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled a 10-year strategy to reduce the need for antimicrobials on farms, amid the growing threat posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the food and agriculture sector globally.

According to a statement obtained from the United Nations food body’s website, the launch of a new action-oriented, country-focused initiative to impacting terrestrial and aquatic animal health, plants and the environment and causing significant economic losses to farmers across the globe is vital to transforming agri-food system across the globe 

FAO Director-General QU, said the persistent use of antimicrobials in livestock production is concerning for human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.

Announcing the launch of the initiative Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials on Farms for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM), he called on global economies to explore innovative pathways to curb the use of antimicrobials and promote sustainable practices that safeguard public health and the planet’s well-being, while improving livestock productivity.

Organised in collaboration with the Rongchang District, Chongqing City, Chongqing Academy of Animal Sciences, National Center of Technological Innovation for Pigs, and with the support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, the event gathered more than 200 experts from China and across the globe.

The RENOFARM initiative aims to provide countries with policy support, technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to help reduce the need for antimicrobials in livestock production, prioritizing animal health and welfare, mitigating environmental impact, and enhancing food security and nutrition thus, helping to achieve the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

“Working together with governments, farmers, private sector and civil society organisations and other actors, it will promote the “5 Gs” at the farm level: Good Health Services, Good Production Practices, Good Alternatives, Good Connections, and Good Incentives, “the FAO Director-General said.

Gilbert Ekugbe 

Stakeholders in the cocoa value chain have expressed commitment to address the lingering issues hindering cocoa value chain development in the world.

The move according to the cocoa stakeholders is apt, as they called on world economies to adhere strictly to sustainability measures and new regulations.

Highlighting the success of the World Cocoa Conference in Brussels, Belgium, held from April, 21st – 24th, the National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Comrade Adeola Adegoke, said the event reinforced the commitment of stakeholders towards combating practices detrimental to the long-term sustainability of the cocoa industry. 

According to him, the key among the discussions was the implementation of the European Union’s Directive on Deforestation and Forest Degradation (EUDR), which signals a collective willingness to embrace change.

He said there are big questions that need answers, which include who pays for making sure cocoa farming follows new rules without putting too much burden on farmers and whether other countries are ready to join in making cocoa farming more sustainable, not just the big ones like Ivory Coast and Ghana, the procedure for the calculation of sustainable pricing or fair pricing that takes into consideration the cost of production and the profit margin without leaving the market model at demand and supply mechanism which has always short-changed the producers in past years?

“What happens to the encroached conserved areas with large cocoa plantations after 2020 which contribute almost 30% of the global cocoa supply if not more? How do cocoa origin countries strengthen the implementation of carbon credit in order for the producers to be encouraged in compliance?” He asked. 

He further drew attention to the preparedness of cocoa-producing nations beyond Ivory Coast and Ghana, which have traditionally received substantial investments in sustainability programmes.

Commending the European countries, Adegoke said they have demonstrated their uncommon passion for the consumption of chocolate at every corner of their daily activities. 

He urged West African countries, saying, “West African cocoa origin countries must start to chocolatize the toques of our children in order to change the culture of low cocoa consumption that transcends from one generation to another.”

“Our power must not only lie on production but more energy must be put into consumption in order to raise the livelihoods of our producers for the sustainability of the cocoa economy of our region.

Adegoke also called for a model of cooperation between forestry and agriculture departments within cocoa-origin countries to effectively implement the EUDR policy while addressing deforestation concerns.

Gilbert Ekugbe takes a cursory look at some of the milestone achievements which Nigeria’s first deep sea port has recorded since it started commercial operations one year ago

Nigeria’s first automated deep-sea port, Lekki Deep Sea Port, in its one year of commercial operations, has had several multiplying effects on the Nigerian economy at large. The port which was heralded as a game-changer was built to alleviate congestion issues in existing ports, improve cargo handling efficiency, stimulate economic growth by generating revenue, increase GDP, and foster industrial development.

From its strategic location, and availability of modern facilities, to the expertise and capacity to handle larger vessels swiftly, the port is gradually fulfilling its purpose: to give Nigeria a lifeline by wresting its neighboring countries for a bigger share of the global trade by the use of larger vessels as well as transshipment cargoes.

With a projected economic benefit of $361 billion over the next 45 years and the creation of around 170,000 direct and indirect jobs, Lekki Deep Sea Port is poised to significantly impact Nigeria’s trade relations with other countries by enhancing trade volume, improving port efficiency, and reducing delays in cargo handling. In just one year of operational efficiency, this modern deep-sea port has not only attracted foreign investment but also positioned the country as a regional hub for international trade. All of these wins have aligned Nigeria with global trade networks and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Berthing first transshipment of cargoes

The first transshipment vessel to call at the container terminal of Lekki Deep Sea Port, was the CMA CGM RIMBAUD. The service sailed from the Far East, through Shanghai, Singapore down to Kribi, Cameroun, before finally arriving at Lekki Port. It will later depart for Cotonou, its final destination, on 6th July 2023.  This landmark achievement represented a significant milestone in Nigeria’s maritime history- a record-breaking event widely commended by stakeholders in the maritime sector as a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s readiness to revolutionize Africa’s maritime sector.

Arrival of the largest vessel

Boasting a depth of 16.5 meters with the potential for further dredging to 19.5meters, the arrival of the CMA CGM Rabelais in May 2023, which was the largest vessel to berth after the commencement of commercial operations at the port, attested to the port’s capacity to handle large container vessels.  The vessel, which has a 300m Length Overall (LOA) and the capacity to carry an impressive  6570 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), discharged and loaded an exchange of 200 TEUs at Lekki Port. The CMA CGM Rabelais set a new record for the port and, indeed, the Lagos Pilotage District, as being the largest vessel in ship dimensions to berth in the district, second only to the largest FPSO in the world, Total’s Egina FPSO.  The milestone marked the port’s readiness to become a major hub for global trade and logistics.

This feat was soon overtaken by the arrival of several 14,000 TEU vessels notably the CMA CGM SCANDOLA, an LNG-powered 14 812 TEUs container vessel, the first LNG-powered container vessel to sail to West Africa.  The CMA CGM SCANDOLA with an overall length (LOA) of 366 meters and a width of 51 meters was received amidst pomp and pageantry at Lekki Deep Sea Port where stakeholders of Lekki Port, Lekki Freeport Terminal, and CMA CGM, including top government functionaries, captains of industries, and the media witnessed its arrival.

At that moment, it was clear that Lekki Port’s position as a key player in the global maritime market was already being cemented. This is because the arrival of CMA CGM SCANDOLA, which is part of the CMA CGM West Africa Express (WAX) service direct from China to Lekki Port, represents a strong leap in the efficiency and capacity of maritime transport in Nigeria. 

While alluding to the monumental achievement, the Chairman of Lekki Port,  Biodun Dabiri said, “This marks a major step in driving economic growth, seamless movement of goods, fostering international trade, and strengthening Lekki Port’s position as a key player in the global market.”

Echoing the same position, the Chief Executive Officer, Lekki Port, Du Ruogang said the arrival of the WAX service bolstered enough confidence that Lekki Port will play a major role in the Nigerian maritime sector.

Deployment of scanners

To improve the inspection process for goods entering or leaving the ports, aiding customs operations, and ensuring compliance with regulations, the Port commissioned a state-of-the-art scanning facility, also known as the Non-Intrusive Inspections System to fast-track the examination and evacuation of containers from the port. The world-class facility was commissioned by the erstwhile Customs Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service, Lagos Free Zone Command, Comptroller Dorothy Omogbehin, on  August 30, 2023. The objective was to significantly optimize the inspection process and increase cargo turnaround time at the port.

Lekki Port ensured that the customs personnel to carry out the scanning were trained with the requisite skills to operate the state-of-the-art facility.

Since installation, the scanners have enhanced the ease of doing business, facilitated trade, prevented port congestion, boosted revenue generation for the government, and improved national security.

Reduced cargo turnaround time

To maneuver large ships by either towing or pushing them, aiding in docking, undocking, and navigating through narrow or congested waterways, Lekki Port took delivery of two 80-ton Bollard Pull tug boats christened M.T MAIKOKO and M.T DA-OPUKORO, from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) regulator of port operations in Nigeria. This maritime infrastructure, according to the regulator, would help enhance efficiency and reduce cargo turnaround time at the Port.

The neoteric tug boats, which are the first of the 2813 Azimuth Stern Drive models to be available in Africa, with the maneuverability of 360 degrees, are poised to enhance the maneuvering of large capacity vessels of 300 metres LOA and above.

 These facilities are considered essential to Lekki Port for the smooth berthing of large vessels as these would assist the movement of vessels from the approach channel to the quay wall and also depart from the port. The tug boats have been critical elements of marine services at the port.

Government’s commendation

The port continues to marvel stakeholders, partners, and employees alike for its state-of-the-art facilities and efficient service delivery which has strengthened connectivity, increased trade competitiveness and fostered economic growth. During his first official visit to the port in September 2023, the pioneer Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, after inspecting the best-in-class facilities and modern equipment advised the management to entrench a culture of maintenance that will keep the equipment and facilities in good working order for years to come.

On his part, the Executive Governor, of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, commended the management of Lekki Port, for raising the bar in the Nigerian maritime industry since the official commissioning of the port in January 2023 stating “As a responsive government and shareholder of this port, we are very proud of the achievement of Lekki Port since its inauguration a year ago. This port and the entire Lekki economic zone hold the key to the economic prosperity of our state and our country as a whole”.

 Over the last 12 months, a total of 77 vessels, 100,000 containers and 22, 447 transshipments have been received. These statistics have further positioned Lekki Port as the standard bearer for port operations in West Africa.

Gilbert Ekugbe

The president, Oasis of Breakthrough International Church Inc, Apostle Israel Oyelade, has called on the federal government to provide the necessary infrastructure and support to the nation’s agricultural sector.

Oyelade said that the call is coming on the heels of the high level of hunger in the country, explaining that Nigeria has all it takes to meet its food needs.

Speaking on the sidelines of a community welfare service aimed at providing relief items to the poor and widows in the Ifo Community and environs that is organised by his church on an annual basis, he pointed out the greatest challenge hindering agricultural development is the lack of a conducive environment for the sector to thrive.

“There has to be an enabling environment for farming to thrive. Businesses need not wait on the government to provide basic amenities and find ways to work round the readily made infrastructure provided,” he urged.

Meanwhile, he said that the church started the free feeding initiative to alleviate the high level of hunger in the country, saying that tackling hunger cannot be solved by the government alone.

“We started in 2010 when I clocked 40. We started with widows, ministering to widows, giving them foodstuffs, clothing annually.

“The issue of hunger can never be solved by any government. We must pray that God helps us to overcome poverty. Thinking the government would eradicate poverty one day is a mirage.

“God that we are serving created the rich and the poor why didn’t he make everyone rich, so if he did not make everybody rich, why do we think the federal government can make everybody rich,” he added.