FCTA Takes Steps To Actualize Establishment Of SAPZ

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has disclosed that measures have been put in place for the immediate take off of the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in livestock production.

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Specifically, the administration has made provisions in the 2021 budget to the tune of N5 billion as counterpart funds for the actualization of the project in the nation’s capital

Chairman, Project Implementation Committee, Prof. Muhammad Usman, who made this disclosure during a stakeholder engagements of AfDB/IFAD-SAPZ appraisal mission to FCT, also revealed that the FCT Administration has developed a strategic implementation plan for the next 3 years of this administration.

Usman, who described the project as a game changer in project development in the Federal Capital Territory, however, noted that the SAPZ was one of the strategies to deliver on Mr. President’s plan to create jobs for the youth and to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next nine years.

Speaking further on the benefits of the project, Usman stated that the SAPZ when fully established would improve modernise livestock productivity for national food nutrition security by making available quality and price competitive beef/dairy products for local and export markets, stressing that the project would resettle pastoralists, decongest  the FCT of roaming cattle and mitigate farmer/herder conflicts.

According to him, “The SAPZ is essentially one of our strategies to deliver on Mr. President’s plan to create jobs for the youth and to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next nine years. We plan to complement this with the production in the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) of the federal government while incentivising as many mult-national corporations with interest in livestock and dairy production.

“Consequently, we have constituted a multi-sectoral, inter-agency and multi-disciplinary SAPZ project development team for FCTA that has worked through the COVID-19 lockdown period, to prepare draft project implementation checklists, design layouts, and infrastructure provision cost estimates”.

Usman, noted that the administration has aligned with the federal government policies and programmes on the ease of doing business, even as he stressed that the administration has commenced stakeholders engagement to achieve top 3 subnational ranking at the end of 2021.

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In her presentation, Monde Nyambe, the Task Team Lead of Africa Development Bank (AfDB), said the establishment of SAPZ was one of the plans by the bank to achieve five cardinal objectives to include power and light up Africa, feed Africa, industrialise Africa, integrate Africa and improve quality of life of Africans by using the small holder farmers.

She, however, expressed the commitment of the bank for the actualization of the project.

By Yahaya Idris, Lokoja.

As His Royal Majesty, the paramount ruler of Ebiraland in Kogi State celebrate his birthday anniversary, Prince Opaluwa, has congratulated, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Dr. Alhaji Ado Ibrahim of Okene Kingdom on the occasion of his 92nd birthday anniversary on Sunday 7th February, 2021.

Prince Okoliko said the monarch has provided purposeful, courageous and tenacious leadership for the Ebira people over the years and deserves to be celebrated at 92.

Dr. Ado Ibrahim, Ohinoyi of Ebira

Prince Okoliko in a statement in Lokoja, Sunday, he personally signed commended the monarch for making Ebira kingdom peaceful and investor-friendly since he ascended the ageless throne of his forefathers.

“His Majesty equally instituted cultural and traditional reform to enhance the cohesion of the kingdom, hedge up its competitiveness, raised its visibility at the national and trans-national fora, and increased it’s strategic relevance in the increasingly relevant traditional institution in our dynamic polity.”

Prince Opaluwa Okoliko further praised the traditional ruler for what he called his unwavering dedication to the highest ideals in his reign as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

He lauded the monarch’s contributions to addressing the issues of social deviance and insecurity, youth restiveness among  which culminated in the establishment of Development and Empowerment Centre.

“Your reign has witness enormous peace, development and unity of purpose and all these was achieved as a result of your pragmatic leadership style”.

“You’re indeed a father of all irrespective of clan, religion and tribal considerations. You’ve shown capacity, leadership acumen and mentor young men and women on how to serve in leadership at various levels”.

Prince Opaluwa Okoliko

Prince Opaluwa Okoliko who is one of the aspirants for the vacant stool of Attah Igala from Aju Ameacho Ruling House of Attah Igala Dynasty wish the revered Ohinoyi of Ebiraland well on the occasion of his 92nd birthday.

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has commissioned the remodeled Nasarawa Governor’s Lodge, in Asokoro, Abuja.

Commissioning the massive edifice during a brief ceremony, Engineer Sule, emphasized that the structure is not just for the use of the Governor of the state, but the entire people of Nasarawa State, urging stakeholders to utilize the facility to showcase the state.

“This place is actually not a Governor’s Lodge but for the people of Nasarawa State. Any time you have the opportunity to invite investors, partners coming to see Nasarawa State, please feel to come here and have your first meeting with them.

“This will show them that we are serious in the state,” the Governor said.

Engineer Sule commended the immediate past administration of Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, for upgrading both the Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, as well as converting the Nasarawa State Liaison Office in to a hotel.

According to the Governor, on his assumption of office, his administration leased out the hotel built by the former governor to an investors at the rate of N100m per annum.

“Instead of using, we leased out the hotel at the rate of N100m annually to an investors. We took the money for two years and invested the N200m to remodel the Governor’s Lodge,” he explained.

On his part, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Liaison Office, Hon. Yusuf Maianguwa, said the state government lodge before the coming of the present administration was an eyesore.

While commending the administration of Engineer Sule for remodelling the lodge, the SSA however appealed for government to conduct meetings and other official engagements at the newly commissioned lodge.

Prominent sons and daughters of the state, including the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barrister Muhammad Abdullahi Hassan, member Federal House of Representative, Hon. Abdulmumini Ari, Director General A. A Sule Campaign Organization, Senator John Damboyi, two former deputy governors namely Senator Solomon Ewuga and Chief Micheal Abdul.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abdullahi A Sule of Nasarawa State

Others are, Alhaji Bala Tafida, former SSG, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Tijani and former zonal APC vice chairman, North Central, Alhaji Suleiman Wambai, among others.