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NISS Trains Farmers, Extension Agents on Soil Productivity in Anambra

By Chukwuka Ugokwe :

The Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS), in collaboration with the Anambra State Agriculture Development Programme (ADP), has begun a two-day capacity-building seminar for Farmers and Extension Agents on the protection and management of soil resources in Anambra State.

No fewer than 70 participants are expected to benefit from the 5th session of the training spread across the three Senatorial Districts of Anambra Central, Anambra North, and Anambra South.

Speaking during the commencement of the training for Anambra Central at the Agricultural Development Programme Hall, Awka, the State Coordinator of NISS, Prof. Peter Nnabude, said the programme was staged to find ways of enhancing the productivity of the soil.

“We are training 14 Farmers and 6 Extension Agents for Anambra Central and will do the same in the other two Senatorial Districts.

“We are aware that our soils are poor, acidic and not properly managed and have therefore commenced various trainings on ways we can facilitate management of our soils at the local level.”

Prof. Nnabude, Soil Management Expert, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, enumerated gains derivable from the seminar to include improvement in the productive capacity of soils, participants skill improvement in terms of soil management, as well as bountiful economic returns.

He added, When the soils are rich, they will yield greater produce, and that translates to greater income. We also advocate integrated soil management, whereby you combine regenerative agriculture, inorganic, and organic systems to boost soil productivity.”

In a comment, the Programme Manager, of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Mr. Jude Nwankwo, said their agents were ready to internalize and step down knowledge, and information on new technologies and best practices to farmers in the state to enhance bumper harvests.

He, then, encouraged them not to hesitate to go for soil tests to determine if the soil was lacking essential nutrients using simple kits whenever they noticed poor yields.

Toll Reform in the Interest of Transport Operators and Commuters

Awka the State capital witnessed days of another unexpected protest by tricycle (keke) and shuttle bus drivers. This came as a surprise to many who are aware that government had severally engaged all the transport unions in Anambra State to ensure that affordable dues are paid to the government instead of touts who are holding these drivers hostage by collecting illegal fees that are not remitted to government’s coffers.

The government’s overhaul of the tolling system is actually meant for the drivers and sundry transport owners to pay reduced fees directly to the government instead of paying exorbitant monies to the underhand middlemen who end up cheating transport owners and their drivers.

It’s indeed tragic that after many months of engagement with the transport unions on how the new payment arrangement will benefit the drivers and commuters, the keke and shuttle bus drivers still allowed themselves to be manipulated to go on strike.

It is disheartening to note that after the series of meetings and subsequent mutual understanding with the government of Anambra State to pay the reduced monthly tolls; these operators have over the months refused to pay. It was as a result of their non-compliance that prompted the Anambra State Joint Enforcement Team (ANJET) to move in to ensure compliance. While a few went to pay at the designated locations and collected their vehicles, others who are under the grips of the influential park Dons refused to pay and instead resorted to protests and ruthlessly enforced it among their law abiding colleagues, disrupting commercial activities in Awka and its environ.

The curious thing about the whole matter is that while this crisis persisted, the so-called leaders of the unions were nowhere in sight and could not be reached. All of these points to the fact that it’s either the leadership is weak or complicit in the riotous actions that virtually crippled transportation for days. The situation became clearer when government invited the operators to Dr Alex Ekwueme Square on Saturday for another round of engagement. Following the dissatisfaction they openly expressed against the leaders of their unions, they were given the opportunity to directly nominate representatives who would dialogue with government once again.

For want of what to say some of those who have been instigated to resist the reform have embarked on all kinds of campaign of falsehood to justify why they will not pay. They lied that government did not provide POS for payment as they were promised, but this is not true. Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) has 234 agents with POSs spread across 74 locations in the State where they can make payments. Another insignificant few claimed that they paid for identity cards and stickers but were not given up till this moment. This again is untrue because AIRS had since acquired the equipment to capture every payee and issue cards and stickers on the spot.

The joint agreement between the government and operators of keke and shuttle bus is that they will pay N600 and N1000 daily which would amount to N18, 000 and 30,000 monthly tolls respectively but government in its humanness granted a Saturday and Sunday discounts that eventually pegged what they will pay at N15, 000 and N25, 000 monthly. It is important to note that this is a far cry from the N2,500 and N3,500 they paid daily which adds up to N75,000 and N105,000 monthly. The difference is remarkably incomparable; and it has become necessary for Ndi Anambra to know that it is just a few greedy elements who have exploited and billed the system to line their individual pockets that have continued to misinform and instigate this unwarranted crises.

It is key to note at this point that the collected tolls will augment governments revenue with which it could repair roads which transporters whine about and construct new ones where there are none. Already, government has flagged off the construction of 20 new roads and presently carrying out over a dozen interventions to rehabilitate failed sections of existing ones. These are the services that the self-centred middlemen cannot provide.

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has repeatedly stated that his government will be transparent in spending every Kobo that comes in as revenue. Under his watch, Ndi Anambra will see their legitimate taxes, levies and tolls translate into tangible developments that will transform Anambra State into a more liveable, pleasurable and prosperous one.

Sir Paul Nwosu
Anambra State Commissioner for Information.

Soludo Reiterate Calls For Local Content, Meets With Officials Of National Automotive Design And Development Council

By Christian ABURIME :

The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo has lauded the National Automotive Design and Development Council for their efforts in promoting local contents and automobile industry in Nigeria.

Governor Soludo made this remark during a courtesy visit to Mr Jelani Aliyu, Director-General/CEO of the Council, which is a subsidiary under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Commerce.

“I am a promoter, advocate for Made-In-Nigeria contents and already championing this cause by making Innoson Vehicle my official car,” said Soludo.

Mr Governor mentioned that the drive and creativity he has seen in the past speaks of the great potential that exists in Nigeria. He advised on the continuous need to look inwards to see how the abundant potentials in the country can be harnessed and improved upon.

He assured of his support towards the automotive industry policy document which is being updated and would go live soon.

Governor Soludo also gave his assurances of unalloyed commitment to promoting the adoption of the policy to ensure that Nigerians and public officers patronize their local industry and Made-In-Nigeria cars are mainstreamed.

The Council made a presentation on progress recorded since inception in 2013, where they are right now and how Anambra have been pivotal in the drive towards the industrialization of the automotive industry.

The plan for Anambra industrial park is ready, some pre-work have started and the administrative office is 90 percent complete.

Few weeks from now, a proposal will be sent for the implementation of the Anambra Industrial Park Plan.

Anambra has been pivotal in the drive towards the industrialization of the automotive industry

On its part, Anambra Government is required to construct connecting roads, provide solar lights, construct drainage systems, conduct geo-contour and geo-technical survey on the land.

Governor Soludo during the meeting requested the Council to setup an Automotive Training Centre in the State. The DG in his response requested the State to make available one hectare of land for the training facility.

Governor Soludo promised to swing into action to ensure the Anambra Automotive Industrial Park becomes a reality in the nearest future.