Business
Senate C’mtee Pledges Speedy Agricultural Extension Services Bill Passage
Sen. Saliu Mustapha, Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development, has assured of the speedy passage of agricultural extension services delivery revitalisation bill.
Mustapha gave the assurance at a one-day technical session on the draft agricultural extension service delivery revitalisation bill organised by Women Farmers Advancement Network and country representatives (WOFAN-ICON2) project in Abuja on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill aims at ensuring effective implementation of a national agricultural extension policy and strategy sustainable agricultural extension service in the country.
It also aims to promote human resource development, career progression, and professionalism in agricultural extension and encourage women and youth to actively participate and invest in agriculture.
Mustapha said although the bill was still in progress, the legislation on the bill would improve the lives of farmers, especially in the rural areas.
“With the advancement in technology and global development of agricultural extension service around the world, it is my expectation that the draft bill should as much as practicable incorporate digital agriculture essential service as it is done in other countries.
“There is need to expand the scope of the technical committee by enriching the draft bill with other jurisdictions in order to have the wider application and stand the test of time,” he said.
Mustapha said that he would discuss with his colleagues in the National Assembly to give the bill the needed attention and a wider scope.
“We’re also looking at opportunities because the most important thing is adding value and making sure it is practicable and works.
“So, the most important thing is the value addition to make sure because for me we should start thinking of how agriculture should be a means of livelihood.
“With the insecurity we have in the country today, if agriculture is working the way it ought to, it will have reduced the problem by 70 to 80 per cent of it,” Mustapha said
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria recorded N3.42 trillion trade surplus in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024.
The NBS, in its foreign trade report for Q4 2024, said Nigeria’s exports totalled N20.01 trillion while imports stood at N16.59 trillion.
A trade surplus is an economic indicator of a positive trade balance in which the exports of a nation outweigh its imports.
The bureau said total trade was N36.6 trillion in Q4, representing an increase of 2.20 percent compared to the N35.8 trillion recorded in the third quarter (Q1) of the year.
“Nigeria’s total merchandise trade stood at N36,604.83 billion in Q4, 2024. This represents an increase of 68.32% compared to the value (N21,747.40) recorded in the corresponding period of 2023 and a rise of 2.20% over the value recorded in the preceding quarter (N35,818.35),” NBS said.
“In the quarter under review, exports accounted for 54.68% of total trade with a value of N20,014.33 billion, showing an increase of 57.67% rise over the value recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 (N12,693.62) and a decrease of 2.55% compared to the value recorded in Q3 2024 (N20,537.17).”
NBS further said crude oil continued to dominate exports trade in the quarter reviewed.
The statistics firm said crude oil exports stood at N13.78 trillion, representing 68.87 percent of total exports, while the value of non-crude oil exports stood at N6.23 trillion, accounting for 31.13 percent of total exports.
NBS added that non-oil products contributed N2.84 trillion or 4.20 percent of total exports.
The NBS said the Netherlands was Nigeria’s top export destination in Q4, followed by Spain, France, India, and Indonesia.
“The main export destination was The Netherlands with a value of N 2,089.96 billion or 10.44% of total exports, followed by exports to France with N1,909.76 billion or 9.54% of total exports, Spain with N1,737.68 billion or 8.68% of total export,” NBS said.
“India with N1,596.66 billion or 7.98% of total exports, and exports to Indonesia with goods valued at N1,406.77 billion representing 7.03% of total exports.
“These five countries collectively accounted for 43.67% of the value of total exports in Q4, 2024.”
In terms of imports, the bureau said China remained Nigeria’s major trading partner, with 27.80 percent (N4 61 trillion) worth of imported goods.
Others on the top five import routes were India (N1.89 trillion or 11.43 percent), Belgium (N1.38 trillion or 8.35 percent), the United States (N1.05 billion or 6.33 percent), and France ( N501 billion or 3.62 percent).
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as adviser and coordinator of the presidential livestock reforms initiative.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential adviser on information and strategy, announced the appointment in a statement issued on Friday evening.
By Amina Samuel, Kaduna
The Kaduna State government has unveiled a groundbreaking urban mobility project aimed at transforming public transportation in the state.
The Kaduna Bus Rapid Transit (KBRT) system, spearheaded by Governor Uba Sani, is set to introduce a 24-kilometer dedicated transit corridor, significantly reducing congestion and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, the Director General of Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA), Engr. Inuwa Ibrahim, described the KBRT as more than just a transport initiative, calling it a game-changer for Kaduna’s economy and urban development.
“The KBRT project is expected to provide safer and more reliable transport, decongest the urban center, reduce travel time, and improve both road safety and environmental sustainability,” Ibrahim stated.
The French Development Agency (AFD) is partnering with Kaduna State in funding the initiative.
Governor Uba Sani has committed significant resources to the project, allocating ₦97 million in counterpart funding in 2023, ₦699 million in the 2024 budget, and ₦30 billion earmarked for 2025, including ₦5 billion in counterpart funding.
According to Ibrahim, the KBRT corridor will stretch from Kawo Bridge to Sabon Tasha, featuring well-structured bus stations and shelters to enhance passenger convenience.
“More than just an infrastructural development, KBRT represents a shift towards a modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation system that will enhance mobility, stimulate economic growth, and create job opportunities for Kaduna residents,” he added.
Governor Uba Sani’s administration has prioritized structured and sustainable urban transport solutions to tackle congestion, unregulated transport operations, and inefficiencies in Kaduna.
The KBRT project is a major component of this vision, promising a more organized, efficient, and safer public transit system.
As construction begins, residents are encouraged to support the project, which is expected to bring visible improvements to Kaduna’s transportation landscape in the coming months.