The National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) has called for the establishment of a cotton, textile and garment (CTG) council for proper regulation of the sector.

This is contained in a communiqué issued in Abuja after a one-day seminar involving key players of the CTG value chain on national dialogue on the CTG policy held on April 5.

The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Anibe Achimugu, NACOTAN President, Hamma Kwajaffa, Director-General, Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association, Samuel Oloruntoba, Executive Secretary, Cotton Ginners Association.

Other signatories were: Mrs Folake Oyemade, President, Apparels and Accessories Manufactures Association of Nigeria and Mrs Adenike Ogunlesi, President, Garment and Accessories Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

The association also suggested that apart from the two government officials who are to serve in the CTG council, other members should come from the private sector.

They also said that the CTG Development Forum should have a strategic business plan that would be private sector-based.

Among other resolutions was that players should come up with actionable timelines for the implementation of resolutions reached at the meeting.

Accordingly, the association also desired the creation of CTG processing zones and clusters in different parts of the country.

“This would aid concentration of infrastructures in those areas as well as reduce cost,’’ the communiqué read.

They said there must be a follow through by the CTG leadership for the implementation of the Executive Order 003, among others.

The association said government had set aside fund for the different aspect of the value chain which requires that players should take advantage of this through collective bargaining.

“ Eleven CTG players with the requisite experience, capacity and integrity have been identified with a view to driving the aims and objectives the CTG development sector,’’ they said.

The communiqué stated that the seminar was coordinated with the collaboration of the German Cooperation agency, Deutsche Zusammennarbett, the European Union and the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

The seminar was organised by NACOTAN, with the CTG Development Forum as one of the facilitators and other key stakeholders, it observed among others things that the CTG policy was inaugurated in 2014 and 2015.

But “unfortunately, the said policy was not properly circulated to the key stakeholders, thus excluding the key players and losing the desired benefits of the policy.”

Kumbhalgarh Fort is a fortress in the historical region of Mewar, located in the Rajsamand District, part of the State of Rajasthan in the Republic of India.

This great fort was built in the 15th century by Maharana Kumbha, which was enlarged in the 19th century, and also it is the birth place of Maharana Pratap, the great king and warrior of Mewar.

Kumbhalgarh Fort is the highest in the State of Rajasthan on 1,180 meters (3,871 feet) high ridge which makes it almost invincible, however in the past it took the combined armies of Delhi, Amber and Marwar to breach its defenses and conquer it.

Built on the Aravali range, the fort has a perimeter walls that extend 36 km (22 mi), which after the Great Wall of China, is the second longest wall in the world.

With seven fortified gateways strengthened by rounded bastions and immense watchtowers that guard the 360+ temples within the fort, there is also a gorgeous palace named Badal Mahal, which is also known as Palace of Cloud.

Legend has it that when the fort was being built, Maharana Kumbha encountered numerous construction difficulties.

A spiritual advisor was consulted who decreed that a voluntary human sacrifice would enable the project.

A volunteer was eventually found and according to the advice of the spiritual advisor, a temple was built where the decapitated head fell.

The shrine to this unknown volunteer can still be found near the main gate.

According to popular folklore, Maharana Kumbha used to burn massive lamps that consumed fifty kilograms of ghee and a hundred kilograms of cotton to provide light for the farmers who worked during the nights in the valley.

Still, this large complex offers many sights since from there one can see an awesome panoramic vista of the city next to it, and also kilometers of the Aravalli Range with the Thar Desert.

Due to its importance, this historic fort was put on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013, making it together with other five forts a serial cultural property and examples of Rajput military hill architecture.

The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory administration, FCTA, has vowed that all obstructions to the free flow of water in the territory would be removed.

The Director General of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), Alhaji Abbas Idriss gave the hint after an on the spot assessment flood at Lokogoma following the heavy down pour.

The DG who directed an assessment tour of the affected areas informed that the heavy floods which totally submerged the access road to Dogongada community in the Lokogoma District were as a result of the pool of water from Apo District.

He stated that the FCTA, under the leadership of Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello has zero tolerance for infractions on waterways and any violations to the FCT Master plan which could result in the loss of lives and properties.

He urged residents to respect the Abuja master plan, the building codes and environmental precautions in order to stay alive in the community.

Leading the Search and Rescue team on an assessment tour, Acting Director, Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Mrs Florence Wenegieme noted that the heavy floods at Apo Dutse road which affected residents living at Amina Court, Brains and Hammers was traceable to narrow box culvert and an ongoing construction along the river bank.

She further hinted that the situation was the same at Damagaza in Gudu District where an ongoing construction near the river led to heavy flooding.

Mrs Wenegieme appealed to residents not to drive in heavy pools of water, but to wait and allow the water subside.

She added that FEMA would soon embark on the posting of early warning signs in vulnerable areas.

Three residents caught in the floods were rescued by local divers stationed by FEMA in red flag areas of the Territory.

The Kano State Governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje, has ordered the immediate deployment of water tankers to distribute water to worst hit environs in the State.

He also directed the Rural Water Supply Agency (RUWASA) to immediately swing into action and identify the precise number of boreholes that need repairs and all those not in use for immediate intervention.

The decision came after a special meeting with critical stakeholders to rub minds and proffer immediate, short term and long term solutions to challenges of water shortages in the second biggest commercial city in Nigeria.

The State Governor represented by his Deputy Nasiru Gawuna at the meeting said the decisions were attempts to overhaul water supply system in Kano state, particulary within the 8 metropolitan local government areas.

“Distribution of water in tanks to some specific locations within the metropolitan local governments by the State government in good collaboration with the 8 local council areas was also considered as one of the immediate solutions, particularly in the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadhan.

“RUWASA should also take an inventory of specific areas across the 44 local governments that need boreholes, bearing in mind some implications of rampant boreholes to environment,” he directed.

He ordered the immediate and more critical evaluation of the collaboration between the State government and France, through the French Development on Water Project, a multi-million Dollar intervention.

“A gigantic project which aimed at ameliorating problems associated with water supply and management in the State, with a global and modern touch.

“When the project takes off, State government assured that, it would take care of all major setbacks in the industry,” he said.

For another long term solution, he directed the immediate revisit of two major concessions with some companies the State entered on water projects in Joda and Wudil towns.

Some major challenges to uninterrupted water supply were identified as cable theft by some vandals, epileptic and insufficient power supply, some unpatriotic activities taking place in Kano and Challawa rivers and non-challant attitude of some water consumers, among others.

“We will do our best to make sure that security around water equipment is tightened and whoever is found wanting will face the wrath of the Law. We are strategizing on that seriously.

“While government is devising mechanisms on heavy duty water equipment, high-powered generators, controlling cable theft, among others, we are assuring our people that, what we have on the table, are short term, mid-term and long term interventions,” he added.

The Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access, ACSEA Nigeria Platform has launched its project to ensure a People-Centred Energy Transition in Africa.

The Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action, Friends of the Earth and national Coordinator, ACSEA Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo in his welcome address during the launch in Abuja Nigeria said the aim of ACSEA was to ensure that Just Energy Transition occur within an improved energy access.

“The prime focus of the project is the promotion of renewable energy access in Nigeria. In general, clean energy access is limited due to energy poverty. Through the ACSEA Nigeria platform a Just Energy Transition movement building for energy transition is imperative,”he said.

Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo said the ACSEA project launch is important to address issues of energy governance to allow for decentralised energy systems that are socially driven and to promote community energy in off-grid, mini-grid and standalone systems.

The Director-General National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) Mr. Ahmed Bolaji Nagode commend Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and the Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA) for all their work and contributions towards establishing this project.

He said the project was aimed at strengthening civil society actors to influence national and regional policies on renewable energy that respond to the energy needs of the masses and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Women group in Bunyia community of Boki LGA of Cross River State has embarked on the project of planting turmeric.

The purpose is for the group, with membership running close to 50, to pull their resources together and boost their incomes as individuals and group.

The women group is enjoying funding from Offer of Jobs and Opportunities for Women and Children Network (OJO-WACNET).

Already, the group has bought large expanse of lands and planted turmeric with hope that it would yield much for them.

Founder of the OJO-WACNET, Dr. Tony Wemton, an agriculture engineer, explained that the turmeric project is a stepping stone for harnessing the potentials of women, adding that they aim to empower households in the communities.

The first step of empowerment for the community women will enable them in all its ramifications.

They have also planned to organise free agricultural programmes and First Aid training for members local agriculture cooperative societies.

Speaking to journalists, President of the Boki Women of Cross River under the banner of Bayinyi Boki Worldwide, Mrs. Florence Odok, enjoined Irruan women to show interest in development programmes organised for the Boki women.

She also encouraged them to participate actively in the Boki women annual August social and networking meetings.

Public Relations Officer of Bayinyi Boki Worldwide, Ambassador Florence Kekong, disclosed that the women are also into other areas of community farming which have boosted food supplies in the state.