President Muhammadu Buhari has attributed Nigeria’s rising profile in fertiliser production to the implementation of the right policies by his administration, noting that with over 70 blending plants in operation, the country is on the way to becoming the commodity’s powerhouse on the African continent.

The President spoke Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during an audience with the Executive Committee of Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN).

He disclosed that Nigeria’s rising prominence in the comity of fertilizer producing nations has been as a result of the implementation of the right policies by the present administration.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President noted that Nigeria has become a major global player in the production of Urea, going by the country’s massive production facility.

The statement reads: “With our over seventy blending plants operating, Nigeria is on its way to becoming Africa’s fertiliser powerhouse. And with our mega Urea production facilities, Nigeria is definitely a global player in the Urea space.”

Expressing delight that the era of persistent shortage of fertiliser had become a thing of the past, the president commended FEPSAN for partnering with the government in the backward integration project of the agricultural value chain.

Going down memory lane, the President recalled what his administration did to overcome fertilizer shortage.

The President noted that a key indicator of the present government’s successful policies is the fact that the country had no shortages of fertilizers during the global COVID lockdowns.

In his remarks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said fertiliser remains a key input to achieving food security and in realisation of this, the apex bank has continued to place great importance on its availability and accessibility by farmers to improve yield, productivity and ultimately, output.

The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) says it has approved the promotion of 3,466 general duty and support staff officers.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Deputy Comptroller Timi Bomodi,

NCS Public Relations Officer, the approval was done on March 29 during the board’s 54th regular meeting.

Bomodi said the meeting was presided over by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Chairman, NCS Board, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed.

She highlighted the importance of discipline and engendering a work ethics based on transparency and an all-encompassing reward system.

According to Bomodi, Ahmed commended the Management of NCS for breaking new grounds in trade facilitation and revenue generation in 2021.

She urged the newly promoted officers to redouble their efforts in achieving the goals of the service in 2022.

The statement said that Comptroller Officers promoted included SA Bomoi, AA Anthony, BO Olumo, CK Niagwan, MM Tilleygyado, MC Ugbagu, CD Wada, A Bako, AM Adegbite, KI Adesola (Mrs), NP Umoh, OO Orbih and RC Nwankwo.

It further said that officers whose promotion had Jan. 1, 2021 as their effective date are Deputy Comptroller to Comptroller of Customs (GD) – (31), Deputy Comptroller to Comptroller of Customs (SS) – (3).

Others included Assistant Comptroller of Customs to Deputy Comptroller of Customs (GD) – (84), Assistant Comptroller of Customs to Deputy Comptroller of Customs (SS) – (1), Chief Superintendent of Customs to Assistant Comptroller of Customs (GD) – (212).

“Chief Superintendent of Customs to Assistant Comptroller of Customs (SS) – (3), Superintendent of Customs to Chief Superintendent of Customs (GD) – (196), Superintendent of Customs to Chief Superintendent of Customs (SS) – (6)

” Deputy Superintendent of Customs to Superintendent of Customs (GD) – (668), Deputy Superintendent of Customs to Superintendent of Customs (SS) – (16).

“Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1 to Deputy Superintendent of Customs (GD) – (1,258), Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1 to Deputy Superintendent of Customs (SS) – (39), Assistant Superintendent of Customs II to Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1 (GD) – (759),

“Assistant Superintendent of Customs II to Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1 (SS) – (48), Inspector of Customs to Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (GD) – (109) and Inspector of Customs to Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (SS) – (33),” the statement said.

The Federal Government has disbursed N200, 000 each to some identified local producers of assistive devices across the 36 states of the federation.

Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) said this at a three-day capacity building workshop for Local Producers of Assistive Technologies (AT) in Lokoja, Kogi.

The minister explained that the ministry in collaboration with state governments had earlier in 2018, through a forum identified those local producers of assistive devices across the 36 states and FCT.

She added that the inspection team from the ministry and partners had visited the 36 States and FCT to identify the producers.

Farouq noted that the Federal Government disbursed the first phase of the grant in 2021, adding that 36 local producers would benefit from the grants to boost their production in the second phase.

According to her, one person will benefit from each of the 36 states in the second phase.

Farouq noted that each of the identified local producers of assistive devices who participated in the training would be given a grant of N200, 000 at the end of the workshop to boost their production.

Represented by Nkechi Onwukwe, the Director, Special Need Department in the ministry, said the cost of importing the devices was becoming high on the Federal Government, hence the need to look inwards.

The minister advised the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunities and efficiently utilise the fund to show the world that they could deliver on domestic need of assistive device in Nigeria.

She stressed that the ministry would also monitor to ensure proper utilisation of the fund.

Farouq said the workshop was put together with the aim of ensuring that millions of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) enjoyed the right to independent living, inclusion and participation through local production of quality and affordable assistive devices.

According to her, the workshop is to enlighten local producers on how best to maintain, develop and improve production; interact with successful producers; and ensure standardisation and quality control of production.

”This can be achieved by encouraging our local producers to rise up to the occasion by challenging the status quo and deliver quality products that can match up with foreign ones.

”’Government is ready and will continue to provide enabling environment for the sustainability of our local producers to thrive,” she said.

Farouq stressed that the workshop would enhance the development of participants’ entrepreneurial competencies to favourably compete in the business environment.

She urged all stakeholders to ensure improved access to assistive devices to enable PWDs to participate more actively in societal activities and adapt positively to challenges of impairment.

In her remarks, Kogi Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajia Fatima Buba, represented by Emmanuel Eleni, the Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, congratulated the beneficiaries and thanked the Federal Government for the gesture.

One of the beneficiaries, Aminu Mohammed from Kano State, thanked the minister for organising the workshop and for assisting them with the grant to boost their production.

According to reports, the assistive devices include: prosthetics, wheelchairs, clutches, walkers, hearing aid, walking sticks, among others.