From Fred Itua, Abuja

Following successes recorded on the National Youth Service Corps online registration recently introduced by the Federal Government, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG) has called for more support, insisting that the introduction of the scheme has largely aided and made corps’ mobilisation easier.
Rising from a stakeholders meeting in Abuja after which they addressed the press, the coalition stated that given the giant strides recorded so far by the programme, it was dismayed that some persons were calling for the scrapping of the programme, which, in all ramifications, has proved to be a lofty drive in achieving efficiency, effectiveness and speed in corps’ mobilisation.
President and Secretary of the coalition, Etuk Bassey Williams and Ibrahim Abubakar respectively, praised the NYSC management for introducing such a scheme, adding that a recent opinion poll showed an overwhelming acceptance by Nigerians.
Said he: “We specifically note that the NYSC online registration project was a decision taken by all stakeholders at a meeting and these included schools, parents, students and other stakeholders, where the sum of N3, 000 was agreed on and it is not even compulsory, as prospective corps members have the option to go schools and collect call their call-up letters.
“This initiative that is powered by Siemach Technologies Ltd, has proved not only to be highly dependent and successful, but also reduced risks such as deaths occasioned by prospective corps members’ travels and other risks associated with logistics during service years. What the Federal Government must do is to ensure adequate funding and support for this project as it marks a departure from the clumsiness of corps members’ participation in the past,” Etuk Williams said.
He called on all stakeholders to support the project and not be distracted by a few people whose interests seem unclear, noting that civil society organisations, such as theirs, which seek to protect the rights and privileges of Nigerians, will continue to loud government policies consistent with the overall interest and development of Nigerians and the nation.


AGRIC: NIRSAL seeks low, efficient transportation system

From Magnus Eze, Abuja

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), an agricultural credit guarantee agency under the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed, has described a low cost and efficient transportation system as a critical condition for boosting the contribution of the agriculture sector to the economy and reducing poverty in the country.
The NIRSAL boss, who spoke at a public function in Abuja, strongly believes that an integrated cargo-based national transportation will help achieve this by reducing post-harvest losses and improving the income of farmers across the country.
“We could cause sufficient finance to go into production, but what happens after production?  How do you evacuate production to consumption?” Abdulhameed queried.
He added, “an efficient transport system will ensure “less loss for the farmer’s production, more efficient and timely delivery of goods to consumers,” adding that it would also be a major boost to the economic diversification process of the present government.


AGRIC: FG tasks NRCRI, IITA on improved yam varieties

From Magnus Eze, Abuja

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The Federal Government has charged the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) to work closely with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the improvement of yam production in the country.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who made the call in Abuja, emphasised the need for continuous research to develop new varieties of higher yield that are climate smart as well as pest and disease resistant.
Lokpobiri expressed the optimism that such collaboration would make seed yam production and marketing a commercially  viable business. He however noted that the hurdle of adoption of the improved varieties by farmers  must be scaled first.
“The improved yam varieties  are neither known nor available/accessible to the farmers. Seed extension services and demonstration efforts should be stepped up to showcase the superiority of these materials over the local land races used by the farmers to encourage adoption,” Lokpobiri stated.
He urged the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) to liaise with the Agricultural Extension Department of the ministry and other agencies to address the issue of adoption by farmers, saying: “There can’t be food security without seed security.”


Trade & INVESTMENT: NANTS gives tips on how to disburse N140bn funds 

From Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja

The National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANTS) has said that the sum of N140 billion allocated to traders, market women and other artisans was a strategy to jump-start and stimulate the economy by the Federal Government.
While applauding the action of government, NANT President, Mr. Ken Ukoha, said in Abuja that the funds should be effectively directed at the target group by ensuring that the selection and disbursement are devoid of political party affiliation and all forms of ethnic sentiments
According to him, previous facilities meant for other groups and targeted at stimulation of the economy have promoted party affiliations, enriched party supporters and created ethnic bias and other sentiments that frustrated the original policy intention.
“We are concerned that if these are not quickly put in place, the laudable initiative may go the way of other economic stimulants and facility packages designed by past administrations which never achieved their objective,” he said.
Ukoha further stated that the banks, whose previous facilities were administered, were exploited by same bank officials and unscrupulous politicians, who neither accounted for such facilities or accurately, evaluated the value addition or measure the overall impact thereof to the economy.


FCT: FCT minister honours 76 corps members

From Fred Itua, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammad Bello, has given ministerial honours awards to 76 corps members who served and distinguished themselves in the Abuja between 2011 and 2013. Also outstanding corps members who served from 2014 to day will be honoured.
Malam Bello said the awards were in recognition of the contributions of the former corps members, while giving assurance that the FCT Administration would continue to reward corps members who embark on programmes that impact positively on the wellbeing of the residents of the FCT.
His words: “It will interest you to know that recently, I approved the honours award/recognition of 76 corps members, who distinguished themselves in the course of their service within the FCT in the 2011-2013 service years. I hope to do the same for outstanding corps members of 2014 to date.”
The minister charged corps members to accept posting to rural communities in the territory, where their services would be greatly felt, rather than lobbying to be posted to “juicy places.”
Bello cautioned corps members against unwarranted and unauthorised travels that pose danger to their personal lives, adding that they must present themselves as true ambassadors of change in the various communities where they are posted.