APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The report that the Emirates Airline has disclosed plan to resume flight operations in and out of Nigeria, following talks at resolving differences between the Nigerian government and its United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Monday.
The Guardian reports that following talks aimed at resolving differences between the Nigerian government and its United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart, Emirates Airline has disclosed plan to resume flight operations in and out Nigeria.
It also granted approval to Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, to fly direct into and out of Dubai.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed at the end of the 2023 Dubai Airshow at the UAE, where he also visited the pavilions of leading aviation and aerospace industries to inspect technologies that could be of use in driving his Five Point Agenda for the aviation industry in Nigeria.
Keyamo, in a statement signed by Deputy Director Public Affairs, Seyi Odutayo, revealed that useful discussions were held with representatives of the companies who shared insights and expertise and showcased the latest technologies their companies could offer.
At the sidelines of the show, the minister was said to have met with officials of Emirates to discuss the resumption of flights by the airline.
The newspaper says that Nigeria’s blue economy potential could be a promising alternative to the country’s heavy reliance on crude oil if effectively harnessed.
Director-General of National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Dr. Olusola Odusanya, told reporters yesterday in Abuja.
He lauded the President Bola Tinubu administration for establishing a dedicated ministry to drive the development of the blue economy and marine resources.
Odusanya noted that the nation’s vast under-utilised blue economy offers huge opportunities for growth and development to overcome its present economic challenge.
The Punch reports that rice consumption in Nigeria has been on a steady rise, beyond the reach of local supply, leading to a supply gap of about two million metric tonnes annually, a new report has disclosed.
This has led to an over 37 per cent increase in the price of the commodity so far in 2023. This was revealed in ‘AFEX Wet Season Crop Production Report for 2023.
The firm said, “Rice consumption in Nigeria has been steadily increasing, aligning with the consistent growth of the rice market, nearly matching the annual population growth projection of 2.6 per cent at two per cent. This has led to a supply gap of about 2 million metric tonnes annually.”
So far, Nigeria has spent over $15bn in the past decade to meet its expanding rice consumption, despite its potential to be a net rice exporter, the firm stated.
Globally, rice prices reached their highest point in nearly 12 years in 2023, primarily due to India’s ban on rice exports and the potential impact of El Nino on production in key regions. These factors, along with rain-induced disruptions and variations in quality during Vietnam’s summer-autumn harvest have further contributed to the price surge.
It noted, “A similar trend is observed in Nigeria, where the price of rice has increased by over 37 per cent year-to-date, driven by reduced production in 2022 due to the effects of flooding during the wet season of that year.” The firm also blamed the increase in prices on flooding and the ripple effect of the international market dynamics.
It, however, expects an increase in production of rice by approximately 4 per cent, and a further increase in the price of paddy rice by up to around 32 per cent.
The newspaper says that Sun Africa LLC, an international organisation that supports Africa’s energy needs, has pledged to commit about $2.2bn for the development of Nigeria’s power sector.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this after a meeting with representatives of Sun Africa, led by its Chairman, Goran Rajsic, according to a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of Power.
The FMP said the international firm would support the Federal Government in providing vital power infrastructure for Nigeria, adding that the commitment had been formalised.
“The initial phase of the project will focus on delivering 961 MWp of solar PV infrastructure and 455 MWh of battery energy storage, valued at approximately $2.2bn.
“Sun Africa, with its partners, is set to implement this transformative project in the coming months,” the ministry stated in its statement.
The statement quoted Adelabu as saying, “As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria faces significant demands for new power infrastructure to support economic needs and transition to a sustainable.”
It stated that the commitment from all parties involved would ensure a close collaboration to execute the renewable energy infrastructure, addressing the nation’s electricity requirements.
GIK/APA