Nigerian press spotlights government’s three-year economic revival plan, others

APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The unveiling by the Federal Executive Council on Monday of a three-year economic revival plan to address the social and economic challenges affecting the country is one of the trending stories in Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday/
The Punch reports that the Federal Executive Council on Monday unfolded a three-year economic revival plan to address the social and economic challenges affecting the country.
The inaugural cabinet meeting, which was held at the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, was presided over by President Bola Tinubu, who unveiled his vision for “economic growth, prosperity for all and ending poverty.”
Addressing the ministers, the President admonished them to achieve the first phase of his administration’s eight-point agenda within three years.
He asked the members of his cabinet to work hard to revive the country’s economy because Nigeria is in a difficult time.
The President said the ministers have the capacity to make a difference in the ministries they have been assigned to oversee.
“We shall evolve a homegrown re-engineering of our finances, a reimagined stewardship of our resources, and we will let the economy work for the people of this country.
“There are so many things we can and will do. Yes, some cynics will say it is impossible. But in your own dictionary of service, everything is possible, and it must be possible,’’ he told the ministers and other cabinet members.
The newspaper says that the Federal Government, on Monday, said all the frontline states on the path of River Benue may experience flooding within the next seven days as result of the opening of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, held at the instance of the Presidential Committee set up by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, said the new committee would implement various policies and rescue missions aimed at mitigating the impacts of the flood from Lagdo Dam
She urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to step up actions by ensuring the immediate evacuation of Nigerians from flood-prone communities to safer destinations.
She said, “This coordinating meeting is holding at the instance of President Bola Tinubu, who directed such after I raised the issue of flooding in today’s Federal Executive Council meeting. Mr President directed that all relevant ministries must meet to find a solution to the issue of flooding.
“As earlier stated, the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon was opened recently and we will see the effect in the coming days. Flood has been a major issue in Nigeria and has been causing loss of lives and property. We have been given a task by Mr President to ensure proper preparedness against the effect of the opening of the Lagdo Dam.
“One of the things government in different states must begin to do is to ensure that drainages are cleaned. Blockages must be removed. Also, proper enlightenment and sensitisation of residents must be carried out.
“Residents in affected areas must begin to relocate to safer planes. States must stand up to involuntary relocations. It is inconceivable to witness avoidable loss of lives and property.”
The Minister of Environment, Iziaq Salako, as well as the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, joined the humanitarian minister during the briefing, and promised to intensify efforts against the devastating impact of floods.
The Guardian reports that the House of Representatives disclosed yesterday that 60,000 lives had been lost to herder-farmer clashes since 2001.
It regretted that the crisis, hitherto seen as a regional conflict, had expanded to parts of the country and borders of several West African nations.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen made the disclosure in his opening address at the stakeholders’ interactive session by the House Ad hoc Committee on the ‘Recurring Annual Clashes between Farmers and Herders in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area Of Gombe State and Neighbouring Local Government Areas, Including Other Regions of the Country with Similar Incidents’ in Abuja.
Represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, the Speaker said the lower legislative chamber is reviewing the causes, nature, dimensions, actors, impact, and finding solutions to the nagging national challenge for the collective good of the nation.
“The clashes have resulted in avoidable losses of lives and property. It is estimated that over 60,000 people have been killed since 2001. It ought not to be so.
“The number of deaths, injuries and kidnapped persons constitutes an alarming situation, and poses a serious national security challenge for Nigeria’s quest to attain food security and alternative foreign earnings from the agricultural sector. This menace requires urgent action to be taken,” he stated.
On his part, National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Prof. Abdullahi Mohammed Ya’u, deplored the carnage, adding that the crisis was affecting the nation’s collective socio-economic interests.
He said his office had embraced dialogue, community engagements and collaborations with relevant authorities in addressing insecurity.
The newspaper says that Nigeria’s commodities player, AFEX, and Ghana Commodities Exchange (GCX) have partnered to strengthen the commodity-trading ecosystem across both countries.
At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at AFEX’s office in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Commodities Exchange, Tucci Ivowi, said the move underscored AFEX and the GCX’s commitment to leverage collaboration to transform the agricultural sector as well as aimed at fostering cooperation to enhance market integration.
Ivowi maintained that the partnership with AFEX was part of its commitment to drive transformative change in the agriculture sector.
According to her, this is a significant step towards realising a shared vision of seamless market integration in Africa’s commodity trading space.
She expressed optimism that both parties would not only enhance commodities trading and market infrastructure but also empower farmers and traders through capacity building.
She added that for Ghana Commodity Exchange, a core goal was to link Ghanaian smallholder farmers to markets and opportunities that help secure their incomes, while delivering economic prosperity and establishing Ghana as a regional and global trading hub for all commodities.
Also expressing optimism about the partnership, the President/Chief Executive Officer, AFEX Nigeria, Akinyinka Akintunde, said the MoU signing reflects its resolute commitment to revolutionise the agricultural landscape.
“Through this strategic partnership, we will set new benchmarks in quality standards, and fortify market infrastructure. Our joint efforts will not only amplify market liquidity but also empower stakeholders and unlock value for Nigeria and Ghana’s value chain.
“Since expanding into Kenya and Uganda in 2021 and 2022, AFEX has been bullish in the pursuit of their strategic Pan-African expansion goal to penetrate eight African countries before 2023, promoting the efficient trade of commodities in Africa while supporting the AfCFTA’s objectives to boost regional trade integration on the continent. This signing is a major step towards establishing consistent standards between the two countries and sets the foundation for a replicable model across Africa,” he said.
GIK/APA