ARIWO !

Ageing growers leave Nigeria with cocoa headache

Old age – or, rather, limited life expectancy - is thwarting Nigeria's chances of realising its potential as a force in cocoa, reducing growers' willingness to adopt a longer-term view and plant new trees.

The country, already the fourth-ranked producer of the bean, is "capable of tripling current production within the next five years… simply by implementing its existing cocoa development policies", US Department of Agriculture attaches in Lagos said.

"It is estimated that only about 20% of Nigeria's 3.0m hectares of land suitable for cocoa production is currently in use," and land that is being farmed is often being done so inefficiently, thanks to ageing trees.

However, the ageing profile of Nigerian cocoa growers means they are reluctant to replace them, even though new varieties require only three years after planting before producing beans, compared with five years for traditional types.

Age issue

"A major problem with cocoa production in Nigeria is that the majority of Nigeria's cocoa farmers are above 60 years, and most cocoa trees are even older with diminished production," the attaches said

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The Strike that has paralyzed health delivery in Ghana

Tomorrow will be exactly 21 days since doctors in state hospitals across the country downed their stethoscopes. It would be three solid weeks without medical care in all state hospitals across the country.  In any society, it would be a crisis of epic proportions. In Ghana, it is business as usual.

Yesterday, President John Evans Atta Mills was on the streets of Accra, inspecting flooded areas in the company of the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, and the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, whose distinctive beard is one of the political landmarks in the Mills Administration.

While the Head of State was on the walk-about on the chaotic streets of Accra, officials of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) were locked up in a compulsory arbitration with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) at the offices of the Ghana Labour Commission, near ‘Boom’ junction in the national capital.

Yesterday’s meeting, according to The Chronicle sources, was brief. I am told the Labour Commission read out what was contained in a compulsory arbitration, which required that an organisation submitting itself to arbitration ought to ensure that its officials were at work. In effect, people on compulsory arbitration could not be on strike. The Ghana Medical Association could not have its members abandoning health care, while the association had availed itself of compulsory arbitration.

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Six storey building collapses in Lagos

LAGOS – There was pandemonium yesterday as a six-storey building located at 11 Aderibigbe street in Maryland area of Lagos collapsed.

An eye witness told Vanguard that at about 3.30 pm occupants of the building heard a loud noise which shook the building violently leaving cracks on the walls.

It was gathered that all the occupants of the building were evacuated when there were signs the collapse was imminent and they all gathered outside watching until the building gradually started giving way.

Three officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, who arrived the scene before the building collapsed at 6.30 pm had cordoned off the Aderibigbe Street and restricted movement of people and vehicles.

The building before it collapsed

Over ten different companies were occupying the building before the collapse which included Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN, SCIB Nigeria and Company Limited, Okay God Investment Limited, Klear Concept Limited, Global PMG Ltd Jira and Associates amongst others….

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Non-indigenes’ sack cracks Ndigbo unity

By ANAYO OKOLI, Umuahia
The recent decision of the Abia State Government to disengage non-indigenes in its work force has created cracks in the hitherto strong political and cultural harmony that existed among the five South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. As expected there have been verbal attacks from the states, especially the other four South East states.

When the Abia State Government hinted of the planned disengagement of the non-indigenes in August, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State was said to have consulted with the governors of the other four states. The other governors were said to have indicated their willingness to take back their indigenes to be returned.

But when the October 1, 2011 effective date of the policy came, governments of the other states reacted angrily, a position that queried the consultation said to have been made by Governor Orji…..

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Only an improved public transport system will collapse Okada

The Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the National Road Safety Commission, David Osafo-Adonteng says a massive improvement in the public transport system, is the surest way to discourage the patronage of commercial motorbike popularly known as Okada , an illegality that is being perpetrated across the country.
According to Mr. Osafo-Adonteng, the difficulty in accessing public transport and the massive traffic congestion in densely populated cities often compels commuters to opt for ‘Okada’, although he believes safety must be the travellers’ priority.
Mr. Adonteng said this in an interaction with journalists in Takoradi after a three day tour of the Western Region by the monitoring and Evaluation team.
He told Maxx News the Road Safety Commission is in talks with government to ensure that the public transport system is improved, if carnage is to be minimized on the road.
He said as far as the use of motorbikes for commercial purposes in Ghana is illegal, it is crucial that the laws are enforced with the safety of commuter in mind.
Mr. Adonteng said the Road Safety Commission in line with the UN’s 2010-2020 decade of action for road safety declaration will introduce spot fines and measures that will address over-speeding…

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Ex-governors on the run as EFCC declares ex-Gov Goje wanted

They are strong indications that many former governors are on the run following intelligence reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will pick more of them in the coming days.

This came as EFCC declared former governor of Gombe state, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, wanted over allegations of mismanagement and diversion of over N52 billion state funds.

Saturday Vanguard had learnt that some of the former governors who had earlier besieged Abuja for various reasons have hurriedly left  the city.

It was learnt that some of the governors were there in solidarity with their arrested colleagues but left town yesterday immediately they leanrt that the EFCC will arrest six more ex-governors who vacated office on May 29.

The EFCC source had said that, “In the next two or three weeks, I can tell you that at least six more ex-governors, who vacated office in May, will be invited for questioning.”

EFCC, Thursday, arrested former governors Gbenga Daniel of Ogun state, Alao Akala of Oyo state and Akwe Doma of Nasarawa state. They are being detained over alleged financial recklessness and misappropriation while in office. Sources say while former governors Akala and Daniel are being held at the Lagos office of the anti-graft agency, Doma is being detained in the Abuja office. A  visit to the Ikoyi, Lagos office of the agency yesterday morning indicated heavy security presence. The three governors are alleged to have stolen over N101 billion. Alao-Akala is to answer questions for …

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Fashola inaugurates N2.5bn Falomo bridge

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI & MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO
IKOYI—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Wednesday, commissioned the N2.5 billion Falomo

At the commissioning of the 115-metres long bridge, Fashola explained that the project, executed in collaboration with Lekki Concession Company, LCC, under a Public Private Partnership, was aimed at easing traffic gridlock in Lagos Island.

 

Falomo-bridge

He said the project, which was constructed by LCC, was the first of such magnitude and specification to be built anywhere in the country.

Fashola said: ”This is a deliverable of the 30-year PPP in 2006, pursuant to which the company is already rehabilitating and upgrading approximately 50 kilometres of the Eti-Osa Lekki–Epe Expressway and will also construct 20 kilometres of the Coastal Road.

”Of the N50 billion long- term finanacing raised by Lekki Concession Company to execute the on-going works on the Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe Expressway, a substantial portion of which represents Foreign Direct Investment into Lagos State, N2.5 billion had been used to construct the new Falomo On–Ramp, that we will all be driving on soon.”…

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Nigeria plans tougher sanctions against piracy

NIGERIA may soon roll out laws that would prohibit piracy and armed robbery within its territorial waters, going by indications from President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday, in Port Harcourt.

The President, who gave the hint of the impending legislation, said it was necessary to guarantee the stability and development of shipping business in the country, in view of the upsurge in piracy and armed robbery on the Nigerian waters.

Jonathan, who spoke through his Senior Special Adviser on Maritime Services, Leke Olugbenga Oyeleke, at the World Maritime Day celebration in the oil rich city, also gave a hint that vessels operating within Nigeria would henceforth be compelled to carry on them a special security device for protection against the scourge.

According to him, piracy and terrorism would be treated the same way, with severe punishment, after the law had been signed.

He said that combating terrorism and piracy on the nation’s inland waterway, was not top on his administration agenda in order to protect marine business and lives in the country.

Reaffirming government commitment to peace and stability of the country, he said government agencies in the nation’s maritime sector would be empowered to effectively man the country’s territorial waters.

As part of efforts to kick-start the war against pirates, Jonathan said the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency (NIMASA) would soon be directed to install tracking devices on all Nigerian flagged ships in addition to the Automatic Identification System (AIS). AIS is a special security device recommended globally for easy location of vessels, especially at distress time for search, rescue and other security opertations. The installation, was to ensure the safety and security of Nigerian vessels.

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Eko Rail's Trains Begin Journey to Lagos

First of Toronto's Former Fleet Set for Refurbishment, Delivery

LAGOS, Nigeria, Sept. 27, 2011 /CNW/ -- The first of hundreds of Toronto subway cars that will furnish a new surface rail line in Lagos, Nigeria, has left Canada for the last time, and is now en route to Africa's largest city.

A Nigerian company, Eko Rail, has agreed to purchase 255 of the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) best-equipped subway cars for use in a much-needed Lagos Blue Line mass transit system. The TTC is in the process of purchasing larger "Rocket" trains to increase passenger capacity on their lines.

As the electric-powered cars become surplus and are pulled offline in Toronto, they will be individually trucked to the United States for a rebuilding by a team of world-class rail engineers. The cars will also undergo track-width (or "gauge") conversion and interior refurbishment before being shipped to Lagos.

The trains have been inspected by the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, who endorsed the plan to purchase them following his official visit to Toronto in May 2011.

"The shipment of the first car is an important step in Eko Rail's efforts to support the Governor's transformation agenda for the city," said David Potter, Eko Rail's Chief Engineer. "Ultimately, the Blue Line, with this modernized fleet, will bring massive benefits to Lagos' economic development and improve Lagosians' quality of life."

Each of the TTC cars come equipped with air conditioning, automatic sliding doors, solid-state traction control, energy saving regenerative braking, and a wide range of modern safety features and amenities. Once equipped with a state-of-the-art, GPS-based train control system made by General Electric, Eko Rail's trains will provide faster, safer, cheaper and more reliable transportation for Lagosians.

Eko Rail is entering into an innovative public-private partnership with the government of Lagos State to equip, operate and maintain the Blue Line for 25 years. Negotiations are being finalized and a concession agreement is expected to be signed in the near future. Lagos State has already started to make significant progress with building the rail tracks and stations. Eko Rail is utilizing URS Scott Wilson, one of the world's leading railway infrastructure consultancies, to ensure that the infrastructure is built to global standards….

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Nigerian President and UN chief discuss maternal health, piracy and security issues

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria

23 September 2011 –

Maternal health, piracy and security across West Africa have topped the agenda during talks between Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. Ban encouraged Mr. Jonathan, who is the current chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to remain engaged in helping countries in the region facing security challenges, such as Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.

The two officials – who met yesterday on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s annual general debate – also exchanged views about the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea as well as global efforts to improve the state of maternal health, according to information released by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson….

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