The African Development Bank (AfDB) has disclosed plan to partner with Ogun state government on special agro industrial processing zone, describing the State as a powerful ally in its development programmes and project implementation.
Penpushing reports that the Special Adviser to the President of the Bank on Industrialization, Prof Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, made this known shortly after his meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun in his Oke-Mosan office, Abeokuta.
The Special Adviser who spoke in an interview with journalists explained that the visit was to discuss on One Agenda, Item 18, that focuses on the development of the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone and to clarify the subsidiary loan agreement between the state and the Federal Government.
‘Today, we have clarity on how best to develop the hub, including the Agricultural Transformation Centre, to ensure that the significant Zone arrangements see the light of the day’, the special adviser stated.
Penpushing further reports that Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owotomo in his remarks said Ogun state stands to gain from having many Agricultural Transformation Centres as they would feed the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone with raw materials.
The commissioner added that his ministry was currently distributing inputs to farmers as the farming season approaches to enable them to have bountiful harvest and improve their livelihood, disclosing that capacity building was being intensify by training Extension Officers to enlighten small holder farmers on how best to use the inputs given to them, calling on farmers to follow climate smart farming to plant for good harvest.
Penpushing also reports that in a related development, the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunoso Okeke revealed that it has taken steps to guarantee the safety of trucks conveying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the country.
The Director General of the Organization made this known in response to the explosion that occurred in Abeokuta last weekend after a meeting with Governor Abiodun at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Penpushing reports that he described the incident as unfortunate, explaining that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) remains a clean and cheapest fuel that is environmentally friendly and an alternative to other traditional petroleum products.
‘I am here in respect to the incident that occurred last Saturday. I am here to let the governor know that we now have safety standards that relate to the CNG operations, which President Bola Tinubu will launch on May 29 this year.’, he said
‘As you all know, the President has directed that vehicles will now run on CNG, and CNG is the alternative to the traditional fuel, and it is environment friendly. I am also here to inform the governor that we now have two standards that have also been released and the standards will help us in ensuring that there is safety in the operations of CNG in the country’, he added
Penpushing further reports that Okeke while sympathizing with the family who lost their loved one and those who lost their means of livelihood said his agency would look into the immediate and remote cause of the accident with a view to proffering solution.
The Director General pointed out that the Nigerian government was committed to the use of the Compressed Natural Gas (CGN) as an alternative to drive the country’s economy.
‘It is a one-off incident and we are going to look at what led to it and come up with measures to ensure that going forward, the CNG operations will be safe for all and ensure that the public is confidence on it use,” he said.
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