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CBN approves emergency maize import for 4 companies
The NSC warned that only the 4 companies are allowed to import maize into the country.
The Nigeria Customs Service has confirmed the 4 companies that have been given the CBN emergency approval to imports 262,000 tons of maize into Nigeria.
The companies are Wacot Limited, Chi farms Limited, Crown Flour Mills Limited and Premier Feeds Company Limited.
This was disclosed in a memo with reference number: NCS/T&T/I&E/021/S.93/VOL on Thursday evening signed by the Deputy Comptroller General, T.M ISA and seen by Nairametrics.
The letter said, “in line with the government’s policy on food security, sufficiency and striking a balance between food imports and local production capacities to meet anticipated shortfall, the Central Bank of Nigeria has granted approval for the underlisted companies to import maize in the quantities stated below”.
The memo also noted the banks to conduct the transactions with, the names of the companies, and the quantity each company is approved to import.
Wacot Limited, approved to import 60,000 tons , conducting half of the approved capacity with Citi Bank and Titan Trust Bank respectively.
Chi Farms Limited will import 60,000 tons of maize banking with Titan Trust Limited.
Crown Flour Mills, with the lowest capacity approval, would import 22,000 tons via Coronation Bank.
Premier Feeds Company Limited got the highest capacity approval at 120,000 tons and will bank with Zenith Bank for the transaction.
The Nigeria Customs Service warned that only the above 4 companies are allowed to import maize into the country and the exercise would run strictly from August to October.
On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari had announced the Federal government’s plan to release 30,000 tons of maize from the national reserves to animal feed producers to deal with the high cost of poultry production after the ban on maize imports.
“We are very mindful of the challenge of high food prices, at a time when the economy is already in a slowdown caused by the global coronavirus situation, and are doing everything in our power to bring down the prices of food items across the country,” Buhari said.
Coronavirus
Facebook launches social media drive to boost Covid-19 acceptance in Nigeria
This initiative is coming at a time when a good number of Nigerians are yet to accept the Covid-19 vaccine and promised not to take them.
Facebook has announced the launch of a new social media drive allowing people to add frames and graphics to their profiles on Facebook and Instagram, saying they have either had the Covid-19 vaccine or plan to do so.
The American Technology conglomerate is collaborating with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and other key regulatory bodies within the Health Sector in the country in driving this initiative.
According to Punch, this disclosure was made known through a statement issued by Facebook on Friday, saying it would use its scale and speed to reach people faster and help them get credible information, get vaccinated and come back together safely.
This initiative is coming at a time when a good number of Nigerians are yet to accept the Covid-19 vaccine and promised not to take them.
Facebook said that the new range of Facebook frames and Instagram GIPHY stickers allow people to share their support for getting vaccinated with their family and friends, as the access to Covid-19 vaccines intensify across Nigeria.
The frames and stickers include banners that say ‘Let’s Get Vaccinated’ or ‘I Got My Covid-19 Vaccine’ which would appear overlaid on the edge of their profile picture next to a blue bubble that reads ‘We Can Do This.’
Facebook, pointed out that due to the reluctance of millions of people to accept the vaccine, it was launching the profile frames with research showing how social norms could have a major impact on people’s attitude and behaviour when it comes to their health.
Facebook’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Adaora Ikenze, said, “We’re promoting these unique profile frames and GIFs to all Nigerian Facebook and Instagram users to raise vital vaccine confidence.’’
The new frames and GIPHY stickers let you share your support for COVID-19 vaccines, and see that others you respect and care about are doing the same.”
On his part, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said partnerships like the one secured with Facebook demonstrated the resilience of the human spirit to endure, innovate and reemerge with the promise of hope that COVID-19 vaccination offered to everyone.
What you should know
Facebook has in recent times, have been taking aggressive measures to do away with vaccine misinformation across the globe.
A top executive of Facebook had said that the company has fact-checkers in dozens of countries around the world, who are really working round the clock to look at misinformation about vaccines, as it sees it as absolutely imperative to try to get misinformation off the platform and redirect people to accurate information.
Facebook said that it started removing false information about Covid-19 vaccines in December, and expanded the list of offending vaccine-related claims two months later.
Hospitality & Travel
How to ensure airfares are not overpriced
it is important to speed up general aviation development to create options for the flying public.
Three weeks ago, Nairametrics reported that airfares in Nigeria have risen by about 100%. This development was confirmed by some airline operators, who also offered suggestions on how passengers could minimise air travel cost.
In an interview, the Chairman of West Link Airlines, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia, explained that it is important to speed up general aviation development to create options for the flying public.
According to him, the speedup would take away some of the inherent challenges in the industry that caused the fares to soar, things that affect the airlines at the core and militate against their survival.
READ: Cost of preparing jollof rice in Nigeria rises by 7.8% in Q1 2021 – SBM
He said, “More airlines are coming onstream, this will mitigate this problem. In defence of the airlines, there are many factors that affect ticket pricing in Nigeria. Aviation does not enjoy oil money anymore.
Airlines are faced with inconsistent fuel pricing and they also pay import duty for spare parts even when the government has granted waivers, etc. As I speak, I still pay duty for all parts I import to service our aircraft. I don’t even know if there is anything we produce locally that we use to operate our aircraft these days besides catering.”
Chairman of United Nigerian Airlines, Chief Obiora Okonkwo attributed the prices hike to the inconsistent jet fuel price or unavailable jet fuel and lack of forex to enable the system operate like clockwork.
He said, “Honestly speaking if you look at the cost of operations in this industry, I’ll say that there may not be so much amount paid that we can regard as too much. You will not like it.”
READ: Lagos to Abuja flight ticket surge to N100,000 as Christmas approaches.
What you should know
Nairametrics had reported that the cost of airline tickets in Nigeria increased by almost 100% in the last one month.
Recent checks by Nairametrics confirms that ticket fares to cities like Port Harcourt, Ilorin, and northern states like Kebbi, Borno, Adamawa and Kano have increased by as much as 100% in the last one month.
Business and student travellers who spoke to Nairametrics about their experience expressed shock and resentment about the rising cost of airfare in Nigeria especially as travelling by road continues to be risky due to the activities of bandits and kidnappers.
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