…Forwards drafts to N’Assembly
From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, has approved eight draft bills for the establishment of new Federal Government agencies and authorities in the transport sector.
The council devoted its time to discussing three major issues, the approval of the report of the cabinet committee on the transport sector reform draft bill, the approval of the draft for the establishment of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, and the approval of the draft National Policy on Staple Crops Processing Zones.
These major initiatives, according to the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, constitute a major breakthrough in the efforts by the administration to continue to strengthen the various sectors of the economy and of the society to continue to provide opportunities for Nigerians to raise quality of life and to deepen already existing efforts by government to move the nation forward.
Abati, who briefed alongside the Ministers of Trade and Investment, Segun Aganga; Environment, Laurencia Laraba Malam; Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina; Transport, Idris Umar and Works, Mike Onolememen, said the draft bills are to be forwarded with immediate effect to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
The transport sector bills are the National Transport Commission Bill (2015); National Roads Fund Bill and the Federal Roads Authority Bill.
The rest are Nigerian Ports and Harbour Authority Bill (2015); National Inland Waterways Authority Bill (2015) and Nigeria Railway Authority Bill (2015) as well as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Bill.
Speaking on the approved National Policy on Staple Crops Processing Zones, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, whose state was the pioneer state that set up a Staple Crops Processing Zone in Alape, Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of the state, explained that he had earmarked 15 hectares of land for the project, which is expected to provide about 10,000 job opportunities to people of the state.
According to him, “Kogi is the pioneer Staple Crop Processing Zone for cassava. We have cassava processing zone in Alape in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area.
Source : SunOnline
