.From Attah Ede Makurdi

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of the Benue Investment and Property Company limited (BIPC), Dr Raymond Asemakaha, on Tuesday, revealed that beer distributors in Benue State generates between N850 to N870 million monthly from sale of beers to alcoholic consumers in the State.

He stated that it was realised that the people selling these beers were taken the money made from the sales out of Benue State, adding that the State government has concluded arrangement to embark on production of beer in order to retain the money in the State. Dr. Asemakaha who disclosed this to newsmen shortly after inspection tour of the brewery site , water and bakery factories located at KM16 Akile Gboko road and George Akume road in Makurdi respectively, said the beer’s name will be unveiled during its launch in December 2024..According to him, the need to set up new beer factor after the one established by past government went into moribund, was as a result of research carried out by BIPC which indicated that a huge amount of money leaves the state every month on beer consumption.”Asemakaha said the company was out to give Benue and Nigerians a high-premium quality beer made in the state using local raw materials. We will not go into competition with any brewery company therefore, would do everything for the people to enjoy a beer with a difference.“Basically, when we came on board, we understand that the rate of alcohol consumption in the state is between N850 to N870 million per month. We understand that the people that are selling these beers have taken this money out of Benue State.“So, we discovered and said no, all what we need to do is to float a new company that we can be able to observe and retain the cash flow within the system. That is why we are embarking on beer production.“This N850 to N870 million is a monthly sale of beers in the state, and within the month of December, they have made one billion naira in sales. So, one of the things we are doing is to help retain the cash flow within the system.”The expected production capacity is 180,000 bottles per day, because the fermentation period is 15 days. We will crash the price of beer in the state, but we are not going to compete with them (other breweries). We want to retain the cash within us. It is our own thing. So, the people here, our brothers and sisters, should be able to key in and take our products,” he said.”The brewery project would cost between ₦700 and ₦800 million and we will raise it through capital funding from Benue sons and daughters. The raw materials will also be source locally and we will commence full production by the first week of December.“What we want to do is that this season, we want to give people seedlings so that we can go back to production and take those products from them to plant and harvest,” Dr. ADr. Asemakaha explained the it would cost his company about N800million to set up the brewery saying the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state would be encouraged to own 23 percent of the shares while Benue indigenes would be advised to acquire shares in the factory “because we want our people to own the business.””We will raise capital out there and do this job so that you can have a share, I can also have a share and other people too so that we can control the business. We have 23 LGAs in the state and each one of them will take one percent share and the remaining ones will be giving to individual Benue citizens to subscribe”, Dr. Asemakaha stated On the water factory and bakery, the Managing Director said the two companies which were sited within the same premises at Tse Ayu, Along George Akume Way would cost the sum of N220m to complete assuring that they would be completed and commissioned on May 27, 2024.On his part, the Departmental Head, Business Development and Strategy, BIPC, Mrs. Theresa Abeda said the company was breaking new grounds in investments given the wealth of experience and business know-how of the man at the helm of affairs who had been doing much to transform the company.The Department Head, Real Estate and Infrastructure, Jerry Iorsun, on his part, assured that all projects being embarked upon by the company were of the best quality and in line with the acceptable construction standard

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), says it will award 12, 526 students with first Degree certificates during its 52nd Convocation Ceremony holding on May 10 and 11 at Nsukka Campus.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Igwe disclosed this during a pre convocation press briefing held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, on Tuesday.

He said the number of graduates increased by 1,082 when compared with the 51st Convocation figures.

“Out of 12,526 students, a total of 252 graduated with First Class Honours, 4, 834 graduated with 2nd Class Honours (Upper).

“5,883 graduated with 2nd Class Honours (Lower), 747 graduated with 3rd class honours, while 25 students graduated with Pass and unclassified were 746,’’ Igwe said.

According to him, a total of 1, 438 Postgraduate Degrees and Diplomas of the University will be awarded at the convocation ceremony

The breakdown showed that 412 would be awarded Doctorate Degrees, 961 Master’s Degrees and 75 Postgraduate Diploma students.

Igwe noted that the award of first degrees and diplomas of the university would be on May 10 at the Nsukka campus while the award of Higher Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Honorary Doctorate degrees would hold on May 11 at the same venue.

He said that the convocation lecture would be held on May 9, and would be delivered by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma on the topic, “Why Nigerian Universities should lead the way to a new country”.

“The lecture will be chaired by the former Military Governor of old Imo State, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd.),” he said.

He said the university under his watch had retained enviable position in the league of universities in the country and beyond.

Igwe whose tenure would be ending this year, said the 52nd Convocation ceremony would be his last as the vice chancellor of the university, having assumed office on June 10, 2019.

He listed some of the achievements to include the construction of new Department of Mass Communication and the Senate building, which according to him was one of the biggest infrastructural achievements at the University in the recent times.

Others include, increased academic output, staff promotions, new programmes, quality assurance, new policies, industrial harmony and peace in the university.

He pointed out that in keeping with the University’s tradition, 10 deserving retired professors of the University would be elevated to the distinguished status of Professor Emeritus.

While thanking Deans, Directors, staff and students of the University for their support, Igwe said he would not take them for granted. (NAN)

The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar has emphasised the need for proactive measures against the predicted 2024 flood disaster.

Addressing stakeholders at the National Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Umar highlighted the importance of early warning backed by early action to mitigate the impact of disasters.

NEMA’s mandate includes coordinating emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response activities across Nigeria.

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had predicted flood high-risk areas in several states and local government areas (LGAs) from April to November.

“As you may be aware, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have both released the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) respectively for 2024.

“The prediction informed that in April, May and June period, 25 States and 72 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are within flood high-risk areas, indicating heightened vulnerability to flooding.

“This vulnerability is said to persist into subsequent months of July to September with 33 States and 135 LGAs identified as high-risk areas, while the period between October and November has 19 States and 44 LGAs,” she said.

Following the predictions, NEMA convened an Experts’ Technical Meeting to analyse the disaster management implications and develop a 2024 climate-related disaster preparedness and mitigation strategy.

“Based on the predictions, various recommendations have been made as preparedness and mitigation actions to be taken by relevant stakeholders to reduce possible impacts.

“This also serves as early warning message to the general public,” she said.

Recommendations include community sensitisation, clearing of waterways, monitoring of dam discharge, and relocation of flood-prone communities.

Umar urged stakeholders to take the recommendations seriously to prevent loss of lives and property.

She thanked stakeholders already taking steps to address emergencies and encouraged others to follow suit.

The DG emphasised the need for regular coordination meetings among emergency sectors to effectively respond to adverse climate-related situations.

She then called on all participants to disseminate the messages to grassroots levels for appropriate action.

Umar reiterated NEMA’s commitment to reducing the impact of predicted flooding and providing necessary support to affected persons.(NAN)