The Federal Government has restated its commitment to deepening regional trade integration and promoting exports through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb.

Sola Enikanolaiye, stated this on Saturday in Bauchi at the ETLS sensitisation workshop for the North-East zone.

The workshop was organised with the theme: “Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).

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Enikanolaiye urged local businesses and manufacturers to take advantage of the scheme to increase production, create jobs and boost wealth creation.

He said the sensitisation was aimed at creating awareness and improving businesses’ and manufacturers’ understanding of the ETLS and its benefits.

According to him, the scheme is designed to enhance economic cooperation and trade integration among ECOWAS member states and accelerate regional economic growth.

The minister said the ETLS would provide market access for manufacturers and businesses across the ECOWAS member states.

He added that the scheme would help businesses expand their customer base, increase revenue and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and prosperity.

Enikanolaiye described the ETLS as a cornerstone of regional trade integration and free trade, aimed at establishing a common economic union among member states.

He said the scheme sought to eliminate customs duties on qualifying products and promote the implementation of a unified customs policy within the subregion.

“The scheme will provide an opportunity to foster greater economic integration and unlock the potential of intra-regional trade.

“The ministry prioritises the wellbeing of Nigerians by involving people at the grassroots in its programmes and foreign policy formulation,” he said.

The minister urged businesses and manufacturers in the North-East to utilise the opportunities provided by the scheme to expand production and promote sustainable economic growth.

He also called for the processing of agricultural produce and raw materials in Bauchi and other parts of the region to support industrial growth and strengthen value chains.

According to him, improved value addition would promote exports, economic diversification and regional trade integration.

Enikanolaiye said the initiatives were part of efforts to support the government’s target of achieving a $1 trillion economy.

Inaugurating the workshop, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State said the ETLS aligned with his administration’s development agenda of positioning the state as a trade hub in the region.

Represented by his Deputy, Auwal Jatau, the governor reiterated his commitment to job creation and economic diversification through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

Mohammed said the scheme should create an enabling environment for the integration of the North-East trade corridor, attract investments and remove barriers to legitimate trade.

He assured that the state government would support programmes aimed at promoting manufacturing, businesses and trade.

The governor commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders for organising the workshop.

He called for stronger partnerships to mobilise greater participation in the scheme.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Dunoma Ahmed, said the ETLS provided local manufacturers, farmers and entrepreneurs with opportunities to expand their businesses across the subregion.

Ahmed, represented by Amb. Ali Gombe, stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.

On his part, Aminu Ashimi, President of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, called for continuous training of businesses on the ETLS and the formalisation of informal trade to improve productivity and stimulate economic growth.

Ashimi pledged to sensitise members of the chamber on the scheme and encourage them to register under the ETLS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The workshop was attended by manufacturers, entrepreneurs and government officials from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. (NAN)

From Yagana Ali, Yola

The Adamawa State Government has renewed its commitment to improving the livelihoods of farmers by promoting safer, more sustainable agricultural practices and creating opportunities for local farmers to compete in both domestic and international markets.

The government made the commitment on Friday, September 4, 2026, during a capacity-building workshop on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and pesticide management organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), North-East Regional Office, Yola.

The training, held at the Government Lodge in Numan, Numan Local Government Area, brought together more than 60 smallholder farmers and other agricultural stakeholders from Numan and Demsa Local Government Areas.

Representing the State Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Joab Haggai Sahma, at the event, the Assistant Director in the Department of Commerce, Aliyu Yahaya Shehu, said the state government recognised farmers as critical drivers of economic growth and food security.

Shehu said the government remained committed to supporting farmers through the provision of agricultural inputs and other interventions designed to improve productivity, strengthen livelihoods and make agricultural products more competitive.

He noted that the state government, in collaboration with NEPC, had also facilitated the free registration of potential exporters, describing the initiative as an important step towards opening the door for more farmers and entrepreneurs to participate in the international trade market.

He urged farmers to take advantage of the opportunities available through government agencies and adopt modern and responsible farming practices that would enable them to produce quality commodities that meet the standards required in both local and international markets.

“Farmers must see agricultural production not only as a means of feeding their families but also as a viable business capable of connecting them to larger markets,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of NEPC, Mrs Nonye Ayeni, the Council’s North-East Regional Coordinator, Dr. Ben Anani Egon, said the workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of smallholder farmers on the safe, responsible and effective use of pesticides.

According to him, the training focused on critical areas including the proper handling, storage and application of pesticides, personal safety, environmental protection and compliance with relevant agricultural standards and regulatory requirements.

Egon explained that Nigerian agricultural commodities destined for international markets had continued to face rejection at border control points because of contaminants, particularly pesticide residues such as dichlorvos, exceeding the maximum permissible residue limits.

He said such rejections could undermine farmers’ incomes, damage Nigeria’s reputation in international markets and discourage potential buyers from sourcing agricultural products from the country.

He stressed that improving farmers’ knowledge of pesticide management was therefore essential to ensuring that agricultural commodities produced in Nigeria were safe, healthy and acceptable to consumers around the world.

The NEPC coordinator said the workshop was part of the Council’s pesticide management project under its risk management initiative, which seeks to tackle the rejection of Nigerian agricultural exports arising from excessive pesticide residues.

He assured farmers of NEPC’s continued partnership and support, noting that the Council would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to improve the quality, safety and marketability of agricultural products from Adamawa State.

One of the resource persons, Hajara Adamu, who delivered a presentation on Good Agricultural Practices, took participants through practical approaches to pesticide application and other safe farming techniques.

Adamu encouraged farmers to embrace environmentally friendly and sustainable methods capable of protecting their health, preserving the environment and maintaining the long-term productivity of their farms.

She also challenged participants to become ambassadors of safe agricultural practices by sharing the knowledge acquired with other farmers in their communities.

For the participants, the training provided more than just technical knowledge; it offered a clearer understanding of how improved farming practices could translate into better-quality produce, stronger incomes and greater access to lucrative markets.

Two participants, Clara Heman and Ark Audu, described the workshop as timely and impactful, saying the lessons had improved their understanding of safe pesticide use and modern agricultural practices.

They pledged to share the knowledge with other farmers in their respective communities to ensure that the benefits of the training extended beyond the participants.

The workshop concluded with the distribution of agricultural inputs, including knapsack sprayers, protective boots and other farming tools, to support participants in applying the lessons learned and boost agricultural productivity.

The initiative is expected to contribute to safer farming practices in Adamawa while strengthening the state’s capacity to produce quality agricultural commodities capable of meeting the growing demands of both domestic and international markets.

From Francis Sadhere, Delta

The Delta State Government has commenced reforms aimed at liberalising the state’s power sector, attracting private investment and boosting electricity generation and distribution across the state.

The State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this on Friday in Asaba while addressing journalists at a press conference.

He was accompanied by the Executive Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Felix Ofou.

Aniagwu said the reforms were designed to deepen private-sector participation in the power sector through liberalisation and public-private partnerships (PPPs), stressing that the government could no longer shoulder the responsibility of running businesses alone.

He said the state was exploring its abundant gas resources as a major source of fuel for power generation, particularly at the Kwale Free Trade Zone, which is part of the state’s special economic zone.

According to him, potential investors were taken to the zone during the recent Delta State Economic and Investment Summit to enable them assess first-hand the availability of gas for electricity generation.

The commissioner explained that increased power generation within the state would reduce pressure on the national grid and free up electricity for other consumers.

Aniagwu cited the 8.5-megawatt Independent Power Plant located behind the state Secretariat in Asaba as an example of the government’s efforts, noting that the facility had enabled the Secretariat complex to operate independently of the national grid.

The commissioner also revealed that the state government had entered into a partnership with Supply Power for the generation of an additional 120 megawatts of electricity for the national grid.

He said the initiative was intended to strengthen electricity supply and provide a more reliable power base for small and medium-scale businesses, many of which depend on electricity for their operations.

Aniagwu said the state government had also intervened in areas traditionally regarded as the responsibility of electricity distribution companies, explaining that the administration was determined to prevent inadequate power supply from stifling economic development.

He identified the extension of the electricity grid from Abraka towards the Ndokwa axis as one of the interventions, saying the project was aimed at bringing more communities into the electricity network.

The commissioner, however, criticised the practice whereby communities are compelled to provide transformers and other electricity infrastructure, only for distribution companies to take over the facilities and subsequently collect electricity bills without adequately recognising the investments made by the communities.

He said the state would continue to support initiatives aimed at energising communities because reliable electricity would stimulate businesses, create jobs and provide opportunities for young people.

According to him, reducing unemployment and idleness could also contribute to addressing some security challenges across the state.

Aniagwu further disclosed that the government was working with the Ministry of Energy and a committee established to develop an appropriate regulatory framework for the state’s emerging power sector.

He said the proposed energy commission would be responsible for regulating new power producers, determining appropriate tariffs and overseeing electricity distribution networks.

The commissioner explained that effective electricity distribution required careful planning, including determining the most suitable infrastructure for each location, whether overhead, underground or other forms of power lines.

He stressed that proper regulation was essential to protect residents from electrocution and other dangers while ensuring fair pricing and safeguarding electricity infrastructure from vandalism and other abuses.

Aniagwu said the ultimate goal of the reforms was to establish a more efficient, sustainable and investment-friendly power sector that would provide reliable electricity to businesses, communities and households across Delta State.