ABUJA – The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved a Draft Bill for establishment of a Bio-Technology Development Agency aimed at promoting, coordinating and setting bio-technology priority for the country.
Supervising Minister of Information, Nurudeen Muhammed, said this when he briefed State House correspondents after the weekly FEC Meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Today in council, the Minister of Science and Technology presented another memorandum to seek for council’s approval to transmit to the National Assembly a Draft Bill (2014) for an act to establish a National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) and other related matters.
“Council had in 2001 approved the National Biotechnology policy and an Agency was established later that year to implement the policy which is aimed at promoting, coordinating and setting research and development priority in Biotechnology for Nigeria.
“However, the Agency had operated since then without any legislation backing its existence.
“Council deliberated extensively and noted the relevance of this bill in research development, food production, export promotion, import substitution, manufacturing and job creation, which are consistent with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
“It unanimously approved for transmission to the National Assembly a Draft Bill 2014 for an act to establish the National Biotechnology Development Agency and other related matters,“ he said
According to the minister, the Act will also ensure improved service delivery, efficiency and promote sustenance in the development and application of acceptable and profitable technologies through strategic investments in Biotechnology Research and Development to support innovation.
He said the council also ratified an instrument for the establishment of consultative mechanism for the management of water resources between Nigeria and seven other African countries.
Muhammed said the countries are: Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
He said the move was part of efforts of African member countries to address common environmental challenges and manage boundary water resources and the issue of climate change, among others things.
“The Minister of Water Resources presented a memo to seek council’s approval for the ratification of the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a consultation mechanism for the integrated management of water resources of the Iullemeden, Taodeni/Tranezrouft Aquifer Systems among seven countries located in the trans-boundary aquifer systems in the West and North Africa.
“The MoU will facilitate partnerships to address common environmental challenges including management of trans-boundary water resources and the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, notably those addressing desertification, biodiversity and climate change.
“The main objective of the project is to evaluate the water potential and to enhance the improvement of the general knowledge of the Iullemeden, Taodeni/Tranezrouft Aquifer systems, identifying major trans-boundary risks resulting from over exploitation, climate change and elaborating and monitoring water resources development and its vulnerability indicators.
“After deliberations, council approved the ratification of the MoU and directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to prepare the requisite instrument of ratification,“ he said.
In her contribution, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, said the MoU would go a long way in complementing government’s efforts toward reducing the impact of climate change on the country.
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, told the correspondents that the council agreed to notify the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of Nigeria’s Trade Facilitation Agreement implementation commitment to allow the country to enjoy the benefit of the agreement.
Aganga said that the implementation of the agreement would reduce trade cost, boost trade flows, and improve Nigeria’s gross domestic product. (NAN)
