International Agric Agency Rises To Address Low Food Production In Nigeria

October 30, 2021

The International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has taken up the challenge of addressing what it called “low food production” in Nigeria.

“Our problem in this country is low productivity, farmers’ yields are low.

“Science has proven that one of the ways to make sure that farmers increase their yields and make more money is to improve the quality of their seeds.”

The National Programme Coordinator (NPC), IFAD-VCDP, Dr. Balance Garba, who spoke today, October 30 at the closing of the one-month training for 120 youths on the production of quality rice seeds, held in Baddegi, Bida Local Government Area of Niger state, said that the essence of the training is to equip the young trainees, who will become entrepreneurs, on how to produce quality rice seeds to increase production.

Represented by the Agriculture Production Advisor, VCDP National Office, Abuja, Dr. Chika Unamm, Garba said that training of the youths, who would become producers of certified seeds, would go a long way to improve rice yields across the country.

“Farmers’ yields have been very low and we have discovered that it is because of wrong practices which farmers engage in, especially while procuring seeds.

“This is why the VCDP thought it necessary to train youths who will be producers of certified seeds within their communities so that farmers can have access to quality seeds to increase their harvest.”

He said that farmers could have up to six metric tonnes of rice per hectare if they would plant the right seeds.

Dr. Garba said that the trainees were drawn from the nine VCDP participating states of Anambra, Benue, Niger, Ogun, Ebonyi, Taraba, Nasarawa, Enugu and Kogi.

He said that the participants would be supported with start-up packs of seeds, fertilisers and other inputs which would help them with their first production, after which they would be expected to run the business as an enterprise.

Earlier, Dr. Matthew Ahmed, the state Programme Coordinator, called for training of more youths in rice seed production to create job opportunities as a strategy to tackle insecurity.

Ahmed urged the youths to liaise with the National Agricultural Seeds Council to produce quality seeds for farmers.

“With good quality seeds, farmers can harvest nine to 12 metric tonnes of rice per hectare of land.

“The target of the project is to ensure that farmers harvest up to 12 metric tonnes of rice per hectare of land.”

Dr. Shaibu Abraham, rice breeder/seed expert with the Africa Rice Centre and a consultant with the VCDP, said that the participants were trained on rice seed production technology as regards quality seeds, nursery, land preparation, good agricultural practices and water and fertiliser management.

Mr Roland Ohazuruike, a trainee from Anambra State, said that the training was impactful.

Ohazuruike, who thanked IFAD-VCDP for the training, gave the assurance that it would be well utilised.

The VCDP is a collaborative intervention of the Federal Government, IFAD and the nine participating states. It focuses on the value chains for cassava and rice. Source: NAN.

Expert Wants Overhaul Of Education Sector With Emphasis On Brain And Hand

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

An educationist, Dr. Joel Akowe, has advocated a total overhaul of Nigeria’s education sector, with emphasis on the beneficiaries being able to use his brain and hand.

Dr. Alokwe, who is a lecturer at the Kogi State Polytechnic, spoke today, October 30, as a Guest Speaker at the Graduation and Prize Giving ceremony of Baptist High School, Lokoja, on Saturday.

The lecturer insisted on what he called a “deliberate surgery” on the education sector for optimal performance.

According to him, the move is to entrench an educational system that places emphasis on the use of “brain and hand” for self-reliance.

Dr. Alokwe said that with self-reliance in place as the cardinal principle of Nigeria’s current educational system, there would be a set of activities geared towards self-discovery and its application.

He said that the need for faith-based educational institutions to set the pace in moral and functional education has become imperative to pull Nigeria out of the “disarticulated colonial educational system of literacy and numeracy.”

He advised the management of Faith-Based Educational Institutions to expose their students to the knowledge and fear of God through regular teaching and admonitions, and to ensure employment of qualified teachers.

He noted that the purpose of secondary education in Nigeria, as enunciated in the National Policy on Education (1988), is to produce and inspire the students with a desire for self-improvement and achieving excellence.

He added that the inability of the country to attain lofty goals has also resulted in cultism, examination malpractice, sexual abuse, unemployment, among others.

According to him, to reverse the negative trends in the educational sector, mission schools are expected to redefine their roles within the context of scriptures, to serve as the light of the world to others.

The Proprietor of the school, Rev. Theophilus Ajala, said the school would soon commence IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board), programme, as another one of its contributions to the educational development of Kogi.

Ajala expressed satisfaction with the brilliant performance of the students, and urged them to not only sustain the feat, but increase the tempo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that one of the highlights of the event was the launch of a play titled; “Joseph’s Wedding”, by Miss Beauty, a junior student of the school.

Source: NAN.

Federal Govt, Again, Extends NIM-SIM Linkage To End Of 2021

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

The Federal Government has again, extended of the deadline for the National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the end of this year, 2021.

The minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Is Ali Pantami, who dropped the hint today, October 30, advised the citizens and legal residents to complete the process before the end of the year 2021.

He said that the decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.

“The extension would also provide the enabling environment for the registration of Nigerians in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, as well as foreigners, diplomatic missions, those in other areas that were hitherto unreachable, and increase enrolments in countries with a significant number of Nigerians.”

A statement by the Head of the Corporate Communications, Nigerian Identity Management Commission, Mr. Kayode Adegoke said that the review of the progress of the exercise indicated that over 66 million unique National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been issued- an indication of progress achieved in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage.

“However, a significant part of the populace is yet to be registered into the National Identity Database (NIDB), which may be due to some challenges which the Federal Government has looked into and has made efforts to alleviate, hence the need to extend the deadline.

“As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country- this has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. The NIN-SIM verification process is supporting the Government’s drive to develop Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthen our ability to protect our cyberspace and support the security agencies.

The statement said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension to accommodate the yearnings of the populace and make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and link it with their SIM. “”The Federal Government will ensure that all innocent, law abiding citizens and residents will not lose access to the their phone lines as long as they obtain and link their NIN.

“Government will also continue to provide an enabling environment for investors in the telecommunications sector,

“The unique 66 million NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs linked to the NIN, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to ensure the success of the project. With the creation of additional NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, the remaining citizens and legal residents living in the country and the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs and link them with their SIMs before the end of the year.

“Consequently, the Honourable Minister enjoins Nigerians and legal residents to make use of the opportunity of the extension to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs. “On behalf of the Honourable Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, urge citizens and legal residents to take advantage of the window to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the the end of the year 2021.”

7 Northern States Owe Us N1.8 Billion Examination Fees – NECO

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has said that seven Northern state governments are indebted to it to the tune of N1.8 billion debt for the students they registered in 2019.

They are Zamfara, Adamawa, Kano, Gombe, Borno and Niger states.

The Council’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Wushishi, who spoke to newsmen in Minna, Niger State today, October 30 said: “ the State governments offered to pay examination fees for candidates from their states but when it came to the actual payment, they didn’t do it, and that has strapped NECO.”

Professor Wushishi lamented that most of the states owing the Council a lot of money are yet to remit to it, even when the examination body had not withheld the results of the defaulting states in the spirit of mutual respect, togetherness and understanding.

According to him, the Council had engaged the affected states in dialogue towards the amicable resolution of the matter.

Professor Wushishi reminded the defaulting states that it is with this money that NECO paid the staff involved in carrying out the examinations, in addition to buying needed materials for the smooth conduct of the Senior Secondary School Examination.

He, therefore, appealed to the governors of the Northern states to, as a matter of urgency, meet their obligations by settling their debts to enable NECO to diligently discharge its responsibilities.

Source: NAN.

We’re Working To Avert Farmers/Herdsmen Clash As Harvest Season Sets In – Gombe

Editorial staff

October 29, 2021

As farmers begin the 2021 harvest season, the Gombe State government has said that necessary measures are being taken to avert farmer-herder clash in the state.

Commissioner for Information and Culture, Julius Ishaya, who stated this in Gombe on Friday, added that the measures were part of the resolutions reached at an expanded Security Council meeting, held on Wednesday.

The meeting was presided over by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, with all the heads of security agencies in the state in attendance.

Ishaya said that the council directed that there should be no farming and grazing activities between 6 pm. and 6 am. across the state.

“Underage grazing in any part of the state has been prohibited, while the council directed farmers to harvest their produce as quickly as possible.

“Farmers are not allowed to burn the remnant of their produce after harvesting their crops.”

He said that this was disallowed so that herders could benefit from the remnant to feed their cattle.

Similarly, the commissioner said that migrating herders are not allowed in or out of the state until farmers must have harvested their produce.

He advised farmers to ensure that all harvesting activities were concluded before the end of January 2022.

Ishaya said that the state government had, earlier in the year, set up a committee to fine-tune ways of ensuring that there was no clash between farmers and herders in the state.

All these measures, he said, were to avoid any form of conflicts and protect the harvest for the present cropping season, “knowing full well that the season has not been good in some parts of the country.

“So the little we have cultivated, we should be able to protect them so we don’t find ourselves in food crisis.”

Ishaya appealed to the media to help disseminate the directives to various communities and support government’s move to ensure peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state

Alleged Absenteeism: Gombe Stops Salaries Of 781 Workers

October 29, 2021

The Gombe State government has suspended the payment of salaries of 781 workers for being absent from work in the month of September.

The state’s commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Magaji, at a news conference today, October 29, on Implementation of the Biometric Attendance Verification for Civil Servants. said that another 820 workers are to be investigated.

According to him, the state government saved N50 million from the suspension of salaries of the affected workers for the month.

Muhammad Magaji said that the 820 staff with salaries amounting to N56 million are to be investigated but would earn their salaries for the month.

“The grand total for the month of September for both suspensions and investigations; number of staff is 1, 601 with salaries amounting to N106, 935, 152.”

The commissioner said that all the workers in the 11 Local Government Areas of the state have been captured in the biometric system, while opportunity would be given to those that missed the biometric attendance to get enrolled.

He added that those that missed the exercise would now have until Nov. 11 to get their data captured, the final opportunity for workers to get enrolled if not captured.

According to Magaji, the first batch of the biometric machine had arrived and would be deployed.

He added that by the end of November, all machines would have arrived and deployed across the state.

“The data capture machines which would be used to take the attendance, expected to be deployed across the state are about 4, 000.”

He said that at the end of the mop up on Nov. 11, all workers’ employment details would have been captured as the data would help the state in planning.

“With the data, we will be able to check and know who is who and it will also help us in deployment of staff to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“We will know if we have gaps to fill after we have been able to weed out the so called ghost workers.

“Of course the space provided, government will look at it and ensure that our youths roaming the street are gainfully employed and paid from the money that we have been losing over these years.”

Source: NAN.

Be Fair To My Govt, President Buhari Pleads With Critics

Editorial staff

October 29, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to critics to be fair to his government in the way they pass judgement on the government.

Speaking today, October 29, at a meeting in Makkah with a select group of Nigerians resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he just ended a visit. the President asked the critics to compare the security situations in the North East and South South in 2015 and how things have improved as at now.

This was even as he swore by the Holy Qur’an that he would serve in accordance with the constitution and leave office when his tenure is over.

“I don’t believe in “Tazarce’’ (tenure extension). I don’t want anybody to start talking about and campaigning for unconstitutional extension. I will not accept that.”

President Buhari tacitly expressed support to efforts to increase the role of technology in the nation’s elections, arguing that the introduction of the card reader and electronic register was God’s answer to his prayers, having been cheated of his victory in three previous elections.

“After the third so-called defeat, I said, ‘God Dey’. My opponents laughed at me but God answered my prayers by bringing in technology. At that point, nobody can steal their votes or buy them.”

The President, who ended his visit to the Kingdom with the Friday Prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah said that he will continue to abide by the constitution in all its ramifications and he will at all times supervise and deal with his ministers on same basis.

He gave assurances at the meeting that in the balance of “eighteen months or so of my time left, whatever I can do to improve the life of Nigerians, I will do it for the country.”

The President commended diaspora Nigerians in the Kingdom for representing the country well and projecting its good image.

“My problem is the North West where people are killing and stealing from one another. I had to be very hard on them and I will continue to be very hard until we put them in line and bring back order.”

President Buhari urged Nigerians living in the country to respect the laws, remain law-abiding and do nothing to derogate from the many years of friendly and mutually beneficial relationships between the two countries.

A leader of the community, Dr. Abdulkadir Maikudi, who spoke on behalf of the group requested the President to assist the privately-run Nigerian International School in the Kingdom by equipping it to provide science and technical education.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal and the Consul-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Abdulkarim Mansur attested to the good conduct of the nearly 1.5 million Nigerians there.

According to them: “Nigerian professionals are doing well and projecting a good image of our country

Ember Months: FCT Administration Rolls Out Security Measures

Editorial staff

October 29, 2021

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has rolled out measures to ensure adequate security for the residents, as the world enters ember months.

At the monthly Security Committee meeting yesterday, October 28, Chaired by the FCT Minister, the Administration resolved to pay adequate attention to school security, even as the Minister directed that adequate budgetary provisions should be made for the fencing of schools across the Territory in the 2022 budget under preparation.

The Administration called on the residents to be security conscious and cooperate with security agencies by providing information whenever possible

It advised owners of uncompleted buildings being used as criminal hideouts, to immediately take steps to secure and complete them as appropriate sanctions will be taken against erring owners to the full extent of the law.

It also asked parents to monitor the social media activities of their children as vulnerable and young people have become victims of criminal elements operating in cyber space who endanger the lives and livelihoods of the children and their parents.

The Administration resolved to monitor and regulate the activities of scavengers, saying that the revised guidelines controlling their activities will be released by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board.

The Minister commended the security agencies for the noticeable decline in criminal activities across the FCT and called on them to sustain the momentum

He also commended the inter agency cooperation amongst the various security agencies and urged them to continue to work closely together in order to get the desired results.

5 Companies From Dangote Group To Storm Lagos Trade Fair

Editorial staff

October 29, 2021

Five companies from the Dangote Group are set to storm the 2021 Lagos Trade Fair, scheduled to take off next week.

The companies, according to a statement today, October 29 from Corporate Communications unit of the group, are Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, NASCON, Dangote Oil Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser.

It said that the fair has become a veritable venue for introduction of new innovations to Dangote products and that visitors to the group pavilion will have the opportunity of buying products of these companies at reduced prices.

The statement said that Dangote Fertiliser has commenced operations and will be operating a special helpdesk for customers and farmers who want information on distribution and application of fertiliser.

According to the statement, the desk i

will be manned by well-trained officers who are groomed to answer all questions and inquiries regarding the use of fertiliser.

“Dangote Group is of the view that the trade fair is coming at an appropriate time, close to the last month in the year. This affords traders and dealers the opportunity to buy and stock their shops while end users buy for yuletide.”

It said that the company will offer its salt packs, seasonings and stew mix to customers at the trade fair.

“The salt pack which is designed to endear the product to its teeming customers still comes in packs of 250g, 500g and 1kg. The design is to make the product more accessible and affordable for consumers and other end users. NASCON would be giving its customers a good treat at the fair even as it has added to the richness of products like Danq seasoning and stew/soup mixes and also embarked on an expansion of its distribution network to make the product more readily accessible to consumers.

“Dangote Sugar Refinery is bringing to the fair all its products ranges while its Sales/Marketing team will fully be on ground to attend customers and prospective new distributors. Customers are encouraged to visit the stand and buy products at Trade Fair prices.

“Dangote Cement, a regular participant at the Lagos Fair, will operate an office at the Dangote Group Pavilion. Customers and users of its cement products are encouraged to visit the office during the period of the fair for consultations with the team.

“Aside this, the statement said customers wanting to be distributor of any of the products from Dangote Group subsidiaries would have the opportunity to be well informed by staff of the companies who would be on hand to put the customers through on how to go about it.

“Besides the products being sold at reasonable prices, lots of gifts have been packaged for potential visitors to Dangote Stand with opportunity from wet sampling of its products.”

2023: Multimillionaire Son Of Ohinoyi Of Ebiraland In Kogi Joins Presidential Train

Greenbarge Reporters

October 29, 2021

Prince Malik Ado Ibrahim, one of the sons of a first class King, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Kogi State, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim has joined in the contest for the Presidency in the 2023 election under the umbrella of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

Speaking to newsmen yesterday, October 28 in Abuja, Malik said that his intention to run for the presidency in 2023 is as a result of what he called “leadership vacuum” in the country.

He said that Nigeria needs a leader who would unite the country and carry everybody along, irrespective religion and tribe.

“This is not an ordinary time in Nigeria. We have seen mediocrity reign. We have seen people losing interest in Nigeria.

“We have greatness within us but we are just letting things happen, things don’t just happen. If you do not sow, you will not reap. Don’t expect that if you leave things void, excellence will shine. Mediocrity will rule.

“I have a love for Nigeria. I lived outside this country for 47 years, studied, worked hard and I returned home, not because I didn’t have any other thing to do, but I have things to do here. I learned, I listened and I got involved.”

On why he joined the YPP, the multimillionaire Prince said: “I am joining YPP because if I try this in any other party in this country, I will be shoved to the bottom of the party.

“We are stuck giving the mantle of leadership to people who do not completely understand what the bulk of this population means. We don’t want a president by name, we demand leadership.”

He said that Nigeria needed a visionary leader, stressing that the current leadership of the country has failed woefully.

“I like to see the future. I like to dream big and I want to take people along that journey with me.

“I am telling every young person in Nigeria, you cannot give up. These are ordinary times that require extraordinary measures. Get involved. “There is a party waiting for you, called YPP.

“The establishment has failed us woefully. Nobody should be left behind. It is important that we have to find a ‘Unifier-in-Chief’: somebody who loves this country. Who is not going to ask you where are you from but will ask you what are the contents of your heart. What do you bring to the table?

“I am bringing a visionary form of leadership that I show in my companies, including my friends and my loved ones. I don’t want to dream small, I must dream big and I want to carry people along to the future.

“Nigeria needs visionaries: we need people with pedigree. We need people whose names count. “We want to build things here for the world to come and see, we want to do things that people will be proud of.”.

Speaking earlier, the national chairman of YPP, Emmanuel Bishop Amakiri, said that Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim resonates with the YPP ideology.

“We have provided the vehicle for Nigerians now, which is the YPP and the doors are open for like-minds: men and women of distinct character and moral nobility that can come and help to reset Nigeria.

“Nigeria needs a reset of leadership because all the things we are going through today in our country is as a result of leadership failure and I can tell you that once leadership is fixed, every other thing is possible.”

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