NEWS
Nigeria Has The Cheapest Food In W/Africa, Says NGF
AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State has asserted that food in Nigeria is the most affordable in West Africa.
During a visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, he, along with Governors from Taraba, Kogi, and Ondo States, expressed the need for Nigeria to reach a point where it can export its food.
Abdul Razaq acknowledged the difficulties faced with the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme, describing it as a challenging endeavor.
He said “What I’ve also noticed is that in West Africa, food in Nigeria is the cheapest in West Africa and our neighbours are using our food to trade.
“We have also noted that food in Nigeria is the cheapest in West Africa, and our neighbours are using our food to trade. They are taking our soybeans and other stuff to make a foreign exchange for themselves
“That is not a bad thing; what we need to do is ramp up production and increase yield per hectare so that we can feed West Africa, feed ourselves 100 per cent, and export food. That is the goal we must achieve.
AbdulRazaq further emphasized that addressing food security is a comprehensive task, highlighting the importance of focusing on Nigeria’s initiatives for dry-season farming.
He added “We have come to the realisation that we now have a new Ministry of Agriculture. Because over the last four years, before this administration, the engagement was not too productive because the CBN had taken over most of what the Agriculture Ministry was doing. Our trips to the ministry at that time were not fruitful.”
Earlier, the minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, outlined a strategic vision aimed at significantly boosting year-round agricultural production.
The primary goals include curbing food inflation, fostering employment, reducing poverty, stimulating economic growth, and promoting inclusivity.
Expressing confidence in collaborative efforts, Kyari informed governors about the initiation of the second phase of the Dry Season Food Production Programme under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NASG-AP).
He shared that responses from the Governors of the 36 States and FCT to Expressions of Interest have been encouraging.
He said “There is no question that if we get things right now, and without an iota of doubt with all hands on the plough, future programmes and projects will enable us to more seamlessly achieve all-year-round agricultural production with beneficial consequences for economic empowerment, inclusiveness, and ultimately wider opportunities for value addition, food and nutrition security, as well as industrialization.
“We are putting behind us the challenges encountered during the first phase of dry-season farming with wheat in 15 participating states.
“After a detailed and careful evaluation of some of the glitches that characterised that phase and with collective stakeholders’ proposals, there will be additional implementation guidelines for the second phase commencing soon.
“Your Excellencies, the phase we are about to get into is particularly crucial because, unlike phase one for wheat production, which involved only 15 states, the second phase will cover the entire country.
“We would therefore like you to use the instrumentality of your offices as governors to ensure the readiness of your respective states for optimal participation in this second phase for the cultivation of rice, maize, and cassava.” he added
The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has issued a stern warning against any attempt to establish a Sharia Court in the state without legal authorization.
This comes in response to the circulation of a digital notice announcing the launch of such a court.
In a statement personally signed on Tuesday, Governor Abiodun emphasized that Sharia Courts cannot be legally established by individuals or groups outside the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
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He reaffirmed that the state government only recognizes courts constituted through the legal framework of the Constitution and state laws.
“No Sharia Court is authorized to operate within Ogun State,” Abiodun stated. “The courts legally empowered to adjudicate disputes in the state are Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.”
He further clarified that Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework in Ogun State and warned against the operation of unauthorized courts or assemblies.
According to the Governor, the state government respects the rights of individuals to practice their religion and apply their faith in personal matters.
However, this freedom does not extend to the creation of institutions or courts without proper legal backing.
Governor Abiodun directed all individuals involved in the creation or operation of the illegal Sharia Court to immediately cease all activities and disband the entity.
He also urged the public to disregard any summons, documents, or communications from the unauthorized court and to report such incidents to the authorities.
“The Ogun State Government will uphold the rule of law, ensure respect for the legal and judicial framework within the state, and prevent any breakdown of law and order,” the statement concluded.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after attending the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The presidential aircraft, 001, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 7:40 pm on Tuesday, according to the State House media office.
The President was received by top government officials, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
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The summit, organized by the Tanzanian government in partnership with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, centered on advancing “Mission 300,” an initiative designed to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
During the event, African leaders, private sector representatives, development partners, and civil society organizations discussed strategies to overcome the continent’s energy challenges.
Discussions focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and accelerating energy access in underserved regions, with an emphasis on mobilizing private sector investment.
On the opening day, ministers from participating nations presented their national energy strategies, known as compacts, which outlined their plans to achieve universal energy access within five years.
The summit culminated in the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration by Heads of State, including President Tinubu, which charts a unified path for achieving the goals of Mission 300.
In his address, Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa’s energy sector and emphasized the country’s commitment to universal energy access.
He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and detailed its strategy for integrated energy delivery across the continent.
“Nigeria remains committed to achieving universal access to energy and will continue to champion solutions that integrate renewable energy and enhance efficiency across Africa,” Tinubu said.
The President was accompanied by key members of his administration, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; and Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen.
An Air Busan passenger plane caught fire at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea on Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of 176 people on board, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) as the aircraft, which was bound for Hong Kong, ignited near its tail section.
A total of 169 passengers and seven flight attendants were evacuated using inflatable slides, Yonhap reported.
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One person sustained injuries during the evacuation, but no further details about the injury or the fire’s cause were immediately available.
South Korea’s Busan fire authorities were not reachable for comment, according to AFP.
This incident comes just weeks after South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in decades.
Recall that on December 29, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash-landed and exploded after striking a concrete barrier at Muan International Airport.
The crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.
According to Flightradar24, Air Busan’s fleet is composed entirely of Airbus aircraft.
The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.
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