The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • ‘Give monarchs a role’

    A community, Lafiagi in Edu local government area of Kwara state has urged the National Assembly to assign a role in the constitution to traditional rulers.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, to herald the 40th coronation of Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Sa’adu Haliru, Turakin Lafiagi Abdulrahman Shehu said that as custodians of the people’s culture, traditional rulers should be given a role backed up by the constitution.

    Alhaji Shehu dismissed calls in some quarters for self-determination and sovereignty as misplaced, adding that “it is correct to connect with your kith and kin but not [to the] detriment of the country’s indivisibility.”

    He said that the grand finale of the coronation which comes up December 5, 2015, would be graced by Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

    He said that “there will be conferment of traditional titles on some prominent and deserving personalities in the country; specifically, six distinguished and eminent Nigerians are to be conferred with traditional titles.”

     

  • ‘Be patient with Buhari’

    ‘Be patient with Buhari’

    Do not panic; the Federal Government is on course. Just be patient.

    That summed up the message from the spiritual father of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Worldwide, Most Rev Samuel Abidoye, as well as Chief Abdulraheem Oladimeji, founder of the Al-Hikmah University, a private institution.

    The duo said President Muhammadu Buhari means well for the country.

    Speaking with reporters during the 75th international conference of the C&S, Rev Abidoye said, “If you look at how he appointed his ministers, you will know that he means something. They sent names to him, he refused, he chose those he knew will work with him and he had to be prepared and be careful before starting the whole thing. I want Nigerians to give him time.

    “He promised to [turn] things round. With the steps that he is taking now, we are sure that he will do something for Nigeria which we will not forget, but let us just give him a bit of time more.

    “Those who were there before Buhari were rushing and they did not do anything fantastic. To be able to get something good, you have to be patient.

    Let us leave him and see what he will do and I am certain something will be coming from him.

    “He is being very careful and he is not bordered about what people are saying. He is going by his own idea. He has been there before. During his time, he instilled disciplined.

    Chief Oladimeji spoke during the celebration of this year’s hijra, saying, Nigerians “have started experiencing change under the current government, though it might not be glaring. I am confident that this government will take the country to the Promised Land.”

  • Scramble for emblem

    With the launching of the 2016 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem by President Muhammadu Buhari a fortnight ago, there has been a great rush for the symbol at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Besides urging Nigerians to buy it in support of the families and relatives of the fallen heroes and the living soldiers, Buhari had urged Ministers and other government officials to always hang the emblem on their clothes from the period of the launching to the January 15th Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    He also warned that the emblem may be made mandatory for staff and any visitor to government establishments during the period.

    This last remark was a further nugde for visitors and officials at the seat of government to go for the emblem.

    Of special note was the rush for the emblem three days after the launching when the 63rd session of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    State governors, their aides and some ministers who came for the meeting, who were not with the emblem had to buy at the main entrance to the President and Vice President’s offices.

    Some beautiful ladies were already positioned at the entrance to sell the emblems.

    Some of the governors and aides who bought the emblem as they were heading to the meeting that morning included Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

    Rather than paying the going rate of N500 per emblem as was being sold to Villa staff that morning, some of the governors paid as high as N20,000 per emblem.

    One of the governors after he was decorated by one of the beautiful ladies selling the emblem turned and gave his aide instruction to settle the bill.

    Some staff, who saw what was happening were surprised to see some of the aides to the governors counting counting N20,000 and some above N20,000 for just one emblem they just parted N500 for.

    While the governors might have been thinking that they were making donations and supporting the course of the fallen heroes and the living soldiers as directed by the President, it is another story altogether whether what they gave out really gets to where it should go or just to enrich the ladies.

    Whatever the case may be, some staff who witnessed what was going on also benefited from the governors’ largess.

    They refused to pay for the emblems they collected from the ladies.

    One of the staff, who collected one emblem and already agreed to pay N500 but waited for one of the ladies to attend to a governor who just arrived, had to reply her this way when she came back for her money: “So, after seeing all these, you expect me to pay for this emblem.”

    The staff walked away as the lady continued to count and properly pile the money from the governor into her purse.

    When another staff was approached by the second lady for the money for the emblem he collected, he brought another angle to the drama by demanding a cut from the governors’ largess.

    Although he didn’t get any cut from the lady, but just like the first staff he walked away with the emblem without paying for it.

    Despite the rush for the emblem, there was no full compliance enforcement at the entrances two weeks after the launching unlike under the last dispensation.

    Many staff and visitors could still gain entrance to the State House without the emblem.

     

    Total refund

     

    One of the common and popular practices under past administrations is that you are left off the hook the moment you refund part of the loot stolen from the national treasury or in a public office.

    Many public officers accused of stealing public funds during their tenures have been allegedly given soft landing by the investigating government agencies as soon as they play ball by secretly parting with part of the loots.

    Whether the money and assets recovered from such looters get to the government purse or ended up in the pockets of those in charge, the cases always died down.

    Often times, the case file may mysteriously disappear from the custody of the investigating agencies or the case simply forgotten with time.

    Such looters not only continue to walk freely in the society but they also continue to command great respect among the low and mighty.

    The trend has also encouraged many to see any public officer, who declined to steal while occupying such office, to be foolish.

    With such treatment on looters, there was no deterrence to discourage massive looting especially in public offices.

    The various laws put in place to check such fraudulent practices cannot achieve much on their own without the human aspect.

    While the laws appeared to be very good on paper, those saddled with the responsibility of enforcing them most times disappoint in carrying out their duties effectively.

    All these have given many thieves in high places the courage and hope that they will always escape prosecution and total refund of stolen money at the end of the day.

    But President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that such partial refund of money stolen under past administrations will not be entertained under his government.

    Even as he claimed that some of the looters have started to secretly return part of the stolen funds to his government, he has insisted that all monies stolen must be refunded to the government coffers in full.

    Speaking at a forum with the Nigerian community in Tehran, the Islamic Republic of Iran last Tuesday, Buhari said: “On corruption; yes, they are still innocent. But, we are collecting documents and some of them have started voluntarily returning something. But we want all.

    “When we get those documents we will formally charge them to court and then we will tell Nigerians to know those who abused trust when they are entrusted with public funds. So, the day of reckoning is gradually approaching,” he warned

    This, definitely, is a welcome development as it will go a long way under the present dispensation to discourage such looting.

  • Youths inaugurate unity forum

    A forum, Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) has been inaugurated in Minna, the Niger State capital, with a vision to fight for national unity.

    The leader of the group, addressed as Speaker and the title Rt. Hon., is Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel.

    Samuel was inaugurated alongside 36 ambassadors who will represent their various states, pledging to ensure that Nigerian youths will earn the trust and respect of everyone.

    He added that he and other members of the youth assembly would work together to attain their goals and aspirations.

    Inaugurating the 2nd Republic of Youth Assembly of Nigeria, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN), Dr. Sallisu Maikasuwa urged youths to contribute their best effort towards the development of democracy in the country.

    Maikasuwa who is also the the clerk of the National Assembly Abuja assured the youths of the nation that the Buhari administration has the youths at heart adding that the National Assembly’s youth wing would always give listening ears to the Youths Association of Nigeria.

    Representatives from the 36 states of the federation were sworn in as Youth Ambassadors.

    Rt. Hon Samuel Godstime Chukwubuikem hails from Imo State. Honorable Sani Shuaibu of Nasarawa State was sworn in as Deputy Speaker while Ambassador Prince Sani Mohammed Hassan of Bauchi State was sworn in as the Majority leader.

     

  • American varsity counts blessings at anniversary

    American varsity counts blessings at anniversary

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) celebrates the tenth anniversary of its Founder’s Day, pointing out its achievements, reports ADEKUNLE YUSUF

    Children from various schools, parents and teachers, students and other invited guests defied the negative news emanating from the state and gathered in the Lamido Aliyu Musdafa Commencement Hall, American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State. It was AUN 10th Annual Founder’s Day and Special Award Ceremony.

    Speaking at the well-attended ceremony, which featured outstanding staff awards, community service award and other honours for outstanding students, AUN President Dr. Margie Ensign declared that the university has weathered many storms in its bid to touch lives of students and the people in the host community. Since October 2004, when the first brick was laid at AUN, the pursuit of quality education in Nigeria and Africa has been growing at a steady pace, she said.

    With the bringing of the best in Africa and the United States together in one location, Dr Ensign added that students from 36 countries in the continent now enjoy a new experience of critical thinking through liberal studies that respect African culture, which is a departure from the colonial system.

    Also, while thanking all those who have contributed in one way or another to the success recorded by the university, AUN founder and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar acknowledged that the journey has been bumpy with numerous challenges. He, however, added that he is relieved that AUN has braved another challenging year.

    “The insurgency in the North-east, which has had devastating effects on thousands of people, tested our resolve – but it also confirmed that we the AUN community can respond to mistrust and cruelty with care and love. Looking ahead, there are still plenty of clouds, but they pale in comparison to the silver lining on the horizon.

    “I ask you to support not just AUN, but education reform. We must persuade federal, state, and local authorities to provide universal, free, and valuable basic education; we must convince lawmakers, teachers, and unions to encourage competition among schools; and we must encourage government and the private sector to give public universities the leeway, and the ways and means to catch up with their international peers.”

    The AUN seized the opportunity to flaunt its record as an eco-friendly university, having constructed an environmentally-friendly office accommodation that is replete with all appurtenances. The special edifice, which now serves as the administrative building, was named after AUN chair of board of trustees Akin Kekere-Ekun. It was commissioned by Abubakar, and witnessed by Kekere-Ekun, AUN BoT member Peter Okocha, and Governor Muhammad Umar Jibrilla of Adamawa State.

    Dr Ensign said the building “answers the urgent need for AUN to consolidate its administration on main campus, in a modern facility, with low operating costs, and with the budget constraints of academic institutions.”

    It will hold over 120 working stations of different types, a 100-person training facility, an open-air formation area, changing rooms with showers, toilets and resting areas for staff.

    Elaborating on the unique features of the building, Alex Cobo, executive director, Projects and Facilities Management at AUN, explained that the steel roof of the building was manufactured on site by local craftsmen, adding that the building also enjoys 52 solar skylights that bring in sunlight so efficiently that no electric lighting is required during the day, besides ample ventilation and insulation to reduce air conditioner needs by 30 per cent. Its open office design saves space, eliminates partitions, promotes collaborative work and accountability, improves operational efficiency, just as its landscaping consumes less water because it is designed to capture rainwater and return it to the groundwater reservoir.

    “This project was developed and supervised by the AUN project team. No outside general contractor was required. This project has relied on the most part on local labor, local vendors and local craftsmen. They have worked day and night; weekends. Together we have all learned how to make a sustainable building. The acoustic panels required to control noise were made by groups of empowered local women who use tailoring scraps. Toilet partitions are made of container cutouts. Our two decorative water fountains at the entrance have been manufactured of container scraps. This building has a special skin. Its skin is made of laterite, prepared the old way, mixed with grass and natural resins, molded by local hands, preserving ancient traditions. It will never need paint. It will never fade. It will breathe.

    “This project uses clay bricks made in AUN, made of local materials, cured in the sun, following local traditions while opening long-term opportunity to local laborers. To enhance our environment, we have brought six baobab trees, the trees of life, which carry many spirits inside, and will protect our colleagues who will work here. 100 per cent of the water it uses is recovered and treated biologically for re-use in irrigation.”

  • Zuma Rock erupts

    Zuma Rock erupts

    Zuma Rock, an outstanding view on the FCT skyline, frightened nearby residents when parts of its fell off amid deafening sounds. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    A few weeks back, they heard the sound and wondered what it was and where it came from. Then they heard the ear-splitting blast again, and confirmed that it was from the good old Zuma Rock.

    But how?  Some said it was parts of the ancient rock that were disintegrating, a development that struck fear into residents of Suleja and comuters on Abuja-Kaduna Road.

    There are myths and superstitions around the old Zuma, seen by some as the centre of rituals and fetish. This was why it became alarming to residents when thunderous sounds were heard around it at night, some weeks ago and again last week.

    Speaking on the possible cause of the explosion, the Village Head of Chachi, in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Malam Musa Abubakar, who is also the traditional custodian of Zuma Rock and its surroundings, said he could not remember the last time he heard such explosions.

    Abubakar said, “The Rock loathes impurities of any form, and these days every spiritually impure person, girls and boys gallivant in its vicinity and provoke it. I was on my farm when it occurred. People returning from the area near the affected part of the rock later informed me that a portion of Zuma Rock had fallen off. I actually thought it was a bomb, until I went and saw things for myself.

    “In the past, sacrifices of a black cow or black he-goat were made to the rock yearly to appease it, especially when our ancestors were praying for rain. It is probably angry, because it feels cheated of the cultural practices usually undertaken to mark its significance to the communities surrounding it. In the past, whenever sacrifices were offered to the rock, it showed its acceptance of the sacrifices by beaming a light from the spot on it which looks like an eye.

    “Tradition dictates that no one approached the rock wearing a cap, out of respect. Anyone who does that, will get lost never to be found again. The rock has every cause to be angry, because it’s sanctity has been violated by the government, selling land traditionally belonging to it. The rock has been under the custody of the government is not helping matters at all,” he said.

    A thick layer of ash-like dust settled over a wide expanse at the foot of the great Zuma, on the part of it which overlooks the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, with massive boulders scattered all over and a wide, flat slab of rock which fell off the stone.

    Some of the frightened residents who were yet to get over the panic, gave various accounts of the situation, describing it as frightening and unbelievable.

    A military officer on duty close to the rock, who spoke anonymously, said they heard the thunderous explosion, which was followed by a rumble. “It was such a powerful explosion that I thought it was a bomb, and thick dust covered the sky. It was really frightening, but we were ready for any eventuality,” he said.

    A resident of Madalla close to the Zuma Rock, Rose Abachi said, “Animals, birds and people around the area fled for shelter. We have never experienced anything like the last two explosions of a month ago and last Wednesday from the Zuma Rock. We have had meetings and nobody could explain the caused the explosions. All I can say is that the whole thing is mysterious,” he said.

    Another resident of Chachi village, Ibrahim Mohammed, said when the slab-like portion fell off the rock, they were at a nearby junction, that they heard a very loud explosion, followed by a rumble, which made them to think that something big had exploded in nearby Zuba.

    Another resident said, “It terrified the villagers around the rock and many fled for their lives, taking shelter in any place they found themselves at that moment. I personally thought it was a Boko Haram bomb attack and I started saying my prayers. I give God thanks because it was from the rock and not Boko Haram,” she said.

    They could also have been living too close to the majestic Zuma to know that just like any other rock, parts of it could break off and simply come tumbling down.

     

  • A new home for IDPs

    A new home for IDPs

    There is hope for people forced from their homes by the insurgents. The terrorists and their resources are shrinking, thanks to invigorated military efforts. Government is also paying more attention to their welfare, but things are also looking up outside official circles. AshakaCem, a popular cement firm, has announced plans to build houses for Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs. The first set to be housed by the firm is the batch from Gombe State but after them, others from outside the state, indeed across the country, will equally have a decent roof over their heads.

    Why are the houses needed? Not every IDP really has a home to which to return. When the Boko Haram invaders struck, they often looted and destroyed houses apart from killing or abducting their owners and other occupants.

    Since they were displaced, they have depended in part on charity. One of such helpers is LafargeHolcim, owners of AshakaCem Plc which has said it will build affordable houses for the IDPs in Gombe.

    A committee will determine the type of houses to be built and also say how much the displaced people will pay. But the firm has assured that the beneficiaries’ financial commitment will be very small considering their challenges.

    AshakaCem also provided food for the IDPs.

    The chairman of Lafar-geHolcim Board of Directors, Malam Suleiman Yahaya, who spoke at the palace of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar Shehu III, Malam Yahaya, said the housing project would be extended to neighbouring Yobe, Adamawa and Borno states.

    He said the gesture was not only in furtherance of the company’s commitment to its corporate social responsibility to its host communities but an expression of the desire to ensure that the distressed victims of terrorism had a place to call home.

    He said, “We are here to assure you that Ashaka Cement Plc which has been operating in your domain for over 35 years will continue to operate for the next 50 or hundred years as we have just discovered additional limestone which will last over 50 years; we have also discovered more coal which will last over 60 years and a lot of raw materials.

    Speaking further, he said, among other things that a coal-powered independent power plant will be built in the locality and that the plant will “start generating power within the next 24 months.

    “The Board of Directors met in Paris in October 2015 and approved a new project – Project Alheri. Under this project, we will build affordable housing for the Internally Displaced People, the people of your Emirate and other Nigerians.

    “It will start very soon.”

    Responding in reflection of the staggering reality, the Emir of Gombe called LafargeHolcim’s management to consider reviewing the company’s policy into a more host community friendly one, “by giving opportunity to local indigenes to excel to the executive level of Lafarge Africa”.

    He also urged them to speed up the expansion project and other corporate social responsibilities such as building more schools, hospitals and potable water to the host communities.

    The board chairman while presenting the 100 bags of polished rice to 100 families earlier said they were “really touched and disheartened by the situation the IDPs found themselves.”

    He prayed to Almighty Allah to give them strength to overcome their challenges, for peace to return to the Northeast and for the IDPs to have a new beginning in life.

    He recalled that Ashaka Cement had supported well over 15,000 communities in its 37 years of existence but that the current situation in its host community/region was huge and required huge intervention; hence the soon to be launched Project Alheri Affordable Housing Programme would driven aggressively.

    “Out of trials sometimes, happiness come, so we hope that this is a trial one of such,” he said while imploring them to accept the donation of rice as “something very token as a mark of respect that we are with you, you are part of us, you are part of the community, we are part of the same network.”

  • Other killer-diseases next as polio is gone

    Other killer-diseases next as polio is gone

    After the country was certified polio-free, the authorities have mounted a vaccination campaign to tackle other childhood killer- diseases, reports GRACE OBIKE

    It was just as well that after polio was kicked out of the country, the health authorities did not go to sleep. In fact, Minister of Health Dr. Isaac Adewole, just weeks on the job, led a road show to drive the importance of vaccination home. After all, even with polio out of the way, there are still such killer diseases as pneumonia, measles, diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis.

    In the campaign, the federal government aims to immunise as many as 39 million Nigerian children against measles and hopefully give the scourge the polio treatment.

    The campaign took place all over the country, but in Abuja the Minister led volunteers, staff of the Primary Health Care board, Non-Governmental Organisations and other donor agencies into the streets, schools, mosques and churches to immunise children between the ages of nine months and five years.

    Dr Adewole said that measles has not only caused untold hardship and death in the country but has ravaged the country for so long, adding that the Federal Government intends to educate Nigerians on the fact that vaccines are safer and cheaper to prevent measles than to treat the complications of measles like pneumonia, deafness, blindness, etc.

    The minister also said the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari intends to take health care to the doorsteps of every Nigerian, knowing the fact that over 65% of the populace are poor and unable to transport themselves to hospitals and healthcare centres.

    He said, “This as I learnt is the first time that a minister of health will be in attendance of such an event; it is quite significant, it shows the commitment of the present administration to bring health to the doorsteps of our people. Since our mantra is change, there must be a change, my presence is an indication of our commitment to change.

    “Measles has ravaged our land, decimated our children, inflicted untold miseries on our children and killed many of them, as of year 2000, estimate indicated that about 523,000 children died from measles, this will be unacceptable to any serious government and therefore we join the campaign of the WHO to contribute to the elimination of measles by 2020.

    “For this campaign, the goal is to immunise 39 million Nigerian children, this we shall do and if their is the need to go beyond that, we will do so, I want to assure you that we should make sure that this becomes a routine, so that we do not have to conduct follow-up campaigns every now and then, we should spread the gospel that the vaccine is safe and cheaper to prevent measles than treat the complications of measles like pneumonia, deafness, blindness etc.

    “It is going to be an administration with a change, change in the sense that we want to cover Nigerians, we want to target poor people, over 65% of our people are poor and so we must take health to their doorsteps, we recognise the fact that many of them cannot pay for the cost of transportation, so our duty as a responsible administration is to put health at their doorsteps, so that they can contribute meaningfully as Nigerians to the development of our great nation.”

    WHO country representative Dr. Fiona Bracca explained that the measles vaccine has been in use for over 50 years and it is safe, effective and inexpensive, over the past three years, measles vaccination has prevented an estimated 17 million deaths globally, making it one of the most cost effective, intervention plans in public health. The efforts in the African region has resulted in over 90% reduction measles however the continent continuous to experience measles outbreak that pose a real challenge towards achieving elimination efforts in the region and country as a whole.

    She said, “WHO recommends that every child should receive at least two doses of measles vaccine and we are happy to note that many countries including Nigeria have reached many children through mass vaccination campaigns.”

    Representative of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Acting Secretary of Health, Mrs Odeh Achu stated that the administration has been doing everything possible to improve the health of women and children in the FCT.

    She also added, “This intervention has shown to be cost effective, have high impact and result oriented in respect of improving child health in the FCT and Nigeria as a whole. In the FCT presently like in the other states of the federation, the FCT is shifting away from the stand alone vertical campaign to a more integrated approach that is why it has embarked on other programs that positively impacts the lives of women and children like the free anti-natal care programme, the free under five distribution of long lasting insecticide nets to households.

    “This event is yet another avenue for the FCTA to further strengthen action that will increase health care delivery to the people of the FCT, although modest achievements have been recorded in certain areas, it is my believe that we still need to do more, I am aware that the vitamin A coverage was 87% in 2010 as against the 76.6% in 2015. The FCT cumulative penta three coverage rate was 92% in 2015 and 83% in 2009.

    “The FCT Administration has placed for attainment the global target of measles elimination by the year 2020, all the necessary arrangement that will ensure the availability of relevant supplies to meet the demands for this intervention. No eligible child should be allowed to miss any of the interventions that will be provided.”

     

  • Agric to the rescue

    President Muhammadu Buhari has not only insistently expressed his administration’s determination to diversify the economy but also stated how eager the government is to find other sources of foreign exchange earners.

    To achieve this, the two major sectors he is targeting are agriculture and solid minerals.

    The government last Tuesday took concrete steps in the agriculture sector towards food security for the country, employment creation and boosting foreign exchange.

    It began the disbursement of N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) to farmers at a single digit interest rate of 9.0 per cent.

    To reduce Nigeria’s huge import bill and conserve foreign exchange reserves, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the past months have held various engagements with stakeholders in rice, wheat, oil palm, cotton, sugar and fish value chain towards providing financing through intervention schemes.

    The CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, who declared on assumption in office on the 5th of June, 2014, to make the CBN a financial catalyst in some sectors like agriculture, has expressed his commitment to transform the agricultural sector through Produce Add Value and Export (PAVE) initiative.

    Speaking in Kebbi State last Tuesday during the launching of N40 billion CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) for rice farmers out of the N220 billion MSMEDF, Emefiele said that the programme will link over 600,000 smallholder farmers and reputable large-scale processors.

    According to him, beneficiaries under ABP will get loans ranging from N150,000 to N250,000.

    Under the Programme, anchor firms will serve as off-takers in recognition of their track record and experience in working with out-growers involved in production.

    The scheme involves a finance model where the anchor firms, CBN, Nigeria Incentives-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) and state governments organize the out-growers.

    The state governments are also expected to ensure that the out-growers comply with contractual terms and reduce the incidences of side-selling.

    The financial institutions, under the scheme, will serve as veritable channels for delivering credit to the out-growers.

    Training of farmers, extension workers and banks under the scheme are expected to bundle Farm Business School (FBS), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Cooperative Management in a coherent and seamless manner.

    To ensure success of the scheme, various strategies have been put in place to mitigate possible risks that may come up.

    There is comprehensive farmer education and technical assistance in place to check poor farming technique and low crop yield.

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture has also put in place guaranteed minimum price for the farmers in the case of price variation.

    Agricultural insurance has also been made mandatory to mitigate any risk as a result of loss of crops due to floods, drought or other natural disasters.

    The Project Management Team is also saddled with the responsibility of selecting recognized agro dealers in order to prevent poor quality or fake inputs that could lead to low yields.

    Millers will also be banned from future CBN funding as a deterrent for any miller that plans to default by reneging on Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) agreement.

    To overcome the challenges of infrastructure under the scheme, Government is to provide infrastructural facilities like Fadama feeder roads, irrigation facilities and others.

    The linkage of farmers and processors, Emefiele said, will increase agricultural output and significantly improve capacity utilisation of integrated mills.

    As part of the problems facing the nation, he said: “Nigeria’s agricultural commodities and food import bill has averaged over N1 trillion in the past two years. Food products like wheat, sugar, milk, rice, and fish accounted for N901 billion or 93.5% and N788 billion or 88.71% of this total in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

    “These figures are exclusive of the activities of smugglers. The import bill of rice and wheat was estimated at N428 billion and N307 billion in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

    “These huge amounts were expended on items that the country has the potential to produce locally with the attendant loss of employment generation and wealth creation opportunities.

    “Furthermore, the allocation of foreign exchange to the importation of these items has continually depleted our foreign reserve, which has been on steady decline in recent times.” He noted

    To further discourage importation and boost domestic production, the CBN is said to have implemented several policies to complement the fiscal initiatives of the Federal Government towards conserving foreign reserves.

    In this direction, the CBN classified 41 items including some agriculture based commodities as ‘Not valid for forex’ in June, 2015.

    The implication of the policies was that CBN prevented importers of the items from accessing the official foreign exchange window.

    At the launch of ABP in Kebbi State, President Buhari was visibly glad last Tuesday that the programme was commencing in line with the diversification drive of his administration.

    While declaring that Nigeria couldn’t sustain spending huge sums of money to import foods that could be locally produced in Nigeria, he was optimistic that the nation in the long run will be able to produce all the food it requires to feed her people.

    To carry the farmers and the local people along, President Buhari after reading his prepared speech in English during the launching took time to summarize the speech in Hausa language to the delight of the farmers who came for the function.

    After the speech, President Buhari also took his time to go round the various stands to inspect the agro products and materials on display.

    While what has been put on paper concerning the scheme is laudable, it will not be out of place here to call for vigilance in its implementation.

    This is important because past sound agricultural policies like the ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ and the ‘Green Revolution’ did not achieve much towards removing Nigeria from a mono economy dependent on oil due to poor implementation.

    To avoid past mistakes, the nation cannot afford to lose sight of the ball in its effort to diversify the economy even if the prices of oil in the international market increases over $100 per barrel.

     

  • Kebbi’s N26m for anti-measles fight

    Kebbi’s N26m for anti-measles fight

    Kebbi State has sets aside N26m to combat measles, a leading cause of death among the country’s children, especially those under five years.

    According to Word Health Organisation (WHO), measles vaccination helps to reduce by two-thirds the casualty figure of under-fives.

    Speaking to reporters in Birnin-Kebbi, the state capital, the state coordinator for WHO Dr Sameeh Omoleke said that children aged from nine months to five years should be vaccinated at least twice in order to be fully protected against measles.

    He also said the vaccines are free, safe and will not harm children.

    He said signs of measles include redness of the eye, high fever, running nose and rashes, adding that when parents notice them in their children, they should take them to the nearest health facility immediately. He said measles reduces a child’s ability to fight other diseases, which results in frequent illness, blindness and death.  He called on the general public to avoid measles outbreak and ensure that all the children in their house and community receive all vaccinations before the age of one year.

    The chairman of the monitoring committee on the measles campaign Alhaji Amed  Atiku told reporters that each of the 21 local government areas in the state will get N1m with which to fight the disease.