The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Commissioner for Agriculture

  • Lagos demolishes 500 shanties,illegal structures

    Over 500 shanties and illegal structures within and outside the Oko-Oba abattoir and Lairage Complex in Agege area of Lagos State were on Saturday demolished by the State Government as part of effort to ensure adequate upgrading and transformation of the complex for improved operations.

     The State’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau who disclosed this while reviewing report of the demolition exercise carried out by officials of the State Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, Department of State Security and Operation MESA, noted that the clean-up exercise included all shanties and illegal structures inside the abattoir and along Fagba-Railway section of the abattoir complex.

     According to him, the State Government’s motive for carrying out the clean-up exercise is in a bid to improve the hygienic condition of the complex and ensure best practices in the red meat value chain and not to witch-hunt anyone.

     “I want us all to see this exercise as a positive development in the red meat value chain and not as Government’s instrument to disrupt activities at the complex. Rehabilitation of the facilities at the Oko-oba abattoir is to ensure that operations at the complex meets international standard”, Suarau said.

     While restating the State Government’s commitment to ensuring best practices, he stressed that the clean-up exercise and the completion of various projects within the complex will be of great benefits to stakeholders in the complex and to Lagosians, adding that this will ensure wholesomeness in production, processing and consumption of meat in the red meat value chain.

     The Commissioner stated that the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has put in place and implementing planned policies and programmes aimed at changing the face of abattoirs and slaughter slabs across Lagos.

     He explained that completion of projects at the Oko-Oba abattoir complex will result in an upgraded abattoir equipped with a standard clinic to take care of people and other emergencies in the complex.

     “We have completed the fencing of the abattoir and the heap of refuse which has existed for several years has been cleared”, the Commissioner added

     He said that apart from upgrade of facilities and infrastructure of abattoirs and slaughter slabs, the State government has also trained butchers and live cattle dealers drawn from various abattoirs and slaughter slabs in the State on current trends in abattoir management.  

     Suarau, while speaking on the significance of the upgrade of the complex, said that the State Government is poised to monitor and ensure a safe red meat market that will conform to the smart city status.

     Reiterating Government’s commitment to ensuring that Lagos remains a food secured place, Suarau assured that the present administration is ever ready to overcome all challenges threatening wholesome production and consumption of meat in Lagos.

     While urging stakeholders at the complex to support the drive of government to attaining a befitting status of a smart city abattoir, he warned anyone who does not have legitimate business within the complex to vacate stressing that the State government will not tolerate harboring of miscreants in and around the complex.

     He added that a task force team has been stationed at the complex to ensure continued monitoring of activities at the complex and ensure effectiveness of the clean-up exercise.   

     “Operations in the abattoir after this clean up exercise will no longer be business as usual. We are committed to implementing in phases planned projects that will transform the abattoir around for good”, he said.

     

  • Umahi swears in new Commissioner for Agriculture

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has sworn-in Mr Ikechukwu Nwobo as the new Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources to replace the sacked Chief Moses Nome.

    The new Commissioner was a former Leader of the State House of Assembly.

    Umahi during the occasion said that the former commissioner was sacked not because he didn’t possess agricultural expertise but because he was not passionate about the job.

    He said the new commissioner was elevated to the position after doing a great job as a Special Adviser to the governor.

    “Agriculture is what Ebonyi is known for and I enjoin the new Commissioner to be passionate about it to ensure success in office. “Nwobo endeared himself to me by the way he took care of power installations such as the ornamnetal lights during his stint at the renewable energy sector.

    “He also moved from his area and resuscitate the Ebonyi hotels which is a wake-up call to other officials to be creative”.

    “You should be busy and creative to attract government support as Nwobo should work seriously with the leaders of the International Fund for Agrcitulture Develeopmnt (IFAD) and FADAMA in the state,” he said.

    The governor directed the new com misnomer to sort issues the government had over its land and get people to be supported in cultivating them. I want you to work with ifad and Fadama.

    In his reaction, Mr Nwobo thanked the governor for finding him worthy to serve and promised to do his best to ensure that the agricultural revolution started by the governor continues. ENDS

  • Edo farmers seek allocation of farm settlements

    Edo farmers seek allocation of farm settlements

    Farmers in Edo State under the auspices of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, (AFAN), have appealed the Edo State government to begin allotment of prepared farm slots from farm settlements to its members across the state.

    Chairman of AFAN, Chief Emmanuel Odigie, who made the appeal in Benin, when the group paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Monday Osaigbovo, said the group has acquired 20,000 hectares of farmland in Edo South Senatorial district.

    Chief Odigie said the farmland would be used for commercial and cluster farming.

    Odigie urged the state government to give agricultural loans to farmers in fulfillment of Governor Obaseki’s promise during his governorship campaign in 2016.

    He called for the building of new farm settlements as well as reviving all old farms settlement.

    His words, “We are not oblivious of the investment the Edo State government have put in revamping agriculture, such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, and many others which include in no small measure are very important in this new agricultural revolution.

    “The governor really try in his plans to construct earth roads in our rural areas, I must commend him because it will create employment, check rural areas for development, do not forget it will provide enough food even at a very cheaper rate,” he said.

    The Commissioner assured them that the state government would do its best to uplift the farmers in the state.

  • Nasarawa Govt. to purchase over 240,000 bags of fertilizers

    Nasarawa Govt. to purchase over 240,000 bags of fertilizers

    Nasarawa State Government has concluded arrangements to purchase more than 240,000 bags of assorted fertilizers for distribution to farmers at subsidized rate.

    Mr Jameel Zakari, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lafia.

    Zakari said that this would ensure that genuine farmers access adequate amount of the commodity as the rains set in, adding that government had signed an agreement with suppliers through the governors’ forum for the product.

    He pointed out that that the over 400 truckloads of the product expected from the agreement would last beyond the coming rainy season.

    Zakari pointed out that given the commitment of the state government to make fertilizer available early enough, it had worked out the necessary modalities for the prompt supply of the commodity.

    “We would soon begin to take delivery of the fertilizer in the state for distribution to farmers taking into cognizance of the fact that the earlier farmers got it, the more beneficial it would be towards improving crop yield,” he said.

    He explained that there was already a template for the equitable distribution of the commodity to genuine farmers to allay the fear of diversion of the commodity.

    The commissioner said that Gov. Tanko Al-Makura had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese firm, during his recent visit to China, for the establishment of four fertilizer-blending plants in the state.

    “As we speak, the Chinese partners are already in the state to put finishing touches to the MoU and start work on the plants,’’ he said.

    Zakari said that the persistent cases of scarcity of fertilizer would be over in the state when the plants start production.

  • Lagos warns against sale of LAKE Rice above approved price

    Lagos warns against sale of LAKE Rice above approved price

    • Targets 16 metric tonnes per hour production

    The Lagos State Government yesterday warned officials handling the sale of its subsidised LAKE Rice in designated locations to desist from selling the product beyond the approved prices or face severe sanctions.

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau who gave the warning at the 2017 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Ministry of Agriculture to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration in Lagos State said the rice, a product of the collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi States was still on sale across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.

    According to him, “Lake Rice is still on sale. We still have centres where we distribute it. During the Easter period, the rice was available across the 57 local governments and the price remains the same. The 50kg is N12, 000; 25kg is N6000, while the 10kg remains N2, 500”.

    Responding to a question on the sharp practices noticed in some sale centres across the State, Suarau said, “If anyone sells it above these approved prices, we encourage people to report to us so that we can arrest such person.

    “If you have evidence, come up with it. We have investigated and we have not found any of these cases to be true.”

    He said the product, since the launch in December 2016 had been on sale at various centers across the State, adding that so far, a total of 32,647 bags of 50kg; 32,539 bags of 25kg and 30,780 bags of 10kg have been sold.

    The Commissioner also disclosed plans by the government to boost rice production in the State revealing that plans are ongoing to expand the rice mills at Imota from 2.5metric tonnes per hour to 16 metric tonnes per hour while at the same time encouraging private sector operators to invest in rice processing.

    Suarau said that has part of the effort to increase food supply and ensure food security in Lagos State, the State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture was vigorously implementing the State’s Strategic Food Security Plan with programmes and projects that have the remarkable impact on food security in the State.

    The Commissioner added also that no fewer than 100 farmers through the FADAMA III additional financing programme are producing rice at Itokin in Epe Local Government in furtherance of the State government’s effort to engage youths and boost rice production in the state.

    “In all, rice cultivation has so far improved in the State from less than one ton per hectare to about three tons per hectare with double cropping in some areas where irrigation facilities are provided”, he said.

    Suarau while restating the commitment of the Akinwunmi Ambode led administration towards the attainment of food security in the State said that Food Security was in the front burner of the present administration policies to facilitate job and wealth creation as well as poverty reduction.

    Speaking in the same vein, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Mr. Ganiyu Sanni Okanlawon said the State government is committed to work with the private sector to facilitate food security by harnessing Public and Private investment to create a strong, mixed sector economy that can provide jobs for all and create the base for expanding social services and environmental sustainability.

    He said: “Agriculture has the highest demonstrated potential for job and wealth creation and it is against this background that the agricultural sector should be one of the key instruments of achieving this laudable dream”.

  • Wike launches urban water sector reform in Rivers

    Wike launches urban water sector reform in Rivers

    The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has launched the state’s urban water sector reform, the Port Harcourt water supply scheme and the sanitation  project.

    Performing the  launch in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said the project would create women entrepreneurs, youth employment and provide safe drinking water for the inhabitants of the state.

    The Rivers governor, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Onimim Jacks, stated that the project was key to the development of the state.

    Wike said: “The project is in line with our promises to the people of the state, as clearly spelt put in our blueprint, that we shall provide safe drinking water for the inhabitants of the state.”

    The Rivers governor also stated that within the first 100 days of his administration, the potable water scheme was launched in Abonnema, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

    He laudded the Federal Government for selecting Rivers as one of the pilot states for the scheme, noting that the state government would pay its counterpart funds as and when due.

    Wike maintained that his administration would always collaborate with the Federal Government in areas that would benefit the populace.

    The Rivers Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Chief Ibibia Walter, earlier in his remarks, pointed out that the project was part of a wide sector institutional reform embarked upon by the state government, as coordinated by the National Urban Sector Water Reform Office of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

    Walter revealed that funding for the project would be sourced from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (ADB), stressing that the ADB would contribute $200 million, World Bank to provide $80 million Dollars, while Rivers government would provide $48 million as counterpart fund.

    The Port Harcourt water supply and sanitation project is targeted at addressing the poor water infrastructure in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LGAs, as well as addressing the sanitation challenge in the two urban areas.