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  • Increasing access to fresh, nutritious food for city residents

    Increasing access to fresh, nutritious food for city residents

    More than 500 million Africans live in low-income urban and rural neighbourhoods facing the challenge of access to affordable, nutritious food. Lack of access is one reason residents are not eating recommended levels of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. There are moves to support production of local foods and encourage the establishment of farmers’ markets in key cities of the continent, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

    In most cities across Africa, accessing healthy food has been a huge challenge.  According to the United States’ Population Reference Bureau’s policy brief: ‘Population and Food Security: Africa’s Challenge’, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), one out of five people lacks adequate food for a healthy and active life, while 30 million children are underweight.

     Also, SSA’s population is projected to be more than double from 856 million to about two billion in 2050, even if couples choose smaller families over the coming decades.

    Nevertheless, several Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO’s) studies on the continent have indicated high consumption of food products lacking basic dietary needs thereby stunting growth.

    Consequently, it has brought the issue of increasing access to healthy foods through improving the food environment to the front burner and renewed calls for the transformation of agrifood systems.  

    In October, FAO hosted an inception workshop for the project entitled: “Supporting Innovative Urban Agriculture for Enhanced Food Security and Nutrition in Rwanda”.

    The event brought together prominent thought leaders within the space, including the Vice Mayor of the City of Kigali in charge of Socio-Economic Affairs, Martine Urujeni; FAO Representative in Rwanda, Coumba Sow,  among others. The initiative was launched as part of the FAO Green Cities initiative, which aims to enhance urban environments, fortify urban-rural connections, and build resilience within urban food systems and communities to withstand external shocks.

    The project is set to target 100 schools in Kigali City, offering an educational platform for teachers and students to learn about innovative and sustainable agriculture practices, gardening, and nutrition. The ultimate goal is to create a more resilient and food-secure urban environment while fostering community engagement and self-sufficiency.

    During the workshop, FAO Representative in Rwanda, Coumba Sow, emphasised the significance of urban agriculture in addressing food insecurity. “Cultivating fresh produce within urban areas can provide access to affordable and nutritious food, particularly for communities and schools lacking such resources. Encouraging urban farming also contributes to healthier diets and active lifestyles, promoting physical activity and the consumption of fresh, locally grown produce.”

    With rapid urbanisation and a growing population, access to fresh food has become a priority.

    Read Also: Clark to CJN: correct grave anomalies in judiciary 

    It was one of the highlights of the inaugural edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technology (ACAT) which was held last month in Nairobi, Kenya.

    The conference was organised by the non-profit Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF). It aimed at reviewing the  state of food security in the continent, deliberate on some key agrifood systems challenges, and identify solutions.

     AATF has long been at the forefront of driving positive change in Africa’s agricultural sector. Through its innovative approach to bridge the gap between science, technology, and farmers, the foundation has demonstrated its commitment to enhancing food security, improving livelihoods, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.  With the growing advocacy for dietary habits to protect public health and the environment, experts have been calling for meals with fruit, vegetables, plant proteins, whole grains, and sustainable seafood.

    One of the key topics discussed during the conference was the significant role of urban agriculture in this regard. An emeritus professor at the University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, Margaret Gill urged that urban agriculture be supported to help increase access to fresh, nutritious food for city residents.

    As the effects of climate change become ever-more present ,she indicated that  growing food in  a way that  connects with nature  will promote a   production system that  improves access to healthy foods at a local level.  She was not alone.

     Founder and Chief Executive of advisory services and technology firm, Agritecture, Henry Gordon-Smith lends his voice. He said: “In the face of rapidly progressing climate change, urban agriculture would play a critical role in ensuring food security, dietary diversity, community cohesion and well-being and ecological benefits, such as hydrological functions, air quality and soil quality.”

    Gordon-Smith also brought up hydroponics as a modern agricultural technology that boosts urban farming productivity as access to land plots is limited and climate conditions are not favourable for farming without the use of greenhouses. It also helps tackle the issue of soil scarcity.

    With rapid urbanisation placing immense pressure on food supply chains, a Member of Board of Trustees of AATF and Chief Executive of agricultural company, Kamano Seed, Zambia, Sylvia Horemans, underscored the need for innovative solutions.  She said: “According to the United Nations, by 2050, an estimated 68 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas, with the most significant growth expected in small cities and towns in Africa and Asia. The impact of global trends in population growth and urbanisation is compounded by other vulnerabilities, including climate change and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    These factors, she continued, would contribute to an increase in food insecurity, malnutrition, and the rise of diet-related non-communicable diseases.To combat this, she emphasised the importance of stable food production, shorter and simplified food supply chains, and distribution tools that can adapt to changing circumstances.

    Lagos State with a population of over 25 million has a peculiar food security challenge. Therefore, having a great number of people living in the state engaging in urban agriculture will help address the over-reliance on food coming into the state, ensure food security, and help in reducing the cost of food items among others.

    To ensure food security, Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said the state is boosting local food production through funding for technology adoption, and drumming up support for local farmers. She said the government was compelled to push the frontiers of innovation to grow food through various urban farming platforms to provide an important buffer in times of food supply crises.

    According to her, there was an ongoing effort to keep the state’s diversified food supply lines intact by   unlocking the blue economy to help boost local production of fish and enhance food security. She said the state was open to working with private organisations to establish hi-tech and productive farms and agri-food clusters that support circular economy principles.

    In addition  to  this, she  said the state is increasing   efforts to prepare youths citizens for career opportunities in the growing agri-food sector, as  it works with schools and educational institutions to develop and build curricula in relevant areas.

    The Commissioner noted that urban farming will add to food production, increase access to fresh agricultural products, reduce pressure on food products within the State and stabilise the prices of produce in the markets, explaining that urban farming also has the potential to nourish farming households, communities and create economic opportunities among the residents.

    She also said: “Urban farming helps stimulate the local economy through job creation, income generation and growth of small businesses. More importantly, urban farming makes fresh food more affordable. It is fast becoming an important component of a city’s food system.’’

    Attempts to overcome a myriad of local obstacles that affect access to food, she explained, has driven the government to focus on the creation of local transportation and distribution corridors.

    One of them is the multimillion logistics hub with the main objective to develop the rural food’s potential including productivity, food security and livelihoods.

    Several components are going into raising agricultural productivity, including attracting investments in roads, transportation, electricity and policy reform to create an efficient and well-functioning agricultural chain.

    Every year, the Lagos Food Festival attracts thousands of food-loving visitors across the city of Lagos. This yearly event, organised by the Lagos State Government, showcases the local food industry and provides a unique platform for small and medium enterprises in the sector to showcase their talent and products. This year, the biggest food festival returned welcoming thousands of foodies from across the state to enjoy different delicacies. It was an opportunity for members of all communities to come and experience the flavours of Nigeria all under one roof with family and friends. Visitors were able to enjoy numerous activities, including cooking competitions, musical performances, and dances and cooking demonstrations.

    The event also provided an opportunity for farmers and small food businesses to network and promote their products. Many stalls offered a wide range of local dishes, from traditional fare to more modern culinary innovations. The theme of this edition of the festival was: “A Fusion of Flavors”, highlighting the richness and diversity of flavors present in Lagos.

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said food security would continue to be a priority to cut the cost of food commodities in the state.

    The governor was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.1

    He stated that his administration would remain committed to developing the agricultural industry.

    According to Sanwo-Olu, the sector has seen various efforts and is prominently featured in the state’s THEMES Agenda.

    He was pleased with the large turnout at the event, saying it represented the true spirit of Lagos.

    The Lagos Food Festival, according to the governor, showcases prosperity, resourcefulness, innovation, and the spirit of Lagos to young people.

    According to him, the food festival provides a forum for Small and Medium Enterprises in agriculture and food to promote their products and network.

    “The event is about young people mostly showing their talents and making money so we cannot be a society just sitting and complaining.

    “We can see all these young people here today; they are doing various things, so they are looking inward to see how we can add value and be successful.

    “That is what I see here, prosperity, ingenuity, innovation, and the spirit of Lagos,” he said.

    Ms Olusanya, said the annual festival which evolves from “Sea Foods Festival,” is to showcase the huge potentials of the state to the outside world.

    The commissioner stated that “the event has continued to transform the lives of people and over 1000 jobs are expected to be created since the event is free for all.”

    Ms Olusanya described the event as a wonderful platform for the youth in the state since it is organised close to the end of the year and holiday period.

  • Addax plans $5b fresh investment

    Addax Petroleum Development (Nigeria) Limited is planning to inject  between $3 and $5 billion into the business.

    Its General Manager, External & Government Affairs, Dorothy Atake, said part of the company’s objectives is optimising its oil and gas operations and increasing production from its assets – onshore and offshore.

    Addax  Petroleum/NNPC Production Sharing Contract (PSC), according to her, has produced over 425 million barrels of crude oil in over 19 years when it took over the Oil Prospecting Licences (OPLs) 98/118 and OPLs90/225 operated by Ashland Nigeria Oil Company that operated the blocks for 25 years (1973-1998).

    She noted that the company as contractor to and for Addax/NNPC PSC, achieved this feat “through sustained investments in reserves and production growth, application of technology, strong NNPC/DPR strong partnership and with of host communities”.

    Atake said: “Leveraging its world-class technical expertise and application of technology, Addax/NNPC PSC has brought various fields on-stream and embarked on exploration and appraisal campaigns in its adjacent concession areas resulting in commercial oil discoveries in Ofrima  and Udele fields, a project pivotal to Addax growth plans in the country.

    “In addition, Addax Petroleum has a strong track record of developing under-exploited hydrocarbon resources and has through business drivers hinged on Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE), human capital development, operations excellence and capital efficiency achieved this feat.

    “The Addax/NNPC PSC remains a socially responsible operator supporting the economy through her investments in exploration and production (E&P) and communities’ projects. Safety and care for the environment is its priority as evident in her low safety incident record and continued reduction in gas flaring from its assets since2009.”

    To increase production, Addax is drilling in the Njaba field in oil mining lease (OML) 124 area. “The first oil drilled the OML 124 campaign was completed ahead of schedule and significantly below budget. Preliminary well test results exceeded projected average oil production potential.”

    Since the 2009 SINOPEC takeover, Addax Petroleum NNPC PSC has invested over $5 billion and generated over $7 billion for the government, and created jobs Nigerians, including the host communities.

    “The company has also pioneered the institution of a micro credit scheme, where over 480 women have been empowered to develop their small scale businesses, through a revolving loan scheme initiated to empower small scale business women within OML 124 host communities.

    The Technical Skill Acquisition Programme (TSAP) has enabled youths within the host communities in Imo, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states to be trained at the Federal Technical College, Omoku, in Rivers State, on selected vocations, and after training, Addax Petroleum donated tools and equipment to assist them set-up small scale businesses in their chosen vocation. The company has spent significant amount on this scheme in addition to tertiary and post primary education scholarships and infrastructure development in the education sector.

    “Nigerian content development remains one of Addax /NNPC PSC’s critical business drivers as the company ensures compliance with the requirements of the Nigerian Content Act through the use of local materials and services. We achieved these initiatives with the tremendous support of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

    “This venture has been at the forefront of building local capacity, contractors and making huge investments in training and development of Nigerians. It has 255 Nigerians in its employ as well as another 380 contract staff.

    “Addax/NNPC PSC is committed to research and development and in partnerships with the Universities of Benin and Port Harcourt.

    “Addax Petroleum has since 2009 been an affiliate of  SINOPEC, bringing this to bear on positive Sino-Nigeria relationship,” Atake added.

  • Fresh breath for cocoa

    Fresh breath for cocoa

    The Federal Government’s goal is to achieve 500,000 million metric tons (mt) of cocoa through the rehabilitation of old plantations, expansion programmes and best agricultural practices. Some development partners have joined the government‘s  campaign  to  restore Nigeria to its past glorious position  through  empowerment programmes, reports  DANIEL ESSIET.

    When President Muhammadu Buhari urged cocoa stakeholders to step up efforts towards repositioning the industry, he did this because the country  had  lost its place among cocoa producing countries.

    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, at the first International Cocoa Summit at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja,  in August, lamented Nigeria’s fall from fourth to seventh position in cocoa production.

    He described the situation  as unfavourable to the nation’s economic growth.

    He said:  “Cocoa is the second largest foreign exchange earner for Nigeria after crude oil, and has generated over two million jobs directly and indirectly along its value chain. The sector has suffered neglect as a result of over reliance on crude oil. This led to a decline in the country’s annual production from 420 metric tonnes in the 60s to 192, 000 metric tonnes in 2015. The country is long overdue to make the shift from being primarily an exporter of commodities and raw materials to becoming an industrial economy.”

    The President called for a return to the use of the hitherto abandoned Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) launched by the previous  administration in 2014, to revive the sector. Nigeria was a leading producer and exporter of cocoa. Until some time in the 1970s, it held an enviable record.

    Revenue  from cocoa helped to sustain the livelihoods of not only farmers, but the entire citizenry, as proceeds were used to build roads, schools and health facilities. But the story is different today. Ageing trees, poor soil quality, and a younger generation in danger of disengaging from cocoa production represent an imminent threat to an industry that had struggled to develop significant productivity-per-hectare.

    The changing weather and poor incentives to farmers combined to reduce cocoa yields from that period to the present day. Today,  the industry is seriously challenged. But, in spite of this, a huge market exists for raw and processed cocoa and its derivatives, locally and internationally.

    Analysts say the global market for chocolate and cocoa beverages is worth over $200 billion yearly. According to them, the beans are the goldmine of the cocoa plant because they are processed into cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and chocolate.

    Markets for Nigeria’s cocoa exist in European countries, such as Netherlands, France, Germany, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) where demands for chocolate are high.

    All hopes are not lost as  industry  partners have commenced moves to revitalise the industry. One of them is the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), which has mapped out strategies to empower cocoa farmers.

    The intervention is being carried out through its Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE) platform, designed to build Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) at farmers’ level through relevant and accessible training initiatives, which improve  efficiency, ‘bankability’, and sustainability of food production.

    MADE is partnering Syngenta, an international biotechnology company, that has been involved in key transformation projects in agriculture.

    The partners are  working with cocoa farmers on good agricultural practice, post-harvest solutions and market linkages.

    Right now, pests and diseases are a big problem for cocoa farmers. It is estimated that approximately 30 to 40 per cent  of all potential cocoa production is lost to diseases and  pests globally.  Cocoa farmers face a variety of fungal diseases and insects/pests, which attack the leaves, stems and pods.

    These include black pods, witches’ broom, frosty pod, pod borer and brown cocoa mirid.

    Indeed, tackling these pests and diseases has been an issue for some farmers, who lack adequate knowledge on responsible pesticides usage.

    This has affected the fortunes of some of the farmers as European Union (EU), a big  export market for the produce, insists on limited and proper pesticides use.

    But there are chemicals permitted for use on cocoa, which meet EU’s requirements. These are what some development partners are trying to promote.

    At a cocoa stakeholders and farmers’ field-day event, organised by Syngenta Nigeria Limited, in Adejubu, Araromi Igbatoro and Akure North of Ondo State, the company promised to supply cocoa farmers with a new non-copper fungicide called ‘Pergado’, to combat copper based fungicide diseases.

    Pergado, which is already in use in Côte d’Ivoire, has been approved by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).

    Syngenta Nigeria Limited Country Director, Sunny Ameh,  said the organisation had in the past three years trained over 16,000 smallholder cocoa farmers across states with support from MADE Project.

    Ameh said Pergado is a copper free product used to combat blackpod and other fungal diseases affecting cocoa production, with the potency to fight copper based fungicide diseases. He added that once farmers experience the efficacy of the product, they will have an edge on cocoa producing farmers in other countries.

    He added that Syngenta is committed to supporting cocoa industry revival in the country in order to reclaim its position as the top cocoa producing country in the world.

    He said: “Syngenta has been working with development partners  such as MADE in Ondo in agric input value chain, promoting the adoption of new technologies, delivering higher yield, and training farmers to develop the right skills.

    “Our partnership with MADE in the Niger Delta is so unique in the sense that it has helped us to reach more farmers at the grassroot. We are helping farmers to engage superior and best practices that are of benefits to them and helping them to achieve much more from their traditional practices.”

    MADE Team Leader, Olatunde Oderinde, believed empowering the farmers was an important way to free  them from poverty and hunger.

    He said: “MADE wants to see more ownership from our famers. We want our farmers to take ownership of our work with Syngenta. We want the farmers to lead the pilots in the field.”

    Oderinde said his organisation is looking forward to partnering government and cocoa farmers to make the business successful.

    Some farmers, who attended the event, expressed optimism about using Pergado.

    They expect the chemical to help limit losses of about 25 to 45 per cent often experienced by cocoa farmers owing to diseases.

    Highlights of the event featured a field tour of some cocoa plantations for product testing.

    Director/Head, Cocoa Research, CRIN, Dr  Rasheed Adedeji, said the decision by the institute to certify Pergado, is hinged on the quality of the chemical and its potency of taming diseases, especially the cocoa black pod disease which is very aggressive in wet and humid conditions and spread mainly by rain splash.

     

  • Militants’ fresh threat

    •Time for positive dialogue on Niger Delta’s 16-point agenda

    A section of Niger Delta militants has resolved to attack oil facilities anytime from September 10. This announcement came from the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, CNDA. Its spokesman premised the decision on continued neglect of what he calls issues of Niger Delta: “The only language the Federal Government seems to understand is violence. September 10 is the day we will resume attacks (on oil installations). By September 10, which is on Sunday, over 5,000 members of the Niger Delta Coalition of Agitators will shut down no less than 20 platforms.”

    This is a regrettable development, especially for a country that has just come out of recession. Last year, militants prevented the country from pumping about 40 percent of its normal output, thus worsening the value of the naira for the better part of the year.

    The nation was heartened when the Federal Government promised to respond to the 16-point agenda submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANEF), an umbrella body of leaders of ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. So upbeat were leaders of PANEF that a spokesman for the forum announced during a visit by the vice president to Delta State thus: “There can be no stronger expression of Federal Government’s understanding of the situation in Niger Delta than the pronouncement by the vice president that the region should be treated as a special development zone.”

    We believe that periodic multiplication of militant groups is not conducive to meaningful negotiation between representatives of the Niger Delta and the Federal Government. Currently, there are five groups jostling for attention in the region: Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators (CNDA), Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders (NDRC), Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), and Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA). Leaders in the region need to get more organised, for the region to get the attention it deserves, not only from the Federal Government but also from the rest of the country. Certainly, many citizens across the country empathise with the people of the Niger Delta, but no section can make the case of the Niger Delta better than the region itself.

    Without doubt, the people of Niger Delta have been patriotic for decades, by allowing the entire country to depend largely on exploitation of oil and gas from the bowels of the region at the expense of the region’s environment and the people’s health. But a sudden resolution by a fragment of PANEF to attack oil platforms is not the rational way to go at the incipient stage of a long-expected economic recovery. Even with pumping of 2.2 million barrels of oil per day, Nigeria will earn just about 50 percent of what it used to earn about two years ago. Throwing the country back into recession may be counterproductive for all parties. And the Federal Government itself needs to be more responsive to the grievances of the oil-producing region.

    While we urge the various groups in the Niger Delta to get more strategic and magnanimous about the region’s decades-long grievances, we call on the Federal Government in particular to honour its promises  to the region. Strengthening Niger Delta-related bureaucracies: Ministry of Niger Delta and Niger Delta Development Commission to get more sensitive to the needs of the people of the region is as urgent as it can ever get.

    Further, Niger Delta leaders entrusted with responsibility of negotiating with the Federal Government need to consult robustly with their constituents, to avoid giving the impression of serving two masters. In addition, the government ought to return (with the enthusiasm evident in January) to the 16-point agenda submitted to President Buhari before he took ill. Peace in the Niger Delta is so crucial to the nation’s economy that the Federal Government should resolve to walk its talk on the region’s demands.

  • Hubmart assures of fresh quality products,

    Leading indigenous retail giant Hubmarts stores Limited,     opened the doors of its ultra modern Ikeja GRA Shopping mall to the public, last Friday.

    The event, which witnessed a large turnout of brands who came to showcase their wares, also saw a huge number of customers throng into the mall to experience firsthand, the many offerings the new Hubmart store has to offer.

    Most customers also admitted that they were also there to take advantage of the exciting opening day specials on offer at the store.

    Chairman of Hubmart Stores Limited Dr Chris Ogbeche, in his opening address, stated that the vision of Hubmart stores is to be the clear leader in the retail industry.

    In his words, “we have a population of over 180 million people who want the good things of life and we are here to make that possible.’

    He further said that Hubmart’s penchant for always delivering fresh products to its customers is a mark of distinction that sets it apart from other retail stores. “We are known for fresh products. I think we are the leader in fresh products ranging from vegetables, fruits, seafood, and dairy food all at attractive prices. We have been able to maintain this standard because over 50 percent of our business is not reliant on foreign exchange. The other 40  percent is dependent on Nigerian businesses that produce here and only the last five to 10 percent depends on imports,” he said.

    He informed that Hubmart is committed to empowering Nigerians, creating employment and adding value to the lives of its customers through fresh products and quality service. Hubmart’s expansion plan, he revealed, is guaranteed to ensure that the footprint of Hubmart will be seen in every state in Nigeria.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Hubmart Stores Limited, Murat Bektaslar, described the store as a customer’s delight, stating that the store will serve as a one-stop shop for all customer grocery, cleaning, fresh and household needs.

    “We have created an environment where customers can find everything they want under one roof get the best quality of ultra-fresh produce, and have a delightful, fulfilling and exciting shopping trip.”

    Even the kids are not left out as very innovative kiddy- focused shopping carts and baby trucks have been deployed to delight the kids as well.

  • Babangida’s son, estranged wife in fresh child-custody row

    Babangida’s son, estranged wife in fresh child-custody row

    LIKE a mother hen sits atop its eggs, rumour appears to have perched somewhat permanently on the roof of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s son, Mohammed. The latest from the rumour mill concerns the whereabouts of the two children left in the custody of his ex-wife Rahama Indimi after their marriage hit the rocks. Mohammed was said to have obtained a judgment from a Sharia court giving him custody of the children only for Rahama to file an objection at an Abuja court.

    According to the rumour mill, Rahama, daughter of billionaire businessman, Mohammed Indimi, had left the two children in the care of her sister, Zahra, while she and the rest of the Indimi family went to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage. But the children were said to have disappeared from Zahra’s custody, leaving the police with no choice but to intervene in the matter. Sources said the police were treating the issue as a case of kidnapping.

    Zahra has since posted several messages on the social media, claiming not to have seen the children since the previous Sunday. It was however gathered that the police have managed to narrow their search for the children to Sunnyview Estate, a fashionable estate in the heart of Abuja, the nation’s capital city.‎

  • APC: Fayose can pay four months’ pay from fresh allocation

    APC: Fayose can pay four months’ pay from fresh allocation

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose is capable of paying at least four months’ salaries to workers from the arrears owed them out of the latest N4.732 billion allocation received from the Federal Government, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday.

    It advised the governor to spend the latest allocation to pay workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.

    The party added that the latest opportunity should not be abused and frittered away.

    Ekiti State APC spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement yesterday, said the release of N4.732 billion offered an opportunity to bring relief to workers and pensioners through payment of their entitlements.

    He said: “The people of the state know the wage bill of the state is not up to N2.6 billion as always claimed by Fayose.

    “Since he claims to be a friend of the masses, Fayose should be honest with Ekiti people and with God now that he has been exposed by adding the N4.7 billion state allocation to the local government allocation, which is almost the same amount.

    “It is gratifying that the Federal Government announced the July allocations to the 36 states, giving details of figure each of the states receives.

    ”Governor Fayose is fond of distorting facts about allocations to the state and on several occasions, lying that the state receives barely N500 million after deductions.

    “Now that the Federal Government has announced that the July allocation to Ekiti State is N4.732 billion after deductions and separate from the local government allocation, Ekiti people can no longer be deceived that the state received peanut in July as an excuse for failure to pay salary,” he said.

    The party spokesman urged the governor to release “other peanuts” he refused to use to pay salary in the past and add it to the fresh allocation to pay workers and dying pensioners.

    He called on Fayose to demonstrate that he is a friend of workers by releasing alleged stolen funds, including the millennium development goals’ (MDG) cash traced to his accounts, to pay workers.

    Olatunbosun added: “The EFCC has made mind-boggling revelations on the various sums of public cash traced to the accounts of the governor, including kickbacks from contractors and multi-million naira mansions in Lagos and Abuja.

    “As a friend of the masses and workers, this is the time to surrender the proceeds of sales of such illegal properties to help his friends in need over inability to pay their salaries.

    “Only two weeks ago, Fayose received another N1.3 billion Budget Support Fund from the Federal Government to pay salary. This is in addition to the July state and local government allocation totalling over N9 billion naira.

    “With this, there is no excuse for shortage of funds to pay salaries of the suffering Ekiti workers, who are at the receiving end of crooked financial regulations in the state with its adverse consequences on the economy of  Ekiti as a civil service state.

    “We will do everything under the law to make Fayose use the money to pay workers’ salary and pensioners’ allowances.”

  • ‘It’s time for fresh ideas in Ondo’

    ‘It’s time for fresh ideas in Ondo’

    Boye Oyewunmi is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a governorship aspirant in the November governorship election in Ondo State. In this interview with reporters in Lagos, he argues that there should be generational change in the politics of the state.

    What have you been doing since your NADECO days?

    On return to Nigeria, I went into business, while my contemporaries and seniors went into politics. By this, I mean people like Chief Anthony Enahoro and Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, both of blessed memory; Chief Alani Akinrinade, who was one of our leaders then; Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who is now my party chairman, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was treasurer and now National Leader of the APC. There were also others like Peter Obadan, who was deputy leader, Hon. Wale Oshun, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who I worked very closely with.

    What motivated you to join the governorship race?

    When I move round, I’m touched by the level of poverty which has visited us, more particularly in the Southwest, which used to be privileged, compared to other regions. If you look at our percentage of the total population and the position we occupied, it would become obvious that we had strategic advantages, but those advantages have been eroded. For instance, states in the Southwest are becoming educationally disadvantaged, like some parts of the country that have always been educationally backward; this, for me, is very worrying. In a situation in Ondo State, where you have two out of three students not being able to pass WASCE with five credits, and we have been like that for a while.

    This means that our comparative advantage has been watered down, because we no longer take education seriously. I believe very strongly that education is the cheapest way to redistribute wealth. We know that of more developed societies, even those without mineral resources; most of them are affluent and peaceful societies where things work the way it should.

    But, the reverse is the case for us in Nigeria, including the Southwest. For instance, you have kidnapping, which has become prevalent in the Southwest, particularly in Ondo State, as if it is a creative thing.

    Many years ago, there were some menial jobs we believed were reserved only for strangers. But, today, we are taking our fair proportion of Okada riding in Ondo State and this is a sad development. Again, getting a plumber or someone who is highly skilled in a particular vocation that speaks our local language is difficult nowadays.

    Is the situation in the state that bad?

    We don’t have the skills and we don’t have the prerequisite education to add value to society. It may interest you to know that the case of Ondo State is unique, because there is a no other part of the Southwest that I know of with high preponderance of minerals. Let’s leave minerals aside; in terms of human intellect, Ondo and Ekiti used to be the fountain of knowledge. But, now, we have mega schools with mega failures; we have class sizes that are bulging on the streets, schools with non-graduate teachers. When you are a non-graduate teacher, what are you impacting? What knowledge are you transferring? We have schools where infrastructures have decayed to the barest minimum. This means that the schools are tilted towards academic, with no infrastructures for practical. So, a lot of things are wrong.

    What are your chances of getting the party ticket?

    My chances are bright. The youth dominate the population in the state and the elderly know that this is the time for fresh ideas to take centre stage. Everybody knows that we cannot continue to do things as we did in the past; they equally know that government is serious business and requires serious-minded people with great leadership quality, business acumen, character and courage.

    Agbajowo is the code name of our movement. We are not about distribution of cars, Keke NAPEP, motorbikes (Okada) or bags of rice; rather we are selling a programme that will impact and improve the lives of our people and that of the next generation. They are not commodities to be bought. When you come with a vision that is backed up by capacity to serve, it becomes a reality.

    We have never lied to them before and we have never made any promise to them before; we have never lost an election before, so we have come with fresh ideas that are oiled with integrity, honesty and trustworthiness.

    Ideas rule the world and not positions. The mileage that we have is a lot higher than the resources that we have deployed. I’m grateful to God so far; we have been well received. Governance needs to be benchmarked in Ondo and that is what we represent. We started at the back of the queue, but we know where we are now. We are front-runners in a race we started four months ago; others have been positioning themselves for about three years. Like I have always said, the masquerade that comes out first watches the others last longer on the stage. We have come at a time like this and there is nothing like an idea that its time has come; people are optimistic that idea is here and the time is here, and they are supporting it and we are grateful for what we are getting.

  • Welcome, fresh thinking

    •A US$ 25bn fund, to roll back recession, is charting a new economic path

    During the last electoral campaigns, the All Progressives Congress (APC) pledged a regime of  change that would encompass vigorously combatting corruption, aggressively fixing the country’s broken infrastructure, massively creating jobs for the unemployed and expansive welfare spending to offer succour to the multitude of Nigerians under the scourge of poverty.

    This basket of promises was predicated on the continued availability of a substantial inflow of revenue to meet the huge financial outlay involved. Today, the ruling party faces a vastly different and less promising reality. It has inherited an economy in the doldrums.

    Ever since the drastic drop in the price of oil by almost half last year, the country’s revenue earnings have plummeted severely. This implies the virtual fiscal crippling of an economy almost totally dependent on oil exports and one which failed to utilise earlier prolonged periods of fuel price buoyancy to build a diversified economic base with a solid infrastructure network.

    Apart from colossal budgetary underperformance, the national currency has been considerably weakened and external reserves grossly depleted. Thus, most states are practically insolvent and unable to perform the basic function of meeting wage obligations to their workers. Economic growth has slowed to about 2.35%, which is reportedly the lowest in a decade. Yet, basic infrastructure remains derelict and incapable of facilitating meaningful economic resurgence.

    While not hiding the gravity of the situation from the Nigerian people, the government has commendably not pressed the panic button and has engaged fresh thinking in confronting the economic challenges. It has demonstrated the resolve to defy conventional wisdom, which in the past would have dictated the introduction of drastic cut in spending, austerity measures as well as currency devaluation. Experience has shown that these measures only deepen economic contraction and worsen poverty.

    While the monetary authorities continue to do all they can to stabilise the value of the Naira, exchange rate controls introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are designed to curb non-essential imports and stanch the external haemorrhaging of foreign reserves.

    The efficacy of these measures will undoubtedly be strengthened by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s recent revelation, in an interview with Bloomberg, that the Federal Government plans to create a $25 billion fund through public and private financing to stem the current slide to recession.

    Explaining the rationale for the planned initiative, the Vice President said “We think that the way out of this, what some have described as an impending recession is actually to spend rather than to cut back in any way”. We believe that this is sound economic reasoning and the right way to go.

    This is particularly so as the proposed fund is targeted at investment towards improving the current abysmally low level of power supply, which is a disincentive to a higher level of economic performance as well as modernising critical infrastructure like roads and rail transportation. These investments will stimulate economic activity by boosting public works, create jobs and ultimately help evolve an investment-friendly environment.

    Another key target area of the fund, according to Professor Osinbajo, is agriculture and here the target is to enable the country achieve self-sufficiency in rice production within 24 months. Meeting this target will result in huge foreign exchange savings that could be more productively utilised to enhance further economic capacity.

    Of course, the failure of many such brilliant ideas in the past teaches us that there is a wide gulf between intention and realization. The government must, therefore, possess the political will to ensure that this worthy idea does not become the victim of the kind of corruption, opacity, nepotism, incompetence, inefficiency and sheer impunity that have often constituted the vast grave yard of grand ideas in Nigeria.

  • Ghazali Lawal starts on a fresh note

    Ghazali Lawal starts on a fresh note

    The Magaji of Kaikai in Katsina State, His Royal Highness, Ghazali Lawal Kaikai, has started the year on a fresh note as he tied the nuptial knot with his beautiful bride, Zaynab, in Katsina State on January 3rd, 2015 (yesterday). The royal wedding drew many from different walks of life. Kaikai is one of the youngest monarchs in Northern Nigeria.