The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna

  • Kaduna Darkness Distribution Company?

    SIR: Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company has virtually become a darkness distribution company. It is now darkness all the way both at home and the office. Any visitor to Turaki Ali House, where my office is located, would marvel at the number of generators littering the premises. KEDC power supply is now on stand-by instead of the other way round. Most times, their light will not blink at all throughout the day. Meanwhile, payment for light is built into the service charge which tenants must pay. As for my home, I am happy I have prepaid meter which means I pay for light as I use.

    It is not surprising that the distribution companies are reluctant to give customers prepaid meters. They gain from estimated billings for darkness supplied. NERC has failed in its responsibility of ensuring that prepaid meters are installed for customers. We appear to have reached the stage of every man to himself in so far as power issue is concerned.

    How long can we continue like this? From the way things are now, is it not necessary to revisit the entire sale of the power sector? Is the excuse of the minister of power that reviewing the process will discourage other investors still a tenable one?

    Have we really had any genuine investor since the sale of federal government assets began? I think not, going by various inquiries and reports showing that instead of investing, buyers of privatized assets rather strip or cannibalize same. We deserve better than what we are being fed by the buyers of the various power assets who are not ready or able to invest in order to grow the sector. We need freedom from their bondage. The federal government should act now.

     

    • Bapakaye I. Dibi, Esq.,

    Port Harcourt.

  • Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa defend loan application

    The Katsina State government has given reasons for it seeking a $110 million facility from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

    Commissioner for Health Mariatu Bala Usman, who addressed the House of Representatives Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management in Abuja, said the state hopes to build and renovate 136 primary health centres; each local government will get four centres.

    Her words: “The projects would incorporate the establishment of a public health laboratory, given the incidence of Ebola and Lassa Fever in the country. There is need for Katsina State to be prepared for future emergencies”.

    On repayment plans, the commissioner said the state will pay 40 per cent counterpart funding.

    According to her, should the state utilise the loan with sincerity of purpose, accompanied by verifiable evidence of performance, the IDB is ready to convert the facility into a grant.

    The Kaduna State government, which is seeking a $350 million loan from the World Bank, to facilitate its economic transformation programme, also defended its proposal before the committee.

    Commissioner for Financeý Suleiman Abdul Kwari said if approved, the facility would be used to create jobs and strengthen the state’s economy.

    His words: “It cuts across other forms of governance in the system, including the Treasury Single Account (TSA), and we have adopted a zero-based budgeting system. Public finance control and assessment law was also domesticated against the archaic way of doing things.

    “That’s why the state is viewed as the most business-friendly by Thisday Newspaper. We have reduced tax procedures and dealt with multiple taxation.

    “The public procurement law, which is brand new in the state, has reduced the process of awarding contract, as the new law now enables people to undertake procurement online”.

    Jigawa State said it is seeking legislative approval to obtain a $32.4 million loan from the IDB to finance its agricultural value chain projects.

    Finance Commissioner Umar Namadi said agriculture has become the mainstay of the state’s economy and can create jobs.

    Committee chairman Adeyinka Ajayi (APC, Osun), who addressed reporters after the event, said the committee will undertake an oversight visit to assemblies of the seven states seeking the loan, to ascertain the involvement of their legislatures.

     

  • Kaduna APC crisis deepens over convention delegates

    Kaduna APC crisis deepens over convention delegates

    •Thugs swoop on news conference

    The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State deepend  yesterday, as two APC Senators and some House of Representatives members  kicked against weekend’s election of the party convention delegates.

    The elected delegates will attend the party’s non-elective mid-term convention slated for later in the year.

    Those who protested the delegates’ election are members of the Akida-APC – a group that is opposed to the leadership of the party in the state and Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    Yesterday, suspected political thugs disrupted the APC-Akida’s news conference, injured a journalist and destroyed property at the Kaduna NUJ secretariat venue.

    At an earlier news conference, the APC party leadership commended its members for conducting a successful congress.

    Acting Publicity Secretary Salisu Tanko Wusono said: “The Kaduna state APC executive council, together with our local government party chairmen and other stakeholders, wish to address you today following the successful conduct of our delegates’ congress yesterday, Saturday, 29th July 2017. We salute the cohesion and party spirit demonstrated by our members that made the congress successful.

    “The good conduct of our party stalwarts and members across the state has been consistent and notable, and the state executive wishes to place on record its gratitude to our members.

    “We call on the national headquarters of the party to expedite action towards enabling us to fill party offices that are currently occupied by officials in acting capacity, as provided for in the APC constitution,” Wusono said.

    Speaking on the dissenting voices within the party, Wusono said, “It has come to the notice of the Kaduna state APC that some disgruntled elements want to tarnish the reputation of the party. These persons have been unrelenting in their effort to destroy the party. They have failed over three years, but they continue trying. They abuse the party process, and accuse the party of every ill, but their real goal is to hijack it.”

    “As leaders of the APC, charged with the duty of managing the party in Kaduna state, it is obvious that we are obliged to reject and dismiss any attempt to hijack what is entrusted in our care. The party is aware that these disloyal persons feel frustrated that they were not able to sabotage the congress we just conducted. As is their habit whenever party spirit defeats their politics of ego, these persons will soon be making wild claims. They cannot be considered serious.”

    “The APC cannot indulge those who wish to destroy it. It cannot take things lightly with power mongers, who ascribe powers and dubious privileges to themselves without the legitimacy of any democratic mandate or altruistic leadership.

    “If these disaffected persons have any legitimate grievances, they are advised to follow proper channels. The APC will not tolerate anti-party activities. Politicians must learn that a party will not die just because they did not win internal elections or secure places for their preferred cohorts.”

    “This party will not be hijacked or derailed by those wedded to a medieval conception of politics. The APC wishes the general public to note that anybody or group that needs to add an adjective to the APC name thereby confirms that it is nothing but an illegitimate contraption. The door of the party remains open to those ready to accept party discipline. Our arms stand ready to embrace those who value party loyalty and democratic values.”

    But addressing reporters later at the NUJ secretariat, Spokesman of APC Akida, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, (Kaduna North), alleged that they were at the party secretariat on Friday from 2:30pm till 730pm, waiting for the party leadership and observers from the national headquarters to conduct the delegates conference without anybody showing up.  Hunkuyi was supported by Senator Shehu Sani, Hon Isah Ashiru and Alhaji Haruna Saeed Kajuru, House of Representatives members Alhaji Hassan Shekarau, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, Malam Musa Soba, Dr. Tijjani Ramallan, Alhaji Audi Yaro Makama and Ambassador Sule Buba, among others.

    The APC Akida said it had written a petition to the national leadership rejecting what it called ‘selection of delegates’ for the convention and requesting the party to organise an acceptable delegates congress following the guidelines that would lead to acceptable delegates.

    According to him: “All efforts to convince the leadership of the party to hold this congress failed. Instead, somebody in the name of political adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Alhaji Uba Sani, gathered people together and confronted them with the list of delegates appointed for the convention.

    “Our unanimous stand is that we are all products of election or those who wish to seek for one post or another, so why won’t we submit ourselves to the same people who elected us. We have written two petitions one addressed to the national chairman copying other leaders of the party stating that the process had been breached so they should fix another day to come and conduct the delegate election. We have also written to the national working committee to appeal that the election be conducted in line with the electoral guidelines,” Hunkuyi said.

    Senator Sani (Kaduna Central) said the symptoms being shown by APC in Kaduna state is what killed PDP in 2015. “In no way should anybody accept any list concocted in the Government House palace. We won’t bow down to any tyrant. A list was prepared and sent to Abuja, we would not accept it.”

    The Thugs arrived before the -Akida group. They stormed the NUJ premises saying they won’t allow the news conference to hold.

    However, despite the presence of about 30 armed policemen, some of the thugs made their way into the hall, almost at the end of the news conference and unleashed mayhem on journalists. They left a cameraman from Liberty TV injured. Some cameras were destroyed. Phones, tape recorders and other valuables were carted away.

    Governor El-Rufai in a swift reaction, condemned the thugs’ attack on the journalists, saying nobody would be allowed to stifle freedom of expression.

    El-Rufai’s message to the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) through his media aide, Samuel Aruwan said: “Having been briefed on the situation, the governor expressed sympathy with The NUJ and the persons that were harassed by the hoodlums. The Governor directed that the security agencies should investigate and take necessary action against the hoodlums. The Governor also directed security agencies to beef up security at the NUJ secretariat to protect journalists doing their duty.

    “The media must not be hindered from carrying out their constitutional and professional obligations. The government of Kaduna State upholds the principles of free speech and respects the freedom of expression. Politics should not be a desperate game. And desperation should not be visited on journalists or any citizen.”

  • Fresh crisis rocks Kaduna APC over delegates election

    Fresh crisis rocks Kaduna APC over delegates election

    Fresh crisis rocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna on Sunday, as the party’s Senators and House of Representatives members from the state, alongside other members of the party under the auspices of APC-Akida group kicked against recent election of the party congress delegates.

    Political thugs allegedly sponsored to disrupt the APC-Akida’s press conference injured a journalist and destroyed property at the Kaduna NUJ secretariat, venue of the press conference.

    APC party leadership had during its own press conference earlier on Sunday morning commended its members for conducting a successful congress ahead of the party’s non elective convention in Abuja.

    Acting Publicity Secretary, Salisu Tanko Wusono, while addressing journalists at the party secretariat commended the dedication of the team from the national headquarters of the party who organized the exercise, and officials of INEC that monitored the congress.

    He said APC in Kaduna state welcomes the outcome of the congress, stating that the exercise has demonstrated and consolidated the party as a united entity, vibrant and supportive of the values that brought the APC into being.

    “We call on the national headquarters of the party to expedite action towards enabling us to fill party offices that are currently occupied by officials in acting capacity, as provided for in the APC constitution,” Wusono said.

    Speaking on dissenting voices within the party, Wusono said, “It has come to the notice of the Kaduna state APC that some disgruntled elements want to tarnish the reputation of the party. These persons have been unrelenting in their effort to destroy the party and sap the spirit of its members. They have failed over three years, but they continue trying. They abuse the party process, and accuse the party of every ill, but their real goal is to hijack it.”

    “As leaders of the APC, charged with the duty of managing the party in Kaduna state, it is obvious that we are obliged to reject and dismiss any attempt to hijack what is entrusted in our care. The party is aware that these disloyal persons feel frustrated that they were not able to sabotage the congress we just conducted. As is their habit whenever party spirit defeats their politics of ego, these persons will soon be making wild claims. They cannot be considered serious.”

    But addressing newsmen later in the day  at the NUJ secretariat, Spokesman of APC Akida, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, representing Kaduna North Senatorial zone, alleged that, they were at the party secretariat last Friday from 2:30pm waiting for the party leadership and observers from the national headquarters to conduct the delegate conference till 7:30pm nobody showed up.

    Hunkuyi was flanked by Senator Shehu Sani, APC gubernatorial aspirants, Hon Isah Ashiru and Alhaji Haruna Saeed Kajuru, servings reps, Alhaji Hassan Shekarau, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, Malam Musa Soba, Dr. Tijjani Ramallan, Alhaji Audi Yaro Makama and Ambassador Sule Buba among others.

    APC Akida said it has written petition to the national leadership of the party rejecting what it called ‘selection of delegates’ for the convention and requesting the party to come and organise an acceptable delegates congress following the guidelines that would yield acceptable delegates from the state.

    Also speaking, Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, said the symptoms being shown by APC in Kaduna state is what killed PDP in 2015. “In no way should anybody accept any list concocted in the Government House palace. We won’t bow down to any tyrant. A list was prepared and sent to Abuja, we would not accept it.”

    Before the arrival of the APC-Akida group, some hoodlums stormed the NUJ premises chanting that, they won’t allow the press conference hold.

    However, despite the presence of about 30 armed policemen, few of the thugs made their way in, almost towards the end of the press conference and unleashed mayhem on journalists and left a cameraman from Liberty TV injured, while some cameras were destroyed and phones, tape recorders and other valuables were carted away.

    But Governor Nasir El-Rufai in a swift reaction condemned the thugs attack on the journalists, saying nobody will be allowed to stifle freedom of expression.

  • Business training for 500 Kaduna women

    A firm, I-Care Women and Youth Initiative, has trained 500 women in business management to enable them generate income and raise their children better.

    The women, who are mothers (caregivers) were trained in how to run successful business, to generate stable income for their households, which according to I-Care will in turn enable them raise healthy children free of malnutrition.

    The women were earlier trained in different skills, including tailoring, hair dressing, tie and die, shoe and bag making, beads making and cosmetology. But, to ensure that they use the skills for economic liberation of their households, I Care Women and Youth Initiative resolved to follow up the skills acquisition training with business training.

    At the opening of the three-day training, the Resource Person and Household Economy Strengthening Officer with I Care Women and Youth Initiative, Ibrahim Ayuba said, training which is part of the System Transformed For Empowered Action and Enabling Responses for Vulnerable Children and their families (STEER) Project was aimed building an economic viable households, to enable them cater for their health and wellbeing.

    Ayuba said, “What informed our resolve to train them in businessis because they have earlier been trained on vocational training by I Care through the STEER Project. 477 women were trained in various skills ranging from tailoring, hair dressing, tie and dye, shoe and bag making, bead-making and cosmetology, among others.

    “That led us into this training we are doing today. The essence is to educate them on how to market their goods and having a broad goal to achieve a lot with the skills they have already acquired.

    “We want to see them at the end of the day having the expertise to manage their business well and diversify when the need arises, not only relying on one business. This we believe will generate into for their respective households.

    “The women you are seeing here were selected for the programme after a baseline survey in 2015 that showed the vulnerability status of the women. We had the vulnerable, more vulnerable and most vulnerable. So, these are the ones that were identified as, more vulnerable. We selected them because these are people making efforts to do one business or the other, but without reasonable income.

    “This is a community where women don’t really do anything, but rely solely on their husbands. So, having understood that, we adopted a strategy where we brought what they call, Village Savings and Loans Association. With the programme women were brought together to save the little they earn and get from their husbands. From the programme, they are entitled to loans for small businesses. So, these encouraged them.

    “What we have realised a long time ago is that, you cannot separate household economy from their health status. Particularly, in the area of nutrition, which is another focus of our organisation, we have realised that, proper nutrition of a household cannot be achieved without viable economy for that household.

    “From our studies, we have discovered that, households could not get the required nutrients because their income levels were low. So, that is why we have chosen to empower women, because we believe that, when they have stable income, they would be able to cater for their children better,” Ayuba said.

    Similarly, the Head of the NGO’s Nutrition Desk, Hadiza Abdulsalam said, I-Care had earlier trained the women on how to get required nutrients from locally available foods. “But, we thought it wise to equally empower them to get stable income, so that they can always put their nutrition information into practice”.

    She said, the programme was being carried out in five communities across Kaduna South local government, namely, Kakuri Hausa, Ungwan Kaje, Ungwan Muazu, Down Quarters and Ungwan Makama.

    One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Maryam Mohammed expressed appreciation to the NGO, saying that, she would make effective use of the knowledge acquired to assist her husband in keep the home.

  • Death toll in Kaduna crisis now 33

    •Police parade 55 suspects

    The death toll in the Kajuru council, Kaduna State, crisis has risen to 33, it was leanrt yesterday.

    Commissioner of Police Agyole Abeh spoke yesterday while parading suspected criminals. He condemned the crisis, describing it as barbaric.

    According to him, 32 persons, mostly women and children, were killed in the attack.

    “On July 11, a young herder was attacked by some youths. His father, who came to rescue him, was assaulted and died in the hospital.

    “The problem started when some youths claimed they saw a Fulani man with a bag, which they said contained military camouflage, but he ran away.

    “The matter was reported and investigation was on when we got information on Monday evening that that the Fulani attacked a remote village in retaliation. Six persons died and two others were injured.

    “The youths immediately mobilised into the bush, killing and burning down any Fulani settlement within sight. The police was contacted but before we got there, 26 Fulani, mostly women and children, had been killed.”

    “I assure you the police will ensure the culprits face the full wrath of the law.”

    The National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Abdullahi Ibrahim, said the previous attack, which left four herdsmen dead, followed the abduction of two Fulani indigenes in the area.

    Ibrahim added that the gunmen also attacked Tsonho Damishi community in Chikun council, where they destroyed houses.

    He described the attacks as unwarranted and provoking, and appealed to members of the association to remain calm, and called on security agencies to bring the killers to justice.

    The suspects, aged between 15 and 23, were arrested on the Kaduna-Abuja; Kaduna-Zaria and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways, while committing crime.

    Vehicles, locally-made pistols, revolvers, local guns, AK-47 rifles, fake dollars, vehicle batteries, army jacket and burglary tools were recovered from the suspects.

    Abeh said the suspects will soon be charged to court.

  • Kaduna Police parade 55 kidnapping, armed robbery

    Kaduna Police parade 55 kidnapping, armed robbery

    Kaduna State Police command has paraded 55 suspects arrested for various criminal offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and money doubling.

    The command also condemned the recent reprisal attack in Kajuru local government area of the state that claimed several lives, describing it has barbaric.

    The police however confirmed that 32 persons, mostly women and children were killed in the reprisal attack between groups of youths and Fulani in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

    The suspects who are mostly youths between 15 and 23 years of age according to the command were arrested while carrying out their nefarious activities along Kaduna-Abuja, Kaduna-Zaria and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways.

    Though the police said the suspects are many, 55 were counted while they were been paraded before newsmen by the Police Commissioner, Mr. Agyole Abeh at the command’s headquarters in Kaduna on Wednesday.

    The Commissioner  said within the last two weeks, fight against crime and criminality has paid off with the arrest of several criminal suspects involved in crime which include armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, rape, Sara-Suka, kidnapping, cattle rustling, counterfeit US dollars printing among others.

  • 37 feared killed in fresh Kaduna farmers/herdsmen clash

    37 feared killed in fresh Kaduna farmers/herdsmen clash

    Not less than 37 persons have been reported killed in a fresh clash between farmers and herdsmen in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna, about 60 kilometres away from the state capital

    The Nation gathered that, the fresh round of violence erupted between farmers and herders on Sunday, when some Fulani youths went to a village at Ungwan Uka to avenge the killing of a certain Fulani herdsman said to have been attacked and killed some days back by some Kadara youths at a farm at Banono village.

    Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police could not confirm casualties figure as at press time.

    One of the Kadara youths who spoke on conditions of anonymity confirmed the killing but said the Fulani man that was killed was a known bandit who has been harassing the people of the area and was killed by a mob while trying to escape.

    He when this happened, the matter was explained to the Fulani community in the area who he said also knew the man to be a bandit but their youths insisted on avenging the man.

    “The Chief of kajuru even called them and spoke with them but we were surprised that in the early hours of Sunday morning, they came and carried out the attack,” he stated.

    Our correspondent learnt that the Fulani youths killed 5 of the youths they were said to have identified as having a hand in the killing of the Fulani herdsman in the attack but their action was said to have angered the Kadara youths who in turn mobilized themselves on Monday and launched an attack on the surrounding Fulani settlements, burning their tents and other properties while killing no less than 12 persons in that attack.

    An eye witness, Salisu Mohammed said on Monday after the attack, some security agents were drafted to the  communities and things calmed down for the period they were around but said things got out of hand again when they left the bushes and  the kadara youth launched another attack on the surrounding Fulani settlement and killed no less than 10.

    “These are the ones whose bodies have been recovered, as I’m talking with you, we don’t know the actual number of casualties as our people are scattered all over running for dear lives,” he stated.

    He said the victims were buried in a mass grave and that while at the site of the burial they also received information to prepare for the burial of another nine whose bodies were recovered at various points in the surrounding bushes.

    A Kadara Youth, who prefers anonymity, told our correspondent that, the youths have been restive following the attacks but said efforts have been on by their elders to calm the nerves of the restive youths as there is tension in the area.

    “We’ve been hearing of several attacks but when I called people in some of the communities, they say they’re not true,” he said but added that no less than 10 persons including a seven month old baby died in the attack.

    Meanwhile, when contacted, the acting Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yakubu Sabo said the police is aware of a misunderstanding among some individuals in the community which later led to a clash when some people took the laws into their hands.

    He said the police and the army have however gone to the place and brought the situation under control.

    According to ASP Sabo, “not only the police but the joint patrol comprising the police and army are still there and situation has been brought under control. I spoke with them this afternoon and they confirmed to me they’re still there, there is no way this type of thing will happen and we will just withdraw like that,” he said.

    Sabo also said that, the command was yet to confirm the number of casualties and promised that, as soon as he confirms the casualty, he will get back to the press.

  • A nutrition plan in Kaduna

    To shore up nutritional health, an organisation, Post-harvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN) trains farmers, food processors, transporters and other stakeholders in handling and preserving fruits and vegetables

    The organisation focuses on one of the most important areas of life: nutritional health, an area often mismanaged. Much as humans need fresh fruits and vegetables to maintain good health, much of them are carelessly handled and consequently lost, thus denying consumers sorely needed nutrition. That was why the Post-harvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition or PLAN organised a workshop in Kaduna to enhance the capacity of farmers, wholesalers, aggregators, transporters and processors. The workshop focused on food safety and hygiene for post-harvest handling of fresh fruits and vegetables. PLAN is supported by the Rockefeller Foundation.

    Millions worldwide do not consume enough micronutrients needed for growth and development, especially in Africa. Women and children are the most vulnerable with telling effects on their vitamins and minerals status. This was revealed at the three-day training workshop.

    The participants observed that people suffering from malnutrition should have access to a diverse diet which includes rich fresh fruits and vegetables. But unfortunately, over 50 percent of fresh fruits and vegetables do not get to consumers in need, a development which is blamed on losses taking place after the produce leaves the farm.

    This scenario essentially prompted the training workshop titled “Food Safety & GAPS For Fresh Fruits and Vegetables”. The capacity building workshop was organised by Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN). The focus was on food safety and hygiene for postharvest handling of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is supported by Rockefeller Foundation, Yield-wise Program-Pyxera Global and GEMS4-UKAID. It is aimed at sensitisation and capacity building of farmers, wholesalers, aggregators, transporters and processors on the importance of adhering to food safety practices.

    According to Dr. Augustine Okoruwa, the Senior Project Manager PLAN, who was represented by Ayodele Tella, PLAN’s Senior Associate Agriculture and Nutrition Programme, Kaduna was selected as one of the states for the training episodes because in terms of production it is at the centre of fruits and vegetable production in Northern Nigeria. Consequently, participants who are mainly representatives of organised private sector were drawn from states in the North with representatives of government too in attendance from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

    The training was designed to provide:

    • Participants’ increased awareness regarding food safety & hygiene standards and requirements in the postharvest handling fresh fruits and vegetables to reduce the losses that occur at the various stages of the supply chain.
    • Imbue participants with greater confidence in handling fruits and vegetables using best practices to prevent physical, chemical or biological contaminations of produce which could cause postharvest losses and waste.
    • Equip participants with up to date knowledge on causes of postharvest losses and how to mitigate these losses
    • Provide participants with clarity on the required standards of handling, storage and packaging of fruits and vegetables and instill the ability to consistently work according to agreed standards and control guidelines designed internally such as process SOPs and external guidelines such as those available by standards organisation to minimise losses during postharvest handling.

    Obasi Sunday, a participant from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in his reaction to the training package, noting that whilethe training workshop was timely, he stressing that “Nigerian Agriculture at this stage has a lot of problems. We discovered that our products cannot compete effectively in international markets. Most of our products are being rejected based on quality assurance and standard. I think it is a welcome development for PLAN to have thought it wise to organise this kind of programme. Within the period we have been able to identify areas of GAPs which has to do with quality assurance, knowing that quality starts from the farm ranging from production, processing to storage before it gets to the end user that being consumer.

    “Government intervention can come in many areas such as organizing training programmes for capacity building of farmers on food handling; control of agro-chemicals; providing loans via Bank of Agriculture; provide policies on transportation of fresh produce and intervention in cold chain facilities to reduce postharvest losses which are estimated at between 40 to 50 percent nationwide.

    ”Much as we talk of standard with a view to competing at international markets, we ourselves need to eat quality produce from the farm and that is why the government needs to address the issue of quality assurance right from the farm for hygiene and safety reasons.”

    Obasi Sunday also disclosed that “the Bank of Agric. is being re-engineered to address the issue of giving loans to farmers at a considerable bank rate to assist their production and other related services. However, he is of the opinion that farmers themselves should be able to produce bankable feasibility studies to enable them access loans.

    “Preservation which accounts for major losses that farmers of perishable products like tomatoes, vegetables etc suffer most, should not be left for government alone; private sectors should take the lead by forming cooperative societies through which the farmers will reach out to the government and they would be listened and attended to.

    “I want to assure you that the ministry is aware of the plight of Nigerian farmers and it will be addressing the issues in time to come. But currently, it is the general opinion that private sectors should be in their various cooperatives to take a lead instead of waiting for government.

    Edith Dafe Ajekubele who came from Jos said, “This government that is pro-agriculture should empower the farmers,” lamenting that, “The truth of the matter is that in Nigeria today, we only have what I will call psychedelic farmers. They are the retirees and Chief Executive Officers in big organisations. They have the money to do all the needful especially in the area of food preservation because they can afford to own their own cold storage facilities. But unfortunately, those real farmers that farm these produces do not have what it takes to preserve their produces. These same psychedelic farmers will buy everything from the real farmers at a giveaway price because they know they can store it.  Therefore, the essence of making the farmers realize what they actually should be realizing from their produce in the long run is not met. This is because they will always continue to sell at giveaway price for lack of the means to price it.

    “If government really wants to help farmers, they should make local government authority to have a budget that will cater for the needs of farmers and encourage them to farm and produce more”, she suggested. “By so doing, government is letting the people at the grassroots to know what they are doing and that there are dividends in democracy not only in the lives of the public office holders but even in the lives of the people at their own level.”

  • Kaduna school advocates cleaner environment

    Kaduna-based Jordan Science Academy, at the weekend, embarked on sanitation to raise awareness on the importance of preserving the environment by keeping it clean.

    The awareness campaign was carried out to inculcate the culture of cleanliness among the people of Unguwar Dosa in Kaduna North council.

    Teachers and pupils went round the community, sweeping streets and sensitising residents on the need to properly dispose dirt from their homes.

    The school’s Administrative Officer, Fadilah Ismail, said the exercise would inculcate the culture of community service in their kids, and complement the government’s effort at improving the integrity of the environment.

    “We are aware of the government’s effort at keeping the state clean. So, what we are doing today is to join hands in creating the awareness. If the environment is clean, it will eliminate diseases and prevent epidemic outbreaks.

    “Apart from that, it is important to also inculcate in the children, the habit of keeping their environment clean. As you can see, both the primary and secondary sections are involved in this campaign and we hope to make it an annual event,” she said.