The Nation Newspaper

Tag: security

  • Pipeline security force to end vandalism underway

    Pipeline security force to end vandalism underway

    The Federal Government is considering the creation of “a permanent pipeline security force” to protect sensitive pipelines across the country.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said if established, such a force “would be armed with sophisticated weapons to ensure we contain the vandalism, and overhaul security.”

    Osinbajo called for an expedited repair of the Forcados Terminal in Delta State operated by Shell and the activation of an alternative process to ameliorate gas supply deficit in the country.

    He spoke at the weekend when he visited the Forcados Terminal in Delta State. He was accompanied by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    The Vice President said President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned about the damage done to the terminal in February, which resulted in loss of gas supply to power plants and significant loss of potential revenue.

    He said President Buhari asked him to visit and assess the situation which has been responsible for the recent drop in electricity supply in the country.

    A statement on the trip made available yesterday by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, quoted Osinbajo as saying that the president is equally concerned that the gas projects under the disposal of Shell, which will beef up domestic supply of gas in the country, needs to be speedily completed.

    “What is going on here affects the Nigerian people and the economy,” Osinbajo told Shell and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) officials at the meeting. He was referring to the loss of gas supply to power plants and the loss of potential foreign exchange earning arising from the inability to produce over 250,000 barrels of oil per day, due to the damage done to the terminal.

    “The damage done to Forcados affects our oil earnings but also as important is the power aspect. It (Forcados)-is a major source of gas, about 40 per cent of our gas supply is affected leading to the problem of power supply in the country,” the Vice President told Shell officials led by Country Chairman  Osagie Okunbor and NNPC officials led by Bello Rabiu, the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) for Upstream.

    He added: “I came here on the instruction of the President who is concerned about the damage done to Forcados. I came here to see for myself and underscore the great implication for the nation’s economy. Many people don’t even know that power supply is hampered by what is going on here.”

    He charged the officials to do what can be done and expeditiously as possible to repair the damaged terminal.

    According to a repair plan presented to him during the visit by Shell, the repair work which is in three phases is about concluding its first phase with expectation that the repair will be concluded in May.

    The NNPC also presented an interim alternative plan to supply gas to the plants including trucking condensate.

    Osinbajo expressed concern of the federal government that IOCs that seat on 80% of gas deposits in the country have not been as forthcoming regarding gas supply to the domestic market.

    “Even if it is as a matter of public service,” Prof Osinbajo encouraged the IOCs to do a lot more for domestic gas supply considering the gas supply problems in the country, stressing that “we are clearly suffering in terms of domestic supply.”

    For instance, he harped on the need for Shell to speedily complete the Bonga and Forcados/Yokri gas projects in order to assuage the plight of the Nigerian people.

    “The president is particularly concerned about this outstanding gas projects.” he noted

    The Bonga Gas Diversion project would provide 120mmscf/d when completed by the second quarter of this year, while the Forcados/Yokri gas project would provide 80mmscf/d at completion expected at the same timeline.

    There is also the Assa North/Ohaji South project which can also provide 500mmscf/d.

    Experts say currently, gas production into domestic network in the country has fallen to 601mmscf/d from usual 1.1bcf/d.

    The implication is that the country is now losing about half a billion cf/d, which roughly accounts for about 2000MW of electricity.

    Osinbajo also told reporters that “the damage done to Forcados terminal is the chief reason for the poor power supply that has affected the country recently.”

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, lamented that “the Forcados terminal is important to Delta state and the nation. That is where SPDC evacuates its products and other land operations including Seplat evacuating products from there for sale. Now, all the production on land by SPDC is shortened.”

  • Group seeks support from security agencies

    The Police Assistance Committee (PAC) has reiterated that its main function is to assist the Nigeria Police Force, all security agencies, Office of the National Security Adviser and security advisers to the state governments on information dissemination and intelligence gathering that could help in curbing crime and checkmating activities of criminals in the country.

    Addressing executive members of the PAC at a one-day workshop held in Lagos, Director General of the organization, Dr. Martins John Oni, explained that the PAC does not constitute a threat to any security agencies in any way in the performance of their constitutional role, as the pre-occupation of the PAC was to always assist security agencies with relevant information and intelligence gathering to do their jobs.

    He reaffirmed that those that constitute membership of the PAC are mainly tradesmen/women and artisans, chief security officers of private companies and government parastatals, businessmen and traders who are importers and exporters, as well as some members of the public who are specially trained to spy on activities of criminals and gather and disseminate information to security agencies to assist in their operations to curb crime in the country.

    He said that members of the PAC had no intention to function like the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) who were almost performing security jobs like the police.

    The PAC boss, therefore, appealed to the police and other security agencies to keep supporting members of the PAC  during their seminars and workshops which they conduct nationwide.

  • Drunk driver kills two guards in Lagos

    Drunk driver kills two guards in Lagos

    Security guards at an S and H petrol in Okota as well as a member of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) have been killed after a drunk driver rammed into them.

    They were knocked down at different locations on Ago Palace Way by the hit-and-run driver speeding recklessly towards Festac.

    The deceased Tope Ani, 35, a.k.a. Baby Oku and Jeremaiah Samuel, 38, were knocked down at the wee hours of Saturday at their places of work, few meters from each other.

    It was learnt that Baby Oku, upon hearing Samuel’s scream at about 1:45am, came out and stood at the entrance of the filling station to ascertain what was happening.

    But the drunk driver of a blue VolksWagen T5 bus marked MUS497XG, swerved in his direction, knocking him down.

    Not satisfied, the killer driver was said to have pulled the guard and the tyre he fell on, as he ran, dragging the deceased on the interlocking tiles.

    According to an eyewitness, who said he was also on duty that night, Baby Oku died instantly, while the driver abandoned his bus at Ago last bus stop and fled.

    The Nation gathered that a third victim was also hit but the person sustained minor injury.

    It was gathered that the corpses of the deceased caused a scare in the area on Saturday morning until they were evacuated by policemen, who also retrieved the bus from where it was abandoned.

    At the time The Nation visited, the filling station was closed for business, while police vehicles were seen about 30 metres from the scene.

    The bus was also scene outside the police station, although no one has been arrested.

    Confirming the incident, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police  (SP) said the third victim was treated and discharged.

    She added that investigation was in progress to fish out the culprit.

  • Security: Fed Govt restricts radioactive materials 

    The Federal Government has placed restriction on the movement of radioactive materials into and outside the country.

    Movements of such materials are now restricted to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Director-General of the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) Prof. Lawrence Dim made the disclosure in an interview with reporters in Abuja at the weekend.

    According to him, the security measure was meant to prevent radioactive materials from getting into wrong hands.

    Prof. Dim said the government mandated institutions and agencies making use of radioactive materials for non-violent purposes to obtain approval from the NNRA.

    The NNRA boss added that the directive was meant to ensure the safety of Nigerians and ensure that those with no business with radioactive materials, did not obtain them.

    He warned that agency’s personnel have been collaborating with relevant security agencies to track unlawful dealings in such materials.

    Prof. Dim said: “To prevent possible abuse, the NNRA has made it a law that only one airport in Nigeria, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is approved for the importation and transportation of radioactive materials into and out of the country.

    “We need to replicate this in some other international airports, such as Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Abuja so that we can effectively monitor the movement of such materials.”

    The NNRA chief, however, said the agency had begun the process that would eventually lead to the use of nuclear technology to generate electricity in the country.

    According to him, the agency was in the process of developing a nuclear power programme so that nuclear electricity could be added to the country’s energy mix.

    “The project is on and it isn’t a project that can be completed at once. It may take up to 25 years to put this to use,” Prof. Dim added.

  • Tackling cyber space security breaches

    Tackling cyber space security breaches

    Cyber space breaches are increasing at a faster rate than the country can keep up with.  OLATUNDE ODEBIYI looks at some of the issues in the Cyber Crime Act and how its implementation can bring sanity to the internet community.

    Over the years, the cyber space has transformed the way people think, communicate, travel, run businesses,  run the economy and even get services. But like every good thing, there is the other side, which is cyber crime. While some unsuspecting persons have died, others have lost their life savings to cyber crooks.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo set up the National Cyber security Initiative (NCI) in 2003. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, at the twilight of his administration, also passed the Cyber Crime Act 2015 to combat cyber crimes.

    To criminals, it is all a means of livelihood, but cyber crime is a dent on the country’s image and a source of  embarrassment to the nation.

     

    Faces of cyber crimes

    • Hackers: They make use of the weaknesses and loop holes in operating systems to destroy data and steal important information from victim’s computer.
    • Cyber-stealing: It is the use of computers and communication systems to steal information in electronic format.
    • Viruses and worms are major threat to normal users and companies. Viruses are computer programs that are designed to damage computers, while worm usually exploits loop holes in soft ware’s or the operating system.
    • Spamming: It involves mass amounts of email being sent in order to promote and advertise products and websites. Cyber harassment is electronically and intentionally carrying out threatening acts against individuals.
    • Website Cloning is the recent trend in cyber crime, which involves fake ‘copy-cat’ web sites that take advantage of consumers that are unfamiliar with the Internet or who do not know the exact web address of the legitimate company that they wish to visit.
    • Cyber laundering is an electronic transfer of illegally obtained monies with the goal of hiding its source and possibly its destination.

     

    Goals of cyber security

    Cybersecurity would enable people to reduce the vulnerability of their Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems and networks. It would help individuals and institutions to develop and nurture a culture of cyber security. It would also enable people work collaboratively with public, private and international entities to secure cyberspace and thereby help people to understand the trends in IT/cybercrime and develop effective solutions.

     

    Effects of Cyber Crime Act

    An Internet Security Expert/Chairman, Education and Manpower Development Committee, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Mr. Aderogba Adeoye, said the Cyber Crime Act has not helped to combat cyber crime to the extent that human resources to drive it and capacity are almost not in the system.

    Adeoye, who is also the Executive Secretary, Information Technology Systems and Security Professionals (ITSSP), said the government should put structures in place to drive the Act.

    He said Cyber crime is in the domain of information technology and related communication services, but the Act is being domiciled in an improper place.

    “Cyber means online; cyber crime is the criminality within the online space. Cyber crime is a serious security threat to the nation, which deals with somebody that interfere with e-processes, banking activities, e-mail, theft of identity, theft of data and misbehavior within the online space,” he said.

    He said human resource and technical knowhow are required. “We need to build capacity in the area of cyber crime so that we can run with the Act. The Act is ok as at now; at least we are starting from somewhere. Every law over time will be reviewed. The law requires a lot of human capacity and resources in the various organs and institutions that are involved in the information technology domain.

    “The Police, Armed Forces and Judiciary are doing their own part but, what of the IT professionals. The Nigeria government said you can only be IT expert if you are known to CPN, but is CPN doing what they are supposed to do. If they did not register what they are suppose to register, who summons them or whose over sight is that. Also in the usage of IT services which is given to Nigerian Information Technology Development Association (NITDA); are they collaborating with CPN and NCS. These are the major bodies known to the law of Nigeria; What are they doing to increase our expertise in cyber crime or cyber crime act and its related issues? ‘’ he asked.

    He said within NCS there is the Information Security Group, among other groups. “What are they saying about Cyber Crime Act. The Cyber Crime Act is there, but there are other pre issues before cyber crime. We have electronic evidence which makes computer related reports and issues to be admissible in court. Now that we have Cyber Crime, have the stakeholders subject it to analysis.

    “How much do the Judicial officers know, where are our computer experts, where are the Lawyers that have some prerequisite knowledge about Cyber Crime. Has there been effort to train these people. Is our training to generally create human resources?

    “Cyber crime is not civil crime, it is a criminal matter and those to prosecute criminal matters are the police. Has there been any collaborative work between the police and the State prosecutor, judicial officers and the judge; do the judges have prerequisite knowledge about computer related issues and the Act; these are things that need to have deliberate effort to develop  human capacity along that line.”

    He said there was the need to educate and train people more.

    “In government we must have proper structure in place to develop those who will run Cyber Act issues.

    “Today, the Cyber Crime Act has a lot of work to do because CPC should be discussing with NCS; they should form a working group because everybody is now on e-service. In Nigeria, most of the services that has to do with financial transactions are being run on e-platform; e-transaction, e-payment, e-book, e-money. When problems come on that line, what do we do? We should not be doing all these services and allow nonentities to take it over,” he said.

     

    Views about Cyber

    Crime Act

    Chairman,Teledom Group, an indigenous ICT firm, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, said the Act is a good starting point, though it is not yet perfect. He described the Act as a guide and movement from where we are to where we should be.

    He said the Act is good, though it would  require amendments in future.

    Ekuwen also noted that there was need to specify ICT infrastructure as typical national infrastructure, saying: “Until we realise as a nation that the ease and speed with which information, knowledge or data is accessed and translated into productivity is what gives the citizen, state and the nation a competitive advantage in any field of human endeavour.”

    He said if there is a reliable broadband plan that connects those in the rural and urban areas,  expertise in all spheres, health, banking and academics, will be linked.

    “Our Cyber Security Act must expressively specify that ICT infrastructure constitute an important and critical infrastructure of a nation,” he said.

    Ekuwem said if cyber security is not given the appropriate attention, it will lead to disaster. He said if hackers were allowed into the customer data base of the bank , for instance, it would lead to a disaster which a nation may never be able to recover from because everybody will inflate their deposit in the bank. “You can also imagine what would happen to the credit of customers if the customer data base of the operators of the telecommunications companies are hacked into. Many people will also inflate their credit, claiming they have credit they never loaded. There are lots of consequences leaving our cyber space unprotected,” he said.

    He noted that there are lots of security agencies working to ensure physical security but no one is there to secure the cyber space.

    “All agencies must apply to the cyber space, because that is what the cyber security law of a nation is all about. The law is imperfect like all laws but we must give it some support, encourage it and inpute must be made as well as subsequent versions of amendment of the law.

    “As we grow, gradually moving into broad band, a lot of information is flowing up and down, so also must our cyber space be protected.The public should know that cyber security law is important as all the laws that have being put in place to regulate and govern the behavior that has been put in place in the cyber space,’’  he said.

     

    Effects of the Act

    Ekuwem said the Act has reduced cyber crime.

    He said: “In the absence of the law, there is no infraction, but when people get to know that there is an infraction when you invade somebody’s  privacy by having an unauthorised access into his cyber space, then the awareness has contributed in the existence of the Act.

    “If we will follow due process in the world space then it is of a necessity to follow procedure into the cyber space; we should avoid unauthorised access in the cyber space just as we do not allow unauthorised access in the world space because you know that you will be breaking the law.”

    He said people should to know that they are not to play around with other people’s or company’s password.

     

     

    The way forward

    Ekuwem said: “It is our duty as ICT practitioners to make sure that hackers don’t invade our privacy. The law is a deterrent as people get to know that those laws are there. It is also as deterrent as its enforcement. Who enforces and regulates the Act is very important and this is an issue that is not very clearly stated. Is it Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)? The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), or Nigerian Information Technology Development Association (NITDA).”

    He said the Act must be followed by enforcement and penalty. “There should be a cyber security agency that handles the Cyber Crime Act so that when a crime is committed in the cyber space that agency apprehends and there must be penalty for the infraction of the law, which must be very high.

    “There must be an institution to regulate and monitor the cyber space, to enforce the law so enacted, prosecute offenders, culprits and there must be jailing and punishment,” he said.

    He asked: “Who is that government institution that enforces, regulates, monitors and apprehends, punishes and prosecutes infractions to the cyber security act; there is none to take that responsibility.

    “There should be a specified government institution to do this, if not all these regulatory bodies will expect the other to do it and at the end of the day, the job does not get done.’’

     

    Education/awareness

    Adeoye said the only prevention is continuous education. “We have to continuously enlighten our people on the need to take some pre cautionary measures. We have to secure the platform we are running as government, private entities, and business organisations as well as individuals.

    “Data privacy is a big issue, exposure of the junior ones to the Internet is a big issue but, the greatest of it all is identity management. Government must ensure the effectiveness of the institutions in charge of the cyber crime act. Some people will complain of funding but, funding is not the main issue, but harnessing technical expertise for effective performance of specified assignment,” he said.

     

    Effects of cyber crimes

    Ekuwen said Cyber crimes are destructive. “Hackers can impersonate you by sending emails you are not aware of once they hack into your email password and you may never detect that someone is sniffing.  Cyber crime can also affect the medical report. If a hacker hacks into doctors’ report, the hacker that wants to kill a patient can prescribe what ought not to have been prescribed and sends the mail by impersonating  within the cyber space of the doctor; the patient will be dead.

    He said until Nigeria fully understands the dire economic, financial, social, health, academic and social implications, to mention a few, then we will sit up.

     

    How to keep safe online

    President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Sunday Afolayan, said cyber security is a discipline, not just a switch that you fix and the internet is secured.

    He said a lot of compromises happen that were not technical but social, adding that internet security is not just one activity; rather, it is a system of activates that assures security.

    “There is need for education, equipment and most importantly for people to know that there is need for self discipline to ensure that you are safe online,” he said.

  • Aba police get security vehicles

    The Aba police command has received 20 Sport Utility Vehicles fully fitted with modern security gadgets. The SUVs were donated by Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    The Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase received the security vehicles from Ikpeazu before handing them over to the state Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila.

    Mr. Habila warned criminals in the commercial town and other parts of the state to relocate, saying that the force in collaboration with other security agencies would make Aba and other parts of the state unsafe for them.

    He stressed that with the 20 vehicles and more that will follow, security agencies would make the state a destination for investors.

    Detailing how the vehicles would be used, the state police chief stated that the vehicles were not going to be used for patrols, but to be stationed at places he described as black spots and tactical operation points, including exit routes through which criminals escape after robbing or kidnapping their suspects.

    “We have crime-mapped the state which gives us the opportunity to locate areas used as escape routes by criminals and hoodlums. The vehicles are going to be pinned down in such black spots, vulnerable and tactical operation points. The essences is to enable us cut short response time during distress calls and to lock down the city from criminals who would come to commit offence and take to flight.

    “Aba is no longer safe and it is going to be very hot and discomforting for criminals who may want to come into the city and the state to commit any crime and would want to have his way.”

    Assuring that the vehicles would be judiciously used and properly monitored, Abia State Police Commissioner used the opportunity to reassure residents of Aba, Abians and investors to the state of their safety and safety of their businesses.

    He called for the collaboration of members of the public in the fight against crime and criminality, urging them to report cases and activities of criminals and hoodlums within their neighbourhoods to the police and other security agencies as part of their contribution in making the society safe for all to live.

    Before the vehicles were handed over to various police divisions including MOPOL 55 Squadron Command, they were driven round the city of Aba in a convoy patrol led by the state Commissioner of Police and assisted by the Aba Area Commander and MOPOL 55 Squadron Commander, Peter Wagbara and Subay Oladipo.

     

  • Maritime policy: Buhari leads security team to Malabo

    To achieve greater security of lives, resources and investments in all parts of Nigeria and its sub-region, President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to Malabo today for talks with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

    The talks will centre on measures to protect the people and resources of the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea.

    The conclusion and signing of an agreement by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea for the establishment of a combined maritime policing and security patrol committee on Tuesday is expected to be the major outcome of President Buhari’s talks with his host.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari and President Mbasogo are also expected to discuss and agree on other collaborative measures to combat crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, attacks on oil rigs, arms smuggling and human  trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Both leaders will also confer on the rescheduling of the joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central African States on additional cooperative measures to curb terrorism and violent extremism in West and Central Africa.

    The summit was to have been hosted by Equatorial Guinea last year but was postponed because of Nigeria’s general elections.

    Buhari will be accompanied by Minister of Defence Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.),  National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and other senior security officials.

    He is scheduled to return to Abuja on Tuesday.

  • Maritime policy: Buhari leads security team to Guinea

    To achieve greater security of lives, resources and investments in all parts of the country and its sub-region, President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to Malabo on Monday for talks with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

    The talks will centre on measures to protect the people and resources of the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea.

    The conclusion and signing of an agreement by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea for the establishment of a combined maritime policing and security patrol committee on Tuesday is expected to be the major outcome of President Buhari’s talks with his host.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari and President Mbasogo are also expected to discuss and agree on other collaborative measures to combat crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, attacks on oil rigs, arms smuggling and human trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.

    Both leaders will also confer on the rescheduling of the joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central African States on additional cooperative measures to curb terrorism and violent extremism in West and Central Africa.

    The summit was to have been hosted by Equatorial Guinea last year but was postponed because of Nigeria’s general elections.

    In accordance with the main focus and agenda of the trip, President Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.), the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and other senior security officials.

    He is scheduled to return to Abuja on Tuesday.

  • Emeruwa completes safety, security course

    • Commends NFF leadership

    Secretary of the NFF Security Committee, Christian Emeruwa, on Thursday completed a course on sport safety and security at a university in Germany, with praises for the NFF leadership for facilitating his participation.

    “I want to commend the leadership of the NFF, especially President Amaju Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, for ensuring that I started and completed this elite course in sport safety and security management, making me the first African to be so certified,” Emeruwa said on phone from Germany on Thursday.

    Titled “International Advanced Studies Programme on Sport Safety and Security Management,” the correspondence course started on  July 8, 2015 and ended with the examination on  March 3, 2016 at the SRH University, Heidelberg, University.

    The certificate makes Emeruwa, who is also special assistant to the NFF General Secretary, a sport safety and security professional. He is also a FIFA security officer.

  • Food security: Finance of rural agric to the rescue

    Food security: Finance of rural agric to the rescue

    Experts are seeking innovative ways of financing rural and subsistence agriculture to boost food production, develop agriculture and transform rural communities, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Farmers in the rural areas are responsible for up to 70 percent of food production in most states. In recognition of this, many programmes have been developed to enable them grow food and feed more people. While efforts have been made to enable farmers acquire skills and improve on farming skills to improve farm production, organisations involved in micro credit provision are supporting them to improve their livelihood through expansion of capital.

    Several farmers have borrowed money to expand their operations and the results are good returns to raise their families and had a good life.

    One of such organisations is  Farmers Development Union (FADU); an Ibadan-based agric micro credit cooperative. FADUis a pro-poor financial institution committed to the empowerment of farmers through access to  micro credit.

    Established in 1989, the organisation has been involved in projects aimed at building capacities for wealth creation among the enterprising poor and promoting sustainable livelihoods in marginal and vulnerable populations.

    The major thrust of the organisation’s activities involves financial assistance to farmers, technical training to boost their skills and improve their production.

    At the beginning, its major areas of concentration were Oyo, Ogun and Osun States, but it has now expanded to 29 states of the federation.

    With a loan portfolio put at N357 million, the union has recorded an encouraging repayment rate of 98 per cent.

    FADU has two groups of loans- one for individuals and the other for groups. But essentially the organisation accords more priority to group loans due to the ease of administration and repayment.

    The approach has been profitable, self-sustainable, and very successful. This has helped it in achieving its social mission by obtaining very good results in terms of the extent, depth and quality of reach. Its major growth in points of service has been in the rural areas.

    Its Programme Coordinator, Mr Victor Olowe said FADU has mobilised and financially assisted many rural groups. In addition, the organisation has built self-financed grassroots bodies. Indeed, FADU has shown that it is possible for an agric micro-credit cooperative union to provide credit services to a significant number of farmers and to mobilise a large amount of savings.

    The success of FADU  model has encouraged the growth of many more microfinance organisations and cooperative societies. Over the years, FADU and other cooperatives and micro-credit unions have demonstrated that farmers are viable financial-service customers.

    One of the early strategies was lending to individuals. This has gradually changed because the cost of monitoring loans and enforcing repayments was high and most loans are now made to groups because the costs are lower when they are spread among groups rather than individuals.

    Despite FADU’s achievements, its Programme Co-ordinator  noted that there was  still a long way to go to fill the demand-supply gap, especially in rural areas where delivering financial services presents particular challenges.

    At the grassroots level, microfi-nance institutions (MFIs) are not expanding their reach, while commercial banks and other formal financial institutions are not moving into rural areas to reach farmers.

    For experts, with the state of the economy, the need to improve investment in rural agriculture is increasing due to a rising population and changing dietary preferences of the growing middle class in the urban areas.

    According to estimates, demand for food will increase by 70 per cent by 2050. At least $80 billion annually in investments is needed to meet this demand, most of which is expected to come from the government.

    While groups, such as FADU have made efforts to improve the conditions of local farmers and groups, nationwide funding sources available to farmers are limited. Whereas financial institutions are making funds to other sectors of the economy, farmers still experience higher financial exclusion and are discriminated against when they apply for loans. Because of this, most farmers are trapped in a cycle of poverty and subsistence living.

    Olowe said many local rural Nigerians, who engaged in farming, live in abject poverty and remain vulnerable. Since some 70 per cent of those in rural areas, engage in small-scale farming, he was of the opinion that the government needs to empower them to become drivers of economic growth and food security.

    To achieve this, he said farmers require improved financing to help them transform their farms, their lives and their communities as well as boost the future of food security.

    The Project Director of CAVA II, Prof. Kola Adebayo agrees with this position.

    Though credit unions and some non-governmental organisations help farmers to obtain small loans, Adebayo observed that the funding level was still poor to spearhead agricultural transformation.

    He urged the government to give enough allocation in the budget for agriculture that will boost farm growth and appeal to the rural farmers.

    Such budgets, according to him, should consider irrigation projects, increasing investments in rural roads to help farmers get produce to market and ensure all the country’s villages had electricity.

    Kola Adebayo referred to the commitment made by the African Heads of State to allocate at least 10 per cent of their respective national budgets to agriculture (Maputo Declaration). Unfortunately, he observed that Nigeria has not respected the pledge as there has been reduction in budgetary commitments to the agricultural sector.

    While provision of affordable financial services to the rural population was critical in the development strategy, Adebayo counselled that government and the financial institutions partner with farmers’ organisations when disbursing money to them to  reduce risks and defaults in repayment.

    He urged funding agencies to commit to a concrete, measurable target for increasing agricultural productivity and to support a system of public score cards to maximise transparency for farmers organisations they support.

    He called for the establishment of local banks and institutions to provide agricultural credit at grass root level and to encourage the cooperative societies’ structure in the country.

    The Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, (FECA), Dr Samson Odedina urged the government, development agencies and other donors to develop a sound and sustainable agri/rural financial sector in the country.

    Odedina sought more investments in the rural areas to give farmers a sustainable means of livelihood and increase employment opportunities. The ultimate goal, he maintained, is to improve the farmers’ productivity, quality and security of their produce.