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FG Moves To Stabilise Farm Input Prices – Agric Minister
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The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, says the Federal Government is making deliberate efforts to stabilise the prices of farm inputs to ease the burden on farmers across the country.
Kyari stated this on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, while flagging off the distribution of farm inputs and agro-equipment to farmers under the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development–Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD-VCDP).
He said that the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s vision to alleviate hardship among Nigerians, particularly farmers.
“We have been able to stabilise food prices, but I know farmers are complaining about the high cost of inputs, and we are determined to address that as well.
“We are going to bring down the prices of inputs. It will be a deliberate effort, and I am sure state governments will also participate,” he said.
The minister noted that the VCDP initially targeted 135,000 farmers but had so far reached about 150,000 beneficiaries, adding that the programme still had some time before its expiration.
Kyari commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for his efforts in positioning the state as a hub for agriculture.
“Nasarawa State ranks number one under the VCDP in terms of collaboration and counterpart funding commitments,” he said.
He congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to sustain the projects implemented under the programme.
In his remarks, Sule praised the VCDP for its contributions to agricultural development in the state.
He emphasised the need to focus on the entire agricultural value chain to enhance value addition and reduce post-harvest losses.
The governor assured that his administration would put strategies in place to sustain VCDP interventions beyond the programme’s lifespan.
“Nasarawa State remains an agrarian state, and I am not surprised that we are ranked number one under the VCDP.
“We will continue to encourage our small-scale farmers to become independent and productive. I congratulate our farmers for the progress we are witnessing,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Fatima Aliyu,the National Coordinator of the VCDP, said the programme had transformed smallholder farmers into employers of labour, impacting over 132,000 farmers and processors across nine states.
“VCDP’s main objective is to increase the food security and income of smallholder farmers, who are engaged in the rice and cassava value chains on a sustainable basis,” she said.
Aliyu described the VCDP as unique, noting that it addressed the entire value chain from production to consumption, while proving that smallholder farming could be economically viable and profitable.
She highlighted several achievements of VCDP in Nasarawa, saying that women farmers trained and assisted under the programme in the State had mobilised over N19 million to support their agricultural activities.
According to her, the programme was recognised by IFAD for its gender-friendly approach, winning the 2021 Gender Award for West and Central Africa.
Aliyu appealed to the government to upgrade the VCDP to an agency, citing its significant impact on rural livelihoods and inclusive economic growth.
She also commended Sule for his consistent support, describing him as a strong ally of the programme.
Earlier, Mr Umar Tanko-Tunga, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, said the VCDP had improved access to quality inputs, strengthened farmer organisations and enhanced market linkages in the state.
He added that the programme had contributed significantly to food security and economic empowerment in rural communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that equipment distributed included tricycles, weighing scales, de-stoners, petrol and diesel engines, colour sorters, electric motors, steam parboilers and small-scale rice mills.
NAN also reports that Kyari and Sule commissioned two rice processing centres in Kwanka and Ashangwa communities of Lafia Local Government Area, constructed under the VCDP.
Some beneficiaries, including Mr Alfred Alogala, Chairman of Agi-Alo Rice Processing Centre, Kwanka, and Mr Joshua Jonathan, Chairman of Value Chain Innovation Rice Processing Centre, Ashangwa, thanked the VCDP for the interventions, which they said had improved their livelihoods.
(NAN)
Hon. Dr. Olotu Akpodiete JP, who’s vying for the Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, has sent his congratulations to Rt. Hon. Frederick Agbedi. Agbedi’s new role as Minority Leader was announced today during plenary by Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Dr. Akpodiete said Agbedi’s emergence shows the trust and confidence his colleagues have in him. He described the new Minority Leader as dependable, strong-willed, and a politician of principle who acts on conviction rather than convenience.
Rt. Hon. Agbedi represents Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State. Before this appointment, he led the PDP Caucus in the House and also served as Bayelsa PDP chairman. He remains a committed PDP member and believes the party has a vital role as a strong opposition.
Akpodiete said he’s confident Agbedi will use his experience, competence and character to serve the House, the legislature, and Nigerians well.
Signed:
Hon. Dr. Olotu Akpodiete JP
House of Representatives Candidate Hopeful
Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency
Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has said the number of governors supporting President Bola Tinubu will not decide the outcome of the 2027 election.
The former Anambra State governor stated in an interview on Nooire TV that political power comes from the people and not just from elected leaders.Politics
He said his performance in the 2023 presidential election showed that a candidate can win states even without the backing of governors.
The former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate recalled that he secured victory in 12 states during the last presidential election and claimed that the number could have been higher if not for what he described as problems during the voting process.
The NDC candidate also spoke about the growing support around President Tinubu ahead of the next election, saying political alliances among governors should not be seen as the main factor that will determine who wins.
According to Obi, the major issue in the 2027 election should be the condition of Nigerians and how leaders plan to improve the lives of citizens.
He said the country’s challenges, including hunger, poor education, and healthcare problems, should receive more attention than political arrangements among powerful individuals.
He said: “It doesn’t matter whether 36 governors are with the president. I didn’t have one governor in the last election, and I won 12 states. Even after they have taken two from me, I won 12 states. By making Abuja a state, we now have 37 states, because that is what the judgment of the Supreme Court showed. Rabiu Kwankwaso won one state, Kano. APC, PDP, and Labour all won 12 states each.
“It doesn’t matter whether they took all the governors, I’ll still win. What is important is how to make Nigeria work for the poor. A Nigeria where tribe, ethnicity, and religion will not be the issue. The issue will be about the welfare of the people, the education of the people, and the health of the people. Nigerians are hungry today. Nigerians are looking for food.”
Naija punch
Emilia Godwin, a Nigerian has narrated a painful account of her experience in South Africa, alleging that her husband was killed there and declaring that she will never return to the country.
Godwin made the remarks shortly after arriving in Nigeria as part of a group of citizens repatriated from South Africa following recent tensions and xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
Speaking with journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, she expressed relief at finally returning home and described her arrival in Nigeria as the end of a long and difficult chapter of her life.
‘I Am Happy to Be Back Home’
According to Godwin, life in South Africa had become increasingly challenging for many Nigerians, whom she claimed were often subjected to discrimination, intimidation and hostility.
“I am now in my country and I have my mouth to speak,” she said.
She alleged that Nigerians frequently faced harassment in public places and were often treated unfairly because of their nationality.
“They are wicked; they don’t like us. If you enter a taxi, they mock you, pull you and beat you,” she claimed.
Claims of Discrimination Against Nigerians
Godwin further alleged that many foreigners living in South Africa, particularly Nigerians, often felt powerless and unable to speak out against the treatment they experienced.
According to her, fear and insecurity forced many migrants to endure difficult conditions while trying to build better lives abroad.
“We were just like slaves there. We didn’t have a mouth to talk,” she said.
The returnee expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for facilitating the evacuation process and helping affected citizens return home safely.
‘I Will Never Go Back’
Reflecting on her years in South Africa, Godwin revealed that she first moved to the country in 2014 but began experiencing concerns about her safety and wellbeing a few years later.
She explained that despite wanting to leave earlier, circumstances prevented her from returning to Nigeria until the recent evacuation exercise.
“I will never go back to South Africa,” she said.
She added that even her child, who was born in South Africa, would not be returning to the country.
“Even my child, who was born there, will never return,” she stated.
Emotional Account of Husband’s Death
Godwin also recounted the loss of her husband, alleging that he was killed while they were living in South Africa.
While she did not provide detailed information about the circumstances surrounding his death, she described the incident as one of the most painful experiences of her life.
The grieving woman further made allegations against some individuals in South Africa, claiming that her husband’s death was connected to personal and property-related disputes.
However, her claims have not been independently verified by authorities.
Growing Concerns Over Xenophobic Attacks
Her testimony comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals have periodically reported attacks, harassment and discrimination.
In recent years, several incidents involving migrants from different African countries have sparked diplomatic concerns and calls for stronger protections for foreign residents.
The latest evacuation exercise was organised following reports of renewed tensions that left many Nigerians fearful for their safety.
For Godwin, returning to Nigeria represents an opportunity to rebuild her life after years marked by loss, uncertainty and hardship.
Despite the trauma she says she endured, she expressed hope that her future and that of her child would be safer and more secure in their home country.
Akpodiete Hails Rt. Hon. Fred Agbedi on Appointment as House Minority Leader
If All The 36 Governors are backing Tinubu Victory Will still be mine in 2027– Peter Obi
Repatriated Lady Narrates Husband’s Killing in South Africa, Vows Never to Return
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