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FG encourage institutions to convert unused lands into food production hubs
As the food and nutrition crisis is set to hit over 33.1 million Nigerians by August 2025, the Federal Government, yesterday, charged academic institutions to transform unused lands into food production hubs.
The call was made by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Food Security, Barrister Yejide Ogundipe, while delivering a speech on ‘Food Security and the Role of Research Institutions in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’, at a quarterly meeting of provost of national committees of agricultural research institutes and related matters.
Ogundipe also expressed concern that over the years Nigeria has been referred to as having “agricultural potential”, but “potential alone does not fill empty stomachs.”
Meanwhile, she pointed out that the agricultural research institutions occupy a strategic position and play a key role in achieving food security under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to her, the Tinubu-led administration has put the nation’s agricultural sector in the front burner as he had demonstrated a strong political will to change the narrative as he made food security a core priority under his ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
She also added that agricultural education institutions should extend their focus beyond production and provide training on post-harvest management solutions to reduce food losses and improve food availability.
She said: “Despite agriculture’s critical role in our economy, Nigeria still struggles to feed itself. “For decades, our nation has been described as one filled with promise and vast agricultural potential. Yet, as we all know, potential alone does not fill empty stomachs.
“Furthermore, Colleges and Research Institutes must transition agriculture from being purely theoretical to practical, actively engaging in farming for food production.
“Academic institutions in Nigeria possess vast tracts of unused land that can be repurposed for food production and food processing hubs. These institutions can help curb the food crisis by involving undergraduates and youth from local communities in farming activities, while adopting modern agricultural practices and tools. This initiative will not only provide food for university residents and host communities but also cultivate a new generation of skilled agricultural practitioners.”
However, she noted that agricultural productivity remains low, and food production has not kept pace with Nigeria’s rapidly growing population. Several challenges, including insecurity, climate change, and outdated farming practices, continue to hinder progress in the sector.
Therefore, she highlighted that the President recognizing the urgent need for action, the President took three strategic steps immediately after assuming office: Declaration of state of emergency on food security on July 13, 2023.Renaming the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasizing the government’s renewed focus on ensuring food availability for all Nigerians.
Also he created the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Food Security, with a clear mandate to drive policy integration, promote sustainable food production and supply, and enhance stakeholder coordination in tackling food insecurity.
She also urged Nigerians and relevant agricultural institutions to work in synergy and not in silos to act now, because, “Food security is not merely a policy agenda — it is a national imperative. We must leverage the knowledge and expertise within our research institutions and educational bodies to address the pressing challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“Through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to progress, we can transform agriculture into a thriving and sustainable sector that guarantees food for every Nigerian. Let us work together to turn our agricultural potential into reality.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, Garba Sharubutu, and other officials commended the efforts of the Tinubu-led administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food and nutrition security, and assured their support and readiness to assiduously work with the Tinubu administration to ensure that agricultural colleges receive the necessary resources to drive innovation and productivity in the sector.
However, in a remark, the President of the National Committee of Agricultural Research Institutes and Related Matters and Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Dr Fadiyimu Akinyemi, lamented the neglect of Colleges of Agriculture as they struggle to survive in terms of lack of funding and institutional support, which they have been longing and begging for but had always bypassed them, therefore, the nation’s agricultural sector has been in a deep crisis.
“Universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education receive intervention funds, but agricultural colleges get nothing. Who will explain why?” he questioned.
He also alleged that Colleges of Agriculture do not benefit from TETFund interventions, while speaking on lack of access by the agric colleges to commercial bank loans, or even private sponsorships, which are areas that would have boost the productivity of the colleges to salvage Nigeria from the current food crisis.
“A rare opportunity for private funding arose in 2023 when an individual proposed a research centre, but bureaucracy has stalled the initiative.
“Despite their hands-on approach, they remain underfunded, unrecognized, and institutionally invisible”, he lamented.
Meanwhile, stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that the panacea to food security and performance by research institutes is for government and donor agencies to increase and improve funding, sustainable policy implementation process devoid of politicisation, and genuine collaborative efforts, and also assured that if the right things are put in place and done Nigeria’s agricultural colleges will galvanize the sector.
Infoemtion from Kogi Central zone indicate that the country home of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan at Ihima is agog.
A report by a witness circulated on social media stated: “I live at a close distance to Natasha house. She has a very large compound that can take hundreds of people.
In my opinion, all the activities going on are within her expanded mansion. I really do not see any reason for (any) attack so long all her fans do not go to the extreme.
“At the same time, the situation is not as ugly as being painted outside. They may have advised her to remain within her jurisdiction to prevent outsiders from using her home coming to create violence in central.
“In all honesty, I still see some level of good character from the government of the day.
“Unless something happens later today, I can say everything is smooth and fine.
“I see security personnel going everywhere peacefully without harassing anybody. I am reporting from a close distance.
“Though, I could see a helicopter hovering around her house possibly she is now flying back to her base. Peace will reign by the grace of God in Kogi state.”
Report that filtered in about 3 pm that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan beat off security adversaries in Kogi State.
She flew a helicopter into her country home in Kogi Central and hosted a rally in her expansive premises.
She reportedly rubbished the state government’s ban on rallies and congregations targeted at her.
While she was interacting with her constituents, after arriving home by air, thugs were reportedly waiting for her arrival through all road accesses into Kogi State.
The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has scheduled its judgment for Wednesday, April 2, 2025, according to.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2024 election. Okpebholo triumphed over Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).
The tribunal had reserved judgment in the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who are challenging Okpebholo’s victory. They are alleging electoral irregularities such as over-voting, ballot non-serialization, improper collation, and computation errors.
Throughout the hearings, the petitioners called 19 witnesses and subpoenaed a Senior Technical Officer from INEC’s ICT department, who presented 154 BVAS machines to support the over-voting claims.
INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC are the first to third respondents in the case marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024. INEC did not call any witnesses to counter the petitioners’ claims. Okpebholo called one witness, while the APC called four before closing their defense.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, announced that the judgment date would be communicated to all parties by the Secretary of the tribunal.
During the hearings, the petitioners’ lead counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), formally adopted their final written address. INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued that the case lacked merit and urged the tribunal to dismiss it, pointing out that the petitioners’ polling unit agents had signed the result sheets and could not distinguish between what they heard and observed.
Agabi further criticized the petitioners for failing to present alternative results or credible evidence to support their claims, describing the allegations of non-compliance as weak. On behalf of Okpebholo, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) emphasized that the APC candidate won through valid votes, countering the petitioners’ claims about non-serialization of materials and over-voting.
APC’s counsel, Emmanuel Ukala, also adopted the final address, stating that the petitioners failed to provide enough witnesses to support their case and criticized their limited focus on just five polling units out of over 4,000 in the state.
In response, petitioners’ counsel, Ken Morzi (SAN), clarified that their complaints were confined to 765 polling units and argued that the case should be assessed comprehensively, not just by the percentage of contested polling units. He stressed that their primary issue was with the transformation of 25 votes into 525 at the collation centers.
Elon Musk has responded to the allegations made by Ashley St. Clair, who accused the billionaire entrepreneur of reducing their child support payments by 60%. According to St. Clair’s claims, the drastic reduction in payments forced her to sell her Cybertruck in order to make up for the financial gap.
The allegations were made public through a post on X (formerly Twitter), where Ashley shared her frustrations about the financial support she was receiving from Musk.
In a move that quickly garnered attention, Elon Musk took to Instagram to address the situation. In his post, Musk stated that, despite not being certain whether the child in question is his, he has still provided substantial financial support to Ashley. Musk revealed that he had given Ashley $2.5 million and that he is also sending her $500,000 annually.
He also mentioned that he is open to confirming paternity, noting that he is not opposed to finding out if the child is indeed his, though there is no court order mandating such an action.
Musk’s statement stirred up a lot of conversation online, with many reacting to the financial figures and the ongoing public drama surrounding the child support dispute. His comment about not knowing for sure whether the child is his, despite providing significant funds, has led to further scrutiny and debate about the nature of their relationship and financial arrangements.
This exchange between Musk and St. Clair highlights the complexities of high-profile relationships and the often-public nature of personal financial disputes, with both parties seemingly airing their grievances on social media platforms.
The situation has drawn a wide range of opinions, with some sympathizing with Ashley’s financial struggles, while others have questioned the level of support Musk has provided.
Regardless, the incident has undeniably sparked buzz across social media, bringing attention to both the public figures involved and the ongoing controversy surrounding child support.
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