Nation
Agric Ministry Distributes Inputs To Small-Holder Farmers In Plateau
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says it has distributed seeds, growth enhancers, seedlings, sprayers and equipment to support small-holder farmers in Plateau State.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, who distributed the farm inputs in Jos yesterday, said it would stimulate local production of food.
According to Abubakar, stimulation of food production would help to achieve self-sufficiency, attract investments, create jobs and enhance the livelihood of farming families.
He said that agricultural sector had become priority for the current administration and one of the major contributors to the economy, to more than 25 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product.
“Small-holder farmers account for about 70 per cent of national food production.
“This is achieved through the implementation of strategic policies such as the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan.
“Also, the Green Imperative, Agricultural Promotion Policy and the Presidential Fertilider Initiative, has been achieved,’’ he said.
The minister said that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the sector which caused lots of disruptions along the agricultural value chains, leading to global trade disruptions and resulting in heavy economic losses to farmer’s livelihood.
He said that the ministry carefully assessed the COVID-19 negative impacts and designed a support programme targeting small-holder farmers to enable them return to the farms and continue production.
According to him, it is meant to enhance farming family income, create jobs and generate wealth.
He noted that 35 per cent of the inputs would go to women cooperative groups, 15 per cent to people with special needs while 50 per cent goes to farmer associations in various production clusters.
Abubakar commended the resilience of farmers and also appealed to development partners at the national and sub-national levels to support the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to ensure food sufficiency.
Speaking, Gov. Simon Lalong said that at the end of 2021, the state had witnessed two agricultural activities.
Lalong said that the activities were the farmers’ field day and the inauguration of the 2021/2022 dry season wheat cropping as well as the first ever International Potato Value Chain Conference.
He said that the roll-out was coming at the right time when farmers were preparing for the wet season farming and carrying on with the dry season farming.
“In recent times, especially in the COVID-19 era, our farmers have demonstrated more resilience in the agricultural sector, where there is huge demand for their services and products,” he said.
The governor said that amid the numerous challenges facing farmers such as shortage of farm inputs, seedlings and requisite extension services, there are security issues like kidnapping, banditry, herder-farmer conflicts and climate change.
Nation
Gombe Opens Bid For Construction Of Three-Arm Zone Project
Gombe State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation has opened bids for the construction of three arms zone complexes within the Gombe Capital Special Development Zone which held at the Ministry’s conference hall.
Speaking while presiding over the bid opening proceedings, the Commissioner, Engr. . Usman Maijama’a Kallamu assured the bidders that the bid opening would be carried out using procurement process which is based on specific regulations that are credible, fair, and transparent.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Idris Yambiu Buba said that the Ministry will continue to align itself for optimal results in the implementation of government policies and projects in line with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to bringing development to the State.
While assuring the bidders of a transparent process, the SSA to the Governor on Special Project, Arch. Yakubu Mamman thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight in infrastructural development of the State, adding that government is committed to ensuring that all bidders had an equal chance to participate and compete based on merit to maintain standards and specifications.
Nation
Gov Mbah Signs Bill To Establish Teaching Hospital In Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, yesterday, signed the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital Bill 2024 into Law, promising to expedite action to actualise the teaching hospital immediately to provide quality training and healthcare services in the Enugu North part of the State and the State in general.
Mbah, while commending the Enugu State House of Assembly for accelerating action on the processing and passage of the Executive Bill, said that establishing SUMAS Teaching Hospital was in line with his manifesto.
He said, “What we have done by signing into law the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital Bill is that we now have in place a legal framework to immediately begin to put in place all that is required to upgrade SUMAS to a teaching hospital. This is part of our campaign promises and we are committed to delivering on that expeditiously.
“We believe that the importance and significance of siting a teaching hospital in our Enugu North zone can never be lost on us. So, we are not going to spend any time in making sure that everything that is necessary and required to upgrade and get the teaching hospital operational is put in place. With this Law, we are going to redouble our commitment and our efforts to achieve that.”
He assured the Governing Council and the Management of SUMAS of his continued support, adding that his administration would equally be counting on their pedigree and contacts to bring the teaching hospital to fruition in record time.
“We are going to continue to support you and we are also going to continue to count on your experience, network, and profile in raising resources to actualize the project.
“This year alone, we are going to spend 33 per cent of our budget on education. This underscores the importance of education to this administration. So, be sure to come to us whenever there is a need. We are going to support you because we are interested in education and we are investing heavily in it,” he said.
On his part, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, who also spoke at the Bill signing witnessed by the Chairman of SUMAS Governing Council, Msgr. Obiora Ike, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Ogbonna, and top hierarchies of the institution, commended Governor Mbah’s speed and faithfulness in delivering on his campaign promises. He assured that the House of Assembly was ever ready to fast-track every executive bill that would impact positively on the state and its people.
“We promised we are going to support this administration by doing our job expeditiously to ensure that there is no delay in your delivery of democracy dividends to our people. Therefore, the SUMAS Teaching Hospital Bill received expedited hearing and today you have the signing of the bill into law,” he stated.
Nation
Ododo Applauds Security Agencies Over Rescue Of 43 Bus Passengers
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has applauded security agencies in the State for their efforts in the rescue of 43 bus passengers.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that the governor welcomed the news of the release of the abducted bus passengers in Okehi Local Government Area of the State and called for sustained collaboration between security agencies and local communities to improve intelligence gathering and prevent crime and criminality in all parts of the state.
Ododo commended the caretaker chairman of Okehi LGA, Mr Amoka Eneji, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Professional Hunters, Ebira Local Hunters Group and other security agencies for their intervention, which led to the rescue of the passengers who were abducted outside the state.
“Governor Ododo also commends the response of security agencies to the robbery incidence in Felele area of Lokoja and called for more urgency in addressing cases of insecurity in any part of the state.
“The Governor reassured the people of the state that his administration will not relent in its efforts in deploying maximum resources to ensure that all communities in the state remain unsafe for criminal elements.”
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