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Sanwo-Olu tasks agro-food coys to reduce food prices

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Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called on agro-food companies to collaborate with the government in bringing down the cost of food in the state.

He made the call while receiving the senior management team of Olam Agri Nigeria Ltd., led by the Managing Director, Mr Anil Nair, who were on a courtesy visit to the Lagos State House Marina, yesterday.

“There is no better security these days than food. Today being the first day of August, you can see in the streets in Nigeria there’s some sort of hunger protest.

“How I wish that you and I after this meeting will make a broadcast that food prices have gone down by 25 per cent, it will be great news for both of us.

“That speaks to the reason why we chose you to listen and hear and be able to work together. You are in a strategic position and you have that structure and that capacity,” he said.

The governor said that Olam remained a strategic brand that had caused great turnaround in Lagos State.

He recalled his days as a banker in the  banking sector, saying that Olam was an account that everybody usually wanted to have.

Sanwo-Olu said everyone wanted Olam’s account for the simple reason that they are fast growing, aggressive and are in an industry that had cheques to deposit on a daily basis.

“It wasn’t a company where you need to wait 90 days or 100 days for their cheques. Bankers would hang around their offices, and as the sales were going on, they were just picking the cheques.

“So for us, as government, we watch that growth. I know you must have gone through your challenges along the line either government policies that have somersaulted or some of your good plans but you stayed the course,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He urged the brand to consider its longstanding relationship with the state and forge partnership with the state by looking beyond the current economic situation and leveraging it.

“We’re also happy that half of your entire workforce are in Lagos. These are all indicators that you are here for the long haul.

“Beyond that, I urge you to look at the market, to look at the industry as a critical industry; food security, food systems is as critical as people trying to safeguard either their medical security or even sovereign security in terms of war.

“I believe part of the things that you owe the state and the people that have also been loyal to your products is to consider what level of giveback you are making consciously.

“I don’t want to use the word, “Corporate Social Responsibility” but what level of slow down in shareholder appreciation are you going to throw back into the system,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu called for a sustainable partnership, saying: “At a difficult time like this, it shouldn’t be only government reducing cost or that is attempting to have a corner store in the market to buy and sell at reduced prices.

“You must be able to tell your shareholders that you’ve been in this environment for such a long time today that it should not be about profit-making.

“You should be willing to say let’s even go into this market and just cover our cost, let’s pass on, let the people feel our critical support.

“If we go by our Return on Investment, we should be selling this thing at N5000 but because we are committed and we have also made decent returns in this environment, we are able to say we will sell lower,” he said.

The governor said the longevity of the brand was essential than immediate gratification.

He added that this was the type of partnership that the country and state needed to keep at this period.

“Because of what essence will it be if we cannot guarantee that Olam will be here in the next 15 years?

“I want you to take this message back. The private sector needs to know that there are times when it does not have to be about value to the shareholders.

“Because of the food security that we seek, because of the logistics nightmare that is happening everywhere, and because of the economic challenges that are everywhere. Let us be able to say to our citizens and customers at difficult times, we still want you to see us as partners not as mere people.

“If that’s all you take away from here, I’d be a happier person,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He called on shareholders and stakeholders to be more deliberate and focus on giving back to the society.

“I want us all to see ourselves as stakeholders in this environment. It’s not us versus them, we are all joint stakeholders.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that nothing happens to any of your facilities and warehouses because we know the consequences.

“We need to slow down on shareholders’ return, we need to be alive for us to be be able to earn that dividend,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor further said that economic indices never lasted forever, adding that government and its partners needed to know what their roles are in the area of food security.

He urged the Olam executives to partner with government in pushing resources and investment into the food sector deliberately.

“We need to be alive today to be able to make profit tomorrow,” he said.

Nair commended the Sanwo-Olu-led administration for its commitment towards empowering its citizens and catering for residents’ needs.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their  living conditions.

This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.

Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s

She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.

According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.

The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while  bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.

Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.

Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.

According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.

He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.

Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may  lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.

During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.

The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.

He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.

They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.

At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.

King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.

Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.

Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.

At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.

He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.

Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.

 

John Bibor

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.

Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.

Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.

In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.

However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.

Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.

Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.

“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.

 

 

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