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ECOWAS Releases $1.8bn For Agric Programme
The ECOWAS Commission, has so far mobilised 1.8 billion dollars from multilateral sources and bilateral donors for the implementation of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), an official has said.
The Principal Programme Officer (Agriculture) at the Commission, Dr. Ernest Aubee, told newsmen in Abuja that the regional organisation had created a 150-million-dollar agricultural fund and was also in the process of setting up an agricultural agency.
These processes, Aubee said, were preparatory to the implementation of the regional and national agricultural investment programmes as stipulated in the CAADP framework and policy.
He said that the 15 member states of ECOWAS had also developed and started implementing their individual national agricultural investment plans in line with the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), fashioned after the CAADP.
The focus of the investment plans, he explained, was addressing the challenges of food insecurity and issues of poverty and livelihoods.
To achieve the set goals, he said that priority crops had been identified including rice, maize and cassava as well as livestock.
In addition to crops, he said that the organisation was also re-jigging policies on market access, free movement from one country to another, transportation and road network, among others.
Aubee expressed the hope that the food security situation in the region would improve if the programmes were well implemented.
“We are implementing a multi-pronged approach to address the food insecurity situation in the country.
“For example, we have identified priority crops like rice, maize, cassava. We have also identified livestock. In addition also to these priority crops that we have identified, we are also looking at policies.
“Policies dealing with market access. Are farmers able to produce and sell? What are some of the bottlenecks in terms of marketing within our respective countries and also within the region?
“We have issues of transportation and road network; we also have issues dealing with movement from one country to the other; so the ECOWAS Agric Policy is trying to address all these issues in a very holistic manner.”
On funding of the investment plans, the programme officer said that some member states had already accessed funding from the Global Food Security Programme Fund (GFSPF) being administered by the World Bank and some bilateral donors such as Spain and USAID.
According to him, part of the funding provided for the Food Facility Programme being funded by the EU would go to ECOWAS Commission while part of the money would be channelled directly to the individual member states.
“The total envelope for implementing regional programmes and national programmes is 900 million dollars and we are getting funding from a variety of sources. We’ve got over one-billion-dollar commitments coming from different institutions around the world,” he said.
Aubee said that the ECOWAS Commission had been very active in coordinating the implementation of CAADP in West Africa as mandated by the AU Commission and the NEPAD agency.
“CAADP is a continental agricultural programme and that programme we have domesticated in the form of ECOWAP, which is ECOWAS Agricultural Policy to make sure that what has been agreed by our leaders at the AU level is now domesticated at the regional level; at the ECOWAS level, so we are working very hard toward implementing the various declarations.’’
Aubee noted that African leaders were progressively striving to fulfill their commitment of allocating 10 per cent of their national budgets to agriculture as contained in the 2003 Maputo Declaration.
He commended the efforts of the African leaders and urged them to do more, noting that agriculture was linked to rural livelihoods, which if improved, would lift majority of the African population out of poverty.
“Agriculture is such a very vital sector. It is also linked to rural livelihoods; so if we improve agriculture, we are going to improve the livelihoods of a large number of people in the rural areas who form a very substantial part of our populations and who are the producers of the wealth that we all enjoy.”
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NPF Warn Applicants Ahead Of Constable Recruitment Exam
The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.
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Monarch Pledges Strong Action Against Gender-Based Violence
The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.
The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.
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Tinubu Support Group Canvasses Second Term For President Ahead Of 2027
A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.
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