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Agric Experts Say Tinubu’s Broadcast Raises Hope, Requires Proper Implementation
Some agricultural experts say President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast is full of hope and many fruitful expectations but requires proper implementation.
They charged the President to set up mechanisms for proper planning and smooth implementation of his administration’s agricultural policies.
The experts disclosed this in seperate interviews with The Tide source yesterday while reacting to the President’s national broadcast.
Prof. Ayo Olalusi, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, said the president broadcast, particularly his plan on agriculture, was a welcome development.
Olalusi said the implementation of the food security plan should be strictly supervised and monitored by the presidency.
“It is full of hope and many fruitful expectations.
“However, it should be noted that this is not the first time the nation will be listening a well-articulated speech and good proposals from our leaders.
“Most of the time, the implementation is usually the major challenge,”Olalusi said.
He said the implementation of the state of emergency declared on food production should be strictly supervised and monitored by the presidency.
Olalusi stressed that the implementation should not be hijacked by the political parties.
“Another challenge that hinders implementation is the problem of the ‘deceptive data base ‘ of farmers.
“The presidency should find a way of purging those who are not true farmers from the data base being paraded by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Most of the time, the inputs go to the hand of those who will resell it to the farmers at high cost.
“The government should map out innovative ways of reaching the real farmers without passing through the middle men,” he said.
On his own part, Prof. Femi Ajayi, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, urged the president not to make the food security plan another white elephant project.
Ajayi, who doubted the workability of all the president’s proposal said there were many questions begging for answers in the broadcast.
He called on the government to work with committed people that would think through the process to make the proposals achievable.
Ajayi urged the Federal Government to desist from dealing with political associations or farmers in order not to truncate the process.
“Honestly, we need eggheads that will be able to think through with the government and make these proposals achievable.
“I am only saying as a professor of agriculture how are all these proposals workable?
“In agriculture, there’s something we call planning, implementation and evaluation. The president’s plan is supposed to go in that circle but does not appear so.
“We want to bring down the price of food but it is not only grain that we consume in Nigeria, government need to focus on all agricultural produce, grains, tubers , vegetables, fruits and others.
“Don’t focus only on rice, maize and wheat.
“How will the grains be distributed among the 36 states and FCT? Are we sure the process will not be hijacked by political or party faithful?
“There are many questions that are begging answers.
“If we solve our immediate problems what will happen in the long run. The strategy will not address the present food security confronting the nation because many people will hoard it.
“The distribution of grains may not amount to food on the table of average Nigerians,” he said.
Ajayi said the president broadcast had not really changed the situation on ground.
He the government need to give all these strategies a thought and see how they are going to lay it out and bring out a very strong strategic planning and break it down to cycles.
“Let me say that I don’t know of anybody that is jubilating over the broadcast, everything is like putting or postponing something.
“Don’t let it be another type of talk to hail agriculture because of the problem we have at hand.
“Where is the land to cultivate all these crops? Have they acquired the land? Have they allocated the land to people that will manage them? Or is it going to be another white elephant project?, Ajayi asked.
He urged the government to work with universities of agriculture and research institutes to find lasting solutions to mirage of problem confronting the nation’s food security.
“We have universities of agriculture, but it is as if they are not useful. We have faculty of agriculture and colleges of agriculture but it is as if they are not useful.
“Poultry farmers are crying and government has not been able to find a lasting solution to the sector.
“We cannot do it at a shot like this, the government is just two months old in office.
“By so doing, maybe we will get some where.
He urged the Federal Government to address the nation’s food security, make farms safe and attract young people to agriculture.
“I believe that the government can still do better with time,” he said.
News
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.
News
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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