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Again, Atiku Warns FG Of Looming Food Crisis

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…Wants FG, states to establish food security task force

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has called on the federal government to address what he called the looming food crisis staring the nation in the face before it gets worse.

In a statement titled, “Let Us Address this Looming Food Crisis before It becomes a calamity, Atiku premised his counsel on the warming recently issued by the Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO.

The statement read: “The warning given by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on Wednesday, July 29, 2021, of a looming acute food crisis in Northern Nigeria should not be ignored.

“That dire warning should be seen and heard as a whistleblowing moment that ought to draw the focus of the federal government, being that Northern Nigeria is the food basket of the nation, and any famine there will have a national impact on the rest of the country and cross border impacts in the West African sub-region.

“The laissez-faire approach taken by the Federal Government to this most important issue is regrettable. Food security is a vital part of national security, and where this issue is not resolved, the resultant crisis may unsettle the nation and its immediate neighbours.

“Now is the time to proffer solutions, so that our countrymen and women do not starve in a land with so much prospective abundance.”

So, how do we avoid this looming crisis?

“The major cause of the present and looming dearth of food is insecurity. Farmers and other agricultural value chain workers cannot go to their farms due to the crisis of insecurity. I should know. I am heavily invested in large scale farming and employ a workforce of over 10,000 in the endeavour.

“What ought to happen is that the federal and state governments should establish a Food Security Military Taskforce to work in farming clusters, to provide security for the nation’s farmers. We must give confidence to our agriculture workers so that the sector can get on with the job of feeding the nation.

“In addition to this, the Federal and State governments ought to place a temporary moratorium on all loans to the agricultural sector in the affected states, by declaring a Force Majeure in the sector. We cannot expect small, medium and large scale farmers to service debts when they are not even able to access their farms and other businesses in the agricultural value chain.

“The federal government has to intervene by providing free seedlings and fertilisers to the end-users. This is a policy that worked to reduce hunger levels in Nigeria when Dr Akinwumi Adesina introduced the e-wallet policy. Perhaps it is time to reintroduce and ramp up that scheme.

“If we cannot feed ourselves as a nation, we do not survive. This is the textbook definition of an emergency.

“It is my hope that we can remove politics from this vital area of our national life and address this crisis before it becomes a calamity.”

Vanguard News Nigeria

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Adamawa: CDD Joins Awareness Campaign Against Gender-based Violence

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As part of activities commemorating 2023 16 days activism, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has sensitized Adamawa people on Violence Against Women and Girls VAWG.

The sensitization exercise begins with road walk from Bekaji roundabout to Jimeta modern market, Yola-North Local Government Area on Wednesday.

Mrs Amina Auwal, the team lead who spoke on this year’s theme: Unite, “invest to prevent violence against women and girls” described the commitment of stakeholders as the symbol of unity against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.

She urged stakeholders to unite and reduce the rate of GBV in the state.

“This VAWG is like a cancer, it is eating up the community gradually but when it has been cut off completely we will have society free of GBV.

“We appreciated the CDD for sponsoring the programme of being able to sensitize the public to bring to an end the menace of VAWG”, she said.

Mrs Rose Zinas, Desk officer GBV, National Orientation Agency (NOA) urged parents, guardians and stakeholders to take advantage of the theme of the year and to invest on women and girls-child.

She said these would help them to have something doing to reduce over dependent on husband’s and parents as well as end violence against them.

Zinas called on the women to also be proactive in looking for something doing and not to be a liability.

In her remarks, Lubna Dodo, representing Federation of Women Lawyers Association, FIDA appreciated the contribution of CDD in the fight against GBV in the state.

She explained that the mission of the road walk is to create awareness on the theme of this year activism.

“This means invest by educating the girls-child and empower them with the knowledge and skills to succeed in future.

“These will go along way by reducing their vulnerability to violence anywhere they find themselves “, she said.

Dodo further said that the passage of Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) law and Child Protection law as well as ongoing sensitization for implementation have also help in reducing the rate of GBV in the state . News Hunter.

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Adamawa Govt Approves 42km NYSC Camp – Borong Road Project

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By Muhammad B. Muhammad

The Adamawa State Executive Council Wednesday approved reconstruction of 42km road stretching from National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Damare to Borong community.

The feeder road project which covers the 2 LGAs of Girei and Demsa will cost over N836m.

The State Commissioner of Education, Dr Umar Garba Pella disclosed this while briefing newsmen shortly after the council meeting that held in the Government House, Yola.

Dr Pella said the project was awarded to Hydro Source and Resource Nigeria Limited and has the completion of period of 12 Months.

The Commissioner further disclosed that the council has approved over N117m variation for the construction of modern laboratory at Specialist Hospital, Yola.

Pella explained that the project was initially awarded at over N578m adding that the variation was to cover the cost of increased price of building materials.

The Wednesday’s 8th 2023 Council Meeting was presided over by the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

COV. MBM

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Bauchi SEC Approves Construction of 2 Flyovers , 200KM Roads

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Bauchi State Government has unveiled a plan for the construction of sixteen strategic roads worth about one hundred billion naira across the state.

The project also comprises two flyovers at the busiest areas of Wunti and Central Market to beautify and decongest the city centre.

These among some other rural roads construction project across the state’s three senatorial zones were part of the resolutions made during State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Bala Mohammed.

Some of the project that make a total of two hundred kilometers include two point six kilometers Sabon Kaura Birshi Gandu road, four point five kilometers Zango-Gwallagan Mayaka access road, one point seven kilometers Bayara township road, rehabilitation of Disina-Adamami road in Jama’are local government area and Dualization of A.D Rufa’i College to Misau town road among others.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, the commissioners of Works and Transport Ibrahim Galadima and his counterpart of Special Duties and Rural Development Faruq Mustapha said the projects have been awarded to confitent contractors in line with developmental initiative of Governor Bala Mohammed led administration.

Also during the meeting, the Council has ratified and approved for upgrading of four palaces of Emirs of Bauchi, Ningi, Jama’are and Dass at sum of two point two Billion naira under the State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The commissioner of the ministry Ahmed Sarki Jalam said the move was to creat a conducive environment for the traditional institutions to discharge their duties.

The council has also approved a memo for the 2024 Medium Term Expenditure presented by the commissioner ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Aminu Hammayo as well as a memo presented by the commissioner of Commerce, Trade and Investment Mahmud Baba Ma’aji on the preparation for the forthcoming Northeast Joint Trade Fair in Bauchi State.

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