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Nigeria is Susceptible to Food Insecurity Due to Climate Change – FG

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Nigeria is Susceptible to Food Insecurity Due to Climate Change – FG

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has said the raise the alarm that the nation is at risk of food insecurity as it is susceptible to adverse effects of climate change such as erratic rainfall, draught and flooding.

The Government, also noted that this may have a trickling effect on security as food security is the first step to national security, anywhere in the globe.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the Pre-Food Systems Stock-Taking Moment Media Engagement, organized by Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Collaboration with United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).

Umakhihe who was represented by the Director, Nutrition and Food Security in the Ministry, Mrs. Sugrat Mahmood, said: “Nigeria is susceptible to adverse effects of climate change such as erratic rainfall, draught and flooding.”

According to the Permanent Secretary, “One of the major challenges to food security in Nigeria is climate change. It has precipitated a lot of conflicts between farmers and herders. The conflict is been driven by struggle for resources. Nigeria is susceptible to adverse effects of climate change such as erratic rainfall, draught and flood. In the past couple of years, we have seen escalation in extreme whether event, particularly flooding, which has strangulated small holder farmers’ investment. This climate variation cause significant threat to crops and livestock production, leading to reduced yields and economic loses’.

On the declaration of state of emergency on food security by the government, Umakhihe said: “We look at the prospect that the declaration of emergency has thrown into the fray for us, and it is very important. It underscores government commitment to address the critical issue of food security. It is a pledge to collaborate with all stakeholders, and the government need everybody on board, including farmers, agri-businesses, research institutions, NGO, and private sector players”.

He said that the government need to unlock the investment potential in the private sector, because they will make it happen and they will sustain it.

He added that: “To develop a holistic and impactful solution, we need everybody to be on board.”

The Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Nebeolisa Anako, said the media engagement is to update and inform the general public and all stakeholders on the upcoming United Nations Food System Summit which is Stock Taking Moment on implementation of the Food Systems Transformation Pathways in Nigeria.

He explained that food systems entail a complex network that includes all the inputs and outputs used in food production, processing and consumption, adding that from, “this systematic thinking, we can see the array of actors involved from the researcher or seller of the grains/seeds or seedlings, to storage, to the farmer, the soil, water for planting, harvester, to the processor, processing technique, equipment used, down to the storage, transportation, marketing, cooking method and serving”.

He recalled that in 2020, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres called on countries to come up with modalities to improve their food systems.

The UN Scribe, he said, called on nations to make their food systems to be more resilient, responsive and sustainable in a quest to achieving the SDGs.

He added that it was in light of the
foregoing that the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning coordinate in line with its mandate to organize stakeholders in the food value chain to address the challenges of
the food systems.

He also stated that all the efforts are aimed at ensuring equity, inclusivity, livelihood opportunities, youth and gender mainstreaming and with the spirit of leaving no one behind.

The Country Programme Analyst, West and Central Africa Division, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Mr. Adebayo Ogunniyi, said, the challenges that lies ahead of the world in food security, are immense, and complex.

He however noted that global food systems are under tremendous strain, grabbling with issue such as climate change, resource scarcity, food insecurity and unequal access to nutrition.

According to him, “Nigeria has multiple shocks that have direct links to the food systems, some of them involves the 2019 COVID pandemic and the Russian Ukraine war, as well as flooding that affected small holder farmers”.

The Country Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Dr. Michael Ojo, said, Nigeria is amongst the few countries that has taken concrete steps to transform the promises and intentions that were made in 2021, when the country share its national food system transformation pathways with the rest of the world at the UN food system summit in 2021.

He disclosed that next week, the world would be in Rome to take stock of what had happened since 2021, stressing that Nigeria will be in a position to reflect on her progress.

He said, “I guess the only problem is that the pace of progress is not keeping up with the scale of challenges. This is where the declaration of state of emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be welcomed”.

Nigeria is Susceptible to Food Insecurity Due to Climate Change – FG

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NIS Sets to Replace Emergency Travel Certificate with Single Travel Emergency Passport

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NIS Sets to Replace Emergency Travel Certificate with Single Travel Emergency Passport

By: Michael Mike

The Nigeria Immigration Service is set to introduce a Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) to replace the existing Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC).

The announcement was made by the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, during the Joint Thematic Meeting of the Khartoum, Rabat and Niamey Processes, organized and co-hosted by Nigeria in collaboration with Government of France.

Nandap, while making the announcement at the meeting, disclosed that the initiative forms part of the Service’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening Identity Management and Border Governance frameworks in line with global best practices.

A statement on Wednesday by the spokesman of NIS, Akinsola Akinlabi said the high-level meeting convened critical stakeholders in migration management in Nigeria and abroad including National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internal Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Representatives from ECOWAS, AU, EU, African and European countries.

He disclosed that the meeting seeks to reinforce coordinated prevention, protection, and prosecution responses to Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons across African and European migration routes among participating Migration Agencies, and serving as a platform for sharing best practices, aligning legal frameworks, and fostering inter-agency cooperation, the forum underscored the importance of collective and sustained action in addressing the root causes of irregular migration, dismantling transnational criminal networks, with emphasis on the protection of rights of objects migrants smuggling and victims of human trafficking

Delivering her keynote address titled “Insights on Prevention and Protection as Strategic Pillars to Effective Law Enforcement and Prosecution Responses” the Nigeria Immigration Service Perspective, the Comptroller-General highlighted part of the Service’s comprehensive reform agenda which also focuses on combating Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in Persons through enhanced Border Governance, improved Migration Management systems, capacity building, and strengthened international collaboration.

Building on this framework, the CGI explained that the forthcoming Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP) will serve as a temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports are expired, lost, or stolen, enabling them to return home in a secure and verifiable manner. She noted that the travel document will be issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad and valid only for single entry, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to efficient service delivery and robust identity protection.

The Comptroller-General reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and global migration dialogues, emphasizing that the Nigeria Immigration Service will continue to align its policies and operations with international standards to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration across borders.

NIS Sets to Replace Emergency Travel Certificate with Single Travel Emergency Passport

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Zulum shares 63 patrol vehicles to combat criminality in Maiduguri

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Zulum shares 63 patrol vehicles to combat criminality in Maiduguri

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has handed over 63 patrol vehicles to security agencies and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) operating in Maiduguri and its environs.

Out of the 63 vehicles, 30 were given to the 10 different sectors of CJTF, 16 to Rapid Response and Anti-Social Vices, 10 to paramilitary organisations, 6 to hunters and one to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

According to a statement on Tuesday by the governor’s spokesman, Dauda Iliya, the distribution aims to enhance the mobility and response capacity of the police, other security outfits, and the civilian joint task force in tackling security threats such as armed gangs and other forms of criminality within the state capital and its surrounding areas.

He noted that this latest donation is one of the numerous vehicle distributions by the Zulum administration since 2019 all of which are targeted at strengthening the security architecture and safeguarding the lives and property of citizens.

Zulum, while presenting the vehicles, reiterated his government’s commitment to providing continuous logistical support to security forces. He emphasised that security is part of the cardinal priorities of his administration.

He said: “We are here in continuation of our efforts to support the security apparatus in Borno State with equipment and logistics needed for them to function effectively.”

“I want to assure you that the government of Borno under my leadership will continue to support you with a view to achieving the noble objectives in ensuring the state is rid of insurgency.”

He also commended President Bola Tinubu and the security forces for their efforts to restore normalcy in Borno.

He stated: “Let me also use this opportunity to extend my profound appreciation to the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces, President Bola Ahmed Tunibu, the services chiefs, theatre commander, sector commanders and all officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces that are in operation hadin Kai, and indeed all paramilitary organisations in Borno State for the great works that they’ve been doing in the state.”

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Dr Umar Usman Kadafur, Secretary to Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Naziru Abdulmajid, the State Director of the State Security Service, Adamu Umar and the Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdulrazaq Haroon.

Also in attendance are the Head of Service, Dr Muhammad Ghuluze, commissioners, special advisers and other top government officials.

Zulum shares 63 patrol vehicles to combat criminality in Maiduguri

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Electoral officer rescued as one killed, others injured in Kontagora election violence

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Electoral officer rescued as one killed, others injured in Kontagora election violence

By: Zagazola Makama

One person was killed while several others, including security personnel, sustained injuries during a violent attack by thugs at a polling unit in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday.

Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at Central Ward, Bashari Polling Unit, during the local government council elections.

According to the sources , the Electoral Officer (EO) for Kontagora LGA, Mr. Umar Abdulkadir, was held hostage and threatened by thugs before being rescued by a patrol team that responded to a distress call.

The rescue operation, however, turned violent as the thugs engaged in a serious fracas, resulting in the death of one Abdullahi Bala, 60, who was stabbed during the attack, while one Shehu Habibu sustained injuries to his right hand.

The security operatives attached to the electoral office were also attacked and injured, and one patrol vehicle was vandalised during the incident.

The deceased and the injured victims were taken to the General Hospital, Kontagora, for autopsy and medical treatment.

The command said investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest all the perpetrators involved in the election-day violence.

Electoral officer rescued as one killed, others injured in Kontagora election violence

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