Proposed Aba State, the Most Economically Viable Among Contending State Requests- Group

By: Michael Mike

Proposed Aba State has the potential of becoming the most economically viable among all state creation proposals currently under consideration, a group of indigenes from the area have said.

The agitators, in a statement on Tuesday by the Chairman and Secretary, Aba State Movement, HRH Eze Love Wogu and Chief Godfrey Akara, respectively, said the creation of Aba State is deep rooted, and not a recent or politically motivated demand, but a century-long pursuit rooted in a distinct identity.

They pointed out that if not for the 1983 coup, Aba state would have come to reality by now.

They noted that other states proposed at the same time had been created.

They said: “This isn’t simply a demand; it’s a promise that has been repeatedly made and validated but never kept.”

They added that: “The movement’s unwavering dedication is evidenced by its submissions to every state creation committee and national conference since 1988, demonstrating a resilience that has outlasted numerous governments and generations.

“Throughout Nigeria’s complex history of state creation, the quest for Aba State stands out as a persistent and enduring endeavor.

“The journey began in 1915 when the British colonial government administratively united the Asa, Ndoki, and Ngwa people into the Aba Division.

“The formal political pursuit of autonomy began just over a decade later, in 1927. This long struggle reached a critical milestone in 1983 when the National Assembly, under a democratic government, approved a referendum for the creation of Aba State.

“However, that referendum was never realized due to the military coup of December 31, 1983. Ironically, every other state recommended for creation alongside Aba in 1983—Adamawa, Jigawa, Katsina, Kogi, Taraba, and Enugu—has since been established, leaving Aba as the only unfulfilled recommendation.”

They also said: “Beyond historical claims, a compelling economic case exists for Aba State. Advocates argue that the proposed state would not only be sustainable from its inception but would also quickly become a significant financial powerhouse.

“The region is already the commercial and industrial heart of the South East. Aba metropolis, home to the renowned Ariaria International Market, is a major hub for leather goods, footwear, and engineering fabrications, serving markets across West and Central Africa.

“This economic strength is further bolstered by vast resources, including approximately 124 operational oil wells and some of Nigeria’s highest-quality gas reserves in Ukwa West.

“Furthermore, the proposed state has the unique advantage of self-sufficient electricity generation, thanks to the Geometric Power Plant in Osisioma Ngwa, which promises to trigger a significant industrial revolution.

“A 1998 Federal Government survey revealed that the nine Local Government Areas comprising the proposed Aba State contributed the largest portion of Abia State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).”

Proposed Aba State, the Most Economically Viable Among Contending State Requests- Group

FG, UNICEF commend Gombe’s efforts to eliminate NTDs

The Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office have commended Gombe State’s efforts to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

They gave the commendation on Tuesday in Gombe during a media dialogue on NTDs elimination organised to assess progress in the state.

Hajiya Hawau Abubakar, North-East Zonal Coordinator for NTDs, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said “significant progress” had been made towards ending NTDs in Gombe.

Abubakar said the state’s commitment, supported by the Federal Government and development partners, was enhancing the health and wellbeing of the people across Gombe State.

She stressed that achieving NTD-free status would positively impact the wellbeing of residents, especially children, and improve the economic fortunes of the state.

Abubakar urged the government, media, and stakeholders to sustain the momentum, expressing optimism that the state could be free of NTDs before 2030.

Dr Nuzhat Rafique, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi, also praised Gombe State for the progress made so far in eliminating NTDs across communities.

Rafique said the state’s commitment to providing counterpart funding for NTD elimination activities was already yielding positive results in several localities.

She explained that Gombe State was close to the “breakpoint” where widespread preventive treatment could halt further circulation of the diseases within communities.

According to her, achieving that stage would mark a major success in the fight against NTDs in the state and across the region.

“The progress so far is encouraging, but we must continue investing resources wisely to eliminate NTDs and protect children and women,” she said.

Rafique, however, said more effort was required to completely eliminate the diseases due to their severe impact on children and society.

She called for an integrated approach, using community-based mobilisation to promote hygiene, sanitation, and access to clean water in the state.

She also urged residents to prevent infection by avoiding contact with flies and mosquitoes that spread the diseases.

Commending the media’s role, Rafique described journalists as “the main game changers” in raising awareness and driving positive behavioural change.

Dr Musa Abdullahi, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation, Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said most local governments were now NTD-free.

Abdullahi said all LGAs, except Akko and Kwami, had been declared free of NTDs, thanks to the collaboration with the Federal Government, UNICEF, and other partners.

He commended the continued partnership, noting that it had significantly improved the health and wellbeing of Gombe residents.

FG, UNICEF commend Gombe’s efforts to eliminate NTDs

Maiha: West Africa, Sahelian Regions Still Faces Challenge of Limited, Quality Animal Feeds

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha has decried that West African countries and the entire Sahelian region are still faced with the challenge of limited and quality animal feeds.

The Minister, who spoke at the opening of the regional high-level workshop on the development of animal feed industry in West Africa and the Sahel on Tuesday in Abuja, said a strong local feed industry in the region will not only create jobs but reduce dependence on imports and also strengthen food sovereignty in the region.

Maiha, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi said the region has significant potential in terms of animal production, pastoral areas, diverse livestock, ancestral know-how of livestock farmers.

He said: “West Africa and the Sahel have significant potential in terms of animal production, pastoral areas, diverse livestock, ancestral know-how of livestock farmers, but also among all in terms of their contribution to food security, poverty reduction, and empowering national economies.

“Despite the importance of the sector, livestock development in West Africa and the Sahel still faces a major challenge, which is the limited availability and quality of animal feed. Animal feed accounts for a significant portion of animal production costs.

“The lack of industrial infrastructure, dependence on imported inputs, climate variability, and insufficient regional coordination limit the competitiveness of this sector.

“This situation also hinders the modernisation of livestock farming, increases the vulnerability of livestock farmers, and reduces countries’ ability to meet growing demand for food products.”

He noted that Nigeria’s animal feed production policy is perfectly aligned with the current dynamic and is indeed amplified as a major focus in the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, NLGAS, which is Nigeria’s livestock strategy plan for the year 2025 to the year 2035.

He added that: “Let me at this juncture reiterate that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development of Nigeria remains fully committed to supporting the transformation of the livestock sector.”

He noted that this is a key pillar of the country’s rural economy and the development of a strong animal feed industry in West Africa and the Sahel.

He said: “We believe that a strong local and regional animal feed industry will not only create jobs, it will reduce dependence on imports and will, above all, strengthen food sovereignty in our region. To this end, we look forward to the effective operationalisation of the livestock feed components of the ECOWAS regional food security programme.”

He noted that this workshop is timely as it aims to promote dialogue among public and private actors. It also provides us the opportunity and platform to share successful experiences and identify tools for developing a genuine regional animal feed industry.

He said: “We believe that a strong local and regional animal feed industry will not only create jobs, it will Executives reduce dependence on imports and above all, strengthen food sovereignty in our region.”

Earlier, the Executive Director, Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (ARAA), Konlani Kanfitin, revealed that the two-day workshop was designed to foster dialogue, innovation and policy harmonisation in West Africa’s agricultural sector.

He added that: “They also aim to transform evidence and research results generated under the research and innovation project on Productive, Resilient and Healthy Agro-pastoral Systems in West Africa (PRISMA) programme into concrete regional priorities that support food security, private sector participation and sustainable agricultural transformation.”

Kanfitin, while noting that the livestock sector occupies a central place in the economies of member states, decried that its development is constrained by numerous challenges.

He feared that without a structured and efficient sector, it will be difficult to sustainably modernize livestock production or meet the growing demand for animal products.

Kanfitin said our region has abundant and varied resources, including agricultural by-products, agro-industrial co-products, fodder crops, enterprising and innovative youth.

He insisted that this potential must be fully harnessed to build a genuine regional animal feed industry that is competitive, sustainable and job-creating.

He said: “This workshop therefore represents a key moment for reflection and collective action to make real ECOWAS’s commitment through its Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) and its projects and programs in the livestock sector.”

Meanwhile, ECOWAS in collaboration with its partners, has carried out studies on the establishment of a feed supply center, exceptional import procedures for animal feed in crisis situations, development of an online booking and purchasing application, established information platform on the availability and accessibility of animal feed in feed banks as well as prepared a harmonized protocol for sampling and analysis of animal feed.

Kanfitin said: “We firmly believe that a strong regional animal feed industry will make the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve more operational and more effective in crisis management.”

The PRISMA Project is co-financed by the European Union and the Spanish Cooperation (AECID), with the technical support of the Luxembourg Cooperation, Belgian Cooperation and the Spanish Cooperation.

Maiha: West Africa, Sahelian Regions Still Faces Challenge of Limited, Quality Animal Feeds