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About 47 million May Face Food Crisis in the Next Three Months in West Africa, ECOWAS Raises the Alarm

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About 47 million May Face Food Crisis in the Next Three Months in West Africa, ECOWAS Raises the Alarm

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised alerted of the danger of about 47 million people in the region facing food crisis between June and August 2025, if actions are not taken to check the current food security situation.

ECOWAS disclosed that at present 34.7 million people require immediate food and nutrition assistance in the region.

Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of ECOWAS, Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse made the disclosure at the opening of the third meeting of the Management Committee of the Regional Food Security Reserve (RFSR) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Toure-Litse, who was represented by the Acting Executive Director, Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, ECOWAS, Mr. Mohammed Zongo, said it is imperative that the region strengthens its immediate response mechanisms while consolidating the foundations of sustainable resilience.

She noted that the food and nutrition security situation in West Africa and the Sahel has deteriorated considerably in recent years.

The commissioner while explaining that the nutritional crisis persists in several areas of the region, with global acute malnutrition rates ranging between 10 and 14%, said that: “Analyses carried out in December 2024, based on the Harmonized Framework, revealed that nearly 34.7 million people require immediate food and nutrition assistance. If appropriate measures are not taken, this figure could reach 47 million by the lean season from June to August 2025.

“Furthermore, the nutritional crisis persists in several areas of our region, with global acute malnutrition rates ranging between 10 and 14%.

“Faced with this worrying situation, aggravated by multiple challenges: geopolitical reconfiguration of the region, persistent conflicts, economic crises, climate change and chronic food insecurity, it is imperative that our region strengthens its immediate response mechanisms while consolidating the foundations of sustainable resilience.

“Food security stocks appear to be key social protection tools, used at different scales -local, national, regional to respond effectively to food crises.”

Speaking on the meeting, Toure-Litse said it “will allow us to take stock of the operations carried out by the Regional Reserve since March 2023 based on the guidelines of the Executive Board, particularly with regard to purchases, interventions, stock replenishment, technical rotations and the identification of new storage spaces. It will also allow us to plan the operations planned for 2025, ensuring that we support Member States in caring for the populations most affected by food, nutritional and pastoral crisis.

“Our discussions and decisions will thus ensure transparency, efficiency and fairness in the management of the Reserve, while adapting it to present and future challenges.

“As you know, for almost 10 years, our actions have been part of the regional storage strategy. We have learned many lessons by comparing the theory of the regional storage strategy with the practice of its implementation on the ground. We are also facing new challenges related to the changing socio-political context in our region and at the global level. This is why we must adjust this strategy and the operating rules of the Regional Reserve in the aim of strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of our collective action.”

In his remarks, Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari said the food challenge is a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen strategies and response instruments to effectively deal with the food and nutrition crisis affecting the region.

Kyari, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Marcus Ogunbiyi insisted that the food reserve has become an essential pillar of the region’s collective strategy for responding to food and nutrition crisis.

He said: “This meeting is taking place at a particularly worrying moment for our region it is a common knowledge globally especially in West Africa and Sahel; that food security situation has worsened in the recent years due to conflicts, economic instability and devastating impact of climate change. A situation compounded by a decline in funding, geopolitical concerns in the region and general lack of access to food. This, according to the recent cadre Harmonize report (December 2024), has made nearly 34 7 million people in dire need of immediate food and nutritional assistance.

“These major challenges remind us of the urgent need to strengthen our strategies and response instruments to effectively deal with food and nutrition crisis affecting our region. “They also alert us on the growing need for sovereign financing of our agriculture in general and our response mechanisms to food crises in particular. This therefore calls forna delibrate concerted effort to address food production, strategic food storage, markets and price volatility as well as re-strategizibf of the regional body especially in the administration and management of the regional food security reserve.”

The Regional Food Security Reserve, established in 2013 by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, supports the region’s member states, Chad, and Mauritania, in managing food crises. Its objectives are to: Complement the efforts of Member States by providing rapid, diversified and adapted food assistance to populations in crisis situations; Express regional solidarity with Member States and populations through transparent mechanisms; Strengthening food sovereignty and regional integration.
Since its creation, the Reserve has made significant progress. It currently has a projected capital of more than 74,000 tons of food, stored in several areas of our region, which can be deployed quickly if needed.

About 47 million May Face Food Crisis in the Next Three Months in West Africa, ECOWAS Raises the Alarm

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President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre

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President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre

By: Bodunrin Kayode

President Bola Tinubu will today visit the Plateau state capital Jos to commiserate with residents who lost loved ones during the Palm Sunday shooting spree by criminals that took place at Angwa rukuba area of the city.

The President who was scheduled to visit Ogun state postponed his scheduled trip to Iperu, meant to flag off operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport.

From the Plateau, the President is expected to travel to Lagos to observe Good Friday public holiday which ushers the beginning of the Easter public holiday which rounds up the lent period.

A state house release signed yesterday by the Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga noted that President Tinubu will travel to Ogun State for the commissioning of the Cargo Airport and the inauguration of two commercial aircrafts for the export and import of goods, aimed at boosting the state’s economic growth on Saturday April 4th.

“He will also inaugurate the new edifice of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigerian Customs Service and its operational vehicles.

“He will return to Lagos to continue the Easter holiday, during which he is also expected to commission infrastructural projects undertaken by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“These projects include: the iconic Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge; the Lagos State Geographic Information System Building; the Multi-Agency Complex named after the President, and a school Complex.

“Before returning to Abuja, President Tinubu will visit Bayelsa State on April 10 to commission some of Governor Duoye Diri’s completed projects.” Said the release.

Sadly several residents lost their lives during the black Palm Sunday shooting spree which is suspected to have been carried out by auto bike riding bandits following after their patterns in the hinterlands of the state.

These bandits who had tormented, killed and destroyed homes of residences of the Jos north axis of the state for several years after September 7th 2001

This damnation let loose on innocent residents is resurfacing after hundreds of killings had occurred in the Jos North council area of the state from September 7th 2001 till date.

And because of the myriad of challenges creeping into the federal security system sub regionals have geared up to manage their on police and Intel services which would assist greatly because they are masters of their territories.

The Federal government is fast tracking the process of state police to ensure that each sub nationals take charge of their environment to ensure that they support the center in the maintenance of internal security.

President Tinubu Storms Jos Today To Commiserate With Residents Of Angwa Rukuba Massacre

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NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe

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NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said that in 2026, the length of the rainy season in Gombe State is expected to be between 107 and 138 days.

This is contained in the Agency’s 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) document, which Gayus Musa, the meteorological manager for Gombe State, made available to Our Correspondent in Gombe on Tuesday.

The total amount of rainfall across Gombe State in 2026 is predicted to be between 701 mm in the northern part of the state (Nafada) and 1089 mm in the South (Shongom).

The onset of the rainfall is expected to commence in the state on May 29 (Shongom) and cease by October 22 (Yamaltu/Deba).

Similarly, in the prediction, four local government areas of the state, namely: Nafada, Yamaltu/Deba, Dukku and Funakaye were likely to be impacted by a severe dry spell (21 days and above) between June and August.

Musa while speaking to Our Correspondent on the first rainfall experienced in some communities in Akko, Gombe and Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Areas of the state on Monday urged farmers to resist the temptation of early planting of crops.

He described the first rain as false onset, explaining that the rainfall was false because it would not support any germination as seeds planted with such rain would not survive.

“This (first rain) is a false onset because the precipitation cannot carry any germination and so any seed planted would not survive.

“So farmers should not engage themselves in planting but to prepare their farmlands while getting their seeds and other inputs ready,” he said.

Musa advised farmers in the state, to make use of the prediction in carrying out farming activities towards avoiding losses in view of the impact of climate change on agriculture.

He further urged relevant authorities in the state to take proactive measures towards tackling environmental issues associated with the rainy season.

NiMet predicts 107 to 138 days of rainfall in Gombe

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Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship

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Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship

By: Michael Mike

The rumoured interest of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar in becoming the governor of Bauchi State come 2027 may have been confirmed he resigned on Monday to prepared ground for actualization of his political ambition.

The resignation was ahead of the deadline set for political appointees seeking elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

In a resignation letter submitted to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Tuggar expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the country and contribute to the implementation of the administration’s Four-D foreign policy strategy.

The former minister also appreciated the management and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the diplomatic community for their cooperation and support throughout his tenure.

During his time in office, Tuggar was credited with advancing Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives through initiatives focused on people-centred diplomacy. These included humanitarian evacuations, facilitation of scholarships for Nigerians abroad, and sustained support for citizens in the diaspora.

His tenure also witnessed increased diaspora engagement, including efforts to develop a structured database of Nigerians living abroad aimed at strengthening their participation in national development.

In addition, Tuggar strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations through strategic engagements with traditional partners and regional alliances, particularly across the Global South. His leadership also promoted regional security cooperation and supported the formation of the Regional Partnership for Democracy initiative.

He also prioritised economic diplomacy, positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for foreign investment, especially in the energy sector, while facilitating diplomatic interventions that secured the release of detained Nigerians in foreign countries and improved bilateral relations.

The resignation letter was received on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by Dr. Abubakar Kana, Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, ahead of the March thirty-first deadline directed by President Tinubu in line with provisions of the Electoral Act.

Tuggar’s resignation was conveyed in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir.

Tuggar Resigns from Tinubu’s Cabinet, Sets for Bauchi Governorship

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