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TINUBU ADMINISTRATION MOBILIZES HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FOR NIGERIA’SFOOD SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION – VP SHETTIMA
TINUBU ADMINISTRATION MOBILIZES HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FOR NIGERIA’S
FOOD SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION – VP SHETTIMA
By: Our Reporter
Nigeria has mobilized over half a billion dollars for innovative, profitable, equitable and sustainable food systems transformation initiative, according to the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima.
The Vice President made the disclosure while chairing a high-level meeting on the first day of the UN Food Systems Summit declared open in Rome, Italy by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guteress.
Vice President Kashim Shettima said the funds were mobilised “through domestic resources, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, climate funds leading agro-businesses,” and would be used for “Innovation finance for food system transformation; development of Nigeria’s agro value chain and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programmes.”
Explaining further, Sen. Shettima said “in this event, the Government of Nigeria will be showcasing its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) as a unique example of a successful partnership between producers, the public sector and private operators.”
“The VCDP which is co-funded by the of Nigeria and IFAD has empowered vulnerable farmers and youth to engage into commercial partnerships with some of the biggest food processing and marketing firms in the world such as OLAM, a world leading agri-business company operating in over 60 countries with an annual revenue of about $39.8 billion,” the Vice President added.
Stating the government’s vision about ending hunger, the VP added that “building on the success of the VCDP, the Federal Government is determined to capacitate Nigeria’s rural smallholders and operators, youth and women living below the poverty line to take advantage of the new Special Processing Zones.”
On the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), Vice President Shettima said it “brings together local governments, IFAD, AfDB, IsDB, GCF, OLAM and other private actors alongside the government of Nigeria for transformative financing of food systems that leaves no-one behind.”
While featuring in the panel discussion with the Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua; and Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Ouhoudou Mahamadou, the VP said President Tinubu “is determined to transform the concept and meaning of modern governance” by demonstrating commitment towards the food system in the country.
According to him, “President Tinubu hit the ground running from day one of his administration, which is barely two months in office, and has therefore declared state of emergency in food security and took it as a livelihood item within the National Security Council.”
On removing impediments to economic recovery, he said “we had two albatrosses around our necks: subsidy on petrol and multiple exchange rates system.
“We withdrew the subsidy on petrol from day one, just like President Ruto did in Kenya. To mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal, the government embarked on the immediate release of grains and fertilizers.
“A commodity marketing board has been put in place to continuously review and monitor the prices of food items.”
“Along this way, the President has already approved the infusion of huge quantum of funds towards repositioning of our security architecture because we have similar problems with Somalia and Kenya, especially in the northeast and northwest regions of the country. We are repositioning our security architecture to provide support for farms and farmers.”
In attendance were the President of IFAD, Dr. Alvaro Lario, H.E. Muhammad Suleiman Al Jasser, President of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Vice President of AfDB, Mrs. Hassatau N’Sele, Vice President of OLAM International Mr. Reji George and Vice President, Commodity Aaliance Forum (Representative of farmers) Mrs Ejim Lovelyn.
Declaring the Summit open, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guteress commended the participating countries for their commitment to addressing the problems of hunger and malnutrition.
“This is the gathering about food system. It is essentially to fulfill those basic of human rights – the right to food. It is outrageous that people continue to suffer in the world of plenty,” the UN scribe stated.
The Vice President also had bilateral meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. Both leaders discussed issues about the development of the two countries.
The Vice President was accompanied to the meeting by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Italy, Mfawa Abam and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, and other senior government officials.
TINUBU ADMINISTRATION MOBILIZES HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FOR NIGERIA’S
FOOD SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION – VP SHETTIMA
Troops repel kidnapping attempt on Makurdi–Kura road, driver killed in crossfire
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops have repelled an attempted kidnapping along the Makurdi–Kura road in Benue State, but a driver was killed during a crossfire between soldiers and suspected bandits on Wednesday evening.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. when a group of engineers travelling from Kura to Makurdi encountered armed men who had blocked the road, intending to abduct passengers in a bus ahead of them.
According to a local source, soldiers on routine patrol were behind the engineers’ vehicle and immediately engaged the attackers in a gun duel, forcing the assailants to flee into the bush.
During the exchange of fire, Ochoche Otokolo Ekwu, the driver of the engineers’ vehicle, was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot.
The source said the Divisional Police Officer of ‘D’ Division mobilised a patrol team alongside tactical units to the scene, where the corpse was evacuated and deposited at a mortuary in Makurdi.
The source added that security operatives are currently combing nearby bushes to track the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks along the route.
Troops repel kidnapping attempt on Makurdi–Kura road, driver killed in crossfire
Police Officer goes missing after signing out rifle in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
A police officer has been declared missing in Katsina State after signing out a service rifle for duty and disappearing without a trace.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Nov. 23 when PC Ahmed Tukur attached to the Danmusa Division, reported for duty at about 6 p.m. and signed out an AK-47 rifle with breech number 13492 for standby duty.
Shortly after collecting the weapon, the officer left the station for an unknown location and has not been seen since.
A source told Zagazola that all efforts to contact him, including visits to his residence and reaching out to relatives, have yielded no clues about his whereabouts.
The source said the command has launched sustained efforts to trace the officer and recover the missing rifle, describing the situation as “a serious operational and security concern.”
Police Officer goes missing after signing out rifle in Katsina
News
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Governor Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON has said that the security challenges in the nation need to involve community leaders and individuals for intelligence gathering so as to cut off sources of illegal arms supply in the country.
He said by involving the community leaders and individuals for intelligence gathering, it will arrest the sponsors in order to restore peace and stability to Nigerians.
Governor Buni disclosed this today when he received members of the forest guards training and evaluation committee at the Government House, Damaturu.
Ably represented by his Deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana (Wazirin Fune). He urged Nigerians to emulate the sacrifices made by our forefathers to end security challenges and build a better Nigeria.
The governor assured that recently the service chiefs have given assurance that they will do everything possible within their reach to bring to an end the current insecurity, especially in Northern Nigeria.
He informed the delegation that the Yobe state government has been working tirelessly to improve the security situation in the state.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Major General H. I. Mabeokwu, told the governor that they were in Yobe State to brief the governor on the ongoing training of 865 forest guards in the state.
According to Major General Mabeokwu, the committee had earlier visited the Yobe state camp to monitor the ongoing training and inquired about the needs of the trainees and the standards set for the training.
“Your Excellency, we have made significant strides in not only training those forest guards but also raising their awareness about the importance of forest conservation.” Major General Mabeokwu said.
He commended the governor for his generosity in terms of welfare for the instructors and trainees as well as relocation and renovation of the training camp and facilities used to enhance the training.
The committee members comprise the Nigerian Army, Navy, DSS, NNSBS, and NPS across the security agencies.
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
Troops repel kidnapping attempt on Makurdi–Kura road, driver killed in crossfire
Police Officer goes missing after signing out rifle in Katsina
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
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