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UNIFEMGA identifies problems confronting Nigeria’s agricultural sector, proffers solutions

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UNIFEMGA identifies problems confronting Nigeria’s agricultural sector, proffers solutions

By: Michael Mike

For Nigeria to get on the right trajectory to agricultural development and food sustainability, she needs to overcome the challenges of limited finance, high cost of power generation, limited storage facilities, inadequate market information, among others.

These challenges were identified by Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA) at a one-day third agricultural conference organised by the Ogun state Chapter of the association in Abeokuta.

it was resolved that to get it right as a country, all the factors listed must be adhered to.

At the Conference, whose theme is: Agricultural Entrepreneurship and Development: Access to finance and funding opportunities”, it was resolved that to get it right as a country, all the factors listed must be adhered to.

UNIFEMGA noted with concern that corruption has been the main factor affecting the Nigerian economy and until it is vigorously tackled, the country will not make any progress, while adding that interventions and aids which could have helped the sector only come as crash programme and never consistent.

According to the foremost Muslim Alumni, natural occurrences such as flood which could lead to famine must also be taken into consideration for Nigeria to move forward in the agricultural sector.

In the communique issued at the meeting, also identified national insecurity and mistrust, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, the Boko Haram insurgence were recognized as some of the factors responsible for the reluctance of financial institutions to provide credit for agriculture venture as it poses a great financial risk and therefore attracts high interest rate that is mostly unaffordable to agriculture entrepreneurs.

The communique read: “Corruption is the bane of our economy and until we drive it out from all the sectors of the economy, we are going nowhere as a nation. The challenges confronting Nigeria as a nation among others are lack of modernisation/mechanisation, market volatility, limited finance, tax and duties laced with inconsistencies by government, high cost of power generation.

“Project interventions and aids come as crash programme and is not consistent. Natural phenomena are very difficult to cope with and manage because of the negativities such as flood which wash away farm settlements and which may result in famine. So also is national insecurity and mistrust, banditry, kidnapping, Boko Haram insurgence, etc.

“The presence of these challenges are responsible for the reluctance of financial institutions to provide credit for agriculture venture as it poses a great financial risk and therefore attracts high interest rate that is mostly unaffordable to agriculture entrepreneurs. With less than 5% of banks’ credit granted to the sector, finance from traditional banks remains a major challenge to agriculture development in Nigeria.

“In order to bridge the gap within the agriculture credit market, financial institutions like Lotus Bank has a critical role to play by developing areas around the value chain through product financing, financing of farm inputs, financial advisory and financial literacy. Financial institutions must understand that whatever financing option to adopt must be mutually beneficial,” the Communique added.

The conference advised entrepreneurs to take advantage of Lotus Bank, where there are financing for the purchase of inputs for crop production such as seedlings/seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, manual sprayers, for the acquisition of farm machinery, of working capital needs through forward purchase of agriculture produce, for infrastructure development such as farm house and warehouse as well as equity partnership on agriculture venture.

While calling on those who want to embrace agriculture as business to have sound knowledge of the sector through mentorship and research, he urged government and policy makers to show sincerity of purpose in addressing the multiple challenges facing the Nigerian economy so that people are encouraged to put in their best.

“Government policy must not be anti- people and innovation as we have in most situation in Nigeria where upcoming local business are brutally killed by multiple unexplained heavy financial demands from government agencies.”

Participants at the conference include the former minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Najeemdeen Adewale, UNIFEMGA BOT Chairman, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, Prof. Sabur Adesanya, former Olabisi Onabanjo University Vice Chancellor and chairman of the occasion as well as National President of UNIFEMGA, Alhaji Abdulfattah Olanlege.

Others were the duo of the guest speakers ,Alhaja Kafilat Araoye , MD/CEO of Lotus Bank, Prof. Jimoh Farinde from OAU Ile-Ife, Mr Tairu Olarenwaju, the chairman of UNIFEMGA Ogun state,representatives of various chapters of UNIFEMGA, other stakeholders in agricultural business, among several others.

UNIFEMGA identifies problems confronting Nigeria’s agricultural sector, proffers solutions

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Bandits Kill Two Villagers in Kankara, Katsina State

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Bandits Kill Two Villagers in Kankara, Katsina State

Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed two villagers in Tudu Village, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, following an attack on March 25, 2025.

The attack happened at about 11am, but-in response, the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were deployed mobilized to confront the criminals.

During the operation, the bandits shot and killed two residents, identified as Nasiru Chinnaka and Kamilu Mamman.

The victims’ bodies were evacuated to General Hospital Kankara.

Bandits Kill Two Villagers in Kankara, Katsina State

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Bandits Attack Rukumawa Village, Set Houses Ablaze, Rustle Cattle

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Bandits Attack Rukumawa Village, Set Houses Ablaze, Rustle Cattle

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits attacked Rukumawa Village, located in Jangebe District, Talata Mafara LGA, Zamfara State, on March 25, 2025.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the bandits set fire to four houses and five silos before rustling an undisclosed number of livestock.

It was gathered a joint team of the army troops, Police and members of the Community Protection Guards (CPG), led by Jangebe, was swiftly mobilized to the scene. The team successfully extinguished the fire, preventing further destruction.

There were no recorded casualties or kidnappings during the attack.

Bandits Attack Rukumawa Village, Set Houses Ablaze, Rustle Cattle

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Crime

Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Abuja

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Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Abuja

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Police Force(NPF) FCT Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers and rescued 17-year-old Sadiya Idris, who was abducted from Akaraka Village, Gwagwa.

According to police sources, the victim’s father, reported her disappearance on March 21, 2025. On March 24, he received a call from the abductors demanding a ransom of ₦13 million for her release.

Acting on intelligence, police operatives tracked the suspects to Bassa Village, behind Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where they successfully rescued the victim unharmed on March 25.

The arrested suspects were identified as Abdurahman Mohammed, Jibrin Isyaku, and Tahir Isyaku, all from Akaraka Village.

The police sources confirmed that the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Abuja

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