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

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
News
Bandits kill one, injure another in Katsina vigilante patrol ambush

Bandits kill one, injure another in Katsina vigilante patrol ambush
By: Zagazola Makama
One person was confirmed dead while another sustained injuries when suspected armed bandits attacked members of a local vigilante group during a patrol in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred on May 4 at about 4:05 p.m., shortly after a security coordination meeting involving vigilante members from Malumfashi, Kafur, Bakori, and Kankara LGAs held at the Kankara LGA Secretariat.
Two vigilantes, identified as Salisu Barde, 60, and Sule Abdul, 50, were injured in the ambush along the Kankara–Sheme road.

Security forces were promptly deployed a patrol team to the scene and evacuated the victims to the General Hospital in Kankara, where Salisu Barde was later confirmed dead.
Security sources have intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing attackers.
Bandits kill one, injure another in Katsina vigilante patrol ambush
Crime
Gunmen abduct special constabulary officer in Kaduna

Gunmen abduct special constabulary officer in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed men have abducted a 29-year-old special constabulary officer during a surveillance patrol at Tafida/Nalado area in Nariya, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sources td Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Sunday, May 4, at about 5:00 p.m. when the patrol team came under heavy gunfire from the assailants.
The operatives engaged the attackers in a fierce gun duel, but one officer, identified as PC-SC Mohammed Ali was forcefully taken to an unknown destination.
The assailants also carted away the victim’s Jincheng 110 model motorcycle.
Following the attack, a combined team of personnel and operatives from sister security agencies were mobilized to the scene, and a search and rescue operation has since commenced.
Gunmen abduct special constabulary officer in Kaduna
News
Police inspector attached to OPHK dies while on special duty in Yobe

Police inspector attached to OPHK dies while on special duty in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Inspector Pascal Okpabi, an officer attached to the 5 PMF Benin, who was on special duty with Operation Hadin Kai Joint Task Force, is dead.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Saturday, May 4, at about 4:50 p.m., when the officer, who was posted to 233 Battalion, Damaturu, collapsed while on duty.
The sources said that the officer’s Unit Commander, ASP Ogwouno Ekene, reported that Insp. Okpabi was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital Damaturu, where medical personnel diagnosed him with partial stroke linked to high blood pressure.
He was confirmed dead at about 4:30 p.m. the same day while receiving treatment.
The deceased, who hailed from Ebonyi State, had his family duly informed, and arrangements for his burial are underway.
Police inspector attached to OPHK dies while on special duty in Yobe
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