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Plateau Shines as Model for National Food Transformation

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From Jude Dangwam, Jos

Plateau State marked the 2025 World Food Day with a renewed commitment to address food security in Nigeria by sustaining the harnessing of the state’s potential that has earned it recognition as a model for national food transformation.

Stakeholders have described the State as a “Classic example of the Garden of Eden” due to its agricultural prowess where everything plant in grow and fruit well.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang represented by his Chief of Staff, Jerry Satmak emphasized the importance of collaboration among government, academia, farmers, the private sector, and development partners to strengthen food systems and achieve sustainable food security.
Mutfwang’s “The Time is Now” policy places agriculture at the heart of Plateau’s economic revival, focusing on food security as the bedrock of the state’s economy and a pathway to shared prosperity.Some notable initiatives implemented by the state government include, “Registering over 300,000 farmers under the Plateau State Farmer Data Bank, Distributing over 18,000 metric tonnes of subsidized fertilizer, Constructing 331 kilometers of rural access roads through the RAAMP project.”Launching youth-focused Smart Agriculture training, Establishing Plateau markets in major cities to ensure fair returns for farmers, investing in farmer insurance, climate-smart training, and livestock vaccination.”The Commissioner for Agricultural and Rural Development Hon. Samson Bugama and that of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Veterinary Services and Fisheries, Hon. Sunday Akpa all expressed their readiness in turning the two sectors into a multi-billion naira sector that will turn the fortune of the state building young millionaires in the state.According to Bugama, “The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched several significant initiatives, including the Plateau State Farmer Data Bank, which has successfully registered over 300,000 farmers since March 2024, with plans to eventually capture 2 million.”Through the Input Intervention Programme, the Ministry has distributed 18,120 metric tonnes of subsidised fertilisers across all 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs), valued at over N12 billion, along with 275,486 kg of quality seeds comprising 103,486 kg of rice, 102,000 kg of hybrid maize, 40,000 kg of wheat, and 30,000 kg of soybeans, amounting to N1.2 billion.”Additionally, 51,967 litres and 3,750 kg of agrochemicals have been provided, and the Smart Agriculture Training program has equipped 340 young farmers with skills at CSS Farms, targeting 20 farmers per LGA in collaboration with the Ministry of Youths and Sport.”In terms of Potato Value Chain Development, the Ministry purchased 10 containers (275 tons) of certified potato seeds from the Netherlands for seed multiplication which is currently ongoing.”Plateau State is in the next phase of the Special Agricultural Processing Zones (SAPZ) through the African Development Bank. The Ministry has engaged climate-smart weather advisory services and provided insurance coverage for 27,600 farmers through Leadway Assurance and PULA Advisors” he notedThe Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon. Akpa noted that significant advancements have been achieved under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP). This he said includes the establishment of Napier Grass at Wase Grazing Reserve with a substantial investment of N185,000,000, resulting in the completion of land clearing, planting of 600,000 cuttings, and the installation of boreholes and irrigation facilities.He maintained that additionally, 1,288 concrete posts with fencing have been erected, and hectares of Brachiaria seedlings has also been successfully planted, and trial plots are being established to explore various pasture propagation methods. “With sustained funding, the Ranching Programme in Plateau State is well-positioned to become a national success story,” he stated.

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They Planted Juju in my Jacket at Davido’s House – Peruzzi

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Singer Peruzzi has narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket during his stay at Davido’s house.

Peruzzi was signed to Davido’s record label, DMW, in 2017.

Davido dissolved the label in April 2024.

However, discussing his experience during his stay at Davido’s house, Peruzzi narrated how a charm was planted in his jacket.

Speaking in a video interview online, he said, “I took a shower one evening, like at 6 pm. Just a shower and then went to go and meet them back downstairs because I was chilling there before I went upstairs in David house when I was still living there.

“And then I was done taking the shower. I go to my wardrobe to get my clothes, and then one of my jackets is just telling me, ‘Pull me, wear me, wear me, wear me.’ I don’t know how to explain it, but I was just having the urge to wear it.”So, I carry am (the jacket), and something just dropped inside, and when I looked, it was jaz, better juju inside my room. A jacket that just came from the laundry.”

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AFSNET Business Conference Kicks off in Calabar

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From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The 6th African sub – sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference has started in Calabar the cross river state capital as Afreximbank opens a $2 billion tap for Cross River State and other African sub-sovereign governments for the financing of bankable projects that can turn around their economies.

Making the disclosure in Calabar in a press briefing, The Director, Trade Facilitation and Investment Promotion, Afreximbank, Dr.

Gainmore Zanamwe, said the 6th African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference (AfSNET 2026) is going to be a three day event, running from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th November, 2026.

Dr Zanamwe stated that, the Bank has the facility ready to finance. According to him, “Some people say funding is a problem. From Africa we say no. The $2 billion is there,” Zanamwe said. “Go and tell your people. You people in the media, go and tell people that money is there,” stressing that the bank is fully prepared to spend the next three days, November 12, 13 and 14, in Calabar enlightening states on how to access the fund. “How do you then access the funding?  He asked.

“That is what we’ll be telling everybody in the course of the next three days. We’ll be showing you how you can tap into the $2 billion to do your projects. We’ll make it very simple.” He maintained.

Zanamwe stated that only states that present properly packaged, bankable projects will benefit. “We’ll start tomorrow with a training on how to identify projects in your states. Some normally start by saying there’s a project in this, they then run to the investors. It doesn’t work that way. We’ll be breaking it down,” he said.

“We would like, under the leadership of your Governor, to be able to start from the vision and say this is the vision in terms of promoting trade investment in your states. Once you start from that big vision, you cannot do everything. You need to focus. Identify two or three sectors that you really need to focus on and promote,” he added.

He explained that capital can be raised in two ways: by preparing a project and making it bankable for financial institutions like Afreximbank, or by preparing a pitch deck to generate interest from potential investors.

He also promoted Africa Direct Investment, saying an investor from Lagos or South Africa can as well enjoy the same privileges and incentives given to an investor from America.

He stressed that governors will pitch their projects on November 13 and 14, adding that in the last five years, the initiative has facilitated opportunities worth more than $3 billion, trained over 2,000 people, and worked with 21 African countries.

Also speaking on behalf of Governor Bassey Otu, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, welcomed investors to the state.

“With Cross River State’s agrarian economy being rejuvenated by this administration, for the first time a very deliberate attempt is being taken to be able to make sure that our diverse products are being properly processed to meet international standards,” Cobham said.

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RMAFC Advocates Fair Share of 13 Per Cent Revenue Derivation Among Oil Producing States

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has advocated a fair distribution of the 13 per cent derivation revenue among states that produce oil and gas.

The Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, made the appeal on Thursday in Owerri during the inauguration of an oil and gas wells verification exercise.

Shehu explained that the commission’s constitutional responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, include monitoring revenue generated into and disbursed from the Federation Account, including funds allocated under the 13 per cent derivation arrangement.

He said the exercise would focus on identifying and confirming the geographical coordinates of disputed oil and gas wells, alongside newly drilled wells between 2017 and 2026.

According to him, an Inter-Agency Technical Committee established for the assignment would carry out physical inspections of the affected wells, verify their locations and ensure that their coordinates were accurately recorded using officially approved maps.

He added that the committee would also take relevant court judgments into consideration when addressing disputes involving oil and gas well locations.

Shehu said the committee would forward its technical findings directly to the commission for review, ratification and eventual adoption.

He described the verification exercise as essential to ensuring that revenue allocations from the Federation Account are accurate and fairly distributed, explaining that the geographical positions of oil and gas wells determine the financial entitlements of producing states.

“This exercise represents a crucial phase in establishing statutory accuracy, technical fidelity, and fiscal equity within the Federation Account allocation framework,” he said.

He further explained that the precise coordinates and geographical positions of oil and gas wells have direct implications for the legal and financial rights of the respective states.

The RMAFC chairman urged officials participating in the exercise to adhere strictly to professional surveying procedures, recognised maps and relevant legal requirements in carrying out their assignments.

He reiterated that the technical committee’s report would be submitted solely to the commission for administrative review and formal approval.

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