NEWS
Alia Lauds FG on $1.1bn Green Imperative Project

From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project (GIP) to boost agriculture productivity and enhance private-sector investment in Nigeria.
The governor gave the commendation during the signing of the commercial phase of the GIP 1 at Presidential Villa Abuja.
He said as the Food Basket of the Nation, Benue was the happiest among the sub nationals to witness the signing of the agreement.
The governor assured that his administration will give full support to the success of the project, especially as his state does not only hold the basket, but the food and its surpluses for the nation.
”Earlier in his speech during the signing ceremony, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima said the Tinubu led administration was poised to enhance the nation’s food security and agric productivity.
He described the GIP initiative as one of the ways the current administration seeks to address the food security challenges the country is facing.
He added that it was imperative for the government to synergise and use existing initiatives for the purpose of policy continuity, utilising or leveraging on strategic opportunities to drive the country’s economic growth and also to enhance investor confidence.
He thanked the Minister for Agriculture, that of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as the Foreign Affairs Minister, among others for the success of the project.
Also in his remarks, the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Garcete, while appreciating Tinubu for bringing the long negotiation to a fruitful conclusion, said it was a great honour for Brazil to associate with the Green Imperative Project (GIP), stressing that negotiations in the past seven years with the Nigerian government, was with a view of obtaining the necessary funds from private and regional development banks to finance the project.
He described the project as one that will allow for the importation of agricultural equipment such as tractors, spare parts and machine assemblage which will be done in Nigeria with the Nigerian labour, disclosing that repairs will be carried out by Nigerian personnel who are to be trained by GIP.
The Green Imperative Project (GIP), the largest agricultural project in Africa, priotises the development of sustainable, low-carbon agriculture. It also aims to develop structural conditions to boost food production in Nigeria in an efficient and competitive manner.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula said the MoU for the $1.1 billion GIP 1 was signed in 2018, while the $4.3 billion phase 2 of the project and the $2.5 billion JBS were signed in Brazil during Tinubu’s visit to the country in the year 2024, all amounting to the tune of approximately $8 billion.
NEWS
Nigeria Condoles India over Tragic Plane Crash

The Federal Government on Thursday condoled the Indian government over the tragic crash of Air India Flight-171 in Ahmedabad.The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed this in a statement issued by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Spokesperson of theMinistry.Tuggar said, “Nigeria expresses profound sorrow and extends its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of India over the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.
“This devastating incident which claimed the lives of over 290 individuals has left the global community in mourning. “Nigeria stands in solidarity with India during this period of immense grief and unfortunate loss.“While initial reports indicate no Nigerian citizen was aboard the flight, the Nigeria High Commission in New Delhi remains in close contact with Indian authorities to verify this information and provide consular assistance where necessary.“In this moment of shared sorrow, Nigeria reaffirms its commitment to global aviation safety and supports the call for thorough investigation into the crash with a view to preventing such tragedies in the future.”The minister further commiserated with the families of the bereaved and all those affected by this tragic incident. (NAN)NEWS
Benue Speaker Advises Youth to Participate Actively in Politics

The Speaker, Benue House of Assembly, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, has advised youths in the state to participate actively in the economic and political development of the country.Dajoh gave the advice in his Democracy Day message issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Terver Zamber, in Makurdi.
The speaker urged youths to show more interest in the economic and political development of the country. He said that they had the required education, exposure, and numerical strength to make a positive impact on both the economy and governance. Dajoh assured the youths that the assembly under his leadership would continue to enact laws to protect democracy and the rule of law.The speaker urged Nigerians to be more determined in ensuring that democracy worked in the country.He said that democracy remained the best option for the country.The speaker added that through the determination of the citizens and their active participation in the democratic process, Nigeria would be a great country.He saluted the heroic deeds of patriots who worked assiduously to actualise democratic rule in the country, especially the symbol of the June 12 struggle, the late M.K.O. Abiola.According to him, only a truly great, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria could be a befitting compensation for their sacrifices.He commended President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue for their roles in upholding democratic principles.Dajoh said that more sacrifices were required from the citizens to ensure that the country got the best of democracy. (NAN)NEWS
Cross River Communities Resume Hostility with More Casualties

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
There is another round of hostility arising from communal skirmishes between two brotherly communities of Etono 2 and Biakpan in Biased Local Government Are of Cross River State.The resumption of hostilities happened some days ago when youths from Etono 2 were alleged to have attacked and killed a visitor to Biakpan and another youth whose identity was not immediately known.
Before then there were reports that nearly 50 persons had been killed on both sides. In the latest resurgence, a source said, “Sporadic shootings were heard on Monday and Tuesday inside Biakpan. A few persons have been killed.”State security adviser Southern district, Patrick Odion told our correspondent that he has his men on ground to calm the situation.Recall that about three weeks ago, Commissioner of Police in the state, Olusegun Omosanyin summoned the two sides to his Headquarters in Calabar and cautioned them.The police commissioner had disclosed how there was massive arms buildup by the two communities and said he would launch police action to retrieve the arms from them.He had expressed anger that the two sides had earlier refused to appear before him three times when he summoned them, adding that he had also dispatched his key officers to the two communities.Following the resumption of the hostilities, the police commissioner again met with the leadership of Biase LGA in his office.He assured that he would mobilize his men today to Biakpan and Etono 2 to quell the uprising.When DAILY ASSET spoke with some concerned stakeholders from the two communities they lamented that often when police and soldiers sent to douse tensions would leave, hostilities would resume soon after.A youth leader from Etono 2 who gave his name as Egwu Jerry, lamented, “The presence of the security men usually give us confidence but once they leave, our safety is no longer guaranteed. We’re few compared with those from Biakpan.”He also lamented that they do not have access road elsewhere than the one into Biakpan which reason, their adversaries usually encircle and easily attack and kill them.But a chief from Biakpan who gave his name as Onun Ekpezu alleged that Etono people were too aggressive and violent, and have destroyed their important properties and farms, and have killed their people and visitors.”Because of these, our youths have positioned themselves to defend our women and properties”, Ekpezu said.