NEWS
Food Crisis: Social Crusader Advocates Deployment of Inmates to Farms for Agricultural Revival
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
As the country grapples with food and unemployment crises, a foremost social crusader, Mr Ukwunetu Samuel Ali, has advocated for the deployment of unused potentials of prison Inmates into the agricultural sector as a remedy for the raging national social and economic woes.
Ali gave the advice in a proposal he submitted to the Federal Government of Nigeria, titled: “Optimal Strategies for Reviving the Agricultural Sector in Nigeria via the Engagement of Inmates of the Nigeria Custodian Centers,” and a copy made available to Journalists on Friday in Lokoja.
Ukwunetu Samuel Ali is the author of the popular book, titled: “A Compendium of Biographies of Senator Oluremi Bola Tinubu, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Other Notable Women as a Panacea to Negligence of Girl-Child Education in Nigeria.”Ali noted with mixed feelings, the abundance of human and material resources in the country that have been allowed to be wasted with its attendant consequences on the society.
According to Ali, the first primary needs of man is usually food, and this can only be achieved through farming, hence, the ability for the government to convert its human resource into agriculture, makes her a better society that would be envied.
He urged the government to optimise the energies of the inmates into agriculture for the abundance of foods across the country.
“To revive the agricultural fortune of Nigeria and to varnish acute hunger, concerted effort should be made to ensure that agricultural policies are tailored toward making farming attractive to the teeming youths across the country.
“The founding fathers of the nation made conscious efforts and produced policies that made farming the mainstay of the people. That mainstreaming Agriculture has earned tremendous growth and self-sufficiency of the country,” Ali said.
He lamented that the effort of the Government of the first Republic in creating food sufficiency, was wiped out with the lacklustre activities towards agriculture by the successive administrations.
Ali disclosed that while the first Republic economy which was based on agriculture was at par with most Asian and some European countries, but the oil boom of the 70s created armies of dependents was the major cause of present economic and starvation starring the people in the face.
He further explained that the successive administrations have tried to revive agriculture and put the country on the paths of growth again, but the challenges of corruption, free money from oil and policy inconsistencies have become the albatross that has kept the people on their knees.
He pointed out that many agricultural initiatives in Nigeria have failed since her independence due to corruption or lack of political will as well as the faulty foundation on which the government was attempting to build those policies.
The social crusader stressed the need to strengthen the foundation of agricultural policies in Nigeria as well as making Agricultural Studies a mandatory course in Nigeria’s schools ranging from primary to tertiary.
“The ministry of education and agriculture must collaborate to develop a curriculum for the country’s tertiary institutions that will allow students to study agricultural studies as a borrowed course.
“This will lay the groundwork for the government at all levels to reap a significant reward in agricultural growth in Nigeria,” he said.
Ali asserted that for the country to wiggle out the potential of mass deaths and hunger, the leadership should as a policy remove bottlenecks that were hindering the youths and investors from participating actively in the agricultural value chain.
According to him, “food security has declined in both urban and rural areas as a result of the large number of nimble, educated youths who were less conscious of farming which produces foods for societal existence and raw materials for industrial revolution.
“In spite of the government’s large budget for revitalising the country’s agricultural industry, many youths have abandoned agriculture in search of white collar jobs in urban centres, making it difficult for the government to fulfil its programmes of reviving ailing critical sectors of the economy.
“For the youths to embrace agriculture as a passion and vocation for a living and contribute to national prosperity, the government has to reset its brain box to develop a thorough agricultural reforms that enunciate policies that will motivate the agile youths both educated and uneducated to embrace agriculture as not only a source of living but also as an occupation that creates wealth and prosperity for their standard of living” He emphasised.
Ali explained that for the government to succeed in his proposed agriculture scheme, three critical ministries– Agriculture, Interior and Justice, must work in synergy to put in place a mechanism that ensures inmates in correctional centres are drawn to farming.
He added that the unemployed youths should also be motivated to take interest in agriculture as means of self-reliance and self-actualisation.
He opined that the three ministries with their core mandates should collaborate and fashion out modalities on the deployment of inmates, legal relationship in the establishment of Correctional centres, quick dispensation of cases and the provision of security of lives and property of the farm centres.
While calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give accelerated consideration to his proposal, Ali assured that the buy-in of the proposal would solve the twin challenges of hunger and insecurity facing the country.
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Ishaya Tanko has confirmed the sad death of 8 students of the University to a road crash involving their Toyota bus with a truck in the metropolitan city of Jos.
He disclosed that one of the students was being prepared for surgery in the early hours of Thursday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital while others were receiving medication at the Bingham Teaching Hospital.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Plateau State Command disclosed that the accident occurred opposite Unity Bank Zaria Road, Jos, at around 2:30 am.
The Plateau State Sector Commander of the Corps, Olajide Mogaji explained that seven people lost their lives on the spot, while another victim died in hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities to eight.
According to the Command’s statement, the crash involved a trailer and a bus, which was carrying eleven passengers, all male students of the University of Jos, opposite Unity Bank Zaria Road, Jos, at around 2:30 am.
Mogaji said eyewitness accounts revealed to the corps emergency teams that the bus was speeding and engaged in wrongful overtaking, leading to the loss of control and the crash.
The Sector Commander has appealed to drivers to avoid night trips, excessive speed, and dangerous driving, saying, “The government needs you alive, and wants you to live life to the fullest in this festive season and beyond.”
The FRSC noted that the incident is still under investigation, while urging the public to report crashes or road emergencies to their toll-free emergency number 122 at all times for prompt responses.
The victims were said to have been coming back from a welcome special party for new students when the unfortunate incident occurred with the vehicle carrying the male students while the other vehicle carrying the female students escaped the tragedy.
UNICEF Hails Bayelsa as Champion of Primary Healthcare Devt in Nigeria
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Bayelsa State Government for its deliberate efforts at improving primary healthcare delivery, especially in the area of immunization in recent years.
The Country Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, gave the commendation, on Wednesday, when she led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa.
Saeed said what she saw during her visit to some health facilities and her random interactions with some mothers in the state, corroborated the positive reports UNICEF has been receiving about Bayelsa in terms of immunization.
The special UN envoy, who described Bayelsa as champion of healthcare delivery and a shining spot in the country, noted that the state has achieved an impressive performance in its immunization indices from 2021 to date.
She attributed the improvement in the health indicators of the state to purposeful leadership, commitment and accountability being provided by the present administration.
While assuring the Bayelsa of UNICEF’s readiness for collaboration to improve nutrition for children as well as unlock resources for healthcare development in the state, the Country Rep, however, urged the Governor Douye Diri-led administration to sustain its efforts in the health sector.
She said, “We are really impressed with what Bayelsa is doing… Bayelsa State has also committed its financing of immunization campaigns from the state budget, and a special one (immunization) in-between.
“Also there is a monthly allowance and support you have continued to give from GAVI. These are some of the things that have really increased the number of immunized children and improved the performance of the state.
“In 2021, the number of children not immunized in Bayelsa was 71 percent; that means seven out of ten kids were not immunized. But between then and now, there is a big difference due to the leadership, commitment and accountability we are seeing in Bayelsa State.
“You have been a champion of primary healthcare and a champion of immunization. And I really look to have Bayelsa not only a champion of states in Nigeria but in our continent and the globe.”
In a response, Governor Douye Diri represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, reaffirmed the determination of his administration to prioritize investments in the health sector.
He said plans were underway to review the state primary healthcare board law with a view to not only sustaining the extant primary healthcare funding model but also expanding it through effective private sector contributions, especially from corporate organizations operating in the state.
Diri thanked the Country Rep, Ms Wafaa Saeed, for her kind words of encouragement and also acknowledged the support of UNICEF, WHO, Bill Gate, Dangote Foundation and other development partners, noting that Bayelsa could not have recorded its present achievements in the health sector without their collaboration.
His words: “We also want to thank you profusely for supporting our programme. We thank UNICEF, the WHO, Bill Gate Foundation, Dangote Foundation and others for your support. We really appreciate what you have done for our state.
“As a government, we know where we are going. A man who knows where he is going cannot be misled. We are focused and will continue to redouble our efforts in the health sector.
“You talked about sustainability. That is very important to us, and so, we are looking at the principal law, which is the Primary Healthcare Development Board Law. We are looking at some areas of that law to bind the hands of whoever that comes after us.
“That is to ensure that even if the administration after us will not have the motivation and passion to provide leadership for primary healthcare like the present governor is doing, the law will compel them to do so.”
The UNICEF Country Representative was accompanied on the visit by the Chief of Field Service, Judith Leville, UNICEF Health Consultant, Dr. Makio Perekeme, the Chief Field Officer, Anselm Audu and a health specialist, Eghe Abe, among others.
Mutfwang Pledges Support for Minister of Defence in Fight against Insecurity
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), assuring him of his total and unwavering support in the collective effort to defeat insecurity in Plateau State and across Nigeria.
The Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Gyang Bere on Thursday disclosed that the Governor has expressed delight over Gen.
Musa’s appointment, describing it as a “strategic and timely decision” in confronting the country’s intricate and evolving security challenges.Mutfwang noted that the Minister’s vast experience and proven professionalism would significantly strengthen ongoing national security interventions.
“We must now focus on finding solutions to the challenges confronting us. Whatever has happened in the past should not deter us. The time has come for all of us to join hands and holistically address our security concerns,” Mutfwang emphasized.
The Governor reiterated his support for the establishment of State Police, acknowledging concerns about possible abuses, but stressing that the nation must collectively develop safeguards and ensure operational efficiency.
Gen. Christopher Musa expressed gratitude for the Governor’s visit, assuring him of a robust and productive collaboration in addressing security concerns in Plateau State and the country at large.
He commended Governor Mutfwang for hosting the Plateau Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival, describing it as a unifying initiative.
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