NEWS
Kogi Govt Allocates 1, 200 Hectares for Cassava Production
The Kogi Government has mapped out 1, 200 hectares of land for immediate intervention in cassava production.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojoma, made the disclosure in Lokoja during the inauguration of the State Executive Council of the Cassava Cottage Processing Marketing Association (CACOPMAN) on Wednesday.
Ojoma said that the state government was going to provide 80 per cent of the work by bringing in tractors, improved stems, fertiliser, chemicals and clearing of the land.
“We have already mapped out about 48 areas in the three senatorial districts of the state for this purpose.
“We are also providing extension services by engaging over 1,000 extension workers to ensure that our farmers have up to date information on the cassava.
”We are also intervening in rice and maize production,” he said.
He said that the extension services will include translating the information in the three main languages in the state for people to understand the best practices and up to date information about climate change for them to do the right thing for the desired results.
”Our farmer-friendly Gov. Usman Ododo, is very much interested in food production and security, which explains why his first engagement in office was on agriculture.”
The commissioner also said the state government has concluded training of enumerators for a forthcoming biometric capturing of all farmers across the state for useful data.
He challenged the new leadership of the CACOPMAN to encourage members to key into government food production programmes for the attainment of food security in the state.
Earlier in his Speech, the CACOPMAN National President, Mr Segun Ilori, had tasked the new sxecutive council to live up to expectations in boosting cassava production in the state.
Ilori said that there were several incentives from government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Speaking at the occasion, State President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Salihu Adobauji encouraged the cassava farmers to ”weather the storm” of the economic hardships and produce food in the farming season.
In his acceptance speech, the new state CACOPMAN chairman, Ufana Hussein said cassava has the potential to industrialise Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.
“From cassava processing, we can have some industrial inputs such as starch, for both edible and non-edible grade, cooking gas, organic fertilizer, animal feeds from the peels, gari, fufu (wet and dry),” he said. (NAN)
NEWS
Abia Assembly Didn’t Mandate Deputy Gov. to Apologise – Deputy Speaker
Abia House of Assembly has denied social media report that it mandated the Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, to issue a public apology over a misunderstanding between him and its member.The Deputy Speaker and Spokesperson, Austin Meregini, who debunked such report while addressing newsmen in Umuahia on Thursday, said the House did not reach any resolution to that effect.
He admitted that there was a misunderstanding between the deputy governor and Mr Mba Nwoko, member representing Ohafia South State Constituency, but said the matter had been taken care of Report says that there have been publications by social media of the House mandating the deputy governor to apologise to Nwoko for disrespecting the lawmaker during the recent state-wide local government elections. It was alleged that Emetu, who is from the same constituency with Nwoko, had instructed the security operatives to arrest the lawmaker for asking about the election result sheet.Condemning the report, Meregini, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Media, said that it was the imagination and figment of the mischief makers.He said that the deputy governor and the lawmaker are brothers, hence there was no need for the Assembly to pass a resolution mandating such an apology.Meregini said: “I was present at the Tuesday sitting, both at the plenary and executive session; there was no time we reached such resolution.“We do not condone any kind of misunderstanding, but as long as we co-exist, there’s bound to be misunderstanding every now and then.“When there is need, we do offer constructive criticism and constructive oversight on the activities of the government and the Executive and we expect that it will continue.”He reaffirmed the robust relationship between the Legislature and the Executive, saying that it would continue to exist for the benefit of Abia people.The deputy speaker commended the Executive on the level of implementation, while expressing satisfaction with the quality of bills passed by the Assembly.(NAN)NEWS
FEC Proposes N47.9trn 2025 Budget
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has proposed the sum of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year for submission to the National Assembly on Monday.The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu disclosed this after the Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.
According to him, the Council pegged the price of crude oil at 75 dollar per barrel and proposed N1400 as exchange rate to a dollar with oil production put at 2. 06million barrels per day.Bagudu said that the budget proposal included new borrowings of N9.2 trillion to finance the budget deficit in 2025.The minister added that with the growth rate of 3.19 per cent as at the second quarter of 2024, the Federal Government would continue to tackle Inflation, strengthen economic resilience and provide more support for the economy.He also said that government would continue to support high employment generation sectors, improve business environment and effective implementation of youths development and social investment programmes.Bagudu also disclosed that FEC reviewed the 2024 Budget implementation and acknowledged that the review revealed promising in revenue collection and expenditure management.” Despite lacks in prorated target, the overall trajectory shows that fiscal effort are on track with key non-oil streams performing better than anticipated.Similarly, the minister said FEC approved the medium term expenditure framework and the fiscal strategy paper to be submitted to the NASS.” This is in addition to the bills that are already at the National Assembly, the Economic Stabilisation Bill and Tax Reforms Bill , which we believe we will have a very strong growth in 2025,” he said. (NAN)NEWS
Okpebholo Freezes Edo Accounts, Orders Reversal of Ministry’s Name
Gov. Monday Okpebholo of Edo has ordered immediate freezing of all the state bank accounts until further notice.Okpebholo gave the directive in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Fred Itua, on Thursday in Benin.He warned that non-compliance by commercial banks as well as heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) would result in severe penalties.
“All bank accounts in all commercial banks are now frozen. Commercial banks must ensure strict adherence and prevent any withdrawal from government accounts until further notice,” the statement said. Okpebholo stated that necessary investigations and financial reconciliations would determine subsequent actions.He also ordered the reversal of the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to the old Ministry of Works with immediate effect.The governor cited what he called lack of completed bridges or significant road projects as a justification for changing the ministry of roads and bridges back to ministry of works.“It is ironic that despite its name, the ministry did not construct a single bridge, not even a pedestrian one,” he said.The governor directed immediate implementation and reflection of the new name across official documents and platforms. (NAN)