NEWS
Kwara Partners Olam Agric to Boost Food Production, Value Chains
From Samuel James, Ilorin
Kwara State Government has disclosed that its doors are open for partnerships with any non-governmental organisations and agriculturists who share the same vision and commitment with the administration to develop agric value chain in the state.
The statement was made by Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Hon Oloruntoyosi Thomas at the Palace of Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Abubakar Idris Sero in Okuta, Baruten local government on a working visit to the town and its environs.
She said the government is presently collaborating with the Olam in the area of allocation of farmland and training of extension workers on the production of soya beans and maize and value addition with a view to boosting food security and nutritional intakes in the state.
Oloruntoyosi said the partnership covers the provision of 100 hectares of land and seedlings by the government to improve access to good seedlings and impressive yields.
“The focus of the partnership is on improving the productivity in quality and quantity in the soya beans value chain as
Olam will soon open the soya oil processing plant in Asa Local Government, as facilitated by His Excellency Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who made sure that the plant is situated within the state for easy processing of soyabeans. Olam has also received the government’s assistance by fast tracking the land documentation and other processes.”
Kwara is a good location for soya beans oil processing plant because the state is blessed with fertile land and over 150 hectares of land is being cultivated with soya beans across the state, the Commissioner said.
Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Sero when receiving the commissioner and her team, said the major occupation of the people of Baruten is farming, and thanked the Governor for his agricultural development initiatives in the local council.
“We thank His Excellency for giving the farmers the needed attention, as some people are concerned about different things but His Excellency is concerned about the grassroot and giving us attention, as farmers, matters a lot,” the monarch said, pledging the support of his people to make the project a reality.
The Emir described the appointment of Hon Oloruntoyosi as a round peg in a round hole, citing how she is committed and passionate about realizing the mandate of her office.
In his remarks, the Manager of Olam Agri, Amit Mathur said the programme was to empower the farmers with soyabeans processing machines, technical know-how and good seedlings to ease their farming activities and improve their production.
He said the company, at the end of the harvest, will buy directly from them for the processing of soya oil.
The General Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Baruten LG chapter, Madubu Muhammad, said the programme is laudable as it will increase the output in soyabeans farming and make Baruten one of the highly soyabeans producing communities in the state.
The delegation also stopped over in Gwane Village, Baruten LG met the community head, Alhaji Daro Umar who commended the team for the visit and appreciated how the government is driving its agricultural policies in the state.
Those on the Commissioner’s entourage were the Manager, Olam Agri, Amit Mathur; Director Agricultural Service Ministry of Agric, Hajia Afusat Hussein; and Chairman Soyabeans Farmers Association, Kwara State branch, Olawoyin Yinka Solomon; among others.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Katsina Command says it is targeting drivers who are in the habit of over loading and dangerous driving during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The state FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Aliyu Ma’aji, made this known at a news conference on Tuesday in Katsina.
Ma’aji said that the command was out to ensure zero road traffic deaths and crash-free during the festive period.
He said that the command had organised series of activities at motor parks, Mosques and Churches to enlighten motorists on the risks associated with dangerous driving and over loading.
Ma’aji also reminded prospective
passengers to always speak up against violations of traffic rules, dangerous driving and speeding by drivers in order to save their lives.
“Data indicated more passengers lost their lives than drivers during accidents,” the sector commander said.
He urged prospective passengers to always use faster channels to report road crashes and obstruction to the FRSC for possible rescuing without delay.
According to him, the command light tow truck had been strategically positioned in the event of any unforeseen eventuality.
He also announced that a mobile Court had also been set up for possible prosecution of traffic offenders on the spot.
Ma’aji, however, advised motorists to desist from mixing of goods and passengers in their vehicles, among other traffic violations. (NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has taken steps to ensure effective utilisation of the 100 operational vehicles donated to security agencies in the FCT.
Mr Adamu Gwary, Director of the Security Service Department, FCTA, stated this during the department’s end-of-year news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike had in July donated 50 operational vehicles, equipped with communication gadgets to security agencies.
On Dec. 12, the minister donated additional 50 new operational vehicles to security agencies, totalling 100 vehicles so far distributed.
Gwary, a fellow of the National Defence College, said that the vehicles were marked to ensure that the FCT Administration gets value for the support given to the security agencies.
“Just yesterday we had a meeting with a service provider, who, through the Presidency, provided a reporting platform of crime statistics format in all our police divisions.
“We looked at it beyond just getting information on crime statistics. We expanded it to cover other components of the FCT Administration’s support to security agencies.
“This will give us a platform to ensure that whatever the administration has provided, particularly vehicular assets to help security agencies to perform optimally, are equally monitored.
“We will put our eyes and ears on those vehicles because they were given to them for the purpose of improving and enhancing the security situation in the FCT,” he said.
He added that when there was a need for the vehicles to be used outside the FCT, it must be connected to security issues affecting the territory, especially cross-border crime.
As Christians around the world prepare for Christmas and new year celebrations, the director called on FCT residents to support and cooperate with security agencies.
He said, “when you see something, say something and we will do something.” (NAN)
The Nigeria Police, Gombe State Command, says it has arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl in Pindiga community in Akko Local Government of the state.
ASP Buhari Abdullahi, the police’s spokesperson in the state said this on Tuesday in Gombe while parading the suspect and others.
Abdullahi said that the suspect had lured the victim to his parlour where he allegedly committed the crime.
He said that the victim was taken to the hospital for medical treatment where doctor also confirmed that she had been violated.
He said the matter was reported Dec. 15 about 8.30am against the suspect at Pingiga police station.
He said that the suspect (names withheld) had lured the 5-year-old to his home and allegedly had sexual intercourse with her.
“However, upon receipt of the complaint the above mentioned suspect was arrested.
“The victim was rushed to cottage hospital for medical treatment and for doctor’s confirmation,” he said.
Abdullahi stated that during the course of investigation, the suspect confessed to the alleged crime and would be charged to court for prosecution.
Besides, the command spokesman paraded 15 other suspects for various crimes ranging from criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, possession of counterfeit Naira notes, amongst others,
Abdullahi restated the command’s commitment to tackling crimes in the state.(NAN)
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