Connect with us

NEWS

Verification Team Visits C’River over World Bank Agric Project 

Published

on

Share

Officials of the Federal Government and the World Bank, on Tuesday visited Cross River to verify its readiness to participate in the Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN).

While in Cross River, the team visited the 12,000 hectares of land being prepared for farming and irrigation activities in Odukpani Local Government Area.

SPIN, a World Bank initiative expected to begin in 2025, is planned to replace the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria, (TRIMING) Project.

The project is aimed at addressing the nation’s food sufficiency and availability challenge.

Mr Dickson Ogunmakinwa, an official of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, said that the essence of the project was to address food shortage.

Ogunmakinwa said this at Ikpiri Ikang, that the visit was to ascertain the state’s readiness for the SPIN initiative, which was part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.

“We are here to also see the site and the model that the state has adopted for the SPIN Programme.

“Currently, Nigeria is facing serious food shortage, this programme is to expand existing irrigation schemes across the country in partnership with states to promote food security.

“By the time the irrigation scheme is developed, there will be lots of farming activities which will involve youths and women. Many cottage industries will also grow around this corridor,” he said.

The official further said that states were required to show proper documentation and engineering designs of their projects to ensure sustainability.

“States are also to provide a counterpart fund of N200 million to take care of the project preliminaries, this is a criterion for eligibility,” he said.

Mr Ndifon Agbiji, the Project Engineer for Cross River and Akwa Ibom, said that Gov. Bassey Otu, had earmarked the Ikpiri Ikang irrigation project for the programme.

He said that the project which would be jointly implemented by the federal and state governments would promote sustainable food production across the state.

Also speaking, Mrs Justina Ulafor, the Director, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Cross River Ministry of Agriculture, said that the state was looking at embarking on model one and two in the SPIN’s project.

Ulafor said that the project would not only improve the livelihood of farmers, but also increase crop productivity across the state.

NAN reports that earlier, the team visited Akwa Ibom to access the Itu Irrigation and Flood Control Project.(NAN)

Health

NCDC Warns of Cholera Surge, Gives Updates on Other Outbreaks

Published

on

Share

 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following a significant surge in cholera cases across 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in nine states.

During a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr                    Jide Idris, expressed concern over the rising number of cholera infections as the rainy season begins.

He warned that the situation posed a serious public health threat.

“As of April 28, 2025, over 1,141 suspected cholera cases and 30 deaths have been reported across multiple states, with Bayelsa, Lagos, Abia, and Zamfara among the most affected,” he said.

Idris attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation, inadequate access to clean water, and widespread open defecation.

He said the NCDC was working in collaboration with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and development partners to strengthen surveillance, improve access to oral rehydration therapy, and promote hygiene education.

On Lassa fever, he reported a decline in weekly cases but warned that the disease remained persistent in endemic states such as Edo, Ondo, and Bauchi.

“We must not relax. The virus is still circulating in the rodent population,” he cautioned.

He also noted continued transmission of Mpox, with recent cases reported in Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.

“While no deaths have been recorded in the past month, the virus continues to spread through close contact,” he added.

On Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM), Idris stated that outbreaks had occurred in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Yobe states, predominantly affecting children and young adults.

He said vaccination campaigns were underway in high-burden areas, supported by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Gavi.

Idris further emphasised the urgent need for the rational use of antibiotics in managing the ongoing outbreaks, warning that misuse, particularly in cholera and Lassa fever treatment, could worsen antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“We must remind our health workers and communities that not every illness requires antibiotics.

“Inappropriate use during outbreaks is a silent pandemic that could undermine our ability to treat infections in the future,” he warned.

He urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures such as regular hand washing, proper waste disposal, and early medical attention when symptoms of any of the listed diseases were observed.

“Public health is a shared responsibility,” Idris said, calling on the media and civil society groups to support risk communication and community engagement efforts

Continue Reading

General News

FRSC Gets New Sector Commander in Osun 

Published

on

Share

 The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appointed Mr Leye Adegboyega as the new Sector Commander for Osun RS11.1 Command.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adegboyega, who assumed on on May 2, took over from Mr Taofeeq Sokumbi , who has been redeployed.

NAN further reports that the new sector commander until his appointment was the Zonal Head of Operations at Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo.

He was was enlisted into the service of the Federal Road Safety Corps on Nov. 1, 1993, and was appointed as the Personal Assistant to the Director of Operations, a post he held till 1998.

Adegboyega was later redeployed and appointed the pioneer Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the erstwhile Acting Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the FRSC, Mr Danyaro Yakasai.

In 1999, he was redeployed to the then Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRAS) as the Staff Officer (Statistics) and in 2003, he was posted to Imo  Sector Command as Staff Officer (Operations).

The new sector commander was in 2005 redeployed to Owo Unit Command in Ondo State as the Unit Head of Administration and Human Resources, a position he occupied until 2009, as an Assistant Corps Commander l.

After several promotions and awards, he was promoted to his present rank of Corps Commander in April 2022.

The new sector commander was redeployed on April1, 2022 to the Federal Road Safety Command and Staff College, Udi, Enugu State, as Director of Coordination, a position he held till July 2023.

In July 2023, he was redeployed to Zone RS11 Command Headquarters, Osogbo as the Zonal Head of Operations.

Adegboyega was born in Abeokuta on  July 25,  1969, to the family of Late Pa Femi Adeleye and Mrs Felicia Adeleye from Ayetoro in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He attended St. Andrew’s Primary School, Ibara, Abeokuta, from 1974 to 1979 and later proceeded to the prestigious African Church Grammar School, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta, from where he obtained the West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSCE) in 1985.

He bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Political Science from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, in the year 1992  and later did his mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)  in Enugu with the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Adegboyega received commendations for his outstanding performance and was subsequently given automatic employment by the FRSC Management in 1993.

He is married to Mrs Oluwayemisi Elizabeth and the union is blessed with four lovely children.

Continue Reading

JUDICIARY

Court Remands 6 Men Docked Over Alleged Breach of Peace, Unlawful Gathering

Published

on

Share

A Grade A Customary Court at Mapo in Ibadan has remanded six men standing trial for alleged breach of public peace, following their inability to meet their bail conditions.

The defendants are; Ismail Oladipupo, Ridwan Raji, Biodun Gbadamosi, Usman Mohammed, Samuel Olowu and Sunday Akande.

Due to their inability to meet bail, the Court President, Mrs S.

M. Akintayo, ordered that the six defendants be remanded in Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo.

Akintayo had admitted each of the defendants to N200,000 bail after they all pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful gathering and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.

The court also ordered that the defendants should provide two reliable sureties, one of whom must be a community leader.

However, the six men could not meet the bail conditions and therefore were remanded at the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town.

Akintayo subsequently adjourned the suit until June 24 for hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Ayeni, had told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 14, at 12:45 a.m., at Agbaje Market, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ayeni said that the defendants were arrested after they were caught using various dangerous objects such as cutlasses, broken bottles and stones, daring anybody to confront them.

According to him, the six men by their actions allegedly caused apprehension and fear in the entire community.

He stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 516, 416 and 249 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 vol. II Law of Oyo State 2000

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

Health3 hours ago

NCDC Warns of Cholera Surge, Gives Updates on Other Outbreaks

Share The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following a significant surge in...

General News4 hours ago

FRSC Gets New Sector Commander in Osun 

Share The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has appointed Mr Leye Adegboyega as the new Sector Commander for Osun RS11.1 Command....

JUDICIARY5 hours ago

Court Remands 6 Men Docked Over Alleged Breach of Peace, Unlawful Gathering

ShareA Grade A Customary Court at Mapo in Ibadan has remanded six men standing trial for alleged breach of public...

Health6 hours ago

Bayelsa Govt. Seeks Private Schools’ Support on Immunization

ShareThe Bayelsa State Government has called for the cooperation of private school owners and proprietors to effectively implement its executive...

NEWS8 hours ago

Edo Gov Increases Minimum Wage For State Workers

ShareFrom Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin  Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has increased the minimum wage for the state workers...

NEWS13 hours ago

FG Directs Stop to Work on Sagamu-Iperu Road over Poor Quality

Share The Federal Government has directed that work should stop on the 12km Sagamu-Iperu Road by the Sagamu Interchange on...

NEWS13 hours ago

Wike Visits China over Water Project for FCT Satellite Towns

ShareThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyeson Wike, is enroute to China for a series of official...

NEWS13 hours ago

NSSF urges Robust Policy Reform to Revamp Maternal Health Equity

ShareThe Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) has called for a robust policy reform and financial commitment to revamp maternal health...

NEWS13 hours ago

Osun Amotekun Corps Mourns as Gunmen Kill Operative in Iwo

ShareFrom Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo The Osun State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun Corps, yesterday announced the tragic death of one...

NEWS13 hours ago

CAN Reads Riot Acts to Zonal, State, Local Chapters

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday said only the current President of the association, Archbishop...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc