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JUST IN: Southwest governors go into massive food production
A move to boost food production has been ignited in the Southwest.
The objective is to cut the prices of food items which remain high in the country despite ongoing efforts to bring down inflation.
Governors in the six Southwest states yesterday gave a marching order to commissioners of agriculture to begin the process that will lead to food security in the geo-political zone.
They said: “On food security, the forum acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Government and decides that the Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture of all the states should begin to meet and set up a working template, which will ensure collaboration based on each state’s comparative advantage.”
The governors made this known yesterday after a meeting hosted by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
They commended the Federal Government for turning the sod of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway that will run across three of the states in the zone, and the Badagry to Sokoto Highway, which will pass through Oyo State, but urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to facilitate rehabilitation of other Federal roads in the region.
Some of the decayed Federal roads in the geo-political zones are: the Lagos-Sango-Ota to Abeokuta, the Ibadan to Ilesa expressway, the Akure to Ado-Ekiti Highway and the Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso to Ilorin Highway.
All the six governors –Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), Ademola Adeleke (Osun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) – attended the meeting.
Sanwo-Olu was unanimously picked as chairman of the forum to replace the late former Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who passed on in December last year.
The governors reaffirmed their backing for Regional Security Network Amotekun and condemned the Yoruba Nation agitation.
They renewed their backing for state police while expressing relief that Southwest remains the most peaceful region in the country.
The governors urged the Senate to concur with the House of Representatives by passing the Southwest Development Commission Bill.
Sanwo-Olu read an 11-point resolution of the meeting which states as follows:
•The Forum unanimously nominated and adopted the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as its Chairman.
•The Forum paid its last respects to its late Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and also congratulated the new Governor of Ondo State, H.E Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for winning the All Progressives Congress’s (APC’s) Governorship ticket for the next election.
•The governors adopted Ise wa fun ile wa as Southwest Anthem.
•The meeting commends the House of Representatives and Southwest Caucus for their efforts at passing the Southwest Development Commission Bill and looks forward to its speedy passage by the Senate.
•The meeting commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the groundbreaking of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, the proposed Lagos to Sokoto road and encourages the Federal Government to rehabilitate other Federal roads in the region.
•On security, the Forum commends the relative peace in the Southwest region and notes the collaboration between all security agencies and the Amotekun Corps. It reaffirms its full support for State Police.
•On food security, the Forum acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Government and decides that the Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture of all the states should begin to meet and set up a working template, which will ensure collaboration based on each State’s comparative advantage.
•On Minimum Wage, the Forum supports the efforts of the Federal Government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Organised Private Sector in their ongoing conversations with the Labour Union. We believe the outcome will reflect true fiscal federalism.
•The Forum also encourages the Federal Government’s efforts on mineral resource exploitation. There should be further collaboration between the Federal Government and States, especially in granting leases to investors.
•The Forum condemns in strong terms the group of people agitating for the Yoruba nation.
•The Forum agrees to strengthen the DAWN Commission on operational efficiency and charges the Commission to focus on economic integration, cooperation and investment promotion of Southwest states. To that end, each state is mandated to appoint a state focal person.
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BudgIT appoints Nigeria Country Director
He brought with him a track record in governance, research, and institutional leadership.
BudgIT has appointed Mr. Vahyala Kwaga as Country Director for Nigeria.
The appointment took effect on April 1, 2026.Kwaga was appointed following a leadership transition within the civic-tech organisation.
He brought with him a track record in governance, research, and institutional leadership.
Since joining BudgIT in 2021, Kwaga has held several leadership roles, including Senior Researcher, Head of the Open Government and Institutional Partnerships (OGIP) Unit, Group Head of Research and OGIP, and Deputy Country Director.
In these positions, he contributed to strengthening BudgIT’s research output, deepening its policy engagement, and improving coordination across programmes.
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Kebbi Assembly Speaker Muhammad Usman Zuru dies in Egypt
The deceased Speaker, who represented Zuru Constituency, was widely regarded as a seasoned lawmaker and a key figure in the state’s legislative arm.
The Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Zuru, has died in an Egyptian hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Zuru died on Monday night after a period of ill health. Sources close to the Kebbi State Government confirmed his death, though details about the nature of his illness remain limited.
The deceased Speaker, who represented Zuru Constituency, was widely regarded as a seasoned lawmaker and a key figure in the state’s legislative arm.
An aide to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Idris Zuru, described the news as shocking.
“The death of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Zuru, came to us as a rude shock. It is a painful loss not only to Kebbi State but to the entire nation,” he said.
“We are still gathering full information surrounding his passing. The government will make an official statement and announce burial arrangements in consultation with the family,” Idris Zuru stated.
The Benue State Government has confirmed the successful evacuation of all students of Benue State origin studying at the University of Jos following the crisis currently affecting the area.
The evacuation was carried out in line with the directive of the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
The General Manager of Benue Links Nigeria Limited, Comrade Alexander Aondohemba Fanafa said the third and final batch of student evacuees arrived at the company’s headquarters and bus terminal in Makurdi, Benue State on Saturday the 4th of April.Comrade Fanafa explained that a total of seventy-seven (77) vehicles were deployed in three batches to convey the students safely from Jos, the Plateau State capital.
He attributed the success of the operation to the proactive leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the effective collaboration among government agencies, including the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management and the Bureau of Homeland Security.
The General Manager also expressed appreciation to the security operatives who escorted the students from Jos, commending their professionalism in ensuring the safety of the students throughout the journey.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to implementing all transport policies of the Governor Alia administration.Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Doctor. Margaret Adamu, described the exercise as a clear demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to the safety and welfare of Benue indigenes.
She noted that the evacuation directive was issued immediately upon receiving reports of the crisis, emphasizing that the administration places a high premium on education and the well-being of students.
Earlier, the Director General of the Bureau of Homeland Security, Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuan (rtd.), stated that the success of the operation was made possible through swift coordination between security agencies and the State owned transport company, enabling the rapid deployment of buses and security escorts.
He reassured citizens that the administration remains vigilant and committed to protecting the lives and interests of Benue people both within and outside the state.
In their separate appreciation messages, the President of the University of Jos Chapter of the National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), Mchivga Iornder, and the National President of the Benue State Medical and Dental Students Association, Williams Kachira, commended Governor Alia for the prompt intervention and confirmed that all Benue students at the University of Jos have been successfully evacuated.
A statement its Information Officer Johnson Ehi Daniel revealed that Benue Links Nigeria Limited also provided additional vehicles to convey some of the students from Makurdi to their respective Local Government Areas across the state.
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