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Food Security: Ekiti set up storage facilities for bumper harvest
The Ekiti State government has set up storage facilities in different parts of the state, with the sole aim of buying farm produce from farmers during harvest season and storing them for release during period of scarcity.
This ccomes with a move to ensuring food sufficiency and availability in the state.
The State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who on Monday led some officials on inspection of one of the storage facilities for agricultural produce in Ado- Ekiti, said building the storage facilities is one of the government’s plans to avert the food scarcity that was experienced in the state last year.
Governor Oyebanji said government’s immediate focus is to address food shortage, reduce post-harvest losses and ensure food sufficiency all year round across the state.
Speaking with Journalists shortly after the inspection, Governor Oyebanji who was accompanied on the inspection by his Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Boluwade Ebenezer, Commissioner for Trade, investment and cooperatives, Mrs Tayo Adeola, said the initiative was in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu to the State Governors to prioritize food security as critical step in combating hunger across the country.
The Governor, explained that the state cultivated over 6,000 hectares of farmland in 2024, adding that the warehouse for storing food crops was a major challenge, hence the decision of his administration to provide storage facilities this year.
The facilities, according the Governor would help in regulating prices of food items in the eventuality of food scarcity.
While expressing his delight that a large chunk of the farm produce were bought from young farmers under the Bring Back Youth in Agriculture programme , the Governor assured that his administration remains committed to alleviating hunger and achieving food security in the state.
“We promised Ekiti State good governance and like you said we have been trying to work that talk. The President directed that each state should embark on strategy of food security and in Ekiti State in the last one year, we have started with phase one of a very deliberate attempt to ensure that we prow ourselves out of hunger, last year we cumulatively cultivated over 6,000 hectares of land in the state, all planted.
“Going forward, we want to ensure that, those crops that we buy from the youth, store them there and we will release to the market when there is increase in prices of food so that we can moderate prices”. The Governor stated .
In his own remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and food security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade said that the goal is not only to tackle hunger but to also create opportunities for youth in agriculture.
While explaining that the initiative would ensure steady food supply throughout the year, Mr Boluwade said government would encourage farmers, particularly the youths in agriculture to increase production, knowing that their produce would not go to waste and government is willing and ready to buy from them.
News
Badaru Abubakar resigns as Defense Minister
His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.
Nigeria’s defence minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect.
In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said that he was quitting on health grounds.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President,(Information and Strategy), confirmed that President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation.
President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.
Badaru Abubakar, 63, was a two-term governor of Jigawa state from 2015 to 2023.
Badaru Abubakar was the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) from 2013 to 2015.
Before this, he was president of the Jigawa Chamber of Commerce and held other leadership positions in chambers of commerce.
He was appointed as a minister on August 21, 2023, by President Tinubu.
His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.
News
Court Adjourns Immigration Litigation Over Promotion Disputes till March 31
Nandap and the Secretary of the Civil Defense, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, retired Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin, face two criminal counts in a case filed by Immigration officer Badiru Oluwafemi.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, who was scheduled for arraignment at the National Industrial Court on charges of conspiracy and perversion of justice, failed to appear in court on Monday.
Nandap and the Secretary of the Civil Defense, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, retired Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin, face two criminal counts in a case filed by Immigration officer Badiru Oluwafemi.
Oluwafemi alleges that senior officials obstructed a court-ordered promotion and falsely claimed an out-of-court settlement, effectively stalling his career advancement.
In 2023, the Industrial Court ruled in his favor, ordering his promotion.
However, after he passed the 2024 exams, his promotion was withheld when the Comptroller General reportedly urged the Board to tie it to the withdrawal of his lawsuits.
During proceedings held in chambers Monday, Justice Sinmisola Adeniyi admitted she had skipped a procedural step before issuing the criminal summons.
She explained that the proper process would have been to first direct the police to investigate and report back before arraignment.
The matter was adjourned to 31 March 2026 for the police report and possible arraignment of the defendants.
In a related contempt case, Justice Rakiya Haastrup fixed 17 December for hearing.
The claimant seeks the committal of the Comptroller General to prison for failing to comply with a December 2023 order directing his promotion.
The Contempt case is seeking to commit five principals of the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Board for wilfully disobeying the judgment of the court.
Counsel for the Immigration boss, Uduojie Kennedy, told the court his client had complied with the order, promoted the claimant, and placed him on a new salary scale. However, under questioning, he admitted he had no evidence of salary payment.
Similarly, Jummai Adaramola, counsel for the Secretary of the Board, argued that the order had been complied with but added that her client is protected under the Public Officers Protection Act.In sharp contrast, Armiyal Aduku, counsel for Oluwafemi insisted his client had not been promoted, undermining the respondents’ claims.
Justice Haastrup adjourned the matter, urging all parties to resolve the issue of evidence regarding payment of the judgment sum and report back at the next hearing on 17 December.
News
Ribadu Promises Quick Return of Abducted Students
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu said efforts are in top gear to ensure a swift recovery of the abducted students
Picture: The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Rev. Bulus Yohanna and parents of the children in Kontagora with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The Federal Government has raised the hopes of parents and the authorities of St. Mary’s Private Catholic primary and secondary school, Papiri in Agwara local government area of Niger state.
Ribadu expressed the optimism when he visited the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Rev. Bulus Yohanna and parents of the children in Kontagora, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu said efforts are in top gear to ensure a swift recovery of the abducted students.
While delivering President Bola Tinubu’s message of hope and assurance, Ribadu asked Nigerians to join hands and defeat the common enemy causing havoc in the country.
The Principal of the school Rev. Sister Felicia Gyang and a representative of the Parents Mr. Luka Iliya narrated how the incident happened including the ongoing trauma they face while urging the government to do all it can to secure the safe return of the abducted students.
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