Agriculture
FAO: Food insecurity might affect 4.1 million people in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has said that about 4.1 million people in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states will be at the risk acute food insecurity in July, this year.
While speaking, yesterday, in Girei Local Council, during the distribution of assorted grains to farmers for this year’s farming season, the FAO Field Officer Coordinator in Adamawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, said the grains distribution would assist farmers with modern seedlings to boost food production.
“Recall that the Cadre Harmonise (CH) findings projected that by July 2022, about 4.1 million persons would be at risk of food insecurity in the three states, enmeshed in armed insurgency since 2009.
“The support by FAO targets to help affected households to mitigate the escalation of food insecurity, while at the same time build resilience of the returnees in the settled communities,” he stated.
Abubakar said the FAO has been supporting farmers affected by the protracted crisis in the Northeast, particularly in the states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe since 2016, with farm inputs to enable those with access to land continue with agriculture production during the rainy and dry seasons.
He said the objective of the programme was to support the displaced populations with food to eat as well as help rebuild the livelihoods distorted by the crisis.
He said the programme was supported by donor agencies and partners from different parts of the world, adding that this year’s rainy season intervention was supported by eight donor agencies and targeted vulnerable populations in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
He disclosed FAO had extended the support to more states, including Taraba and Sokoto, where farming communities were displaced by violent attacks in recent years.
“In Adamawa, 8,290 vulnerable households with access to land across five local councils of Michika, Madagali, Girei, Fufore, and Yola South are to be supported with quality seeds of maize, cowpea, ground nut, sesame, okra and amaranth, plus wet blended NPK fertiliser, 15:15:15,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the farming inputs for the purpose they are meant for, noting that FAO would keep track on all the beneficiaries to see the progress made and the impact of the intervention given them.
A beneficiary, Alhaji Musa Umar, commended FAO for the support. He warned that any beneficiary that diverted the grains for another purpose would face wrath of the community.
The Borno Government has announced the creation of Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Development to align its
Development strategy with Federal Government initiatives, and boost the state’s economic potential.
Gov. Babagana Zulum made the announcement on Tuesday during the swearing in of two commissioners at the council chambers of the Government House.
Zulum underscored the importance of livestock and fisheries as vital sectors with untapped revenue potential.
He emphasised that the new ministry would focus on high-yield livestock breeds, milk production and fisheries, targeting both domestic consumption and export opportunities.
The governor said that “no state government can make substantial money in livestock alone, but we believe with the right investment and political will, the sector can generate significant revenue.”
He said that the growing demand for milk by yogurt companies and the proximity of Maiduguri to Asian and Arab markets, are great opportunities for dairy exportation.
The governor, therefore, assigned the Deputy Governor, Dr Umar Kadafur, to oversee the activities of the new ministry, citing his practical experience and passion for livestock development.
He said “livestock development is not just about academic qualifications, it is about practice and the deputy governor has demonstrated capability in that regard.”
According to him, the ministry will prioritise procuring high-yielding livestock varieties, enhancing milk production and creating sustainable rural projects to support
Local communities.
He said that projects in Mafa, Gajiram and in Southern Borno will soon be launched under the new ministry’s purview.
The governor urged civil servants and ministry personnel to take ownership of the new initiative, adding that the ministry’s success would contribute to the states
Long-term economic stability and self-reliance.
The Port Harcourt Refinery, managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) has commenced operations after undergoing rehabilitation and modernisation.
The refinery with 210,000 bpd refining capacity located at Alesa, Eleme, in Port Harcourt, comprises two operational units which were established in 1965 and 1989.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the old plant refines a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd), while the new plant refines 150,000 bpd.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President, Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a 1.5 billion dollars loan to rehabilitate the facility which contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A, a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.
NAN) reports that Malam Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd. is leading the team to inspect the first lifting of petroleum product from the facility after its rehabilitation.
Alia appoints head of agric company, others
Gov. Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Akule as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Benue State Agricultural Development Company (ADC).
The governor also approved the appointment of Dr Aondoakaa Asambe as Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on Livestock Development and Animal Transboundary Disease Control.
The appointments were announced in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday.
According to the statement, the governor also appointed Mr Abraham Agogo as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Mobilisation.
The statement added that the appointments take immediate effect.
It said that Akule brings over 15 years of experience in agricultural systems, community development, research and development, and food processing.
He holds a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and is a Certified Fellow in Agricultural Systems Development under USAID and Lagos Business School.
Meanwhile, Asambe, a member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association and a registered veterinary surgeon with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, has been a lecturer at Federal University, Dutsima, for the past 12 years.
He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi).
He also holds a postgraduate degree in Food Animal Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Borno establishes Ministry of Livestock, Fishery Development
British High Commissioner seeks military, civilian efforts in tackling insecurity
Zulum swears in 2 new commissioners
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