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PDP claims palliatives are being diverted in Nasarawa, calls for probe

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From Daniel Abel, Lafia

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Nasarawa state chapter has accused the state government over diverting federal government paliative meant to alliviate the hardship of the poor citizens of the state.

The opposition PDP in the state urged the Federal government to quickly intervene and recover the money given to Nasarawa State government for palliatives meant to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the people.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the state Chairman of the party, comrade Francis Orogu which was made available to journalists in Lafia, the state capital.
The statement reads,
“Our attention has been drawn to the unwholesome diversion of the paliative and merciless shortchange of the poor people of our state by officials of the state government!

“This appeal has become urgent in order to ensure that the Federal Government’s noble decision to cushion the hardship Nigerians were facing does not become an avenue to line up the pockets of state government officials rather than help the poor.

“It is now clear that rather than apply the funds to purchase foodstuff and other items to help the people, the money has obviously been diverted while the citizens of the state were being given pitiable measures of food items and ridiculous amount that are an insult on the reputation of President Ahmed Tinubu.

Already the BBC Hausa service, which witnessed the so called distribution of items in Keffi Local Government Area of the state broadcast a report which has ridiculed the image of the Government of Nigeria because of the meager and miserly items given to whole families to feed on!

“The BBC Hausa Service carried reactions of widows, orphans, and the weak who cried out for help against the insult and ridicule the poor have been subjected to by the state government in the name of palliatives distribution.

“The whole process is obviously designed to turn the people against the President and the federal government as the meager items being distributed are blamed on the Federal Government, rather than the criminal diversion of the money given to the state government for this purpose.

‘It is obvious that even if the state government had utilized just N2 Billion a part of the N5 Billion given by the FGN to buy foodstuff for the poor in the state the impact would definitely be felt by the people.

“We are therefore constrained to draw the attention of the federal government to the unwholesome diversion of this money by the state government and the grains that security has since reported have been found being sold in markets.

“The decision of President Tinubu to reduce the hardship of Nigerians in the wake of the subsidy removal has now become an opportunity for the state government to line up the pockets of its officials!

“What is going on in Nasarawa state in the name of palliatives distribution calls for prompt action by President Tinubu to save his name and the reputation of his administration.

“As a party and as a people, we can not fold our arms and watch the good intention of the federal government to go down the drains.”

The PDP called on the federal government to urgently step up its monitoring mechanism to ensure that its pro poor policy is not derailed in Nasarawa state with a concomitant effect on the FCT.
“We suggest a constitution of a special task force made up of workers’ unions and civil society, among others, to handle the distribution of palliatives in Nasarawa state.

“How can a family of more than 10 go home with 2 measures of corn in the face of the kind of hardships we are in? This is what is going on in our state. It is a shame and a scandal, the PDP further queried.

The opposition party in the state urged the Federal Government to set up a distribution committee compressing the NLC, NUJ, Pensioners, ASUU, NCWS, organized CSOs and other critical stakeholders if the Federal Government is serious and concerned with the plight of the people, especially in Nasarawa sttate.

It also called on Tinubu led administration to urgently tackle the involvement of the state government and its handpicked officials in the scandalous distribution of the food items and money, which has been unscrupulously hijack.

The PDP however recalled that throughout the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari the Billions given to Nasarawa state to help the poor ended in the pockets of state government Officials as majority of our people never got anything.

It also alleged that a number of buses were gathered and commissioned by the president under the present administration in the state only for the buses to disappear without trace after the public and media display.
“We have noticed a similar pattern on the matter of these palliatives in the state.

Orogu urged the Tinubu administration to therefore, end this vicious circle of official theft in the name of palliatives in Nasarawa state for the sake of widows, orphans, and the poor!

“It is a pity that the government could divert monies meant for widows, orphans, and the poor. But that is the ugly reality in Nasarawa state.” Orogu concluded.

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News from Nasarawa

FG, ACReSAL disburse $250, 000 loan to 10 farming communities in Nasarawa

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From Daniel Abel Lafia

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Sunday flagged off the disbursement of $250, 000 World Bank facilitated Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) loan to farmers from 10 communities in the state.

The project is a World Bank assisted in collaboration with the federal government and Nasarawa state.

Speaking at the event in Doma Local Government Area (LGA) the governor indicated that the disbursement was in line with the vision of the state and Federal Government to support farmers to boost their productive activities on farm.

Sule added that the state government had recently distributed 23 tractors and farm inputs to 10, 000 farmers in the state to support farming.

The Governor explained that the ACReSAL loan is a revolving and interest free to farmers aimed at boosting agricultural output and improving the livelihood of the beneficiaries.

According to him, the 10 benefiting communities were from Doma and Toto Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The governor added that climate change has brought so many challenges to the environment as well as the livelihood of farmers.

He said that his administration would continue to collaborate with partners to provide resources and support that would cushion the effect of climate change and tackle poverty in the state.

“To this end, We are partnering with the Federal Government, World Bank through ACReSAL project help vulnerable communities to adopt to the impact of climate change.

“We expect this support to lead to food security, improve income of the communities and generate employment.

“Enhance farmers and communities capacity for climate smart agriculture through technology and innovation and enhance understanding of sustainable agricultural practices to help address conflicts,” Sule added.

Gov. Sule expressed appreciation for the selection of Nasarawa State among the right piloting states for the scheme.

He said that the state government would support farmers to implement community climate resilient initiatives beyond the lifespan of the ACReSAL project.

He therefore urged the beneficiaries to utilise the funds for the purpose it was meant for.

On her part, Dr Joy Iganya-Agene- Task Team Leader ACReSAL said that 620 farmers comprising 367 male and 253 female from the 10 communities of the two LGAs were given the free interest agricultural loan.

Iganya-Agene who is also a Senior Environmental Specialist World Bank Nigeria Office, listed the communities in Doma to includes Ohiha, Madative, Odurigya, Yalwa and Alagye, while those from Toto are; Zolo, Umasha, Dereegba, Ayiwawa, and Sere.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Aliyu Ogah, Andoma of Doma expressed gratitude to the state government and the organisation for the gesture to farmers in his domain.

The royal father expressed optimism that the support would help toward improving productivity of farmers in the benefiting communities.

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News from Nasarawa

Investment summit; Gov. Sule showcases economic potentials of Nasarawa state

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From Daniel Abel, Lafia

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has unveiled the economic potentials of the State to investors at the ongoing “Nasarawa Investment Summit 2024”
In his welcome address at the event the Governor declared that the state is housing several mineral resources that have attracted huge investors already.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained effort in driving the Nigerian economy to prosperity and his unalloyed loyalty and continued support in order to take the country to greater heights.

“It is pertinent to remind you that Nasarawa State organised the first edition of the Nasarawa Investment Summit in 2022 under the theme “Diamond in the Rough: The Making of a New Investment Frontier”aimed at ushering investment and showcasing our mineral resources to potential investors.

“I am happy to state that the outcome of the Summit informed the influx of investors into the State who are variously harnessing our God-given endowment.

“Interestingly, the recently commissioned Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited in Nasarawa State performed by Mr. President, the ASGARD Mining and Processing Plant, Karu, the Nasarawa Technology Village Project in Karu, as well as other numerous investments being carried out in the State were all informed by the outcome of the Summit conducted in 2022.

“It is also heartwarming to state that the Federal Government commissioned the spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Oil Well in Obi Local Government Area of the State.

“The discovery of Oil and Gas and its subsequent exploration and exploitation will further boost the economy prosperity of our dear country and put Nasarawa State among the comity of Oil producing States.

“I, therefore, call on the investors on Oil and Gas to take opportunity of the exploration activities to begin to invest in the sector for the benefit of the society.

Sule however assured that his administration would continue to fully utilise potentials of the state resources by sustaining the Investment Summit in order to further showcase other solid mineral resources which are yet to be identified by interested investors.

“This is why the theme of this year’s Summit is deliberately coined as “The Industrial Renaissance”, having built some of the key fundamentals required to drive our industrial agenda and present other minerals to our potential investors.

The governor noted the summit will further expand the existing pathways to leverage on the industrial, agricultural and mining sectors towards enhancing inclusive and sustainable wealth creation and economic prosperity of the state.

“It is pertinent to point out that, as a State, we have been deliberate in stimulating our economy, building human capacities, creating wealth and generate employment to our people.

“It is for this reason that we have adopted our policy document christened “Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS)” as a driving force towards the initiation and implementation of various programmes and policies which we have achieved so far.

Sule stated that with the assemblage of the experienced and versatile resource persons the outcome of the Summit will go a long way towards actualizing the dream of industrializing Nasarawa State and position it as a leading champion.

Mr. Sule called on development partners to continue to invest in Nasarawa State with the view to open the frontiers of economic prosperity for the benefit of all, noting that “Nasarawa mean business”

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News from Nasarawa

Insubordination: Governor Sule reads riot act to political appointees

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From Daniel Abel, Lafia

Apparently piqued by the level of disloyalty and insubordination being displayed by political appointees in governor Abdullahi Sule’s cabinet ahead of 2027, the governor has read the riot act for those who may dare him.

Sule gave the indication in a letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Barrister Mohammed Ubandoma dated April 16th, 2024.

According to the letter, “political appointees seeking to run for any political office are advised to either resign their appointments or wait until the lifting of the existing ban on political activities by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“While noting with dismay how some political office holders under the present administration are actively participating in political activities, including active campaign, Sule noted that such elements and conducts is capable of breaching the electoral act, as well as distracting the focus of his administration.

Sule who could no longer cope with outrageous drumming of support to persons that are not his anointed candidate for 2027, warned that such appointees maybe shown the way out of his cabinet if they persist.

He warned that his administration would no longer condone such acts of disloyalty and insubordination from political appointees.

The governor who felt demeaned and distracted with only one year into the second tenure stated that he is focused on the delivery of infrastructural development, economic empowerment, and sustainable development of the state.

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