News
Bagudu, Kyari, blame subsidy removal, insecurity, Naira redesign for Food insecurity

The Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu has raised issues on the challenges facing agriculture which he said is not only limited to the insecurity but the high cost of fuel.
Making his remarks at an
interactive session with the Senate Committees on Finance,
Appropriations, Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions he said if care is not taken, there are some five local Governments in the North where 70% of the cultivation may not be possible because of fuel cost.
“From our perspectives particularly from Budget and planning, there are places today in about 18 states in the country where you can still Plant rice for the dry season farming, including the constituency of the chairman of the National planning, but in 5 local governments, where if care is not taken not for reasons of insecurity, 70% of the planted area might not be planted because of fuel cost.
He said the same thing in the constituency of senator Adamu Aliero in a number of places.
“So the balancing of the reforms and ensuring the necessary measures have been implemented urgently in order to ensure that we even support the reforms and the commendable act of removing fuel subsidy needs to be supported by measures that support domestic production in other to achieve the full impact and benefit.”
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari on his part said the issue of food security, which is availability, affordability of food are being challeged.
He attributed the first challenge to COVID19 which impacted on Agriculture and all other sectors.
At the same time he said the flooding of 2021, and also the Naira redesign of 2022, 2023 at the point of harvest when government came up with the policy of redesigning of Naira really impacted on the availability of cash.
“Early 2023 when farmers were just preparing for planting they had no cash anywhere.
“Access to capital for farmers is very key, in addition an exiting Government did not plan to do wet season cultivation for 2023, I don’t think there was any impact or any intervention against the 2023 cultivation and that also impacted on the quantum of harvest in 2023.
“We have had two programs, one is the wheat program in which Jigawa has a lot of impact and 14 other states but the second phase of rice that is just about to roll out now is being challenged now in terms of fuel and in terms of input because we have seen some of the challenges that the farmers face in the 2023 wheat program even though government subsidized imput by 50% it was a tall order for farmers to come up with their own portion.
“So what we are trying to do is to bridge that gap, we dont want to make it a situation where it will be viewed as the other programs in the past where they felt it as a largess.
He said there are farmers that are ready to go back to farm they are excited about it but there are challenges in security and even fuel cost.
However, he said they are trying to work assiduously with the Ministry of Finance, as the president had already given them his support on the second phase.
“We intend to do between 100 and 250 hectares for rice alone in the dry season farming for the short Medium Term. Let me say for the short term there is scarcity of paddy and scarcity of maize.
“The next phase we have about 50000 hectares for maize to cultivate in the dry season now. Luckily with maize you can do multiple cropping when there is irrigation but what we are faced with today is the undocumented exports of food to our neighboring countries.
“Today the 1Cefas is N2.50 that is to say 100cefa is 2200. That use to be N400 some few years ago. When you look at our neighboring countries, all 4 neighboring countries around us the Cefas which is hard currency and because of the devaluation of the Naira our food is the cheapest round the neighborhood.
“So you find a lot of undocumented exports, smuggling across our porous borders to these neighboring countries.
“In addition, the other angle that we have over the period is the unavailability of foreign exchange. A lot of investors, be it Indian, Chinese, Turkeys who are operating in this country buy our crops that are sought after outside, like soya beans and sesame and buy it at exorbitant price just to earn foreign exchange and the worst part is most of these monies are not repatriated back to us.
“Export is a good thing for us but when you don’t earn the foreign exchange and it is not repatriated back to us, and government dont have any income from it, I am sorry that is not a good sign.
“So what we are trying to do here is we are trying to ramp up production, I think it is an issue of economics between supply and demand but unfortunately we have to see how we can secure food for our 230m citizens.
“At the same time if this economic situation continues then you have to seal up the border which is against the ECOWAS issue or produce for the whole of West Africa, that is the unfortunate thing but if we can secure the land and have farmers go back to the farm I am sure we can do it, we have 70m heaters available in Nigeria so these are the challenges that we find ourselves in.
However, he expressed especially but his ministry would soon roll out dry season farming between the next 8 to 10 days. He said they would achieve that with the help of the President and the coordinating minister of the economy
He said they want to support the farmers for the dry season farming.
News
CUPP lampoon Reps over move to investigate Ugochinyere, others for visit to Fubara

**Calls for reversal of the ill-informed Move by the House of reps
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has Condemned the attempt by the House of Representatives to refer Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and other members to the Committee On Ethics for probe over their Solidarity Visit to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Fifty members of the House of Representatives hadq paid a solidarity visit to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to celebrate his one year in office.
The lawmakers, who consist of members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Labour Party ( LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) also include the spokesman of opposition coalition, in the House, Ikenga Ugochinyere..
Ugochinyere had explained on the sideline of the thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt that federal lawmakers were in Rivers to solidarilize with Fubara and celebrate with him on his one year of transformational leadership.
But the House had referred the Honourable members to the Committee on Ethics for disciplinary action over their visit
However, the chairman,
Media Committee of the
Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Chief Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika in a statement has tackled the leadership of the House for the action which he said clearly cast doubt on its integrity in the observance and or adherence to the laws which they enact/promulgate.
“Relying on the point of order/ privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi of the All Progressives Congress, Plateau State to arrive at such decision is erroneous and grossly misleading.
“The House, by this very action, has impugned on the integrity and sacredness of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) especially Sections 39 and 40 which guarantee Freedom of Expression and the Press as well as that of Peaceful Assembly and Association respectively.
“We, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), hereby call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to, without further delay retract its ongoing steps in the purported probe of these Honourable members by its Ethics Committee and not engage in any act that may violate the fundamental rights of its members or any member of the public.
News
Kano Police counter reports that Emir Bayero will lead Jumma’t prayer

the Kano State Police Command has countered reports that Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano, where Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, Emir of Kano, leading prayer at the moment.
The reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have been laying claim to the throne, creating confusion in the city.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had dethroned Ado Bayero and asked him to hand over within 48 hours.
But the dethroned monarch in defiance returned to the town under military protection and has been operating from the mini palace since then.
In a statement by Abdullahi Kiyawa, spokesman of Kano Police Command, said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
“The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.”
The emirate tussle has continued to linger since the reinstatement of Sanusi and dissolution of the five emirates.
There have been cnflicting court orders for and against
Based on the conflicting orders, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, had summoned the head of the Federal High high Court and Kano Chief Judge.
The Police statement reads,
KANO STATE POLICE COMMAND
31ST MAY, 2024
The Kano State Police Command is hereby advising all residents to disregard the false information circulating on social media that Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano.
2. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
3. The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
4. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.
SP ABDULLAHI HARUNA KIYAWA, ANIPR, MNISMA,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KANO STATE COMMAND.
News
Royal turbulence gets messier as emirs Sanusi II, Bayero move to hold prayer at Palace Mosque

As the royal turbulence continue to shake the foundation of the city of Kano, the ancient city is tension soaked as the two contending Emirs- the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have indicated their determination to hold Jumaat prayers at the Palace Central Mosque.
A press statement issued Thursday night, signed by Danburan Kano, Munir Sanusi Bayero, spelt out the itinerary of the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II to the Mosque to lead the Jumaat Prayers.
The statement explained that Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, who resides in the Palace, and is closer to the contending Mosque, is expected to lead the two rakat Friday prayers.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has been leading the Jumaat Prayers at the Palace Central Mosque as the Amir of the City, a statement explained.
The statement by Danburan invited Kano residents to come and listen to the sermon to be delivered by the Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
However, another statement from an aide of the deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero invited residents to join him at the Emir’s Palace Friday Mosque to observe the Juma’at prayer.
It stated that the movement to the Emir’s Palace Mosque starts at 12.30 pm.
However, the police are yet to comment on the development.
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