News
Farmers Group querries FG for going cap-in-hand to war ravaged Ukraine for grains
***Says FG has made the country a laughing stock
***Launches Blockchain, Agbatoken to Revolutionalise Agriculture
A leading rural agriculture group, the Nigerian Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS) has blamed the Federal government for making Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations by going cap in hand to war ravaged Ukraine for food assistance.
Ukraine had donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat as emergency food assistance to 1.3 million vulnerable, crisis-affected people in northeast Nigeria.
The Managing Director/CEO NFGCS Ltd, Mr. Retson Tedheke said Nigeria is facing the embarrassment because its government failed to invest in Agriculture.
He spoke on Thursday at the launch of a new blockchain, Agbatoken, to revolutionalise agriculture in Nigeria at NFGCS Farm Estate, in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
“How is it that as a nation of 200million people Ukraine is now dashing us food? it is like a thousand needles piecing through our body, however it is because as a country we have not done enough with regards to our investments in agriculture.
“There is nothing that can be planted in Ukraine that cannot be planted here in Nigeria.
“I will use our estate as an example of how you can solve insecurity. This is pure village setting, traditional ruler of the village is sitting here. We have been here since 2017, no single Herders/farmers clash, no security challenge, no single kidnaping. This is because we did not focus on the sentiments, we focused on our reality.
“I am an ex militant from Niger Delta, we are here in the bush building what is going to be a revolution in agriculture in this country and across the globe because we refused to focus on the sentiment but look at the benefit of the process.
“Cowboy and Fulani herdsmen are the same person’s, why is it that the American Cowboy industry is a $500b industry and Nigeria Fulani industry is Fulanization, hausanization and islamization.
“We are focusing on the wrong issues and ignoring the right solutions. FCMB funded this farm to the tune of N200m and we are struggling to pay back
“Why would they want to fund another project when government pushed the burden of funding to the banks. Whereas in America government gives you money and say you must give it to the farmers with low or no interest.
“The reality is that government is not doing what they should do and so when it push the money to the commercial banks the banks are profit oriented, their own is to get money, government own is to support food security as well as security, government needs to do more.
“If it is not doing more you will have insecurity. Do you want farmers/Herders clash, banditry, kidnappers or you want food security?
“If America is subsidizing their farmers with $100b every year, if Egypt is doing equivalent of N4.5tr every year, Thailand is doing N3.5tr in subsidy why are you asking the banks to go and fund agriculture when government is the only one that have the capacity to lend limitlessly?
“To solve insecurity government must do its job, it is not enough to say Agbado, Agbado and later go back and say you cannot do development finance.
“The CBN must change directives and give commercial banks money, like N500m, and if they fail to give it to real agricultural companies they should be taxed but should be paid interest for giving to the farmers and enhancing food security so that we can have social security.
“So why are we doing with Agbatoken, there are farm estates like NFGCS, that are struggling.
“Agbatoken is tokenisation in agriculture, which combines productivity, effectiveness, security, transparency, and cost savings to improve productivity for agribusiness firms.
“It consists of generating tokens, encrypted records which will represent an asset traded on the blockchain.
He explained that Agbatoken involves representing real-world assets, like crops, livestock, infrastructure and land, as digital tokens on a blockchain.
He said these “tokens will be bought, sold, or traded, allowing farmers to raise capital by selling shares of their assets. This provides an innovative financial solution for farmers, enabling them to leverage their assets to obtain funds without losing ownership.
“We are using blockchain technology within the agricultural supply chain. This has become essential with the rising demand for food security, massive investments in food production, transparency in investments in the agricultural supply chain”.
“Today, many people are becoming interested in food production because food is life. The world needs food safety, sustainability, a desire to support the local economy, rural Infastructural development and workers’ rights.
Blockchain technology offers an unprecedented ability to massively produce food and in the process evolve food security and socio stability globally.
Agbadovolution Technologies Limited via Agbatoken is strongly committed to leveraging blockchain for a sustainable food production and global future that is socially stable. We want to ensure that our stakeholders and clients contribute to saving the world by feeding the world.
Retson explained that though the current landscape of blockchain in agriculture blockchain technology is still relatively new to the agricultural industry, but it is already making great strides.
“The Blockchain in the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Market Size is valued at $285Million in 2022 and is predicted to reach $7.3billion Million by the year 2031. This is an astounding growth, and for proponents of blockchain technology, it is extremely exciting.
“Remember, asset tokenization provides inclusive financial capabilities. The connection between food, people and asset tokenization is set to revolutionise agricultural productivity and it will start from Nigeria
**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.
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.
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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