Business
Fadama 111:Farmers Adopt New Farming Techniques
Nigerian farmers have adopted 57 new farming technologies under the FADAMA 111 programme, Dr Adetunji Oredipe of the World Bank has said.
Oredipe, the World Bank FADAMA Team Leader, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, recently.
He said the technologies were adopted by 30,300 farmers across the FADAMA 111 implementing states, adding that the beneficiaries were made up of 23,153 males and 7,143 females.
Oredipe said that the North Central embraced the highest number of 18 new technologies, while South West had two.
“Some of the new technologies include waste to wealth, liquid organic manure preparation and usage as well as solar powered board scare and dryers.
“A total of 40,062 farmers also received extension services from the Agricultural Development Prorammes (ADPs) and the North West region had the highest number of 16,640 and the North East with the lowest of 3,630,’’ he said.
The team leader, who commended the Federal Government for the proper implementation of FADAMA 111, said that plans were ongoing to support the National Seed Council (NASC) to undertake seed regulatory activities.
Oredipe said that the programme would also support the National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) to upgrade the existing Seed Genebank in Zaria.
Seed Genebank Unit is one of the major units of National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB).
The unit is saddled with the responsibility of acquisition, managing, conservation, distribution, regeneration, characterisation and utilisation of orthodox seeds.
He said there would also be renovation of the council’s seed laboratories in Zaria, Sheda, and Abuja, as well as the construction of five space unit’s office block in Zaria.
Oredipe told newsmen that there was also a synergy between the project and the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) to establish community base seed system to bridge the gap of supply and demand.
Tayo Adewumi, who also spoke to newsmen, said that the National Project Coordinator, Fadama III Project, noted that the World Bank had commended implementation of the North East Food Security and Livelihood Support Project (NEFSLAP).
He said that the direct beneficiaries of the project across the six states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe were the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS).
According to Adewunmi, on the average, the project is expected to reach out to 24,000 household’s direct beneficiaries with 192,000 indirect beneficiaries within 600 communities across the six states.
He said the 50 million dollars project being executed through the Fadama III Project-Additional Financing was aimed at encouraging North-East IDPs to go back to their base in order to continue to farm.
The national coordinator said the project had assisted in building the capacities of the beneficiaries, while adequate training on rehabilitation in terms of training provides improved seeds and application of modern technologies is ongoing.
“Women are also part of the major targets of the project, as the funds would support the women in areas of agro-processing equipment and the necessary support for good agronomy practices.
“To ensure effective application of modern day technology and capacity building, the project has provided in house consultants,’’ he said.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.