Agriculture
SON Seizes N3bn Fake Products
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON), has said that its on-going war against sub-standard and fake products has let to the removal from circulation counterfeit products worth N2.75 billion and the destruction of about N6 million products in the last few months.
The Director General of SON, Joseph Odumodu who disclosed this to The Tide source in Abuja recently also raised an alarm that there are over 40 million fake tyres adding that those seized and destroyed included electrical cables, automatic voltable regulator, over 5 million tyres, children’s toys, agricultural products among others.
The Director General hinted that the SON bill in the National Assembly which has gone through the second reading stipulates forfeiture of properties apart from different years of jail terms for fake products dealers and importers.
He said the agency was battle ready for the unscrupulous importers and hinted that SON would from this month take the battle to the doorsteps of the fake products sellers as the organisation’s task force would begin remove offensive products from different shops across the country.
Re-emphasising the zero-tolerance stance for fake and substandard products by the agency Odumodu said Nigeria and Nigerains were always the losers in the battle because the money used for such product that eventually got destroyed would have been used to develop other parts of the economy.
He noted that on the other hand if such products escaped being seized by the authority and found their way into the market and are used for a building that either collapsed or led to fire outbreak resulting to death and destruction, the country would be at the receiving end.
While warning that there were over 40 million fake tyres in circulation according to a recent survey conducted, the DG said that his organisation would go after the sellers of those tyres and bring them to book.
He said unscrupulous importers do not escape the wrath of the law and threatened to close down any market where there was resistance.
“We are stepping forward by July 16 to remove offensive products from the market, were we will meet them fire for fire.
“We want to create an inconvenient environment for master of death, we have the support of the president and that of the minister that is why we are not looking back”, he assured.
He vowed that if there was any resistance from the traders or any attempt to stop them from removing any fake products, we will close the market”, he said.
Speaking further on the bill before the National Assembly, the Director General said “if you indulge in the act of fake products importing or sales, you will apart from going to jail, forfeit whatever you have acquired as properties, becasue it will be assumed that all what you have is through ill gotten wealth”, he said.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
