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The Federal Government has unveiled a plan to crash food prices within the next 180 days.

The plan was unveiled by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, on Wednesday.

According to Kyari, the government will suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes on food imports, including maize, rice, wheat, and cowpeas, for 150 days.

Additionally, 250,000 metric tons of wheat and maize will be imported and supplied to small-scale processors and millers nationwide.

The government will also engage stakeholders to set a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) and purchase surplus food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve. Furthermore, the government will ramp up production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle, support smallholder farmers, and promote agricultural mechanization.

Other measures include strategic engagement with youth and women for greenhouse cultivation, collaboration with the Nigerian Military to cultivate arable lands, and promotion of fortified food commodities. A Ministry of Livestock Development has also been created to prioritize livestock development.

The Minister however said the success of these measures depends on cooperation from all relevant stakeholders.

He said, “The success of these measures hinges on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant MDAs and stakeholders.

“As our nation confronts this critical food security challenge, I reiterate President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to achieving food security and ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.

“My team and I will work swiftly and diligently to actualize these crucial policies, ensuring food security for everyone in the immediate term while continuing our strategies for long-term interventions to address underlying causes and ensure sustainable and resilient food systems in Nigeria.”

The House of Representatives has raised concerns over unrelated expenditures by the Ministry of Women Affairs, led by Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye.

The expenditures include N45 million for a New Year party, N20 million for sanitary pads, and N1.5 million for vehicle fuel.

Kafilat Ogbara, chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, led the interrogation, focusing on the non-payment of N1.5 billion to contractors despite the release of funds.

interrogation, focusing on the non-payment of N1.5 billion to contractors despite the release of funds.

Ogbara stated that the investigative hearing aimed to uncover the truth and was not intended as a witch-hunt against the minister and ministry officials.

The committee’s investigation followed a petition from contractors alleging the diversion of funds meant for their payments.

During the hearing, the committee also sought clarification on funds appropriated for the African First Lady’s mission and the whereabouts of the N1.5 billion intended for contractor payments.

Kennedy-Ohaneye denied allegations of misappropriation, overspending, and non-payment to contractors.

However, the ministry’s procurement officer confirmed the contractors’ claims, and the director of finance and administration acknowledged that only approved contracts had been paid.

The committee had previously summoned the minister to explain the rationale behind the non-payment.

Following the revelations, the committee ordered the ministry to halt all 2024 contract processes until the whereabouts of the missing funds are determined.

A member of the House of Representatives, Olajide Akinremi, is dead.

Mr Akinremi, popularly known as Jagaban, passed away on Wednesday but the cause of death is still unknown.

Until his death, Mr Akinremi represented Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State.

As it is the tradition of the National Assembly, plenary and committee activities are to be suspended to allow members mourn and honour their colleague.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has said that in the coming months, herders and traders move their cows from northern Nigeria to the country’s southern region using rail services.

NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this on ChannelsTV on Wednesday, July 10.

His comments came few hours after President Bola Tinubu announced the creation of a new ministry for livestock development.

Okhiria said the movement of cows and other goods would resume with the Warri-Itakpe route.

The NRC, famous for passenger traffic, had in 2017 suspended the movement of cattle by train following technical hitches.

However, Okhiria said in a matter of one or two months, herders would be able to move their cattle on the Warri-Itakpe train services.

He said the NRC would modernise the movement of goods in the country “so that when they come by road from the north, they can move them by rail to South-South Warri”.

Okhiria said the NRC has brought in some wagons that can mobilise livestock and they are being assembled in the Kajola area of Oyo State in the South-West.

“We’ve built 15 wagons for livestock and maybe in the next month or two months, they would be deployed from Itakpe to Warri to drive the economy,” the NRC boss stated.

He said investment in railways should be for the social and economic benefits of the people and not profit-oriented in naira and kobo.

“You are not developing transportation because you want to make profit in terms of naira and kobo but the profit will come indirectly if we can move goods and link cities,” he said.

According to him, the indirect earnings might not be directly to the government, but it would flow into the economy.

Okhiria said investment in rail infrastructure should be for the public good and to make lives comfortable for the masses to have a robust and vibrant economy.

President Bola Tinubu has created created the Ministry of Livestock Development.

The ministry’s creation was announced during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope livestock Reform Implementation Committee established to address the issue of farmers-herders crisis.

Present at the Inauguration were the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, amongst other cabinet members.

Recall that President Tinubu in September, 2023, approved the establishment of the Presidential Committee dedicated to the reform of the livestock industry and the provision of long-term solutions to recurring clashes between herders and farmers in the country.

This followed the submission of a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) had tasked the president to create livestock ministry.

Alhaji Baba Usman Ngelzarma, MACBAN president, made the demand last month, saying pastoralists were looking for the creation of a full-blown ministry for livestock.

‘‘The entire livestock value chain issues can be addressed holistically rather than what is going on now at the National Assembly, working to create a bill for Animal Husbandry or Ranching. Ranching is just an aspect of livestock instead of going for ranching why can’t the president create a pool-blown ministry for livestock so that all the value chain related to livestock issues can be addressed holistically by that ministry?

‘‘Issues of production, processing, marketing, transportation even security related issues can be addressed if there is a ministry dedicated for that purpose,’’ Ngelzarma had said.

Following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by 88 members, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement until all controversial clauses are thoroughly addressed and clarified.

Representative Aliyu Madaki, who moved the motion during today’s plenary, called his colleague’s attention to a particular clause on “gender equality,” describing it as a potential “Trojan horse” that could contravene the country’s moral values.

He said the clause has raised significant concerns, with critics interpreting it as a possible recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights, which conflicts with Nigeria’s strict anti-same-sex marriage laws enacted in 2014 under then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The House, therefore, tasked its relevant committees to investigate the controversial provisions of the agreement to ensure they align with Nigeria’s constitutional, religious, and cultural values.

The Samoa Agreement, signed between Nigeria and the European Union, aims to enhance food security and foster inclusive economic development among other critical areas.

However, its provisions have sparked a wave of online backlash, primarily focused on the perceived inclusion of LGBT rights.

At a press conference on Saturday, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, alongside the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, reassured the public that Nigeria would not enter into any agreement that contradicts the constitution or the cultural and religious sensibilities of its diverse population.

The Samoa Agreement, signed last November by the European Union, its 27 member states, and 79 member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), aims to equip the parties better to address global challenges such as climate change, ocean governance, migration, health, peace, and security.

Nigeria signed the agreement on June 28, 2024, although it only came to public attention recently following Minister Bagudu’s disclosure.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command said a man identified as Shuaibu Yushau has been arrested and detained for attempted suicide.

Yushau climbed a broadcast mast owned by Aso Television and Radio in the Katampe area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Monday.

The man had climbed the mast to protest against insecurity and hardship in the country.

The FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in a statement, said Yushau confessed that he had been observing the mast for about a week before deciding to climb.

The statement was titled, “Aso Radio Mast climbing: Man arrested for attempted suicide.”

She said, “Following a distress call from concerned citizens about a young man who climbed a very high mast with a placard at ASO Radio in Katampe at about 09:10 a.m, the operatives of the FCT Police Command swiftly mobilised to the location.

“With much professional persuasion from the police operatives, the man later identified as Shuaibu Alhaji Yushau was prevented from taking his own life.

“He claimed to have been observing the mast for about a week before deciding to climb it. The suspect is presently in police custody and a stable condition.”

A man has climbed a broadcast mast on Katampe Hill in Abuja, vowing to sacrifice his life for the nation’s pressing issues. His demands include:

Restoration of Fuel Subsidy: He calls on the government to reinstate the fuel subsidy to alleviate economic burdens on Nigerians.

State of Emergency on Insecurity: Immediate action is demanded in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Niger, and Borno to combat terrorism and restore peace.

Open Borders for Food Importation: To tackle the food shortage crisis, he urges the government to open borders for food imports.

Addressing Out-of-School Children: He highlights the urgent need for solutions to the growing number of out-of-school children.

He pleads for fellow Nigerians to join his cause, emphasizing his readiness to sacrifice his life for these critical issues.

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