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President Tinubu Declares State Of Emergency On Food Security

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  • Orders release of grains to households 

Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared a state of emergency on food security.

Dele Alake, special adviser to the president on special duties, communications and strategy, made the disclosure to state house correspondents on Thursday after a meeting Tinubu had with stakeholders on agriculture and food production value-chain.

He said the president is not unmindful of the rising cost of food and how it affects the citizens.

Disclosing the details of the presidential intervention on food security, food pricing and sustainability to journalists, Alake explained that measures in the action plan will include an immediate release of fertilisers and grains to farmers and households to ease the pains of the petrol subsidy removal.⁣

He said the president has approved that all matters pertaining to food and water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the national security council (NSC).

“As a direct and immediate response to this crisis, a number of initiatives will be deployed in the coming weeks to reverse this inflationary trend and guarantee future uninterrupted supplies of affordable foods to ordinary Nigerians,” Alake said.

“As with most emergencies, there are immediate, medium- and long-term interventions and solutions.

“In the immediate term, we intend to deploy some savings from the fuel subsidy removal into the Agricultural sector focusing on revamping the agricultural sector.

“In an earlier meeting with Agriculture Stakeholders (today), we drafted a memorandum of partnership between the government and the individual stakeholder representatives that encompasses the decisions taken and actions proposed from our engagements.

“The immediate intervention strategies are as follows:

1. We will immediately release fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.

2. There must be an urgent synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is produced all-year round.

As a country, Mr. President has made it clear that we cannot be comfortable with seasonal farming. We can no longer afford to have farming down times.

3. We shall create and support a National Commodity Board that will review and continuously assess food prices as well as maintain a strategic food reserve that will be used as a price stabilisation mechanism for critical grains and other food items.

“Through this board, government will moderate spikes and dips in food prices.”

The special adviser said the board would consist of stakeholders from the National Commodity Exchange (NCX), seed companies, National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) research institutes, NIRSAL microfinance bank, food processing/ agric processing associations, among others.

“We will engage our security architecture to protect the farms and the farmers so that farmers can return to the farmlands without fear of attacks,” Alake said.

“The Central Bank will continue to play a major role of funding the agricultural value chain.

“Activation of land banks. There is currently 500,000 hectares of already mapped land that will be used to increase availability of arable land for farming which will immediately impact food output.

“Mechanization and land clearing- The government will also collaborate with mechanization companies to clear more forests & make them available for farming.

“River basins- there are currently 11 river basins that will ensure planting of crops during the dry season with irrigation schemes that will guarantee continuous farming production all year round, to stem the seasonal glut and scarcity that we usually experience.

“We will deploy concessionary capital/funding to the sector especially towards fertilizer, processing, mechanization, seeds, chemicals, equipment, feed, labour, etc.”

He listed other interventions that the government will put in place to tackle the food crisis to include exploring better means of transportation and storage; increasing revenue from food and agricultural exports; and trade facilitation.

BIG STORY

Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with D’Banj, Queen Salawa Abeni, Reminisce, And More

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Legendary comedian Gbenga Adeyinka is set to host the much-anticipated third edition of his comedy show, Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming, on November 17, 2024.

The event will take place at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, promising an unforgettable night of laughter and entertainment.

The lineup features a mix of iconic comedians and musicians, including Omobaba No.1, Gandoki, Dr. Smile, Bash, Queen Salawa Abeni, Reminisce, and a host of surprise acts, with D’Banj headlining the show.

Gbenga Adeyinka remarked, “Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming will be the biggest comedy show of the year! We’ve curated an incredible roster of iconic headliners, and I’m excited to bring this level of entertainment to Lagos.”

Laffmattazz has cemented its place as a leading comedy brand, showcasing Nigeria’s finest comedic talent. This year’s event is poised to outdo its predecessors, featuring performances from Akpororo, Forever, Seriki Dariya, Princephelar, Dee One, Taooma, Baba Alariya, Madiba of Comedy, ATM, and more.

The night will also include musical performances by Tee Famous, The Countryman, Dami Cruz, and others, with DJ Wiki spinning on the decks.

 

Event Details:

– Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024

– Time: Red Carpet (3:00 PM), Show Start (5:00 PM)

– Venue: Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos

 

Ticket Information:

– Regular: ₦7,000

– VIP: ₦20,000

– Table of 8 Gold: ₦1.5 million

– Table of 8 Platinum: ₦3 million

 

Purchase Tickets at:

1. Ile Iyan by PODs, GRA Ikeja

2. Ofada Boy, Surulere

3. Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki

 

Online Tickets Available at:

1. Ariiyatickets.com

2. Grandtickets.ng

3. Laffmattazz.ng

 

For ticket purchases, sponsorships, inquiries, and collaboration opportunities, please contact: (+234) 08156111111.

 

Brought to you by: Maltina, Goldberg, Ace Roots, Goldberg Black

Supported by: Parralex Bank, Enclave Green Homes, FIRS, Lagos State Government.

Media Partners: African Magic, Royal Roots Cinema, Hip TV, Views Channel, Vybz FM, Ibrand TV, Rapid Broadcasting Network, City FM, Jordan FM, Rainbow FM, Mainland FM, Boom Radio, TVC, Kennis FM, Beat FM

Outdoor Partners: Nimbus Media, FPL Media, Folham, Media Crush, Elev8 Media

 

Stay updated by following Laffmattazz on social media @laffmattazz_ga1st for the latest news and behind-the-scenes content.

Don’t miss this epic comedy event! Secure your tickets now and join the conversation online using #LaffmattazzLagos3rdComing #GbengaAdeyinka.

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BIG STORY

AfDB Approves $100m For Establishment Of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank In Nigeria

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The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $100 million for the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Nigeria.

Akinwunmi Adesina, president of the AfDB, made the announcement while delivering a keynote address at the 90th birthday lecture of former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, in Abuja.

“I am delighted to announce here today that just three days ago, the African Development Bank’s board of directors approved $100m for the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank for Nigeria,” Adesina said.

He emphasized that the initiative reflects the AfDB’s commitment to supporting Nigerian youths, who are vital to the country’s development.

The bank will provide technical assistance, business incubation, quasi-equity, and debt to youth businesses.

It will also offer guarantee instruments to de-risk lending to these businesses by financial institutions.

Adesina added, “It will be a new day and a new dawn for Nigeria.” He also stated that this initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision and plans for the youth in Nigeria.

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BIG STORY

Court Threatens To Jail DSS DG Ajayi For Disobeying Order On Access To Nnamdi Kanu

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A federal high court in Abuja has cautioned Adeola Ajayi, the director-general (DG) of the Department of State Services (DSS), against defying the court’s order for Nnamdi Kanu’s visitation rights.

Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been held in DSS custody since his re-arrest in Kenya and extradition to Nigeria in 2021.

He is facing trial on a seven-count charge, including treasonable felony.

Kanu’s legal team has repeatedly accused the DSS of denying its members access to their client.

The court had directed the DSS to allow Kanu’s legal team, with a maximum of five people, to visit him on designated days.

On Friday, the registrar of the federal high court in Abuja issued “form 48 notice of consequences of disobedience to the order of court” against DSS director-general.

The notice warned the DSS boss that he would be guilty of contempt of court and would be liable to imprisonment if he disobeyed the court-ordered visitations.

“Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order (see overleaf), by allowing the applicant’s counsel to conduct the court-ordered visitations with the applicant on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison,” the notice reads.

  • Kanu’s Lawyers Threaten To Sue Ajayi

In a statement on Friday, Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to the IPOB leader, said if Ajayi disobeyed the court order, the defence team would file contempt charges against him.

“This notice is necessitated by the repeated disobedience of the court-ordered visitation of Mazi Kanu by the newly appointed Director-General of the State Security Services (Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi), who has, for almost a month, not allowed Mazi Kanu’s lawyers to visit him,” the statement reads.

“To be clear, this notice is a quasi-criminal judicial process that forewarns any person disobeying a court order of the penal consequences of such misconduct.

“Therefore, if the Director-General of DSS persists on this ignoble path, he will leave us with no other option than to commence vigorous contempt proceedings against him.”

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