The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has distributed agricultural inputs as grants, to 9,170 beneficiaries, under the FCT Fadama CARES programme, within one year of President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, disclosed this while inaugurating the distribution of the grant to the fourth batch of 6,020 beneficiaries in Gwagwalada on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the inputs distributed included fertilisers, seeds, agrochemicals, sprayers and personal protective equipment for crop farmers.
Also distributed were day old chicks and feeds to poultry farmers; juvenile fish and feeds for fish farmers; goats for livestock farmers and grinding machines for women agriculture products processors.
Mahmoud explained that 3,150 farmers had benefited in the third phase in December 2023, to support dry season farming, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 9,170 in one year.
This, according to her, represents a 216 per cent achievement when compared with the disbursement of the grant to 4,233 beneficiaries in about two years, prior to Tinubu administration.
She said that the FCT Fadama CARES programme, under the Work Bank-supported Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), was designed to increase food security and safe functioning of the food supply chain in the FCT.
“The programme is deliberately designed to support the recovery of livelihood activities of poor and vulnerable persons engaged in agricultural value chains, with special consideration to women and unemployed youths.
“Its implementation will be anchored on the World Bank community driven development approach for deployment of programme investments at the community level,” she said.
The minister described the programme as a significant indicator of the unflinching commitment of President Tinubu, towards ensuring sustainable food production through his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She added that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike-led FCT Administration, had committed significant resources towards ensuring sustainable agriculture production in line with the vision of Tinubu.
This, according to her, is a panacea for poverty reduction and improvement of livelihoods for poor and vulnerable agricultural households in the FCT, through the FCT Fadama CARES programme.
“This, indeed, is a clear indication of our administration’s commitment towards ensuring sustainable agricultural production for the attainment of food and nutritional security, poverty reduction and improved livelihoods.”
Mahmoud also disclosed that the FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat was leveraging the Fadama CARES programme to provide starter packs to 94 trainees of FCT – Leventis Foundation School of Agriculture, Yaba, for years 2022 and 2023.
“This is part of the youth empowerment component of the Fadama CARES programme, to enable the trainees to put into practice what they studied in school,” she explained.
Some of the agricultural inputs distributed to FCT farmers under the Fadama CARES programme in Gwagwalada on Thursday.
On his part, Mr Lawan Geidam, the Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, explained that the 6,020 beneficiaries, under the fourth batch, were selected from 82 farming community associations across the six area councils of the FCT.
Geidam identified the inputs disbursed within the year as 12,436 bags of NPK and 6218 bags of Urea fertiliser, 18,654 litres of agro chemicals, and 43,526 kg of assorted seeds, under Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI) 2.1.
Other inputs, he said, included 55,400 day old chicks, 7,756 bags of poultry feed, 81,800 juvenile (catfish) fish and 2,045 bags of fish feed.
He further identified the inputs disbursed under DLI 2.3, as 3690 goats, 3,212 sets of farm assets, such as sprayers, personal protective equipment, and water pumps and accessories.
Others, according to him, are 1006 grinding machines and 22 units of 2MT/hour multipurpose threshers, while water and sanitation facilities have been provided in 10 wet markets across the six area councils. (NAN
Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?
On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.
Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”
With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.
“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”
Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.
“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”
On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.
The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.
The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.
Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.
In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.
As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.
The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.
They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has commended the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for investing in sports for the discovery of talents for the region and the country at large.
The governor gave the commendation at the Monthly State Covenant Service held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, as arrangements have been concluded for official opening ceremony of the Niger Delta Sports Festival at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Eno, therefore, implored citizens and residents in the state to be fully involved in the festival.
He stressed the need for adequate maintenance of facilities recently revamped by the interventionist agency and assured successful hosting of the sports festival.
He promised to provide necessary support to ensure safe stay of all participants and tasked the organisers to leverage the peaceful ambiance of the state and make the competition a memorable one.
According to the organisers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected in Uyo today (Wednesday) to declare the festival open, with no fewer than 3,000 athletes from the nine states of the Niger Delta to compete for laurels in 17 sporting events.
The competition will be hosted at six venues, including the Godswill Akpabio international stadium and West Itam Sports Centre, while the closing ceremony is billed for April 9.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that contingents from the nine Niger Delta Development states had arrived Uyo for the festival. (NAN)
