Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has praised Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, for an extraordinary escalation in the agricultural budget, rising from N1.4 billion to N74 billion.

During a courtesy visit to the Governor at the Government House in Kaduna on Tuesday, Adesina acknowledged Sani’s dedication to revitalizing the agricultural landscape.

He highlighted that Kaduna is pioneering the establishment of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Nigeria, stating, “Kaduna’s leadership in this initiative represents not only a vision for food security but also a blueprint for economic growth and inclusive development.”

Adesina emphasized the state’s role as a forerunner, noting, “This marks the first instance of a state launching the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. Today is a significant milestone for all of us.”

He reaffirmed AfDB’s commitment to assist Kaduna State in enhancing school feeding programs and their integration with the new processing zones. Additionally, he promised further support for improvements in primary healthcare, health insurance, and infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and digital advancement

“We take pride in collaborating with a government that listens, leads with compassion, and is inclusive,” he remarked, referring to Governor Sani as “a model leader, a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer.”

In response, Governor Sani described Adesina as “a blessing to Nigeria, Africa, and humanity,” commending him for his transformative contributions to agriculture throughout the continent.

He recalled the impact of Adesina’s e-Wallet initiative during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture, which has benefited over 15 million smallholder farmers nationwide, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Sani stated, “This initiative was designed not only to revolutionize agriculture but could also have mitigated the issue of financial exclusion we currently face, providing essential access to credit for our smallholder farmers. Furthermore, it could have addressed the security challenges in Northern Nigeria.”

He noted that agriculture constitutes approximately 42 percent of Kaduna’s GDP and provides around 60 percent of employment in the state. “We believe that insecurity has significantly impeded the progress we could have made through agriculture,” he explained.

“Recognizing agriculture as a crucial sector for investment, we made the decision to increase our agricultural budget from N1.4 billion, inherited in 2023, to N74 billion in the current budget. This achievement positions us as the first sub-national government to meet the 10 percent target outlined in the 2014 Malabo Declaration, which advocates for a minimum of 10 percent of the budget to be allocated to agriculture.”

The governor highlighted the launch of the Agro-Industrial Processing Zone as a critical initiative for the development of Kaduna State.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a new draft proposal mandating telecommunications operators to implement strategies that prevent customers from losing unused airtime associated with inactive SIM cards.

This initiative was unveiled during a high-level virtual stakeholder engagement forum held on Tuesday, titled ‘Draft Guidance on Unutilised and Unclaimed Recharges.’ The NCC aims to enhance consumer protection within Nigeria’s dynamic telecommunications landscape.

Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, who was represented by Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, underscored the necessity of addressing the issue of unused prepaid credit on dormant lines, which affects millions of subscribers across the country.

Maida pointed out the rapid expansion of mobile subscriptions and the prevalence of prepaid plans, stating, “Prepaid plans have offered millions of Nigerians essential flexibility and affordability in mobile services. However, as the sector progresses, it is crucial to tackle emerging challenges that could undermine consumer rights.”

He highlighted the importance of finding a balance between protecting consumer rights, ensuring effective regulatory oversight, and sustaining industry growth. The forum serves as a platform to explore actionable solutions for this matter.

The proposed Quality-of-Service Business Rules 2024 stipulate that prepaid lines without revenue-generating activities for six months will be deactivated. Should inactivity continue for an additional six months, the line may be recycled. Subscribers will retain the right to reclaim their unused credit within one year, provided they can prove ownership.

“It is essential to ensure that consumer interests are not compromised through the forfeiture of unused credit,” Maida added.

The NCC is dedicated to promoting a telecommunications environment that is fair, transparent, and centered around consumer needs.

In her presentation of the draft, Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at NCC, outlined explicit procedures for managing inactive subscriber accounts. She emphasized that operators would be required to conduct thorough audits of churned numbers and ensure that unused airtime is returned to subscribers through alternative service offerings, avoiding any monetization of forfeited recharges.

“The challenge of unutilised and unclaimed recharges on churned subscriber lines presents both a consumer protection concern and a regulatory opportunity,” Whyte noted. Many subscribers leave behind unused credits when disconnected after prolonged inactivity as per the quality of service regulations.

This draft guidance aims to establish clear, equitable, and transparent protocols for handling these funds, ensuring that subscribers maintain access to their purchased credits while providing operators with necessary regulatory clarity.

The NCC’s draft guidance specifies that operators must inform subscribers about the plan to offer service options for churned accounts. All unclaimed and unutilized recharges cannot be monetized; instead, affected subscribers may be offered options such as voice services, data plans, and value-added services using their unused recharges after churn, which cannot be transferred between networks.

Operators are also required to implement consumer education initiatives to inform subscribers about the new management approach for unclaimed and unutilized recharges.

Regarding compliance, the NCC has set a deadline for operators to adhere to the guidelines within 90 days from the date of issuance. The commission will review all audit reports concerning unutilized recharges within ten working days and will conduct regular audits and inspections to ensure adherence to these guidelines. Non-compliance may lead to penalties, including fines and other regulatory actions as stipulated in the relevant Act.

The final version of the guidance is anticipated to be refined based on stakeholder feedback and formally adopted in the forthcoming months.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has expressed serious concern regarding the recent surge in attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP, urging the federal government and security agencies to implement decisive measures before the situation deteriorates further.

In recent months, communities in Borno have faced increased assaults as insurgents target villages and military installations, notably in areas such as Sabon Gari, Wajiroko, and Wulgo.

During an expanded security meeting held at the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri, Zulum implored the federal government to prioritize security in the Northeast, especially in Borno State, which shares borders with Chad, Cameroon, and the Republic of Niger, as well as facing security challenges in the Sahel region.

Zulum stated, “While we value the significant support from the federal government and the military, it is essential to highlight that the current shift in focus away from the Northeast could reverse the progress we have made in combating insecurity.”

He further remarked, “Borno State has recently experienced sporadic assaults from Boko Haram insurgents, leading to the dislodgement of several military formations in Wulgo, Wajiroko, and Sabon Gari, among others. It appears we are losing ground.”

The governor emphasized the need for the federal government to give heightened attention to the Northeast, particularly Borno State, to effectively tackle terrorism in Nigeria.

Zulum added, “The recent uptick in Boko Haram attacks throughout the state is alarming. There is an urgent necessity for robust military action and actionable intelligence to counter the insurgency. The attacks in Sabongari, Damboa, Wulgo, Baga, and Monguno underscore the need for a more vigorous response to the Boko Haram threat.”

“I urge our armed forces to not only establish checkpoints and protect our towns and villages but also to take the fight directly to the enemy. We must not allow terrorists the opportunity to regroup, rearm, and launch further attacks. Through relentless patrols, strategic operations, and offensive missions, our troops should aim to decisively defeat the insurgency, facilitating our recovery efforts without obstruction.”

The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to support the military and other security agencies operating in Borno State to achieve their objectives in combating insurgency.

He stated, “The Borno State government will continue to collaborate closely with the armed forces to implement our development and peacebuilding initiatives. We recognize the vital connection between development, security, and peace. Therefore, while we invest in essential infrastructure, we are also creating new opportunities for our citizens in agriculture and sustainable livelihoods.”

Zulum concluded, “None of these efforts will be feasible without adequately resourcing and empowering our security agencies to protect our territory and ensure the safety of our citizens’ lives and property. My administration will persist in supporting our defense and security forces while encouraging enhanced performance in addressing terrorism, insurgency, and criminal activities.”

Following the closed-door session of the security meeting, Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, informed journalists that the security council had voiced its support for the Borno State Government’s resettlement initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Major General Abubakar Haruna, General Officer Commanding 7 Division, as well as traditional rulers from the seven emirate councils of Borno and leaders from various security agencies.