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Katsina govt. to invest N30bn in irrigation farming
The Katsina State Government says it will invest N30 billion in irrigation farming to boost agricultural sector in the state.
Gov. Dikko Radda said this on Monday, shortly after his return from a one month vacation, adding that he was back with full strength to move the state forward.
According to him, the aim is to boost irrigation farming and ensure that farmers can farm throughout the year, instead of farming only during the rainy season.
Radda said that part of the amount would be utilised for the setting of agricultural mechanised centres in each of the 34 local government areas in the state.
He added that the centres would be used to train farmers on modern agricultural techniques and supply them with agricultural facilities.
On his visit to China, the governor said that it was aimed at fostering partnerships and investments to develop Katsina state agricultural sector.
“With about 90 per cent of our population engaged in farming, these collaborations will significantly benefit our people and boost our state’s economy.”
The governor also revealed his plans to embark on a tour across the three senatorial zones in the state, to engage stakeholders on community priority-based projects.
According to him, the tour, which will include town hall meetings, is aimed at ensuring that government policies align with the needs and aspirations of the people.
The governor said, “Our government is aware of the challenges facing our people.
“I will embark on a tour across the state to hold town hall meetings, listen to the people, hear their grievances, and align government actions with their needs,” Radda said.
He said that his administration was doing its best toward reducing peoples’ hardship, especially through his various empowerment programmes.
The governor reiterated his sympathy for victims of banditry attacks in the state, and promised increased government commitment to addressing security challenges.
He said his administration planned to recruit and train young men from selected local governments for the Katsina Security Watch Corps, reinforcing the state’s security apparatus.
Radda also expressed deep appreciation for the people’s patience and understanding, restating his administration’s commitment to improving their welfare.
He commended his deputy, Alhaji Faruk Jobe, for his exemplary leadership as acting governor and thanked the State House of Assembly for its cooperation in repositioning the state. (NAN)
The Association of Scavengers, Scrap Dealers, and Recyclers, Abuja, has publicly dissociated itself from a Federal High Court suit filed by unregistered scavengers and beggars against the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the association’s chairman, Mallam Muntari Mohammed, clarified that the group is a duly registered body, with members holding valid identity cards and engaging in legitimate waste management, scrap trading, and recycling businesses.
He stressed that the association has always complied with the FCT Administration’s rules and regulations, maintaining a clean record.
Muntari noted that the association had formally written to the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to affirm its commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and adhering to stipulated guidelines.
He distanced the group from unregistered scavengers, whom he accused of tarnishing the reputation of legitimate operators through theft and other illicit activities.
The chairman addressed the FCT Minister’s recent ban on scavenging, which stemmed from misunderstandings about the distinction between honest scavengers and rogue elements.
“We have never confronted the FCT authorities and will never do so,” Muntari said, emphatically dissociating the association from the court case against Wike.
The Vatican has confirmed that only one round of voting will take place this Wednesday afternoon as the conclave to elect the next pope officially gets underway.
Cardinals from around the world gathered earlier Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel, where they took a sacred oath of secrecy before the chapel doors were ceremonially closed with the Latin phrase “extra omnes,” meaning “everyone out.” The papal master of ceremonies then declared the start of the conclave, invoking a centuries-old tradition whose name comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning “locked with key.”
Wednesday’s solitary ballot marked the opening step in the process to choose the new leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. Should the vote prove inconclusive requiring a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope, cardinals will resume the process on Thursday, casting up to four ballots daily until consensus is reached.
Each cardinal votes by writing “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”) on a paper ballot, followed by the name of their chosen candidate. In a quiet and orderly procession, they approach the silver and gilded urn in order of seniority to place their ballots.
As the final vote is cast, the tension rises in St. Peter’s Square, where the faithful and millions watching around the globe await the first sign of smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. Black smoke will indicate that no decision has been made; white smoke will proclaim that a new pope has been elected.
The last two conclaves, in 2005 and 2013, ended on the second day, with Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis elected after a series of swift ballots, respectively.
As the doors remain closed and Vatican cameras withdraw, the world waits in hushed anticipation for the next chapter in the history of the Catholic Church to be written.
Governor Hyacinth Alia will not honour the House of Representatives Committee invitation scheduled for Thursday, May 8.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, confirmed this to journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi.
The House had summoned the governors of Benue and Zamfara, alongside their Assembly leadership.
Kula stated that the invitation is unconstitutional and the governor will not comply with it.
He explained that Alia has filed a case at the Supreme Court challenging the lawmakers’ invitation.
“Yesterday, the Benue Assembly passed a resolution rejecting the Reps Committee invitation.
“They believe the invitation is based on ignorance and have decided not to attend. They will also challenge it in court,” he said.
Kula added that the governor, independently, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the invitation’s legality.
He said: “Since the matter is in court, I will not speak further on it.”
Kula also claimed that the civil society group behind the petition is faceless and unregistered.
According to him, the address on the group’s letterhead is fake and lacks credibility.
He said there is a coordinated campaign of misinformation and sponsored protests aimed at destabilising Benue.
In recent weeks, he noted, there have been protests in Abuja allegedly representing Benue people’s concerns.
“These protests aim to provoke a state of emergency in Benue by portraying it in a negative light,” he said.
He claimed the organisers seek to undermine progress and return to a failed political order.
“Their ultimate goal is to create chaos for selfish political gain,” Kula added.
He accused the protest sponsors of trying to remove the governor through disruptive means.
“They will not succeed. Benue people stand firmly with their governor,” he said.
He assured the public that Benue remains peaceful and the government is functioning effectively.
“Governor Alia is committed to fulfilling his mandate and addressing the state’s challenges,” he said. (NAN)