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Kogi govt. tasks farmers on large scale food production, security
The Kogi Government on Wednesday, tasked farmers on large scale food production and security to overcome poverty, hunger and challenges.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojoma, gave the challenge at the Presentation and Dissemination of Scorecard on Smallholder Women Farmers Access to Agricultural Inputs and Training in Lokoja.
Ojoma said: “Mechanisation of agricultural production activities is vital for massive food production, food security and overcoming hunger, poverty and hardship amongst citizens.
“This is why this administration under the leadership of Gov. Usman Ododo, is poised to support and empower smallholder women farmers through mechanisation to help attain food sufficiency in Kogi.
“We will continue to do everything possible to provide empowerment for women farmers to boost their productivity and income earnings.”
He disclosed that the state government would soon embark on biometric data capturing of all farmers in the state to ease decision making and access to farmers in their numbers and categories.
According to him, through such available data, it will be easier to know where, when, type and quantity of inputs needed by farmers to boost food production.
Presenting the Scorecard, Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), said the state ought to make more impact on smallholder farmers through provision of agricultural inputs.
“Kogi ranks high on food inflation index in the country,. This is because it is not giving adequate assistance to smallholder farmers who produce over 70 per cent of food supply in the state.
“Unfortunately, inadequate budgeting for the agricultural sector and non release of budgetary provisions to lack of extension services, inputs and training among others, affect food production.”
Mr Matthias Okpanachi, Chairman of Kogi Budget Committee Group (BCG), in his opening remarks, underscored the critical importance of scorecard dissemination with focus on smallholder women farmers’ access to agricultural inputs and training in Kogi.
According to him, women farmers play pivotal roles in the nation’s agriculture sector, contributing significantly to food security, rural development and economic growth.
Okpanachi advocated for small holder women farmers to have equitable access to quality agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, tools and technologies.
This, he said, would enhance their productivity, improve crop yields and ultimately boost their income levels.
Earlier, Hajia Rukayat Ahmed, Coordinator, Kogi Chapter of Small-Scale Women Farmers in Nigeria, said the programme was targeted at boosting food security as well as alleviating poverty and hunger.
This, she said, is through analysis of the scorecard to chart the way forward.
Ahmed appealed to government at all levels to give priority to empowerment of women farmers through adequate and timely provision of inputs and training to enable them make the desired impact in food production.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by Kogi chapter of the small-scale women farmers in Nigeria in partnership with Kogi BCG, with support from ActionAid Nigeria. (NAN)
The Nigeria Police Force said it has completed the extradition of Benjamin Best Nnayereugo, widely known as “Killaboi,” from Doha, Qatar, to Nigeria.
Killaboi, who had been on the run for the murder of Augusta Onuwabhagbe, was returned to the country in the early hours of today, Saturday, through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Abuja and the Qatari Judicial Authorities.
The extradition followed a petition from the family of the deceased, submitted through their legal representatives, dated 29th September 2024.
A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, said the matter was assigned to INTERPOL NCB Abuja, after which investigations revealed that the suspect murdered Onuwabhagbe, a 21-year-old first-class student of Lead City University, Ibadan, in his residence located at No. 24a Abiola Apooyi Street, Oral Estate, Ajah, Lagos, on 13th July 2023. After committing the crime, he fled Nigeria and later released an online video purporting to confess to the act, a deceptive strategy to derail investigative efforts.
Following his declaration as wanted by the NPF Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on 13th October 2023, an INTERPOL Red Notice was issued for his global apprehension.
The statement said “He was initially arrested in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 20th October 2023 under the false identity ‘KANU PRINCETON SAMUEL,” but escaped custody during a prison break on 26th November 2023 in Freetown.
“Further intelligence gathering revealed that the suspect continued to evade law enforcement, traversing multiple regions including West Africa, East Asia and the Middle East, under forged identities before eventually relocating to Doha, Qatar on 24th January, 2025. Operating under the alias “TOURE ABDOULAYE” with a fraudulent Guinean passport, he secured illegal employment and concealed his identity.
“Through robust international cooperation and the use of advanced biometrics, INTERPOL NCB Abuja, in collaboration with INTERPOL NCB Doha, confirmed his identity, leading to his arrest by Qatari authorities in February 2025. An official extradition request, processed via the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, was subsequently approved by the Qatari judicial authorities, resulting in his repatriation to Nigeria.”
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while recognising the strength in the synergy amongst nations to curb trans-border crimes, commended the diligence of INTERPOL NCB Abuja.
He extended appreciation to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Government of Qatar, INTERPOL NCB Doha, and the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar for their invaluable collaboration in securing the fugitive’s return.
The Inspector-General of Police further assured the general public of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ensuring that the suspect faces diligent prosecution, as part of the NPF’s dedication to justice and the safety of all Nigerians.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appealed to the Federal Government to step up and deal with rising insecurity in the state as the death toll from the recent attacks by suspected herdsmen on Ukum and Logo local government areas in the state has risen to 56.
The governor made the call on Saturday when he visited the scenes of attacks by suspected herdsmen in Ukum and Logo local government areas to ascertain the impact of the attacks.
Addressing journalists after the visit to the affected communities in the two local government areas, Alia condemned the violent attacks on the defenseless people and called for greater action from security agencies to nip these killings in the bud.
The governor used the visit to engage with community leaders and their people whom he assured of a better deal in addressing all forms of insecurity.
He also called for calm and urged the people to resist the will to resort to self-help
Security has also been beefed up in the Sankera axis where these attacks happened to restore confidence, while emergency services and relief items have been extended to the two local government areas.
In neighbouring Plateau State, also in the North Central geopolitical zone, over 100 people have been killed in the last two weeks when bloodthirsty marauders unleashed mayhem on communities in the Bokkos and Bassa local government areas of Plateau State.
Muhammad Auwal Jatau, Bauchi deputy governor, has denied reports claiming that he slapped Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, during a high-profile event in the state.
The alleged incident was said to have taken place on Friday inside a white coaster bus conveying dignitaries from Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa international airport to the Bauchi emir’s palace.
The dignitaries were en route to the turbaning of Mohammed Abubakar, a former governor of the state.
According to unverified reports, an argument broke out after the minister allegedly made disparaging comments about Bala Mohammed, Bauchi state governor.
Jatau was said to have slapped the minister in reaction, reportedly in the presence of Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other prominent figures.
But Muslim Lawal, spokesperson to the deputy governor, described the claim as “false and baseless”.
“No, no, no, how can the deputy governor slap the minister? I don’t think that ever happened in Bauchi because I know my principal is a responsible person,” he said.
“The number two person cannot slap a minister or whoever person that people are talking about. We are not even aware of that. I am just hearing this from you.”
Lawal questioned the credibility of the viral report and called on anyone with evidence to present it.
“Did you see the evidence of the slap? I didn’t see it, I’m just hearing about that from you,” he said.
“But my belief is that there is no way the deputy governor will slap a minister. I don’t think such can ever happen in Bauchi, not even my principal or whoever is in his position.”
He said there was no reasonable provocation for such an act.
“What is even the issue that will make the deputy governor slap a minister?” he asked.
“I was not in the car and if there is any evidence that the deputy governor did such, maybe we can speak on that, but as of now, I don’t even know about it. That’s our position.
“And I don’t even think that the deputy governor, even if it is not in the presence of the vice-president, can do that.”