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FG seeks stronger agricultural value chains to boost food security

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 ​‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‍⁠⁠‍‌Our Reporter

The Federal Government has called for a stronger agricultural value chains, increased agro-industrialisation and improved market access to boost food security in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, made the call on in Enugu during the Technical Session of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security.

The theme of the event is “Enhancing Agricultural Value Chains, Agro-Industrialization And Market Access For Economic Growth.”

Ogunbiyi, who doubled as the Chairman of the Technical Session, said that the country must move beyond subsistence farming and embrace a commercially driven agricultural system capable of supporting industries, improving farmers’ incomes and expanding export opportunities.

“Our task goes beyond increasing the volume of food produced.

“We must build an agricultural economy that creates wealth, supports industries, generates decent employment, expands exports, improves rural livelihoods and contributes meaningfully to national economic growth,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary identified inadequate storage and processing facilities, limited access to finance, poor logistics and weak links between farmers and processors as major challenges affecting the competitiveness of agricultural products.

He called for increased investment in agro-processing facilities, rural roads, irrigation, electricity, cold-chain infrastructure and modern technologies to reduce post-harvest losses and promote local value addition.

“Agro-industrialisation is central to the transformation we seek to achieve. It provides the bridge between agriculture and industry.

“It also enables agricultural production to serve as a reliable source of raw materials for manufacturing and other productive sectors of the economy.

“The value of this Council will ultimately be determined by the quality of its resolutions and the extent to which those resolutions are implemented,” Ogunbiyi stated.

He also urged state governments to identify priority commodities, establish clear production and processing targets, attract private-sector investment and strengthen partnerships with research institutions and development partners.

In his remarks, the Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Mr Patrick Uburu, said that the state government was committed to agro-industrialisation to boost farmers’ income, create jobs and generate wealth.

Uburu, who described the technical sessions as a platform for translating policies into practical solutions, urged delegates to prioritise farmers and agribusiness operators in their deliberations.

He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among state governments, federal agencies and development partners to address food security challenges, noting that recommendations from the meeting should be measurable and implementable.

The commissioner called for practical policies and investments that would improve farmers’ productivity and expand market access for agricultural produce.

Also, Dr Abiodun Ihebuzor, Technical Lead Policy Advisory, GIZ ECOWAS & Nigeria, advocated for stronger partnerships and increased investment in agricultural value chains to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food security in Nigeria.

Ihebuzor noted that previous engagements at the 46th Council in Calabar and the 47th Council in Kaduna had provided opportunities to advance agricultural development.

He expressed optimism that the current meeting would strengthen collaboration among government institutions, development partners and private-sector operators.

According to him, healthy soils, efficient markets and improved storage systems were essential to sustainable food security.

On her part, Mrs Geraldine Onu, Deputy Director, Administration and Supply, Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, disclosed that the State Government had intensified efforts to transform agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial and mechanical farming as part of its economic development agenda.

She noted that investments in irrigation, storage, processing and agricultural infrastructure were aimed at increasing production, attracting private investment, reducing post-harvest losses and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

“In Enugu State, under the visionary leadership of Gov. Peter Mbah, agriculture occupies a strategic position in the state’s economic transformation agenda.

“The initiatives include the 300,000-hectare agricultural land bank, the development of Smart Farm Estates across the 17 Local Government Areas, the 260 Farm Estate Programme and the establishment of a tractor assembly plant,” Onu added.

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General News

Kaura wins APC re-run primary for Zamfara North after court nullifies earlier election

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By Chinwo Aginta

Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura has won the All Progressives Congress primary for Zamfara North, securing the party’s ticket for the 2027 general election after a court nullified its earlier nomination process over reported irregularities.

Kaura polled 16,758 votes in Monday’s re-run, well ahead of Sahabi Alhaji Yau, who received 1,465 votes, and Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, who scored 1,447, according to results announced by the party’s senatorial primary election committee.

The fresh election followed a Court of Appeal decision in Sokoto upholding a Federal High Court ruling in Gusau that invalidated the previous primary and ordered the APC to conduct another exercise.

The committee’s announcement brings an end to the court-ordered contest over the party’s nomination in the senatorial district, with Kaura emerging ahead of the two other aspirants.

Announcing the results, committee member Sani Abdullahi said Kaura secured the highest number of valid votes and fulfilled the requirements for nomination under the APC constitution and electoral guidelines.

The committee said 19,608 delegates were accredited from a register of 23,257, while 19,292 valid votes were recorded.

The result sheet was signed by the committee’s chairman and secretary on November 2, formally returning Kaura as the APC candidate for Zamfara North.

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DSS dismisses Atiku’s claims, says two operatives hurt while protecting Sokoto ADC guber candidate;

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has punctured a claim by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that it is recruiting protesters to create disorder in Sokoto State and provide an excuse for imposing a curfew to stop the party’s campaign rally.
In a statement on its official X handle, the secret police said it was surprised that Atiku could make such claim days after two of its operatives suffered injuries and were hospitalised while protecting the ADC governorship candidate in the state, Mannir Daniya, from a mob attack.
According to the DSS, after safely evacuating the Sokoto ADC governorship candidate, the politician later called personally to appreciate the State Director of the Sokoto Command and even requested for reinforcement from the DSS.
The Service recalled that on 2nd March 2026, it arrested one Monday Udeme Steven in Rivers State, for threatening to attack the National Democratic Party (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
The DSS stated that it successfully prosecuted Udeme in a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, and that he is currently serving a two-year sentence in prison.
The statement read in full:

“The attention of the DG Department of State Services (DSS) has been been drawn to allegation by elder statesman and ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji ATIKU ABUBAKAR that, DSS is organizing protests in Sokoto State.

“For the Records, DSS Operatives deployed to Sokoto ADC Governorship Candidate; Mannir Daniya, evacuated him to safety unhurt on 31st October 2026 when attacked in Sokoto. Two (2) DSS operatives were assaulted during the incident and are still being treated in the hospital. The governorship candidate called personally to appreciate the State Director of Sokoto Command and even requested for reinforcement from the DSS.
“Though these operations to protect all Political Parties is at variance with the elder statesman’s allegation and tend to demoralize our gallant operatives who are risking their lives in the line of duty, the DGDSS has still ordered an investigation into the allegation in deference to the elder statesman.

“The Service also use this medium to reference a similar allegation by AAC Presidential Candidate Omoyele SOWORE that, the Service was involved in an attack on him in Ekiti State. In this regard, we thank the Police for swift investigation and a preliminary Report on the cause of the incident; “altercation”, coupled with the arrest of eleven (11) suspects. We await the outcome of Police investigation and will not dissipate energy on the matter.
“The Service will continue to remain accountable under the present DG,” the statement concluded.

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2027: Bauchi Gov thumps down for thuggery, demands transparency

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Abu Umar 

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has on Tuesday vowed that his administration will not tolerate any breach of peace, political thuggery or disruption of stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Mohammed stated this while addressing members of the State Executive Council in Bauchi.

He said his administration’s collaboration with security agencies has restored peace, allowing citizens to farm, go to school and live freely, and warned that such peace must not be compromised for politics.

“As we approach the election cycle, our security apparatus must remain hyper-vigilant. We will tolerate no breach of peace, no political thuggery and no disruption to the stability of our dear state,” he declared.

The Governor said the government will continue to support security agencies with accommodation, vehicles and logistics to maintain impartiality and effectiveness.

He also warned against last-minute abuse of due process as political temperature rises, insisting that adherence to public procurement laws and financial regulations must be watertight.

“We will leave behind an administration defined by transparency, not last-minute lapses in due process,” he said.

The Governor directed that no bureaucratic delays or lackadaisical attitudes should be entertained, stressing that time is of the essence to solidify his Bauchi Project agenda.

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