Author: Isah Mukhtar

Agriculture
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, May 16, 2018 (NAN) Synergos Nigeria, an agricultural transformation supporting group, says it will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in efforts to make Nigeria’s agriculture sector attractive for the youth.

The Country Director of Synergos, Mr Adewale Ajadi, said this on Wednesday at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting, organised by Synergos and Civil Hub in Abuja.

“I have seen these few days that Nigerian youths are not lazy but hardworking and they are ready to put in their best in efforts to develop the country.

“I want to assure everyone that participated in the Hackthon Marathon of Synergos’ resolve to continue to make agriculture attractive and interesting for everyone.

“I want to reassure you that we have taken note of all your contributions and we promise to work with them.

“We will continue to collaborate, build trust and move our agriculture sector forward, while creating a reliable platform for farmers and investors.

“On behalf of the Synergos Nigeria, I say `Thank you’ for your contributions; everyone is leaving here today as a victor,’’ he said.

Earlier, resource persons, called “Hackers Experts’’, presented solutions that would integrate agriculture and technology in Nigeria, in order to tackle the challenges facing agriculture in the country and showcase its agricultural produce.

The first team, “Agro-Hub’’ group, in its presentation, created and shared a system that maximised agricultural production by tracking farms in Nigeria, where the farms were located and what they produced, while providing the best transportation facilities for the produce.

The second team, “Agro Tech’’ group, offered an information platform that could help Synergos to gather centralised information about farmers and their products so as to improve the assistance given to the farmers.

“Smart Farm’’ group, the third team, presented a combination of an e-commerce system as well as an application device which would allow farmers to manage their farms, buy and sell as well as measure their produce.

The fourth team, “Open Farm’’ group, presented a solution to the problem of getting agricultural data in Nigeria via an online platform which would make it easier for potential investors to invest in the country’s agriculture sector.

On the other hand, “Pacific’’ group focused its attention on connecting Nigerian farmers to the global marketplace by introducing a “Universal Warehouse’’, which would act as an interface to ensure food quality and security during food exports.

The other teams presented a web application and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions which would allow farmers to adopt improved farming practices to boost their yields and grow their profit in the marketplace.’’

The teams said that Nigerians consumed approximately 5.5 million tonnes of rice annually; stressing that stakeholders should focus more attention on making the cultivation of rice easier for farmers.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders meeting was organised to seek the input of participants in plans to create an information platform for farmers and investors so as to improve agricultural production in the country.

NAN also reports that three out of the nine groups were selected to engage in further deliberations in order to pick the best technology which would attract farmers, investors, off-takers and promote the nation’s agricultural produce globally. (NAN)
ROK/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe

Home
By Biola Lawal
Abuja, May 15, 2018 (NAN) Dr Ibukun Adebayo-Adebayo, a financial advisory expert has urged Nigerian youths to aspire to own a home by age of 30 to live stable and accomplished lives.

Adebayo-Adedayo, a medical doctor-turned financial advisory expert, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on house ownership by middle income earners.

She advised the youths to start planning to own a house from the moment of their first employment.

 Adebayo-Adedayo noted that “home ownership is crucial to financial freedom, increases net-worth, provides rental savings, and increases investment and leverage potential.

“Imagine planning to own your home by the time you are 30 years old; and beginning to work towards it from getting your first job; having a space that is truly yours signals stability and accomplishment,” she said.

She discouraged youths from sinking into rent payment syndrome, explaining that the amount going for rent payment could be invested in mortgage payment for eventual ownership of a property.

She urged youths to focus on buying homes with convenient payment plan or on a mortgage, noting that with a payment plan for ownership, “you begin to pay yourself rather than paying your landlord”.

She said that if well-planned, and with the right advisor, combining the annual rental savings with annual capital appreciation of the house purchased, mortgage rental payments would be less.

“This implies that if well-structured, value addition is greater than value expended on annual mortgage rentals; plus the sense of security and stability that owning your home delivers which is unquantifiable intangible value.

“In contrast, house rent is plain vanilla expenditure which provides the renter with no returns, asides providing you a place to lay your head.

“In addition, all further expenditure on house repairs and maintenance also hold no long term value for the renter.

“Finally, rent puts you at the mercy of the house owner with respect to major house repairs, and rental rates,’’ she emphasised.

Adebayo-Adedayo noted that many young people and families shove home ownership aside as a task for the “later” future and resort to paying rents perpetually.

She urged youths to “look at the options available, speak to real estate advisors and work with experts in the industry to find an easy approach to own a home.’’

She advised against the perception that “the process of buying a first home is daunting and not easily surmountable.’’

Adebayo-Adedayo said that with increased awareness, education and advocacy information about ease of home ownership would make the process appear less arduous.

“Nevertheless, it is imperative to note that when appropriately planned and structured, the hurdles of home ownership become significantly less and easier to transcend,” she said.(NAN)
BL/JEO/GY
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 Edited by Janefrances Oraka/Grace Yussuf

Ramadan
By Kola Adeyemi
Lokoja, May 15, 2018 (NAN) As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Muslim clerics in the country have been warned against using hate speeches and unrefined languages in their preaching during the period.
The Jamaat Nasril Islam (JNI) gave the warning on Tuesday in Lokoja during a news conference to usher in this year’s Ramadan fast.
The chairman of the Kogi State chapter of JNI, Amb. Usman Bello warned clerics and other Islamic leaders to guide against making inflammatory statements in their sermons during the period.
Bello warned them to be mindful of the precarious security situation of the country and have respect for religious sensibilities of other Nigerians.
He advised them to use their preaching to proffer solutions to corruption, poor governance. , insecurity, injustice, adultery and ritual killings facing the country.
The former Nigeria’s ambassador to Sudan said that controversial issues that were capable of inflaming passion among the people should be avoided in their sermons and other activities during Ramadan.
“They should avoid using the glorious Quran to protect blind followership or personal interest and eschew from using the Quran as a platform to attack others,” Bello said.
He charged Muslims to use the period of Ramadan to pray for the leaders at all levels, peace and security and unity of Nigeria.
The Chairman also commended both Muslims and Christians for the existing peace and harmony in the state, urging them to continue to work together to sustain it. (NAN)
KKA /PAD
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Edited Peter Dada

Congresses

Lokoja , May 12, 2018 ( NAN)The AP in Kogi on Saturday again held parallel congress during the local government congress in Lokoja Local Government.

NAN reports that on May 6, the ward congress by the APC was plunged into confusion, as both Audu/Faleke and Gov. Yahaya Bello factions held separate exercise.

A Correspondent of the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise in Lokoja Local Government reports that the development led to emergence of two parallel executives of the party in the local government.

In Lokoja Local Government , the parallel congresses were held at the St Luke Primary School, Adankolo and Lokoja Local Government hall.

While the faction led by the state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo held its congress at St Luke Primary School, the Alhaji Ibrahim Ahovi led faction held its own inside the hall.

Mr Usman Mamanlafia emerged Chairman at the Congress that took place at St LukePry School while Mr Maikudi Bature, was elected the new Chairman at the Congress which held at the local government hall.

The elections went peacefully at the two venues with the presence of 248 delegates from the 10 wards in Lokoja Local Government

The Congress held at St Luke Primary School was supervised by INEC officials while policemen were on ground to provide security.

Speaking shortly after, Mailafia pledged to run an inclusive administration , urging aggrieved party members to close ranks.

Bature who emerged winner at the factional Congress held inside the local government hall promised to meet the expectations of party members in the council area.

Earlier , the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Mr Haruna Isah had while announcing the result said that Bature and other executive members emerged by affirmation.

He said that all the 248 delegates from the 10 wards in the local government participated in the Congress.

Isah described the Congress as peaceful, saying that the party’s laid down rules and INEC guidelines were duly followed. (NAN)
KKA /SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Agriculture
By Kudirat Musa
Abuja, May 10, 2018 (NAN) Synergos Nigeria, an agriculture transformation support group, says it aims to integrate agriculture and technology in Nigeria, in collaboration with the Civil Innovation Lab.

The Country Representative of Synergos, Mr Adewale Ajadi, said this in Abuja on Thursday at the Hackthon Marathon, organised by Synergos Nigeria in partnership with Civic Hub.

Ajadi, who was represented by Ms Victoria Fajemilehin, the Synergos Coordinator, said that Synergos did not have answers to all the problems facing the country’s agricultural sector.

He, therefore, underscored the need to adopt a collaborative approach in efforts to know and tackle the challenges facing the sector.

“We want to know why what we produced now goes into waste. We are bringing all the stakeholders together under same roof to know what is missing and how we can proffer solutions.

“I believe this new innovation will progress because when you find value in a platform, you keep going back to it. You discover that you can apply the things you saw there.

“In the same way, if this platform turns out to be useful to farmers and they are aware that they can get solutions to their problems in the platform; they will keep visiting the platform and it will be sustainable over time,’’ Ajadi said.

In his remark, Mr Edward Esene, Senior Consultant, Kinetic Nigeria, said that the easier way to relate technology to agriculture was via the creation of a marketplace.

Esene, who is also a Synergos Consultant, said that efforts should be made to look at what farmers were doing, with a view to helping them to use “PR’’, “USSD’’ code in managing their farms.

“Some people are having issues with access to market, investors and data in order to get the right value for their money but technology can help to mitigate or resolve such challenges.

“This Hackthon Marathon organised by Synergos and Civic hub is a noble initiative.

“In the information we give to farmers, the ones drawn from technical experts and Agricultural Development Project (ADP) officials will help them know the kind of solutions to create,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Mr James Ker, Programme Manager, Benue State Agricultural Rural Development Authority, said that Synergos had been assisting agricultural systems on how to operate better, while educating farmers on the benefits of technology in agriculture.

Ker said that Synergos had placed considerable emphasis on agriculture in strategies to access its products across the world.

“The organisation is opening a window for our farmers to have access to markets so as to boost their income and production.

“The farmers will sustain the initiative when they see its benefit. Although, they may not be able see the benefit initially but as soon as they see it, they will surely key into the programme,’’ he said. (NAN)
ROK/OOK
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Also speaking, Prof. Femi Adelowo, a consultant rheumatologist, said that there was need for an aggressive awareness on lupus in the country.

Construction

By Grace Alegba and Folashade Martins

Lagos, May 10, 2018 (NAN) AG Dangote Construction Company Limited has begun work on the second phase of the Apapa/Wharf Road reconstruction project, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four- kilometer road is divided into two kilometres on each bound carriageway.

Each bound carriageway is further divided into four sections for ease of construction and traffic management.

NAN correspondents who visited the site also observed workmen laying iron rods along Section four on both the Apapa and CMS/Ijora bound carriageways.

Also, earth moving equipment were carrying out excavations on a section of the Apapa bound carriageway which is part of the second phase of the project.

A senior engineer who preferred anonymity told NAN that work had begun on Sections One and Four on phase two of the project.

The engineer said that the first phase of the project which is the CMS /Ijora bound carriageway was almost fully completed.

“We have started work on the inbound section that is the Apapa bound carriageway. We are working on Sections One and Four of the inbound.

“The Apapa bound carriageway is in the second phase of the project,’’ he said.

Also, the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Adedamola Kuti, confirmed to NAN that work on the first phase of Apapa-Wharf Road was almost completed and work had begun on the second phase.

“We are working now on Section four.’’

He said that the ministry had overcome the initial challenges of relocating services on the Right of Way (RoW) which had initially slowed down the project. (NAN)

FM/GA/ENN/PAD
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Peter Dada

5,501 apply for police jobs in Kogi

Police
Lokoja, May 9, 2018 (NAN) A total of 5,501 applicants from Kogi State are among those jostling for recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr Shuaibu Lawal Gambo has disclosed.

Gambo made this disclosure in Lokoja on Wednesday while supervising the ongoing recruitment into the force

The DIG, who is in charge of Finance and Administration at the force headquarters, said that the number will be pruned down to 1,500.

According to him, it is the selected 1,500 that will be allowed to participate in the next phase of the selection process, which will involve written test.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari recently gave approval for the recruitment of additional 6,000 policemen into the force.

Gambo said that he was in Lokoja to ensure fairness and transparency in the recruitment process and to see whether due process was being followed.

“So far, from what I have seen after going round myself, I believe everything is going well.

“I think the problem they may have here is time constraint. They are supposed to do this within one week. The screening is very tedious. We made it that way so that we can get the best.

“I don’t think the time given for the screening is enough. However, we will see how it works out. But I believe there is need for us to advise the IG to extend the exercise.

“This is just stage one. From here, they will go for further screening. Those who will be selected will be given the best training which will reflect on the performance of the police generally,” he said.

The DIG warned against given money to officers of the command to influence recruitment , saying that any one caught in the act will face the law.

” I want to appeal to members of the public not to give money to any police officer for this recruitment. If you do, you are loosing your money.

“Nothing is required from you. You will be tested here, reviewed here and only those that are good will be selected,” he explained.

Gambo warned that any police officer caught collecting money for the exercise will be dismissed instantly. (NAN)
KKA/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Mourning
By Abiemwense Moru

Abuja, May 9, 2018 (NAN) The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has expressed sadness over the death of foremost Kano businessman and Islamic scholar Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu on Tuesday in U.K.

In a condolence message on Wednesday in Abuja, the Speaker said Rabiu, a great industrialist, who died in a London hospital impacted the lives of many Nigerians and left a legacy of honour, sacrifice and philanthropy.

“Late Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu was indeed a great scholar, entrepreneur per excellence and inspiring philanthropist who impacted the lives of many through his uncommon benevolence, generosity and support to the less privileged members of the society.

“We have indeed lost a man of peace, a respected businessman, a great leader, father and mentor who spent greater part of his life in the service of God and humanity as an entrepreneur, cleric and leader of Tijjaniyya Movement in West Africa.

“We are, however, consoled by the fact that Khalifa left a good legacy that will continue to be a source of inspiration to the family he left behind as well as to his followers and admirers.”

While extending his condolence to the family of the deceased, the government and people of Kano State, Dogara prayed God Almighty to grant the soul of the late Khalifa Rabiu eternal rest.

Rabiu died during a brief illness at 90.(NAN)
AMM/ABI/DUA

Edited by Ali Inuwa/Dada Ahmed
08032900460

Agric

By Kudirat Musa

Abuja, May 8, 2018 (NAN) Mr Oyisi Okatahi, the Managing Director, Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP) said that the state government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture had trained 500 farmers across the state.

Okatahi made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja on the sideline of stakeholders’ meeting organised by Synergos Nigeria and Civil Innovation LAB.

He added that the training was on new agricultural innovation aimed at boosting food production in the state and make the country achieve food security soon.

According to him, the governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, had passion for agriculture and intended to make sure agriculture succeed in the state and ensured huge support on the sector.

“We have done a lot of training for farmers this year. We have trained 500 farmers across the state and we had support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

“The Governor, Yahaya Bello, has passion for agriculture and intend to make sure that agriculture succeeds in the state and farmers get value for their farm produce.

“We have zonal offices to make sure that the training reach the real farmers.

“Am using this medium to call on real farmers, either as a cooperative or individual and wants to be trained to feel free to call us or send application, we will definitely come, ” he said.

He commended the collaboration between Synergos Nigeria and Civil Innovation Lab to use technology to enhance agricultural productivity in the country.

He explained that Kogi had similar platform which he said had benefitted a lot of farmers through the provision of meaningful information in terms of inputs and markets to boost agriculture.

“In Kogi, we have main platform of agriculture: farmers’ online marketplace, where farmers can buy and sell their goods online.

‘’They can also contact people to buy and sell produce like livestock, to reduce the impact of the middlemen.

“We have farmers database (www.kogiadp.org) where we list farmers by their gender, local government, farm location, size so if there is need to contact them for any programme.

“We open new centre, called Agriculture and Technology Centre where we have trained 100 youths on the basic agriculture principle,” he said.

According to him, the platform has increased farmers’ productivity in the state, saying that many have been smiling to the banks.

“For instance, typical farmer have two tonnes per hectare of maize but planting the right seeds and following the cropping calendar we taught them, they have increased their yield.

“Farmers’ yield has increased from two tonnes to 10 tonnes. We teach them on how to use technology to be IT surface to be able to go online to check information and to be able to calculate.

“For instance, if you want to do poultry farming, you need to calculate how many feed; water is required so that you won’t run at lost.

“We did the first training free but to make it sustainable, we may ask them to pay token to run generator and to maintain the centre.”

The managing director urged youths to take the different opportunity in agriculture and explore the sub-sector to increase their income and profit.

NAN reports that Synergos Nigeria, an NGO, is partnering with Civil Innovation Lab to set up an agriculture information centre for stakeholders in the agricultural sector.(NAN)

ROK/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed