By Bukola Adewumi

Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on the Federal Government to allocate more resources towards Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) to ensure food security across the nation.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, CASER’s Convener, Mr Frank Tietie, emphasised the importance of GMOs in agricultural practices.

Tietie explained that GMOs are organisms whose genetic makeup has been altered through scientific engineering to achieve specific objectives in laboratories.

He highlighted the benefits of GMOs, particularly in crops like cowpea, cotton, and maize, which are fortified to resist pests and weeds, thereby enhancing yields.

Tietie urged the government and stakeholders to disregard concerns raised by detractors who advocate for the banning of GMOs.

Instead, he urged investment in the provision of GMO seeds to farmers, which would not only improve agricultural productivity, but also contribute to environmental conservation by reducing the need for herbicides and pesticides.

Tietie reminded stakeholders that Nigeria has been involved in research and development in biotechnology since 1987, recognising the potential benefits of the technology.

“We are worried by the day that ignorance by some people, who have no knowledge on the advance of biotechnology, is dismissing the efforts and benefits of biotechnology advancement.

“The Nigerian government, as far back as 1987, put legislation in place to encourage the application of biotechnology and genetic engineering as instrument of social economic development.”

He emphasised the need to embrace scientific advancements and not hinder progress based on unfounded fears.

While advocating for the adoption of GMOs, Tietie stressed that there is no evidence linking GM food to any health risks.

He called on the government, agricultural development stakeholders, and financial institutions to collaborate in providing genetically modified tela maize and BT cowpea to farmers across the country.

However, some stakeholders have expressed concerns regarding the potential adverse effects of GMOs on the environment and public health, highlighting uncertainties that may exist. (NAN)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Mark Longyen

The U.S. government has partnered Nigeria, among others,  to unveil a five-year Global Food Security Strategic Country Plan to boost the country’s agricultural sector and drive agro-economic growth.

Mr David Greene, the U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, while unveiling the strategy on Thursday in Abuja, said it exemplified the U.S. government’s commitment to resolving the pressing issue of food security in Nigeria.

Greene explained that the new strategy was built on previous achievements and lessons learned, and prioritised inclusive participation, value addition, climate adaptation, private sector engagement, as well as job creation.

According to the U.S. envoy, the U.S. government will through the strategy build sustainable food systems, promote innovation, and advance trade to break the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger in Nigeria.

He explained that the Country Plan had adopted a market system approach to achieve three overarching goals, which included increasing the productivity and competitiveness of horticulture, maize, and rice value chains.

The other two goals, he said, included enhancing the capacities of vulnerable households to respond to shocks, as well as improving access to nutritious and high-quality foods.

He said: “This strategy represents one year of intensive consultation and hours of discussion and I am honored to be here to celebrate the hard work and partnership that went into its development.

“At the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022, President Biden reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to realising African food security, a key priority of the Biden-Harris Administration.

“The Global Food Security Strategy, which we are here to launch today, supports President Biden’s commitment to improve food security in Nigeria.”

Greene said that in 2022, the global pandemic, climate crisis, high energy and fertiliser prices, and protracted conflicts, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, exacerbated food insecurity.

He said that, in response, the U.S. and African leaders, whose countries disproportionately bore the brunt of the impact, strengthened ties to refocus and expand public and private sector investments to address the root causes of the food crisis.

“Nigeria is currently experiencing a severe food crisis due to insecurity, inflation, currency devaluation, the increased cost of inputs, trade restrictions, climate change, and post-harvest loss.

“In January 2024, Nigeria recorded an over thirty-five (35) per cent increase in food prices, making it difficult for the 84 million Nigerians living below the poverty line to buy food.

“If we project out into the future, global food demand will double by 2050, and yet at the same time key staple crops are showing a decrease of up to 30 percent,” the envoy said.

Greene noted that, while climate change was causing extreme weather conditions like drought and floods, it was even more challenging for smallholder farmers to increase yields and incomes.

He said that Nigeria was ranked the sixth least prepared globally to confront climate change, stressing that it must focus on adaptation if food security was to be achieved.

“Climate change is leading to ever-more disastrous shocks, and with so many of the harshest impacts falling on poor farmers, how do we break the cycle of lurching from food crisis to food crisis?

“We are working to answer this question by developing innovations to assist the millions of farmers in Nigeria, including the 70 percent of smallholder farmers who still rely on rain-fed agriculture,” the envoy said.

According to Greene, in order to achieve the aims of the partnership, the U.S. government is providing broad assistance across Nigeria to support agriculture development.

He disclosed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), invested almost $200 million in agriculture for the last five years to improve food security and build household resilience to shocks in eleven Nigerian states.

He listed the states to include Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, and Yobe.

The envoy said that the U.S. government also provided modest grants to 33 private-sector companies to leverage over $150 million in private-sector development, and generated $306 million in domestic sales, and created over 23,000 jobs.

He noted that USAID was one of many U.S. government agencies promoting agricultural development in Nigeria, adding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had inaugurated a $22 million, five-year investment in Nigeria’s cocoa value chain in seven states.

“In February 2023, the U.S. Department of State launched the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils in partnership with the African Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

“The U.S. is advancing the partnership by directing $150 million globally towards USAID and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) crop and soil activities.

“The United States also supports the AU’s upcoming Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi in May, which will provide an opportunity to collaborate with African governments and institutions on the development of soil action plans.    

“Nigeria is doing fantastic biotech agricultural research and development – they may in fact be the leader in Africa in biotech ag R&D.

“They just became the second country in Africa to approve the commercialization of GE corn (after South Africa) by taking part in an African-wide AATF research effort “TELA Maize”, which was funded by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” Greene said.

The U.S. envoy said that Nigeria’s potential to drive agriculture-led economic growth was endless, and the U.S. government and partners were ready to support Nigeria, adding that Nigerians were best placed to solve the issues that affect them.

He, however, said that for ideas to grow and drive economic development, the Nigerian government must create an enabling environment that supports private sector-led growth and entrepreneurship.

“U.S. companies and other U.S. private sector stakeholders are eager to help Nigeria improve agricultural productivity, trade, and food security.

“However, clear and transparent tax and investment rules are needed for meaningful growth.

“Food must be available to buy, and prices must be affordable for all Nigerians.

“The Nigerian government should embrace the adoption of genetically modified crops to boost the productivity and income of smallholder farmers while removing trade restrictions, including food and agricultural import bans.  Competition and free trade fosters creativity and efficiency.

“The choices that we make today and the remainder of this decade and how we tackle these challenges, in my view, will determine the direction the entire world takes in the decades to come,” the U.S. envoy stressed(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

By Martha Agas
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has suspended its food disposal initiative following a stampede that claimed seven lives on Feb. 23.

The unfortunate incident was during the distribution of 25Kg bags of rice at its Zonal Headquarters, Yaba, Lagos State

The service announced the suspension in a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday.

Maiwada said that the suspension was part of the service’s resolve to ensure the safety of Nigerians and to enable it properly articulate its next line of action, in order not to defeat the vision of the initiative.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NCS had announced on Feb. 20 that it would facilitate the direct disposal of food items forfeited to the Federal Government.

The initiative was in response to the current challenges of food security in Nigeria and the increasingly high costs of essential food items.

It also targeted an improvement in the lives of indigents.

The distribution of 25kg of rice, thus, commenced on Feb. 23 at the discounted price of N10,000 in Lagos.

The service said that the exercise would be managed to ensure that the benefits reach the most needy.

According to the service spokesperson, the bags of rice were out of stock during the pilot distribution, which led to heightened desperation among the crowd.

“Unforeseen challenges arose when we ran out of stock and announced the continuation of the exercise the following day, leading to a regrettable outcome.

“The crowd became desperate and charged through our barricades in search of rice bags inside emptied containers. In the stampede that ensued, some fatalities and injuries were regrettably recorded.

“Considering the recent unfortunate event, we regrettably announce the suspension of this exercise until we establish what transpired on Friday, 23 February 2024,” he said.

He said that an internal investigation had been initiated to understand the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate event.

The service commiserated with the families of the deceased and assured them of its unwavering support.

“NCS is working with hospital authorities to establish contact and engage directly with the victims’ families regarding their next steps,” he said.

In a similar development, the Spokesperson, in an interview with NAN, said that the process of selling the rice was in line with its regulations.

He said that the money collected from the sales was going directly into the federation account.

This was in reaction to critics who had argued that the bag of rice sold at N10,000 was supposed to be given free to the vulnerable in the society.

He said that the items had monetary value and were sold at that amount to generate revenue for the government.
.
“Even though the amount of revenue collected through this scheme is inconsequential compared to what we collect as revenue, we need to recoup the value of duty that would have been collected on those items if they were imported into Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, the price of the rice was discounted to enable indigents afford it.

“But it was later given out for free because of the mammoth crowd at the distribution centre,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

MAA/ETS

=========

By Okeoghene Akubuike

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says prices of beef, rice, beans, onion, tomato, and other food items increased in January.

It said this in its Selected Food Prices Watch report for January 2024, released in Abuja on Tuesday.

The report said that the average price of 1kg of boneless beef increased by 37.08 per cent from N2,418.91 recorded in January of 2023 to N3,315.78 in January 2024

“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of boneless beef increased by 5. 37 per cent in January from the N3,146.94 recorded in December 2023,’’ the report said.

It said that the average price of 1kg of local rice increased by 98.47 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N514.83 recorded in January 2023 to N1,021.79 in January 2024.

“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of local rice increased by 11.31 per cent from the N917.93 recorded in December 2023.”

It said that the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 64.42 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N593.96 in January 2023 to N976.58 in January 2024.

“On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 12.16 per cent from the N870.67 recorded in December 2023 to N976.58 in January 2024.’’

The NBS said the average price of 1kg of onion bulb rose by 97.38 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N446.44 in January 2023 to N881.20 in January 2024.

“However, on a month-on-month basis, the price decreased by 9.33 per cent from N971.86 recorded in December 2023.’’

The report said that the average price of 1kg of tomato increased by 80.98 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N467.04 in January 2023 to N845.26 in January 2024.

“On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of tomato increased by 3.82 per cent from N814.16 in December 2023 to N845.26 in January 2024.”

On state profile analysis, the report showed that in January 2024,the highest average price of 1kg of boneless beef was recorded in Abuja at N4,000, while the lowest price was recorded in Gombe at N2,639.

It said that Abuja recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N1,350, while the lowest was recorded in Benue at N800.64

The NBS said that the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans was recorded in Akwa Ibom at N1,466.67, while the lowest price was recorded in Adamawa at N677.23.

It said the highest average price of 1kg of onion bulb was recorded in Rivers at N1,454.09 while the lowest was recorded in Zamfara at N435.71.

According to the report, Delta recorded the highest average price of 1kg of tomato at N1,474.79 while Kano recorded the lowest price at N422.7.

Analysis by zone showed that the average price of 1kg of boneless beef was highest in the South-East at N3,761.32, followed by the South-West at N3,608.76.

“The lowest price was recorded in the North-East at N2,854,86.”

The North-Central and South-West recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N1,083.36 and N1067.39 respectively, while the lowest price was in the North-East at N941.57.

The report said that the South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans at NN1,296.66, followed by the South-East at N1,088.18 , while the North-West recorded the lowest price at N729.95.

It said that the South-South and South-West recorded the highest average price of 1kg of onion bulb at N1,331.74 and N1,024.89, respectively, while the lowest was recorded in the North-West at N525.60.

The NBS said also that the South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of Tomato at N1,321.47, followed by the South-West at NN1,029.25.

“The North-West recorded the lowest price of 1kg of tomato at N490.94,’’ the NBS said . (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

====

Edited by Vivian Ihechu