By Felicia Imohimi

The Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) and Oxfam in Nigeria have urged the Federal Government to commence implementation of the Right to Food Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Right to Food Act (5th Alteration Act No 34, 2023) was passed into law on March 3, to increase citizens’ access to affordable food.

They made the call at a world news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, organised by FIF, a foundation promoting policy and best practices in agriculture and rural development.

It was organised in partnership with Voices for Food Security and Oxfarm in Nigeria.

FIF President, Prof. Gbolagade Ayoola, told journalists that the conference was designed to advocate for the full implementation of the Act to protect citizens’ right to food.

This, he said, became necessary in view of the current economic hardship affecting a larger percentage of the country’s population, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

He said the Act empowers citizens to hold government accountable in policy implementation and failure to meet their food needs and entitlement.

According to him, the government has the obligation, as provided by the Act, to respect and fulfil the right of citizens to food, adding that it entails regulation of activities of state and non-state actors and bodies inimical to people’s food entitlement.

“The obligation stipulates the limit of the state’s exercise of power, which includes refraining from destroying people’s access to food through unfavorable public policies.

“It also involves the provision of food assistance to poor and other vulnerable groups such as children at home or in school, nursing mothers, and internally displaced persons among others.

“This obligation underscores the role of agriculture as a social investment sector.”

Also speaking, Dr William Mafwalal, acting Head of Programme, Oxfam in Nigeria, expressed readiness of the organisation towards supporting policies and programmes that ensure food security and gender mainstreaming.

Mafwalal said that Oxfam in Nigeria, FIF and other organisations have supported the realisation of the Act that took 13 years to come to fruition.

According to him, the full implementation of the Act will ensure that everyone has access to food irrespective of his or her financial status. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Philip Yatai

By Philip Yatai

The Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, began a four-week mass vaccination of cattle to curb the spread of Anthrax in the FCT.

The acting Secretary of the secretariat, Alhaji Ishaq Sadeeq, inaugurated the exercise in Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.

According to him, the mass vaccination exercise is targeting at least one million cattle across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Sadeeq explained that the move became necessary following the confirmation of the disease in Suleja, Niger, one of the neighbouring states of the federal capital.

He thanked the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, for approving the purchase of one million doses of the vaccine, which scientists have identified as the most effective way of preventing the disease.

He said that the vaccination exercise, which would last four weeks, would be carried out simultaneously across the 62 wards of the six Area Councils of the FCT.

He explained that the exercise was part of the FCT Administration’s proactiveness and readiness to combat the disease.

“The FCT Administration had since the announcement of the outbreak in Ghana earlier this year, carried out a series of outreach campaigns to sensitise residents, particularly livestock owners and butchers, about Anthrax disease.

“The sensitisation was to avail them with the knowledge of signs and symptoms, as well as effective measures they can adopt to protect themselves and their animals from contracting and spreading the disease,” he said.

He appealed for the co-operation of livestock owners with the veterinary health workers, to ensure the success of the exercise.

He equally advised livestock owners against selling or slaughtering any animal with visible symptoms of the disease, and report suspected cases to any of the FCT Veterinary Clinics.

“While our veterinary personnel have been put on alert to attend to any emergency cases, we will be working closely with the Health and Human Services Secretariat to attend to human cases involving livestock owners,” he added.

The Director of Veterinary Services, FCT, Dr Regina Adulugba, described Anthrax as a “fatal disease” to both animal and humans, which can be contracted through open wounds, airborne and from consuming infected animals.

Adulugba said, “the best protection against the disease is vaccinating the animals and that is what we are here to do.

“It is deadly because it is zoonotic. Zoonotic means it can affect human and it can affect animals. So, it is dangerous, and it spreads by too many means.

“If you have a wounded skin, it can affect the wound and then infect the person, or it can spread even through the air, or it can spread from consumption of meat.

“That is why we advised them not to slaughter any sick animal for now. If an animal is sick, they should allow it to die and then we see if it is positive.

“It is safer for them as cattle owners, their children and their families, because it can affect human and it is very deadly in human as it is deadly in animals.”

On his part, Malam Yahaya Isa, Chairman, Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), FCT Chapter, commended the FCTA for the proactive step.

Isa, who is also the Deputy National Secretary of the association, said that the move would not only protect livestock against the disease, but also save investment and human lives.

He commended the FCTA for being the first to take such a proactive step in the country to prevent further spread of the disease.

“The entire Fulani herders’ community are happy and are fully prepared to comply with arrangement.

“Our people are ready to cooperate with the officials everywhere. We have even mobilised in each area council, some group of youths to back them up wherever they are going,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Philip Yatai

The Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, began a four-week mass vaccination of cattle to curb the spread of Anthrax in the FCT.

The acting Secretary of the secretariat, Alhaji Ishaq Sadeeq, inaugurated the exercise in Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.

According to him, the mass vaccination exercise is targeting at least one million cattle across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Sadeeq explained that the move became necessary following the confirmation of the disease in Suleja, Niger, one of the neighbouring states of the federal capital.

He thanked the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, for approving the purchase of one million doses of the vaccine, which scientists have identified as the most effective way of preventing the disease.

He said that the vaccination exercise, which would last four weeks, would be carried out simultaneously across the 62 wards of the six Area Councils of the FCT.

He explained that the exercise was part of the FCT Administration’s proactiveness and readiness to combat the disease.

“The FCT Administration had since the announcement of the outbreak in Ghana earlier this year, carried out a series of outreach campaigns to sensitise residents, particularly livestock owners and butchers, about Anthrax disease.

“The sensitisation was to avail them with the knowledge of signs and symptoms, as well as effective measures they can adopt to protect themselves and their animals from contracting and spreading the disease,” he said.

He appealed for the co-operation of livestock owners with the veterinary health workers, to ensure the success of the exercise.

He equally advised livestock owners against selling or slaughtering any animal with visible symptoms of the disease, and report suspected cases to any of the FCT Veterinary Clinics.

“While our veterinary personnel have been put on alert to attend to any emergency cases, we will be working closely with the Health and Human Services Secretariat to attend to human cases involving livestock owners,” he added.

The Director of Veterinary Services, FCT, Dr Regina Adulugba, described Anthrax as a “fatal disease” to both animal and humans, which can be contracted through open wounds, airborne and from consuming infected animals.

Adulugba said, “the best protection against the disease is vaccinating the animals and that is what we are here to do.

“It is deadly because it is zoonotic. Zoonotic means it can affect human and it can affect animals. So, it is dangerous, and it spreads by too many means.

“If you have a wounded skin, it can affect the wound and then infect the person, or it can spread even through the air, or it can spread from consumption of meat.

“That is why we advised them not to slaughter any sick animal for now.  If an animal is sick, they should allow it to die and then we see if it is positive.

“It is safer for them as cattle owners, their children and their families, because it can affect human and it is very deadly in human as it is deadly in animals.”

On his part, Malam Yahaya Isa, Chairman, Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), FCT Chapter, commended the FCTA for the proactive step.

Isa, who is also the Deputy National Secretary of the association, said that the move would not only protect livestock against the disease, but also save investment and human lives.

He commended the FCTA for being the first to take such a proactive step in the country to prevent further spread of the disease.

“The entire Fulani herders’ community are happy and are fully prepared to comply with arrangement.

“Our people are ready to cooperate with the officials everywhere. We have even mobilised in each area council, some group of youths to back them up wherever they are going,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Suleiman Shehu

The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)  said it had detected a new virus disease attacking Okra plants across Nigeria.

This is made known in a statement issued by NIHORT management and made available to newsmen on Friday in Ibadan.

The institute said that reports were being received from farmers across Nigeria concerning the new and uncommon virus-like symptoms on okra farms leading to rapid disease outbreak resulting in more than 70 per cent loss of okra plants in certain situations.

The management said that observation by multidisciplinary team from NIHORT on ad hoc visits to okra farms, revealed an unusual symptom in okra consisting of leaf curl associated with enations or outgrowths.

They are distinct from the usual leaf curl and/or vein yellowing symptoms known with virus-infected okra plants.

The statement also said that, high population of aphids and leafhoppers were observed on the leaves of okra plants in farms that were inspected.

“This epidemic has assumed a nationwide occurrence, having been reported in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos (South west) and Niger states.

“Farmers should look out for the symptoms of the new virus disease: high population of aphids and leafhoppers (vectors); and initial expression of small pin-head enations or outgrowths on the under surface of okra leaves.

“This is followed by a warty and rough texture of leaves, with leaves curling upwards while affected plants show a twisting of the necrotic leaves becoming thick and leathery,” the management said.

The institute said that the curling and enations were more prevalent on leaves that developed, soon after infection than in later leaves, and okra plants were severely stunted with small fruits mostly deformed, which made it unfit for marketing.

The management said that the institute was on the alert to curtail the outbreak in view of the devastating and negative economic impact on okra farmers nationwide.

The management said that the institute wanted the numerous stakeholders across the country to be aware of this potential threat to okra production.

“NIHORT feels it is expedient to keep farmers abreast of this development and the associated symptoms expression of this new virus attack, especially the farmers that are yet to experience the occurrence of these insect pests.

“Meanwhile, the palliative or interim control measure that could be adopted to contain these evasive vectors is spraying the okra farm(s) with synthetic insecticide at 20ml/15lt of water weekly under severe infestations,” the statement said.

The management said that research was being intensified on developing a sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) package to arrest the new virus epidemic attacking okra production. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman