Oboh Linus

Nasarawa State Government says it has begun distribution of free fertiliser to 73,500 farmers across the state to boost food production.

Mr Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Gov. Abdullahi Sule disclosed this at a press conference on Tuesday in Lafia.

Ahemba explained that the gesture was meant to further boost farming activities and enhance food security in the state and the country.

According to him, 500 farmers from each of the 147 electoral wards across the state will benefit from the gesture.

Ahemba added that chairmen of the 13 local government areas of the state also got 100 bags of fertiliser each to be applied in local government farms.

He said that the initiative was in line with President Bola Tinubu administration’s  Renewed Hope Food Security Agenda.

The governor’s aide said that as part of government’s commitment to revamp the agricultural sector, it had cultivated 3,500 hectares of rice at the state farm Jangwa,  Awe Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nasarawa State Government in 2024, acquired 10,000 hectares of farmland at Jangwa in Awe and cultivated 2,000 hectares of rice farm.

Ahemba restated government’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for investment in the agriculture sector through the timely provision of improved farm inputs and implements to increase production.

On rural infrastructural development, Ahemba said that government had concluded plans to construct rural roads.

“The access roads are in line with the administration of Gov. Sule’s determination to open up rural communities to have easy access to enable them to transport their farm produce to urban areas without hitches,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Isaac Ukpoju

By Mercy Omoike

Some Lagos residents have lamented the high cost of tomatoes across the country opting for alternatives to the produce.

The residents in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos said the high cost of the produce made them seek alternatives in line with the current economic realities.

A resident at Amuwo area of the state, Mrs Olachi Iroha, said she uses the alternative of palm kernel for stews due to the high cost of tomatoes.

“Tomato is actually expensive now, so if the costs keep rising, we will switch to the alternative.

“I bought a small paint bucket for N8,000 recently after much plea, if the situation continues like this, we will put the purchase of tomatoes on hold.

“I will go on to use palm kernel stew popularly known as ‘ofe akwu’, if I cannot afford tomatoes when next I want to make a pot of stew.

“There is nothing we can do about the situation, we will just buy what we can afford,” she said.

Also, Mrs Temitope Babalola-Hodonu, a resident at Alimosho area of the state, hoped for a drop in the price of the produce, while lamenting how much she had to spend for the same quantity she usually buys.

“I bought a mini basket over the weekend at N50,000. I felt so bad spending so much on what I would have bought at N15,000 or N18,000 weeks back.

“The tomato is not even readily available in the market, so I quickly had to buy the one I saw.

“We do hope for a change in this situation, because not everybody likes tomato alternatives,” she said.

Also, a cooked food seller, popularly known as Iya Adetoun, at Dopemu area of the state, said the cost of tomato is crippling profits in the food catering business.

“We have not been finding it easy in the cooking business since this hike in tomato prices, and we cannot use alternative for mass cooking.

“A small bucket of tomatoes that I used to buy for N6,000 or N7,000 was sold to me for N35,000 over the weekend.

“We hope the price drops because how can we break even if we continue buying at this exorbitant price?” she said.

On her part, Mrs Anne Odafe, a resident at Ago Palace Way area of the state, said she augments the little tomatoes she can buy with tin tomatoes.

“The price of tomatoes is currently too expensive and cannot meet the volume I need to prepare for my family.

“Tomatoes worth N4,000 cannot go anywhere if you consider the quantity of stew you need to prepare. Some people blend cucumbers with their tomatoes to increase the quantity.

“What I do is that I add more tin tomatoes than usual, just to boost the quantity my family needs,” Odafe said.

Another consumer, Mrs Ifeoma Okoye, said she uses cucumber, spring onions and cabbage to make her stew.

“The high cost of tomato is no longer funny considering the low purchasing power of most households.

“I can’t wait for the price to drop because no alternative tastes like tomato stew,” she said.

NAN reports that 50kg of tomatoes sells as high as N50,000 up North, while the same quantity is sold between N85,000 and N100,000 from late June till date in Lagos. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Segun Giwa

The President of Ondo State Farmers Congress, Comrade Abayomi Monilari, has called on government to provide subsidies and implement policies to help farmers achieve food security amid hardship.

Monilari made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of Eminent Peace Ambassador Award on Tuesday at the Dome International Conference Centre, Akure.

The ceremony was held in commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Cooperatives, celebrated annually, which promotes the values of cooperation, mutual support, and collective action.

This year’s theme highlights the importance of cooperative movements in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Monilari was honoured as an Eminent Peace Ambassador and Global Diplomat by the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA).

He pointed out that in most developed countries where food is sufficient, the government provides subsidies for farmers to enable them to sell food products at an affordable price.

“One of the key strategies for achieving food security is to empower smallholder farmers, who are the backbone of our agricultural sector.

“This can be done by providing them with training, resources, and market access.

“Additionally, investing in agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems, storage facilities, and transportation networks will help to improve the efficiency and productivity of our food system.

“Ultimately, my mission is to ensure that every citizen of Ondo State and Nigeria has access to nutritious food, know the health status of the food they consume and that our food system is resilient, sustainable, and equitable.

“By working together, we can achieve food security, improve the health and well-being of our citizens, and contribute to the economic development of our state and nation,” stated.

NAN reports that Monilari was honoured alongside other distinguished Peace Ambassadors for his outstanding contributions to peacebuilding and crime reduction efforts across Ondo State.

He described the award as a strong motivation to continue his advocacy and community-driven interventions aimed at fostering harmony and security.

Speaking, the President of the Association, His Eminence Amb. Per Stafsen, the International Director of IAWPA, said the gathering was to strengthen peacebuilding initiatives.

Stafsen, represented by the International Director of IAWPA, Mr Chidi Ehiriado, stressed the importance of rejecting divisions based on religion or ethnicity.

He urged citizens to think globally but act locally in their contributions to peace and development.

He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

One of the major highlights of the event was the conferment of Eminent Peace Ambassador and Global Diplomat honours on distinguished personalities for their commitment to peace and community development.

Among the recipients were the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye; and the Commander of the Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun), Akogun Adetunji Adeleye.

Earlier, Apostle Francis Adegbenro, President of YES, emphasised the need for peace in nation building.

“There can be no cooperation without peace, and where youths are helpless, the entire society becomes vulnerable,” he said.

The event concluded with a renewed call for stakeholders to harness the power of cooperative systems in driving sustainable peace and development. (NAN)(www.nannnews.ng)

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have pledged their commitment to ensure enhanced and sustainable investments in Nigeria’s agricultural sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

They spoke on the sidelines of the 2025 World Cassava Day declared open by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, held at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Shettima said Tinubu’s administration had repositioned cassava production to ensure that it becomes a key driver of industrial development and import substitution in Nigeria.

He stated that the government’s agenda for the sector was hinged on leveraging the crop as capital for reengineering the nation’s economy, strengthening rural livelihoods, and ensuring national food and energy security.

On his part, the Director of Strategy, Cavista Holdings, Mr Kabir Shagaya, spoke on ‘Unlocking Capital for Cassava: Scaling Financial Access for Inclusive Industrialisation.’

Shagaya said the company had made significant investments in driving economic inclusion, job creation and national development in the country.

He revealed that the company had invested over $200 million in investments locally in the last five years and it would invest more funds over the next few years.

“In Ekiti, we have actually committed $150 million to smallholder farmers to help encourage the farming of cassava.

“Our approach is very simple, every investment we make is firmly anchored on this philosophy.

“Agbeyewa Farms as we are seeing today, the 10,000 hectares farms that we acquired in Ekiti, the 5,000 hectares currently under cultivation, using 30 tonnes per hectares.

“We also have another investment in the Financial Technology Company, we have three licenses with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),” Shagaya said

He thanked  Shettima for his continued support for the company and its projects in Nigeria and abroad.

Also, Olumide Olayomi, Executive Director/Vice President, Government and External Affairs, Cavista Holdings, said the organisation believed in possibilities in its bold investment in Cassava through Agbeyewa Farms.

“What began as an ambitious vision has now taken root as a driving enterprise in Ekiti with about 5,000 hectares currently under cultivation.

“Thousands of jobs created, a vibrant partnership with the Ekiti Government with whom we signed an agreement in 2024 in Dallas to cultivate 100,000 hectares of cassava over the next 10 years,” he added.

Similarly, Mr Seyi Aiyeleso, Managing Director, Agbeyewa Farms, who spoke on ‘Cassava Value Chain in Focus: Strengthening Linkages from Farms to Global Markets’, said the farm focused on cultivation, processing, trading of cassava and its byproducts.

He said the farm was tackling food insecurity, driving economic development and modernising farming in Ekiti and setting a scalable template for Africa.

“In Agbeyewa Farms, we are proud to be at the forefront of Nigeria’s ongoing agricultural transformation.

“Just over four years ago, Agbeyewa Farms began operations in the quiet town of Ekiti, with 102 hectares, a handful of staff and a dream to prove that agriculture in Nigeria can be industrious, investment ready and globally competitive.

“This year, we have over 5,000 hectares under cultivation, 10,000 hectares next year and have signed a landmark 10-year agreement with the Ekiti Government to cultivate 100,000 hectares,” the managing director added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani