Politics
2024 Budget: N300 billion agric allocation aims to tackle hunger in Nigeria – Senator Adeola
Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan representing Ogun West Senatorial District, said about N300 billion was allocated to Agriculture in the 2024 budget that was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on the eve of New Year.
He said, the 2024 N28.7 trillion annual budget which was passed and signed into law was aimed at tackling hunger and poverty in the land.
He assured Nigerians to keep hope in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that legislators raised the budget to the figure that was passed based on some extraneous salient issues that must be tackled, one of which he said, was policy of addressing hunger in Nigeria.
Adeola who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation stated this on Wednesday in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun state while speaking with newsmen at the sideline of a New Year Thanksgiving party celebration he organised to appreciate his constituents in Ogun West and supporters across Ogun State.
He expressed optimism that hunger would be lessened through conscious programmes targeted at the poor people, adding that President Bola Tinubu bought into the idea and was working to end the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
According to him, President Tinubu happily signed the budget into law when he realized the much attention given to tackling poverty in the provision by the upper and lower lawmakers.
He said, the 29.7 trillion budget signed into law has agricultural sector gulping over N300 billion alone, which he said was a show of commitment that the administration meant well for Nigerians, adding that the country would be concentrating of food production and food security this year.
“As you can see, the president has signed the appropriation bill into law, we now have a N28.7 trillion appropriation bill and out of which Agricultural alone is taking over N300 billion.
“What that simply means is that the government of the day is determined to end hunger in the country and will be doing so much in the area of food production.
“Also In ending hunger in the land, we (the lawmakers) have done so much in the appropriation act that was just recently signed by Mr President to ensure food security in Nigeria,” he said.
Adeola stressed that the 2024 budget would cater for all other areas that would bring about meaningful development to the nooks and crannies of the country.
Speaking on his new year celebration party, he stated that the only way to express appreciation to his supporters was to bring them together, thank them and appreciate God for giving them all the opportunity to witness another year.
He promised that Ogun West Senatorial district would witness a representation that would be second to none in the history of the district.
“We have started a lot of developmental projects across the length and breath of the senatorial districts in the area of education, health, road construction, security and also engaged in activities that will assist, financially, the good people of Ogun West Senatorial District.” he said
Among the personalities at the event in his country home in Ilaro- Yewaincluded, wife of Ogun governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun , Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako.
Others included Ogun State APC Chairman, Yemi Sanusi, House of Representative member, Afolabi Afuape, Hon. Kunle Adeyemi, traditional rulers and Ogun House of Assembly members among others
The immediate past deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Dr Emana Ambrose Amawhe has resigned her membership of the party with immediate effect.
In a letter dated 28th March, 2025 addressed to the Chairman of Edem Odo Ward in Akpabuyo Local Government Council of Cross River State, she said, her resignation was with immediate effect.
She pointed out in the letter that her resignation should not be taken lightly, while she reaffirmed her commitment to and readiness to serve the government of Cross River and Nigeria in general in any capacities.
She said, “I am writing to formally resign my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect.
”I sincerely appreciate the opportunity given to me over time to contribute my quota to the growth of the party and the chance to serve as the Deputy Governorship Candidate in the last general elections.
”It was a privilege to be part of the PDP’s vision and engage with our people in meaningful ways. However, after much reflection in light of the current state of affairs within the party, I believe it is time for me to move on.
“This decision was not made lightly, but I remain committed to serving my community and contributing to the progress of our state and nation in other capacities.”
Ambrose-Amawhe was the running mate to Senator Sandy Onor in the 2023 governorship election in Cross River.
She had also contested for the House of Representatives seat for the Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency under the PDP.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State Chapter, Chief Tony Okocha, has defended the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state, citing escalating security threats.
According to Chief Okocha, Rivers State was on the brink of anarchy due to increasing security concerns in various parts of the state.
Okocha made this statement while addressing journalists at the APC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Justifying the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency, Okocha commended the President for his “timely” intervention and criticized those opposing the decision.
“The state of emergency called by Mr. President saved Rivers State from anarchy. When you see non-state actors brandishing guns and making statements that promote lawlessness, then you should know there is a problem.
“I see some people jumping onto television platforms to cast aspersions on Mr. President and condemn what they do not understand. Mr. President knows more than they do.
“The truth of the matter is that Rivers State was headed towards anarchy. We all know Rivers is one of the states that sustain this country. Some of the same people criticizing the President now would have also condemned him if he had done nothing.”
Chief Okocha also questioned the silence of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was demolished under Governor Fubara’s administration.
“Thank God, President Goodluck Jonathan has been president, General Obasanjo has been president, and they know that every day on their table, they receive security reports.
“I hear the NBA saying the suspension is an affront to democracy. But when the assembly complex was burned and the next day, eleven pieces of equipment were deployed to demolish it, the NBA was silent. They were alive, yet we didn’t hear anything from them”, he said.
Reacting to criticism over why the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was not sanctioned despite allegations that he contributed to the unrest, Okocha argued that Wike was not involved in the crisis.
He said, “For those asking why the Governor and members of the State House of Assembly were suspended but not the Minister of the FCT—was he in the frame? The answer is no”
Former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Adewole Adebayo said, God has told him that the party will produce the next president in 2027 general election.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokua when he met the members and executive who were led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said he could confirm that a President of SDP will mount Aso Rock villa in 2027.
“One thing that God is telling me is that there will be an SDP president in the villa in 2027.
“For the first time in a long time, we will have people who care for the people. Let’s remain focused. The problems of Nigeria are our problems, not individuals.
“We are not against Tinubu as a person but we are against hunger, inflation, poverty, insecurity, unemployment. That’s what we are against,” he said.
Buttressing Adebayo’s position on modalities of joining the party, the SDP Chairman in Ogun State, Mr. Yinka Ola-Williams, disowned 30,000 membership cards and registers allegedly being flaunted by one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2023 governorship election in the State.
Ola-Williams said the party’s door is widely opened to anybody who wants to join, but such a person or group, no matter how highly placed, must follow the procedure as laid down in the party’s constitution.
He emphatically stated that the party had nothing to do with the membership cards and registers claimed by the aspirant, who said he got them from the party’s National Secretariat.
“We want people to join us, and we want to work together to provide a better government than what we have now that will remove poverty, provide a better healthcare system for people, improve education and all.
“But not that they come to the party, hijack the party and take the structure away. That’s what we will not agree,” Ola-Williams said.
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