News
Agric Minister frowns at traders hoarding food stuff, alleges sabotage
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security has said that traders hoarding food commodities and engaging speculative trading are not fair to Tinubu’s Government.
This he said, just as he issued a warning that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to scale up food production in the country.
The minister stated this in Abuja at a special Ramadan lecture/Iftar organised by the SA to the President on Agriculture and Food Security, Hin. Mufutau Yinusa and the Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023, a major support group of the president during the 2023 presidential election.
The lecture had as its theme: “Gratitude, Patience and Vision: Embracing challenges with Optimism”.
The minister who decried the increasing cost of food items, said that apart from insecurity that has affected agricultural production, hoarding of foodstuffs has further exacerbated the situation in the country.
“Some of the problems we are facing is also man made, hoarding for instance and speculative trade by commodity traders is also very huge.
“We have seen and discovered some ware houses in big commodity areas where even gates are removed and walls built just to hoard food stuffs inside.
“So when you look at those things and say it’s Bola Tinubu, I think we are not being fair to the administration of this government.
“So we have to look inward, we all have a role to play,” he said.
Kyari said the Federal Government would continue to work round the clock to ensure to food security for the nation, while addressing the insecurity challenge frontally.
Also, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, in his goodwill message at the event urged Muslims to use the Ramadan period to pray for the nation and it’s leaders.
“Almighty Allah has urged us, if we want his help and want him to change our pain, our situation, we must also change our ways.
“We don’t have any country than Nigeria and President Ahmed Tinubu has said it times without number, he is here to make a difference and he wants everybody to support him,” Abdullahi said.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to address the economic challenges facing the nation.
Sheik Muhammad Kabir, Imam of Abuja National Mosque in his lecture admonished Muslims to shun corruption, while contributing positively to nation building.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to continue to pray and support the current administration in addressing the myriad of problems confronting the country.
The SA to the President on Agriculture and Food Security, Mufutau Yinusa said the lecture was part of efforts to support the current administration and reach out to the grassroots.
The Director-General, Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023, Barr. Realwan Okpanachi expressed optimism that Nigeria will soon surmount its challenges looking at the track records and experience of President Bola Tinubu.
The lecture/Iftar (breaking of fast) was attended by Islamic scholars, politicians and Muslims from all walks of life.
Another explosion has rocked the Soku oil
facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Sunday’s fire is the second in a week after an explosion hit the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, thus raising concerns of sabotage.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a prominent grassroots NGO active across the Niger Delta, confirmed the incident on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement signed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, its executive director, YEAC disclosed that its youth volunteers reported an early morning explosion accompanied by fireballs at the facility, which is operated by Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited.
“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” Fyneface stated.
The cause of fire at the gas station in Toru LGA was not yet clear at the time of the press, but speculations about equipment failure to sabotage or even deliberate attack was rife.
It marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State within a week, intensifying concerns over the state’s oil infrastructure.
The first explosion occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. The latter incident was referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on March 18, during which he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
In response to the escalating security challenges, President Tinubu took decisive action by suspending the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The move followed allegations that the governor failed to protect the state’s critical oil infrastructure.
Tensions have further heightened following a viral video in which some youths issued warnings against the governor’s impeachment.
The recent string of explosions has raised alarm among stakeholders in the Niger Delta, a region already grappling with environmental degradation and security issues tied to oil production. With fires still raging at the Soku facility, calls for an urgent investigation and enhanced security measures around oil infrastructure have grown louder.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
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