32m consumers targeted for consumption of bio-fortified cassava, maize – Newstrends
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32m consumers targeted for consumption of bio-fortified cassava, maize

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The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Nigeria is targeting 32 million consumers of bio-fortified maize and cassava in eight states across Nigeria by 2022.

The Project Manager, Ijudai Jasada, disclosed this during stakeholders and value chain actors’ round-table engagement in the promotion and consumption of Vitamin A maize in Niger State.

According to him, 80 local government areas in eight states would scale up the implementation of bio-fortified cassava and maize production.

Jasada stated that for the Vitamin A cassava, the project targets to reach one million consumers directly and nine million consumers indirectly by the end of the project.

He also stated that for the Vitamin A maize, the project targets to reach five million consumers directly and 17 million consumers indirectly by the end of 2022.

The Project Manager said the eight states involved are Imo, Niger, Kaduna and Oyo for Vitamin A Maize and Osun, Cross River, Nasarawa and Anambra for Vitamin A cassava.

He said the commercialisation of bio-fortified crops project aims to expand production and consumption of bio-fortified crops and foods through market development and to increase farmers’ productivity towards achieving food security in Niger State and Nigeria.

According to him, the measure is also part of efforts at improving nutritional output in rural areas to address the problem of malnutrition.

The Niger State Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industries, Mustapha Jubril, said the importance of Vitamin A to our body development and immunity and its economic benefits to the farmers cannot be overemphasised.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Baba Wachiko Yahaya, stated that the state is ready to partner with the organisation to promote the consumption of Vitamin A in maize in Niger State.

The Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Economic Affairs, Hussaini Ahmed, assured that the state government would avail farmers with fortified Vitamin A products which would help to address night blindness and other related diseases in addition to improving the revenue base of Niger State

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Ondo: INEC new challenge as 1.7 million votes decide next gov today

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Ondo: INEC new challenge as 1.7 million votes decide next gov today

Today, 1,757,205 registered voters in Ondo State will head to polling stations across its 18 local government areas to elect a new governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.

This marks an increase in the number of registered voters compared to the 2020 election, which had 1,647,973 registered voters, of which only 580,887 votes were recorded.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness for the exercise, deploying 4,002 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices across 3,933 polling units, with 812 units on standby in case of technical hitches.

Speaking on the commission’s preparations, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, assured the public that sensitive materials were distributed on Thursday to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) for timely deployment.

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Tinubu calls for peaceful polls

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on stakeholders and voters to uphold peace during and after the election. Through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu emphasised the importance of the election reflecting the people’s will.

“The president reminds all political stakeholders, especially the candidates, that governance is a privilege bestowed by the people. This privilege must be respected, and Nigerians deserve a free and fair election to consolidate our democracy,” the statement read.

Tinubu also commended the security agencies’ preparedness, with the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff, assuring professionalism during the exercise.

Ondo: INEC new challenge as 1.7 million votes decide next gov today

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Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes 

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Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes 

 

The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was on Friday laid to rest in Abuja, amid tears and tributes.

President Bola Tinubu conferred a posthumous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff.

The burial took place at the National Cemetery in Abuja to end two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.

His body was lowered into the grave at exactly 4:41pm after the ceremony that lasted over two hours.

Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

Dignitaries were led to the event by President Bola Tinubu. Others are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and other top government officials and military brass.

President Tinubu announced the conferment of the CFR on the late COAS during the interment at the National Cemetery in Abuja.

The President extolled the virtues of the late warrior, especially his contributions to national security.

According to him, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.

“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the posthumous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu declared.

He thereafter invited the wife of the late COAS, Mariya, to collect the award on behalf of the Lagbaja family amid applause from the congregation.

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Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality

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Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality

The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs.

The court held that the laws establishing the anti-corruption agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence.

It faulted the claim by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being a product of the United Nations convention on corruption, ought to be ratified by majority of the state houses of assembly.

Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Abba-Aji ruled that “the EFCC Act, which was not established from a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly.”

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