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 poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges

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Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges

Dr. Eddy Olafeso, the Director General of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council for the Ondo state governorship election, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of vote-buying in his unit at N10,000 per voter.

Olafeso, who spoke after voting at his polling unit 005 Olumekun compound, Ward 12, Idepe, Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo state, said the election was peaceful in his area.

According to him, ” We have been here around 8am and everything appears in line with the electoral law especially the area i voted but our fears is the APC that has not done anything for the people in the last four years are moulding up the process by paying N10,000 to each voters, we have witnessed it here and we have complained and it appears intractable.

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“For us, no matter the kind of profligacy they are introducing into the electoral process, truth will prevail in the final analysis.

“You know it is a long process and voting is the first stage , we are waiting for it to be uploaded into IREV, we are waiting to take our from E8CA to ensure that everything is appropriately recorded.

“Like I said, the only fear is the vote buying the APC is trying to entrench into the culture of voting in Nigeria.”

 

Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges

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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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