Buhari assures of drop in price of rice soon as PDP mocks president, APC over pyramids – Newstrends
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Buhari assures of drop in price of rice soon as PDP mocks president, APC over pyramids

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President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that with expansion in rice farming, prices of food would be more affordable for all.

The president, who spoke at the official commissioning ceremony of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)/Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Rice Paddy Pyramids at the Abuja International Trade Fair Complex, said across Nigeria, more than 4.8 million smallholder farmers had been supported by Anchor Borrowers Programme (APB), with increase in production of 23 agricultural commodities, including maize, rice, oil palm, cocoa, cotton, cassava, tomato and livestock.

According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said rice production in Nigeria has increased to over 7.5 million metric tons annually.

“Prior to the introduction of APB, the average production in Nigeria between 1999 to 2015 was less than four metric tons annually. I am aware that the bags of paddy will be moving straight from here to rice milling plants across Nigeria, which led to the release of processed rice to the markets by the rice millers. The measure will aid our efforts at reducing the price of rice in Nigeria.

“Before this administration launched the ABP, there were only 15 standard rice mills in Nigeria. As at today, we have over 50 standard and integrated rice mills creating jobs and reducing unemployment. We expect additional significant output when two new mills are started in Lagos and Katsina,” he said.

The president said the large margins in the business of rice had also encouraged more people to show interest in investing in agribusiness.

“As a critical policy of the government, the ABP is expected to catalyse the agricultural productive base of the nation, which is a major part of our economic plan to uplift the economy, create jobs, reduce reliance on imported food and industrial raw materials, and conserve foreign exchange.

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“In the implementation of the programme, adoption of high-yielding seedlings, quality inputs and best farming practices were essential features.

“For instance, the improved rice seedlings have helped to ensure our achievement of rice sufficiency, as they are disease-resistant and have an average yield of about five metric tonnes per hectare, compared with the traditional national average of 1.5 metric tonnes.

“This has resulted in bridging our rice consumption gap, a significant reduction in rice imports, and saved us foreign exchange,” he added.

The president said the commissioning of the rice pyramids was an indication that the country was making steady and assured progress towards self-sufficiency in food production.

“It is my desired hope and expectation that other agricultural commodity associations that are yet to participate under the ABP will emulate RIFAN in supporting our administration’s drive for food self-sufficiency.”

The president noted that about three years ago, the first set of sky-high pyramids of rice harvests were showcased in Argungu, Kebbi State, which was followed by another set in Minna, Niger State about a year ago and barely three months later in Zauro, Kebbi State, rice pyramids were unveiled.

President Buhari said in May 2021, the CBN unveiled the first rice pyramids in the South West of Nigeria in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

“Those events were historic as, first, they remind us of our yesteryears’ agricultural commodity pyramids, such as the groundnut pyramids in Kano and secondly, they symbolise that we can produce what we eat.

“The significance of today’s occasion can be better understood by looking at the various economic strides the administration has achieved through agriculture.

“When we assumed the reins of leadership of this country in 2015, the administration identified the ABP as an essential policy instrument for achieving economic diversification through agriculture.

“To achieve this, the ABP was designed to encourage investments in agriculture and empower smallholder farmers as drivers of transformation in the agricultural sector and as critical enablers of economic growth.

“I am, indeed, delighted that the ABP continues to receive commendations, since its introduction six years ago, as it has become one of the reference points in the administration’s agricultural revolution effort.

“In fact, the programme speaks loudly in its giant strides as it has increased access to finance by our rural farmers, who, before now, were virtually excluded from the financial system,’’ he said.

President Buhari commended the CBN for its efforts at resuscitating the Nigerian Commodity Exchange following approval to do so.

RIFAN President, Aminu Goronyo, said more than 99 percent of the paddy rice for the year was already with farmers across the nation, while the bags in the 13 pyramids would be sold to further ease and augment production.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Federal Government of using the rice pyramids as media stunt ahead of the 2023 general election.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said there was nothing to celebrate in the rice pyramids as it alleged that the bags of rice displayed were imported.

“Nigerians are already aware and the pictures abound of how the APC and its government ‘create’ fake pyramids of rice with sandbags and re-bagged rice stacked on pyramid shaped wooden structures as busted in an APC-controlled state in the South West in 2018.

“Of course, there is nothing to celebrate in the APC pyramid of lies in Abuja. It is rather shameful that APC leaders are again ridiculing President Muhammadu Buhari by making him unveil pyramids of allegedly imported foreign rice which are re-bagged as locally produced, just to create an impression of a boost in local production under his watch.

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Navy arrests suspected oil thief enroute Cameroon with 15,500 litres of PMS

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Navy arrests suspected oil thief enroute Cameroon with 15,500 litres of PMS

The Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, Akwa Ibom, has arrested a suspected oil thief enroute Cameroon with 15,500 litres of suspected Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The commanding officer, Capt. Uche Aneke, disclosed this at Ibaka while handing over the suspect and the seized product to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

Aneke said that the suspect was arrested with the exhibit at about 2:00 a.m. on Friday.

He said the navy received intelligence report that a boat was conveying suspected smuggled products through FOB Ibaka operational area and heading towards Cameroon.

”We intercepted the boat and discovered that it was laden with 15,500 litres of products suspected PMS concealed under a tarpaulin.

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”We also found a suspected smuggler onboard who was arrested immediately,” he said.

The commanding officer warned against smuggling of illegal consignments in or out of the country, saying that the navy was committed to tackling such activities.

”We are committed towards detecting every criminal move around our operational area using advanced surveillance equipment and intelligence.

”Criminals are warned, Nigeria’s water and coastal areas are not for illegal activities,” he said.

Receiving the exhibit, Mr Etefia Koko-Ette, Head, Anti Vandal Unit of the NSCDC Command in Akwa Ibom, said that further investigation would be conducted on this matter.

Navy arrests suspected oil thief enroute Cameroon with 15,500 litres of PMS

(NAN)

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3 Ondo Amotekun officers dismissed for misconduct, 7 suspects paraded

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3 Ondo Amotekun officers dismissed for misconduct, 7 suspects paraded

Adetunji Adeleye, State Commander of Amotekun corps, made the disclosure while parading seven suspects for human trafficking and house breaking before newsmen on Tuesday in Akure.

Adeleye said the three dismissed officers would be prosecuted in line with the regulations guiding the corps.

“Today, we have three Amotekun personnel that had gone through the normal process of court marshal and are being dismissed today for professional misconduct.

“They cease to be members of Amotekun Ondo State Corp as from now and we would ensure that adequate punishment would be meted out to them even after dismissal,” he said.

Adeleye, who called for more credible intelligence information from residents, said that a vehicle, which was stolen by armed bandits around Akure community, was recovered through timely information.

According to him, the electronics equipment also stolen from a resident of the community was recovered and investigations are ongoing to apprehend the robbers who fled when they cited corps personnel.

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“Out of the seven suspects we are parading today, we have three that were arrested for human trafficking cases and we have four others that were arrested for house breaking.

“And we were able to retrieve all the items stolen from their operation, which would be handed over to the rightful owners.

“However, this is to reconfirm that the response to distress calls is actually working for us in order to reduce crime to the minimum,” he stated.

Adeleye also said that the command had deployed 700 officers across the 18 Local Government Area of the state ahead of the Easter celebration. He admonished the people to shun night travels for their benefit and safety of lives and properties.

“To commuters, we advise you to reduce traveling late in the night, and early in the morning. However, we will commence our 24-hours patrol from the end of this week to ensure safety.

“We want to encourage the good people of Ondo state to give us timely information to work for them,” he added.

3 Ondo Amotekun officers dismissed for misconduct, 7 suspects paraded

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Man bags life imprisonment after defiling neighbour’s 5-yr-old daughter

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Man bags life imprisonment after defiling neighbour’s 5-yr-old daughter

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court has sentenced a man, Ugochukwu Onuoha, to life imprisonment for defiling a five-year-old minor, his neighbour’s daughter.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, in his judgment, held that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt, the charge of defilement against Onuoha.

Oshodi said the prosecutrix (survivor) was a child at the time of the incident.

He said the prosecutrix’s mother’s evidence that Onuoha apologised and promised not to do it again was an admission which corroborated the prosecutrix’s evidence.

According to him: “There is abundant evidence that the defendant committed the crime.

“I believed the prosecutrix when she testified before me as she was resolute that it was the defendant that penetrated her vagina with his penis.

“She maintained this during cross-examination and gave further details to embellish her evidence in chief.

“The evidence shows that the defendant had sexual intercourse with the victim, who, to his knowledge, was a child.”

The judge, thereafter, found Onuoha guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

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The court further held that the medical evidence showed short and long-term impacts on the victim as the sexual intercourse he had with the survivor could cause structural damage to the vagina, the uterus, and other surrounding organs.

Oshodi said: “According to the medical evidence, by the age of the victim, the sexual intercourse you had with her could cause vagina bleeding and may lead to death.

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