The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the agricultural sector through strategic investments in irrigation, mechanization, and input support, all aimed at enabling year-round farming and boosting food production. This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Muhammad Tukur Alkali, during the 2025 Annual Management Lecture and Merit Awards organized by the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Sokoto State Chapter. The event was held at the Sokoto Guest Inn. Represented by Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, Deputy Director of Agricultural Services, Alkali emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of Sokoto State’s economy, sustaining the livelihoods of a vast…
Author: Editor
As the 2025 farming season began with early and promising rains, local farmers in Sokoto State are struggling to cultivate their lands due to a lack of government support, particularly the unavailability of subsidized fertilizer and other essential inputs. Farming is considered almost the only means of combating food insecurity in Northern Nigeria—especially now that many families can no longer afford three square meals due to the rising cost of living, insecurity, and other challenges. Approximately 80% of communities in Sokoto and other northern states rely on farming as their main source of livelihood. Yet, the majority of these farmers…
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has handed over 20,000 family planning commodities to the Bauchi State Government in a major step to improve access to reproductive health services across the state. Speaking during the official handover ceremony at the Central Medical Stores in Bauchi, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Dashe Dasogote, revealed that the procurement of the commodities—which include Implanon implants and injectables—was fully funded by the Bauchi State Government. “This handover marks a significant milestone in strengthening the family planning funding landscape in Bauchi State,” Mr. Dasogote said. “It reflects the government’s strong commitment to sustainable, affordable,…
Fatima Bago, First Lady of Niger state, has launched a statewide sensitisation campaign for the introduction of the Measles-Rubella vaccine, alongside the distribution of midwives’ scrubs and delivery kits. Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony in Minna, Bago said the vaccine, scheduled for a nationwide rollout in October, is part of broader efforts to combat childhood diseases and reduce maternal mortality across Nigeria. She described healthcare as a collective responsibility, noting that the campaign reflects the government’s renewed commitment to protecting the health of women and children. “The fight against vaccine-preventable diseases requires unity. Government, healthcare workers, traditional leaders, families,…
Our food is normally composed of a lot of dirt; poisons, dangerous chemicals, GMOs, and we are all rapidly eating ourselves to death. The easiest way of demonstrating this is to refer to research by the European Union on what they found in the food we sent them to eat. They discovered that the items from Nigeria contained glass fragments, rodent excreta and dead insects. They also found high levels of chemicals like dichlorvos, diometrate and trichlorphon in the products. Some of these chemicals were used in the crop planting process; others were used in preservation. The poisonous chemicals did…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent loan request, approved by the Nigerian Senate, marks one of the most ambitious borrowing plans in Nigeria’s modern history. The comprehensive package includes $21.19 billion in direct foreign loans, €4 billion, ¥65 billion, a $65 million grant, and domestic borrowing through government bonds totaling approximately ₦757 billion. Also included is a provision to raise up to $2 billion through a foreign-currency-denominated instrument in the domestic market. Over a six-year horizon, these funds are earmarked for infrastructure, energy, health, security, agriculture, youth empowerment, and climate adaptation. While the sheer volume of the proposed investment suggests bold…
In its July 2025 Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) opted to retain its existing monetary parameters—maintaining the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27.5%, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 50% for commercial banks, the Liquidity Ratio at 30%, and the asymmetric corridor at +500/-100 basis points around the MPR. This decision, according to the apex bank, reflects its continued commitment to taming inflation, anchoring price stability, and preserving macroeconomic balance. The policy continuity came against the backdrop of a modest decline in headline inflation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s inflation…
The Bauchi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to unlocking the potential of its youthful population through strategic investments in education, health, employment, and gender equality. Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Aminu Hammayo, made the declaration during a high-level sensitization meeting with key decision-makers and traditional rulers. The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Bauchi, was organized by the Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Governor Mohammed emphasized that harnessing the demographic dividend is essential for accelerating…
Nigeria’s Oluremi Tinubu, has launched a national push to eliminate HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and hepatitis by the year 2030 through the “Free to Shine” campaign—a continental initiative of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in partnership with the African Union. The campaign targets the elimination of mother-to-child transmission, the expansion of treatment coverage, and the end of stigma surrounding the diseases. During the flag-off events held in different states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones—including Kwara, Kaduna, Delta, Ondo, Taraba, and Enugu—Mrs. Tinubu called on traditional and faith-based leaders, youth groups, healthcare workers, and civil society to join hands…
In the farmlands of Gombe State, once lush with rows of maize and rice, a quiet crisis is unfolding. As fertilizer prices continue to surge, despair is setting in among farmers—many of whom are now giving up on cultivating staple crops altogether. This planting season, what should be a time of hope and hard work has instead become a season of frustration. Fertilizer, an essential input for maize and rice cultivation, has jumped from ₦42,000–₦44,000 per 50kg bag to an alarming ₦52,000–₦57,000. This 40% spike is pushing farmers beyond their financial limits. “We can’t cope anymore,” says Zakari Hinna, chairman…