Hardship: FG Sets To Begin Food Distribution Nationwide 

As part of efforts to cushion the impacts of the hardship in Nigeria the Federal Government is set to begin the distribution of grains nationwide. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari disclosed this on Monday, hailing the resilience of the Nigerian people. He urged them to back President Bola Tinubu’s government in its quest to address the challenges facing the country. “Dear Fellow Nigerians,” he wrote on his official X handle. “In these trying times, I extend my sincere compassion to those affected by the hardships in the country. I understand the gravity of the situation, especially with the unfortunate event of foodstuff warehouse looting. “Amidst these challenges, I want to assure you that our commitment to your well-being remains resolute. We shall commence the distribution of 42,000 metric tons of grains, as approved by Mr. President, across the 36 states of the federation as one of the programs to be rolled out this week. “We are working hand in hand with NEMA and the DSS to ensure that the grains get to the right people in the right packages and quantities. Furthermore, 58,500 metric tons of milled rice from mega rice millers will also be released into the market for stabilization.” “I acknowledge the strength of the Nigerian people, and it is this resilience that will guide us through these difficult times. Let us stand together to support Mr. President in his strive for a better Nigeria,” Kyari said. “Our government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to addressing these challenges and working towards a more secure and prosperous future for all.”

NALDA To Crash Maize, Rice Prices Across Nigeria

*Commences Harvest From Farm Estates The National Land Development Agency (NALDA) is set to crash the price of maize and rice as it commences crop harvest from its farm estates across Nigeria. The Agency has farm estates across Nigeria has achieved tremendous success in both farms built and run solely by the agency and in collaboration with private and public institutions across the six geopolitical zones. Harvesting, bagging and storing of rice and maize are currently ongoing in Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, and Oyo states. The agency targets 150 metric tons of maize while the faro 44 and 59 rice cultivated at Nasarawa state is expected to yield over 300 metric tons of paddies. Harvesting and bagging have also ongoing in the NALDA-cultivated 150-hectare rice farm in Gboko, Benue State. According to the agency, it is anticipated that the harvests will boost Nigeria’s grain supply (rice and maize), which will have a big effect on the value chains. Evidence from states during the media tour of harvest activities at farm sites showed that the harvests will help to reduce the gap in domestic production and supply of rice and maize. Speaking with journalists, NALDA Executive Secretary, Prince Paul Ikonne, said the harvest will be released into the markets immediately as it would greatly assist in cushioning the effects of high food prices. In Bauchi State, maize harvest is ongoing at the well-equipped NALDA farm estate located at Galambi. Although the overall land area is 500 hectares, 50 hectares were cultivated due to a 15-day rain delay and a late start to activities. The farm is equipped with four tractors, two maize threshers, planters, boom sprayers, maize harvesters, and a finished grain warehouse. The Bauchi State Coordinator for NALDA is Jalaludeen Muhammad Mu’Azu. said that the NALDA farm will boost significant production in the area because no farms in the state possessed such machinery. Head, Department of Engineering, at NALDA, Engineer Owolabi Matthew Olusegun, speaking with journalists about the level of mechanisation on the farm expresses joy at the level of impact the harvest will have on the Nigeria economy. “This is what we have been preaching, and it is proof that Nigeria is capable of doing so, as you have witnessed firsthand at NALDA Farm. With this, you can see how much labour we have removed, how much drudgery has been eliminated, and how the entire process has been streamlined. “We are therefore appealing to the federal government to invest more in NALDA. We are ready to replicate this farm all over the country. With this we can increase the acreage to ensure that we get food self-sufficiency. We can do it and we are doing it,” he said. According to Mu’Azu, the crop’s success has already piqued the interest of farmers in the surrounding farming communities. He explained that the entire farm operation was entirely mechanized, from harrowing to planting to spraying fertilizer with a 400-litre capacity boom sprayer and machinery for weeding and harvesting. According to him, “we have just started our harvest and you know this is the first time we are farming here. From the stories that we heard from people, there is a particular place they showed us that since they came here 40 years ago, they have never seen maize production that can be compared to our own.”

Exclusive: ABP Failure: FG, RIFAN Initiate Nationwide Loan Recovery Drive

*Orders formation of loan recovery taskforce nationwide In the wake of the Federal Government’s recent threat to recover loans issued to Nigerians during the previous administration, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has taken swift action by issuing a directive to its members nationwide to reclaim loans disbursed to farmers during the 2018-2021 cropping seasons under the Anchor Borrowers’ Program (ABP). At inception in late 2015, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had said the programme thrust of the ABP is the provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to smallholder farmers to boost production of these commodities, stabilise inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country’s negative balance of payments on food. By 2022, at least 4.8 million people had benefitted from the Anchor Borrowers Programme, authorities said at the unveiling of stacked paddy rice pyramids produced by rice farmers under the ABP initiative. While some beneficiaries have cited insecurity, flooding, climate change and crop failure as reasons for their inability to repay the loans, government officials have said that while the farmers’ reasons are somewhat valid, many of the farmers saw the loans as ‘their share of the national cake’ which do not need to be repaid. But the programme has been marred by loan default, even as food prices rose significantly within the years it took effect. There are also reports that several farmers collected the loan to travel to Hajj or married additional wives from the proceeds of the Anchor Borrowers Programme. This, among other reasons, is why authorities resolved to take legal action. “We find it very difficult to recover this loan,” Sahabi Augie, the immediate past Chairman of the Kebbi State chapter of the Rice Farmer Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), had said. In a recent report on Nigeria, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that only 24% of loans under the ABP had been repaid. The CBN, however, disagreed with the IMF, saying N503 billion of loans under the ABP had been repaid. This figure represents 52.39% of the total loans collected by farmers under the programme, according to the bank. But a recent statement from CBN’s corporate communications department restated that only 48 per cent of the loan has not been repaid. The CBN said it released N1.079 trillion under the programme, out of which over N500 billion is due for repayment. Interestingly, the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) seemed to tilt towards the IMF when, in December 2022, it said the CBN was having difficulties recovering the loans because most beneficiaries of the ABP were not Nigerian farmers. Experts believe the failure of farmers who benefitted from the ABP to repay more than N500 billion extended to them by the CBN underscores a weakness in the initiative. However, the critical decision to set up a taskforce and recover the loans by all means is following a high-level executive meeting between RIFAN and the Department of State Security (DSS) on August 29, 2023. During the meeting, the recovery of loans issued to rice farmers between 2018 and 2021 was discussed extensively, leading to the issuance of a directive by RIFAN’s top leadership. In the confidential memo addressed to RIFAN members, which was leaked to the NIGERIAN ANCHOR, Aminu Mohammed Goronyo, the National President of RIFAN, and Chief Livinus Ngwangwa, the National Secretary, provided detailed instructions on how the loan recovery process should proceed: “Immediate Loan Recovery: All loans disbursed to beneficiary farmers from 2018 to the present date must be swiftly and effectively recovered. Farmers are given the flexibility to repay in either cash or paddy. “Loan Repayment Account: Beneficiary farmers are required to channel their loan repayments to the designated loan recovery account: Account Name: RIFAN 2020/2021 Wet Season; Account Number: 0054122612; Bank: Unity Bank PLC. “Documentation: Farmers are mandated to ensure that copies of their loan repayment records are sent promptly to RIFAN Headquarters. This documentation process is essential for maintaining accurate records. “Recovery Task Force: RIFAN state chapters have been instructed to establish a dedicated recovery task force without delay. These task forces will work in close collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including the police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Civil Defense, and local traditional rulers, to oversee and facilitate the loan recovery process,” the memo instructed. Beneficiary farmers were encouraged to fully cooperate with their respective RIFAN state chapters to facilitate the successful recovery of loans in adherence to the provided directives. For additional information and updates, beneficiaries are advised to contact their local RIFAN chapter or visit the RIFAN website. RIFAN Contact Information: Website: www.rifan.ng, Email: info@rifan.ng. The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) is a prominent agricultural organization dedicated to supporting and advancing rice farming in Nigeria. RIFAN plays a pivotal role in facilitating the Anchor Borrowers’ Program (ABP) to empower rice farmers and enhance food security in Nigeria.

97,000 passports uncollected nationwide – NIS

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says about 97,000 passport booklets issued were uncollected in the 36 states nationwide including Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Service Public Relations Officer, (SPRO) Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. Tony Akuneme said this in an interview on Friday in Abuja. Akuneme said that the service recently found out that Lagos State had half of the uncollected passports. He said that there was also a danger that half of the owners of the uncollected passports could not be reached due to lack of proper documentation because of a third party involvement. He also said that the essence of state of emergency declaration was to draw attention of the media so they could deepened the process for the service as a lot of people do not know if their passport were ready for collection. “Some of them engaged agents to help them in their passport processing and these agents might be doing for a lot of persons. “They end up dropping wrong contacts and thereby making it difficult to reach out to the owners of these passports when they are ready for collection. This is a big challenge, “he said. The Acting Comptroller General, NIS, Mrs. Caroline Adepoju had recently declared state of emergency on passport issues across the country. The SPRO said that the service recently found out that most applicants complains also bothers on some human factor and technical factor which included slow speed of Internet. According to him, the CG didn’t want to leave anyone in doubt as to the issue of passport processing being her core area of interest. “That’s how she came about that term of declaring state of emergency in the passport issues. “When the acting CG assumed office, she made it very clear that she was going to focus on Passport reforms and staff welfare, “he said. According to him, the Lagos state Governor is willing to collaborate with the CG in terms of expanding the Passport services on Lagos State. “So, we went to Lagos State Governor to help in terms of giving us office space where we can set up front desk offices and immediately, the governor was very positive in his response ” Lagos is a tourism place and immigration have a key role to play in the mind of anybody visiting the state. “So it was a welcome development and you can see that the state of emergency that was declared is already yielding fruits as the governor accepted CGs request on land allocation to build staff quarters in Lagos, “he said. Akuneme said that the service however, needed the Media to tell Nigerians that people should not think there were no passport booklets. He said “there are booklets issued that are not collected. It is ironical, we don’t have problem of booklet; we don’t have shortage of booklets. “What we have had in the last one or two years is a sudden upsurge in the number of Nigerians wanting to travel. We felt it was also related to COVID-19, “he said. Akuneme assured that the result would be instant as more facilities were going to be put in place to curtail any challenges of passport issuance across the country.