News
Enugu: Gov. Mbah releases ₦60 million counterpart fund for World Bank’s livestock project
…as Nnajieze commends governor’s efforts on economy, eradication of poverty
The Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved the immediate release of sixty million naira counterpart fund for the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) to boost productivity in the state.
This was even as the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, commended the governor’s determination to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, eradicate poverty, scale up agro-allied activities and engage women and youths in the livestock value chain.
Disclosing the development, Dr. Ifeyinwa expressed delight over what she described as the governor’s “innovative and deliberate policy” targeted at achieving food sufficiency, balanced diet and exports of agro-allied produce in the state.
She said the six-year project which commenced in 2022 would not only be domesticated in the state but would continue to receive attention and support from the governor in order to ensure that the vision and mission of the administration to turn the economy around, empower livestock farmers and create jobs were achieved.
“This project is just a step away from achieving our mandate. If you look at the programmes of the governor, and the way he has been unpacking them, you will understand the L-PRES is an important part of the projects that will scale up production, train farmers, encourage modern livestock farming methods, and complement other critical subsectors of the economy.
“The governor is talking about achieving a zero percent poverty headcount through disruption of the status quo, and to us, this is not a joke. It is achievable with the right policies. Today, we are seeing the right policies across different spectrums of the economy. The value chain in production has had a far reaching effect on the standard of living of the people. The payment of the counterpart fund would enable us partner with the World Bank to fight hunger and malnutrition, and produce in large scale,” she noted.
Dr. Nnajieze further explained that the L-PRES was a World Bank/Nigeria initiative which sought to improve the performance and sustainability of livestock production, value addition by the deployment of productive infrastructure and technological interventions along the livestock value chain.
“The proposed project will support government’s new policy thrust and boost newly developed state priorities by enhancing livestock productivity, creating the right environment for the attraction of youths and the private sector players into livestock farming.
“There are huge opportunities which members of the public, particularly, investors, can consider in this sector. The state is open for business, having enabled the right and appropriate environment and derisked investment flow with the right framework and attractive incentives.
“The programme potentially guarantees capacity building among relevant administrators and also initiates an effective crisis management system for the livestock subsector,” she further added.
It would be recalled that the governor had committed two hundred and seventy four million naira as its counterpart fund payment to the state’s International Fund for Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD/VCDP) and the sum of four hundred and fifty million naira counterpart fund for the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) both in August, all geared towards boosting food security.
The African Democratic Congress has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to arrest its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The party said it had received what it described as “credible reports” of plans to arrest the former Osun State governor in the days leading to the poll.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on X on Wednesday, the ADC said it was concerned that the alleged arrest could be aimed at disrupting the party’s election activities.
“Given the pattern of intimidation, harassment and misuse of state institutions that has increasingly characterised the conduct of this government towards the opposition, we cannot afford to dismiss these reports,” Abdullahi said.
Aregbesola, who served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and later as Minister of the Interior, is currently the National Secretary of the ADC.
The party said there were established procedures that should be followed if any security agency had lawful reasons to question its national secretary.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is a former Governor of Osun State, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and the National Secretary of the opposition political party. If any security agency has a lawful reason to invite him, there are established procedures for doing so,” it said.
The ADC argued that arresting Aregbesola on the eve of an election in which the party is participating would raise questions about the motive behind such an action.
“An arrest on the eve of an election in which his party is participating would invite only one reasonable conclusion: that the purpose is to prevent him from leading and coordinating the party’s election activities,” the statement said.
The party consequently put the Federal Government and security agencies on notice, urging them to avoid actions that could undermine the credibility of the election.
“The eyes of Nigerians are on Osun,” Abdullahi said.
“Whatever happens before, during and after Saturday’s election will be judged not by the explanations offered afterwards, but by the actions taken now.”
The ADC also warned the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government against taking any action that could trigger political tension in the state.
“The APC Federal Government must be wary of doing anything that could plunge Osun State into needless crisis,” the party said.
The party further called on the government to respect democratic principles and ensure that political parties are allowed to participate freely in the election.
“Nigeria is still a democracy, and the government would do well to remember that before Saturday,” Abdullahi said.
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of nine dead bodies on the Wawa-Lumma road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger.
The victims were suspected to have been killed by bandits while travelling on the road.
The Spokesperson for the Niger Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Minna.
He said that a team of police and military was dispatched and evacuated the bodies after information was received on Tuesday.
He said clearance operations had been intensified with a view to securing the area from any security threat.
“Police and military tactical teams were mobilised to the scene; the bodies recovered, while clearance operation was intensified to secure the area,” he said.
NAN
Nigerian streamer, Peller has dragged his parents for attending his wedding ceremony with their partners.
Peller had his white wedding, which was attended by many dignitaries over the weekend.
Peller’s parents, who have separated from each other, attended the ceremony with their respective partners.
Expressing his frustration over the development, the TikTok streamer, in a video on Wednesday, revealed that he had confronted his parents for turning his wedding into a party despite his earlier warning.
“I’m tired, I’m tired of all these things. I changed it for them oo, no be small.
“Because I told them to invite just a few people, but my mummy dey carry her own boyfriend come, my daddy carry his own girlfriend come.
“All of them just turned my wedding to party. Polygamy is very hard, I’m from a polygamous family”, he said. (sic)
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