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Governor Bago Says “Niger Targets Top Spot In National Food Production”

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Mohammed Umaru-Bago

Governor Bago Says “Niger Targets Top Spot In National Food Production”

Governor Bago says “Niger targets top spot in national food production”. Mr Bago noted that his administration was determined to change the narrative by prioritising large-scale agricultural production.

The Niger government says it is implementing a wide range of agricultural reforms to position the state as Nigeria’s leading food producer.

Governor Umaru Bago disclosed this at the Niger State Council on Agriculture meeting with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Niger Foods on Tuesday in Minna.
The theme of the meeting is Driving Transformative and Sustainable Agricultural Reform in Niger State: Bridging Policy and Impact to Overcome the Systemic Gap.

Mr Bago, represented by Yusuf Sadiq, his deputy chief of staff, said the state was not waiting for the future of agriculture but actively creating it through deliberate planning and sustained investment.

He described the council as the highest policy-making organ for agriculture in the state, noting that it was timely, as food security had become central to national discussions due to its implications for peace, stability, and economic growth.

Mr Bago noted that his administration was determined to change the narrative by prioritising large-scale agricultural production.

He recalled that during the inauguration of the Bola Tinubu International Airport, Minna, the president launched an agricultural mechanisation revolution under the food security emergency initiative.
The governor said Niger had fully aligned with federal efforts by signing MoUs with international partners and the Dangote facility, with an expected processing capacity of 42 metric tonnes of rice per hour, thereby transforming Niger into a rice production powerhouse.

Mr Bago added that billions of naira in agricultural investments had already been attracted to the state for mechanisation, land preparation, irrigation expansion, livestock development, value addition and technology deployment.
He said the initiatives were designed to boost productivity and strengthen agricultural value chains. He urged stakeholders to develop actionable recommendations that would address systemic gaps, especially those affecting smallholder farmers.

Mohammed Umaru-Bago

Mohammed Umaru-Bago

Matthew Ahmed, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, said organisations such as FADAMA-NG-CARES and Niger Foods were helping farmers access flood- and drought-resistant inputs to mitigate climate-related challenges.

Mr Ahmed commended the governor for making agriculture more attractive, saying such commitment had never been witnessed in the state.

The AFAN Chairman in Niger, Mohammed Abubakar, thanked the governor for supporting farmers and urged the council to prioritise data capture for smallholders to ensure that inputs and interventions reach the right beneficiaries.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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