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Economy

Government Launches Farmers’ Database To Boost Agriculture In Abia

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Alex Otti

Government Launches Farmers’ Database To Boost Agriculture In Abia

Government launches farmers’ database to boost agriculture in Abia. He described the launch as a transformative and innovative event for the agricultural development of the state.

The Abia government, on Thursday, launched the Abia Agriculture Dynamic Database System (ABIA ADDS) platform for farmers in the state.

The platform is a digital initiative designed to boost agricultural data collection, farmer identification, planning, and targeted interventions across the 17 local government areas of the state.

The initiative is expected to empower farmers, improve productivity, and make Abia a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.

Mr Otti unveiled the initiative at the two-day Abia Tech and Innovation Summit, holding at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
The governor, represented by his chief of staff, Caleb Ajagba, described the launch as a transformative and innovative event for the agricultural development of the state.

He said the initiative was a fulfilment of a promise he made when he assumed office in 2023 to pursue a transformative agenda that would rebuild the economy from the grassroots.

He said : “Agriculture is not merely a sector of our economy, it is the heartbeat of our communities and a pathway to sustainable prosperity for our people
“For too long, the challenge in agriculture has not been the lack of potential or interest of our teeming population, but the deficit of timely, reliable information and coordinated action.

“Farmers have, before now, lacked reliable data, predictable access to inputs, extension services, finance and markets.

“Policymakers have had to rely on fragmented, outdated data to make decisions.
“Gaps in registration, land use information, value chain mapping and market intelligence have constrained investment and undermined productivity.”

In a keynote speech, the commissioner for agriculture, Cliff Agbaeze, said that the historic launch ushered in an era, where decisions would be guided by truth, accuracy and intelligence, not assumptions.

Mr Agbaeze said that Abia ADDS was launched because for decades, farmers had worked tirelessly, yet largely invisible in the system, “unknown, uncounted, unaccounted for and unrecognised”.

Alex Otti

Alex Otti

He said that the project was anchored on the vision of the governor to establish a sustainable, competitive and resilient agricultural sector. He further said that it was designed to boost food production, create job opportunities and contribute to the state’s economic growth.

“The Abia ADDS platform is more than a database; it is a powerful engine of transformation.

“With it, we can now know every real farmer in Abia; plan targeted, efficient, and equitable interventions; and distribute inputs fairly and transparently, among other things,” he said.

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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