Economy
NGO Urges Farmers To Use Improved Cassava Seeds To Boost Production
NGO Urges Farmers To Use Improved Cassava Seeds To Boost Production
NGO urges farmers to use improved cassava seeds to boost production. Mr Yassah said that the project would help farmers to adopt the best cassava seed production practices.
Anon-governmental organisation, The Sasakawa Africa Association, has called on farmers in Nasarawa and Benue states to prioritise the use of improved and disease-free cassava seedlings to boost production.
The NGO gave the advice on Saturday during a field trip at Mbaalusu-Mbatyav, Ushongu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Project Focal Person, Building An Economically Sustainable, Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS II), Jonathan Yassah, said that the BASICS II project makes improved cassava seeds available to farmers in the two states.
Mr Yassah said that the project encourages farmers to adopt the best cassava seed production practices and the six steps to cassava weed management toolkit to produce high-quality stems.
The project focal person, who also doubles as the Programme Officer, Market Oriented Agriculture (MOA) of SAA, urged farmers to make good use of the opportunity.
He said, “We have trained 42 cassava seed entrepreneurs in both Nasarawa and Benue states in 2024 and provided them with cassava seeds that are disease resistant.
Cassava seed production is now good business in the two states, as the demand for improved seeds by farmers in the two states was not met in 2024.
“BASICS II target is to make improved seed available while the roots are surplus to cassava seed entrepreneurs.
Our target is to cover more local government areas in these two states to enable them to also key into the BASICS II project by using improved cassava seed varieties. I appeal to the government of the two states to key into this project to help upscale the use of improved varieties of cassava seeds and boost productivity in their states.
The Leader of Hope Farms, Mbagwaza Farmer Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Ushongo, Savior Daniel, thanked Sasakawa for giving him the opportunity to farm the improved cassava seeds, as he had seen changes with his cassava yields.

NGO Urges Farmers
The Village Head of Mbaalusu, Jacob Awua, thanked Sasakawa for bringing such an initiative to his domain and pleaded with the team to provide more cassava stems to other groups in the community to enable them to taste the improved cassava seeds as well.
The groups currently working with Sasakawa in the community were Hope Farmers, Mbaver Farmers, Mbagba Farmers, and Mbaalusu Farmers.
Some prospective groups planning to utilise SAA BASICS II in 2025 include Star Farmers and Mbaalusu Youths Multipurpose Corporative Society.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
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
“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.
Crime
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
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
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
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
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.

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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