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NGO Urges Farmers To Use Improved Cassava Seeds To Boost Production

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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

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.

Crime

Customs Seizes 34,470L Of Smuggled Petrol At Taraba-Cameroon Border

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Cameroon Border

Customs Seizes 34,470L Of Smuggled Petrol At Taraba-Cameroon Border

Customs seizes 34,470L of Smuggled petrol at Taraba-Cameroon border. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its crackdown on fuel smuggling, seizing 34,470 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and a heavy-duty transportation truck in a three-hour operation along the Taraba-Cameroon border.

The enforcement, led by the Customs’ Operation Whirlwind unit, targeted smugglers operating through Gembu and Kan-Iyaka in Sardauna LGA, a known smuggling corridor.

Speaking at a public auction in Jalingo, Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the operation was carried out with support from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Adeniyi explained that intelligence from the inter-agency intelligence fusion center detected unusual fuel movement patterns in the Sorofi and Kan-Iyaka areas between March 8 and 9, 2025.

Acting on this, field teams executed a series of coordinated interceptions, disrupting what appeared to be an emerging smuggling route.

The seizure included 1,149 Jerry cans of PMS, each containing 30 liters, totaling 34,470 liters. A specialized transportation truck valued at ₦4 million was also confiscated, bringing the total duty-paid value to ₦37.78 million.

Adeniyi noted that a significant portion of the smuggled fuel was intercepted in Gembu, while 180 Jerry cans and the truck were seized en route to the Kan-Iyaka border crossing.

Cameroon Border

Cameroon Border

Describing fuel smuggling as a threat to national security and economic stability, Adeniyi urged security agencies to remain vigilant. He stressed that petrol is vital to economic activities and warned that shortages could slow down the economy.

He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to tackling smuggling networks and safeguarding Nigeria’s energy sector and economic interests.

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Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom Lawmaker Covers Medical Bills For Patients At Palmer Memorial Hospital

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Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom Lawmaker Covers Medical Bills For Patients At Palmer Memorial Hospital

Akwa Ibom Lawmaker covers medical bills for patients at palmer memorial Hospital. For patients at Palmer Memorial Hospital in Ikot Usen, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, financial hardship often stood between them and life-saving treatment. That changed when Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Ime Basy Okon, the Member Representing Itu-Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency, stepped in to settle outstanding medical bills, offering patients a renewed chance at life.

The compassionate gesture came during Day 2 of the ongoing free medical and surgical outreach sponsored by the lawmaker across Itu and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas. While inspecting the outreach on Day 1, Okon learned of emergency cases where patients remained stranded due to unpaid hospital bills.

Moved by their plight, he personally cleared their debts a decision he emphasized was outside the outreach’s budget, but a private intervention to support his constituents in urgent need.

Among the beneficiaries was Abasima Offiong, who had suffered a spinal cord injury and required emergency surgery. With no means to cover the cost, his condition was critical, until Hon.Okon’s intervention ensured his procedure was fully funded.

Another case was Idongesit Ndifreke, who had undergone a Caesarean section but remained in the hospital for over two weeks due to unpaid bills. The lawmaker’s generosity not only secured her discharge but also allowed her to return home with her newborn.

Akwa Ibom

Akwa Ibom

One of the most harrowing stories involved a woman whose unborn child had died in the womb. Lacking funds for an emergency procedure, her life hung in the balance. Overcome with emotion, Okon immediately took over the cost of surgery, ensuring swift medical intervention to save her life.

Speaking during the event, the lawmaker reaffirmed his commitment to humanitarian efforts. “When God blesses us, we should also be a blessing to others,” he said, underscoring the importance of compassion and community support. Grateful beneficiaries and their families hailed Okon’s intervention as both timely and life-saving.

As the free medical and surgical outreach continues, it remains a beacon of hope for residents of Itu and Ibiono Ibom, reinforcing Okon’s dedication to accessible healthcare and the well-being of his constituents.

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Economy

Government Approves N1.149bn For Solar Street Lights, Infrastructure In Gombe

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Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya

Government Approves N1.149bn For Solar Street Lights, Infrastructure In Gombe

Government approves N1.149bn for solar street lights, infrastructure in Gombe. He said the governor approved the projects to align with his vision for infrastructure development.

The Gombe government has approved N1.149 billion for the installation of solar street lights and other infrastructure in three local government areas of the state.

Mahmood Yusuf, director-general, Joint Project Development Agency, stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Gombe.

He said the Joint Project Council (JPC) meeting chaired by Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, approved the projects to align with his vision for infrastructure development.

Mr Yusuf listed the projects to include the installation of solar street lights on newly constructed roads in Kumo at the total cost of N740 million; fencing of the NALDA market and installation of solar street lights at Kwadon area of Yamaltu/Deba, costing N362 million.

He said that N47 million has been approved for the expansion of the grains market and construction of six public toilets in Billiri.
Mr Yusuf said that the N112 million grain market project was approved in 2024, but reviewed upward to N159 million, to provide six additional toilets.

The director said the council also approved the deployment of GOSTEC and Operation Hatara personnel, to scale surveillance in schools and cemeteries in the state.

He said the measure was sequel to complaints over spate of theft in public buildings by the ALGON Chairman, Sani Haruna.

“The council has resolved to implement stricter security measures by deploying GOSTEC and Operation Hattara to enhance surveillance. The scope of Operation Hattara would be expanded to cover all the 11 LGAs,” he said.

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya

Also, Fatima-Binta Bello, chairperson, Shongom Local Government Council, expressed readiness to consolidate on Mr Yahaya’s achievements in education and health sectors.

She stressed the need to strengthen human resources through recruitment of qualified personnel to address manpower gaps and enhance quality service delivery, especially at primary healthcare and basic education level.

Similarly; Ahmad Wali, chairman, Kwami LGC, said the council had initiated resurvey and remapping of grazing reserves and cattle routes to check farmer/herder clashes.

He warned that anyone found encroaching cattle routes and grazing lands would be sanctioned.

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