Metro

Nigerian farmers union berate govt over Ukraine food aid

Published

10 months ago

March 10, 2024

A farmers’ union under the auspices of Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS) has berated the federal government over a recent donation of 25,000 tonnes of wheat to the country by war-torn Ukraine.

The union, which raised its concern over the donation and the glee with which government officials greeted the donation, said it was out of place for the government to celebrate since Nigeria had all it took to produce enough food for its citizens.

The Farmers’ union also joined voices with many prominent Nigerians who have roundly criticised emergency food assistance to Nigeria, and accused the federal government of “not doing enough to ensure food security in the country despite enjoying relative peace when compared to Ukraine which has been at war with Russia for close to two years.”

Managing Partner of the NFGCS, Retson Tedheke, who voiced the farmers’ frustration at briefing briefing in Abuja on Saturday, lamented the free fall of the naira which he says was as a result of the failure of government to adopt advanced farming technologies and invest strategically in agriculture.

According to Tedheke, a government intervention programme known as the Anchor Borrower’s Scheme which was set up by former President Muhammadu Buhari to give agriculture loans to farmers, failed to yield the desired result because the billions of naira spent on the programme was channeled to contractors instead of those in the industry who have the requisite experience.

He explained that government should have allowed the commercial banks play the role of monitoring, evaluation, and progress reporting of the programme rather than the current practice where they are pressured and over burdened to give loans to farmers.

Tedheke stated that the group has decided to come up with a technology driven farming investment programme called “agbadovision” towards rescuing the nation from from the imminent food crisis should the government fail to take proactive steps towards tackling various challenges that could lead to food shortage.

To achieve its aim, the group said it has developed an app called “Agbatoken” which is aimed at revolutionising agricultural finance through tokenization.

“We have learned that we can utilize technology to put the vast land in Nigeria and people to good use. So today, a great day in the next one month we’re going to call all of you to the launch.”

Explaining the usefulness of the app, Tedheke said:

“Within a month, not just 1 million, or 2 million, or 3 million or 5 million, but about $10 million is going to be on the table based on blockchain technology tokenizing NFGCS Farm Estate driving agriculture revolution for the greater good of our people, for the stability of our country, for national security, for social stability and a foundation that is impossible to be broken because food is life.”

He noted that with a current valuation of $10 million, the token will overcome funding constraints, facilitate postal expansion, and incentivize sustainable agricultural practices.

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Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

29 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.

Metro

Nigerian activist remanded in prison for threatening President’s son

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Nigerian court has ordered a female activist, Olamide Thomas, to be remanded in prison custody for allegedly issuing a death threat to President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday delivered the ruling after Olamide was arraigned by the office of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, before Justice Emeka Nwite on a three-count charge.

The police team of lawyers led by A.A. Egwu told the court that Olamide was arrested on allegations bordering on harassing and threatening Seyi Tinubu, IGP Egbetokun and the country’s Police force spokesman, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, in a viral social media post back in October.

The police prosecutors told Justice Nwite that the activist had made a live video posted on Facebook in October, where she allegedly made threatening remarks cursing the President’s son, Egbetokun ahd Adejobi.

According to the police, she had live-streamed the video on the fourth year anniversary of the Lekki toll-gate massacre of Nigerian youths during the #EndSARS protest of 2020 where she said she and other protesters were brutalised by police officers during the memorial procession.

In the video, Thomas had reportedly accused police officers of harassment, claiming that they had been bullying and threatening her. She was also said to have rained curses on Tinubu and his family, Egbetokun and Adejobi, expressing deep grievances, invoking divine powers and issuing severe condemnations and predicting tragedy against them.

The police added that in the video, she stated that Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity would befall the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu.

Reading out the charges, the police said that in count one, Olamide was alleged to have, “knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording through computer system or network on her social media platforms wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language.”

“In the video, she stated that Mr Seyi Tinubu would die this year, and misfortune and calamity had befallen the Tinubu family, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Seyi Tinubu.

“The communication placed Seyi in fear of death, violence or bodily harm. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

“In count two, the defendant intentionally transmitted communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr Egbetokun.

“The communication placed Egbetokun in fear of death violence or bodily harm. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (2) (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

“In count three, Olamide intentionally transmitted or cause the transmission of communication in the form of video recording wherein she made remarks in Yoruba Language, stating that the children of Adejobi would all die before his eyes.

“She was quoted to have also said that he (Adejobi) will bury all his children in a single day, with intent to bully, threaten, harass the person of Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi. The communication placed Adejobi in fear of death of his loved ones.”

After the counts were read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the charge while her defence lawyer, T J. Aondo, SAN, sought to move an oral application on his client’s behalf but the request was turned down.

Justice Nwite therefore directed Aondo to file a formal bail application and adjourned the matter until December 30 for commencement of trial.

He consequently ordered the activist to be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending the hearing of her bail application.