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The US financier is in jail in New York while he awaits trial on sex trafficking charges.

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The high-profile Australian athlete faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted of attacking a woman.

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Ricardo Rosselló is stepping down after obscenity-laden messages were leaked from a group chat.

The High Court of Akwa Ibom State, Uyo judicial division is scheduled to deliver a judgment on Thursday in respect of a case which has been ongoing for the past nine months between the Atheists Society of Nigeria (ASN) VS. Akwa Ibom State Government.

An article published by Bill Flavell, the President, Atheist Alliance International (AAI) on their website on the 10th of May partly read: “The governor, an outspoken Christian, has played a leading role in promoting and supporting the building of an 8,500 seat ultra-modern worship center. We believe the state donated land for the project and has provided other resources to support it. Problem is, Nigeria’s Federal Constitution mandates a secular state, so the government is not permitted to engage in religious activities.

"So, on October 25, 2018, lawyers for ASN served summons on the Akwa Ibom government. The summons asked the High Court to declare the government’s actions unconstitutional and unlawful and to order the government to cease construction work and convert the land and building for “any non-religious, educational, cultural or scientific purposes…”

What Has Happened So Far

There is a clear process in Nigeria for litigation such as this. The plaintiff lodges the summons with the high court and a bailiff serves it on the defendant. At that point, the defendant has 21 days to file his defense. This is how the case has panned out:

Oct 05, 2018: Summons lodged with High Court.

Oct 25, 2018: Summons served on the government (the defendant).

Nov 20, 2018: Date set for preliminary appearance to agree how the case will proceed and to receive the defendant’s defense. Date abandoned as it was a bank holiday.

Dec 19, 2018: Revised date for preliminary appearance. Date abandoned due to a court labor dispute.

Jan 28, 2019: Revised date for preliminary appearance. The government filed an application to extend the time allowed to file their defense (it was already 74 days overdue). The Judge granted their request. An observer noted a banner on the wall behind the Chief Justice’s chair. It read “Fear God, the ultimate judge”.

Feb 25, 2019: Second preliminary appearance. The Government again requested additional time to file their defense (which was by then 102 days overdue). The request was granted.

Mar 18, 2019: Third preliminary appearance. Again the Government failed to file a defense (by then 123 days late). The judge indicated if the government failed to file a defense at the next appearance, he would issue a judgment based on the ASN summons only. 

Apr 24, 2019: Government lawyers did not attend court but their defense was filed and issued to ASN lawyers by court officials.

The Governor’s Defence

So finally, 160 days late, we have the government’s defence. It is an interesting read. We can think of it in two parts.

Firstly, the government denies that ASN has legal standing to bring the case. This was an inevitable response—lack of standing to sue forces the judge to abandon the case without hearing any arguments or reviewing any evidence. ASN lawyers anticipated this and have taken care to ensure the grounds for ASN’s standing are secure and supported by legal precedent.

Secondly, the government denies almost every statement of fact in ASN’s 21-paragraph summons. Oddly, they bring no evidence to refute ASN’s statements of fact, they simply flatly deny them. For example, they deny having received two letters from ASN, despite the fact that the letters were signed for and we have proofs of delivery.

As another example, they deny the government posted an article on their official website which claimed the governor “is also the Spiritual Leader of the state” and “He [the governor] said Akwa Ibom State is a Christian State that will continue to look up to God for his guidance and blessings”. I know this article was posted because I personally read it and made copies.

ASN’s lawyers are now preparing their response to the government’s defense. They will assemble evidence to support all their statements of fact and show that ASN has standing to bring this case. Really, this case should not be contentious on the facts, and it is mischievous of the government to try to make it so.”

During our investigation, SaharaReporters gathered that an official statement concerning this matter was published by one Ndifreke P. Akpan on the official website of the government of Akwa Ibom State.  

The statement partly reads: “All is now set for the commencement of the long anticipated central worship center for the Akwa Ibom people in Uyo, the state capital.

The foundation laying ceremony of the 8,500 capacity international worship centre which holds Sunday, January 21, 2018, will be conducted by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

“It is the first of its kind of a standard worship centre for Akwa Ibom State, the only state in the world named after God, 30 years after its creation.

The state has over this period moved from playgrounds to stadia and even uncompleted buildings in search of a conducive non-denominational place to worship, pray and sing praises to God.

To punctuate this trend, the governor, who is also the spiritual leader of the state, pulled all stops and went in search of funds to bring to fruition the dream of erecting for God, a befitting place of worship.

Giving an insight on funding for the edifice, Mr Emmanuel explained: “We have found favour in the eyes of the Lord, and it’s instructive to note that Religious bodies, non-profit organizations and even individuals from all over the world heeded our call for support to actualize this dream."

The governor said,  “Today we stand tall to say that we have secured the bulk of funds needed for the construction of the 8,500 capacity international worship centre which is located in Uyo. Government’s contribution is a very negligible percentage.”

Governor Emmanuel added that when the dream of the international worship centre was conceived, he rose to the faith that God will provide the finances drawing strength from Haggai 1:8 –“Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD”.

He said Akwa Ibom State is a Christian state that will continue to look up to God for his guidance and blessings. Link to report: https://ift.tt/2YefsuB

Meanwhile investigations showed that work has been recently halted on the proposed site for the construction of the exotic church building and the signboard which was initially erected on the site removed.  

There are also rumours that the state governor might be using the project as a guise to siphon state funds for personal use.

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The brutal killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin Pa Reuben Fasoranti's daughter, by Fulani herdsmen terrorists, was yet another sad commentary on the unrestrained rampage of Fulani barbaric killers terrorizing Yoruba nation. Kehinde Fasoranti, son of Pa Fashoranti, said Olakunrin was shot and killed by Fulani herdsmen terrorists contrary to what Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu said about the killers of Olakunrin.

Tinubu who had visited Pa Fasoranti to express his condolence was asked by reporters whether the killers of Olakunrin were herdsmen or not, here's Tinubu's stout defense of Fulani terrorists: “Excuse me, I am extremely concerned about security and I don't want a stigma.” Alhaji, excuse me sir, who stigmatized who? By defending the killers of Olakunrin, you have stigmatized your name. Your deafening silence for so long shows you didn't care about insecurity in the country. “I can go through the history of kidnapping and you are mature enough,” continues Tinubu. “We know how it started, where it all started, there are a lot of copycats,” Tinubu explains. Alhaji, how? Where, When? And by who? “How many years ago have we faced insecurity in this country and cases of kidnapping, is Evans who was arrested and his disclosure, then a herdsman?' Tinubu argues in favor of Fulani terrorists. Alhaji, how dare you compared apples with oranges?

“I don't want to be political. The question is “where are the cows?” Sir, what do you mean “where are the cows?” Do herdsmen terrorists bring their cows with them on the road to carry out their dastardly acts? Hell NO! “I am a nationalist and the security concerns and challenges right now must be faced squarely throughout Nigeria... We must use this as a cure to the security problems by providing additional police and patrol,” Tinubu completes his submission. Alhaji Tinubu, if you were genuinely concerned about insecurity in the country, why did you remain silent until now to comment on Fulani herdsmen terrorists?

Tinubu's characterization of the murder of Olakunrin sounds like a metaphor based on bad history, a metaphor which has proved useless as a guide to judging. Since Tinubu made the statement, accusations of treason and disloyalty have been hurled at him by Yorubas. Events and debates among Yorubas have revealed political mistrust, deep tensions, and suspicions that split Yorubas into different camps.

These tensions ignited accusations against Tinubu and were labeled a betrayer and a traitor. Yes, we have been wrestling with insecurity in the immediate past, but only a prevaricator like Tinubu will conclude that kidnapping and killings in the past were on the same scale, extent, and as rampant as we have today. The large scale Fulani herdsmen terrorism is a new phenomenon on Buhari's watch. As Tinubu struggled in his capacity as the new shepherd of Fulani terrorists' group to justify their terrorism. It’s understandable that he didn't want to incur the wrath of his Fulani kingmakers who will determine his fate as heir apparent to Buhari's presidency.

Tinubu is not the standard of character. He's not a model for decency. He's not the test of experience. While Yorubas are being slaughtered, terrorized, kidnapped daily by Fulani herdsmen terrorists, Tinubu is missing in action. He has deliberately refused to condemn the terrorists and defend his own people. Tinubu fits the description of a traitor. Who is a traitor? A traitor is a person who betrays his own people when his loyalty is needed the most, and when he stays silent in a time of need. With his eyes on the presidency in 2023, Tinubu will sacrifice anything including the lives of his own people to achieve his selfish ambition to succeed Buhari in 2023.

Tinubu serves as a seducer in cahoot with Fulani herdsmen terrorists. His blind loyalty and sheepish following of Buhari makes him an insider traitor against the Yoruba nation. At a time when the Yoruba nation is under siege from Fulanis, a political figure like Tinubu should be the voice of Yorubas to vehemently denounce Fulani terrorist acts.

For Tinubu not to be considered a traitor, it is necessary for him to demonstrate our shared cultural experiences, historical memories, and symbols critical to the freedom, liberty, and pursuit of happiness of the Yoruba people. For denying that Olakunrin's killers were not Fulani herdsmen terrorists, Tinubu exhibits Machiavellian tactics: unscrupulously cunning, deceptive, and dishonest.

What Tinubu told reporters shortly after his visit to Pa Fashoranti place shows his hatred and repulsion for his own people. Tinubu is cunning, treacherous, easily bought, and ruthlessly dangerous to the safety, welfare and well being of Yorubas. Tinubu as a traitor is a low-born, low-life, morally corrupt person that only exists at a selfish level. Tinubu's soul is long dead! As a traitor, Tinubu feigns ignorance of Yoruba's past political experiences with Fulanis. Tinubu at his own peril has chosen to ignore Yoruba political history.

It must be remembered that throughout history, nobody has ever used the word “great” to describe a traitor, yet the main goal of a traitor is to become great by throwing everyone else aside and trying to surpass them. Tinubu's greed, selfishness, treachery, disloyalty, and lack of respect for Yoruba history and experience with the Fulanis will cost him everything including the presidency in 2023.

bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com

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MPs to vote on whether Pedro Sánchez will remain in power following last-ditch coalition talks.

Following the declaration of the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a public health concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank has said it will mobilise $300 million in grants and credits to halt the spread of the virus.  

The global lender said the funds would be used to fund cash for work programmes and the activities of the WHO, the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and other bodies putting their lives on the line to route out the pandemic.

“Together, we must take urgent action to stop the deadly Ebola epidemic that is destroying lives and livelihoods in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Kristalina Georgieva, the Chief Executive Officer of the World Bank, said.  

She noted in a  statement on Wednesday that the communities and health workers wrapped in the plague needed more “support and resources from the international community to prevent this crisis from worsening inside the country and from spreading across borders.”  

The release notes that $100 million had so far been pumped into helping frontline response to the crisis and strengthening health systems since August.  

The World Bank notes that the intent of this round of financing was to assist frontline activities in “the Ebola-affected health zones in DRC and enable the government, WHO, UNICEF, WFP—World Food Programme, IOM— the International Organisation for Migration and other responders to step up the frontline health response, deliver cash-for-work programs to support the local economy, strengthen resilience in the affected communities, and contain the spread of this deadly virus.”

The $300 million is to be funded through the World Bank’s International Development Agency and the Crisis Response Window, which is designed to help “countries respond to severe crises and return to their long-term development paths.”

The virus has so far infected over 2,500 people and has spread from the two primary regions— North Kivu and Utiri into Goma and across the border to Uganda. So far, over 1,437 persons have died from the epidemic.

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Barely 24 hours after an Air Peace aircraft made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, another aircraft belonging to Med-View Airlines recorded a similar problem on Tuesday.

The incident is the latest in a series of air-related emergencies and security breaches that have characterized the airport in the past three weeks.  

It happened after the altitude warning went off mid-air forcing the deployment of oxygen masks and the initiation of an emergency landing.  

The aircraft, a Boeing 737-500 with registration number 5N-BQM, carried out the descent procedure to the Lagos airport as passengers on board panicked.  

In a statement after the incident, Tunji Oketunbi, General Manager, Public Affairs, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), said that the incident occurred at 3:07 pm.

Oketunbi said the bureau was notified of the incident by the airline, adding that its investigators had commenced work immediately to unravel the cause of the incident.

He said, “From the information gathered so far, cabin altitude warning came on at FL 320 followed by deployment of oxygen masks, which necessitated the crew to carry out emergency descent procedure. Our team of safety investigators has commenced an investigation.

“As the investigating agency, AIB needs and hereby solicits for your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clip, relevant evidence, or information any members of the public may have of the accident; that can assist us with this investigation.”

He called on the general public and the media to respect the privacy of the people involved and not assume the cause of the accident until a formal report was released.
 

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The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria has slammed top politicians and high-profile Nigerians owing the company huge debt.

AMCON’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lawan Kuru, also said prominent Nigerians manipulate their ways to high positions in the country despite owing over N5trillion debt.

Kuru said this is in a statement on Wednesday.

The AMCON boss revealed that the corporation was working with other anti-graft agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in the company to produce a documentary showing profiles of notorious and recalcitrant obligors of AMCON.

He said, “The idea was to document in a permanent format for generations yet unborn to know the so-called big men and women that are behind the over N5trillion debt burden, which AMCON is battling to recover.

"The worrisome aspect of the issue is that these obligors still manipulate their way to emerge as members of the National Assembly, ministers, chairmen and women of big organisations and pro-chancellors of universities.”

He further lamented that the country was structured and ruled in a way to allow the debtors to get away with the debt.

“How can you be a role model when you cannot honour a simple obligation?” Kuru said.

He added, “The way we are handling the issue in the country suggest that we are encouraging financial rascality. People have to be held accountable for their actions, which I believe would serve as a deterrent to others.

“All economies all over the world depend on the financial infrastructure for growth. If we allow or encourage the destruction of the basis of our financial structure, then the economy would not grow. These are men and women who go to banks borrow monies with no intention to pay and in the process, bring down banking institutions. It takes a lot for a bank to fail. AMCON just rescued Skye Bank with an investment of nearly N1trillion. In a decent society, those who are responsible are supposed to be held accountable.

“We are talking about recovering over N5trillion debt, which sits with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and we know that the federal government through the CBN cannot afford to write the debt off so we just have to recover. With such a huge recovery, the country can do a lot in the areas of infrastructure development in energy, rail line, health, road construction, and a whole lot more. To enable you to understand the magnitude of what we are talking about, only 350 individuals account for 80 per cent of the debt amounting to N4.6trillion."

Kuru noted that AMCON cannot deal decisively with these crop of obligors because the Act establishing the corporation did not empower it to arrest and prosecute people like some other agencies of the government.

“At AMCON, we have no power to arrest these ‘powerful’ people as we depend largely on judicial processes to recover and we all know the slow pace of judicial processes.”

The AMCON boss urged members of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce to lead the campaign for the strengthening of corporate governance structures in both the financial services industry and other sectors of the economy as lack of it destroys institutions and organisations.

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The government of the United Kingdom has advised its citizens against travelling to Nigeria over heightened insecurity following clashes between the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

In its updated travel advisory made available to SaharaReporters, the UK government advised citizens to "avoid places where crowds gather, including political meetings, religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people".  

The Shia group is demanding the release of its leader detained by the President Muhammadu Buhari government despite court orders for his release.

In a statement on its website, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against travel to Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states. See Also ACTIVISM Police Arrest 12 Shiite Protesters In Abuja 0 Comments 14 Hours Ago

Others include Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano State, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina and Kogi States.

The warning was issued because "terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria" adding that "attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests as well as places visited by tourists".
 

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Precious Owolabi, a National Youth Service Corp Member, who was serving with ChannelsTV as a reporter would be buried on Thursday.

Owolabi died after he was hit by a stray bullet while covering the clash between the Nigerian Police Force and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

He will be buried at his family compound in Wusas, Kaduna State.
 

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The small room that serves as the conference hall of Strategem Energy Hub, an emerging energy management company that focuses on clean and renewable energy, is full of young and radiant-looking young men and women. It is the type of gathering that would have been appropriate for tech enthusiasts or social media influencers—trendy and elitist. 

Those in this gathering are farmers. With their stylish hairs and fashionable clothes, no one would think they came here to deliberate on how to grow their various farm businesses.  This sort of gathering is uncommon, particularly in Nigeria, where farmers have the reputation of being old, tattered and poor—descriptions that millennials are unwilling to be linked to.

Indeed, Nigerian farmers are old, with their average age pegged at 65, according to a research by the Federal University of Technology.  

That age would increase significantly by 2030 except Nigeria’s teeming youth population is encouraged to go into farming. Every year, thousands of Agricultural Science students graduate from higher institutions, but only a negligible number end up in the sector.

The average age of Nigeria’s total population is 17. 9, 43% of this hugely young population are either unemployed or underemployed and has remained so despite opportunities in agriculture.

“We were over 100 in my class, I can hardly count 10 of us who practice agric in any form,” Olawale Odu, a young agric-entrepreneur, says.  

No one is shocked by this revelation. Odu’s revelation is a common knowledge in the gathering.

According to a 2018 data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on labour force, out of the 20.9 million unemployed Nigerian in the third-quarters of 2018, 8.8 million of them were young Nigerians who became eligible to work but could not find any job.

Infograph showing youth unemployment despite potentials in the agricultural sector

There are numerous opportunities in agriculture but many young people, even those unemployed, are unwilling to become farmers. Experts say this problem has dire consequences for Nigeria and its growing population of over 180 million.

The hope for food security and sustenance become even dimmer with a farming system that is largely subsistent. At least 70% of Nigeria’s farming population is subsistent. A global report on food crises by the United Nations says Nigeria experienced its worst food crisis in 2018. Many Nigerian farmers are unable to meet the feeding demands in the country. 

How then does Nigeria grow its ageing and archaic agricultural sector?

In this room, there seems to be hope. Welcome to the world of Nigerian millennials --youngsters born between 1980 and 2000, who are revolutionizing agricultural practices through peer-engagement, innovation and technology.
 
Youth Engagement in achieving internal food security

Tolu engaging some youth

Twenty-seven-year-old Tolulope Aina, founder of Youth Advocate Nigeria and Chief Executive Officer of Tolulope Foods and Farms, is on a mission to change the mindset of young Nigerians and help them grow a profitable agric business.

“If young people are left out of agric business, what would be the future of agriculture?” wonders Tolulope.

Tolulope’s question is not the only concern as more youths shun farming. Access to land has been a  perennial problem too. It is expensive to acquire land and when the funds are available, the lands are not readily available as the demand for shelter is on the rise. 

To make the matter worse, when the lands are available, young farmers cannot afford them. Tolulope is addressing this problem, though on a micro-scale, using a leased 100 hectare of land, located in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Tolulope working on her farm

“I have a cluster at Ogun State where we bring together young people to grow and cultivate crops,” Aina discloses.

The land is a large cashew plantation owned by Ogun State government. Between January and April, cashew is planted on it.

Tolulope and her group of young farmers use the same space to grow different food crops once the cashew is harvested. In June, when the farmland was visited, cassava, vegetable and melon were planted on it, while other sections were cleared to accommodate maize. 

Through this initiative, Tolulope not only provides a space for enthusiastic, educated young people to engage in profitable agribusiness, she also mentors and attracts rural youths who have abandoned farming for menial jobs in cities strewn across Nigeria.

Many rural youths, raised on farms, are leaving to seek jobs considered less laborious. In addition, rural-urban migration has taken its toll on farming, thereby making agile human resources for farming unavailable.

Tolulope supervising workers on her farm cluster

Tolulope, who spends most of her time on the farm, says the cluster is a way to reignite the passion of rural youths in farming. The mechanized process is a way to disabuse their mind from the thinking that farming requires intensive labour.

She notes, “The rural youth do not have the capacity to go into packaging but it is a system that accommodates everyone. The rural youth, instead of looking for ways to migrate to the cities, ride motorcycles and become nuisance to the street.  If they are engaged in production, they can live within the rural areaand earn decent living.”

The bigger picture, Tolulope reveals, is to firmly integrate all aspects of agriculture so that the cluster can be all-inclusive and beneficial to everyone across the agricultural chain. “The future is integrating all of these,” she says. “Doing production, adding value, having out-growers and engaging young people in various aspect of agriculture are important.”
 
Innovation in meeting export demands

The Aeroponic system in planting yam seedlings

There is still a huge gap in attaining food security in Nigeria as the agriculture sector is unable to cater to the food demands of the population growth. The need to move the country away from sole dependence on crude oil has also redirected the focus back to agriculture. President Muhammadu Buhari has signed up for initiatives that ensure that the country not only meets its consumption needs but also gain foreign reserves through export. These two demands have been largely unmet in varying degrees.

For example, Nigeria has been unable to take full advantage of the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) that opens the United States market to over 6,400 products from sub-Saharan Africa. One of the reasons for this is that Nigeria is unable to consistently meet the quality of AGOA eligible goods, according to Babatunde Faleke, Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

Nigeria’s farm produce is constantly being rejected by other countries, particularly the western nations due to poor quality and presence of poisonous substances. In 2015, the European Union banned Nigerians from bringing beans into EU countries because it contained residual of pesticide considered harmful for human consumption. 

Audu Ogbeh, Nigeria’s former minister of agriculture, once expressed concerns over the export of substandard yam to the United States.

PS Nutrac, an agricultural technology company, is solving the problem of poor quality of yam production through its innovative means of planting. The company, co-founded by 37-year-old Samson Ogbole, and 35-year-old Peter Okocha Jnr., uses soil-less farming technology to eliminate plant’s exposure to harmful chemicals and soil pathogens harmful to yams and humans.

"Producing food without harming the crop, human or the environment is at the core of soil less farming innovation,” says Ogbole.

“We need to produce food without causing so much harm. We have abused the use of fertilizers. The farmer gets a fertilizer and applies to the soil without doing soil analysis to ensure the fertilizer [he is] adding is complementary, and by the time [he is not] getting the desired result, all [he does] is add more fertilizers. The farmer forgets that whatever fertilizer is used destroys the groundwater and causes pollution.”

The absence of fertilizers and controlled exposure to chemical substances make the crop healthier. Also, the farming method gives the fruit a higher percentage of phytonutrients which are considered beneficial to human. The issue of pest control is also eliminated, hence the absence of pesticides in crops grown through this method.

The focus of the Nigerian government is, particularly on yam exportation. Despite a huge amount of yam produced in the country annually—Nigeria produced over 32 million tonnes in 2012—a small percentage of these gets exported. However, with PS Nutrac, and three other seedling companies, the government distributes yam seedlings free of diseases to farmers who cultivate them for export. The technical committee on Nigeria’s yam export says the government would distribute 9 million yam seedlings to farmers this year.

The tank that suplies thenutrients to the roots

These seedlings are grown through the aeroponic system at PS Nutrac’s smart farm in Ogun State. Explaining the multi-layered system employed in the process, Gbolahan Folarin, the chief agronomist of PS Nutrac, States that the seedlings go through different processes before they are certified fit to be handed over to the farmers.

“On the aeroponic system, the plan takes three months before we employ another technology called vine cutting,” Folarin explains. “The vine cutting helps us multiply the plant while aeroponic helps us rapidly grow the plant.”

The aeroponic and vine cutting take place in the screening room before the offshoots are transferred into the nursery where they are planted into sterilized soil certified by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). For another one month, before they are finally transplanted into the soil to grow into yam seedlings that are then distributed to farmers.

As Folarin shows his smart farm, a fizzling sound buzzes from the rectangular boxes that serve as a bed for the plants. “Oh, the plants are now feeding,” Folarin reveals. The plants are sprinkled with water and other nutrients at intervals. 

The mister, a cylindrical plastic tube, supplies the nutrient-rich water to the plant every 15 minutes.

“The plants feed for one minute and rest for 15 minutes, all day long” explains the agronomist. This technology produces improved yam seedlings that germinate into health yam tubers. Simon Irtwange, the chairman of the Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export, says 5.760 tonnes of yam would be exported in 2019. 

Producing quality yam, fit for export, is the first step towards achieving this.
 
Challenges facing these young farmers

These efforts and innovations are not without challenges. Aside from the perennial issues of access to land and finance earlier mentioned, experts consider the knowledge gap in the sector as the greatest challenge. Many older generation farmers, according to the co-founder of PS Nutrac, do not have the required knowledge to enhance productivity.

“When farmers are unable to meet their productivity demands that their counterparts are getting, they rather call it Satan, demons or any other thing except knowledge,” Ogbolw says. 

Introducing technology to the older farmers, who are accustomed to the old ways of planting and cultivating, is always greeted with resistance. 

“The older generation can be very hostile to change,” Tolulope adds. “They believe in their old system and they are not willing to change it.”

Adapting to new situations is generally not an easy transition. However, Tolulope and Ogbole agree that Nigeria can only maximize its potential in agriculture by creating a conducive environment for innovation and creativity. Younger Nigerians and open-minded traditional farmers are looking forward to that.

Furthermore, making the market space more profitable is also one challenge that young Nigerian farmers have to grapple with. Tolulope says young farmers take their product to the same market space as the traditional farmers, which reduces their selling power. With the extra cost they might have incurred in the process of producing better and healthier products, they lose much. 

Except young people can access a better market that would appreciate good quality, Tolulope says the sector will stifle innovations.

“There are lots of solutions that are increasing the cost of production on a daily basis,” says Tolulope. “So, as the cost of production is increasing and there is no better market, it becomes a problem.”

She adds, “Agriculture in Nigeria is not well-structured, there are lots of lapses and loopholes here and there. The policies are not favouring the sector. Older generation farmers are finding it difficult to make sense of the sector, how much more young people who are just coming in?”

“Innovation must be affordable. If you are introducing an innovation into the space that at the end of the day, the current system does not generate them value, it is not worth it. If they take up that practice, they still compete in the system that does not create value. At the end of the day, there is now a technology summersault.”

According to Hammed Adedapo, 31-year-old co-founder of Frotchery Farms Limited and mentor of the Tony Elumelu foundation, there is also the problem of bureaucratic bottlenecks in registering businesses and getting products certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Adedapo breeds and brands quality ish through his agric firm. Frotchery deals in smoked fish but uniquely, the young company breeds its fishes with health concerns of the consumers in focus. Its fish pond is located within the premises of IITA.

Speaking on the challenges in getting Frotchery Farms Limited running, Adedapo discloses that the processes were cumbersome owing majorly to several bureaucratic blockages around registering businesses, particularly for young people who are determined to follow due process.

“We need the government to put in place a policy that will ensure ease of doing business in Nigeria,” Adedapo explains.

Youth involvement is a way forwar

Tolulope and other young farmers preparing the soil for cassava planting

The creative and innovative nature of young people is the way to build a sustainable agricultural sector that can cater for both domestic and international needs of the country, says the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

“Youth are innovative and are always eager to explore more opportunities and agriculture provides them with a vast range of opportunities for job creation and employment for others,” Evelyn Ohanwusi, the head of IITA Youth in Agric business department, says in an interview with SaharaReporters.

“Young people play a crucial role in the prospect for development and should be included in all National Development Plans and Programmes. Agriculture is a sector that could bring development and impactful change to the economy of the country.”

In ensuring this, the institute itself takes off unemployed graduates from the pool of unemployment through its IITA Youth Agripremuers (IYA) initiative, started in 2012. Frotchery Farms is one of the thousands of young agribusiness that emerged from the initiative. The training is an intense 18-month boot camp that not only seeks to equip youth with the skills and knowledge needed to set up profitable agriculture business but also counter negative stereotypes that keep young people away from the sector.

Fishes from Hammed's pond.

“The successes from the IYA initiative was noticed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and adopted for its Pan African Youth in Agribusiness initiative known as ENABLE-Youth,” says Ohanwusi. “ENABLE-Youth is now active and providing agribusiness training and support to many young people in Sudan, Cameroon, Madagascar, Cote’D’ivoire, Kenya.”

Experts say the Nigerian government needs to be more concerted in ensuring the teeming Nigerian youth actively engage in the sector. Thus, Ohanwusi urges the government to fund youth initiatives to attract and keep them.

“Government needs to do more in terms of policies that will favour youth participation in agriculture. There is a need for more commitment in terms of policies that could create an enabling environment for youth to operate freely within the sector,” she says.

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Commercial activities were grounded in the Wuse market area in Abuja when the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria clashed with the operatives of the Nigerian Police Force on Wednesday.

Many Nigerians, who witnessed the clash, narrated their experience on Twitter while lamenting that the clash disrupted trading at the popular Wuse market.

For many days now, members of the IMN have been protesting the continued detention of their leader, Shiek Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

Expressing concern over the fresh clash, @Biba_orion said, "The soldiers and police around Wuse market/Berger scared me. Are we safe in this FCT?”

Another Nigerian, @TTgovernment, wrote, "The Wuse market area of Abuja F.C.T has been blocked by the Nigerian Police Force due to a report of another riot from the Shiite. Innocent Nigerians are in the market are not allowed to leave."

Describing her experience, @Adaobiiiii wrote, "So I'm driving to Wuse 2 using that Mabushi flyover and there are police blockades everywhere. Everywhere was rowdy so there was definitely something wrong. Suddenly everyone started turning back or abandoning their vehicles. Bear in mind it's raining heavily here and I can barely see."

Another eyewitness, @buchionyegbule, said, "Had to detour around Zone 6 while heading to Zone 3 neighbourhood as the road to Wuse Market from Berger is cordoned off by security personnel, due to the IMN folks(protest). Can't see beyond the cordoned off area so I can't say what's happening."

 

Details later…

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Popular journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, has called out Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu concerning the recent demolition of some houses in Eric Moore in the Surulere area of Lagos.

According to PUNCH, the Lagos State Government had commenced the demolition of illegal structures from the Eric Moore to Trade Fair complex corridors in the state.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Dr Taiwo Salaam, said the operation was an enforcement of the executive order recently signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

A statement on Tuesday stated that the state government had last week ordered transport unions, roadside traders and all illegal business operators on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Oshodi-Abule Egba corridors to vacate the locations or face arrest.

Kadaria Ahmed took to her Twitter handle on Wednesday to condemn the move.

@Kadaria Ahmed tweeted, “Watching the demolishing of poor people’s homes at Eric Moore by a Lagos task force. I am disappointed in @jidesanwoolu Lagos and all other Nigerian cities must stop their anti-poor policies. Before evicting people should we not provide low-cost housing?.”

Her tweet has generated controversy on social media, especially on Twitter,  with so many Lagosians supporting her and condemning the action of the Lagos State government.

A Twitter user, Afolabi Ajibola wrote, “Please, stress that low-cost housing very well. What they call low-cost housing in this city is about N11m the last time I checked.”

Replying Kadaria’s tweet, another Nigerian, Simon tweeted, “Irresponsibility everywhere, no social norm and such problem will never be erased from our lands easily, seeing the responses here too.”

Jolaoso Quddus also tweeted, “The poor masses are pawns, and the government uses them during elections and tosses them away like dirt....welcome to Lagos. The evicted victims join the area boys, prostitutes and rape victims in Lagos....it’s the sad way we live in Lagos.”

Some Nigerians, however, believed the governor had done the right thing by demolishing those houses.

Jude Iyamabo wrote, “If governors in states like Zamfara have been doing the needful, we will not have people flooding into Lagos and building shanties. This way, there will be no shanties to demolish.”

Another Tweeter user, Adedeji, said, “Even the almighty Lekki is a shanty, an eyesore. Government’s policy in Lagos must reflect the pulse of the people if it’s to achieve great things. People need to understand Lagos is just not a place you come and settle anywhere, anyhow.”

Abu Attah also tweeted, “It is about time Lagos hold other state governments to account. The irresponsible thieving leadership in the states across the country is responsible for the large population of slum dwellers in Lagos. What is a Kogi indigene, who is not working for the federal government, or a company (in Lagos) doing in Lagos?.”

Another Twitter user, Ayodeji Gasby, wrote, “That place was never meant for anyone coming to Lagos without a place to stay or reside. When one comes, he brings another and so on. You need to know how robbers have been using that place and many other places in Lagos as a hideout.”

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The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday has commenced the screening of 43 ministerial nominees submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari with an Okechukwu Ogah a nominee from Abia taking his turn.  

Some of the nominees arrived the National Assembly amidst tight security as journalists were prevented from gaining access into the office of the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

The former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, was sighted at the complex.

It is not likely that the senate will conclude the screening today and it may extend the sitting to evening.
 

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The Wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu,  has called for legislation that will ensure stiffer penalties for rapists and child abusers.

Mrs Akeredolu spoke in Akure, the state capital during a “Walk Against rape” programme organised to raise awareness about the increase in rape cases in Nigeria.  

The walk is coming on the heels of the high rate of rape and child defilement in Ondo State.

The awareness walk, which began from the Deji’s palace was attended by officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs, BRECAN, and others in attendance.

The governor’s wife, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Titi Adeyemi, said all hands must be on deck to nip rape in the bud in society.  

She said the office of the first lady was ready to bring all cases of rape in Ondo State to a logical conclusion.  

The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, assured the protesters that Akure kingdom would partner the government and relevant non-governmental organizations to eradicate rape and child defilement in the state.

Others who attended the walk included special assistants to the wife of the governor on gender, research and documentation, Tope Daniyan and Roland Iheloghara (Social Media). They described the awareness walk as necessary in eradicating the scourge of rape in Ondo State.

The special assistant to the wife of the governor on media, Tobi Fademi, said the awareness campaign was held simultaneously in all the 18 local government areas of the state.
 

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