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Work with governors to stop food hoarding, FG directs security agencies

Published

2 months ago

February 15, 2024

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Minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, says governor across the 36 states of the federation will work with security agencies to stop food hoarding.

Idris, who spoke on Thursday, cited a directive from President Bola Tinubu.

In its latest consumer price index (CPI) report for January, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said food inflation surged to 35.4 percent in the month under review.

According to the NBS, the rise in food inflation was caused by increased prices of bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fish, meat, and fruit.

Tinubu had earlier directed the immediate release of 42,000 metric tons of assorted food items from both the strategic reserves and the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria as a short-term response to the rising food shortage in the country.

Idris said the government had proposed to embark on importation of whatever shortfalls that may be experienced after the release of the food commodities.

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He added that the government would sanction food hoarders, noting that “emergency situations require emergency measures to ensure food is available to Nigerians”.

The minister said the president has directed Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), Yusuf Bichi, director general of the state security service, and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), to work with governors to immediately check the activities of those hoarding food items with the intention to smuggle them out or make extra profits from the resulting scarcity.

Idris said the collaboration would end the hoarding of food commodities in the country.

The minister also clarified that, in contrast to the federal government’s previous stance, no food commodities would be imported.

He said the presidency held a meeting with state governors to increase the number and activities of forest rangers towards improving the security of farmers and to deepen investments in food production.

READ Governors: states should get 42% from Federation Account

The minister added that for the nation to achieve its targets of being self-sufficient and a net exporter, the government hopes to maintain the progress already made in local food production and youth employment.

Related Topics:FG FOOD HOARDING Governors SECURITY AGENCIES

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Good Morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Military commander killed in ambush by bandits in Katsina

Published

3 hours ago

April 27, 2024

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1. Military commander of an army camp located at Sabon Garin Dan’Ali, in Danmusa local government area of Katsina state has been killed in an ambush. Sources said the incident happened Thursday evening and the corpse of the deceased, a major in the army, was deposited at a hospital in Katsina.

2. Movement would be restricted for the duration of today’s local government election in Oyo State, the State Government announced on Friday evening. The restriction will help officials of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, to conduct the poll without hindrance.

3. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, were among the dignitaries who attended the wedding fatiha of the children of emirs of Kano and Bichi, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, on Saturday.

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4. President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND. This is contained in a statement issued by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, on Friday.

5. Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, on Friday, urged his predecessors including Chief Samuel Ortom, to refrain from interfering in his administration, warning that he would not allow anyone to destabilise his government. Alia while briefing journalists on his return from the USA, Friday morning, said the past governors have had their own term.

6. The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has said the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, led government in Kano State is behind the various protests against him in Abuja. Ganduje in a statement by his aide, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, alleged that the Kano government had been hiring protesters from the streets, mostly Kwankwasiyya members, some of whom are from the North Central geo-political zone to demand his resignation.

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7. The American International School of Abuja has paid $760,910.84 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from the $845,852 school fees allegedly deposited by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello in respect of five of his children in the school.

8. Bandits have attacked the palace of the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Bunu, killing three people and abducting some residents of the town. The bandits, who stormed the town around 10pm on Wednesday, according to locals, also attacked the residence of the former Military Administrator of Nasarawa State, Colonel Bala Muhammad Mande (rtd).

9. The Nigeria Correctional Service has stepped up efforts to track down and recapture escaped inmates of the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, Niger State. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday, said the government would relocate a lot of correctional centres to create better infrastructure and security.

10. Men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, assigned to tackle currency mutilation, dollarisation of the economy, and forex malpractice, have arrested 34 suspected currency speculators accused of foreign exchange fraud. This was made known in a statement shared on the commission’s website on Friday.

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UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

14 hours ago

April 26, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

Ngelale said Tinubu believes that Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience to ensure that no Nigerian student suffers a paucity of funds in the quest for tertiary education.

On April 3, Tinubu signed the student loans amendment bill into law to provide Nigerians with quality and accessible education.

The law will allow Nigerian students in tertiary institutions to access low-interest loans for tuition and other academic needs.

Subsequently, the president appointed Akintunde Sawyerr as the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the fund.

Tinubu also appointed Frederick Oluwafemi Akinfala as the executive director of finance and administration, while Mustapha Iyal will serve as the executive director of operations of NELFUND.

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