Africa must tackle chronic underfunding in agriculture – Koffi Annan

African leaders and private sector organizations have been urged to keep promises made to support agriculture growth in the continent to achieve food and nutrition security at home and help deliver it globally in the long-term.

Kofi Annan; Chairman Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa made this call at the opening of the 2012 African Green Revolution Forum in…

FG Fires NOA DG, Idi Faruk

The Federal Government yesterday in Abuja approved the appointment of Mr. Michael Omeri Agbo Omeri as the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency.

With this development the Federal Government may have sealed the fate of Mr. Idi Faruk who was said to have been in the position for long. A terse statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said…

Banks Raise Agric Sector Lending By over 37%

Bank lending to agriculture has increased by about 37.6 per cent signifying a significant shift in bank lending pattern. According to a report titled: “Bankers’ Committee Economic Development Agenda and Scorecard, “agriculture lending increased by N212.64 billion as at October last year, representing a 37.6 percent increase over 2010 lending.’’

The report also indicated that lending to the sector rose by 2.78 percent of total gross…

Ekwesili, World Bank VP For Africa To Resign Post

The Vice President for Africa Region at the World Bank, Ms Obiageli Ezekwesili, would be leaving that post in May this year, according to the World Bank President, Bob Zoellick, in a statement from the Washington DC headquarters of the organisation .

Although Ezekwesili had completed a 4-year tenure last year, and was already hoping to return to her family in Nigeria, she was asked to…

FG Plans State Of Emergency In Lagos – ACN

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has alleged that the Federal Government plans to send thugs to the hitherto peaceful protests at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Lagos and other parts of the city to instigate wanton violence as a pretext for declaring a state of emergency. In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party therefore warned the…

NFF, LFA Agree To Postpone Friendly Match

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Liberia Football Association on Friday agreed to postpone, by two weeks, the international friendly match between the two countries’ Senior Men’s Teams, earlier billed for Sunday, January 15.

Officials of the two countries agreed to this shift in view of certain circumstances which would have normalised within the next fortnight stated Barrister Musa Amadu, General Secretary of the NFF.

The…

Protesters In Minna Set INEC Office, Gov’s Campaign Office Ablaze

The nationwide strike and protest in Niger state is getting tougher as protesting youths torched the campaign office of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at Mobile Roundabout, Minna. Also razed, was the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) along David Mark Road, Minna. Similarly, the private law chamber of the state deputy Chairman of PDP, Tanko Bejin along Bosso road after government house has been…

Subsidy Withdrawal Not Dictated To Nigeria By IMF — Minister

The IMF/World Bank did not instruct or direct the Federal Government to withdraw fuel subsidy, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chukwuemeka Wogu, said in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said government took the decision in the best interest of the country and its citizenry and also to stimulate the economy. The minister was reacting to claims by opponents of the decision that government was taking dictation…

Impeach Jonathan Now, CLO Urges NASS

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), South East Zone, has called on the National Assembly to immediately commence impeachment process against President Goodluck Jonathan, since his administration has failed to make provision for the security and welfare of Nigerians, its primary duty.

A statement issued by the Zonal Director of CLO, Barrister Olu Omatoyo yesterday said Jonathan’s administration“has in recent times failed woefully in this regard and…

SSANU, NCSU, NULGE Direct Members To Participate In Strike

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), and Nigeria Union Of Local Government Employees (NULGE) have ordered their members in the 36 states of the federation to ignore a purported court order and join the nationwide strike declared by the NLC and TUC.

The three Unions, affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in separate statements made available, claimed that…