Lagos Lawmakers Seek Collaboration To End Food Insecurity

– as council chairman wants subsidy on agric products

Lawmakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday held simultaneous stakeholders’ meetings with their constituents with renewed commitments to boost food security and sufficiency in the state.

They also called for collaboration by the stakeholders to end food insecurity.

Speaking in his Agege Constituency 1, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, identified food insecurity as a multi-faceted challenge requiring the efforts of the government and the people to resolve.

This year’s stakeholders’ meeting is the ninth in the series and has the theme: ‘Ensuring Food Security for Sustainable Future: Youth Participation and Home-Grown Farming’.

Dr. Obasa said the Lagos Assembly was committed to ensuring food security in line with the United Nation’s sustainable
development goals of eradication of poverty.

“We at the Lagos State House of Assembly are committed to making Lagos an producing state and not just a consuming state in the agriculture value chain to tackle the present-day reality of food insufficiency.

“Our commitment is exemplified through transformational laws and policy supervision in the agricultural sector,” he said noting that with the collaboration of the Assembly, the government of the state has made giant strides in the agriculture sector.

He listed some of the agricultural initiatives to include the setting up of the 34-hectare Ikorodu Fish
Farm Estate which has the capacity to produce and
process 10,000 tons of fish per year partnering
with 400 fish farmers in the State

He mentioned the AGRIC-YES
programme and “the Oke-Aro and Gberigbe Pig Farm Estates that currently partners with 1,200 farmers and have the capacity of housing and processing 88,000 mature pigs per annum.

“It is important to reiterate that, on our part as lawmakers, we have also created an enabling
environment for farming activities to thrive in the state,
particularly through the passage of anti-open grazing of livestock Law in September, 2021.”

He said to achieve food sufficiency, farming capacity needs to be widened while residents should consider animal husbandry.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Ganiyu Egunjobi, identified insecurity and non-availability of low interest loan for the youth population as responsible for the food crisis.

“This meeting cannot come at a better time. The problem responsible for the food shortage are many among which are insecurity that has prevented many farmers from accessing their farms. Farming in Nigeria is no longer attractive to the teeming youths.

“I want to suggest to the government at all levels to subsidise farming and also give loans at very low interest to farmers. The government should also improve on existing physical infrastructures in farming communities that would discourage urban migration and encourage youths to embrace farming. Farming and youth unemployment are recurring issues which require multidimensional interventions to tackle,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Dr. Akinyemi Olusegun of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, urged the youths and residents in the state to engage in urban farming.

“In Lagos, we are more than 22 million and as a result we have a huge need for food. People want to eat and engage in food business,” he said urging youths to focus on home-grown farming.

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly

PDP Crisis: 100 Support Groups Back Damagun-led NWC
…say anti-democratic elements have no place in the party

In a show of solidarity, over 100 support groups of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have thrown their weight behind the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee (NWC), condemning attempts to undermine the party’s constitution.

The groups, under the umbrella of Foundational Support Groups, described the recent attempts to remove Damagum as Acting National Chairman as “anti-democratic” and “detrimental to the party’s unity.”

A federal high court in Abuja had earlier restrained the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) from removing Damagum until the party’s national convention in December 2025.

The court’s decision, citing Articles 42, 47, and 67 of the PDP constitution, reaffirms that national officers can only be elected through the national convention.

Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, Chairman of the Foundational Support Groups, and Comrade Olarewaju Thompson, Secretary General, in a statement urged stakeholders to respect the court’s decision and work towards unity.

“The PDP’s internal wrangling must be resolved through constitutional means,” the statement read.
“We reject any attempts to circumvent this process and reaffirm our commitment to democratic principles.”

The support groups praised Damagum’s leadership, citing significant progress under his tenure, and called on well-meaning members to stand with them in supporting the NWC.

“The leadership of Umar Damagum has brought a breath of fresh air to the PDP, rekindling hope among party faithful and Nigerians at large.

“His commitment to democratic principles and party unity has been unwavering, earning him respect across party lines. Under his watch, the PDP has begun to reclaim its status as a viable opposition, poised to provide alternative governance.

“Damagum’s strategic vision has guided the party’s reorganization efforts, strengthening structures at all levels. His inclusive approach has brought together diverse interests, fostering a sense of belonging among party members.

“The Acting National Chairman’s door-to-door engagement and listening ear have helped resolve long-standing grievances, paving the way for renewed cooperation.

“As the PDP navigates these turbulent times, Damagum’s steady hand and calm demeanor have been a source of strength. His unwavering dedication to the party’s constitution and ideals has inspired loyalty and commitment among supporters.

“With Damagum at the helm, the PDP’s prospects for resurgence appear brighter than ever, and the Foundational Support Groups remain resolute in their backing for his continued leadership.”

EFCC Allegations: Yahaya Bello Publicly Summoned To Appear In Court

The former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has been publicly ordered not appear in court by the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Abuja.

Justice Maryann E. Anenih had issued the summon on October 3, 2024, and directed that the summon on Yahaya Bello who has declined court appearances in another matter involving him and the EFCC be public summoned through publication of the court summon in the newspapers, pasting at his last known address and pasting at a prominent place within the court premises.

The summons reads in part;
“You are hereby summoned to appear before the Federal Capital Territory High Court of Justice (High Court No. 3) sitting at Maitama on the 14th day of November 2024 at the hour of 9.00am to answer the said complainant.”
The EFCC has accused Yahaya Bello of violating Section 311 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1963, which deals with criminal breach of trust and is punishable under Section 312.

EFCC, through its counsel, DR. Kemi Pinheiro SAN had applied to Justice Emeka Nwite for bench warrant to compel the appearance of the former Kogi governor in court with the respect to the allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement.

The court summons Hammett was punished in some national newspapers today in keeping with the order of Justice Annenih.