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HERDSMEN/FARMERS CLASHES: NEC WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDS RANCHING IN 5 STATES *Says ranching sustainable model for livestock industry *Agriculture has contributed about 27% to the expansion of the Nigerian economy in 35 years

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The Technical Sub-Committee set up by the National Economic Council (NEC) Working Group has recommended the adoption of ranching in some of the states affected by farmers/herdsmen clashes as a sustainable solution to the conflicts.
 
Contrary to some online media reports, NEC did not discuss or pronounce a ban on the movement of herdsmen.
 
The Committee presented an interim report at this month’s NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
The sub-committee is headed by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, with the governors of Plateau and Adamawa states among the committee’s membership.
 
The Working Group also recommended that the state governments of the five affected states allocate land for this purpose.
 
The NEC Working Group, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, which noted that ranching would enhance the production of healthy cattle in the country, identified the need to transform the livestock industry into a model for cattle production as one of the remedies for constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
 
Following its visit to five out of seven of the affected states, including Zamfara, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba and Benue, the committee, in its report to NEC today, noted that a root cause of the conflict was the struggle for scarce land and resources.
 
Briefing the press after the NEC meeting, Governor Umahi said most of the killings, especially in Benue State, are carried out by herdsmen from outside the country and called for the deployment of more security operatives in the area.
 
Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, at the meeting, gave an overview of the Agriculture production initiative, which he said has contributed about 27% to the expansion of the Nigerian economy over the past 35 years.
 
“Agriculture is Nigeria’s single largest economic sector, accounting for 24% of the GDP in 2016 in spite of recession, and has consistently increased to 25.08% as at 2017,” he stated.
 
He listed out intervention programme rolled out by the Ministry for the Agriculture Production Initiatives in Rice, Maize, Sorghum, Wheat, Groundnut, Cowpea, Soybean, Millet, Sesame, Tomato, Onion, Okro, Cocoyam, Cassava, Yam, Ginger, Cotton, Cashew, Oil Palm, Cocoa, Fish, as well as Animal and Livestock.
 
Below are the highlights of the fourth NEC meeting in the year 2018:
 
NEC (4TH IN 2018) 87TH NEC MEETING – 
THURSDAY, 26TH APRIL, 2018
 
A.     PRESENTATION ON THE REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT IN THE AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN IN NIGERIA BY HONOURABLE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 
Highlights:
·        The Minister gave an overview of the Agriculture production initiative, which he said has contributed about 27% to the expansion of the Nigerian economy over the past 35 years
·        He said that Agriculture is Nigeria’s single largest economic sector, accounting for 24% of the GDP in 2016 in spite of recession, and has consistently increased to 25.08% as at 2017.
·        He listed out intervention programmes rolled out by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) for the Agriculture Production Initiatives in Rice, Maize, Sorghum, Wheat, Groundnut, Cowpea, Soybean, Millet, Sesame, Tomato, Onion, Okro, Cocoyam, Cassava, Yam, Ginger, Cotton, Cashew, Oil Palm, Cocoa, Fish, as well as Animal and Livestock
·        He said the Federal Government is prioritizing improving productivity in a number of domestically focused crops with the aim of closing the gap between the demand and supply of these products through partnership with private investors.
·        Under the Rice Value Chain – all rice producing states recorded an increase in rice production, with Lagos State having the highest increase of 30.5%.
·        Milling capacity of the functional integrated rice mills has increased from 13 to 21 mills and from less than 600,000 MT capacity to the current 1,295,000 MT
·        There was a total investment of a little over N300 billion, thereby saving $300 million Forex from import substitution through local processing.
To ensure food sufficiency:
·        FG has a total of 33 Silo Complexes in different States of the federation for storage of grains produced, as well as Agricultural goods produced for exports under the Agricultural Commodities Exports scheme.
·        Agricultural development in Nigeria has stimulated a lot of Private Sector Interests as manifested in the level of proposed investments so far appraised for agricultural sector, at the end of 6th week of ERGP Focus Labs. Notable among them is the launch of the “Green Alternative” which is to provide a disciplined approach to building an agribusiness ecosystem to solve food security, import substitution, job creation and economic diversification.
·        Agricultural Development is also being funded by the Bank of Agriculture in 3 dimensions of Short Term, Medium Term and Long Term basis.
 
B.     EXPERIENCE SHARING BY STATE GOVERNORS
·        Meanwhile, some States shared their experiences on their Development Interventions and Investment in the Agricultural Value Chain in Nigeria. 
–      The States are Jigawa, Delta, Anambra, Lagos, Taraba and Kwara.
·        The general objective, among others, is to transform the agricultural economy of their States and make it more competitive and investor-friendly;
–      To create jobs for teeming unemployed youths
–      Improve incomes and create wealth for farmers, processors and value chain operators.
–      Diversify the State economy from crude oil.
Summary of the shared experiences by the States:
JIGAWA STATE
–      Introduced Cluster Farming Initiative to refocus the mind-set of smallholder farmers to commercial potentials of farming activities to attain SDG.
–      Land Acquisition and Resettlement Framework in conjunction with DFID – a framework for large scale land acquisition, compensation, integration and dispute resolution.
DELTA STATE
–      Introduced State commodity prioritisation based on production efficiency and potentials for jobs and wealth creation.
–      Youth Agricultural Entrepreneur Programme (YAGEP) Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP) and Tractorization Scheme to boost development and investment in the commodity value chain.
KWARA STATE
–      Farmers Cooperation Organisation to Compliment agriculture programmes.
–      Acquisition of over 1,000 hectares of land for the training of youths in commercial farming.
ANAMBRA STATE
–      Two-pronged strategy:
*   Large scale commercial farmers.
*   Smallholders farmers.
–      Standardisation of farm products
*   Improved activities of the extension officer
*   Developed seed multiplication centres for various crops and on demand.
 
C.     INTERIM BRIEFING OF NEC WORKING GROUP ON HERDSMEN/FARMERS CLASHES
Below are the highlights of the report:
·        NEC Technical Sub-Committee visited five (5) front-line States out of seven (7) identified.
·        The five (5) States visited are; Zamfara, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba and Benue.
·        The Sub-Committee identified broad issues common to the affected States, as well as unique circumstances and causes among them.
Outcome
·        Conflicts in these States may have been exacerbated, but at their root is a common struggle for scarce land and resources.
·        Livestock industry found to be extremely important in Nigeria with estimated cattle population of 19.22 million valued at N3.4 trillion.
·        Livestock industry needs to be transformed by working towards peace and sustainable model for cattle production.
·        Immediate need for FG, States, Private Sector Development Partners to act in the following areas in  the selected States:
–      Economic investments
–      Security and peace building
–      Information, education and strategic communication
–      Regional collaboration
–      Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
·        Other needs: 
–      Ranch Design Plan – can be proposed/adopted for future use in other regions.
–      Ranching policy – more important now for FG/States to explore ranching as a sustainable and perfect solution to prevailing farmer/herdsmen conflicts in Nigeria.
–      Land allocation – Governors of the five (5) States will allocate land for this purpose.
–      Youth Empowerment and Poverty alleviation should go hand-in-hand with ranching reforms.
–      Consolidated Implementation – FG/States develop soon-to-be finalized consolidated plan based on the 5 pillars- Economic, Law and Order, Conflict Resolution, Communication and Humanitarian Relief.
 
D1.   UPDATE ON ACCOUNTS BY ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION
A.     Report on Excess Crude Account (ECA)
·        Accountant-General of the Federation briefed Council that the balance in ECA as at April 23, 2018, stands at $1,829,862,047.42
B.     Balance in Stabilization Fund Account
·        Accountant-General of the Federation also informed the Council that the balance in the Stabilization Account as at April 23, 2028 stand at N14,226,835,11.88
C.     Balance in Natural Resource Development Fund Account
·        The current balance in the Natural Resources Development Fund Account as reported by the Accountant-General of the Federation as at April 23, 2018 stands at N134,912,870,528.84.
D.     Update on Budget Support Loan Facility
Accountant-General of the Federation reported to the Council as follows:
·        35 States commenced in 2016 collected N1.39 billion thereafter, they collected N1.11 billion
·        The repayment of the facility was extended from 1 year to 2 years.
·        Analysis of compliance level indicates that 52.5% was the highest, while 13% was the lowest with respect to the conditionalities for the Budget Support Loan Facility.
D2.   UPDATE ON ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND GROWTH PLAN FOCUS LABS BY MINISTER OF BUDGET AND NATIONAL PLANNING
· The Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning informed the Council that the six (6) weeks Focus Labs ended last week Friday, April 20, 2018.
· The next step is the open day scheduled for May 7, 2018 to display all the outcomes of the Labs. He urged States Chief Executives to attend or send representatives.
· The Honourable Minister appreciated the Vice President and other stakeholders (Governors and Ministers) that participated.
 

Politics

APC Group Endorses Fubara for 2027, Calls on Tinubu and APC to Prioritise Performance Over Politics in Backing Governor’s Second Term Ambition

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*APC Group Endorses Fubara for 2027, Calls on Tinubu and APC to Prioritise Performance Over Politics in Backing Governor’s Second Term Ambition*

 

The APC National Vanguard has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support a second term in office for Siminalayi Fubara, citing what it described as “impressive and verifiable developmental strides” across Rivers State.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National President, Dr Gbenga Salam (JP), the group said its position followed an extensive assessment tour of key infrastructure and public service projects executed under the Fubara administration.

The APC National Vanguard said the appeal was based strictly on performance, arguing that governance outcomes should outweigh partisan considerations, particularly in a state as economically significant as Rivers.

“We respectfully urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to support the continuity of Governor Siminalayi Fubara beyond his current tenure, in recognition of his commitment to development, prudent resource management, and people-focused governance,” the statement read.

According to the group, its delegation visited multiple project sites across the state, observing ongoing and completed works spanning road construction, urban renewal, and public infrastructure upgrades.

It noted that the scale and distribution of these projects reflect a deliberate effort by the state government to extend development beyond traditional urban centres and into underserved communities.

“Our findings from the tour reveal a government that is not only active but intentional in its development agenda. The execution of capital projects across various parts of Rivers State demonstrates a clear understanding of the needs of the people and a commitment to addressing them,” Dr Salam said.

The group particularly commended what it described as prudent financial management by the administration, noting that the projects reviewed showed evidence of careful planning and efficient allocation of resources.

“At a time when economic pressures are evident across the country, it is commendable that the Rivers State government has managed its resources in a way that delivers visible and impactful development without signs of fiscal recklessness,” the statement added.

The APC National Vanguard further observed that despite political tensions in the state, the Fubara administration has maintained focus on governance, ensuring continuity in project execution and service delivery.

The group argued that such stability is critical for sustained development and should be encouraged rather than disrupted.

“Leadership must ultimately be judged by results. In Rivers State, there is clear evidence of progress—projects that are not only announced but executed, and policies that translate into real benefits for citizens,” Dr Salam noted.

The group warned that discontinuity in leadership could stall ongoing projects and reverse gains already recorded, stressing the importance of allowing a performing administration to consolidate its achievements.

“Rivers State is at a pivotal stage where continuity will allow for the completion of ongoing initiatives and the deepening of development gains. Supporting Governor Fubara for a second term is, therefore, a decision in the best interest of the people,” the statement said.

In addition to its call on the APC leadership, the group reaffirmed its support for President Tinubu, expressing confidence in his administration’s broader economic and governance reforms.

The APC group urged Nigerians to remain supportive of efforts aimed at stabilising the economy and strengthening public institutions.

“We reiterate our endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office, in recognition of his leadership and commitment to national development. With sustained support, the administration can consolidate its reform agenda for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Dr Salam added.

The APC National Vanguard concluded by calling on political actors to prioritise development and public interest over partisan divides, insisting that governance should always be guided by performance and accountability.

“Where leadership demonstrates prudence, delivers development, and remains focused on the welfare of the people, it deserves continuity. This is the position we have reached after a careful and independent assessment of Rivers State,” the statement added.

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Renewed Hope Ambassadors Shift to Grassroots Mobilisation Ahead of 2027

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Renewed Hope Ambassadors Shift to Grassroots Mobilisation Ahead of 2027

*Renewed Hope Ambassadors Step Into the Next Phase

 

Fresh from the successful APC 2026 National Convention, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors National, Zonal, and State leadership gathered in Abuja over the weekend, for its fourth strategic meeting, setting the tone for nationwide grassroots activation ahead of 2027.

Chaired by Governor Hope Uzodinma (Imo State) the Director General and National Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, alongside Deputy Director-General, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State as Secretary, the session reinforced one clear direction: One Party. One Message. One Mobilization whilst also laying out a strategic roadmap for the activation of the network across all communities in Nigeria.

Backed by the strength of 31 APC-led states, the Renewed Hope Agenda is taking Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of progress and reform to every corner of Nigeria.

From bold economic restructuring to initiatives like NELFUND, the increase in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, and strategic investments in critical sectors, including PNiCGI, the mission remains clear: helping Nigerians understand both the purpose and the progress of the Renewed Hope vision.

This is coordination at scale. This is grassroots engagement with purpose. This is the next phase of Renewed Hope with One Party, One Message, and One Mobilisation framework

#RenewedHopeAmbassadors #APC #WeAreAPC

 

Renewed Hope Ambassadors Shift to Grassroots Mobilisation Ahead of 2027

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Governor Bago Inaugurates APC Digital Media Sub-Committee Ahead of National Convention

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Governor Bago Inaugurates APC Digital Media Sub-Committee Ahead of National Convention.

 

Governor Umaru Bago has inaugurated the Digital Media Sub-Committee for the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scheduled to hold on March 27 and 28, 2026 in Abuja.

 

Chairing the sub-committee, Governor Bago tasked members with the responsibility of effectively communicating the party’s manifesto to the public.

 

He emphasized the need to leverage social media platforms to highlight the achievements and ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that communication gaps have posed challenges that must now be decisively addressed.

 

The Co-Chair of the sub-committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, echoed the Governor’s position, urging members to project the activities of both the party and the government to a broader audience.

 

He called for a deliberate and coordinated effort to showcase the party’s achievements and policy direction, stressing the importance of shaping a compelling and consistent narrative across all digital platforms.

 

Delivering a presentation to the committee, Otega Ogra, SSA to the President on New Media, who serves as Secretary of the sub-committee, outlined strategic focus areas to guide the team’s operations.

 

His presentation highlighted communication priorities and actionable steps to achieve the committee’s mandate and strengthen the party’s digital engagement.

 

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