We’ll bring innovation into farming for maximum output ― Buhari

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5 years ago

Delta monarch urges Buhari Buhari commissions made-in-Nigeria vessel, Buhari hails pilot, FG begins implementation, Army lacks power to investigate crime – Court …Awards N15m damages against Army, Police Sunday Ejike – Abuja A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday held that the Nigerian Army has no power to arrest, detain and investigate crimes. Justice Taiwo Taiwo, while delivering judgment in a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by Miss Grace Anita Paul against the Chief of Army Staff, the Nigeria Army, Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Police Force held that the Nigerian Army would be usurping the fun by delving into arrest, investigation and arrest over crime allegation. Miss Paul had, in her suit alleged that officers of the Nigerian Army invaded her residence and abducted her to Mambilla Barracks in Abuja on October 24th 2019 where she was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. She said she was kept in a guardroom with other male inmates and later transferred to the SARS where she was kept for more than two months without charge or trial. Justice Taiwo, in his judgment held that the Nigerian Army lacks the power to arrest, investigate and hold in custody anyone who is not subject to the Armed Forces Act or any other military law. While dismissing the objections of counsel to the Nigerian Army, A.A. Mohammed (SAN), the Judge held that the Military should not usurp the powers of the Nigerian Police under Sections 4 and 84 of the Police Act which empowers the Police to detect and investigate crime. Counsel to the applicant, Akpomiemie Akpomiemie had argued that the Military lacks the power under Section 217 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to arrest, detain and investigate anyone not subject to Military law. Akpomiemie also argued that the detention of the Applicant by the defunct SARS of the Nigeria Police is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. Justice Taiwo held that for democracy to thrive, all agencies of government should act within the law and awarded damages of N5 million against the 1st and 2nd Respondents (The chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army) and N10 million against the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Police Force sued as 3rd and 4th Respondent respectfully. The Judge also made an order of perpetual Injunction restraining the Nigeria Army and the Nigeria Police from further violation of the rights of the applicant. The court also ordered the Police to return all her seized items within seven days., Buhari pledges support for Lagos, Buhari flags off Kano-Maradi non-career ambassador-designates, Buhari hails China-Nigeria relations, Buhari to perform groundbreaking, African Union may be irrelevant, Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, graduates for extension service, Buhari okays Fikpo’s nomination, Appraising Buhari hails Niger Republic, Buhari cancels Christmas homage, Buhari pledges Nigeria’s support, Security challenges facing Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to channel to innovative ways of farming that will guarantee maximum output in the country.

Speaking at the National Food Security Council half at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Thursday, he noted that there is need for more effort to increase food production and self-sufficiency, assuring that the Federal Government will continue to promote policies that favour investments in the agricultural sector.

The President pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the level of preparedness of nations to shocks of food security.

He explained that the Federal Government’s wisdom in promoting self-sufficiency over the years helped significantly in averting a food crisis.

He added: “The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated more than any event in recent history how countries must strive harder to protect food systems. It has also exposed the limits of dependency on other countries.

“In the last five years, we have recorded notable achievements. Despite the decline in GDP by 6.1 per cent in Q2 of 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus, the agricultural sector continued to grow because of government targeted policies.’’

President Buhari commended Nigerian farmers for contributing to the stability in food security, saying that the favourable rainy seasons should serve as encouragement for many to take up farming as a vocation.

According to him, “I am pleased to note that most Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agric-business sector. I want to assure you that this government will continue to support these initiatives and many more to come.’’

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Speaking further the President said:

“To protect agricultural investments and boost confidence to our farmers we have deployed thousands of agro-rangers and integrated rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads.

“We have invested in building our strategic grain reserves in recent years which we recently released significant quantities to cushion the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to vulnerable households and industries,’’ the President said.

President Buhari sympathized with farmers and families that lost loved ones to recent floods in the country, assuring that the government will support those that were affected.

The President is the Chairman of the National Food Council, which was constituted in 2018.

Members include the governors of Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi and Delta states; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Chief of Staff to the President, the National Security Adviser and seven cabinet ministers.

The ministers in the council are that of Agriculture and Rural Development; Finance; Interior; Industry, Trade and Investment; Water Resources; Environment; as well as Budget and National Planning.

Also among the membership are the Chief of Defence Staff; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; the Directors-General of the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency, as well as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The broad objectives of the Council include developing sustainable solutions to the farmers–herdsmen clashes, as well as climate change and desertification and their impact on farmland.

The Council also aims to address the issues of grazing areas and lakes, rivers and other water bodies; oil spillage and its impact on Niger Delta fishing communities; piracy and banditry; agricultural research institutions and extension services and the problem of smuggling.

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