News
FG commences Assessment of Borno Flooding Impact on Livestock Sector
Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Maiduguri, the Federal Government has initiated an assessment of the devastating effects of recent floods on Borno State’s livestock sector.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD), led by Permanent Secretary Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, is working to determine the extent of the damage and offer support to affected farmers.
In response to Tinubu’s directive, an Expert Working Group (EWG) has been deployed to conduct a thorough evaluation and provide recovery strategies.
The group is collaborating with Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and key stakeholders from the livestock value chain.
The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank-assisted program, has also set up a model veterinary hospital to offer veterinary services, training, and emergency response, aiming to enhance the sector’s resilience.
The assessment will shape future interventions to support livestock farmers and aid Borno’s economic recovery.
According to Dr. Akujobi, “the urgency and concern expressed by President Tinubu highlights the government’s commitment towards ameliorating the consequences of the disaster on the livestock industry.
According to Permanent Secretary Akujobi, the FMLD, understanding the need for a ‘livestock oriented’ component in Disaster Management, had set up an Expert Working Group (EWG) to work out a viable and sustainable template of disaster response and management for the livestock sector. The Group is therefore tasked with undertaking detailed, on the spot assessment of the extent of damage wreaked on the livestock sector, while proffering immediate, short, medium and long-term measures aimed at supporting stakeholders in the sector.
The EWG which consists of veterinarians, animal scientists, Agricultural Economists and stakeholder engagement experts* accompanied the Permanent Secretary on the Mission to Borno, where she held meetings with the State Governor Prof Babagana Zulum as well as the Shehu of Borno, who both recognized the challenges foisted on the State by the disaster while emphasizing the importance of a specific recovery plan aimed at the livestock sector.
The delegation also held meetings with representatives from different segments of the livestock value chain, gaining first-hand insight into the hardships experienced by livestock farmers and other value chain actors in the industry. These stakeholders shared their experiences of losses and challenges, calling for government support to help them rebuild their livelihoods and sustain their families.
To address the immediate needs of livestock farmers, the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) – a World Bank assisted Program – is proactively setting up a model veterinary hospital This facility will provide veterinary care, act as an Emergency Operation Centre, offer training opportunities, and support private veterinary practices. “These initiatives aim to enhance the resilience of the livestock sector,*protect animal and public health* Akujobi reiterated.
The assessment process will ultimately contribute valuable insights for developing effective interventions to assist the livestock sub-sector’s post-disaster recovery” Akujobi stated, noting that “by implementing holistic livestock-targeted solutions, we will be rebuilding the livelihoods of affected livestock farmers, thereby contributing to the resilience and economic recovery of the state and country at large”
The Permanent Secretary noted that, as efforts progress, collaboration among critical stakeholders – Government (both federal, state and local), Private Sector, and the Development Partner community – will be critical for success.
Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Professor Tom Adaba, has passed away at the age of 84.
According to reports, he died peacefully on Saturday in Abuja.
Chief Adinoyi Joe Anivasa, Secretary of the Egbira Elders Forum, confirmed the news, stating, “I feel sad to inform you that our elder and leader, Prof. Tom A. Adaba, has answered the call of nature this morning. Further details about his burial arrangements will be communicated later.”
Born on July 2, 1941, Prof. Adaba made significant contributions to Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. Between 1988 and 1992, he became the first Nigerian to serve as President of the African Council for Communication Education.
Despite calls for suspension from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Police Force, the Osun State local government election proceeded as scheduled on Saturday.
Governor Ademola Adeleke voted in Ede North Local Government Area, describing the process as peaceful and urging residents to exercise their franchise.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, cited a Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating sacked local government chairmen, while the police warned of potential security threats.
However, the Osun State government insisted on holding the election, emphasizing its commitment to obeying a court directive. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the polls.
Voting took place under tight security, with minimal commercial activity observed in Osogbo, the state capital.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa, has indicated that Firmer President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the public presentation of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, The Journey of Service, held in Abuja on Thursday was not surprising.
Speaking to journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s no-show was a result of unresolved bitterness over the 1985 coup, in which Babangida overthrew him and subsequently detained him.
According to Vatsa, Buhari may still harbor resentment, especially over being denied the chance to bid his late mother farewell while in detention.
“It Would Have Been the 9th Wonder of the World If Buhari Had Attended”
Vatsa claimed that Buhari’s absence was expected, given the deep-seated history between the two former leaders.
“The memory of the ‘mother of all betrayals’ has not left him. It would have been the ninth wonder of the world if Buhari had attended that book launch,” he said.
The APC chieftain also linked Buhari’s perceived neglect of Niger State during his eight-year presidency to his history with Babangida.
“The whole world knows that Niger State was made a scapegoat by Buhari because of IBB. For eight years, he did not pay any serious official visit to the state, and not a single federal project was executed here. The Baro Port project was abandoned, and federal roads across the state were left in disrepair,” Vatsa alleged.
He claimed that despite the overwhelming votes Buhari received from Niger State in 2015 and 2019, the state was sidelined due to the personal history between the former presidents.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Niger State paid for the sin of one man,” he lamented.
When asked for his opinion on the contents of IBB’s autobiography, Vatsa said he would reserve his comments until he has read and digested the book fully.
“There are certain things I expected to see in the book. Once I am done reading, I will invite you all for my comments,” he stated.
The book launch attracted several high-profile attendees, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Yakubu Gowon, as well as former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Other dignitaries included former Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo, former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, and ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, and Namadi Sambo, alongside traditional rulers and state governors.
Buhari’s absence, however, remained a major talking point, reinforcing speculations that the 1985 coup remains a sore point in Nigeria’s political history.
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