Digest

Buhari approves N24.4b for Smart Irrigation Scheme, says NASENI EVC

By Usman Shuaibu

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N24.4billion for the phase one of the nation’s Smart Irrigation Scheme.

He said the nation was already trying to promote multi-crops season farming programme.

He said as part of an all-year round bumper harvest plan, the Federal Government has decided to establish six Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institutes (AMEDIs) in each of the nation’s geopolitical zones.

He said the institutes (AMEDIs) will teach farmers not only mechanized farming but modern farming techniques.

He said Nigeria has been collaborating with Czech Republic and Jordan on modern agriculture and manpower training on mechanized farming.

Haruna made the disclosures at the foundation laying of the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Obudu, Cross River State for the South-South.

He said: “The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had laid foundation of ensuring multi-crops season farming programme in Nigeria by approving N24.4billion for the Phase One of Smart Irrigation Scheme. The proliferation of mechanized farming is needed to meet the targeted bumper harvest all-year round which inform the need for local production of tools and equipment and hence approval for the six institutes nationwide.

“ One of the targets of implementing bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Czech Republic approved by President Muhammadu Buhari and managed by Presidential Implementation Committee hosted by NASENI is to make Agriculture attractive to the youths by deploying mechanization and technology.

“NASENI experts trained recently in Czech Republic and others in Jordan in modern agriculture are among the best Nigeria has ever produced in Agricultural Technology with capacity and know-how in the application of advances in Agricultural Technology especially green Agriculture.”

The EVC said six agricultural institutes will be established in each of the nation’s geopolitical zones with those in Phase One sited in Lafia (Nasarawa State for the North Central); Mbutu –Mbaise(Imo State for the South East; and Obudu ( Cross River State for the South-South).

He added: “Each of the six (6) geo-political zones of Nigeria is allocated an AMEDI to meet the equipment need of the Nation. Three out of these six (6) Agricultural equipment based institutes are being developed in Phase One. These are AMEDILafia, Nasarawa State for North Central; AMEDI Mbutu Mbaise, Imo State for South East; and Obudu in Cross River State for South-South. Lafia and Mbutu are expected to be commissioned in March 2023.

“The institutes are mandated to invent and produce tools, parts, systems and equipment and machinery for cultivation, plantation, weeding, harvesting, shelling, processing and preservation through backward integration and domestication of foreign technologies in Agriculture copied by well-trained staff of NASENI.

“AMEDI Obudu is one of the two selected by Jordanian Partners of NASENI for the pilot of all- inclusive modern agricultural food traceability project being implemented using IOT devices for global acceptability of Nigerian food and cash crops to enhance foreign exchange through export of agricultural products.

“The AMEDIs will teach farmers not only mechanized farming but modern farming techniques using technology for enhanced yields per hectare of farm land for bumper harvest and profitability.”

In his speech, Governor Ben Ayade commended the Federal Government for promoting the agricultural sector.

The Commissioner for Agriculture in Cross River State, Hon. Oliver Orok(in white); the Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Area, Mr. Emmanuel Ishabor; the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade and the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, at the foundation laying of the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Obudu, Cross River State yesterday. PHOTO: NASENI

Tinubu‘ll beat Atiku, Obi in February presidential election – Danbazau

By Christiana Ekpa

Reps member Shamsudden Danbazau has said Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC) will beat other candidates to win the February 25 presidential election, going by all indications.

He said this when he answered questions from National Assembly correspondents on Thursday in Abuja.

Danbazau, the son of retired Abdululrahman Danbazau, former Chief of Army Staff, said the former Lagos State Governor had the magic needed to turn around the country.

“Tinubu has the experience to take the country out of the current doldrums. He is the man that has the experience to take care of all these issues affecting Nigerians; he will put the country together and douse tension,” he said.

He said that the APC had already won the 2023 election, going by recent developments in the country.

Danbazau said that the APC had been tested and found to have made significant progress in running the country.

“Tinubu is a successful Chief Executive Officer, he has not failed in any of his endeavours, by voting for him we are hiring him and by February, we will all vote for him and he will win the election,” he said.

Speaking on security challenges facing the country, Danbazau, said Nigeria had made progress, adding that with the deployment of drones, the security situation had improved significantly.

“We need to have more geo special mapping of the country, where we can send drones to attack terrorists in every corner of the country.

“From 2014 to 2018 I refused to go for Friday prayers for fear of bomb attacks. I had to remain in the house or pray in the barracks, but since 2016, I have been attending congregational prayers in public places.

“I was at the Banex Plaza, Abuja, when a bomb went off just before the coming of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2014; now we don’t have such incidents.

“The security challenge has been addressed and you can see what the president is doing by investing in heavily, acquiring drones, doing researches and sending our military officers to other countries to learn about tackling security challenges,” he said.

Danbazau added that the Buhari administration had done well in terms of security.

Tinubu and Atiku