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Plateau state Government is set to benefit oil palm production

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By Asile Abel,Jos

The Plateau State
Government has partnered with Continental Oil Palm and Agric Services Consortium to lead the establishment of a 4000-hectare oil palm plantation in the state.

The  Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Bugama Samson Ishaku, represented by Hon. Ishaku Samalia Jilemsam, the Program Manager of the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme, highlighted the long-term benefits of oil palm production, stating that these trees can thrive for more than 50 years, providing sustainable advantages for decades.

“In oil palm production, when you plant these trees, they can survive for more than 50 years. So it’s an investment of 2-3 years of effort that yields benefits for over 40 years,” he explained.

Hon. Samalia emphasized the environmental advantages, noting that cultivating these crops contributes to carbon sequestration and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing climate change
“We are contributing to carbon credits in the environment because these plants sequester carbon. Therefore, we are also meeting SDG targets with this initiative.

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The government’s approach involves thorough sensitization to generate interest from farmers before providing seedlings,” stated Hon. Samalia.
He also stressed the importance of securing markets for the produced goods to ensure economic viability and eliminate concerns regarding market availability

“Our priority is to secure the market, then establish an integration for every commodity we promote. We will ensure there is already a market, including for palm oil,” he added.

He also disclosed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang has unveiled a comprehensive plan that goes beyond oil palm and encompasses coconut, banana, coffee, polonia, bamboo, avocados, and more.
The commissioner revealed that 3850 hectares would be utilized for cultivation, while 150 hectares would be reserved for a refinery, emphasizing the goal of producing finished goods locally.

Project Facilitator, Hon. Barr. Phillip Isa Nyitni, provided insights into the significant potential for job creation, particularly for the youth, estimating that over 10,000 jobs would be generated.
Regarding the export potential of oil, Barr. Phillip Isa Nyitni emphasized the need for stringent quality control to meet international standards.

“If you are going to produce for exports, there is a certain quality of your oil that you have to attain. So we are going to ensure we produce the quality that would be acceptable for exporting right from Plateau,” he affirmed.
Reginald Okereke discussed the commercial viability of the oil palm plantation for smallholder farmers,

while Engi. Samuel N. Nwogu delved into the intricacies of the processing plant.
In their goodwill messages, Justice Damulak and Hon. Lelep Dabang both applauded the government’s commitment to sustainable development through agriculture. Justice Damulak stated, “This venture marks a pivotal moment in our agricultural landscape, bringing prosperity and sustainability,” while Hon. Lelep Dabang commended the government’s dedication to sustainable development through agriculture.

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Governor Yusuf Pays Over 3 Billion for Secondary School Students to Sit for NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS

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The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has expended over 3 billion naira for 141,175 (one hundred and forty-one thousand, one hundred and seventy-five) Kano students who passed the 2024 qualifying examinations to sit for this year’s WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS (2025).

In a statement issued by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam, it was noted that the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, announced to newsmen in Kano that the State Ministry of Education had released the results of the qualifying examinations for secondary school students in Kano.

These students are studying under the Kano State Teachers Service Board and the Science and Technical Schools Board, where 75 percent of them qualified to write the senior school certificate examinations of WAEC, NABTEB, NECO, and NBAIS (for Arabic students).

Ali Haruna Makoda stated that the students eligible for payment by the Kano State Government under Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf are those who scored five credits and above.

The Commissioner maintained that all secondary school principals and directors should notify their students of their results so that the state government can effect the payment.

The 2025 qualifying exams for WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB will enable the students to sit for their 2025 examinations required for admission into tertiary education.

Ibrahim Adam, the Special Adviser to Governor Yusuf on Information, said that since the inception of the administration in May 2023, it has settled registration fees for Kano indigent students for WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS.

The Special Adviser pointed out that apart from settling the fees, Governor Yusuf’s administration has also paid huge outstanding debts for WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB left behind by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration.

He also said it is part of Governor Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency on education and an effort to mitigate the high number of out-of-school children that have bedeviled the state.

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NWDC Cancels Foreign Scholarship Scheme, Backs FG’s Local Education Policy

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The North West Development Commission (NWDC) has announced the cancellation of its foreign scholarship application process in response to a new policy directive from the Federal Government prioritizing local education.

In a statement issued by the NWDC management on Thursday, May 8, 2025, the commission confirmed that the cancellation is in line with a recent federal directive urging public institutions to focus on strengthening educational capacity within Nigeria.

“This decision follows the Federal Government’s announcement on May 7, 2025,” the statement read. “We are fully committed to aligning our programs and initiatives with national priorities, especially those aimed at promoting local content and indigenous capacity building.”

The Federal Government’s directive was conveyed through a press statement signed by Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education. The statement emphasized the need to redirect resources towards improving domestic institutions and ensuring more Nigerians have access to quality education at home.

“The policy is designed to reduce reliance on foreign academic systems and bolster Nigeria’s educational sector by investing in local universities and training institutions,” Mrs. Folasade said in the official release.

The NWDC reiterated its support for this policy, noting that it will explore new avenues to support educational and human capital development within the region. “The commission will provide updates on further opportunities and programs in due course,” the NWDC statement concluded.

The move is expected to impact hundreds of applicants who had hoped to pursue studies abroad under the commission’s sponsorship but may now need to consider domestic options supported by the commission in future initiatives.

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Erosion Control :Governor Yusuf Disburses Over N600 Million Compensation

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Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has disbursed over N600 million to residents of Bulbula and Gayawa who were affected by the ongoing Erosion Control Project.

A statement released on Thursday by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said that the disbursement was organized by the Kano State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (Kano-ACReSAL), under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. The event took place at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.

According to the statement, the project involves the construction of reinforced concrete channels, bioremediation buffers, and other robust erosion control infrastructure.

This initiative aims to reclaim degraded land and restore safety to the affected areas. It is being executed through a collaboration between the state and federal governments, with support from the World Bank.

The statement further elaborated that the project will also strengthen surveillance through the engagement of community vigilantes and the installation of solar streetlights to deter criminal activity that had previously thrived in the abandoned gully area.

In his address, Governor Yusuf stated:
“Today marks a significant step forward in our collective journey to restore dignity, security, and prosperity to the communities of Bulbula and Gayawa.”

He continued:
“I am deeply honored to be here to personally present compensation cheques to the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) under the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Bulbula-Gayawa Erosion Control Project in Nasarawa and Ungogo Local Government Areas.”

The Governor urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds, emphasizing:
“Every cheque presented today is a message that the government of Abba Gida-Gida stands with its people, especially during times of hardship and displacement.”

“The compensation being disbursed today is based on thorough enumeration, community engagement, and due diligence. Our approach ensures that every affected citizen is recognized, documented, and fairly treated in accordance with global best practices,” he assured.

Governor Yusuf lamented that:
“The Bulbula-Gayawa erosion menace has brought untold hardship to many. It has claimed farmlands, damaged homes, displaced families, and turned once-thriving neighborhoods into unsafe zones.”

The Governor pledged his administration’s continued support throughout the project’s lifecycle, reiterating that no community would be left behind in the development process.

Governor Yusuf expressed his appreciation to the implementation team under the ACReSAL Project, traditional rulers, community representatives, and relevant stakeholders for their transparency, professionalism, and relentless efforts in ensuring the successful compensation exercise.

 

Some beneficiaries, Jibril Abdullahi Jibril and Fatima Haruna, expressed their gratitude to the state government for the intervention. They recalled years of advocating for the project, which had been unsuccessful until the present administration took action.

 

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