Business
AUDA-NEPAD Disburses N600m Grant To Smallholder Farmers in 7 States
Joel Ajayi
National Coordinator of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development ,AUDA-NEPAD, Hon. Jabiru Salisu Abdullahi, has announced that the agency will disburse N600 million to seven pilot states to support smallholder farmers across Nigeria in 2025.
This initiative aims to enhance agricultural activities, address poverty, low productivity, and resource limitations in the sector.
The pilot states include Bauchi, Cross River, Osun, Yobe, Abia, and Imo.He made this announcement during a one-day roundtable meeting of state Commissioners for Agriculture/State Coordinators with the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer at the maiden stakeholders meeting for the Smallholder Farmers Programme yesterday in Abuja.
According to him, this is a direct grant from AUDA-NEPAD to support the efforts of smallholder farmers.
He stated: “The total amount being disbursed to the seven pilot states is N600 million, which will be shared equally among the states. States that show additional interest can provide up to N3 billion, depending on the number of smallholder farmers.
“At AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, we recognize that smallholder farmers are at the core of our nation’s agricultural sector. Their resilience drives food production, sustains rural economies, and significantly contributes to our GDP.”
However, persistent barriers such as limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, climate change, and market constraints continue to hinder their full potential. This initiative was created to tackle these challenges head-on, ensuring that smallholder farmers not only survive but thrive.
“Our commitment to agricultural transformation across Africa is unwavering. Through this support, the initiative is backed by a substantial grant, reinforcing the shared vision of a food-secure, economically vibrant, and resilient Nigeria.
“Let me be clear, this is not merely funding; it is an investment in our farmers and our future. Strict monitoring mechanisms will be in place to ensure that every aspect of the initiative is effectively implemented, with full accountability and transparency. The funds must translate into real, measurable impacts, increased productivity, improved livelihoods, and a stronger agricultural value chain.
“The Smallholder Farmers Initiative aims to create a self-sustaining agricultural ecosystem by: providing access to finance and credit for smallholder farmers; developing rural infrastructure, including storage and irrigation facilities; promoting climate-smart agricultural sustainability for the long term; creating direct market linkages to improve farmers’ incomes; and integrating technology and digital solutions for efficient farming.
“This initiative aligns with Agenda 2063 of the African Union and Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring that smallholder farmers are not left behind but are empowered as key players in national development”.He also emphasized that AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria is fully committed to ensuring that the funding provided results in tangible outcomes.
“The expectations are high, and so is our resolve. Our goal is clear: to transform agriculture into a thriving, competitive, and resilient sector. Together, we can empower millions of Nigerian farmers, ensuring that this initiative creates lasting economic and social impact”.
In her opening remarks, the Assistant Director for Programme Development and Implementation at AUDA-NEPAD, Hajia Fatimah Abubakar , provided an overview of the Smallholder Farmers Programme in the selected states across Nigeria.
She explained that the pilot states were carefully selected based on agricultural potential, needs, and alignment with national and AUDA-NEPAD agricultural priorities, with a focus on food security.
She stated that the programme reflects the agency’s unwavering commitment to support the agricultural sector and empower the hardworking men and women who form its foundation the smallholder farmers.
“The Smallholder Farmers Programme is more than just a grant. It is a partnership between us, the selected state governments, and AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria, and most importantly, the hardworking smallholder farmers who are the backbone of Nigeria’s agricultural economy. By investing in them, we are investing in a more prosperous, food-secure future for Nigeria”.
Business
Court Orders Arrest Of Wike-led FCTA Director, 10 Others
By Aliyu Galadima
An Abuja High Court has issued a bench warrant against the director of investigation and prosecution of the FCTA, Joseph Eriki, and 10 others.Justice Suleiman Belgore has issued an order to compel the director and others to appear before the court for a suit filed against them.
The Judge’s decision followed the application of the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, who lamented the failure of the efforts to ensure that the suspects appear in court.
Justice Suleiman Belgore of the High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Joseph Eriki, the director of investigation and prosecution of the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration ,FCTA, and 10 others.
The judge had issued the order to compel the appearance of Joseph Eriki and 10 others before the court, as they had been arraigned in a suit filed against them by the federal government.
The warrant was issued following an application by the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, who stated that all efforts to ensure the suspects’ presence in court had failed. Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution had made several attempts to notify the suspects’ lawyers and sureties, but to no avail.
He cited Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ,ACJA, which allows for the issuance of a bench warrant to compel attendance in court.
The court agreed to the application, issuing the warrant to ensure the suspects’ appearance for arraignment on a six-count charge. The charges against the suspects include criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, and using a forged document as genuine.
They are also accused of using criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty. The suspects allegedly entered a plot of land belonging to Etha Ventures and constructed structures without authorisation, to defraud the company.
According to the prosecution, the suspects fraudulently obtained a consent judgment for the land, which was given to Super Structures Limited. The case has been adjourned until June 4 for arraignment.
The court’s decision to issue a bench warrant highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the need for the suspects to face trial. The suspects are facing a six-count charge, which was filed in February.
The court’s ruling emphasises the importance of a speedy trial and the need for the suspects to be held accountable for their actions.
With the bench warrant in place, the court is taking steps to ensure that the suspects appear in court and face the charges against them
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