The 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has recovered about 238,500 litres of stolen crude oil from suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states.
Crude oil theft in the Nigerian Niger Delta region
Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, the division’s spokesman, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, August 8, 2024, that the crude oil was seized from trucks and illegal refining sites in the states.
He said that five suspects who were apprehended in the process would soon be prosecuted.
“These seizures are part of ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the Niger Delta,” he said.
Danjuma said that 110,000 litres of crude oil stored in an oven and a massive metal reservoir were discovered at an illegal refining site along Dasaba Creek in Bayelsa.
The spokesman added that troops of the 16 Brigade intercepted a truck with registration number, UDH 983 XR on Elebele-Emeyal Road, Ogbia, carrying 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil.
He said that, acting on intelligence, soldiers traced inter-connected hoses from the Indorama Petrochemical pipeline, Eleme, Rivers, to a tank located in the bush.
“More than 33,000 litres of crude oil, two pumping machines, a long hose and 11 drums used for the crime were recovered from the site.
“At Cawthorne Channel 1, troops, collaborating with other security agencies, deactivated an illegal refining site containing more than 5,500 litres of crude oil.
“The site is located near Well Head 8, behind Glisten Community in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers,” he added.
The army image maker further said that 63 Brigade troops seized 30,000 litres of crude oil from a truck during a routine patrol in Mosogar, Delta.
According to him, the truck was intercepted along a trunkline belonging to Seplat Energy Nigeria Limited.
“These discoveries are the result of our renewed efforts to clamp down on economic saboteurs
“We urge the public to provide security agencies with reliable intelligence to track down oil thieves and economic saboteurs,” he said.
Africa’s debt stocks have grown significantly in the past decade. Understandably, African governments took advantage of historically low interest rates in the 2010s and borrowed heavily from international capital markets and China.
Dr Muhammad Mustapha Gambo
However, debt has recently become a lot more expensive. Since 2020, the impacts of COVID-19 and the on-going Ukraine war, coupled with worsening climate conditions have resulted in African governments having credit-rating downgrades, which consequently led to rapidly increasing their borrowing costs and made tapping international debt markets prohibitively expensive.
According to data by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), public debt in Africa reached $1.8 trillion in 2022. In 2024, African countries will pay $163 billion in external debt service, according to the African Development Bank.
One in five people globally live in countries that are in debt distress or at risk of it. Two-thirds of low-income countries – most of them in Africa – fall into this category, while eight of the nine countries currently in debt distress are on the continent, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UN ECA) 2023.
Some of the factors that have contributed to the mounting debt crises in Africa are population explosion and rapid urbanisation, massive infrastructure needs, declining availability of official development assistance and concessional financing.
Need for reforms
Recently, there have been collective clamour by African ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for decisive action to reform the global finance architecture in light of the mounting debts and to spur the investments needed for achieving sustainable development and climate goals around the world.
Pundits hold that the global financial system is structurally unfair to developing countries in general and more so to African countries in particular and that some crucial reforms are urgently needed to address the problem of Africa’s mounting debt stock.
According to the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI, 2020), offering African countries debt instruments with more favourable terms or cash, in exchange for existing debt, will not only provide immediate liquidity but also address debt sustainability concerns in the long term.
In the absence of better mechanisms for debt-distressed countries in Africa, more governments will struggle to service their obligations and limit their ability to invest in providing the necessary development needs of their countries. This is even more pertinent considering the need for enhanced effort in attending to the challenges of climate change in the region, through effective climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
Africa’s multilateral institutions
In the light of these challenges, there is the need for practical engagements anchored by African-led Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s) such as the African Development Bank, to reform the global financial architecture and ensuring a transition from multilateralism to a plurilateral system of the global financial system – one that is more nimble, more inclusive, more flexible and realistic in responding to the changing nature of challenges that African countries face today.
Aligned with these, there is also the critical role of sector specific DFI’s such as Shelter Afrique Development Bank and other relevant institutions that form part of the founding partners of the Alliance for African Multilateral Finance Institutions (AAMFI) – established under the auspices of the African Union, to support the implementation of Agenda-2063. Its formation underscores Africa’s commitment to self-reliance and sustainable economic development.
It’s believed that AAMFI, which is an alliance of African-owned and controlled African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AMFIs) whose membership also include African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI), African Export – Import Bank, Trade and Development Bank Group, Africa Finance Corporation, African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re), ZEP-RE (PTA Reinsurance Company), East African Development Bank (EADB), and the African Solidarity Fund (ASF) will address Africa’s development finance needs, advocate for Africa on global finance issues, develop innovative finance tools and support sustainable finance strategies.
AAMFI is in a pole position to lead the financial reforms on behalf of the continent.
And as an adage goes, if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
By Muhammad Mustapha Gambo, PhD
Gambo is with the Policy, Research, Partnerships and Advisory Services Unit at Shelter Afrique Development Bank and 2023 Fellow at the Asia Global Institute
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) says that the Moon, as a celestial body, occupies a unique position in the orbit and helps provide better understanding of the universe.
The moon
Dr Bonaventure Okere, Director, Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy (CBSSA-NASRDA), who said this in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, August 8, 2024, explained that the moon’s interaction with the Earth made it an important part of the solar system.
“The moon plays several important roles such as stabilising the tilt of the orbit, causing seasonal changes, influencing tides and aiding nocturnal animal navigation.
“Studying the moon helps Astronomers understand the processes that shape planetary bodies, which is essential for understanding the formation and evolution of other planets.
“The moon’s phases depend on its position. It is the second-densest known natural satellite after Jupiter’s moon, and it orbits the Earth at an average speed of 2,288 miles per hour,’’ he said.
Okere said that the moon had about 1/6th of the Earth’s gravity, with diameter of about one-fourth of the Earth’s diameter and took about 27 days to travel round the Earth.
According to him, there have been diverse ethnic myths about the moon, moonlight tales which are not scientifically proven, with more than 140 missions launched to the moon.
Okere recalled that CBSSA in collaboration with International Astronomical Union (IAU) celebrated International Moon Day recently at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State.
He said the event, which was marked with an outreach and moon gazing, aimed at raising awareness on the importance of the moon to the study of astronomy.
“By celebrating the moon, astronomers acknowledge its importance as a scientific and cultural icon, while making reference to it as a tool for enhancing the understanding of the universe.’’
Mr Peter Okagu, the Team Lead of the outreach, said that the Moon Day celebration also targeted increasing the engagement of participants in Astrophotography and Deep Sky Survey.
Okagu explained astrophotography as a type of photography that involved capturing astronomical images such as the moon, planets, stars, star clusters and galaxies.
According to him, both academics and amateurs engage in this type of photography for various purposes, including research and personal gratification.
Deep sky survey, he said, was an astronomical survey aimed at cataloguing and analysing celestial objects within or outside the solar system.
He added that the objective of the surveys was always to collect comprehensive data that could be used to study the structure, evolution and properties of the universe.
Okagu said: “The outreach explored how facts about the moon have impacted astronomy studies and space science technology.
“It also raises awareness among students on the impact of astrophotography in astronomy and space science research.”
He, however, stated that they were committed to raising more awareness on the need for students, undergraduates to explore studying astronomy.
The UK is ready to partner with Azerbaijan to drive forward clean growth technologies ahead of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will be held in Baku in November 2024, the British Consul General in Istanbul and Trade Commissioner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Kenan Poleo, has said.
British Consul General in Istanbul and Trade Commissioner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Kenan Poleo
Poleo noted that the UK business community is ready to support Azerbaijan in promoting new, innovative and environmentally friendly industries.
According to him, the UK and Azerbaijan have been closely cooperating in the energy sector for the past 30 years, but it is time to take this cooperation to the next level.
Meanwhile, ADA University in Baku has hosted the opening ceremony of the COP29 Climate Change Summer Camp for young teachers.
The opening ceremony, moderated by ADA University’s Vice-Rector, Fariz Ismayilzada, brought together a distinguished panel of speakers, including, Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources and COP29 President-designate; Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister and Lead Negotiator of COP29; Nigar Arpadarai, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion; Alessandra Roccasalvo, UNDP Resident Representative a.i.; Leyla Hasanova, UN Youth Climate Champion; and Saja Farooq Abdullah, UNICEF Representative in Azerbaijan.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, also addressed the participants via video link.
The summer camp, running until August 9, 2024, brings together an impressive cohort of 75 young teachers, with 54 representing various countries and 21 from Azerbaijan. This diverse group are engaging in a series of intensive training sessions focused on climate change and the COP process.
This initiative is a crucial step towards achieving the objectives set for COP29. By educating young teachers, the programme aims to create a ripple effect, spreading climate awareness through classrooms across the globe. The camp will equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate climate education into their curricula effectively.
The summer camp is a result of collaboration between various national and international organisations, including, the Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources, Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, UNDP and UNICEF offices in Azerbaijan, ADA University, Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organisation, UNESCO, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Office for Climate Education (OCE), and Teach for All (A Global Network).
Similarly, the COP29 Volunteering Programme has launched another training phase, where volunteers will learn about key topics such as climate change, environmental protection, and the COP29 process.
According to Report, candidates who have passed the interview stage will engage in these intensive training sessions, which will run until early September.
After completing the training, participants will move on to specific tasks and responsibilities.
Registration for the volunteer programme was open from May 29 to June 5. A total of 7,000 candidates successfully passed the interview stage.
The Jigawa State branch of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), an umbrella group for the Nigerian Muslim Community, is planting 67,000 assorted tree seedlings in the state to mitigate desertification.
Tree planting
JNI’s Secretary in the state, Malam Muhammad Babangida, made the disclosure in an interview on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Dutse, the state capital.
Babangida said the seedlings were being planted simultaneously across the 27 local government areas of the state.
The secretary explained that the seedlings, worth over N13 million, were provided to the group by the state government for its 34th Annual Tree Planting Campaign.
“In its efforts to help people understand the significance of tree planting, the Jigawa Government has provided 67,000 seedlings to the state branch of JNI.
“The gesture is for the successful conduct of its 34th edition of the annual tree planting campaign.
“The seedlings were estimated at N13.4 million as the moderate price per seedling of N200 in today’s seedling price in the state.
“The JNI tree planting campaign is among the most sufficient programmes designed to contribute to the successful sensitisation of the public on the importance of tree planting.
“This is imperative because of its advantages to human existence, animals, and other species living on earth,” he said.
Babangida stated that trees provide the oxygen humans inhale, among other numerous benefits that include the prevention of erosion and pollution.
The secretary added that trees also mitigate global warming, preserve biodiversity, conserve soil, and prevent and reduce the effects of drought.
He further stated that the trees also support human health by providing shade, reducing stress, and improving mental well-being.
According to him, the foremost benefits of tree planting are related to religion, as Muslims are encouraged to care for the environment and conserve natural resources.
Babangida, who appreciated the state government for the initiative, appealed to other stakeholders, especially community leaders, local government councils, Islamic organisations, and the general public, to emulate the gesture.
A mass bleaching of more than 50 million sponges in New Zealand’s Fiordland was the largest of its kind ever recorded globally, scientists said on Wednesday, August 7. 2024.
Bleached sea sponges have been found under the water in Breaksea Sound and Doubtful Sound fjords in Fiordland, New Zealand, Photo credit: Dr Valerio Micaroni / Francesca Strano / Victoria University of Wellington
The 2022 mass bleaching was estimated to have cut the population by close to half, a study found.
Lead author James Bell, a marine biologist at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, said the bleaching occurred during an intense marine heatwave that lasted 259 days.
The bleaching also pushed the water temperatures to 4.4 degrees Celsius above average.
The bleaching event occurred along 1,000 kilometres of coastline on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island and saw the cup-shaped sponge Cymbastella lamellata turn from their usual chocolate-brown colour to a bright white.
“Not only was this largest sponge bleaching event seen globally, it was also the largest sponge mortality event that’s ever been recorded,’’ Bell said.
He said more than 90 per cent of the sponges were bleached, but some recovered, showing they might be able to adapt to heat stress.
“We detected changes in the microbial communities that these sponges play host to the tiny creatures they have a symbiotic relationship with.
“The changes we observed suggest the sponges are displaying a rapid evolutionary response to warming waters in an effort to survive.
“This gives us reason to be optimistic that sponges may be able to adapt to warming waters.
“However, we need to do more research to test this and to monitor how more frequent and intense marine heatwaves may affect this vital species,’’ Bell said.
The Senate has raised concern over $1.5 billion approved in 2021 for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery with little or no result.
The Nigerian Senate
Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairman, Senate Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, raised the concern during an interactive session with stakeholders on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Abuja.
Bamidele, who is also the Senate Leader, said it was unfair and wrong to treat public companies shabbily while private businesses were flourishing and thriving.
He recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the plan by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to rehabilitate and turn around the Port Harcourt Refinery with $1.5 billion.
Bamidele expressed concerns about the dysfunctional state of government-owned refineries in spite of billions of dollars spent on turn-around maintenance.
“The federation is undergoing a truly challenging period. The distribution and supply of refined petroleum products has been irregular and problematic in the recent history of our fatherland.
“The long queues at filling stations are obviously a testament to this challenge.
“A situation, whereby we now depend almost entirely on the importation of these products even when we daily supply the global oil market about two per cent of its crude oil requirements is worrisome,” he said.
He said also of serious concern was the importation of hazardous petroleum products and dumping of substandard diesel into the country.
Under different administrations since 1999, Bamidele observed that the federal government “has invested billions of dollars to maintain and turn around the state-owned refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri. But the refineries are not functioning.
“In 2021, specifically, the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5 billion for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery. Yet, this investment has not yielded significant returns.
“For us in the Senate, we believe, it is unfair and unpatriotic to treat government businesses or public corporations as an orphan while private businesses are flourishing and thriving.”
He said that the National Assembly was ready to carry out the investigative hearing with all sense of honour and responsibility.
Mr Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), refuted claims of sabotaging domestic refinery.
“All of us here see what is happening in the media. Targeted personal attack on my person, on the institution. And we all know how this works.
“They are deliberate, they are calculated. So, that creates the impression that NNPCL and our leadership are doing anything to create economic sabotage in our country.
“It is far from it. This company has grown. We are proud to say this. From a lost company for 43 years to a profit-making company today,” said Kyari.
Also, Mr Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for Petroleum Resources, said that the oil sector was bedeviled by a lot of misinformation.
“This senate should do Nigerians a favour by televising the proceedings of this committee live.
“This will do a whole lot of justice not only to the Senate but we in the Executive and key leaders in the sector.
“Because of the fundamental nature of this investigation that has to do with alleged economic sabotage with importation of substandard products into the country, we urge the Senate to ensure we do a live broadcast,” he said.
He said government was committed to ensuring that local industries and all stakeholders in the oil sector were protected.
“We are committed to supporting Dangote Refinery; we are also supporting modular refineries, and we have been resolving whatever issues they had brought to our attention,” the minister said.
Also speaking at the investigative hearing, Mr Aliyu Suleiman, Chief Strategy Officer, Dangote Industry Ltd., said the refinery started full production in March.
“Since then, we have processed about 50 million barrels of crude. We have produced about five million tons of petroleum products, and these petroleum products have been sold in various parts of the country,” he said.
Mr Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, in his own remarks, said the increase in crude oil production would stabilise the country’s foreign exchange market.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) says the ways to build climate resilience solutions in Nigeria will take the centre stage at its 30th summit slated for October 2024.
Tayo Aduloju, NESG CEO
The acting Head, Strategic Communications and Advocacy, NESG, Mr Ayanyinka Ayanlowo, said this on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, in Lagos.
The 30th Nigerian Economic Summit, with the theme: “Collaborative Action for Growth, Competitiveness and Stability,” is scheduled for October 14 to 16, 2024.
Ayanlowo said the summit aims to harness diverse perspectives and collective expertise to address common challenges, create shared opportunities, and ensure sustainable economic progress for all Africans.
He added that the NES#30 would chart a path towards a unified, competitive and prosperous future for Nigeria and the African continent.
In 2022, Nigeria experienced devastating floods that claimed the lives of at least 662 people, injured 3,174 individuals, displaced approximately 2.5 million people, and destroyed around 200,000 homes.
Ayanlowo noted that, in the light of the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, charting the way forward for climate resilience was important.
“This crucial discussion comes at a time when Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, faces mounting challenges in enhancing climate resilience due to the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.
“The NESG summit’s will is to address the urgent need for accelerated action to bolster Nigeria’s climate resilience amidst a backdrop of significant climate-related challenges.
On his part, Mr Osagie Okunbor, Private Sector Co-Chair of the NESG Sustainability Policy Commission, Steering Committee, said that Nigeria was vulnerable to climate change impacts such as coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution.
Okunbor said the challenges were already causing significant socio-economic disruptions in the Niger Delta, with ocean encroachment and rising sea levels threatening homes and farmlands.
He emphasised the compounded fragility risks in northern Nigeria, where desertification was accelerating environmental degradation and threatening livelihoods.
Okunbor added that erosion was damaging road infrastructure and threatening food security with farmlands being ravaged by gully complexes in the South East.
He stressed the need for comprehensive infrastructure development, ecosystem management, community engagement, and international cooperation to ensure Nigeria’s sustainable development and climate security.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, an Assistant Director, Mr Simon Ezinkwo, emphasised that Nigeria faces significant threats from climate change, which adversely impacts both the economy and the environment.
He stressed that addressing these challenges require a comprehensive approach, including the development of climate-smart and resilient infrastructure.
He also highlighted the importance of collective action in building a sustainable future and underscored the need for robust environmental policies, regulations, and sustainable land management practices to address the root causes of climate vulnerability.
Dr Zainab Pisagih, Deputy Director of Environment and Regional Development at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, highlighted the ministry’s role in integrating climate resilience into national planning.
She emphasised the need for green budgeting and the allocation of adequate resources for climate-related activities.
Amidst the clamour for good governance and reduction in the cost of living in the country, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has asserted the Federal Government’s firm determination to advance the nation’s gas resources as the surest pathway to economic prosperity.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, with the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe, inspecting facilities at the Nigerian Content headquarters on Wednesday
The Minister stated this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, when he visited the facilities and projects of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), where he serves as the co-chair of the Governing Council.
He stated that Nigeria is endowed with vast natural gas resources of about 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, emphasising the necessity to harness these resources effectively to drive economic development.
He underlined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unalloyed support to the gas sector, with initiatives extending to the entire value chain, notably gas development, distribution and penetration. Federal Government’s drive, according to him, is geared to lower the cost of transportation, the cost of living and impact every part of the country positively.
He listed some of the key initiatives his ministry is pursing to include investments in critical gas infrastructure development to support the transportation and distribution of natural gas across the country, promotion of domestic gas utilisation for power generation, industrial applications, and transportation as well as strengthening NCDMB’s capacity to build capacity and enforce local content policies.
Other laudable initiatives reeled out by the Minister include encouraging and supporting gas-to-power projects to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of electricity, expanding Nigeria’s capacity to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to international markets, to generate revenue and position Nigeria as a key player in the global gas market and strengthening the policy and regulatory frameworks governing the gas sector to create an enabling environment for investment and innovation.
The Minister remarked that 60% of NCDMB’s investments are gas based and advised that new projects by the agency should focus on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) because of the direct impact on transportation and cost of living.
He lauded NCDMB for the remarkable strides it had made in promoting local content and for constructing the 17-storey headquarter building, which signifies the impressive growth and depth of local capacity.
Ekpo added that the visit provided him an opportunity to meet with management and staff of the Board, learn more about the agency’s operations, and discuss how to continue driving local content development in our nation’s gas sector.
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, thanked the Minister for visiting the Board’s facilities and assured him of the commitment of the management and staff of the Board to supporting the Federal Government’s economic aspirations.
The Minister and his entourage toured NCDMB’s facilities, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TICC) and listened to presentations from three incubates on their technology solutions and how NCDMB is supporting them from concept to commercialisation.
The team also visited the NCDMB Conference Hotel project, which is undergoing construction, the NCDMB gas hub at Polaku, Yenagoa, as well as the 10 megawatts gas-power plant, which supplies electricity to the Nigerian Content Tower and selected offices of the Bayelsa State Government.
The Minister also made a brief visit to the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who welcomed the Minister to the State and solicited for key investments in the gas sector.
He argued that since Bayelsa State supplies a substantial percentage of the gas feedstock used by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) plant, it deserves to host one of the company’s gas processing facilities. He also demanded for accelerated development of the Brass methanol project as a plank for enhanced economic development of the state.
NIRSAL Plc has completed a midyear training programme for lead farmers and extension agents in the Aquaculture and Cassava value chains across locations in Imo, Sokoto, Kwara, and Oyo states. The programme, aimed at boosting farmers’ capacities to access and repay commercial loans, had over 2,000 participants, with state government representatives also in attendance.
The NIRSAL team with the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture
As it continues to promote the Agro Geo-Cooperative approach to primary production, NIRSAL primarily targets lead farmers with the experience and skill to share new knowledge with members of their various cooperatives for its training programmes.
In Imo State, where no less than 500 participants assembled in two locations – one urban and one rural – the focus was on efficient models for fish production. It was the same in Sokoto State, while the Oyo and Kwara outings focused on cassava.
Mr. Uche Agabige, Imo State House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, lauded NIRSAL for including Imo in this round of the capacity building programme, with the belief that it would complement local efforts aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the state.
Head of Value Chain Capacity Development at NIRSAL Plc, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, said that the capacity development programme, which is part of the Technical Assistance offered by NIRSAL to agricultural value chain actors under its Technical Assistance pillar, was happening simultaneously in three other states spanning four geo-political zones.
According to Mr. Suleiman, lead farmers and extension agents in aquaculture and cassava were similarly gathered at two urban and rural locations in Sokoto, Oyo, and Kwara states, and they are expected to cascade the training to an estimated 6,000 farmers across the states.
