The Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha, has warned developed countries of the world to desist from turning Africa into a dumping ground for disposed plastics.
Prince Israel Orekha (middle) and colleagues at INC-4
Orekha disclosed this in a statement made available to EnviroNews on the outcome of the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), which concluded on April 29, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada.
Orekha said that African civil society organisations (CSOs) were united in demanding for a strong plastic treaty that would bring an end to global plastic pollution.
“As CSOs, we demand that a strong plastic treaty is developed from this meeting and Africa should no longer become a dumping site for plastics to curb plastic pollution.
“We also demand that African children should not be fed with plastics,” Orekha said.
He noted that the meeting deliberated on the entire life cycle of plastics and its pollution.
He added that the draft focused on fishing jar, extended producer responsibility implementation measures which include national plans and how to address chemical plastic polymers.
“It also deliberated on financing mechanism and resource mobilisation.”
He warned that African countries should be weary of technological importation which have plastic pollution hidden in them.
“Generally, we demand a strong global treaty that is different from the Paris Agreement,” Orekha said.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), more than 2,500 delegates participated at INC-4, representing 170 Members and over 480 Observer organisations including non-governmental organisations, intergovernmental organisations, and UN entities.
INC-4 marked the Committee’s largest and most inclusive gathering to date, with Observer participation increasing by almost 50 per cent.
Over the course of INC-4, delegates worked on negotiating the Revised Draft Text of the international legally binding instrument.
Delegates discussed, among other things: emissions and releases; production; product design; waste management; problematic and avoidable plastics; financing, and a just transition.
INC Members also agreed on intersessional work – expert meetings that took place between the official INC sessions – that is expected to catalyse convergence on key issues.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Monday, May 6, to Wednesday, May 8, 2024, across the country.
Hazy weather
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday, May 5, in Abuja forecast sunny and hazy conditions on Monday over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states throughout forecast period with chances of morning thunderstorms over parts of Taraba state.
“However, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kaduna, Bauchi, Zamfara, Kebbi and Taraba states.
“Cloud patches with sunshine intervals are expected over the North Central region with chances of localised thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Benue and Kogi states during the morning hours.
“In the afternoon/evening period, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Niger states,” it said.
The agency envisaged cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over the Inland states of the South and the Coast.
It anticipated chances of localised thunderstorms over parts of Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours.
NiMet predicted localised thunderstorms over parts of Imo, Abia, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Rivers, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states later in the day.
According to him, sunny skies with few patches of cloud are anticipated over the northern region during the morning hours on Tuesday .
“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and Kebbi states. The North Central region is expected to be cloudy with sunshine intervals.
“Also, with chances of localised thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours,” it said.
NiMet predicted localised thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Plateau, the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kwara, Benue and Nasarawa states later in the day.
It anticipated cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over the Inland of the South and the coast with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Enugu, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Rivers, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states in the morning hours.
It forecast localised thunderstorms over parts of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Lagos
states.
The agency envisaged sunny atmosphere with patches of cloud over the northern region during the morning hours on Wednesday.
“Later in the day, localised thunderstorms are expected over parts of Taraba and Kaduna states. Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the North Central region during the morning hours.
“In the afternoon/evening period, localised thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau and Niger states. Cloudy atmosphere is expected over the southern region during the morning hours.
“Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over the entire region,” it said.
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency advised the airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.
The Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Project says it will ensure that all Nigerians have access to sustainable and safely managed water and sanitation (WASH) services by 2030.
Wash team and NAN staff during the advocacy visit to Kaduna Office
The Kaduna State Programme Engineer (Urban- KD-SURWASH)), Mr Usman Ibrahim, disclosed on Monday, May 6, 2024, during an advocacy visit to the Kaduna Zonal Office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said the advocacy visit was to solicit for the support in the reportage of their activities which were for the benefits of the residents of the state.
Ibrahim said, “As members of the fourth estate of the realm, you are key in any developmental programme.
“It is on this note that I request for cordial working relationship between the Kaduna SURWASH team and your organisation.”
He said the gesture was in compliance with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 6.1for water and 6.2 for sanitation.
According to him, SURWASH programme is a transformational step towards achieving Nigeria’s goal to ensure all Nigerians have access to WASH services as enshrined in the National Action Plan of the Federal Government.
Ibrahim added that SURWASH had introduced a result-based approach that simultaneously incentivises establishing and operationalising key policies.
He added, “They include regulations and institutional reforms required for improved sector performance alongside necessary infrastructure construction and rehabilitation.
“The programme uses two financing instruments: investment project financing (IPF) for capacity improvements and programme for result (P for R) which will drive results generation.
“The programme became effective on Jan. 14,2022 with an implementation period of six years.”
Ibrahim said the pilot local government areas that the programme was being implemented in the state are: Chikun, IGabi, Jaba, Jemaa, Sabo Gari and Soba.
He said the estimated numbers of beneficiaries in the seven participating states under the programme stood at 6.1million people provided with basic drinking water services.
Similarly, 1.4 million people will be provided with access to improve sanitation services, 500 ODF+ verified communities, 2,000 schools and healthcare facilities with improved WASH services.
In his remarks, the Kaduna Zonal Manager, Bashir Rabe-Mani, appreciated the team for the visit and assured them of a good working partnership.
He described NAN as a credible medium that has widespread news coverage, describing the agency as the leading content provider in Nigeria.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) says it is well prepared to prevent residents from dying to flooding in the territory.
Director, FCT Emergency Management Department, Mr Mohammed Sabo
The Director of the department, Mr Mohammed Sabo, gave the assurance in an interview in Abuja on Monday, May 6, 2024.
Sabo explained that the department had all the data required to put prevention and mitigation measures against flooding in the FCT.
“Sometime in February, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) released the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction report.
“TheNigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has equally released the2024 Annual Flood Outlook.
“These are the documents we used in preparing for the rainy season.
“As such, we have all the critical data needed to adequately prepare our prevention and mitigation measures against flooding,” Sabo said.
He said that based on the reports, FCT might not be in danger, but all the surrounding states of the territory were susceptible to flooding.
He said that in response to the prediction, FEMD had adequately put measures in place to ensure effective response to the likelihood of flash floods in the territory.
“I assure you that we are well prepared to respond to any flood that may occur in the FCT,” he insisted.
The director added that the department would equally mount signposts to enlighten and caution residents on the dangers of flood and install additional barricades in flash flood areas.
“We are ready to collaborate with our stakeholders to ensure that all the roads that experience flash floods during the rainy season are barricaded to prevent vehicles from plying them.
“This is to prevent loss of lives to flooding during rainy seasons,” he said.
The Lagos State Government says a total of 3114 people were arrested for flouting various environmental rules across the state in the last one year.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab
The state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in Ikeja on Friday, May 3, 2024.
He spoke during the ongoing 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the first year of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
According to him, 1,037 people were arrested for crossing highways and failure to use pedestrian bridges.
Wahab said that 165 miscreants and squatters on the pedestrian bridges across the state were also dislodged and the bridges cleaned up.
“The government has also intensified efforts to arrest for prosecution the ring leaders who rented out the under-bridge apartments to tenants who also rear children in the place.
“Just about 24 hours ago, the operatives carried out an operation that unearthed a major illegal housing settlement constructed under the Dolphin Bridge Ikoyi.
“An unbelievable 80 number of rooms partitioned 10×10 and 10×12, and a container used for different illegal activities were also discovered.
“All the structures have been dismantled and a total of 26 miscreants who lived underneath were arrested, while efforts are being intensified to arrest the gang leaders who rented out the under bridge apartments, which also had electricity supply,” he said.
Wahab, reeling out some of the achievements of the Environment Ministry, said, “The Kick Against Indiscipline, in conjunction with the State Task Force on Special Offences, also cleared the ljora Causeway Under bridge, the Apongbon Under bridge, Obalende Under Bridge, which has become abode to undesirable elements who posed security risk to the state.
“Also they carried out clearing of Lagos Coastal Road at Maiyegun Estate, Jakande, preparatory to the commencement of the construction of the Lagos Coastal road.
“The agency arrested a total of 1,886 comprising illegal traders, street traders, environment polluters and cart pushers.
“All these individuals were prosecuted according to the 2017 Lagos State Environmental Protection Management Law,” he said.
He said that perishable food items and goods confiscated during enforcement raids were donated to orphanages, motherless babies homes and the needy as prescribed by the law.
The commissioner said that various actions were taken in terms of beautification and restoring the aesthetics of the Lagos environment.
He said that the Lagos Signage and Advertising Company (LASAA) embarked on a comprehensive project to replace dilapidated street directional signs across the state.
Wahab said this was aimed at enhancing navigability, safety, and aesthetics within urban areas.
“The Ministry, during the period under review, through its State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), undertook 367 enforcement activities in households, markets, hotels, warehouses, service centres, eateries, stores, church, mosques.
”It also got to 140 hospital facilities, supermarkets, nightclubs, bake houses, with a view to ensuring compliance with the state environmental laws,” Wahab said.
The commissioner said that 76 abatement notices were served on individuals and organisations violating law on indiscriminate discharge of raw sewage into the lagoon or other forms of water and land pollution.
Nigerian and Ugandan journalists on Saturday, May 4, 2024, concluded a knowledge and experience exchange programme on the environmental impact of oil extraction facilitated by the Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO).
StopEACOP campaigners
The virtual interaction had reporters from both countries compare notes on reporting the impacts of oil exploration and exploitation.
AFIEGO is a public policy research and advocacy organisation.
It works with various stakeholders to promote human rights, environmental conservation and climate action amidst oil and gas activities in Uganda and the African Great Lakes region.
A Senior Communications Officer in AFIEGO, Diana Nabiruma, said the forum aimed at strengthening journalists to report the human rights and environmental risks of oil exploitation in Uganda amid corporate capture.
She noted it was both imperative and essential for journalists from Nigeria to share their knowledge and experiences since the country had been ahead in oil and gas production.
“We believe that you, journalists from Nigeria, can offer insights on the environmental, social and health impacts of oil activities in the Niger Delta,” Nabiruma said.
According to Nabiruma, Uganda, like Nigeria, has had its fair share of impacts from oil exploration activities.
She observed that, recently, TotalEnergies embarked on an oil pipeline laying project in the East African state, a project said to have devastated thousands of people’s livelihoods.
She quoted a report by Human Rights Watch, which said that, if completed, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project would ultimately displace over 100,000 people.
Nabiruma regretted that more than a dozen Ugandan journalists had been assaulted and had their equipment destroyed in trying to cover oil and gas exploratory issues in the country.
During the session, participants shared their experiences and tips on handling obstacles and safety risks associated with reporting oil pollution and the antics of oil firms.
They also spoke on the impact of oil companies’ activities in the Niger Delta region and Uganda.
In his presentation, Mr Nathan Nwakanma, a journalist with NAN, traced the historical journey of the Nigerian oil industry from the 1950s till date.
He noted that, out of their hospitality, host communities of the Niger Delta embraced the coming of expatriates for oil exploration without formalised legal procedures.
“Decades after the first oil well in the Otuabagi community, Oloibiri district, where oil was first struck in commercial quantities, dried up, the environment and the people are still feeling the impact,” he said.
According to Nwakamma, regrettably oil fields are grossly underreported as most media houses lack the resources to train and deploy reporters near the oil fields for effective coverage.
He observed that oil companies employ ‘divide and rule’ tactics, leading to inter/intra communal crises as communities struggle for marginal handouts from oil firms and lose sight of their environment.
Mrs Obiabin Onukwugha, a journalist with NatureNews Africa, pointed out the devastating effects of gas flaring on communities.
According to her, communities of the Niger Delta, especially women and children, have suffered devastating effects of gas flaring.
She listed the effects as ranging from eye defects, respiratory ailments, skin diseases, excess heat waves, low crop yield, biodiversity loss, and loss of adequate sleep, amongst others.
She said that more than 10 years after the creation of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) under the Federal Ministry of Environment, nothing much had been achieved.
According to her, HYPREP, which was set up to clean up and restore the environment in Ogoni, as a pilot for the remediation of the entire Niger Delta region, is yet to achieve the desired result.
Rachel Mugarura-Mutana of the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) spoke on “Tips for Navigation Media Capture when reporting on Extractives”.
Mugarura-Mutana noted the need for journalists to recognise players, contractual restrictions, opaque deals and financial influences of the state and the oil companies.
She explained that corporate capture involved a situation where government entities and large corporations exert undue influence or control over media outlets, thereby shaping narratives, priorities and coverage of news and information.
“The movement of personnel between government regulatory bodies and the oil and gas industry can create a culture of cosiness.
“This weakens oversight and allows industry talking points to dominate media coverage,” she said.
She explained that the media could continue the campaign by educating the public about media capture, developing a support system, fact-checking and protecting their sources.
A General Physician, Dr Tunji Akintade, has appealed to the three tiers of government to re-enact policies and facilities that would promote the culture of hand washing in communities.
Handwashing
Akintade, former Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), said this in an interview on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Lagos, to commemorate the World Hand Hygiene Day.
The World Hand Hygiene Day, celebrated annually on May 5, aims at maintaining a global profile on the importance of hand hygiene in health care and to bring people together in support of hand hygiene improvement worldwide.
The theme for the 2024 celebration is “Promoting Knowledge and Capacity Building of Health and Care Workers, Through Innovative and Impactful Training and Education, on Infection Prevention and Control, Including Hand Hygiene”.
Akintade noted that regular and proper handwashing was crucial to promoting good health by preventing many potential health conditions.
According to him, awareness on regular and proper hand hygiene should be intensified, as done during COVID-19 pandemic, to prevent a range of infectious diseases.
He called for inter-agency collaboration involving Ministries of Health, Education and Environment, to strengthen awareness and encourage everyone to incorporate hand hygiene into their daily lives as a non-negotiable routine.
“Removing germs through handwashing is the first line of Defence against diarrhea, cholera and respiratory infections.
“As a country, we have suffered several recurring disease outbreaks, which can be prevented by optimising hygiene.
“We need to reintroduce the culture of regular handwashing into every part of the society starting from homes, schools to public facilities, just as we did during COVID-19,” he said.
Akintade also called for strengthened infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, training and retraining of healthcare workers on standard safety precautions and reminders pasted around hospitals.
“Hand hygiene saves millions of lives every year when performed regularly, properly, and at the right times in healthcare facilities,” he said.
He appealed to the government to prioritise Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as a critical mechanism for improving public health and safeguarding against future health crises.
“Many households lack access to WASH and this is a major factor responsible for most of the disease outbreaks across the country.
“Many healthcare facilities also lack adequate WASH services, placing healthcare providers and patients at increased risk of healthcare-associated infections,” he said.
In commemoration of the 2024 World Freedom Day, a civil society organisation, Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, has shed some light on environmentally challenging developments in some communities in Rivers State.
Land devastated by oil spill in Niger Delta region
Themed “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of Environmental Crisis”, the 2024 World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis.
Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, in collaboration with allied organisations, listed environmental pollution issues in Ibaa and Obelle communities in Emohua Local Government Area and Aminigboko community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area.
According to the group, in 2016, people in Chukwure family compound discovered that their hand dug well was filled with crude oil instead of water that it was producing until that fateful period.
“The case was reported to Shell, the corporation carrying out activities in the locality. The family has been worried and concerned over their fate living such level of pollution. Part of the response by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to advocacy efforts to get justice for the family is Shell sealing off the affected well. A visit to the site on May 2, 2024, showed that some family members still live with the pollution. The family wants to be relocated to somewhere safe and secured and compensation paid for damages so far suffered by family members,” submitted Kebetkache.
The group added that Obelle community of Emuoha Local Government Area in Rivers State is one of the sites where Shell carries out oil extraction activities.
“In 1998 the Well-4 head operated by Shell erupted with gas fire, burning over 30 hectares expanse of land in the community for about three months. And after burning for some weeks, SPDC added some chemicals to control it. The chemicals were washed into the community’s aquifer, resulting to impacts on the people’s health and their source of livelihood.
“The only solution proffered by SPDC was to acquire these lands without alternative provision for farming. There was no compensation made to the community and the people have suffered untold hardship as a result of the insufficient land to carry out their farming activities and women are the worst hit in terms of displacement.”
Cases of environmental pollution are also reported in Aminigboko community, where environmental impact assessment is said to be under contention by community members.
“The issues have been reported to the Dutch National Contact Point, who intervened and made recommendations. The company has outrightly refused to address the issues since February 10, 2023, when the recommendation was made.”
Kebetkache claimed that, in 2022, it conducted an environmental and socio–economicassessment in Ibaa community, and the key findings from the field revealed a widespread crude oil contamination in the seven groundwater and four oil samples covering 6 kilometres. Based on the risk associated with undue exposure to crude oil contamination, the assessment recommended as an emergency measure that the impacted families and others within 1500m across the pipeline right of way be relocated to safe locations within the community, provision of safe drinking water for the community and the rectification of the cause of the leakage in addition to other long-term remedies.
Kebetkache said that it is calling on the government, global community, SPDC, regulatory agencies and relevant stakeholders to take urgent action to address the issues.
The group stated: “There is a threat to sustainable development in the Niger Delta. The environmental crisis of air pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change have become significant challenges for people and communities.
“This is the reason Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre is using the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day to provide update on key environmental injustice cases in Rivers State. This is necessary to prevent misinformation and disinformation by people who do not understand the issues. It is important to note that the information ecosystem is crucial.”
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (FMWRS) has been urged to implement the National Roadmap to Hand Hygiene for All (HH4A) (2021-2025).
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev
In a press statement issued in the spirit of the World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD), Ms. Ganiyat Afolayan, Communications Officer, Mangrove & Partners Limited (MPL), stated that the HH4A provides guidance on how to address hand hygiene in health facilities and amongst caregivers.
Afolayan submitted that WHHD 2024, observed on Sunday, May 5, affords the organisation the opportunity to remind Nigerians of the critical and lifesaving importance of hand washing. According to her, handwashing prevents up to 50% of avoidable infections acquired during health care delivery, including those affecting the health work force.
“Handwashing also reduces the number of people who get sick from infectious diarrhea by 23-40%, reduces diarrhea illnesses in people with weakened immune systems by 58%, and the number of school absenteeism by over 50%.
The theme for the WHHD 2024 is “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands”, while the campaign focuses on: “Promoting knowledge and capacity building of health and care workers through innovative and impactful training and education, on infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene”.
Afolayan added: “The 2024 celebration is significant because it provides us with a unique opportunity, as media practitioners and WASH experts, to raise awareness and sensitise the public on the importance of hand hygiene, and continuous education as well as to remind the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation (FMWRS) of need to implement the National Roadmap to Hand Hygiene for All (2021-2025), which provides guidance on how to address hand hygiene in health facilities and amongst caregivers.”
Re-imagine and Sustain: Establishing a long-term hand hygiene culture.
It identifies three key components, which includes: Political Leadership for improved budget allocation, programme visibility, and advocacy; Enabling Environment to provide policies, technical capacity, and participatory planning; and increasing Demand for behavior change, funding, and incentives, and Supply for Demand of through market development, product innovation, and logistics.
“In line with aforementioned, this is a call for action to the federal government to implement and encourage the domestication of the National Hand Hygiene for All (2021-2025) Roadmap across all states of the federation.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hand hygiene is not a luxury. The World HHD Campaign gives WHO an opportunity to talk to a worldwide audience. Infection prevention and control (IPC), which includes hand hygiene, is fundamental to safe and effective healthcare systems. Hand hygiene is relevant to all health workers, patients, and their families at every single healthcare encounter. It contributes to quality universal health coverage, meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.8 and strongly supports the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and the health sector global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) agendas.
Hence, the WHHD 2024 is designed to strengthen learning approaches to enable the implementation of innovative and effective training, empower health and care workers, and improve hand hygiene and IPC at the point of care with enhanced knowledge, skills and behaviors.
In Nigeria, the day is observed as part of the broader efforts to improve public health and prevent the spread of diseases. Only 17% of households in Nigeria have access to basic hygiene services. Although the knowledge of critical handwashing times is high (99%), amongst Nigerians, proper handwashing demonstration is at 8%. Hygiene facilities are inadequate, with 30% health facilities having basic handwashing services, and 35% of schools providing basic handwashing services.
Director General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi, has urged farmers to embrace biotechnology to boost food production in the country.
Director General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi
Abdullahi made this call on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Abuja at the One-day Biosafety and Biotechnology Sensitisation Workshop for Farmers Associations in Nigeria with the theme “Empowering Biotechnology: Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability.”
The director-general said using biosafety and biotechnology seeds to boost food security would improve the plight of farmers across the country.
According to him, the benefits of biotechnology are vast and profound as biotech proffers solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing the agricultural sector.
“Biotechnology stands as a beacon of hope; it is a transformative force driving agricultural progress across the globe and farmer associations like yours play a pivotal role as the bedrock of our agricultural landscape.”
“This technology will enhance crop yields and improve nutritional content against pests, diseases and adverse environmental conditions; biotechnology offers a spectrum of opportunities to propel our agricultural productivity to new heights.”
Abdullahi said biotechnology would foster sustainable agricultural practices, reducing the dependency on harmful chemical inputs and promoting ecological balance.
“With biotechnology, we will not only safeguard the livelihoods of our farmers but also ensure food security for our nation.”
He said that the partnership and collaboration of farmers’ associations would aid the adoption and dissemination of biotechnological innovations.
“Together, we can leverage the tools of science to empower farmers, enhance their productivity, and contribute to the socio-economic development of our nation,” he said.
He urged all farmers to embrace biotechnology as a catalyst for progress and champion its cause within various associations, communities, and at states’ levels.
Dr Bello Abubakar, National President Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), said the sensitisation workshop would help farmers to improve on their production and also create wealth for them.
He assured that the maize farmers in the country were already looking forward to planting the Tela maize knowing the benefits of the improved seedlings.
“Majority of our farmers is aware of the new improved seeds; I can say that about 60 per cent to 70 per cent of our farmers have already accepted it and are ready to cultivate it,’’ he said.
Mr Mustapha Bakano, National President of Cassava Growers Association, said they were looking forward to enhancing their capabilities to improve stem production and to produce seeds en masse.
“We are synergising with the government to ensure that these seedlings reach the farmers to boost food security.
“If we are able to focus on this direction, in the next few years we will be looking at integrating cassava flour into wheat and this will help us reduce our deficit in importation of wheat,’’ he said.
The aim of the workshop was to enhance farmers’ understanding of the benefits associated with agricultural biotechnological interventions.
It is also aimed at empowering farmers with knowledge and skills to make informed decisions regarding the adoption of biotechnological practices.
