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Kwara Gov Urges Enforcement Of Ban On Importation Of Poultry Products

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By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has called for stronger enforcement of current ban on importation of poultry products into the country to protect the health of citizens and boost the nation’s economy.

Declaring open a seminar organised by the Poultry Association of Nigeria with the theme: “Impact of Smuggled Poultry Products on the Economy and Health of Nigerians” in Ilorin, Governor Ahmed emphasised that Nigeria has the local capacity to fill the supply gap that may be created by this ban on importation of frozen meat.

The governor, who explained that local poultry industry is still faced with challenges including but not limited to unfair competition from imported frozen meat, chicken and turkey, said “imported frozen meat is said to account for over $2.5b in foreign exchange and a loss of more than one million jobs opportunities annually”.

The net impact of this, according to Ahmed, is the gradual emasculation of local businesses, resulting in unemployment and stunting growth.

Gov Ahmed insisted that smuggling of contraband items drains the national income, retards local businesses and often results in the demise of local industries, and in the long term have devastating effects on the health of consumers.

Earlier in his remarks, the President, Poultry Association Nigeria, Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim, who attributed high cases of cancer and kidney diseases, particularly among the wealthy individuals, to the consumption of imported products, disclosed that an average of 1.3 metric tons of poultry products were smuggled into the country on annual basis between 2004 and 2017.

Mr. Ibrahim called on Kwara State Government to encourage whistle blowing policy among inhabitants of border communities to expose those smuggling poultry products.
In his paper presentation titled: State of Emergency: Job losses due to smuggling of poultry products in Nigeria, the immediate past National President of the association, Dr Ayoola Oduntan described poultry business as low hanging fruits with potential to creating high paying jobs.

Defence/Security

Banditry: Rep member condemns attack on Kwara community

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin, has strongly condemned the recent attack in Idofin Odo-Ashe, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, describing it as a cowardly act that seeks to disrupt the peace and stability of the community.

Hon. Ajuloopin, in a statement personally signed by him, expressed deep concern over the unfortunate incident and sympathised with the victims, their families, and the entire community affected by the dastardly attack, emphasising that acts of violence have no place in a civilised society, and therefore urged security agencies to intensify efforts in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

While commending the swift response of both the federal and Kwara State governments, as well as the security agencies and local vigilante groups, the lawmaker reiterated that the fight against insecurity requires collective responsibility, calling on traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents to remain vigilant and cooperate fully with security operatives by providing timely and credible information.

“Security is everyone’s business. We cannot afford to leave the safety of our communities solely to government agencies. Every citizen must be actively involved in safeguarding our environment and ensuring that peace prevails,” Hon. Ajuloopin admonished.

He reaffirmed his commitment to continued collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure that lasting peace in all parts of Kwara South and beyond.

Hon. Ajuloopin also appealed for calm, assuring that both the federal and state governments are working tirelessly to address the root causes of insecurity and prevent future occurrences.

End

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Governor Namadi Attends High profile Ministerial Meeting On Self-Sufficiency In Cairo

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From Hassan Taiye

Governor Umar Namadi is currently in Cairo,Arab Republic of Egypt, attending the Third High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Rice Self-Sufficiency, holding from October 7th to 9th, 2025, in Cairo and Sakha.

The meeting, themed “Towards Rice-Based Agri-Food Systems Transformation and Delivering on Rice Self-Sufficiency through Peer-to-Peer Learning: The Case of the Arab Republic of Egypt,” is jointly organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, AfricaRice, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), and other key continental partners.

This high-level gathering brings together African Ministers of Agriculture, State Governors, and agricultural leaders to share practical experiences on achieving rice self-sufficiency and agricultural transformation.

The event will showcase Egypt’s remarkable progress in achieving rice self-sufficiency despite its limited water and land resources, offering valuable lessons adaptable to other African contexts.
Namadi is participating alongside top policymakers, agricultural experts, and private sector players from across Africa to discuss innovations, policy reforms, and strategic investments aimed at strengthening food security and transforming the agricultural sector on the continent.

Over the three-day programme, delegates will engage in high-level ministerial sessions, technical discussions, and a field visit to Egypt’s renowned Rice Research and Training Centre (RRTC) in Sakha.

During the visit, participants will interact directly with Egyptian scientists and farmers to learn about the country’s advancements in high-yield rice varieties, efficient irrigation systems, and modern post-harvest technologies.

Jigawa State’s participation in this important forum underscores the state’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food self-sufficiency, and consolidating Jigawa’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading hubs for rice production and agribusiness development.

The meeting is expected to conclude with a Ministerial Declaration setting a continental roadmap for achieving rice self-sufficiency through collaborative research, policy coordination, and targeted investment across the rice value chain.

Governor Namadi is accompanied by senior officials from the Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture and related agencies.

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There’s Political Genocide Against Christians in Northern Nigeria – Aisha Yesufu

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By: Fabian Apechihin

Sociopolitical activist Aisha Yesufu has accused Nigerian political leaders of perpetuating what she described as a “political genocide” against Christians in Northern Nigeria.

Yesufu made the remark on Tuesday in response to American comedian and TV host Bill Maher, who recently alleged that Nigerian Christians are facing coordinated attacks.

Maher, speaking on his HBO show, said, “I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing Christians in Nigeria. They’ve killed over 100,000 since 2009 and burned 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram.”

Reacting via her X handle, Yesufu criticized what she called hypocrisy among Nigerian politicians who express concern over Christian persecution yet supported the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket during the 2023 elections.

“You are shouting that Northern Christians are being persecuted, but you championed a Muslim-Muslim ticket! Their Christianity was not Christian enough for you during the 2023 election,” she wrote.

She concluded by calling for greater attention to what she termed the “political genocide” against Northern Christians, urging consistency in both words and actions when addressing religious and political marginalization in Nigeria.

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