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Bauchi Establishes 33 and 20 Hectares of Orchard and Woodlot Plantation

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By Sule ALIYU, Bauchi

The APC administration in Bauchi state has within the past two years established 33 hectares of orchard and 20 hectares of Woodlot plantation under the Great Green Wall (GGW) programme of the Federal Government.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Barrister Yakubu Kirfi said the programme was implemented in three Northern fringes Local Government Areas namely, Jama’are, Katagum and Gamawa.

Kirfi, ant an on-going state ministerial press briefing also disclosed that the government similarly provided over 12, 000 seedlings of date palm for distribution and planting in the Great Green Wall corridor.

These, the commissioner said, were in addition to the construction of skill acquisition centre at Chinade village in Katagum Local Government Area to train youths at the GGW corridor.

The commissioner further revealed that the sum of over N6 million was expended as support contribution for the state aerial spray to control quella birds by the federal government.

“Over N28 million was expended for the purchase of chemicals and equipment for the control of quella birds and other pest in the state in 2016”, he added.

“A workshop for enumerators on canoes registration was organized by the Federal Department of fisheries, Abuja in conjunction with the state government where 40 enumerators were trained on the benefits for canoe registration.

These benefits include access to credit, training fishermen to increase their knowledge, strengthen networking of fishermen in sharing, as well as security identification of offenders, among others.

Barrister Yakubu Kirfi told the press that Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) has during the period constructed four earthen fish ponds, provided security house, stocked 20, 000 fish, provided 120 bags of fish seeds, as well as 4 generators, 4 drilled tube wall to benefiting of Itas, Sakuwa, Katagum, and Piro village in Bauchi LGA.

The state government on the other hand provided livestock extension services to livestock and poultry farmers across the state on modern techniques of livestock and poultry production.

Kirfi further explained that the state ministry of agriculture in collaboration with Growth and Employment is states (GEMS4) and Animal Care have conducted about 31 step down trainings in 20 LGAs where about 5, 675 farmers were trained on modern ruminant fettering method.

In addition, about 200 veterinary and para vet staff, 582 farmers (533 males and 49 females) farmers were inducted in the programme with the total number of 1, 496 animals (consisting of 1,087 small ruminants and 409 large ruminants) under a poverty and job creation programme, among others.

He said that the state government supported the biometric data capturing of farmers in the state which will enable small scale farmers’ access inputs directly from suppliers at subsidized rates under the National Agricultural Payment Initiative (NAPI), a modified Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES).

Government equally procured over 20, 000 metric tons of assorted fertilizer worth N2.8 billion which was distributed to rainy and dry season farmers across the state in the 2015 – 2016 farming season, he stated.

It also keyed into the Federal Government Anchor Borrower’s programme for rice and wheat production with 8, 000 registered to participate in the programme, and N1, 152, 132, 000 spent for the purchase of equipment/materials, fertilizer, payment of cash to registered farmers and training of extension workers and farmers.

The commissioner gave challenges in the sector as vagaries of weather and desertification, as well as over dependence on rain fed agriculture that has negative effect on crops production.

Others are lack of agro processing factories which can add value and make agriculture profitable, and infrastructural decay covering farm service centres and zonal offices.

Also in the challenges are lack of timely release of funds, inadequate and timely supply of farm inputs, inadequate farm machineries and lack of maintenance of the existing ones, and high cost of livestock and fish feeds, among others.

In a related development, World Bank Assisted Rural Roads Projects that will give access and mobility to the rural areas of Bauchi state, amounting to $60 million with the state government contributing 5% of the amount are to be undertaken in various parts of the state.

The State commissioner for rural and Community Development, Sama’ila Mohammed Isa dropped the hint for the projects undertaking Tuesday while fielding the press at the on-going state ministerial briefing.

The commissioner, who assured that the rural roads projects execution will soon commence with each of the twenty Local Government Areas benefitting, saying criteria for the successful take-off of the projects have almost been completed.

He explained that the last lap of the criteria which is the conveyance of stakeholders’ workshop comes up within the next few weeks, while the World Bank accredited consultant on the projects has completed 50% of his work on 1, 000 kilometers of roads.

These were in addition to the provision of projects coordinating unit with all infrastructure, office furniture and all necessary working materials provided at a cost of N12, 576, 312: 30, and inventory taken by the engaged consultant.

Isa stated that his ministry was saddled with the responsibility of promoting rural development through improvement of welfare and productive capacities of rural dwellers by providing adequate infrastructure and building human capacity in an atmosphere of social harmony and political stability.

Alhaji Sama’ila Isa enumerated some of the achievements recorded by his ministry within the past two years that included repairs of washed-away roads, undertaking electrification projects, construction of double cell and collapsed cell culverts, as well as rehabilitation and repairs of heavy duty machines, among others.

He however gave challenges being faced by his ministry as lack of coordination and demarcation between the ministry, Jos Electricity Distribution Company and the ministry of mines, power, energy and environment on maintenance and repairs of power lines.

Other challenges, he spelt out, are inadequate manpower due to retirement and death of staff which are not being replaced, a well as cash flow constraint due to the economic recession being experienced presently in the country.

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DSS Moves Against Agbo, over Alleged impersonation as Benue PDP Guber candidate

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The operatives of the Department of State Security Services, DSS has laid a manhunt on embattled former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Benue State, over Alleged impersonation.

A highly placed Security source on Thursday, confirmed to our correspondent that the service is currently looking for Dr. Emmanuel Agbo for impersonating himself as the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Benue state.

The source said that Dr. Agbo, must be interrogated to enable the service have an idea were his candidature was decided as well as venue it took place.

He further added that from preliminary findings Agbo, is playing a role of a ” useful idiot ” been sponsored by political bigwigs in the state that must be unravel by the service.

He queried that all the primary election that took place across the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory was monitored by the DSS and reports were filed including that of Benue State which officially in the PDP, the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN emerged.

Already, a political pressure group has petitioed, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo who they Alleged he is now parading a “fake” Certificate of Return as the party’s candidate is just an “impostor” who didn’t participate in the party’s primaries in May, 2026.

“The Certificate of Return which the disbanded Turaki-led Interim National Executive Council presented to Dr. Agbo yesterday is fake and will not be recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission during the uploading of party candidates on their portal” the group noted.

The group however challenged Agbo to present evidence that he partook in the said primaries, and also make available proofs that representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, officials of the party from Abuja as well as representatives of Nigeria’s security agencies were present in his own selection process if there is any.

The group stated further that there are proofs that Dr. Emmanuel Agbo is being sponsored by some “disgruntled” elements to ruin the chances of the People’s Democratic Party in the forthcoming governorship election in Benue state.

The statement reads in parts:”Emmanuel Agbo has been warned to desist from this act of impersonation before it’s too late, and if he fails to stop this act, we shall drag him before a competent court to face criminal charges.

“That he is being sponsored to ruin the chances of the party is no longer a secret but, we will make sure that we stop him and his co-travellers who are hell bent on destroying the party”

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EUYI Alleges Secret Recruitment, Job Racketeering in JAMB Ahead of Oloyede’s Exit

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The Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has raised concerns over an alleged recruitment exercise conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), claiming that more than 100 employment letters were issued in June 2026, barely six weeks before the expiration of the tenure of JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, and Secretary, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, the group described the alleged recruitment exercise as secretive and called on relevant government agencies to investigate the matter.

According to EUYI, the recruitment process was allegedly carried out without public advertisement and may have violated established procedures governing employment into federal public institutions.

The organisation argued that the timing of the recruitment raises questions, particularly following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the incoming Registrar of JAMB, effective July 30, 2026.

“There is no apparent urgency that would justify a major recruitment exercise by an administration that has only a few weeks remaining in office,” the statement said.

EUYI further alleged that previous recruitment exercises conducted during Professor Oloyede’s tenure had attracted public controversy and scrutiny from the National Assembly, although the JAMB management had maintained that it obtained the necessary approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

The group contended that if the latest allegations are confirmed, the exercise could amount to violations of constitutional and statutory provisions governing public sector recruitment. It cited Section 14(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and relevant provisions of the Federal Character Commission Establishment Act, which emphasize equitable representation, transparency, and compliance with federal character principles in public service appointments.

The advocacy group also called on the Federal Character Commission to clarify whether it approved the alleged recruitment exercise and, if so, whether all legal requirements were met before employment letters were issued.

In addition, EUYI urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to investigate possible cases of nepotism, abuse of office, or other irregularities should evidence emerge to support such claims.

The organization stated that illegal recruitment practices and job racketeering have contributed significantly to the frustrations of millions of unemployed Nigerians, arguing that employment opportunities in public institutions should be transparent, merit-based, and accessible to all qualified citizens.

EUYI gave JAMB a three-day ultimatum to respond to the allegations and provide clarification regarding the reported recruitment exercise.

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THE GENETICS OF BETRAYAL: WHY ALIA WAS BORN TO FIGHT AKUME

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By Aondoakaa Tersugh Daniel | 22/06/2026

The moment Chief Hyacinth Iormen Alia took his oath of office, he turned his guns on Senator George Akume without any visible provocation, and the confusion that followed has lingered ever since. Akume himself could not hide his bewilderment. He has been quoted saying that people should pray for Father, because the man fighting him is not the Father he used to know. Yet a closer look into Alia’s family history reveals that this hostility is not new at all. It is simply genetics finding its way back to the surface.

Decades ago, when Senator Joseph Sarwuan Tarka championed the United Middle Belt Congress and became the face of that movement, Thomas Kastina Alia rose as his fiercest opponent within Benue. The elder Alia went as far as planting the headquarters of Nnamdi Azikiwe’s NCNC, the opposition party of that era, right inside Aliade, the very heartland of Tarka’s Masev support base. The rivalry between the two men was bitter and beyond repair.

As though that chapter of hostility was not enough, another figure emerged to continue the assignment. While Tarka served as a Minister, Godwin Dabo raised allegations of corruption against him, a move that eventually forced Tarka to resign from his position. That blow is widely remembered as one of the most damaging episodes of Tarka’s political career.

This raises a question the Kunav elite of today owe the younger generation an answer to. What truly happened between the Kunav and Jemgbagh people that birthed this chain of political vendetta? Thomas Alia, a Kunav son, frustrated Tarka of Jemgbagh first. Then it was as if a baton had been quietly passed to Godwin Dabo to finish the job. Both men were not only of Kunav extraction but shared the same Kyan constituency, a detail too specific to ignore.

It becomes difficult to understand why Akume, who descends directly from Tarka’s lineage, did not study this history closely enough to avoid walking into the same trap that Alia represents. There is an old saying that a blind man does not allow his roasted groundnuts to burn twice. If the first batch is ruined, he learns to manage the fire better on the second attempt, ensuring it comes out either half done or perfectly roasted. Akume has now looked history squarely in the face and still ended up handing power to the son of Tarka’s oldest political enemy.

So when people call this current war between Akume and Alia madness, they are not entirely wrong, but it is madness with deep roots. It is nothing more than a genetic expression of rivalry that has existed for generations, simply resurfacing in a new political season. Akume owes the memory of Tarka a final reckoning. The score can only be balanced if Akume does to Hyacinth Iormen Alia exactly what Godwin Dabo once did to Tarka.

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