Special Forces and Agro-Rangers to Protect Farms in Plateau State

Sonny Tyoden launching Fertilizer Sales for 2020

The Plateau State Government has announced that Special Forces and Agro-Rangers are to protect farms in Plateau State. This notice was made during the kick-off of the sale of fertilizer and other farm inputs to farmers in the state for year, 2020. The event was held at the Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture’s Warehouse along Bukuru Expressway in Jos South.

The Plateau State Deputy Governor, Professor Sonny Tyoden, who represented Governor Lalong noted that this year, the state awarded a contract for the purchase of sixty thousand bags of 50kg NPK 20.10.10, 45,000 bags of 50kg of Urea, 30 metric tons of maize, 15 metric tons of rice seeds, 7.5 metric tons of cotton seeds and 5250 litres of growth boosters.  He gave prices as follows:

1.     NPK 20:10: 10 at N5000 per bag of 50kg.

2.     Urea at N15000 per bag of 50kg.

3.     Growth boosters at N40, 000 per litre.

4.     Maize seed at N428 and N1605 per 2 kg for different varieties.

5.     Rice seed at N6500 per 25kg bag.

6.     Arewa cotton seed at N4200.

Farmers wishing to purchase any of the inputs are to go to the nearest store in their respective local governments, get allocation papers and pay the equivalent to of what they are purchasing to an agent of Staling Bank at the location. The evidence of payment is then presented to the store keepers who then supply the product.

The governor noted that committees have been assigned to monitor the sales to ensure transparency, warning seriously against any diversion, as there will be dire consequences in cases of violations of the procedures the authorities have outlined.

According to the governor, the administration is working hard to encourage the use of tractors. Currently, the use of tractors in the state is at a dismal ratio of 0.2 tractors per 1000 hectares as against the global standard of 22 tractors per 1000 hectares. His government, he says, is providing a combined subsidy of 40% –30% from the state government and 10% from the local governments – for any farmer wishing to own a tractor.

In March, the authorities procured 1500 irrigation pumps for the purpose of boosting dry-season farming. He referred to the cooperation of his regime with the Lake Chard Research and the Potato Research Institutes that led to the growth of wheat and barley which weren’t grown in the state previously. 

Due to the potential of the grazing reserves in the Southern Zone of the state, the state has been enlisted in the Livestock Resilient Support Project of the World Bank. He also encouraged farmers to join cooperative groups to benefit from a range of loan facilities the Federal The government makes possible through the Central Bank.

The state government, determined to encourage large-scaled agricultural practice, is reacquiring 90% of the ownership of Barc Farms, with the intention of handing it over to a private body with the capacity to use it in large-scale farming efficiently.

The event was hosted by the State Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr Hosea Finangwai with support from his colleague at the Information Ministry, Dan Manjang. There was also the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, who called the government’s attention to the issue of security in farms. Also in attendance was the Chairman of the State Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, and the chairman of the host local government area.

Dr Finangwai noted that the sale started slightly later than it used to due to bottlenecks caused by the incidence of the coronavirus disease. For the same reason, there were a handful of farmers in attendance at the launch. At fertilizer distribution centres, he says, there will be hand-washing/disinfecting facilities, decongestion and insistence on the use of face masks.  

Dr Finangwai voiced his gratitude to the Association of Nigerian Governors, headed by the Plateau State Governor, for their decision to exempt farmers from the lockdown due to the critical nature of their work. According to him, the exemption brought about a reduction in post-harvest losses of perishable farm produce.

Finangwai praised the governor for counterpart funding he has paid to support the Potato Value Chain Program, the Rural Access and Marketing Program (RAAMP). The commissioner further thanked the governor for his unbowed support to improve the process of farm inputs sourcing and sharing for the farmers and the revival of Agricultural Services and Training Centre, ASTC.

The ALGON Chairman announced that, at their own levels, they will be replicating what the state government is doing to help farmers. During the occasion, the chairman of the host local government, Jos South, unveiled a huge painting of the governor.

Finangwai Dreams Big for Plateau State

Dr Hosea Finangwai. Source Dr Finangwai

There is that saying that “the things that people desperately seek are always with them.” If you ever had the chance to visit a vegetable market in Plateau State, you get a profound feeling that the solution to Plateau’s economic woes is hidden in vegetables grown in the state. Sadly, the little things that authorities ought to do to help this come to fruition often fail to materialize. Besides, prosperity is not just about the economy, schools and roads. Prosperity is also about physical beauty and decency of our public places; people judge you by the way you appear. Thus, the markets need to be organized to look decent.  

In the past, particularly in colonial times, there were successful efforts at market organizations. In Bukuru, Jos South, for instance, the market was organized to have units for every basic trade. There were huge warehouses for grain storage, a decently built slaughter and units for the sale of the slaughtered animals, tailoring, vegetable... There was also the famous abattoir around Dogon Karfe. Since then, nothing of that nature has been built, despite population growth even while existing ones are in a state of rot. 

The chaos in the vegetable market and abattoir were the reason why the News Tower visited the Honourable Commissioner of Agriculture in Plateau State, Dr Hosea Finangwai. But the conversation got bigger than we had hoped. The News Tower was trying to bring the attention of the commissioner to the idea of organizing emerging markets like that of Building Materials for decency, modernity and easy navigation. So, we asked the commissioner what plans he has for this year, 2020. 

Dr Finangwai brought to our attention the fact that a reasonable growth plan in the short term isn’t feasible. It is the reason why his emphasis is on compiling the data of farmers and their activities and drawing a policy program upon which growth in the agricultural portfolio would be hinged. When that is done, the government will then unleash its development program fully.

Concerning the creation of a policy document, the commissioner said he intends to hold a summit of those that matter in the sector this year. Eventually, the ministry will ensure the cooperation of the Plateau Agricultural Development Program, PADP, The College of Agriculture Garkawa, the Agricultural Services and Training Centre (with offices across the state), and the Home Economic School in Riyom. These bodies are either agricultural training providers or service providers or both. And, since the administration wants to move agriculture in the state from subsistence to wealth creation, these bodies will be used to train the farmers who will then be supported to get loans from the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL). 

Taking agriculture in Plateau State to a higher pedestal must involve extraordinary measures. Hence, the Ministry has identified varieties of certified seeds that have already been given to farmers. In the potato value chain, there is the idea of diffuse light stores to preserve the perishables until a favourable market day, processing units, life kiosks, tissue culture laboratories to clean our varieties to produce brands that are highly viable and resistant to diseases, thereby getting rid of challenges like potato blight. The commissioner also talked about the Gramin Agricultural Markets program to help farmers sale their goods locally as is done in India. More than seven hundred rural roads and about one hundred and fifty-six tarred roads will be constructed to enhance connections between the farms and the markets. 

The efforts will also involve the promotion of commodity associations. In this regard, the government in connection with the commodity associations has started working to help in the preservation of agricultural produce in cold rooms, which ASTC has in three locations in Plateau State that includes Vom, Kuru-Jenta and Tenti Green. The commodity associations have been mandated to find lands to be used as commodity markets, where farmers can deposit their goods in the cold houses, especially when markets aren’t favourable. It will help to discourage large gatherings, especially when social distancing becomes imperative. 

Dr Finangwai said he did lead a delegation to visit the honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mallam Sabo Nanono. The aim was to seek support in helping the Plateau State Government to set up cold houses. Still, with preservation, the commissioner said his ministry has proposed to the governor to encourage members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTWh) to see the possibility of integrating cold vans into their fleet for the transportation of the perishable agricultural product to distant locations. His ministry is awaiting the response of the governor.

About the abattoir, the commissioner agrees the conditions are squalid; there is a paucity of water so that butchers have to use water niggardly. But there is also the reality of butchers slaughtering sick animals and selling them to people. Hence, the Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture is working with the Chairman and Secretary of the Butchers union to fix the ugly situation. But, the ministry is also looking at the prospect of handing the abattoir over to a private body, to avoid the I-do-not-give-a-damn behavior that often runs public agencies down. 

Regarding Kara Market in Bukuru, the administration has entered into an MOU with Harati. All this is aimed at making Kara market an international cattle market. Kara market was “built” by the administration of late Solomon Lar, during the second republic between 1979 and 1985, but has never really taken off. If it works well, according to the commissioner, the program will be replicated in the central and southern zones of Plateau State.

How to Become a Billionaire

By Yiro Abari High

Billionaires, their businesses and private lives often make interesting topics of conversations. They are powerful and influence lives in many ways. But above all, they stir others, creating in them a hunger for success. This way, a lot of people want to become billionaires.    

If you have been around for some time and have, at one time or the other, tried business, it should probably have given you an idea on how successful businesses are built. Billionaires become profoundly rich because they build successful businesses. So, you don’t just set out wanting to become a billionaire. I think that it is saner to set out wanting to become a successful businessman or woman. If your business becomes successful and you sustain the growth, then you are on your way to becoming a billionaire. 

The paths to becoming a billionaire are many and complex, but most billionaires achieved that status by searching to find a service or goods that are needed but which no one offers. If you find yourself offering services or commodities, then you are on your way…

There are certain services that couldn’t be provided because it required a technology that no one was able to invent. If you are able to invent such a technology to provide that service, then you are on your way to becoming a billionaire, especially if the technology solves a problem to millions of people. This is the case with Bill Gates of Microsoft Corporation. In the case of Jeff Bezos of Amazon, he did not invent the internet. He hatched the idea of selling things via the internet and was able to make it work. Currently, there is a search for Corona Virus cure or a vaccine. If you can find it, then you are on your way.

The Igbos in the south-east of Nigeria have the highest number of entrepreneurs in black Africa. They have a tradition of travelling to remote corners of the earth, where a lot of people wouldn’t want to live. It makes them the only suppliers of goods in that locality, helping them to build their businesses easily. There is an element of sacrifice here. So, you must not necessarily invent something like Bill Gates or hatch a unique idea like Jeff Bezos to get extraordinarily rich. You can simply buy a product to sell in a place where no one else sells it. 

But, if you find yourself in a place where a commodity or service is provided by many, you still can become rich buy studying the business landscape to see gaps that you can take advantage of and be ahead of the others. By doing this, you end up suffocating the other businesses, becoming a sole supplier. Aliko Dangote’s businesses supply what has been supplied by others. He, however, delivers the goods to depots across the country, cutting out middlemen and bringing down prices that ensure he stays ahead in the competition. 

Talent is part of it. Bill Gates has talent. When he was asked how he became so wealthy, he said, “I was lucky to be born with a certain amount of talent.” As said before, you don’t set out wanting to become a billionaire. You should set out wanting to build a successful business. Most times, the success of the business puts a lot of capital into your hand with which you can venture into any area where you see an opportunity that simply requires capital. You could have a talent for music, use it to generate capital and then put the capital to other businesses that generate even more money than music. Sean Puffy Combs, aka, P Diddy, is an example. He is truly the wealthiest Hip Hop artist, but not all the wealth comes from music. Music was just a stepping-stone. There is also Jay-Z who is venturing into other businesses after raising millions through music.  

You could also get rich by luck. If, for instance, your ancestors own land that turned out to be underlain by gold in a nation where the law favours the landowner in a way, you could get astonishingly rich. You could marry a wealthy woman that gives you a start.

But there is destiny. Destiny could say that you will never become a billionaire. In that case, you will do all these things and still see yourself getting even poorer, especially if you lack connection or some powers stand against you. There could be a war coming to disrupt your effort. There could be weak laws that leave your business unprotected. It is why businesses are like flying birds looking for the right place to land.

But like they say, winners never quit and quitters never win. Even when there is frustration while you are doing the right thing, it would be only wise to keep doing what is right. Those creating stumbling blocks aren’t God. The challenges could just be part of your story but not the whole of it. 

A New Drug to Treat COVID-19 Has Been Discovered

By Yiro Abari High

New Cure for COVID-19

A drug, remdensivir, has been shown to demonstrate a “clear cut” ability to treat the Corona Virus infection.  The news was broken by Dr Anthony Fauci, a member of the US White House Task Force for Corona Virus.

Remdensivir has proven to be better than Placebo, which has been used to treat COVID-19 till now.  While the recovery rate for Placebo is 15 days, it is 9 for remdensivir. The death rate for Placebo is also higher compared to that of remdensivir.

According to the report, remdensivir was developed in the efforts to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, but has not been used to treat any disease till now.

The American authorities have, as a result of the development, swung into action with regard a piece of legislation to authorize the use of the remdensivir to treat COVID-19.  

Chris Giwa and the Absurdity of Politics

By Yiro Abari  High

Chris Giwa

The name, “Chris Giwa,” isn’t strange in Nigeria, if you mind current affairs in Nigeria. But, in case you don’t know him, he was the owner of Giwa Football Club of Jos, a club whose life was squeezed out because Mr Giwa insisted on a mandate that made him President of the Nigerian Football Federation.

Mr Giwa comes from Kuru, in Jos-South of Plateau State. When he had a chance to speak in his local branch of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) in Jos-South, he chose to speak about: “The Significance of Giving.” On that day, he revealed that the secret of his wealth is giving. “If you give without complaining or whining, fortunes will follow, unhindered.”

For the past decade and a half, he lived up to this piece of scriptural education. The most visible of his charity work is seen in the payment of tuition for students in secondary schools in Berom communities in Jos-south. This embraces districts like Kuru, Gyel, Zawan, Vom and Du. But he has also roofed giant churches, supported the building of mosques, built culverts and graded roads, hired doctors and support staff to work for poor locals in Kuru.

His philanthropy made him so famous, especially among youths in Plateau State, whose campus activities he supported. Because of his camaraderie with this demography, each time local government elections were to be held, he locked horns with the incumbent administration and fought courageously to protect the prospect of his boys who aimed for political positions in grassroot assemblies.

He has the type of sensitivity and compassion that is expected of a serving politician. It was why close friends suggested he joins politics to climb a bigger stage on which to unleash totally his love of the weak. Thus, in 2011, Giwa rolled out an ambitious and lavish political campaign to become the Governor of Plateau State. The campaign received massive support from key cabinet members of the Joshua Dariye administration in which he held a modest position as the Manager of Plateau United Football Club, after relinquishing his job at Nigerian Telecommunications, NITEL. 

When the ballots were counted, he ranked third, after Jonah Jang, the sitting governor and Pauline Tallen. Curious observers said it, sure, would have been unimaginable for one to think of defeating Jang, who had a long,  shimmering political history. That Giwa came out at the wrong time, especially since Jang’s deeds in the first tenure were stellar. For Pauline Tallen, she was, and is still, a powerful political figure in Nigeria and defeating her would have been a mission impossible.

Then. Senator Gyang Dalyop Dantong, representing Plateau-North at the Nigerian Senate, died in July of 2012, creating a senatorial vacancy in Plateau North. The general belief was that Giwa was going to win that election and become a Senator. But it didn’t pretty work out that way, as late GNS Pwajok won to become the Senator. In the comments that followed the declaration of the result, people attributed Giwa’s lost in the election to the backing Pwajok received from Jang, his political father. In Nigeria, it will always be difficult to defeat a government candidate.

In Nigeria, as elsewhere, elected persons are expected to carry out activities to lessen the suffering of ordinary people and make life worth living. For a majority of Nigerians, a life worthy of living has remained a mirage from as far back as the 1980s. Giwa is a rare Nigerian, doing what elected politicians should be doing, and he does it from his private pocket. It is the reason why he should have received the support of the people. At least, he should have occupied that senatorial seat in 2012.

Mr Benjamin Dalyop, a politician from Kuru explained that the political culture of Berom people is aberrant, at least in the context of Nigeria. It explains why Giwa hasn’t received enough political support among his own tribe. Berom people view the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, as a political party that was handed down to them by their ancestors. But Giwa, sadly, has never contested any position under the umbrella of the PDP. He contested the gubernatorial seat under the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and in 2012 he contested the Plateau-North Senatorial seat under the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.  

Fanatical observers of Nigerian politics would understand Giwa’s predicament. The PDP, as the ruling party, had always been hijacked by contestants that have government backing. It would have been impossible to contest and win the primaries against Jang under the PDP. Even late Senator GNS Pwajok was a mainstream member of the PDP and obviously had all the government backing. So, the only party available were the other, mostly weaker, parties. 

Giwa has a set of triplets that include two boys and a girl. They were born eight years ago. Before then, relations had given up hope of Giwa ever having kids. Thus, Mr Giwa is vindicated in his belief that when you give, God pays you back manifolds.  Thus, he’s undeterred in his given. Most recently has been the resumption of fee payments for indigent students in Kuru. It involved paying fees for four kids from each of the fifty-six communities that make up Kuru. This is in addition to N10, 000 given to every one of five women from each of these communities.

Giwa may not have won a mundane political position, but he has won, countless times, when it comes to teaching by example. He’s probably God’s candidate.

President Buhari Won’t Dream of Making Me Chief-of-Staff –Isa Funtua.

Isamila Isa Funtua. Picture source: mainstream.com.ng

Following the death of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief-of-Staff (COS), Abba Kyari on April 18^th, a number of successors have been speculated. Among these names, is Ismaila Isa Funtua, a former Minister in the Second Republic.  

When a BBC Hausa reporter contacted Funtua and asked if he knew that his name is getting a mention as a potential COS. This is what he said: “Yes, I have heard.” When asked how he felt after his name was mentioned, Funtua said:

“I felt those people calling my name were not being fair to me. Why? Because I had worked with the Native Authorities, I have worked as a civil servant, and I have been a politician to the point of becoming a minister in this country. It surprises me, today, that some people would link my name to this post. Do people even know what the Chief-of-Staff mean? Is it because that office is being abused, by people doing as they wish? You are talking about a Chief-of-Staff, mind you! How long is it from 1983, when I was a minister?”

The reporter answers, “close to forty years.”

“And you go talking about me getting an appointment?” he continues. “What kind of appointment? I am over-qualified for that job. I am an employer; I have created places of work so that people and their families can find a means of livelihood.”

“But people are making this speculation because of your intimacy with the President,” the reporter insists.

“Many such people are being satanic in their thoughts. You have to look at the things I had done in the past and see whether or not I am over-qualified. They should also consider if I have the chance to work or not. I am overqualified! That type of job is for people like you and our children. And, if people like us will continue to expect the government to give them jobs, where would our own children turn to? Imagine someone like me getting up to go to work by 8.00 am or 9.00 am! Nigerians, we should be fair to ourselves.”

“Would you take the job if President Buhari should offer it to you,” the reporter pushes.

“He himself wouldn’t start, because he knows I wouldn’t take it. If, however, he wants a piece of advice and sets up a committee that brings people like me and younger persons, we could come, advice and find our ways home. But I can’t take a full-time job, taking salaries. I don’t expect this from you, people! Nigeria’s situation hasn’t worsened to that point. The leadership of a nation isn’t like playground matters,” he concludes.

Is Bill Gates Truly Trying to Cut Down the Human Population?

Bill Gates. Source: the www.guardian.ng 

Conspiracy theories have often been around to interpret major events affecting the Planet in their deviant ways.

Since the outbreak of the Corona Virus, aka, COVID-19, there have been all manner of conspiracy theories aiming to discredit the truth. I have read a lengthy story from someone who claims to be a member of the inner caucus of the Chinese Communist Party. The author of the report claims that Corona Virus was a design of the Chinese Government to control dissent that tends to undermine the Communist Government. He claims that the Chinese Government wanted to use it against the demonstrations in Hong Kong that aimed to frustrate an extradition bill to send certain criminals for trials in China.

The author of the masterfully crafted report claims that the United States wanted to buy the biological weapon from China so as to use it in Venezuela, but the Chinese government declined the proposal, seeing that weapon turned out more deadly than they had anticipated. According to this author, while the Chinese Government turned down the US, the US tried to get it through a Chinese traitor. Sadly, there was an accident leading to a spill in Wuhan, where the CIA had gone to receive the parcel.

Another conspiracy theory said the problem is caused by the 5G network that is already in use in China and other nations.

Now, a most recent conspiracy theory has to do with the suggestion that Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, who said that the best way to deal with Corona Virus is through massive vaccinations. Some conspiracy theorists, in a video report, claim that Mr Gates intends to cut down the global population through sponsoring a research for a deadly vaccine whose aim will be to cut down the global population. The video claims that Gates is part of a line of people who, for decades, have suggested ways by which the human population can be reduced and that these people have a strong western backing.

How would reducing global population benefit Gates, who is 65 years of age? He has been a philanthropist helping people in different nations to live better lives. His philanthropy cuts across many areas, including education, health and poverty reduction.

Vaccines have been around and have been the reason why so many diseases were exterminated throughout the history of mankind. Each time a child is born, a series of vaccines are administered to give the child a greater chance of survival. If you are a father, how many of your children did die because they had received these vaccines? If the West wants to cut down our population, they would have done it a long time ago through these vaccines.  

Finally, I think that the maker of the video, claiming Mr Gates wants to cut down the human population is actually that person who wants to cut down the population of mankind. In Africa, for instance, if his story is believed, it will be the reason why people will reject any vaccine that comes. What would happen? We will all die of Corona Virus.