By Orkula Shaagee
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has charged African governments to implement policies that ensure farmers’ access to affordable credit, aiming to enhance food production and security across the continent.
The former President emphasised the imperative of derisking lending in agriculture, noting that the challenge of providing the collateral often demanded of farmers by lending institutions is negatively impacting the growth of the sector.
In a statement issued by his SA, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, said Jonathan stated this at the opening plenary of the second edition of the African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT), on Tuesday in Kigali, Rwanda, also charged ministers of agriculture to be focused and purpose driven in the bid to improve food systems on the continent.
He said:” African governments must be deliberate with their policies towards promoting agriculture and incentivising farmers. If the government does not support farmers it will be difficult in this part of the world to produce enough food for our population.”
He also urged African Central Banks to take the lead in the bid to promote lending to farmers, stressing that the issue of derisking lending to farmers is critical. “That is why I believe that the central banks of African countries must come up with models that would encourage commercial banks to lend to farmers.”
Jonathan who is AATF goodwill ambassador recalled that when he was President, his administration, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, introduced the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing Systems for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL). “It was a $350 million initiative designed to de-risk lending to the agricultural sector. It became a successful programme that ensured that farmers had easy access to loans”, he stated.
Continuing, he said: “The share of the total lending by banks allocated to the agricultural sector increased from 0.5% when we started to 5% by 2015.”
He also stressed that agriculture ministers must have the motivation, competence and focus to run the ministry to ensure that relevant technology and techniques are applied to produce enough food for the population. In this regard, he praised the competence of his agriculture minister, Dr. Akin Adesina, the current President of African Development bank (AfDB), adding that his ingenuity ensured that citizens did not go hungry during Nigeria’s 2014 devastating floods.
Dr. Jonathan further delivered a passionate call for sustained investment and unity in building Africa’s agricultural future. He said: “Africa stands at a historic crossroads. On one road lies the continued struggle with food insecurity; on the other lies a bold vision—Africa as a global powerhouse in food and nutritional security, powered by innovation and transformative investment.”
Jonathan highlighted that Africa holds 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and has a rapidly growing young population—key assets that could fuel a global agricultural revolution if harnessed effectively.
Democracy Day: Gov Bago tasks Nigerians on commitment to democratic principles, processes
By Daniel Peres, Minna
As Nigeria marks this year’s Democracy Day, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has enjoined all Nigerians to reflect deeply on the progress made, renew their commitments in the democratic process and uphold the principles of democracy.
In his Democracy message through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day, he noted that it symbolises the victory of the collective will of the people, over dictatorship.
According to him, Democracy Day also reminds every patriotic Nigerian of the struggles, sacrifices, aspirations, and resilience of our past heroes and heroines.
The Governor who preferred to be addressed as Farmer Governor further stated that Democracy has brought about transparency and accountability in governance, vibrant political competition, expression of diverse viewpoints and increased civic engagement among others.
He, however, expressed concern that despite the uninterrupted democratic rule that Nigeria has been having from 1999, the Nation is still not where it should be, pointing that more needs to be done.
Governor Bago also advocated for continuous electoral reforms, increased civic participation, strengthening democratic institutions that protect the vulnerable, ensure justice and provide equal opportunities for all, adding that doing so would advance democracy in Nigeria.
He reassured the people of Niger State that through his responsible leadership and inclusive governance for a sustainable development, more dividends of democracy will be provided for the people of the State.
He also calls for the continuous prayer, support, and understanding of the people as he reiterates his firmed resolve to building a more secure, transformed and prosperous State under his New Niger agenda.
“I urge you all to continue to pray for leaders at all levels for a purposeful leadership. I reaffirm my commitment to the New Niger project, which is a possibility”, the farmer Governor stated.
Cross River Govt, NEMA collaborate on flood disaster management
By Patrick Abang, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu has lamented that the high portfolio of disasters in the state is retrogressive to its economic and social development.
Governor Otu stated this in a welcome address at the Stakeholders Engagement On the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign for Flood Disaster and Related Hazards held at the Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar.
Represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, Governor Otu disclosed that the State, which is favoured with all the vegetations of the country, shoulders about 12 active disaster types including flooding, windstorm, landslides, communal clashes, fires, gully erosions and road and marine accidents .
He said that flooding is one of the most frequent occurrences which had claimed lives and property worth millions of Naira in over 150 communities across the State affecting residential buildings, farmlands and public infrastructure.
According to him, the campaign on flooding following the weather predictions was apt and promised to support the cascading of the proactive venture to all communities in the State through the State Emergency Management Agency (CRSEMA).
In a keynote address, The Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA Zubaida Umar who was represented by Mr, Joseph Ugwu said that the campaign was necessitated by the predictions of NIMET and NiHSA of an impending heavy rains within the year capable of causing a catastrophic flood disaster.
Zubaida Umar said that the campaign would be cascaded to all communities of the State in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (CRSEMA) to educate the people on mitigation and respond strategies in the event of flooding.
She commended the State Government for its proactivness in disaster management and prayed for sustenance.
In a lecture on the Overview of the National Preparedness And Response Campaign For Flood Disaster, presented by the Disaster Risk Reduction Officer, Mr. Terry Igwue pointed out that preparedness was the plausible means of reducing the effects of the impending Disaster.
Goodwill messages were delivered by notable stakeholders who pledged commitment to disaster management in the State.
Nigeria seeks collaboration for ocean protection
The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and the International Ocean Institute (IOI)-Nigeria have urged global cooperation and local innovation to protect marine ecosystem and promote sustainable ocean governance.
They said this at the event to mark the World Ocean Day with the theme: “Wonders: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” at NIOMR headquarters yesterday in Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, Nigeria Institute For Oceanograpghy and Marine Research, Prof. Abiodun Sule, stressed the need for global cooperation for sustainable ocean.
Represented by the Director of Research, Dr Obatola Parcey, Sule emphasised the essential role of the ocean in supporting life on earth.
According to him, the earth depends completely on the ocean for oxygen production and climate regulation to food security, economic livelihoods, and cultural identity.
“The World Ocean Day is more than a symbolic observance. It is a day for reflection, recommitment, and renewed action to protect the very foundation of our planet’s life systems.
“Nigeria’s dependence on marine and coastal ecosystems for fisheries, transport, tourism, and local livelihoods makes it mandatory for marine conservation to remain a national priority,” he said.
Sule praised the decade-long partnership between NIOMR and the IOI-Nigeria Centre.
He said their collaborative efforts had enhanced ocean literacy, fostered stakeholder engagement, and promoted research-based policy dialogue in Nigeria.
“Together, we have bridged science, policy, and community action in pursuit of sustainable ocean governance,” he added.
The Director, International Ocean Institute, Mr Akanbi Williams, said the 2025 World Ocean Day celebration highlights the ocean’s vital role and what it has given us as a nation and community. (NAN)