The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has approved the temporary relocation of Lapai High Court to the Chief Magistrate Court Complex in Lapai.
The announcement for the relocation of the court, which was contained in a press release signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Hajiya Amina Lamide Musa, explained that the relocation was a result of the commencement of the renovation works at the High Court.
According to the Chief Judge, with this announcement, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Minna and Suleja, as well as litigants, should file their processes at the temporary location of the High Court.
It further directed members of the public and counsels to channel all their ligatigations and other necessary processes for prompt judicial and administrative action.
The Lapai High Court has been in deplorable condition for the last 10 years, as the ceiling board and entire building were almost falling down, forcing the workers to take refuge somewhere when it rained.
Apart from the ceiling, the roof and toilet facilities were begging for repairs, just as the judge's chamber and the registrar's office were not even habitable.
In a telephone interview with Newsline online in Minna at the weekend, the chief registrar of the state high court, Hajiya Amina Lamide Musa-Saidu, explained that the chief judge directed the immediate relocation of the high court during an inspection visit to the court.
She said during the visit, the chief judge discovered that the deplorable condition of the court would not be convenient for the staff to perform their duties effectively.
She explained that arrangements were on the ground to commence the renovation of the court; hence, the court has to be relocated pending the completion of the renovation work.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, said he has attracted over a billion dollars in investments in agricultural mechanisation and technology.
He stated this Friday in Abuja when he visited the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, at his office.
The governor said his efforts have made Niger State the leader in agriculture.
Governor Bago had informed the minister that irrigation pumps have been procured to boost dry season farming and explained that his visit was to further demonstrate the commitment of his government to support President Tinunu's agricultural agenda, pointing out that the state has already offered itself as a pilot state for agricultural development in the country.
He reiterated that agriculture was the way to go as it creates employment, promotes foreign exchange, and also ensures food sufficiency, adding that Niger is blessed with natural resources and has no reason to be poor.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, highlighted several intervention programmes of the Tinubu administration.
He noted that the ministry has consistently canvassed for partnerships with the state governments, with the belief that the collaborations would produce the desired result of food security and its attendant value chain benefits.
The minister then applauded the governor for offering the state federal government agricultural pilot programmes and for his numerous efforts in developing the sector, which placed the state in an enviable position.
While assuring that the President will continue to support multifaceted interventions towards agricultural development at the subnational level, he observed that additional effort was needed to increase the number of extension agents available in states while prioritising the capacity and well-being of the existing ones to boost food production, reduce food price inflation, and enhance the welfare of farmers and overall productivity.
Also in his response, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, who expressed delight with the visit, said the President has shown tremendous political will to move agriculture to greater heights, and the ministry will work tirelessly to ensure all the lofty agricultural ideas are translated to food sufficiency and security.
The minister of state advocated peer review with states where both governments could share ideas that would be beneficial to them in terms of agriculture.
