By Suleiman Yakubu

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.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The long legal tussle between Emigi and Egunpa communities in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State over land disputes has finally been put to rest as the state High Court in Lapai has given its verdict in favour of the Emigi community.
Justice Danladi Ahmed Baddeggi, in his judgement delivered on Wednesday, declared that the Emigi community, who had been the plaintiff in the matter, were the owners of the disputed land against the claims of the Egunpa community, whom he averred had no reason to claim ownership of the disputed land.
The Egunpa community sometimes approached the Lapai High Court in January 2021, claiming ownership of the land from the plaintiff on the ground that they inherited the disputed land from their forefathers and the Emigi Community has no business claiming ownership of the land.
Barrister Emmanuel Zachariah, the counsel to the plaintiff, then filed a declaration of title before the court, and Justice Danladi Ahmed Baddeggi, after perusing the declaration of title as filed before the court, delivered his judgement accordingly, stating that the disputed land belongs to the Emigi community.
In an interview with journalists shortly after the judgement, Barr. Emmanuel Zachariah commended the judge for his courage in arriving at his verdict, describing the judgement as well presented and one that will stand the test of time.
He described Justice Danladi Ahmed as an erudite jurist whose pedigree in the temple of justice will be reckoned with at all times.
Also speaking, the village head of Emigi, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, appealed to his subjects to continue to leave in peace, stating that the judgement has finally put to rest the over two decades of legal tussle that has almost crippled farming activities in his community.
He called on the people of Egunpa to allow peace and the harmonious relationship that has existed in both communities to continue to prevail, noting that no meaningful development will be recorded in a crisis-ridden environment.