By Suleiman Yakubu

The Niger State government has reaffirmed its dedication to national food security through its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Niger Foods.
Acting Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba announced this commitment earlier today during the official launch of the banana seedling distribution program at the Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Agency (NAMDA) office complex in Minna.
Acting governor Garba highlighted Niger State's vast agricultural potential, noting its status as the largest state by land mass in Nigeria. He emphasised that harnessing this potential is crucial for the state's development and the well-being of its residents. The event marks a strategic effort by the state government to enhance agricultural productivity, aiming to feed the nation and improve the socio-economic status of its people.
Under the "New Niger Agenda," the state aims to lead in food production, ensuring food security and generating surpluses for export. Comrade Yakubu Garba noted the global shift from food security to food and nutrition security, stressing that Niger State is committed to this direction. The partnership with One Hectare, One Family, and Niger Foods and Logistics will see the distribution of one million banana suckers to 250,000 households over four years.
He explained that the program is designed to economically empower households, improve nutrition, and accelerate agro-industrial development through processing industries. The current administration prioritises agricultural development to boost food production, reduce market prices, and attract investors.
The state government has created an enabling environment with various incentives for agricultural enterprises, inviting genuine investors to co-invest in commercial crop and livestock production.
He urged beneficiaries to manage the seedlings effectively and thanked Niger Foods and their partner, One Hectare, One Family, for supporting the state's vision of nutrition security. He assured that the government would provide maximum support for the program's success.
State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Musa Salihu Bawa, noted that the initiative is a result of the green economy summit held last year. During the summit, the state government signed a memorandum of understanding with One Hectare, One Family for the supply of one million banana seedlings to farming households.
Hon. Bawa expressed optimism that the project would improve food and nutrition indicators, reduce poverty and unemployment, increase internal revenue generation, and support sustainable development goals. The program aims to cover all 25 local government areas, with Chanchaga, Bosso, and Paikoro serving as pilot locations. An investor has shown interest in establishing a processing plant in the state, with the first fruits of the project to be used for testing and running the plant.
The event also featured goodwill messages from partners, including the One Hector, One Family Project, Niger Foods and Logistics Company, and others.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Police has intercepted a red Toyota vehicle (Reg No. DKA 877 HJ) and recovered 15 automatic pump-action rifles and 30 cartridges concealed in a sack.
Commissioner of Police, CP Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, announced this at a press briefing held at the command headquarters in Minna. The vehicle, carrying three occupants including the driver, was intercepted along the Maikunkele-Tegina road based on intelligence received by the anti-kidnapping unit attached to SCID Minna.
According to CP Danmamman, the occupants fled during interrogation under the guise of easing themselves. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed the concealed firearms.
The commissioner assured journalists that efforts are ongoing to track down the vehicle's owner and arrest the fleeing suspects to uncover the source and intended use of the rifles.
In a related development, CP Danmamman also paraded 23 suspects arrested in Tafa LGA of Niger State following the nationwide "End Bad Government and Hunger" protest, which began on August 1, 2024.
The commissioner clarified that the suspects were not protesters but criminals who took advantage of the protest to mobilise and storm the Tafa LGA secretariat along the Abuja-Kaduna Motorway in Sabon Wuse. The miscreants vandalised the secretariat, set part of it ablaze, and damaged two cars and various office valuables, including computers, ceiling fans, office cabinets, chairs, and television sets.
Recovered items from the suspects included a wooden bench, office chairs, a car side mirror, a television set, ceiling fans, and other office furniture.
All suspects have been transferred to SCID Minnesota for further investigation and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigations.