Author Archives: @ayatutureporters

By Jimin Geoffrey

Benue State Government has slashed the price of Urea fertiliser by 50 percent, Governor Samuel Ortom has revealed.

Governor Ortom who disclosed this today at the 2021 flagoff of cropping season, fertiliser sales and distribution to Benue farmers said a 50kg bag of Urea which was procured for N12,000 would be sold to farmers at N6,000.

The Governor stated that 50kg bag of NPK which was procured for N9,000 would be sold to farmers at N5,000, representing 40 percent subsidy.

Governor Ortom explained that government had engaged vendors to supply 141 trucks of fertiliser, an equivalent of 4,230 metric tons of granulated inorganic fertilizer, 5 trucks of granulated organic fertiliser, an equivalent of 150 metric tons for the 2021 cropping season.

The Governor stated that the efforts were deliberate move by his administration to add value to the development of agriculture, pointing out that 50 tractors were procured and distributed to farmers at highly subsidized rate to encourage mechanised farming.

Governor Ortom commended the Federal Government for steps taken to cushion the effect of the 2017 and 2018 flood disaster on Benue farmers by the provision of fertiliser to farmers through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

He directed security agents to arrest and prosecute anyone caught sabotaging efforts of his administration towards ensuring that the fertiliser gets to the real farmers.

Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Titus Uba, commended the Governor for the supply of fertiliser to farmers, saying it would boost agricultural productivity and further portray the state as Food Basket of the Nation.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Timothy Ijir said the Governor had not failed the people by providing fertiliser and farm inputs to Benue farmers at subsidised rates since the inception of his administration.

On his part, Chairman House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon Terwase Aondoakaa said the distribution of seedlings to farmers and fertilisers would go a long way in enhancing agricultural productivity and urged those involved to ensure that the commodity gets to the desired users.

Photo Credit: Shimataver Akile.

Breaking News…

Fulani are known as kidnappers.

Nnamdi Kanu was kidnapped in Kenya, we didn’t arrest him or handed him over to the Nigerian government, we hear of the news after they smuggled him off our borderline, how they pass our border is still strange to us.

We are challenging the arrest of a British citizen in our country without our notice to International Criminal Court, and the Nigeria government should tender a prove of “documents” that the Kenya government handed one “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu” over to them, we also wish for Nigeria government to tell the world how they managed to leave our borderline without our notice.

Prior to this, 5 security men working in our borderline have been detained for an illegal permit, 3 have been put off work. We don’t want the world to see Kenya as an unsafe place for people of all kind.

Kenya has legal rules, and we demonstrate and protect them with full force. Nigerian government invasion into our land, pick someone and go is a call for war and threat to our peace. Nigeria should meet us in court
Kenya Government denied involvement

AFRICAN REPORTERS

By Wuaga Isaac

A security guard with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Moses Yakpe, last Saturday averted a major fire outbreak that would have completely destroyed one of the buildings of the Ministry in Makurdi.

Mr Yakpe was covering the duty of his colleague at the departments of Culture and Tourism located within the Aminu Isah Kontagora Arts Theater Complex premises.

He said he heard an explosion at a nearby electricity transformer which resulted in a fire outbreak in the upstairs of the one-storey building.

What caught fire was the air conditioner in the outer office of what used to be the office of the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism.

The alert security man saw the spark and raised alarm by making calls to officials who have offices in the building.

The officials directed people who rushed and started putting out the fire before the Fire Brigade who they had also contacted joined them to completely quench the fire.

Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Culture and Tourism, Mr Tahav Agerzua, expressed appreciation to Mr Yakpe for the role he played in averting what he described as a major disaster.

He stated that Mr Yakpe was one of the most committed staff of the ministry who took his duties seriously and reported for duty without fail.

Mr Agerzua stated that if the building had been burnt invaluable property would have been lost.

These include a Sports Utility Vehicle which was parked at the parking lot of the building, original manuscripts of many books, collection of pictures and cultural music spanning several decades, as well as musical and other electronic equipment.

Mr Yakpe was employed as a casual staff in 2012 and has been on that status since then.

The 58-year old security man hails from Mbamar, Shangev-tiev in Konshisha local government area of Benue State.

He completed primary School at Saint Catherine Primary School Apir in 1976, and later attended Government Secondary School Ikpayongo where he passed out in 2000.

He is married to two wives and blessed with 10 children.

Matthew 6:9-11

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” – 1John 2:17

The fourth point in the Lord’s prayer which gives us the fourth principle is, “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” This tell us one thing which is one of the basic reasons we pray; we pray to enforce the will of God on the earth as it is in heaven. The will of God in heaven is clear. There is no challenge or contrary opinion to the will of God in heaven.

However, on the earth, you have to know how to pray in order to have the will of God done in your life. If you don’t know how to pray effectively, the will of the devil will be done in your life and affair. That’s is why many people are in trouble today, but we can change many things on the earth through prayers.

Prayer can be used to deal with any subject of life. What is the will of God for your children and your family? Peace, orderliness, comfort, well-being, soundness, love and joy; but that’s is not what many people have. That’s how God wants it in heaven and that’s is how it is in heaven, but that’s not what many people have in their lives. Take time to search the scriptures to find the will of God in every situation you are passing through and take your stand in the place of prayer until your life on the earth is a reflection of the will of God in heaven on any subject. It’s not your opinion, it’s not the tradition of men, it’s not the way people say it is, but the will of God in heaven that must be done on the earth for you.

LET US PRAY:

Lord, I reverse every experience in my life that is not a reflection of Your will in heaven as revealed to me in the Bible in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Delivered by Vershima Orkuma Hemen,

The Family Altar Prayer Ministry

Former Deputy Governor to late Aper Aku of Benue State, Alhaji Sule Iyaji says Governor Samuel Ortom has similar leadership attributes as his principal.

Alhaji Sule who spoke today when he visited Governor Ortom at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi, described Governor Ortom as brave, straightforward and proactive just the way Aku was, saying with such leaders Benue is blessed.

He noted that as an agrarian state, anything that touches Benue farmers must worry the leader, pointing out that when a focused and determined man leads, the followers are inspired.

While recalling his fond memories as Deputy Governor and part of Benue State, Alhaji Sule said it was a thing of joy for him to be hosted by Governor Ortom after 38 years of service to the State, saying he feels elated each time Benue is mentioned.

He expressed satisfaction that Governor Ortom had taken steps to complete some of the projects their administration started while also initiating numerous other projects during his tenure.

Alhaji Iyaji prayed God to bless youth who are aspiring to occupy leadership positions in the state, even as he noted that as old and experienced leaders, they would continue to pray for the young ones and to provide direction.

Governor Ortom earlier thanked the former Deputy Governor for the visit to encourage him, saying that it was a privilege to host such a great leader who helped Aku to lay a solid foundation upon which his successors are building on.

The Governor prayed God to grant Alhaji Iyaji long life so he could continue to positively impact on the younger generation.

Photo Credit: Shimataver Akile.

During an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, Buhari said he told two south-west governors, who came to meet him in Abuja, to return to their states and tackle the security challenges their people are facing.

“I told them you campaigned to be elected and you are elected. I told them (to)go back and sort out themselves,” the president had said.

But while inaugurating a road project in Etche LGA of Rivers on Tuesday, Wike said Buhari cannot shift the responsibility of securing Nigerians to governors when he is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

In a statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, his spokesman, the governor was also quoted as saying that the Buhari administration lacks the strategy to restore peace across the country.

“Mr President, you’re the Commander- in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You appoint Inspector General of Police (IG), you appoint the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Director of Department of State Service (DSS) and other heads of security. Which one do we appoint? How can people appointed by Mr. President be under me?” Wike asked.

“It is not only to borrow money for Nigeria that you’re in charge. You must also be in charge in other things including security. Who signed order 10? Is it the governors? It is not when things are going bad concerning security, and you say you’re not in charge, and it becomes governors’ responsibility.

“Mr President should have come out openly and said, my APC governors, stop worrying me. Go back to your states and do your work. On that, I support him.

“Thank God, Mr President knows that I am not one of those that go to visit him over one problem or the other. I, as the governor of Rivers under PDP, you’ll never find me there.”

Wike further said the federal government should admit that it can no longer fulfil promises made to Nigerians, and strive to lead the country out of its present challenges.

As the National Assembly Marks two years Anniversary in the 9th Assembly, mixed reactions are ripe as criticisms and accolades are pouring in from Nigerians at various constituencies on how well or otherwise the 9th National Assembly has performed.

While some constituents are of the view that, their distinctive representatives at the National Assembly who naturally should keep them abreast and closer, they have rather chosen to stay far away without sound representation at both home or Abuja.

But for Hon Robert Aondona Tyough, the applause seem impressive as he is adjudged to have kept a consistent touch with his constituents, lobbying and attracting some remarkably modest infrastructure across the Kwande / Ushongo axis, while remaining impactful on the Floor of the Green Chambers, as he has not only sponsored populist Bills, Motions and risen consistently in defence of his cherished constituents.

Some of Hon Robert Aondona Tyough achievements at the Federal House of Representatives in two years are chronicled below:


BILLS , MOTIONS SPONSORED, MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE, PUBLIC PETITIONS

1) A Bill to Amend Border Communities Development Agency Act 2003”. He proposed in the amendment that the existing Act be amended to include the appointment of a Benue indigene on the Board of the Agency given the perculiarities associated with international border shared with Cameroon. The Bill has passed first reading successfully.

2) In 2019, Benue State got threatened by the presence of the deadly Lassa fever,Bob Tyough again moved a Motion on the Floor of the House with the sole intent to curb Lassa fever which at the time was menacingly threatening Benue State citizens.

3) When marauding Fulani heldsmen kept incessant attacks on vulnerable Benue Communities with some parts of the Kwande/Ushongo Constituency severely becoming targets in the attacks, Bob Tyough stood in for his people, practically becoming their conscience to the world, and drawing relevant Government attention to the peoples vulnarable and helpless security conditions. He synergized his altruistic efforts with that of his Makurdi/Guma counterpart, Hon Benjamin Mzondo whose constituency suffered same destard fate. Both Parliamentarians from Benue State co-sponsored the motion which aimed at securing the affected Benue Communities from these deadly continued attacks against their constituents who are predominantly farmers. These efforts were indeed geared towards ensuring security of lives, justice and addressing the plight of IDPs.

4) In samestead, Hon Bob Tyough on the 5th of November, 2019 laid a petition on the avoidable killing of a commercial motorcyclist at Ikyogen, Ikurav-ya axis of Kwande LGA. He had demanded full investigation and adequate compensation for the victim, late Iorhemen Ityavmbi, who was gruesomely and mercilessly killed by men of the Nigeria Police Force, on August 29, 2019.

5) Hon Bob Tyough intervened and liased with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ensure a truckload of food items, including guinea corn and garri was adequately supplied to the affected segments in Moon, Kwande Local Government Area. He also ensured other critical areas of intervention were he embarked on the rehabilitation/renovation of all borehole within his legislative jurisdictional coverage.

6) Sponsored a Bill to Establish a Chartered Institute of Environment and Safety Management in Nigeria which is fast receiving attention having passed through First Reading.

7) Sponsored the Motion and Pursued with Vehemence the Restoration of MATA and MBAGWA State Assembly Constituency which has been passed. This was achieved with strong collaboration with his counterpart at the upper Red Chamber, Distinguished Senator Gabriel Suswam.

FEDERAL JOB LOBBY, EDUCATION INTERVENTIONS & SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT

1) Bob Tyough in his selfless agenda and began to sponsor and enrol over twenty youths of his federal constituency for Innovative and Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Youths in Africa.

2) He likewise empowered his constituents with the view to promoting self-reliance, thus guaranteeing over twenty beneficiaries for NIRSAL loans. He equally sponsored the enrollment of one hundred and fifty constituents for AGSMIES Loans Scheme.

3) Over 200 Beneficiaries of Federal Government Artisan Survival Fund Courtesy ROBERT Aondona Tyough Received #30,000.00 Grant each across KWANDE/USHONGO Federal Constituency of Benue State.

4) Over 30 women accross Kwande/Ushongo collected #20,000 each one off grant from the Federal Govt. courtesy of Bob.

5) Distribution of text book and exercise books accross secondary schools within his Constituency.

6) Facilitated and fully built the ICT Center at St Andrews Adikpo well equipped with equipment.


7) Successful candidates who got Lecturing jobs through Bob TYOUGH, include,
a) Dogoh Adzua Samuel (PhD Mechanical Engineering) and
b) Agov Terhemen Emmanuel (Masters Engr Production)
at The Nigerian Airforce Institute Of Technology in Kaduna.

INFRASTRUCTURE, OTHERS

1) Hon Tyough had lobbied for projects for his constituency worth over N400 Million. These projects are domiciled in the Ministry of Power, Agriculture, Education, Water Resources and in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and befitting communities are selected based on needs assessment and significance .

2) In the Ministry of Power, there is a provision for the supply of 40kw Solar Mini Grid worth One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000.00) only with the code ERGP – 22583092, Rehabilitation/construction and completion of on-going Electrification Scheme in Benue State.

3) The Solar Street light worth Nineteen Million Naira (N19,000,000.00) , Rural Electrification Project at Wantor Sec. School, Adikpo – Tse-Ikpa Haanya, Adikpo Kwande LGA worth Fifty Million Naira Only (N50,000,000.00). This project has already been executed successfully to the appreciation of the community.

4) Under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Supply of farm implements for cooperatives in Kwande and Ushongo communities has an allocation of Fifty Million Naira only (N50,000,000.00) while ERGP – 22582372 is a joint one with Guma, Kwande, Gboko and Buruku LGAs of Benue State. However, in Kwande, it is the construction of culverts at Angir Uyough Kwande.

5) Hon Bob Tyough in his usual nature would make reference of such projects so awarded. For inatance, ERGP – 30145187 is a project under the Ministry of Education tagged Provision of furniture in a block of 3 classrooms and ERGP – 30145192 is renovation of 1 Nos. classroom block valued at Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000.00)only respectively.

6) The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has the following; ERGP – 5123641, Development of 100HA surface Irrigation Scheme (new), ERGP – 5123696: Piggery Development, ERGP – 5137719: Land Clearing (new) and ERGP – 5137726: Land Clearing (new) all valued at Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,500,000.00) only each.

7) Under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, there are two projects namely ERGP – 22144795: Supply/Distribution Agric Farm Inputs/Agro-chemicals valued at Thirty Five Million Naira (N35,000,000.00) only;

8) While ERGP – 28139464: Construction of Solar Powered Borehole and Overhead Tank, also valued at Twenty Million Naira (N20,000,000.00) only.

9) Renovation of LGEA primary school Aloko, mbayem, Ushongo Local Govt.

10) Solar street lights at Ichol Nyiev- Tiev, kwande Local Govt.

Ajibola Basiru, spokesman for the Senate, says there is no grazing-route law in Nigeria.

Basiru said this following the statement of the President on the farmer-herder crisis.

The President while fielding questions in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, said: “What I did was ask him (AGF) to go and dig the gazette of the first republic when people were obeying laws.
“There were cattle routes and grazing areas. Cattle routes were for when they (herders) are moving up country, north to south or east to west, they had to go through there.”

But speaking with The PUNCH, Basiru said the gazette that Buhari was referring to was a product of a decree promulgated in northern Nigeria in the 1960s, adding that the Land Use Act recognised by the constitution has rendered it ineffective.

“Nigerians should be concerned over whether the Nigerian president is actually getting the correct legal advice from his attorney-general and the legal team,” the senator said.

“As far as I am concerned, as a legal practitioner, there is nothing like grazing routes or grazing reserve law, in the laws of the federation of Nigeria. There is nothing like that.

“There is no federal legislation that the president can implement over such matter. The executive powers of the president merely rely on the powers of the National Assembly to make laws, when you look at Section 5 of the constitution.

“Any area where the National Assembly cannot make laws, and there is no express grants of powers to the president under the constitution, a purported exercise of power by the president in that regard, will be null and void because it is inconsistent with the constitution by section 1(3) of the 1999 constitution.

“I am aware that there is a northern Nigerian law on reserve and grazing routes which was promulgated by a 1964 decree by the premier of the defunct northern Nigeria region.”

The legislator said there is no way a decree for Northern Nigeria will be implemented as a federal law.

“It is not a federal law unless the legal adviser to Mr President is equating a northern Nigeria law, which is not applicable in the west, mid-west, and eastern region or in anywhere in the southern part of Nigeria, to be a federal or a Nigerian law,” he said.

“The president does not have the power to implement that law because it is not a federal law. He can only implement federal legislation made by the National Assembly or deemed to have been made by the National Assembly.

“The grazing routes law is not a National Assembly law, so there is nothing for the president to implement. It is regrettable that the president has not been properly advised by his attorney-general and the legal team.”

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday said it was time to stop crying over the unabated attacks unleashed on people of the state by marauding herdsmen.

Ortom stated this at the Banquet Hall of the Government House during a media parley to mark his second year in office in his second tenure.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Benue State by suspected herdsmen in recent times.

Ortom said it was now time for action to protect the people of the state.

He said this propelled the activation of vigilante groups across the state, saying they should be allowed to carry arms to protect their communities.

Ortom said, “A few weeks ago, Benue stakeholders met and gave this administration the mandate to activate and implement the Community Volunteer Guards Law enacted in 2000.

“We have already commenced the process of recruiting responsible people of 50 years and below into the Volunteer Guards. Their duty is to support the conventional security agencies in defending their communities. We have cried enough. We will cry no more. Now is time for action.”https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7167863529667065&output=html&h=320&slotname=7746968165&adk=2347201701&adf=23201160&pi=t.ma~as.7746968165&w=384&lmt=1623607826&rafmt=1&psa=0&format=384×320&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpunchng.com%2Fkillings-weve-cried-enough-its-time-for-action-says-ortom%2F%3Futm_term%3DAutofeed%26utm_medium%3DSocial%26utm_source%3DTwitter%23Echobox%3D1623541437&flash=0&fwr=1&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&dt=1623607817347&bpp=34&bdt=13061&idt=9508&shv=r20210607&cbv=%2Fr20110914&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=384×320&correlator=501271698322&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=amp-lXkWetiuJ4oJnRcE4SVSDA&ga_sid=1623607826&ga_hid=979933177&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=854&u_w=385&u_ah=854&u_aw=385&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=1840&biw=384&bih=726&scr_x=0&scr_y=63&eid=21066431%2C31060975%2C31061406&oid=3&pvsid=2172884399329957&pem=889&ref=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F6vLMOActlr&eae=0&fc=896&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C385%2C0%2C384%2C726%2C384%2C726&vis=1&rsz=o%7C%7CeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=Ow51T1qQdl&p=https%3A//punchng.com&dtd=9594

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Ortom said that the incessant herdsmen attacks on the state would not in any way force his administration to repeal the anti-open grazing law but would rather strengthen the law to stiffen the penalties.

He said, “Let me remind those who think that sustained attacks on the Benue people will force us to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law that they are making a mistake.

“This law has come to stay and no amount of intimidation can make us repeal it. Instead, we will soon amend the law in order to increase the penalties against offenders.”

The governor, who highlighted his achievements in the past six years, promised to continue to meet the yearnings of the people of the state as resources permit.