Category: Daily Trust

Six varieties of rain-fed wheat under field experiments by the Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) have shown strong prospects on the Jos Plateau, raising optimism for large-scale wet-season wheat cultivation in the region.

The development could see more farmers embrace rain-fed wheat farming, a potential game-changer in a region long known mainly for vegetable production.

Plateau State is one of three sites identified as capable of growing wheat throughout the rainy season. The other two are Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State and Obudu in Cross River State.

Dr. Zakari Turaki, Director of the LCRI Station in Jos, explained that the six varieties, which are likely to reach farmers soon, are among the entries already showcased to policymakers. He said the institute has also completed the Farmer Participatory Variety Selection (FPVS) process, which is a key requirement for the release of new varieties. He noted that four of these varieties are disease-resistant and are due for release this year or next. They have demonstrated strong resistance to Fusarium blight, Septoria and Rust, which are common wheat diseases.

According to the breeder, the institute will release one variety each addressing the prevalent diseases in the area, in addition to two other varieties currently on trial that focus on improving nutrition through high iron and zinc content.

‘Iron and zinc are particularly important because zinc is an essential nutrient for health. There’s something we call ‘hidden hunger’ – many people eat enough food but still lack vital minerals and vitamins. These biofortified wheat varieties are rich in zinc, and we plan to release two of them to farmers for cultivation,’ he said.

In a move to support continued research, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, attended the Second National Rain-fed Wheat Farmers’ Field Day held in Kuru, Jos, over the weekend.

The LCRI has been developing several wheat varieties that can adapt to wet-season climates across Nigeria’s three major ecological zones.

Governor Mutfwang announced the allocation of 50 hectares of land to the research institute for further trials and expressed concern over the generally low crop yields per hectare across the country. He called for bold reforms and scientific approaches to boost productivity and food security.

‘We have to come to a point where we decide that enough is enough of all the wastage of opportunities. At this point, we must be deliberate, intentional, and scientific, and ensure we key into global best practices. That is the only way we can help ourselves,’ he said.

Reacting to what he observed on the experimental fields, Senator Abubakar Kyari said the new climate-resilient rain-fed wheat varieties would help increase domestic production, reduce import dependence, and enhance food and nutrition security while guaranteeing better financial returns for Nigerian farmers.

‘Through strategic partnerships with development agencies, private-sector investors, and state governments, we are scaling up rain-fed wheat cultivation from pilot fields like this to hundreds of thousands of hectares nationwide. Farmers will have access to certified seeds, modern mechanization services, and reliable market linkages-making wheat production both profitable and sustainable,’ the minister stated.

He added that the successful cultivation of rain-fed wheat in Kuru is transformative for Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

‘It means that wheat production is no longer confined to irrigated zones. Farmers in the highlands of Jos, Mambilla and Obudu in Plateau, Taraba, and Cross River states respectively can now grow wheat during the rainy season-naturally, sustainably, and profitably.

‘This innovation opens the door to a future where Nigeria’s wheat demand can be met by our own farmers and grown on our own soil,’ he said.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has disclosed that over 33 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity, stressing that the issue demands urgent legislative action.

Akpabio, in his welcome remarks at the resumed plenary of the Senate on Tuesday in Abuja, also sympathised with Nigerians across the flood-ravaged states of Bayelsa, Sokoto, Zamfara and others.

Daily Trust reports that Senators and members of the House of Representatives resumed plenary on Tuesday after their annual recess, which started on July 23, 2025.

Akpabio lamented that banners of terrorism and banditry still threaten the country, saying the citizens do not look up to the leadership for lamentations but action on the challenges confronting them.

‘To every home afflicted by these disasters, insecurity, hunger and hardship, we extend to them the hand of fellowship and the prayer of comfort. We promise them that we shall not flinch from the duty of relief and redress for our people.

‘Let us also heed the cry from the farms and markets. Over 33 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity – a crisis demanding urgent legislative attention to agriculture, rural roads, irrigation, and mechanization. Hunger cannot be defeated with words; it requires policy, budget and will,’ Akpabio said.

‘The cost of living weighs upon the family table like an iron chain. The flickering of our national grid leaves cities in darkness and commerce in paralysis. These trials summon us to service of uncommon urgency – and to partnership with the executive arm, that together we rewrite the story of our nation.

‘We must legislate with boldness. We must press forward with reforms to steady our economy, draw investment, broaden the tax base, and nurture growth. We must strike hard at the enemies of ignorance and disease by strengthening education and healthcare. We must give the youths of Nigeria not only hope but opportunity,’ he added.

Akpabio said the lawmakers must revisit the 1999 Constitution to make the country’s federal system stronger, strengthen governance, and make democracy more inclusive.

The Senate President said, ‘Our relations with the executive shall remain frank and firm – neither obsequious nor obstructive. Where policies raise our people, we shall lend our strength; where they imperil them, we shall speak on their behalf.

‘We must continue to uphold the independence of this Senate, the dignity of this chamber, and the majesty of the Constitution which governs us all. To the citizens of Nigeria, we say this: we hear you. We know your expectations.

‘You ask not for excuses but for results; not for noise but for substance. This Senate will remain open, accountable, and responsive. We will not shrink from scrutiny – indeed, we welcome it, for accountability is the lifeblood of democracy.’

Akpabio also commiserated with the families of the 12 forest guards slain in Oke-Ode, Kwara State, victims of boat tragedies in the country and stressed the urgent need for coordination between the federal and sub-national governments to mitigate these devastations before they become annual calamities.

An official 18-seater bus attached to the police unit of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been reportedly stolen by suspected car thieves in Abuja.

A security source, who confirmed the theft of the bus to our reporter via telephone on Tuesday, said the white 18-seater Hiace bus, with registration number FG283 U10, was stolen on Monday at Gwarimpa Corner Shop, Abuja.

The bus is attached to the INEC police unit, he said.

He disclosed that the bus was driven by a senior police officer who went to visit a friend at 3rd Avenue, Corner Shop, Gwarimpa.

He added that when the officer later came out of his friend’s house, he could not find the bus.

‘Actually, the senior police officer, who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), went to see a friend at Gwarimpa 3rd Avenue on Monday and it was raining at that time. Shortly after the rain subsided, he came out of his friend’s room and discovered the bus was not where he parked it,’ he said.

He said the police officer had already reported the stolen bus at the Gwarimpa Police Division and had also notified the FCT Police Control Room.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said she was not aware of the theft but promised to find out from the Gwarimpa Police Division and revert.

However, she did not as at the time of filing the report yesterday.

The Yobe State Police Command has impounded over 70 vehicles for various traffic offences, in line with the Motor Traffic Regulations Act.

The move is aimed at forestalling criminal activities by disgruntled elements who use tinted glass to perpetrate crimes in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the decisive action follows a noticeable increase in criminal activities involving vehicles with covered or tinted glass, which are often used to conceal the identities of suspects.

He said during the period under review, the command recorded a series of criminal incidents linked to vehicles with tinted glass. (NAN)

He said the most recent involved a vehicle burglary along the Damaturu-Potiskum Road near the Teaching Hospital, where the sum of ?500,000.00 was carted away by criminals operating with tinted vehicles, among other nefarious activities.

He further said as enforcement commenced, several categories of traffic violations were detected.

‘Vehicles without number plates, those with incomplete or invalid documentation, and vehicles with covered number plates without valid justification were impounded.

‘So far, a total of 70 vehicles have been impounded for various traffic offences. This operation aims to sustain law enforcement efforts and curb the activities of miscreants who use vehicles to commit crimes within communities,’ the Police PRO said. (NAN)

The Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) has unveiled plans to realise an ambitious N15 billion monthly revenue by 2026, giving a cumulative N180 billion in a move towards modernizing public finance and deepening civic trust.

Executive Director, Compliance and Enforcement at KIRS, Alhaji Muhammed Abba Aliyu revealed this at a multi-sector stakeholders’ engagement in collaboration with Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement PACE held in Kano.

He said the projection is anchored on a new tax framework that prioritises fairness and efficiency noting that under the revised system only individuals earning above N800,000 annually would be taxed thereby shielding lower income earners from undue financial pressure.

According to him, the tax structure now rests squarely on income tax from employment or business activities, service charges for accessing public amenities and penalties for legal infractions.

He said, ‘This approach aims to streamline revenue collection while reinforcing the social contract between citizens and the state.’

PACE Representative Alhassan Usman emphasized the transformative power of digital tax systems.

He urged residents to move away from cash-based interactions with revenue officers, advocating for secure, traceable digital payments.

Beyond Revenue generation, the campaign seeks to educate citizens on the long-term benefits of tax compliance. Accurate tax records, Usman noted, help entrepreneurs monitor their financial health and position themselves for growth opportunities.

This is coming as Kano doubled IGR and emerged among Nigeria’s fastest-growing revenue States in 2024 with N74.77 billion from N37.38 billion in 2023 according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The milestone was achieved through blocking leakages and overhauling the Kano State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) upon assumption of office by the governor in 2023, according to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam.

The Governor’s Information Manager also stated that Governor Yusuf employed one of the best hands to handle the state’s revenue generation, hence the result of Kano topping the chart in 2024.

Ibrahim Adam added that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is assuring the people of the state that he is very grateful for the cooperation the administration is receiving from the populace, with the promise of doing more.

Ibrahim added that the state government will continue to implement more infrastructural projects using the internally generated revenue.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated the need for residents to pay their taxes, citing the resulting better road infrastructure and social amenities.

Wike, who stated this while flagging off the construction of the Mohammed Isa Road extension within the Asokoro District in Abuja on Tuesday, stressed that the ambitious infrastructure drive embarked upon by the FCT Administration (FCTA) was heavily dependent on the availability of resources.

He urged residents to pay their taxes and continue to support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, which is committed to changing their lives.

He likened the provision of good infrastructure to ‘good soup,’ which cannot be provided without resources.

He said: ‘Pay us what you owe us. If soup is sweet, it takes money. If you don’t have the money to buy the various items when you are cooking the soup, it will look like ordinary water. But when you have money, all the ‘medemede’ (ingredients) will be there. Even if you are not hungry, but because the soup attracts you, you will be forced to be hungry. So, all these good roads, good drainage systems won’t be possible if you don’t pay your tax. So, try to pay your taxes so that we can provide more of these roads.’

The Chairman, National Eye Health Committee, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof Afekhide Ernest Omoti, has said 80 percent of blindness in Nigeria are preventable and treatable.

He stressed the need for individuals, communities, and governments to prioritize vision care as a vital part of overall health and national development.

The Consultant Ophthalmologist disclosed this as part of activities to commemorate the 2025 World Sight Day with theme, ‘Love Your Eyes’, ‘Love Your Eyes at work’, ‘Love Your Eyes Kids’, ‘Love Your Eyes – Protect the Future,’.

‘Findings revealed that 1.3 million Nigerians are estimated to be blind with over 80% of these cases being preventable or treatable,’ he said.

According to him, ‘millions of Nigerians suffer from visual impairment, and many are at risk due to preventable causes.’

‘As we celebrate today, let us remember that vision is not just about sight; it is also about connection, opportunity, and the ability to navigate the world,’ he added.

Omoti called on the public to take proactive steps toward protecting their vision, saying every Nigerian deserves access to affordable and quality eye care.

‘Estimates in 2020 suggest that 24 million people in Nigeria were living with some form of vision loss. An estimated 4.25 million adults aged 40 and above have moderate to severe visual impairment, 1.3 million Nigerians are estimated to be blind with over 80 percent of these cases being preventable or treatable,’ he stated.

He, however, listed Cataracts, glaucoma, refractive errors, tropical diseases, and diabetic retinopathy among others as diseases that continue to rob both young and old of their sight.

A medical doctor and army officer, Lt. Samson Haruna, attached to the 6 Battalion Regimental Medical Office, has died after he was allegedly set ablaze by his wife during a domestic dispute.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday at the Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Sources said the couple had a heated argument before his wife allegedly poured petrol on her husband and set him on fire while he was asleep.

‘The officer sustained severe burns and was immediately stabilised at the Military Reference Section (MRS) in the barracks before being evacuated to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further treatment,’ one source said.

However, despite efforts by medical personnel, Haruna succumbed to his injuries due to the extent of the burns.

It was gathered that Mrs. Haruna has been arrested and is currently in custody as investigations into the incident continue.

Meanwhile, Dr. Obadiah Dalong, father of the deceased’s wife, confirmed the incident but offered a different version of events.

Speaking from Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Dalong claimed the fire was accidental, saying the deceased had earlier bought petrol in a gallon, which he kept in their room.

He said, ‘On Monday, the victim incidentally lit a lighter, which caused the room to catch fire. Both husband and wife ran outside, but while the room was still burning, he remembered his credentials and other important documents inside. He rushed back to retrieve them but was badly injured. He was taken to the hospital but did not survive.’

Dalong added that both the deceased and his wife were from the same Mwaghavul tribe in Mangu LGA of Plateau State.

The Kano State Police Command has commended residents for their peaceful conduct and orderliness during this year’s Maukibi celebration, describing it as one of the most tranquil events in the state’s recent history.

According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the 2025 Maukibi celebration mirrored the calm and unity witnessed during the Takutaha festival earlier in the year-a reflection of the state’s improving security situation.

The Command attributed the peaceful atmosphere to proactive security measures, intelligence-driven operations, and sustained collaboration between the police, community leaders, and other security agencies.

‘This year’s Maukibi Celebration stands as a testament to the collective effort of residents, religious leaders, and stakeholders who worked together to ensure peace and harmony,’ the statement read.

However, the statement revealed that clearance operations carried out during the festivities led to the arrest of 21 suspects who attempted to disrupt the peace. Dangerous weapons and illicit drugs were recovered from them, an act the police described as a move that led to the prevention of potential threats to lives and property.

The Benue State government has spent N21.40 billion on debt servicing in the first quarter of 2025, translating to about N7.4 billion monthly loan repayment.

Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property (BIPC) Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday to buttress why BIPC has been investing in high income yielding businesses to improve Benue revenue position.

He said the state’s domestic debt currently stands at N122.5 billion, while its total foreign debt is $26.4 million, explaining that the situation gives the state a debt service ratio of 413 per cent, meaning a large portion of its monthly revenue and federal allocation are often used to offset existing loans.

Asemakaha likened the management of Benue’s debt-laden economy to ‘flying an aircraft through turbulent headwinds,’ noting that the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia is applying diligence and fiscal discipline to navigate the state toward economic stability and growth.

He further explained that despite improved monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), debt servicing obligations continue to weigh heavily on the state’s finances.

The BIPC boss noted that to address the situation, the governor has been aggressively pursuing alternative income sources and strategies to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and reduce over reliance on federal allocations.

He added that the BIPC currently invests in high-yield ventures aimed at improving the state’s revenue position, while the government also implements policies to attract private sector investment and stimulate economic development.

Asemakaha maintained that ongoing infrastructure investments are designed to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and generate employment opportunities, stressing that the government is optimising its budget by prioritising essential services and key infrastructure projects to ensure sustainable growth.