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Why Nigeria is yet to be food secured – Prof. Miko
Nasiru Yusuf
A University Lecturer with Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture in Bayero University, Kano, BUK, Sani Miko has listed factors responsible for why Nigeria is yet to be food secured.
KANO FOCUS reports that Miko who categorized the factors into Internal and external policy challenges undermining the nation’s food security, said they include inadequate funding for the agricultural sector, threat of climate change for sustainable agriculture, insecurity of agricultural land and investments, insufficient value addition and agro-industrial processing facilities and low agricultural export among others.
The Varsity Don stated this while delivering a paper titled, “Policy Challenges To Food Security in Nigeria” during an annual Ramadan lecture organized by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria National Headquarters in Kano.
According to him, “Indeed, there are numerous challenges that prevented the Nigerian agricultural sector from attaining its full potential. They can be categorized into Internal and external policy challenges undermining food security in the country. The chief among them are as follows:
“Inadequate funding for the agricultural sector. Funding is inadequate to drive agricultural development in Nigeria. Achieving agricultural transformation would require funding beyond what the current budgetary allocation would provide. Over the years, Agriculture receives low investment from both State and Federal Governments. Example, Federal Government made budgetary allocation of between 1.3% and 3.4% to Agriculture in annual budget from the year, 2000 to 2007. In the year 2017, combined expenditure of the federal and state governments showed they spent only 1 .8 percent of their total annual budget to agriculture.
“Threat of Climate Change for Sustainable agriculture. This is negatively affecting the Nigerian agricultural sector while the policy response and the needed interventions to mitigate the impact has remained largely ad-hoc. Another factor is insecurity of Agricultural land and investments which is currently posing greater risk to agricultural production, processing, marketing and delivery of essential services. The menace of Boko Haram, Banditry and communal, farmers and pastoralists conflicts have devastated livelihoods and investments of hundreds of farming and pastoral communities.
“Low level of agricultural mechanization. The availability and accessibility of macro and micro mechanization equipment such as tractors, power tillers, planters, combine harvesters and others needed for land preparation and other agricultural activities is very low in the country. Another factor is inadequate rural Infrastructure. The capacity of the rural communities for massive agricultural production and on-farm processing has been constrained by inadequate road networks, power supply, irrigation infrastructure, storage and processing facilities.
“Poor extension services delivery: With an average of 1:10,000 extensions to farmer ratio across the country, farmers receive limited guidance and training in technology adoption. Also, limited access to affordable credit is another factor where farmers grapple with limited access to finance and high interest rates even with the interventions by the CBN.
“Similarly, issue of ineffectual synergy which relates to ineffective policy formulation and implementation structures at intra and inter-federal Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and weak synergy between federal and states MDAs. This has led to persistent inter and intra-agency rivalry in the sector.
“However, given the interdependent nature of international economic relations, it is unlikely that a country like Nigeria would be able to achieve its food security goal using its internal dynamics alone. For any country to be able to achieve its food security goal, it would need to think and act both locally and globally.
“This would need an adjustment of its relations with international, regional, and sub-regional institutions like the FAO, the European Union (EU), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It would also require seeking the understanding and support of some countries, which may be negatively affected by some agricultural, food, and fiscal policies of Nigeria.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
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