Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

Flowerbud News

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of results for the Edo governorship election held on Saturday.

Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, INEC’s Returning Officer announced the suspension on Sunday due to outstanding results from Oredo and Ikpoba Okha local governments.

“The collation officers for the two local governments are still on the field, and we cannot proceed without their reports,” Prof. Kuta, who is the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Minna explained.

He said the suspension, which took effect immediately, will last until 5 pm, when collation is expected to resume.

Earlier, results from 16 out of 18 LGAs showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are leading the pack.

Here are the partial results:

APC: 244,549 votes

PDP: 187,880 votes

LP: 21,420 votes

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports while the two results are being awaited, APC is leading with 56669 votes.

Oredo and Ikpoba Okha, two municipal local government areas in Benin, Edo capital, are the most populous local governments in the state.

NAN

Flowerbud News

Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People Democratic Party (PDP) have occupied the popular Ramat Park in Benin, jubilating even when the result of the Edo Governorship Election is yet to be announced.

As at the time of this report, collation of results for the election was yet to commence.

The two political parties were frontline in the off-cycle election held in the state on Saturday with 17 candidates jostling for the top job.

Supporters of the parties faced each other, chanting different triumphant songs to indicate their victory at the poll.

Operatives of the joint security agencies including the police and the military had a herculean task maintaining law and order between the groups.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ramat Park is about 700 metres from the INEC office in Benin.

The APC supporters who converged at the centre of the park set-up electronic gadgets and danced to the reeling music.

NAN reports that Edo residents voted on Saturday to elect a new governor that will pilot the affairs of the state for the next four years.

The election was conducted under tight security.

NAN

Flowerbud News

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for the United States to attend the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at the behest of President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media and  Communications (Office of The Vice President), made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),reports that Tinubu had earlier directed the Vice-President to lead the Nigerian delegation to the high-level global forum.

This, according to the statement will enable the President  focus on addressing pressing domestic issues, including the recent devastating flood disaster.

Nkwocha said during the session, Shettima would deliver Nigeria’s national statement, participate in key meetings on the sidelines of the event, and engage in bilateral meetings.

He said that the high-level general debate with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” would  take place from Sept. 24 to Sept. 28.

NAN

Flowerbud News

Traders at the new Benin market on Friday defied the restriction of movement order by the police to engage in a brisk business on the day of the Edo governorship election.

As at 7 a.m., traders have set their makeshift stalls, selling goods along the main thoroughfare despite official warnings to maintain order for the electoral process.

Despite a police presence along the roads to the market, which is aimed at enforcing the movement restrictions, the marketplace in Benin was bustling with activity as residents stopped for last-minute purchases.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs Grace Omonuwa said she was in the market to earn for her daily feeds.

“Elections may be important, but so is our livelihood,” Omonuwa, a vegetable vendor said.

Similarly, Mrs Ngozi Eze, said she was in the market to pick up some items before going to the poll.

“I need to buy some food before I go vote,” she softly said while navigating the busy market.

The police had, during a news briefing on Friday, said restriction of movement would last between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the election day.

NAN

Flowerbud News

Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, has mobilised 50 medical personnel to provide medical support services to victims of the flood disaster in Maiduguri, Borno.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that flood submerged Maiduguri on Sept. 10, following the collapsed of spillways at the Alau  dam.

The ravaging floods submerged residential quarters and farmlands, cut off roads and displaced thousands households in the ancient city.

Tinubu stated this during a sympathy visit to Gov. Babagana Zulum, on Friday in Maiduguri.

He said that 50 medical personnel drawn from the North-East states had been deployed to assist the overstretched medical team in the state.

“They are already on ground, and they will remain with you for the next few days to help stabilise the situation”.

Tinubu said the team in collaboration with the Noella Foundation donated medical supplies, food and non food items to cater for 50,000 children and adults affected by the disaster.

“This is just the beginning Your Excellency. I want to assure you that more help is on its way.

“As we speak, we are still mobilising additional resources to support the recovery until every displaced person in the state has been given the opportunity to start their lives,” he said.

He said the gesture was in response to President Tinubu’s call to  support the victims, and lauded the resilience of the people and the leadership being provided by the governor in addressing the challenges.

Responding, Zulum, who appreciated the show of love and support from Tinubu and his associates, assured of judicious utilisation of the support for maximum impact on the beneficiaries.

He also commended the president and the First Lady Remi Tinubu, for their support to the victims of the flood disaster.

“We remain grateful to the President and First Lady for their show of concern and support.

“Tell the President that the people of Borno highly appreciate him and are 100 per cent with him, ” Zulum said.

NAN reports that Seyi Tinubu accompanied in the visit by his brother, Yinka, also visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Garbai El-Kanemi.

NAN

By Mohammed Baba Busu

Niger State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 3 Companies for Sugarcane cultivation and Sugar production in the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Media and Strategy, Abdullberqy Ebbo, on his social media page said the MOU, signed at the Government House Minna, was a giant leap towards achieving the much lauded agricultural revolution of the state.

The agreement was signed between Uttham Sucrotech International, Rite Foods Ltd, Legacy Sugar Company Ltd and the Niger Foods to site a three-year 148,000 hectares project that will eventually see to the establishment of 6 Sugar Mills in Niger, with 4 to be located between Shiroro and Minna.

Ebbo said each of the 6 factories was estimated to have a capacity of 5000 to 15000 (TCD) tonnes of Sugarcane crushed per day, producing the likes of Sugar, Ethanol and Power (Clean Energy).

He stated that it had a yearly projection of 1.6 million tonnes of Sugar and 1.45 million tonnes of Ethanol and expected to boost domestic food production and exports.

According to him, the agreement will further serve as an avenue for providing an enabling environment for investments in the state and open doors of opportunities to the citizenry in enhancing industrialization in Niger.

Ebbo revealed that in addition to improving food security and the quality of life of the people, the project aligned with the government’s Green Economy Initiative, with Ethanol blending with fuel, reducing the carbon footprint in the state.

He highlighted other benefits of the program to the state, including the production and provision, by Uttham Sucrotech Company, of 110,000 out growers and other by-products of sugarcane such as refined ethanol, power, and cattle feeds among others

This will empower local farmers for self-sufficiency.

Others are the provision of an off-take programme of 145 million litres of ethanol from the Sugar plant, with each benefitting farmer making between N5m and N6m revenue every year.

The initiative has the added benefit of reducing the pressure on the dollar, while increasing community growth and development among others.

The special adviser added that out-grower and off-taker component of the agreement would encourage community participation in the programme, which would further the cause of poverty alleviation by creating jobs, skills acquisition, training and encourage community participation component.

Flowerbud News, Niger, Small and Medium Scale Farmers Association, SMSFA, Niger state has expressed dismay over alleged mischief and deceitful action of Niger State Agricultural Mechanization Agency NAMDA in collaboration with Niger Foods who supply farm inputs to Medium Scale Farmers under their credit scheme

This is contained in a press statement signed by the Association’s chairman who was a one time NUJ chairman, Usman Kwatu and Secretary Ismaila Yahaya Aliu made available to journalists in Minna

The statement, said they have lost confidence in the two organizations because the Manner they were deceived to buy into the programme.

Usman Kwatu emphasized that despite all the necessary conditions stipulated by NAMDA even before the farm inputs were acquired, the Small and Medium Scale Farmers Association were denied the 2024 credit scheme which they described as not only a gimmick but a sham.

The statement added that NAMDA entered into partnership with Niger Foods just as it entered into agreement with Small and Medium Scale Farmers Association as well as the Large Scale Farmers to boost agriculture and ensure food security inline with the present administration’s agenda at both state and federal levels but was disappointed.

The Association’s demands include; refund of their equity with interest, paying them for time lost after three months waiting for NAMDA and now raining season is gone, urging for agricultural policy review to accommodate Small and Medium Scale Farmers.

Others are calling on government to make acquisition of farm inputs less cumbersome to allowed SMSF to apply
and charged on the state government to investigate NAMDA and Niger Foods alleged scam flag off that portray the state government in bad light.