News

FG inaugurates first national pilot ranching programme in Adamawa

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Preport

The federal government has inaugurated the first National Pilot Ranching Programme at the Gongoshi Livestock Grazing Reserve in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa.

Inaugurating the project on Saturday, the minister of livestock development, Idi Maiha, described it as a major step towards transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector.

The pilot scheme is to be implemented in five states, comprising Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Adamawa, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Maiha said the initiative was part of the federal government’s efforts, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, to develop livestock production centres across the country.

“This is the first of the pilot projects we are inaugurating as part of the efforts, under the able leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to develop livestock development centres across the country.

“The Gongoshi Grazing Reserve has been willingly allocated by the Adamawa Government for the development of this centre. It was not an imposition.

“We did not take or grab anybody’s land. The Adamawa government willingly, and on its own volition, allocated this land,” he said.

The minister said the Adamawa government had allocated approximately 9,600 hectares for the project, “which is being implemented through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Project (L-PRES), with support from the World Bank.”

He said the project would be implemented through a partnership between the Federal and state governments and eligible private-sector partners.

According to him, Adamawa had selected dairy, beef, fodder, sheep and goats as priority value chains under the programme.

Mr Maiha said infrastructure already provided at the reserve included a solar-powered borehole and livestock drinking troughs, while additional facilities would include schools for children of nomadic pastoralists and an upgraded veterinary facility.

Earlier, the national coordinator of L-PRES, Sanusi Abubakar, said Gongoshi was one of five pilot grazing reserves being developed by the ministry.

Mr Sanusi said the resuscitation of grazing reserves required collaboration between the Federal and state governments.

“The main purpose of resuscitating the grazing reserve is to reduce the radius of movement of livestock farmers.

“By doing so, we will have greater peace and improved collaboration between livestock farmers and crop farmers,” he said.

The national coordinator added that a weather station had also been established at the reserve in collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Mr Sanusi said the ranching programme was designed to produce quality pasture, seeds, hay and forage.

He added that the ranching projects would create employment opportunities in cultivation, harvesting, processing and veterinary services.

“This project creates direct opportunities for our youth and local communities,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Adamawa government, the chairman of Mayo-Belwa Local Government Council thanked the federal government for establishing the project in the state.

He assured that the state government would provide adequate security to protect the equipment and other facilities at the pilot ranching reserve.

Several large and intermediary livestock farmers and associations from Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi states graced the inauguration.

(NAN)

Related Topics:Adamawa Inaugurates national Pilot Programme Ranching

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EuroMatch NPFL: “I’m Going Back Home To Put Everything Right” — Uzoho Refuses To Panic After Six-Goal Bendel Battle

Published

2 minutes ago

September 14, 2026

Preport

Kun Khalifat FC head coach Obinna Uzoho is refusing to allow one difficult afternoon in Benin to define his team’s 2026/27 EuroMatch Nigeria Premier Football League campaign.

After watching Kun Khalifat suffer a 4-2 defeat to Bendel Insurance on Matchday Three, Uzoho’s message was not one of surrender or panic.

It was about work.

It was about improvement.

And, perhaps most importantly, it was about remembering just how much football remains to be played.

> “I’m going back home to make sure we put everything right. You know, this season has just gotten started.”

Those words capture the mentality of a coach who understands that the EuroMatch NPFL is a marathon and that one difficult result in September cannot be allowed to determine what happens over an entire campaign.

Uzoho also revealed the personal motivation driving him this season.

“I want to do more this season because last season was tough for me.”

Put the two statements together and the message becomes clear:

Last season provided the lessons. This season is his opportunity to respond.

From two clean sheets to six-goal reality check

Kun Khalifat travelled to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with one of the most intriguing defensive records in the league.

They had played twice.

They had conceded zero goals.

Their opening encounter against Abia Warriors finished 0-0 before another goalless draw against Barau FC on Matchday Two.

Then Bendel Insurance changed everything.

The Benin Arsenal put four past Kun Khalifat in a dramatic 4-2 victory, ending the visitors’ perfect defensive record and handing them their first defeat of the campaign.

But hidden inside the disappointment was another first.

Kun Khalifat finally scored. Twice.

So Uzoho now returns home with something very specific to solve.

How does he recover the defensive discipline that produced consecutive clean sheets while retaining the attacking threat that finally appeared in Benin?

That could become one of the interesting tactical stories of their next few matches.

“This season has just gotten started”

Perhaps the most significant part of Uzoho’s reaction was his refusal to treat Matchday Three like a crisis.

Three games represent only a tiny fraction of an EuroMatch NPFL season.

There will be victories.

There will be defeats.

There will be afternoons when everything a coach planned works perfectly — and others when four goals disappear into his net.

What matters is what happens afterwards.

Uzoho’s response suggests he already understands his next assignment.

Go home. Identify what went wrong. Put it right. Go again.

That is football management stripped down to its essentials.

And his reference to last season adds a personal dimension.

Uzoho isn’t merely attempting to improve Kun Khalifat.

He wants to improve himself.

That makes his journey another one worth following as this EuroMatch NPFL campaign develops.

The league’s entertainment does not belong exclusively to the goalscorers.

Behind every result is a coach making decisions, dealing with pressure, protecting players, accepting criticism and trying to find an answer before the next whistle.

For Uzoho, the answer to a 4-2 defeat will not be found in Benin anymore.

It will be found back on the training ground.

And after only three Matchdays, he knows there is plenty of road remaining.

“I’m going back home to make sure we put everything right.”

That is the promise.

“This season has just gotten started.”

That is the warning.

For Kun Khalifat, the next chapter of their EuroMatch NPFL story begins with how Obinna Uzoho and his players respond.

Business

Transcorp, AXA Mansard, GTCO top stock pick this week

Published

47 minutes ago

September 14, 2026

Preport

Floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.png

Nigerian stocks slid by 1.6 per cent last week, following profit-taking activities across all sectors except oil & gas.

The Insurance Index was worst hit, declining by 5.5 per cent, and remains the only sector index so far this year with a negative yield.

“Stocks with strong earnings, attractive valuations and consistent dividend payouts should also remain in focus,” investment bank United Capital Plc said in a note to investors ahead of the week.

This week, focus will shift to the primary market, where the landmark $1.6 billion initial public offering of Dangote Refinery will be commencing.

PREMIUM TIMES has assembled some stocks with sound fundamentals, adopting rigorous approaches to save you the risk of picking equities at random for investment.

The pick, a product of an analytical market watch, offers a guide to entering the market and taking strategic positions, with the expectation that selected stocks will record reasonable price appreciation with the passage of time.

This is not a buy, sell or hold recommendation but a stock investment guide. You may need to involve your financial advisor before taking investment decisions.

Transnational Corporation (Transcorp)

Transcorp tops this week’s list for its strong fundamentals and for trading below its intrinsic value. The net profit ratio (NPR) of the conglomerate is 24.7, while the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio is 4.5x. Its 10-day relative strength index (RSI) is 31.5.

AXA Mansard

AXA Mansard appears on the pick on the basis of its attractive fundamentals. The NPR of the insurer is 3.4, while the PE ratio is 29.8x, while the RSI is 47.3.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO)

GTCO makes the selection for its strong fundamentals and for trading below its intrinsic value. The banking group’s NPR is 37.4, while the PE ratio is 5.4x. Its RSI is 47.8.