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Plateau Govt cultivates 6,000 hectares of land for displaced communities
The Plateau State Government in its efforts to resettle communities displaced by crisis across the state, has commenced cultivation of 6,000 hectares of land for the upcoming farming season.
It also said it would provide seeds to farmers across the state in order to improve agricultural yield and reduce hunger to the barest minimum.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Samson Bugama while flagging off the cultivation of six thousand hectares of land particularly for displaced communities in the state, held in Mangu LGA.
He said the intervention, tagged, ‘Mechanisation Service Provision Intervention’, was targeted at communities affected by unrest and cluster groups across the state.
“Today we will be engaging the field, you can see the tractors are ready and so also all the staff of the Agric Training Service Centre and Marketing Ltd (ASTC) are equally ready.
“The strategy is to be able to see how we can provide mechanisation services to communities that have been displaced in our quest to see how we return people to their livelihoods that the crisis has taken out of the place they understand and do business.
“Governor Caleb Mutfwang in his magnanimity has decided that we engage about six thousand hectares of land, we will see how we can exceed six thousand hectares across the state.
“And we will be providing seeds for those places that have been cultivated; so that we will see how we will bring bumper harvest as we return people to their livelihoods,” he explained.
According to him, “Our priority is to start with communities that are displaced. But as much as resources allow us, we will be able to extend to the other communities; but our major goal is the resettlement of displaced communities to their livelihoods.”
On the safety of the farmers and their crops, Bugama said, “As you can see now we have the Agro-Rangers with us, and in those communities they have self-help groups that they have setup, that give early warning signals for those kinds situations, that we are going to utilise.
“This time around, we are going to ensure that government’s intervention is not wasted, we are setting a monitoring system, where we use modern technology to check incursions into such communities and we will see how we improve the system moving forward.
“But I must tell you that Governor Caleb Mutfwang is bent on ensuring that our people return back to their livelihoods. All these services government is providing are free and the seeds are also going to be free.”
Dr. Susan Bentu, Managing Director and CEO of ASTC, expressed gratitude to Governor Mutfwang for approving the mechanized cultivation intervention. She outlined the comprehensive plan for the cultivation, which will span four weeks and cover various zones in Plateau State. “In the Northern Zone, we will cultivate areas including Jol (Riyom), Sho (B/Ladi), Wereng & Kwi (Riyom), and more. The Central Zone will see activities in Mangu, Pankshin, Bokkos, and others, while the Southern Zone will focus on Wase River, Shendam Dam, and additional areas.”
Bentu detailed the crops targeted in each zone, with maize and potatoes in the Central and Northern Zones, and rice in the Southern Zone. “ASTC is a household name, not just in Plateau State but across Nigeria. We support farmers of all scales, from small-scale to large-scale operations,” she said. “Our services, including mechanization, are designed to enhance food production and empower farmers.”
Looking ahead, Bentu emphasized the sustainability of ASTC’s efforts. “We aim to raise self-sufficient farmers who are financially stable and capable of providing food for the populace. This initiative aligns with our vision and the state’s mission of ensuring a green and prosperous Plateau.”
The response from the communities has been overwhelmingly positive. “Last year, we covered 900 hectares; this year, we are tripling our scope,” Bentu noted. “This intervention reduces production costs for farmers and directly benefits them, empowering those at the grassroots.”
The Plateau State Government’s farming intervention marks a crucial step towards rebuilding conflict-affected communities and enhancing food security. With strong leadership from Governor Mutfwang and effective implementation by ASTC, the state is poised to see a significant boost in agricultural productivity and community resilience.
The federal government has recruited no fewer than 37,000 health workers across its health institutions since 2023, a statement from the health ministry has said.
The statement signed by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, said that the recruitment, alongside the training of 70,000 frontline workers, was aimed at improving service delivery.
It said that the government had also approved Nigeria’s National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to address the growing challenge of skilled health professionals leaving the country.
According to Mr Bako, the policy is designed to improve workforce planning, strengthen retention and promote ethical recruitment.
“These actions are supported by the National Health Workforce Registry and continued investments in specialist training and workforce development,” he added.
He also highlighted progress under the revised Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0), describing it as a key driver of improved primary healthcare delivery.
He said the federal government had approved N32.9 billion under the revised framework to support no fewer than 8,300 Primary Health Centres, with expansion ongoing to have 13,000 facilities nationwide.
According to him, the government’s health reforms have contributed to 80 million patient visits, while over 21 million vulnerable Nigerians have accessed healthcare through the Vulnerable Groups Health Insurance Fund.
He added that disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness were also being strengthened through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention gateway under the BHCPF.
On access to medicines, the ministry said the government was expanding local pharmaceutical manufacturing through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain.
“The objective is simple: strengthen local production, improve medicine security and make essential medicines more available and affordable for Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Bako said the reforms also covered investments in health infrastructure, maternal and newborn health, emergency preparedness, digital health systems and accountability.
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He said that as of the 2025 Joint Annual Review, 84 per cent of the key performance indicators under the Presidential Health Sector Renewal Compact had been achieved.
According to him, while significant challenges remain, the government has continued to pursue sustained reforms rather than deny existing gaps.
“Nigeria’s health sector still faces significant challenges, and government has never suggested otherwise.
“Lasting reforms, however, are measured not by rhetoric, but by sustained action, transparent implementation and measurable results,” he said.
The statement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with healthcare professionals, civil society, development partners, the private sector and everyone to build a stronger and more resilient health system.
“Our mandate remains clear: save lives, reduce both physical and financial pain, and improve the health and well-being of all Nigerians,” the statement said.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandma following the discovery of 13kg of cocaine in her luggage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said in a statement on Sunday that the drugs were concealed in peels of plantain, which appeared as real plantains and were packed among other food items.
Mr Babafemi said the suspect, who works as a caregiver in the UK, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic airline flight to London on Sunday, June 28.
He said a thorough search of her bags resulted in the discovery of 31 big wraps of cocaine, which were packaged to appear like plantain hands, weighing a total of 13 kilogrammes.
“In her statement, the elderly woman admitted full ownership of the recovered cocaine exhibits,” he said.
The NDLEA spokesman said that a sting operation in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday, June 29, resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old PhD student at the University of Putra, Malaysia, over the seizure of 5.80kg of cocaine.
Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed in the walls of nine cartons of Orijin bitters, a consignment that was part of a consolidated cargo heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He said the arrest of the suspect in Anambra followed the interception of 36 parcels of cocaine, with a gross weight of 5.80kg, concealed within the walls of the herbal drink cartons.
“Four suspects were initially arrested in parts of Lagos during investigations, including a driver who conveyed the consignment to the cargo agent.
“Also, a trader at ASPANDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos, who handed over the consignment to the driver for delivery to the cargo agent.
“There was also an accomplice who supplied the cartons of Origin bitters used in concealing the cocaine.
“The efforts eventually paid off, leading to the unmasking of the main suspect hiding in his village, Aziora, Ozubulu, Anambra, as the leader of the syndicate,” he said.
In another development, in Taraba, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Saturday, July 4, arrested a suspect with 43,980 capsules of Tramadol.
Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed inside two vehicle fuel tanks along Zaki-biam road, Wukari Local Government Area of the state, while coming from Onitsha, Anambra state.
“Two suspects were arrested in possession of 1.7 kilogrammes of methamphetamine by NDLEA officers on Thursday, July 2, during a raid operation at Gwantu, Gwantu LGA, Kaduna State.
“A 65-year-old suspect was nabbed with 231.7kg skunk at Ikwo, Ebonyi State, on Saturday,”he said.
Similarly, a 75-year-old grandpa was arrested in possession of 15kg of skunk in Kurgwi, Qua’anpan Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau, on Friday, July 3.
Additionally, in Gombe State, NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence on Wednesday, arrested two suspects in Kuri village, Yamaltu-Deba LGA, where they were found with 587 blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 556kg.
Mr Babafemi said commands and formations of the agency across the country have continued the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
He said the campaigns were carried out in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others, in the past week.
Mr Babafemi added that the agency took the campaign to students and staff of Girls Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra, and Government Technical College, Obe, Enugu.
Others include Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, and FCE Staff Demonstration School, Kabuga, Kano State.
The NDLEA chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Taraba, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Plateau, and Gombe Commands for the arrests and seizures.
He tasked officers to continue to raise the operational bar.
(NAN)
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