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Gov. Otu Unveils N30bn Commercial Agric Development Fund – Commissioner—The Cross River Government on Saturday announced plans to unveil a N30 billion commercial agric development fund that would enable farmers to have access to loan as part of efforts to ensure food sufficiency and boost agriculture in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr Johnson Ebokpo, and his counterpart of the Information, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, jointly announced this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Ebokpo said the fund which would be provided and guaranteed by the state government, would be warehoused by a consortium of banks.

He said the fund was meant to move farmers from subsistence farming to commercial farming and at the same time boost agricultural value chain in the state.

Ebokpo said that the project would focus on boosting maize, cassava, aquaculture and rice farming and also to ensure all- year-round farming in the state.

He said the reason for the government intervention was to address the difficulty encountered by farmers in accessing loan facilities.

“We have for instance flour mills in Calabar which had to rely on maize supply of about N60 billion annually from Kano, Kaduna and other states from the North.

“Cross River has about 1.8 million hectares of arable land suitable for all sorts of agricultural purposes but does not have the fund to cultivate much maize to feed the flour mill here.

“What the government of Prince Bassey Otu is trying to do is to commit this fund with the consortium of banks where farmers can have access to it for six years.

“Principally, the fund is coming from the state government but the banks and international development partners can bridge the gap when they see the commitment of the government,” he said.

Simirlarly, the information commissioner said that the state would soon launch the Code River State -Wide Irrigation Infrastructure Development Project (SWIID).

Ekpang said that the aim was to promote all-year-round agricultural production and also to attract investments in the cassava sub sector.

To actualise this, he said that the state had developed a Cassava Value Chain Development Policy framework to public private partnerships.

“The governor had embarked on an aggressive drive to reduce fiscal wastage and subsidise productivity in a manner that would foster long-term prosperity.

“The government had made tremendous roads into the agricultural sector. This administration had commenced soil survey and fertility mapping of Cross River State.

” The government has also embarked on aggresive elevation of the state oil palm production status with the development of 3.5 million oil palm seedling nurseries in 13 designated locations across the state,” he said.

The commissioner also said the administration had equally commenced the Home Stead Farming Project to mitigate food insecurity and resultant high cost.

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Lagos 2027: Governor Sanwo-Olu Endorses Obafemi Hamzat as APC Aspirant

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Sanwo-Olu Endorses Obafemi Hamzat as APC Aspirant

Lagos 2027: Governor Sanwo-Olu Endorses Obafemi Hamzat as APC Aspirant—-Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has thrown his weight behind his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, as his preferred successor for the 2027 governorship election—an early move that is already stirring quiet conversations within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The endorsement did not come in the open. Instead, it followed a closed-door meeting at Lagos House, Marina, where Hamzat reportedly informed key stakeholders of his intention to run. Present at the gathering were members of the State Executive Council, party leaders, and influential figures within the Governor’s Advisory Council.

Among those in attendance were former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and former senator Ganiyu Solomon—names that signal the weight of the political bloc involved in the discussions.

Speaking afterwards, Sanwo-Olu described the decision as “unanimous,” framing it as a consensus among party stakeholders. But the speed and timing of the endorsement—well ahead of party primaries—have raised eyebrows about how firmly the succession plan may already be taking shape behind the scenes.

“We just received Mr Deputy… to inform us of his intention,” the governor said, adding that those present agreed he is “fit and well-prepared” for the role.

Sanwo-Olu leaned heavily on Hamzat’s track record and their long-standing working relationship, portraying him as a loyal and capable hand ready to take over. He went further, suggesting that Hamzat has effectively been groomed for the position from the outset.

“This is a deputy governor that is worth a governor from day one,” he said.

In a remark that may further fuel speculation, the governor also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s enduring influence in Lagos politics, hinting that the current development could be part of a longer-term political vision.

Observers note that describing the gathering as a “family meeting” may reflect the tightly knit nature of decision-making within the state’s political structure—where major alignments are often settled before they reach the public stage.

While Hamzat has long been regarded as a key player in Lagos politics, the early endorsement positions him more clearly at the centre of succession discussions, even before a formal campaign has begun.

With more than a year to go before party primaries, the move is already reshaping conversations within the APC, where control of Lagos—Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre—remains one of the most strategic political prizes.

Whether this early alignment holds or faces internal pushback in the months ahead is a question many party watchers are now quietly asking

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2027 Elections: Atiku Abubakar Backs Consensus Candidate for African Democratic Congress, Keeps Primaries as Option

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Atiku Abubakar Backs Consensus Candidate for African Democratic Congress

2027 Elections: Atiku Abubakar Backs Consensus Candidate for African Democratic Congress, Keeps Primaries as Option—-Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will prioritise a consensus approach in selecting its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, but may conduct primaries if internal talks fail.

Speaking on a prime-time programme on Arise TV, Atiku explained that party leaders are working to avoid internal disputes by rallying around a single candidate through dialogue and agreement.

He expressed confidence that stakeholders would reach a common ground, noting that experienced politicians within the party understand the importance of unity.

According to him, the ADC is focused on strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, with members committed to managing differences without causing division.

Atiku also reiterated his willingness to support whoever emerges as the party’s flagbearer, regardless of the selection method.

He further stated that he is open to stepping aside for any aspirant, including Peter Obi, if they emerge as the preferred choice, emphasizing that unity within the party remains the top priority ahead of the 2027 elections.

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