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Cassava Farming Faces Great Challenges In Nigeria, Stakeholders Lament

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…Says Nation Produces 20% Of World Production

The Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council ( NEPC), Dr. Olusegun Awolowo, has disclosed that Nigeria is ranked highest producer of cassava, producing about 20% of the total world production.

Dr. Awolowo who is also the CEO of NEPC made the disclosure at a one-day workshop on the implementation of the One-State One-Product (OSOP) Value Chain in strategic products of the zero oil plan cassava, Benin city.

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Awolowo who was represented at the event by the Trade Promotion Advisor, NEPC, Export Assistance Office, Benin, MacPherson Lleogben, said Edo State has shown Cassava and Wood as its main and alternate products.

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“The focus of today’s workshop is on cassava development, with over 59 million metric tons production. Nigeria is ranked as the largest producer of cassava producing about 20% of the total world production. The total estimated world production is put at over 291 million metric tons in 2017.

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“Dlespite being the world largest producer of cassava, the industry is facing some challenges in Nigeria, such as; climate change, low yields, quality issues, low processing, sharp practices, infrastructural deficiency and poor access to finance which has constraint export. It is vital to engage the value chain players from time to time to address these plights, so that we can grow the export of the product in Nigeria.

“In 2015, NEPC developed a game changer documents tagged the Zero-Oil Plan. The initiative was developed as a strategy for boosting foreign exchange earnings through the non-oil sector. Preparing Nigeria for an economy that would not depend on a single drop of crude oil for survival.

READ ALSO: EndSARS: Retired Police Officer Dares Edo Panel, Drags It To Court

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“The Zero Oil Plan has set a long-term goal of earning 20% of Nigeria’s GDP (i.e US$100 billion) from non oil exports. The initial target is to exceed US$30 billion in non-oil exports over the next 10 years. If properly implemented the plan will lead to three primary results.

“Add an extra US$150 million (minimum) to Nigeria’s foreign reserves cumulatively from non-oil exports over the next 10 years. Create at least 500,000 additional job annually.

” Due to an increase in productive and export activities, helping to contribute to Sustaniable Development Goal (SDG) 8-. ” Decent Work and Economic Growth.Lift at least 20 million Nigerians out of poverty, contributing towards SDG 1-“No Poverty”, he added.

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In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Wealth Creation Cooperative and Employment, Joel Edionwe urged the farmers at the occasion to look for the modern ways of how to process their Cassava products.

READ ALSO : Primary Teachers Issue 21-day Strike Notice To Edo Government Over Unpaid Entitlements, Conditions Of Service

Edionwe added that the state produces the largest cassava in Nigeria, just as he appealed to the farmers to develop a new format to produce a large quantities and therefore declared the event opened.

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Delivering his speech, the Edo State Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Chief Emmanuel Odugie, said how would the farmers benefit from the workshop so that they can produce a large quantities of cassava.

He urged the participants to listen to the various speakers so that they can learn the modern ways of cultivating good cassava products.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Trade Promotion Advisor, NEPC, Benin Export Assistance Office, MacPherson Fred Lleogben, said the event was aimed at building the capacity of farmers and processor across the cassava value chain.

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READ ALSO: Tempers, Nerves Fray At Edo Panel Over Medical Report Of Petitioner

Lleogben said it will further strengthen the non-oil exports performance of the state.

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Peter Obi’s Son, Oseloka, Speaks On Gay Allegations

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Oseloka Obi, son of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, has responded to viral allegations linking him to homosexuality after photographs of him with London-based British-Nigerian Kent Okwesa, circulated online this week.

The pictures, which emerged on Wednesday, showed Oseloka and Okwesa sitting closely at a restaurant in the United Kingdom, sparking a wave of online speculation and gossip.

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In a detailed statement, Oseloka dismissed the rumours as malicious falsehoods driven by his father’s involvement in Nigerian politics.

He noted that while he rarely responds to such narratives, the persistence of gossip and unfounded claims made it necessary to address the matter.

READ ALSO:Jonathan, Obi Can’t Match APC’s Strength For 2027 – Mustapha Salihu

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Because of my father’s involvement in Nigerian politics, there has been a persistent curiosity and, at times, malicious obsession with me.

“I have no social media presence and no interest in maintaining one, so I rarely correct these falsehoods. But perhaps it is time I address them,” he wrote.

Oseloka stressed that the photos of him in circulation were being misrepresented, insisting they were ordinary snapshots with friends and colleagues.

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The truth is simple: Peter Obi’s son appears in photos with his friends and colleagues, nothing more. If people wish to invent otherwise, I hope they sleep soundly knowing they are spreading lies,” he added.

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He further emphasised that neither he nor his father is perfect, but attested to his father’s integrity and commitment to Nigeria’s future.

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My father has my vote, not because he is my father, but because he is the right man for the job. If others wish to go low, invent scandals, or attack me to wound him, they are free to do so. But we will go high, and we will continue to focus on the future of Nigeria.”

Concluding, Oseloka urged Nigerians to redirect their attention from idle gossip to the pressing socio-economic challenges facing the country.

Read the full statement below:

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FULL LIST: PenCom Bars Seven Mortgage Banks From Processing Housing Loans

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The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has barred seven Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) from processing applications under the pension-backed equity contribution scheme for residential mortgages, citing their non-compliance with housing loan guidelines.

In a letter published on PenCom’s website, addressed to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs), the organisation instructed them to immediately stop accepting or processing equity contribution applications submitted through the affected institutions.

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The blacklisted mortgage banks are:

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• Jigawa Savings & Loans Limited

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• FHA Mortgage Bank Limited

• Delta Trust Mortgage Bank Limited

• AG Mortgage Bank Limited

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• Infinity Trust Mortgage Bank Pic

• First Trust Mortgage Bank Limited

• Mutual Alliance Mortgage Bank Limited

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Following the cited letter, the commission instructs that PFAs, including Closed Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custodians, immediately stop accepting or processing equity contribution applications submitted by the following Primary Mortgage Banks… Please be guided,” the circular read in part.

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Explaining the decision, PenCom’s spokesman, Ibrahim Buwai, told The PUNCH that the sanction was imposed because the affected institutions failed to generate the mortgages for which funds had been approved.

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The whole purpose of giving access to RSA holders is to enable them to own houses through mortgages,” he said. “It was discovered that some of the primary mortgage institutions were not generating mortgages. If that is the case, it means they are not complying with the regulations. That is the reason for their blacklisting.”

PenCom introduced the equity contribution for residential mortgages in September 2022, allowing Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders to withdraw up to 25 per cent of their balances to fund equity contributions for home ownership.

According to the commission, 24,582 RSA holders had accessed the scheme as of the first quarter of 2025, with disbursements totalling ₦149.84bn.

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RSA holders who submitted applications through the barred mortgage banks are now advised to reapply with other eligible PMBs. Those who have made upfront payments were urged to contact the affected institutions for the next line of action.

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VIDEO: How ‘Close Friend’ Leaked Cat Secret To Security During My House Invasion — Sunday Igboho

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Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has opened up again on the July 1, 2021 midnight invasion of his Ibadan residence by security operatives, including the Department of State Services (DSS).

Speaking during a visit to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, at his palace in Ondo State, Igboho alleged that the attack was carried out with the intent to take his life.

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When my house was invaded, they wanted to kill me but failed. Some said my intestines were shattered, others said my leg was broken, but there was nothing of such. They fired guns at me very well, but the prayers of you my fathers on me were answered.”

According to him, the DSS operatives forcefully gained entrance into his residence and pointed a gun at his Personal Assistant so he could lead them to his room.

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Death of cat after friend’s betrayal

While recalling the invasion, Igboho said one of his trusted friends betrayed him by leaking sensitive information about his cat to the operatives.

He disclosed that the so-called ‘trusted’ friend had told the agents not to let the cat escape, which led to the security operatives killing the animal.

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When I opened the door of my room for them, they saw my cat on the bed. One of my friends that I entrusted with secret had told them not to let the cat go. So they killed the cat and wrapped it with clothes like a corpse. They destroyed everywhere in the house and killed one of my brothers alongside one other person and they left,” he narrated.

Appeal to the Olowo

Speaking at the palace of the Olowo, Igboho said his absence from the country had lasted about five years and that he was eager to return to contribute to tackling insecurity in the South-West.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Sunday Igboho Returns To Nigeria

“But why I came to meet you Kabiesi is that till when will I be doing that. Nigeria is my motherland. This is about five years since I’ve been chased from here. Tinubu is your son, you can convince him to free me. If not for the wanted tag on me, I would have come to Nigeria to face the insecurity facing the South-West region. I would have entered the bush and faced them,” Igboho pleaded with the monarch.

Monarch’s response
In his response, Oba Ogunoye described Igboho as a beacon of hope for his generation and future ones, urging him not to be discouraged by the challenges he has faced.

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The monarch enjoined Igboho and his supporters to remain law-abiding amid ongoing challenges.

He assured him of continued support and called for peace and cooperation across South-West communities, noting that no region can achieve sustainable development without security.
(TRIBUNE)

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