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  • Farm Protection, Agric Funding, A Panacea To Food Security, Unemployment In Nigeria – ActionAid

    Farm Protection, Agric Funding, A Panacea To Food Security, Unemployment In Nigeria – ActionAid

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Protection of farms from incessant Banditry attacks and funding agricultural mechanisation has been described as the only solution to food scarcity and unemployment among the youths that have turned to crime for a living.

    This was contained in a communique issued at the end of a one-day Non-State Actors (NSAs) Post National Dialogue & Dissemination on Nigeria’s
    Performance at the 3rd Biennial Review Exercise on the Implementation of the
    Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP held at Abuja recently.

    The training which was organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and ActionAid International pointed out that Farms are getting abandoned due to security threats, natural disasters and lack of attention from the government.

    The group called on Federal and State governments to promote agricultural insurance for smallholder farmers considering the agricultural risks of floods, droughts, fires, pests, and
    diseases, cattle destruction of farms, rising insecurity on the farms today.

    “Regrettably, the late passage and releases of fund to the sector continues to impede the capacity of Federal and State governments to drive socio-economic development including food security within the policy thrust of the diversification of the economy towards agriculture.”

    It was also observed that federal and states’ annual budgetary allocations and expenditure performances remains low in quantity and quality falling below the Maputo/Malabo Declaration minimum of 10%.

    The communique stressed the need to strengthen the monitoring of implementation of Agricultural projects in the budget by all relevant stakeholders such as FMARD, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, State Ministries of Agriculture and Agric. Committees in the NASS and State Assemblies.

    The communique Called for the development of Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP with stakeholders to guide the implementation of NATIP aligning targets and indicators to the Biennial Review indicators to ensure Nigeria is on track in meeting the Malabo Commitments.

    “Public investment in agriculture should be scaled up in the specific areas of Extension Services, Access to Credit, Women in Agriculture, Youth in Agriculture, Appropriate Labour-Saving Technologies, Irrigation, Inputs, PostHarvest Losses Reduction Supports respectively”.

    The communique therefore called on the . Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to work with the media and other stakeholders to create awareness/sensitization on the new agricultural policy as part of effort towards promoting improved citizen participation in the budget process.

    It also called on the Federal and State Executives, National and State Houses of Assembly to Scale Up Public Investment in Agriculture, and ensure timely consideration, passage, and total budget releases as a strategic approach to
    increase food production, reduce hunger and poverty and achieve the Maputo/Malabo Commitments.

    “We call on Federal and State Executives, National and State Houses of Assembly to Scale Up Public Investment in Agriculture, and ensure timely consideration, passage, and total budget releases as a strategic approach to
    increase food production, reduce hunger and poverty and achieve the Maputo/Malabo Commitments.”

    The communique recommends that the yearly Federal and States agriculture budget should be more gender responsive by providing line items for the implementation of the National Gender Policy in Agriculture that address specific challenges that affect women farmers different from men as well as avoid lumping up budget for
    women farmers and other groups such as youths.

    “The training and meeting brought together a total number of 44 Budget Committee Group (BCG) members, smallholder women farmers, CSOs and media across seven States, the FCT and the national level.”

  • ActionAid Seeks Govt’s 10% Of Annual Budget Commitment To Agric Sector

    ActionAid Seeks Govt’s 10% Of Annual Budget Commitment To Agric Sector

    From Noah Ocheni, Abuja

    The three tiers of governments have been charged to commits 10%. of their annual budget to the agriculture sector required to support 6% growth rate for the sector as postulated in the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), framework.

    The country Director ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs. Ene Obi’ on Wednesday in Abuja gave the charge in her welcome address at Dialogue & Dissemination on Nigeria’s Performance at the 3rd Biennial Review Exercise on the Implementation of the CAADP held at Hawthorn Suites, Abuja.

    This according to her would make Nigeria to be on track in meeting the 2014 Malabo Declaration Commitments, expressing commitment towards data collection to add value in the country agriculture performance reporting template.

    “We had a space within the agenda of the National organised by FMARD where we presented the data/information that reflected the lived realities of smallholder women farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to add value in the country performance reporting.” Obi added.

    She pointed out that ActioAid Nigeria organised the dialogue in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to disseminate the report of Nigeria’s performance in the 3rd Biennial Review Process to stakeholders.

    Inorder to have a better preparation and improve the process of the 4th Biennial Review cycle, the country Director said conversations around the successes and challenges encountered with the 3rd Biennial Reviewed would be looked into.

    “During the 3rd Biennial Review Process, ActionAid was to train smallholder women farmers, Activista, Partners and other CSOs on the use of the Non-State Actors (NSAs) Value Addition Biennial Review Toolkit (VABKIT) and supported them to generate smallholder women farmers’ state level data.”

    This according to her was necessary so as to feed into the Report for Nigeria for the 3rd Biennial Review (BR) Exercise on the Implementation of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

    “The data/information we collected through the VABKIT that reflected the lived realities of smallholder women farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shows their accessibility to facilities.”

    Ene Obi further disclosed that smallholder women farmers currently have only 18% access to processing facilities, 16.60% access to storage facilities, 13.50% access to off-takers/access to markets, 9.60% access to transportation for agricultural produce, and 42.30% access to trainings.

    The country Director therefore stressed the need for government investments to focus on strategic areas of Extension Services, Access to Credit, Women in Agriculture, Youth in Agriculture, Appropriate Labour-Saving Technologies, Inputs, Post-Harvest Losses Reduction Supports (processing facilities and storage facilities.

    “While government is making effort to improve the space for more Public Private Partnerships arrangements in Nigeria’s agriculture sector, smallholder women farmers’ access to such schemes across the country remains below 27%.”/ She added.

  • Ukraine/Russia War: Record-Breaking inflation hits Nigeria, Africa, others

    Ukraine/Russia War: Record-Breaking inflation hits Nigeria, Africa, others

    … ActionAid calls for safety nets for women, children

    … Warns of Global food crisis

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    A new research survey released by ActionAid has shown that the Ukraine/ Russia war in recent time is taking a severe toll on the economies on countries across the world and creating hardship as families in Nigeria, the African Region and countries due to record- breaking inflation of essential consumables like food items and fuel.
    A cording to the ActionAid findings the cost of food, fuel, and fertiliser in some of the world’s poorest communities is soaring, with families spending double, triple, and nearly four times what they were paying before Russia invaded Ukraine.

    Findings in Nigeria show that the prices of wheat bread have increased up to 59 % in Sanrab semi-urban community in Kwara state. In Yobe state urban community of Nasarawa, the prices of wheat bread have increased up to 67 %. In Lagos, the price increase has been up to 127%. In rural areas of Kaduna, fertiliser prices have increased up to 111 %. At the same time, few areas of Lagos have witnessed up to a 111 % increase in sunflower cooking oil.

    The survey which was conducted in 13 countries across the world namely Nigeria, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Lebanon ,Malawi, Mozambiqeue, Myanmar, Palestine, Somaliland, Zambia and Zimbabwe showed that the prices of local foods, fuel, fertilizer, pasta and cooking oil has sky rocked and tripled in prices improvising families.

    the findings show that the prices of wheat bread have increased up to 59 % in Sanrab, a semi-urban community in Kwara state.
    In Yobe state, urban community of Nasarawa, the prices of wheat bread have increased up to 67 %. In Lagos, the price increase has been up to 127%. In rural areas of Kaduna, fertiliser prices have increased up to 111 %.
    Also few areas of Lagos have witnessed up to a 111 % increase in sunflower cooking oil.

    In a statement by the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi said, “The Ukraine-Russia war has worsened the cost of living in many parts of the world, but the gaps in governance and lack of social safety-net have thrown more Nigerians into the abyss of poverty.”

    “The current hyper-inflation has made the meagre income of many Nigerians insignificant; for a government committed to lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty, there is a need for reflection and immediate action, Obi said.

    Reportedly in some communities mothers say that due to the hyperinflation they have to take their children out of school to afford to buy food and to provide one meal a day for their families.

    ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Nigerian Government to immediately roll-out of social protection measures, which target women and girls, including cash transfers and food support, to assist indigent families in the country.

    Meanwhile ActionAid has warned countries of imminent global food crisis if governments do not take urgent actions to avert the catastrophic hunger on the human population.

    Teresa Anderson, ActionAid International global climate justice Lead said, “The world is now on track for a global food crisis that looks far more deadly, devastating, and prolonged than 2007-08. Governments and international institutions must take urgent action to avert catastrophic hunger on an unprecedented scale.”

    According to Anderson the conflict in Ukraine has created a perfect storm of skyrocketing prices for food, fuel and fertiliser, disproportionately affecting local communities who barely have any belt left to tighten.”

    She called on governments must rapidly train farmers on agroecological approaches to avert dramatic global yield losses from a worldwide lack of fertilisers later this year to avert dramatic global yield losses.

    The international NGO also urged countries who are dependent on food imports to invest in national and regional food reserves to act as buffers to reduce their countries’ vulnerability to food shortages and price rises.

  • ActionAid Nigeria decries impact of fuel shortage, calls for penalty of importers of adulterated products

    ActionAid Nigeria decries impact of fuel shortage, calls for penalty of importers of adulterated products

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    As the fuel scarcity continues to bite harder on Nigerians, ActionAid Nigerian, AAN, an NGO, working to end poverty in the country, has decried the negative impact of fuel scarcity on the economy and the people and while charging the government to penalize importers of adulterated fuel into the country.

    This recommendation and call was made in a statement issued by the Board of Trustees of ActionAid Nigeria, after a review of the State of the Nation on the 19th day of March 2022.

    AAN stated that the pathetic impact of the Fuel scarcity persists across major cities in the country with cost of transportation and consumables increasing astronomically following the importation of adulterated fuel by some marketers.
    It said that Acute shortage of aviation fuel (Jet A1) has also negatively impacted the aviation industry and the economy.

    AAN lamented the unpleasant situation in which NNPC and other regulators in the downstream sector continue to watch as Nigerians and businesses undergo harrowing experience without penalizing the culprits behind the importation of the adulterated fuel.
    It said prioritizing

     Meanwhile, the NGO has also condemned the nation’s dwindling educational system and the Federal Government’s government’s failure to address the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU demands for improve conditions of service.
    It also noted that a deeper problem on the quality and standards affecting teaching, infrastructure the structure of the educational system also calls for concern.

  • International Women’s Day: AAN makes clarion call for reconsideration of rejected Gender Bills

    International Women’s Day: AAN makes clarion call for reconsideration of rejected Gender Bills

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    As Nigeria commemorates the 2022 International Women’s Day, IWD, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, a human rights non-governmental organization has made a clarion call on the National Assembly, the legislative arm of government to reconsider it’s stance on the rejected Gender Bill, which is pivotal to women inclusion in governance and decision making.

    AAN decried the outright discard of the Bill and urged the leadership of the National Assembly to substantiate her commitment to gender equality by re-presenting and re-considering the five proposed Gender Bills in the 5th Constitution Alteration Bills that were rejected by both Houses of the National Parliament on 1st March 2022.

    Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi who spoke in Abuja said, “In line with this year’s theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, we had looked forward to really celebrating International Women’s Day 2022 because we thought it would mark a turnaround for Nigerian woman in politics, and a historic win in the struggle for women inclusion in decision making spaces, as the 2023 general elections draw closer.”
    “Sadly, the decision of the 9th National Assembly has threatened the achievement of adequate women representation in governance, as they have outrightly demonstrated by their votes, that they do not want women inclusion in decision making.”

    “If, in 2022, we still have to argue for or against the pivotal role of women in governance, it means our leaders are deliberately resistant to change and still have a lot of learning to do.”

    According to Obi, the Gender Bill is the only way to address the current gender imbalance and possibly close the gender parity across the legislative arms of governments and across the country.
    She noted that the National Gender Policy states that gender equality and women’s empowerment are basic human rights that lie at the heart of equitable development and the country is a signatory to international and regional frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights with the Optional Protocol on Women’s Rights.
    AAN therefore urged the Nigerian Government to live up to her commitment to 35% Affirmative Action on women inclusion across all arms of governance,adding that upholding this will also increase the country’s credibility in the international community.

    An inclusive governance is only possible when women sit at the decision-making tables, contribute to planning and national development to find solutions to the many problems plaguing the nation such as climate change and insecurity, she stressed.
    Obi further emphasized that no nation can progress with over 50% of its population excluded from contributing to its development. Failure to recognize this is simply planning to fail from the beginning, she concluded.

    AAN used the occasion to salute Nigerian women for the continued struggle. “As women, we shall never be intimidated by any insensitive decision; this even makes women grow stronger in the fight for a just society.”

    “As we commemorate this day, let history have it that Nigerian women refused to stay quiet in the face of oppression and rights denial.”
    This, once again, provides an opportunity to demonstrate oneness of voice.

    AAN called on more women’s group to join their voices in the action as against the rejection of the Bills, adding , “We encourage the women to work and walk in solidarity, to keep the flag of womanhood flying, we are strengthened by the knowledge that this struggle is for posterity. “

  • ActionAid Nigeria decries sundry challenges affecting women, vulnerable Nigerians

    ActionAid Nigeria decries sundry challenges affecting women, vulnerable Nigerians

    … Condemns bullying in boarding schools
    … Harassment of judiciary officials
    …Worried over increased number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, in has condemned sundry matters affecting women, children and the vulnerable population of Nigerians in politics, economy, security, health and education sub sectors.

    This was contained in a press release issued by the Board of Trustees of ActionAid Nigeria, after a meeting to review the State of the Nation on the 11th day of December 2021.
    In a statement made available to Daybreak today, AAN said it has reviewed developments in government, politics, the economy and security during the last quarter, particularly as they affect vulnerable groups: women, children, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and youths.

    AAN condemned all forms of bullying in boarding schools in Nigeria in view of the recent Dowen  School killing of a 12 year old student.
    It noted that the extreme cases of bullying, especially in Nigerian boarding schools, have become worrisome in recent times, adding that parents, school administrators, and relevant government educational authorities seem to be abdicating their responsibilities and duties to the children.

    In the Banking sector AAN noted that there is a need for Government to advance the anti- corruption fight through a review of activities of commercial banks and implementation and proper sanctions for erring banks who act or transact businesses in manners contrary to their professional ethics and the laws of the land using as an example the trial of the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina.
    AAN also condemned the incessant harassment of judicial officers which it said portends a bad omen for the principle of separation of power and the independence of the judiciary as a whole. And urged the executive arm of government to guard Nigeria’s democratic values by addressing the issue,

    AAN expressed concern over the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country despite the efforts of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in containing the spread of the dreaded coronavirus,
    It noted that the rising cost of the outbreak for businesses and the global economy has taken a big toll on Nigeria’s organised private sector as the global crisis continues to have a toll on the struggling local economy.
    However the organization condemned the human rights violations making rounds in the country but commended efforts of the states’ judicial panel of inquiry on SARS related abuse and other matters which it’s states has rekindled the hope of Nigerians particularly the youths in the country.

  • ActionAid calls for more public service infrastructure investment for PWDs

    ActionAid calls for more public service infrastructure investment for PWDs

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    As the world commemorates the International Day of Persons with Disability, PWDs, ActionAid Nigeria has called on Governments at all levels to invest more on Public Infrastructure that meets the needs of PWDs.

    ActionAid Nigeria made this call today as it joined partners to commemorate the 2021 International Day of Persons with Disability with the theme “Leadership and Participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”
    The People with Disabilities day is set aside to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
    Country Director, Ene Obi who spoke in Abuja said, “ActionAid has been working on disability issues prior to 2015 when world leaders committed to achieving SDG4 to deliver equitable, inclusive, and quality education for all by 2030.
    ActionAid Nigeria’s evidence-based approach to work over the years showcases challenges faced by Persons with Disability, one of which is the disability and gender gaps impacting on their participation in all spheres of life.

    ActionAid research revealed that there is a broader exclusion for women who are subjected to harmful stereotypes, adding
    that whatever the challenge faced by Persons with Disability, women with disability suffer more and are subjected to double discrimination. Poverty and other challenges of exclusion undermine their dignity and places barriers of exclusion in the society”.

    This is the same for children with disability in Nigeria.
    ActionAid’s research on Inclusive education shows that 95.5% of children with disability are out of school because of their non-enrollment due to their condition.
    Those who enroll, are less likely to complete their education compared to their peers; this is associated with over-crowded classrooms, inaccessible learning environment, lack of facilities to support their learning as teachers are unable to give them the required support. These have huge impact on their ability to participate in leadership and overall development of the country.

    AAN noted that despite progress made in ratifying the Policy on Inclusive Education in Nigeria, current education resources are insufficient to achieve inclusive education; only two percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Universal Basic Education Commission is provided for special needs.
    Government Budgets and plans are not sensitive enough to support inclusion which makes financing inclusive education very difficult. The research further revealed that Nigeria lacks the qualified teaching workforce required to deliver inclusive education as they have not received sufficient training to practice inclusion in addition to inadequate fund to purchase the necessary technological materials.

    Just 20% of $8.3 billion dollars lost to unnecessary tax incentive in Nigeria could pay for the recruitment and renumeration of estimated deficit of 790,422 primary school teachers required in the country.

    Meanwhile ActionAid Nigeria has commended the Nigerian Government on the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPWD) but called for more investment in infrastructure and public services for the needs of teeming Nigerian population.
    Governments should ensure that PWDs participate equally and meaningfully in all processes; designing, legislating and budgeting for city planning and public transport, ActionAid added.

  • Adopts Policies That Protects Journalists – ActionAid Nigeria Advocates

    Adopts Policies That Protects Journalists – ActionAid Nigeria Advocates

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The guest Speaker at the recent virtual Media Round table, Dr Theophilus Abbah, has charaged Media organizations in the country to put policies in place to protect journalists from harassment, dehumanization and all forms of impunity against them in the course of their duty.

    Dr. Abbah who made the call in a lecture to mark this year’s International Day to End Impunity and Crimes against journalists organized by ActionAid Nigeria said the call has become necessary in view of the risk media professionals encounter in the course of their job.

    He said particular attention should be paid to the safety of female journalists who face challenges such as intimidation, sexual harassment, degrading treatment and even physical assault.

    The lecturer who is also the Programme Director, Daily Trust Foundation, noted that journalists play a significant role in the society and that the Nigerian Constitution has a provision that recognizes the profession.

    Dr Abbah advocated gender inclusion in media policies, enlightening security agents on how to relate with media professionals and be ready to pursue to a logical conclusion issues of violence against them.

    National President of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Ladi Bala, explained that impunity, brutality, physical and verbal assaults against Journalists have continued because perpetrators are rarely punished.

    Ladi Bala called on relevant stakeholders to help change the trend to enable women have a say in the profession.

    The country director, ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi in her remarks said the organization has collaborated with NAWOJ to train women journalists to build their capacity on the job and called for their protection.

  • ActionAid Supports 350 Women Headed Household in Benue, worth N7.9M

    ActionAid Supports 350 Women Headed Household in Benue, worth N7.9M

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    ActionAid Nigeria within last week given assistance to 350 women headed households in six affected communities within the local government areas that have in the recent past, suffered from crisis. 

    In a statement signed by Lola Ayanda,  gave the names of the affected areas as Okokolo, Oshigbudu, Odugbeho, Adana, Aila, Olegomakwo communities in Agatu local government areas of Benue State.

    The support by ActionAid according to the statement is with cash for food and dignity items worth N7.9M, aimed at reducing the hardship caused by the incessant crisis.

    Each of the identified household According to a Statement received N14,000.00 as cash for food while women in the community received dignity kits (sanitary towels, wrapper, hygiene kits etc) worth N11,000.00.

    It would be recalled that communal crisis in communities in Agatu local government area left many women hopeless having lost their farmlands, a major source of income and husbands who are breadwinners.

    “The crisis in Agatu local government area impacted negatively on the lives and livelihood of community members, reason ActionAid began a weeklong emergency intervention to provide appropriate aid to affected families in the local government area.”

    “Towards reaching, the affected persons, ActionAid, a team of 14 youth volunteers, selected from the communities led the process and ensured that the most vulnerable households within the communities were identified as beneficiaries.”

    The intervention by ActionAid according to Lola is to assist improve the coping capacity and alleviate the sufferings of the household heads intensified by the crisis.

    “Towards achieving the intervention objectives, ActionAid Nigeria, worked with Justice Development Caritas Foundation (JDCF) in collaboration with Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to carry out the emergency humanitarian assistance targeted at the six (6) affected communities”.

    “ActionAid is a global organisation, dedicated to the fight against poverty. Its vision is a world, without poverty and injustice, in which every person enjoys his or her right to life with dignity.”

    Presently, ActionAid works in over 40 countries across the globe and has been working in Nigeria since 1999.

  • ActionAid Trains 500 Youths in Peace Building

    ActionAid Trains 500 Youths in Peace Building

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Director, Organisational Effectiveness, ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Funmilayo Oyefusi, said the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has started a week-long Peace Camp for 500 youths in Kogi.

    Oyefusi who disclosed this on Monday at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, said the aim is to build their capability in peace building and prevention of violent extremism.

    The 2021 Youth Peace Camp according to her was organised by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with Participation Initiative for Behavioral change in Development (PIBCID) with funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF).

    Oyefus who is also the Camp Director, i said that the 2021 Annual Youth Peace Camp on Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) focused on fostering youth peace and security in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2250.

    “The Youth Peace Camp themed: “Shaping Peace Through Harmonious Cohabitation” is in pursuance of the System And Structural Straightening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE II) project in Kogi and Nasarawa.” She said.

    Oyefusi pointed out that the organisation was optimistic of building the physical, emotional and intellectual capacity of the participants to be able to stand as independent peace ambassadors in their communities.

    “We believe that if you are empowered economically and socially, you will not be available to be recruited to engage in conflicts and involve in violent extremism”, she said.

    Declaring the Peace Camp open, Idris Musa, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, lauded ActionAid for its efforts at promoting peace in the state through its various intervention programmes.

    According to him, there is need to promote good morals among the youth for the sustenance of peace, saying that when there is absence of peace, there will be crisis.

    Hajia Fatima Buba, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, enjoined the youths to steer clear of drugs, alcohol and violence adding “Youths as the most dominant in any society must play an active role in peace building. Through our collective efforts as peace builders, we can put an end to this menace,” she said.

    Also speaking, Ms Halima Sadiq, Executive Director, PIBCID said the 2021 edition was the third of the Peace Camp held in the state, camping 500 youths drawn from 12 communities in six Local government areas.