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FG hails ARCN’s contributions to food security, improved farmers’ livelihoods

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Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture

 

By Abdul G Akanbi,Abuja

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has commended the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, ARCN, for its contributions in ensuring food security, enhancing the livelihoods of farmers, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices across the country.

Kyari gave the commendation on Thursday in Abuja while commissioning of the Veterinary Clinic, Fish Pond, Store Building by the ARCN and presentation of Renewed Hope Agricultural Technology Adoption Programme, RHATAP, which he described as a significant milestone in the continuous effort of the Council to strengthen the nation’s agricultural infrastructure.

“First and foremost, I wish to express my profound gratitude to the leadership and staff of ARCN for the unwavering commitment to advancing agricultural research, innovation and development in Nigeria.

“Your tireless efforts have not only contributed to growth of the agricultural sector but played a pivotal role in ensuring food security, enhancing the livelihoods of Nigeria farmers, and fostering sustainable agricultural practices across the country.

“Today’s event is a testament to shared vision of a prosperous agricultural sector that is well-equipped, to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” he said.

The minister noted that the facilities are a state-of-the-art Veterinary Clinic, “a well-constructed Fish Pond, and modern Store building that are not just physical structures, but are symbols of collective determination to provide the necessary support and infrastructure which our farmers, researchers, and agricultural stakeholders needed to thrive.”

“The Veterinary Clinic is particularly, significant as it underscores our commitment to improving animal health and ensuring the productivity of our livestock sector. Livestock farming is a critical component of the agricultural economy, contributing not only to food production but also to the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.

“By providing modern veterinary services, we are taking a vital step towards safeguarding the health of our livestock, preventing the spread of diseases, and ultimately boosting the productivity of this essential sector.

“Similarly, the Fish Pond that is being commissioned today represents our dedication to promote aquaculture as a viable and sustainable means of food production. Nigeria has vast aquatic resources, and the development of the aquacultural sector is crucial for increasing our fish production, reduction in our reliance on imports, and providing high-quality protein to our growing population.

“The Fish Pond would serve as both a research facility, and a demonstration center for showcasing best practices in fish farming and contributing to the training and capacity building of our farmers.

“The Store building, on the other hand, is essential for the efficient management and safekeeping of official items and resources necessary for the day-to-day running of the Council. This facility is crucial for the proper organization and storage of administrative materials, research equipment, and other official supplies that support the functioning of the Council.

“By providing a secure and well-organized space for these items, we are ensuring that ARCN staff have the resources they needed at their fingertips, enabling them to carry out their work effectively and efficiently,” he stressed.

The minister, however, informed that all these projects were approved by him before President Bola Tinubu created the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Kyari said judging from the Act that established the ARCN, enough room has been created for very close collaboration between the three ministries if the reform intended by Mr. President are to achieved, adding that he had instructed all the Research Institutes to ensure climate adaptation with a view to ensuring climate smart agricultural practices in the country.

“I will like to assure Nigerians that hence forth the ministry will ensure adequate availability of viable seeds. In addition to the current improvement in enrollment in the Agricultural Colleges, enough middle level manpower will be produced that would serve as extension agents to properly guide our farmers. This will assist in reducing the farmers extension worker ratio,” he said.

Business & Economy

*HallowMace Foundation and Partners Unveil Final Three Nominees Per Geo-Political Zone for 2026 National Legislative Award, Announces Final Voting Stage*

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ABUJA, April 16, 2026, The HallowMace Foundation and Partners have officially released the final list of the last three outstanding nominees per Nigeria’s six geo-political zones for the upcoming National Legislative Award, scheduled to take place in July 2026.

After a rigorous selection process incorporating input from Nigerian citizens and the National Assembly Press Corps, the Foundation and Partners finalized the roster of distinguished Senators and House of Representatives members who have demonstrated exceptional legislative performance.

The nominees are grouped by geo-political zone as follows:

*SOUTH EAST*

*Senate*
Sen. Enyinnaya Abariba
Sen. Victor Umeh
Sen. Osita Izunaso

*House of Reps*
Hon. Benjamin Kalu
Hon. Dominic Okafor
Hon. Chike Okafor

*SOUTH SOUTH*

*Senate*
Sen. Seriake Dickson
Sen. Adams Oshiomole
Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong

*House of Reps*
Hon. Frederick Agbedi
Hon. Francis Waive
Hon. Inombek Awaji-Abiante

*SOUTH WEST*

*Senate*
Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele
Sen. Solomon Olamilekan
Sen. Abdulfattah Buhari

*House of Reps*
Hon. Akin Rotimi
Hon. Babajimi Benson
Hon. Oluwole Oke

*NORTH CENTRAL*

*Senate*
Sen. Sani Musa
Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduanghan
Sen. Aliyu Wadada

*House of Reps*
Hon. Terseer Ugbor
Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi
Hon. Jonathan G. Gaza

*NORTH EAST*

*Senate*
Sen. Abdul Ninji
Sen. Muhammed Monguno
Sen. Muhammed Danjuma Goje

*House of Reps*
Hon. Laori K. Bitrus
Hon. Ahmadu Usman Jaha
Hon. Bello Usman Kumo

*NORTH WEST*

*Senate*
Sen. Hussaini Babangida Uba
Sen. Sunday Katung
Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

*House of Reps*
Hon. Hassan Fulata
Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki
Hon. Sada Soli

According to the Organisers, these nominees represent the *“last three”* standing per zone following extensive voting by Nigerian public and legislative correspondents. They have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to lawmaking, oversight, and constituency representation.

*Voting For The Next Stage Now Open*
The HallowMace Foundation and Partners hereby announce that voting for the final selection stage has commenced effective today, April 16, 2026. In this crucial phase, members of the public are invited to vote to select one Senator and one House of Representatives member per geo-political zone from the list of final nominees.

Email: thenationallegislativeawards@gmail.com

This stage of voting shall close on the last day of April 2026 (April 30, 2026) . Winners will be determined by a combination of public votes and final validation by the National Assembly Press Corps.

The National Legislative Award ceremony is set to hold in July 2026, where the final winners will be unveiled and celebrated for their dedication to the Nigerian project.

*About HallowMace Foundation*
The HallowMace Foundation is a non-partisan organization committed to promoting legislative excellence and accountability across Nigeria.

*Signed:*

Amb. Oguh Hyginus John
*Head, Public Communications Desk*
The National Legislative Awards Planning Committee

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Business & Economy

PPP Business Model Responsible for Success of NLNG -Fubara *Pledges Continued support for Corporate Organizations operating in Rivers State

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Rivers state governor Siminalayi Fubara(right) New CEO of the NLNG, Mr Adeleye Falade(left)

By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has attributed the success of the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas ( NLNG) Limited to the Public Private Partnership ( PPP) business model adopted by the Federal Government and the multinational oil companies from the inception of the organisation.

Governor Fubara stated this while receiving the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NLNG, Mr Adeleye Falade who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The NLNG is jointly owned by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 49%, Shell Gas B.V. with 25.6%, Total LNG Nigeria Ltd with 15%, and Eni International with 10.4%.This partnership model allows for shared risks, costs, and expertise in the LNG sector.


L to R: Miss Homa Nmegbu, Govt. Relations Advisor; Abdul Saleh, Technical Adviser to Exexutive Management; Dr Yemi Adeyemi, Manager Community Relations; Abdul Umar, Manager, Government Relations; Engr Adeleye Falade, MD/CEO, Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara; Dr Sophia Horsfall, GM, External Relations & Sustainable Development; Mike Igoni, Head, Govt Relations; Ifeanyi Umeh, Head Community Engagement & Liaison, Kate Allison, Senior Govt Relations Advisor and Emma Nwatu, Senior Media Advisor, in a group photograph during the courtesy visit on Wednesday.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary,Onwuka Nzeshi, governor Fubara observed that the NLNG has not only survived the difficult business environment but has made sustained progress in the nearly three decades of its existence. According to him, the decision of the Federal Government to allow the multinational oil companies who have the needed expertise to run the establishment while government plays a supervisory role over it, has largely been responsible for its success.

” I’m very proud to say that if there is one establishment that has shown resilience, that has survived in the face of all the political issues prevalent in this country, it is the NLNG. And what is the reason? The reason is very simple. Government has no business in business. That is the truth. Leave the business for those people who can operate it. Let the government play its supervisory role to ensure that there is compliance with the laws; ensure that standards are maintained and also ensure that the right people with the needed expertise are at the helm of affairs. That’s all. I think that is the reason why we still record a lot of successes in NLNG,” he said.

Governor Fubara pledged the continued support of his administration for the NLNG, stressing that the success of the organisation is equally the success of the government of Rivers State and the success of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He gave assurance that his administration will continue to contribute it’s own quota in support of the NLNG.

“Our duty is to make sure that we support whoever is operating in our state. We are the ones here. If we don’t support you and you don’t succeed, we also will not succeed and Mr President will also not succeed.
“So the success of your establishment is the success of our state, and overall success of Nigeria. So you can count on our support. Wherever you think we need to come in to support you, please do not hesitate to call upon us.
“You just mentioned here that your predecessor left a handover note showcasing the level of support that he got from the state. It is not going to be different in your own case. I can assure you that. I will also ensure that other units of the government will liaise with you when necessary. So even if you can’t get to me, you can always get to them and if there is anything we can do to help your establishment succeed, we will do it for you,” he said.

In his opening remark, the new CEO of the NLNG, Mr Adeleye Falade who led other top officials of the company on the visit, expressed appreciation for the audience granted them and appealed to the Government of Rivers State to continue to support the organisation.

” We appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and deepen this important relationship.We deeply value the support the Rivers State Government continues to extend in fostering an enabling operating environment for businesses. NLNG remains deliberate in its contribution to Nigeria’s development, and Rivers State, our primary host, continues to be central to that commitment,” he said.
The company, Falade said, has continued to work with its host communities to strengthen their capacity to identify, prioritise, and deliver sustainable development initiatives that create lasting impact. According to him
communities including Amadi-ama, Abua, Ekpeye, Okrika, Kalabari, and Emohua have continued to benefit from this model. He said that beyond community infrastructure, the NLNG have sustained investments in economic empowerment through initiatives such as Vocational Innovation and Business Empowerment Scheme (VIBES) and Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) schemes. These, he said, were designed to support small businesses, build capacity, and stimulate local enterprise across the state.
Among officials of the company who accompanied the Managing Director where General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall; Manager, Government Relations, Mr Abdul Umar; Manager, Community Relations; Dr Yemi Adeyemi; Head of Government Relations, Mr Mike Igoni; Head of Community Liaison and Engagement, Chief Ifeanyi Umeh. Others are Technical Assistant to Executive Leadership, Mr Hassan Saleh; Senior Media and Publicity Advisor, Mr Emma Nwatu; Government Relations Advisor, Miss Homa Nmegbu, Senior Government Relations Advisor, Mrs Kate Allison and Audio -Visual Advisor, Mr Dawood Ahmed.

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Business & Economy

*HallowMace Africa and Partners Announce First Stage Results For July 2026 National Legislative Awards*

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*Abuja, Nigeria, April 1st, 2026.* HallowMace Africa, a leading media and advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting legislative accountability and excellence, has officially released the results of the first stage of voting for its highly anticipated July 2026 National Legislative Awards.

Following an intensive initial voting phase, Nigerians, in collaboration with the National Assembly Press Corps, have successfully nominated a distinguished list of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives. These nominees represent the pinnacle of legislative performance across the nation’s six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory.

The first stage of voting saw robust participation from citizens and accredited press corps members, who evaluated lawmakers based on legislative impact, constituency representation, and public service delivery.

*List Of Outstanding Nominees By Geo-Political Zone:*

*SOUTH EAST*

*Abia:* Sen. Enyinnaya Abariba (Senate); Hon. Benjamin Kalu (Reps)

*Anambra:* Sen. Victor Umeh (Senate); Hon. Dominic Okafor (Reps)

*Ebonyi:* Sen. Peter Nwaebonyi (Senate); Hon. Nkemkanma Kama (Reps)

*Enugu:* Sen. Osita Ngwu (Senate); Hon. John Nnolim (Reps)

*Imo:* Sen. Osita Izunaso (Senate); Hon. Chike Okafor (Reps)

*SOUTH SOUTH*

*Akwa Ibom:* Sen. Godswill Akpabio (Senate); Hon. Patrick Umoh-Ikor (Reps)

*Bayelsa:* Sen. Seriake Dickson (Senate); Hon. Frederick Agbedi (Reps)

*Delta:* Sen. Ned Nwoko (Senate); Hon. Francis Waive (Reps)

*Edo:* Sen. Adams Oshiomole (Senate); Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (Reps)

*Cross River:* Sen. Asuquo Elpenyong (Senate); Hon. Michael Etaba (Reps)

*Rivers:* Sen. Harry Banigo (Senate); Hon. Inombek Awaji-Abiante (Reps)

*SOUTH WEST*

*Ekiti:* Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (Senate); Hon. Akor Rotimi (Reps)

*Lagos:* Sen. Adetokunbo Abiru (Senate); Hon. Babajimi Benson (Reps)

*Ogun:* Sen. Solomon Olamilekan (Senate); Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim (Reps)

*Ondo:* Sen. Emmanuel Ipimsagba Olajide (Senate); Hon. Donald Ojogo (Reps)

*Osun:* Sen. Francis Adenigba Fadaunsi (Senate); Hon. Oluwole Oke (Reps)

*Oyo:* Sen. Abdulfattah Buhari (Senate); Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (Reps)

*NORTH CENTRAL*

*Kwara:* Sen. Saliu Mustapha (Senate); Hon. Muktar Shagaya (Reps)

*Benue:* Sen. Abba Moro (Senate); Hon. Terseer Ugbor (Reps)

*Niger:* Sen. Sani Musa (Senate); Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi (Reps)

*Kogi:* Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduanghan (Senate); Hon. Leke Abejide (Reps)

*Nasarawa:* Sen. Aliyu Wadada (Senate); Hon. Jonathan G. Gaza (Reps)

*Plateau:* Sen. Diket Plang (Senate); Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (Reps)

*NORTH EAST*

*Adamawa:* Sen. Abass Aminu Iya (Senate); Hon. Laori K. Bitrus (Reps)

*Bauchi:* Sen. Abdul Ninji (Senate); Hon. Manu Soro Mansur (Reps)

*Borno:* Sen. Muhammed Monguno (Senate); Hon. Ahmadu Usman Jaha (Reps)

*Gombe:* Sen. Muhammed Danjuma Goje (Senate); Hon. Bello Usman Kumo (Reps)

*Taraba:* Sen. David Jumkuta (Senate); Hon. Jaafara Yakubu (Reps)

*Yobe:* Sen. Ahmad Lawan (Senate); Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim (Reps)

*NORTH WEST*

*Jigawa:* Sen. Hussaini Babangida Uba (Senate); Hon. Hassan Fulata (Reps)

*Kaduna:* Sen. Sunday Katung (Senate); Hon. Shehu Agilo (Reps)

*Kano:* Sen. Jubil Barau (Senate); Hon. Aliyu Madaki (Reps)

*Katsina:* Sen. Abdulazeez Musa Yar’Adua (Senate); Hon. Sada Soli (Reps)

*Kebbi:* Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (Senate); Hon. Bello Kaoje (Reps)

*Sokoto:* Sen. Amimu Waziri Tambuwal (Senate); Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (Reps)

*Zamfara:* Sen. Bilbis Aliyu Ikra (Senate); Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji (Reps)

*FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY*

*FCT:* Sen. Ireti Kingibe (Senate); Hon. Ajiya Abdulrahman (Reps)

*Next Stage of Voting*
With the first stage concluded, the competition now enters a critical phase. The goal is to identify one Most Outstanding Senator and one Most Outstanding House of Representatives member per geo-political zone.

In the upcoming second stage, the current list of nominees will be narrowed down to a final three (3) nominees per zone. These top three finalists will then advance to the final voting stage, where the ultimate winner for each geo-political zone will be determined.

*“The massive participation we witnessed in the first stage is a testament to the growing interest of Nigerians in legislative accountability,” said Amb. Anderson Osiebe, Executive Director, HallowMace Africa. “As we proceed to the next stage, we urge the public to remain engaged. We are committed to a transparent process that celebrates the lawmakers who truly exemplify service to the people.”*

*Voting links and timelines for the next stage is as follows:*
thenationallegislativeawards@gmail.com

The voting commences immediately using the above email, *also this voting timeline shall expire on the 14th day of April 2026 by 11:59pm.*

The National Legislative Awards 2026 is Powered by HallowMace Africa in partnership with International Goodwill Ambassador Club, ERGAF Africa, Isabella Ayuk Foundation and many others.

*About HallowMace Africa*
HallowMace Africa is a non-governmental organization focused on promoting democratic values, legislative excellence, and civic engagement across the African continent.

*Media Contact:*
Amb. Oguh Hyginus John
*Head of Public Communications Desk*
HallowMace Africa

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