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Food Crises: Tinubu’s Doors Are Shut, Not Reachable, Says Ndume

Published

1 year ago

July 10, 2024

Eric

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has expressed concern over the rising cost of living and food scarcity.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ndume said the federal government’s inability to address these issues is a major challenge, adding that some ministers are unable to meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the matter.

He said: “The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies.”

He spoke shortly after he and his colleague, Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, sponsored a motion to address the food crisis in the country.

They noted that the World Food Programme has warned that 82 million Nigerians are likely to face food insecurity in the next five years.

The senator said the aim of the motion was to draw the government’s attention to the severity of the food crisis affecting many Nigerians.

He expressed concern that if the government does not take urgent action, the situation could lead to famine and starvation, especially among children.

“We want to draw the government’s attention to the fact that Nigeria is not only facing a high cost of living but also food scarcity.”

“We want the President to intervene in the issue of high cost of living and food scarcity”, he said.

He cited the example of Katsina State, where children are already suffering from malnutrition due to food scarcity.

He also mentioned the situation in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying due to hunger.

“We have seen how it happened in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying due to hunger, and we are starting to see it in Nigeria, Senator Ndume,” the senator added.

While calling on the government to take immediate action to address the food crisis, including meeting with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution, he expressed disappointment that the government had not taken any concrete steps to address the issue, despite its promise to do so.

“What we want the government to do is to sit with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution to the problem. We are urging the government to take action, lest they forget that Nigeria is grappling with both soaring prices and a severe food shortage.”

“We fear that a day may come when even if someone has the financial means to purchase food, they will go to the market and find none available” he said.

Daily Trust

News

OAU: MicCom Institutes Financial Awards for Best Graduating Student, Producing Dept

Published

11 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Makers of fine quality cables and wires, MicCom Cables and Wires Limited, has instituted an annual financial awards to reward the best graduating student, and the department that produces the best graduating student in the Faculty of Technology of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. The awards take off with immediate effect.

The revelation was made by the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, while delivering a speech during the 49th Convocation Ceremony of the institution, held at the school’s Amphitheater.

Speaking before a crowd of graduands, academic and non-academic staff, dignitaries and the general public, an elated Bamire announced that the award is instituted in honour of Engr. (Mrs.) Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, co-founder of MicCom Cables and Wires, and mother of the present Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Olubukola Adubi.

“MicCom Cables and Wires Limited has instituted an Annual Financial Award in honour of Engr. (Mrs) Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, FNSE, for the Best Overall Graduating Student (BOGS) in the Faculty of Technology (One Million Naira) and the sum of Ten Million Naira to the Department where the BOGS emerges in the Faculty of Technology.

“This award celebrates exceptional students and the invaluable role of their department in shaping and fostering the future of Engineering and Technology.

“The award is to be presented annually during the University Graduation Ceremony starting this year, 2025. This is to empower the next generation of engineers,” VC Bamire said.

Mrs Ponnle, a certified engineer, died in October 2012 at the age of 68.

This year’s awards were quickly presented to the 2025 winner, Amuke Sunday, who emerged the overall graduating student, while his department, Computer Science and Engineering carted away the N10 million grant.

The CEO of MicCom, Mrs Adubi, was on hand to make the presentations, supported by members of the academic community.

News

N150m Spiritual Intercession Demand: Power Minister Adelabu Petitions DSS Against Primate Ayodele

Published

3 days ago

December 12, 2025

Eric

The Minister of Power, Mr. Bayo Adelabu, has accused Primate Elijah Ayodele, the founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, of blackmail and attempting to extort N150 million from him for “spiritual intercession” to make him governor of Oyo state.

Adelabu, a former governorship candidate, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 Oyo governorship election.

In a petition dated October 13, 2025, signed by Bolaji Tunji, the minister’s special adviser on strategic communications and media relations, to the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adelabu accused Ayodele of making false prophecies intended to malign his reputation after he rebuffed all efforts from the cleric, who allegedly demanded a huge sum of money and expensive spiritual items.

In a series of text messages between Ayodele and Adelabu, seen by TheCable, the cleric asked the minister to bring 24 APC flags for prayers. The cleric also demanded 1,000 pieces of saxophones/trumpets, with the least expensive Nigerian fairly-used grade costing a total of N50 million and the imported grade-one from China at N130 million in total.

Ayodele asked Adelabu to bring the items by April 1. He later extended the grace till April 4.

“Sir, I don’t do this, but because of the love I have for you,” the primate wrote.

The cleric told the minister that he had sent him several letters while he was CBN deputy governor and other times to the minister in Ibadan, but there was no reply. He repeatedly made requests to call the minister, who told him he was on pilgrimage. Ayodele asked him to “recite almu nasira 200 times”.

The cleric told the minister that what he was doing was based on instruction given to him by God. Ayodele repeatedly told the minister that he would rule Oyo state.

”I have divine advice for you sir, which can help a lot sir, kindly pick my call,” a part of the text message read.

”Do vigil and the angel of God is coming to hear request by 1am…I don’t want you to lose the coming election. That is why I’m following the instructions.”

In response, the minister told the cleric that he could not afford the expensive items.

After the incident, Ayodele, while speaking in his church, said Adelabu had failed and would not become Oyo governor.

In some video clips seen by TheCable, Ayodele said Adelabu had made mistakes and his message to the minister was a “warning from God”.

The cleric dared the minister to arrest or sue him.

TheCable

News

Bayelsa Deputy Gov Slumps, Dies at 60

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Eric

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has died. He was 60 years.

The deputy governor reportedly collapsed in his office in Yenagoa on Thursday, December 11, 2025, around 1:30 p.m., and was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

He was admitted into the hospital’s emergency department and placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where efforts to revive him ultimately failed.

Ewhrudjakpo’s media aide, Doubara Atasi, confirmed the death, but declined to provide further details. Hospital sources stated that despite prompt medical attention, the deputy governor could not be revived.

Born on September 5, 1965, Ewhrudjakpo had served as Bayelsa State’s deputy governor since 2020.