The Federal Government says Nigeria has so far lost more than N1.3 billion to the outbreak of Tuta absoluta, commonly known as the tomato leaf miner or “Tomato Ebola” in three states.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said this at the ongoing four-day capacity-building workshop for financial institutions on Wednesday in Abuja.

The workshop is organised by HortiNigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending Plc.

Kyari said the outbreak had consequently led to the surge of a 50-kilogramme basket of tomatoes from N5,000 to N10,000 and approximately N30,000, thereby exacerbating food inflation and straining household budgets.

According to him, the states where the losses were recorded include Kano, Katsina and Kaduna.

He explained that tomato ebola had underscored the fragility of the country’s horticultural systems, adding that the invasive pest could decimate tomato crops within 48 hours, leading to catastrophic yield losses.

According to him, this crisis highlights the urgent need for integrated pest management strategies, investment in resilient crop varieties and enhanced support for farmers to safeguard the country’s food supply chains.

He said, “Tomatoes and peppers, essential ingredients in virtually every Nigerian kitchen, serve as baseline commodities for daily cooking.

“When the prices of these staples spike, they set off a chain reaction that affects the cost of meals across homes, restaurants and food vendors.

“According to the 2024 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), tomatoes led the food price index with a staggering 320 per cent year-on-year increase, followed by peppers and other produce.

“These spikes disproportionately affect low-income households, underlining the urgent need for more stable production, better storage and accessible finance across the horticulture value chain.”

The minister said horticulture, often described as the “sleeping giant” of Nigerian agriculture, held immense promise that the country must awaken.

According to him, in doing that, we must ensure access to sustainable and well-structured financing.

Kyari, who identified horticulture as the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, flowers, and ornamentals, described it as far more than a sub-sector of agriculture.

According to him, it is a dynamic engine for rural transformation, job creation, improved nutrition and trade diversification.

”With increasing urbanisation and growing awareness of healthy diets, consumer demand for fresh and diverse produce is rising rapidly. Horticulture is well-positioned to meet this demand,” he added.

He added that in spite of the challenges in the horticulture sector, it remained one of the most promising frontiers for agricultural transformation.

He noted that, unlike staple crop farming, horticulture offered higher value per hectare, ideal for smallholder commercialisation, shorter production cycles and allowing multiple harvests annually.

He further said that the sector had greater labour absorption, creating year-round employment, especially for women and youth, strong linkages to processing, packaging, retail and export markets.

“The sector also offers climate resilience through protected cultivation and irrigation systems, urban food access through peri-urban farming and logistics integration.

“Horticulture is a high-impact, high-return opportunity sitting at the intersection of agriculture, health, industry, and trade,” he emphasised.

The minister listed key contributions of the sector to the country’s agricultural transformation as diversification of agricultural production and incomes, food and nutrition security, employment and youth engagement.

Other contributions, according to him, include import substitution and export potential, climate adaptation and resilience, as well as urban market integration.

Kyari explained that the sector enabled smallholder farmers to diversify their production portfolios and earn steady incomes outside traditional grain cycles.

“Crops like tomatoes, pineapples, cucumbers, citrus and plantains have huge domestic demand and are increasingly becoming important commercial crops.

“On food and nutrition security, horticultural crops are rich sources of vitamins A, C, iron, zinc, and folate nutrients vital for child development, maternal health and disease prevention.

“Scaling up their production and affordability is key to ending malnutrition in all its forms,” he added.

He urged financial institutions to map and understand the horticulture value chain from seed to shelf.

He further urged them to move beyond generic lending and develop tailored products that aligned with the specific stages of the value chain.

He also urged them to develop fit-for-purpose financial products, including seasonal credit lines, equipment leasing, invoice discounting, and trade financing.

Horticulture is not only a farming activity; it is a vibrant agribusiness ecosystem with scalable investment opportunities that can drive inclusive growth and food system transformation in Nigeria.

“Together, we can unlock the power of horticulture to nourish our people, build wealth and drive inclusive, sustainable growth.

“By building your capacity and investing wisely in the horticulture value chain, you are not just financing crops, you are financing livelihoods, nutrition, resilience, and inclusive growth and sowing the seeds for a healthier, wealthier, and more resilient Nigeria,” he further said.

NAN

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said politics remains a game of interest, but interest of all concerned must be factored in any political move.

Naija News reported that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, in its last meeting in Ibadan, dissociated the party from any coalition ahead of 2027.

Speaking with the Nation, Makinde said the party was not well informed on what it stands to benefit from coalition to unseat the current administration.

“Politics is a game of interest. You must be interested; you must have alignment with the wider organs of your party before you go out to meet other people. If you remember in 2019, even here in Oyo State with my election, we went into coalition with parties. But, the organs of the party in Oyo State and myself, as the candidate of the party were in agreement. And when we became successful, it was not difficult for me to cede positions to parties that were within that coalition. That was possible because we followed the process.

“We didn’t just wake up and say me as xyz in the party, just draw the party into any arrangements when the party organs do not have clue on what you are doing. They have no clue of what is in this coalition for them. They also have no clue whether this is personal or you are doing this in the best interest of the party and the people of Nigeria. Those are critical,” he said.

The Governor of Oyo refuted that the governors opposed the coalition move because they were working for President Bola Tinubu‘s second tenure.

While not dismissing the rights of individual members of the party to associate with any group, he said the party has yet to be informed what it would gain from the coalition.

“I totally disagree with those insinuations. First, there must be a process. If the managers of the party, the organs of the party are going into a merger or coalition, there’s a need for the managers of the party to know. But, it is still within the right of individuals to associate with whoever they want to associate with. But, as a party, we haven’t gotten there,” he stated.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said that it has recorded a significant breakthrough in its fight against transnational organised crime with the arrest of two international wanted fugitives: Felix Omoregie alias “Eghosa Johnson Omoregie,” a suspected ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities, and Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje, a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang.

Felix Omoregie, the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operations, had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice issued on December 19, 2023, and was arrested in Benin City, Edo State, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by Police operatives. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin City.

Omoregie is accused of trafficking young Nigerian women—including minors—to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging between €20,000 and €50,000 used to manipulate and control them.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Wednesday, said Omoregie’s criminal network involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remitted proceeds to him.

“Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organization leadership, Omoregie fled to Nigeria. Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada,” he stated.

ACP Adejobi also revealed that in a separate operation, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja apprehended 37-year-old Okwudili Sabastine Ezeje at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State. Ezeje is wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a series of serious crimes, including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organised criminal activities.

“Intelligence gathered reveals that Ezeje continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria. He has been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall, a targeted hit on Al Ansari Exchange in Jumeirah, and another heist at a Bureau de Change in Jebel Ali Village.

“The arrest was the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police. The arraignment of Okwudili Ezeje is expected to take place shortly,” he stated.

He added that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, commended all operatives involved in the high-profile arrests for their professionalism, diligence, and dedication to upholding Nigeria’s international law enforcement obligations. “The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to enhancing its global policing partnerships and ensuring that fugitives find no safe haven within our borders,” he said. “These arrests serve as a clear message that criminal elements, no matter how far they run or how long they hide, will be brought to justice. The Force calls on citizens to remain vigilant and cooperative in the fight against organized crime, both at home and abroad.”

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the ‘Nigeria First’ policy of the Bola Tinubu administration is a public relations gimmick.

Abubakar’s position was conveyed in a press statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, his special assistant on public communication. 

On May 5, the federal executive council (FEC) approved a ‘Nigeria First’ policy aimed at prioritising the use of locally made goods and services in all government procurements. 

Abubakar said the mantra is “another tired PR stunt — designed to deceive, not deliver”.

“Nigerians have grown weary of hollow speeches. If this government is truly serious about local content and economic patriotism, it must start at the very top,” he said.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023 challenged Tinubu to set the tone by replacing his Escalade car with a made-in-Nigeria vehicle. 

“We challenge President Tinubu to stop the noise and trade in his beloved Escalade for an Innoson, Nord or any made-in-Nigeria car,” he said.

“That single act will do more to promote local industry than a thousand policy memos.” 

Abubakar also asked cabinet members to walk the talk by buying Nigeria.

“Let’s see the ministers — those shameless Rolls Royce connoisseurs — sweat it out in Nigerian-made vehicles too. Or is ‘Nigeria First’ only for the masses?” he added.

‘DOUBLE STANDARD’

The politician also criticised the president’s preference for holidays abroad.

“And speaking of double standards, it’s time Mr President shelves his love affair with Paris and London,” the statement reads.

“If he’s serious about patriotism, his next vacation should be at Obudu Cattle Ranch, Yankari Game Reserve, or Erin Ijesha Waterfalls. Nigeria is beautiful — unless, of course, the president thinks otherwise.

“More importantly, the era of jetting off for medical tourism while preaching self-reliance must end.

“We demand that President Tinubu — champion of ‘Nigeria First’— conduct all future medical check-ups at LUTH, National Hospital Abuja, UCH Ibadan, or even the ₦41 billion Akwa Ibom world-class hospital built by the uncommon transformer, in Uyo.

“If these hospitals are good enough for ordinary Nigerians, they should be good enough for their commander-in-chief. Anything less is sheer hypocrisy.

“This government’s addiction to foreign luxuries while demanding sacrifice from suffering Nigerians is the height of insincerity. True leadership isn’t photo-ops or soundbites — it’s setting the tone by example.”

The statement added that Nigerians deserve “real commitment, not this never-ending charade”.

On Friday, Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno south, expressed support for the federal government’s decision to ban the importation of goods that can be produced locally.

The lawmaker described the move as a “bold initiative” that could boost the economy and empower local entrepreneurs.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has stated that the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is proof that anti-malpractice measures are working effectively, particularly within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) system.

His comments come in the wake of widespread concerns following JAMB’s release of data showing that out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the exam, only about 420,000 scored above 200. More than 78% failed to meet the 200-mark threshold.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa attributed the poor performance to reduced cheating due to JAMB’s stringent security protocols.

His words: “That’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done the proper way.

“JAMB conducts its exam using a computer-based testing system. They’ve implemented strong security measures, and as a result, fraud or cheating has been completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.”

Alausa revealed that shortly after taking office, the government carried out a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s examination systems, and as part of reforms, he announced that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) will begin transitioning to computer-based testing (CBT) starting November 2025 with objective papers, followed by full CBT adoption, including essay sections, by May/June 2026.

His words: “We have to use technology to fight this fraud. There are so many ‘miracle centres’, and that is simply unacceptable. People cheat during WAEC and NECO exams and then face JAMB, where cheating is nearly impossible. That’s the disparity we’re seeing now. It’s sad.

“The worst part of cheating is that it disincentivises the hard-working ones. If I’m preparing for WAEC or NECO and I know some classmates already have access to the questions, do you think I’ll still study hard?

“No, I’ll be tempted to join them. That’s how good students are corrupted, and that’s exactly what we must stop.” 

Addressing whether the poor results were due to weak enforcement or a genuine drop in academic standards, the minister admitted both played a role but stressed that widespread malpractice was the root issue.

“We’re addressing the quality of teaching and using technology, including online classes, to support learning from primary to secondary levels. But the pervasive cheating in our high school exams, especially WAEC and NECO, is the core problem,” he said.

“JAMB is now almost 100 per cent fraud-free, but WAEC and NECO still have major lapses. Our youths are intelligent, capable, and energetic. It’s the environment that corrupts them, and we’re determined to fix that.”

The leadership of the 10th Senate has postponed the passage of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills to Wednesday for proper scrutiny and debate.

The four bills, Nigerian Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, Revenue Tax Board Bill, and Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill were forwarded by the President six months ago as part of efforts to reform the country’s fiscal policies and boost revenue generation.

The delay in the passage of the bills had raised concerns, especially after the House of Representatives approved them two weeks ago, putting pressure on the Red Chamber.

In a related development, the Senate leadership resolved to hold a two-day national security summit to brainstorm a solution to the rising wave of killings and other forms of insecurity in the country.

The decision followed a motion sponsored by Jimoh Ibrahim, senator representing Ondo south, at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

While on a working visit to France, bandits in a senseless campaign of violence killed innocent Nigerians in Plateau, Benue and Zamfara States, culminating in calls for President Bola Tinubu to cut short his vacation to return home to lead the fight against insecurity from the front.

Leading the debate, Ibrahim said the “high level” of global insecurity is driven by events in Russia and Ukraine and compounded by tensions between the global north and global south.

According to him, the issues have continuously worsened food insecurity and affected the attainment of the sustainable development goals.

The former Ondo governorship aspirant emphasised that the ongoing trade tariff war in America and the growing emphasis on balance of power in global affairs are gradually giving way to a new world order.

“This new order reflects in immigration policies, visa cancellations by new regimes, and countries raising funds by selling citizenship — all of which fuel economic conflict and undermine globalisation pursued over the last sixty years,” he said.

Continuing, Ibrahim said Nigeria must clarify its strategic engagement in international affairs, noting that the Senate has a role in advising the executive to maximise national interest

“The next world war may not even require the fanfare of militarism. The incredible growing economic war is gaining ground with destructive innovation in security globally

“There is a need for alternative language in military engagement as well as enhanced funding to advance the professional practices and respected tradition of the future military,” he stated.

He therefore called for an “empirical fact-finding national security summit” to help develop far-reaching solutions.

The senator representing Katsina South, Mohammed Dandutse, seconded the motion, saying the lack of intelligence sharing among security agencies was a major setback.

He said, “Nigeria is blessed, we have no other country except Nigeria. We have to face these criminals squarely. No country succeeds except with peace and security.

“The security agencies are given funding. So there is a need for the judicious spending of these resources.”

The senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe and the senator representing Kebbi Central, Adamu Aliero, however, disagreed with the move.

  Both lawmakers argued that a security summit may not be the solution

The senator representing Benue North-West, Titus Zam and the senate minority leader, Abba Moro,, countered their view by backing the motion.

At the end, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, and the majority of senators voted in favour of the summit.

Akpabio, however, proposed that the summit should last for two days instead of the three days proposed by Ibrahim.

The senate subsequently resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to organise the two-day national security summit in Abuja

The event will include delegates from all levels of government, as well as traditional institutions.

The red chamber also urged the federal government to review and rejig the country’s security policies based on outcomes from the summit.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded its investigation into the helicopter crash that killed Herbert Wigwe and his family last year.

In the final aviation investigation report seen by TheCable, the NTSB said the probable cause of the crash was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

On February 9, 2024, Wigwe, the former group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, died in a helicopter crash alongside his wife, Doreen; their first son, Chizi; and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group).

The crash which occurred in California, near the Nevada border, involved the helicopter with registration N130CZ and claimed the lives of all six passengers on board.

Over a year after the incident, the NTSB report revealed that the “pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while maneuvering the helicopter in IMC, which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain”.

The report added that the helicopter company’s inadequate oversight of its safety management processes was a contributing cause of the crash.

The NTSB found that the company failed to ensure that pilots accurately completed and updated the flight risk analysis, logged maintenance discrepancies, and adhered to Part 135 regulations before departure.

The investigation report revealed that during the return flight, the pilot had texted the director of maintenance (DOM) about an issue with the radar altimeter.

“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determines the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control,” a part of the report reads.

“Contributing to the accident was the company’s inadequate oversight of its safety management processes, including ensuring the pilots were accurately completing and updating the flight risk analysis, logging maintenance discrepancies, and ensuring the helicopter met Part 135 regulations before departure.

“During the return flight, the pilot texted the director of maintenance (DOM) about the issue. After arriving at the company’s flight operations base, the pilot discussed the issue with the company flight follower (who was also the company’s president).

“A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue, and the radar altimeter remained non-functional.

“The mechanic reported that the pilot and the DOM were aware that the radar altimeter was not functioning, yet they departed at 1822 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers.

“About 40 minutes later, the positioning flight landed at the airport to pick up the charter passengers. After arrival, the pilot and flight follower had a phone conversation and exchanged text messages, but they did not discuss the status of the radar altimeter or weather conditions.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed his belief in the indigenous capability of Nigerian talent.

He insisted that Nigeria has the ability to chart its own path to success, declaring that the country possesses all the resources, both human and material, needed for greatness.

Obasanjo stated this on Monday at the inauguration of new substations of the Geometric Power Plant in Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State.

He disclosed that he decided to issue a licence to Prof. Barth Nnaji to operate the power company due to his faith in Nigeria’s indigenous capabilities.

He praised the progress recorded by Geometric Power, describing it as proof that Nigerians can deliver on complex projects if given the opportunity.

“When I was giving you the encouragement, two people came to me to ask why I was giving Nigerians such responsibility, that they would disappoint me. You have not disappointed me and you did not disappoint all those, including everyone that supported you to realise this project,” Obasanjo said.

He stressed that the success of Geometric Power was a lesson in self-belief and self-reliance.

“The lesson to learn again here, within ourselves, among ourselves, and by ourselves, is that we have what it takes to develop,” Obasanjo added.

The former President also called on Nnaji to extend the reach of Geometric Power’s distribution services to other parts of the state to enhance development and industrialization.

Kano State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old woman, Saudat Jibril, for allegedly killing her husband, Salisu Idris, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The incident, which happened in Farawa Quarters, reportedly involved the use of a sharp knife, with the victim sustaining fatal injuries to the throat.

The police confirmed the incident in a press release issued on Tuesday afternoon, stating that the suspect is now in custody and will face charges of culpable homicide.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 12:35 a.m. on May 6, 2025.

The police statement added that the victim, 30-year-old Salisu Idris, was rushed to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital following the attack but was declared dead by medical personnel.

“Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, swiftly deployed a team of detectives to the scene.

“The suspect has been apprehended and is currently in custody at the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Homicide Section,” the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, said in a statement.

Kiyawa further stated that investigations are ongoing and that the suspect will be charged in court upon conclusion of preliminary inquiries.

The State Commissioner of Police, while reacting to the incident, condemned the act and reiterated the Command’s resolve to clamp down on all forms of criminality.

“The Command will not tolerate any form of violence or criminal behaviour in Kano State. We are committed to ensuring justice is served, and we urge members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with investigators,” the commissioner said.

Meanwhile, residents of Farawa Quarters, where the couple reportedly lived, expressed shock at the development, describing the incident as both tragic and disturbing.

The motive behind the killing is still unknown as police continue their investigation.

The Senate is planning a security summit that would proffer lasting solutions to the growing insecurity in the country, typified by unprovoked killings and abductions for ransom.

A resolution to that effect was adopted following a motion on the escalating security threats in many parts of the country.

While Northeastern Nigeria has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram terrorists, the Northwest has become a haven for armed bandits and marauders.

Senators who contributed to the debate lamented the deteriorating security situation in the country and how the capacity of the security agencies is being overstretched.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who sponsored the motion, attributed the growing insecurity in Nigeria partly to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

According to him, the insecurity has become daunting due to the new order in some of the advanced countries.

He cited the biting effects of the tariff war in America and other industrial economies, raising tensions over the balance of power among various countries.

“The recent events in our region have led to feelings of discomfort and insecurity, which have placed the past accomplishments of our security forces at risk, even though our military and its partners are striving to address these challenges.

“They do not have solutions to the global economic conflict or the effects of new American tariffs and tensions with China.

“As a result, insecurity across Nigeria has become pervasive, impacting both urban and rural areas, where banditry, kidnappings and terrorism are pressing issues across the country, as well as other violent crimes,” Ibrahim said.

Bauchi central senator Abdul Ningi lamented how security operatives are being lost to bandit attacks across the country.

According to him, bandits have taken over many communities in Zamfara, Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi and Sokoto states.

Ningi also drew attention to the presence of bandits in many of the forests surrounding the satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Senator Ennyinaya Abaribe, in his contribution, said there is hardly any member of the National Assembly who did not know the nature of security challenges in their constituencies.

Abaribe said nothing would come out of the planned security summit without genuine commitment by all concerned.

On his part, Minority Leader Abba Moro decried the incessant killings and kidnappings in his native Benue State. He expressed the hope that the envisaged security summit would allow experts to suggest solutions.

“Mr President, I want to say that what is before us now is whether we want to convene a national security summit or not, and if you ask me, I will say yes. Security is everyone’s business, and in proffering solutions, all must be carried along,” he said.

Similarly, Benue North West senator Titus Zam told the Senate that bandits had taken over many communities in his senatorial district.

Zam added that the invading bandits have been hosting strange flags in many communities in Benue State, saying that drastic action must be taken to recover the affected areas.

After listening to the contributions, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, agreed to the idea of holding the summit.

Akpabio expressed optimism that the planned summit would proffer solutions to the nation’s security challenges.

According to him, governors, traditional rulers, service chiefs, security experts and other key stakeholders are expected to participate in the summit.

The Senate, however, has not fixed a definite date for the planned summit.