Agriculture plan needed to manage recession – Envoy

Nigeria needs an agricultural blueprint to get out of recession, the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy, has said.

Hoy, who spoke when he visited the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in Abuja on Friday, also said Nigerians were presently suffering because the country had failed to leverage on its potential.

The envoy advised the Federal Government to involve farmers in the deployment of technology for mass food production.

Hoy said, “You need a national strategy that involves the farmers and the private sector. My Minister of Agriculture visited Nigeria last year.

“Nigeria is blessed with very good climate and very good soil. The farmers should be rejoicing that they are growing more produce. When I travel around the country, there is a lot of land and you still rely on import to survive.

“The capacity in Nigeria is enormous because opportunities abound in the country. And one of the reasons Nigeria is suffering today is because it has failed to leverage on its potential. You have the capacity to attract Foreign Direct Investment from any part of the world; from the biggest global companies with headquarters in Europe and Ireland.”

He added, “The essence of my visit is to collaborate with Nigeria in the areas of opportunities arising in Nigeria today. We have nine institutions. Some of them are universities, some of them institutions of science and technology. We are requesting a powerful delegation to visit Nigeria from these institutions where we have small number of Nigerian students.

“Today, Nigeria is in recession. One of the challenges it is facing is how to diversify the economy, which must be pursued. One of the reasons why people are suffering is because oil price is low.

“But the capacity in Nigeria is enormous because opportunities abound in the country. And one of the reasons Nigeria is suffering is because Nigeria has failed to leverage on its potential.”

The envoy added, “We have been successful in Ireland; that is why we want to share it with Nigeria, in addition to the opportunities and challenges in the future.”

[Punch]

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One Comment

1. 

   dangle

   September 14, 2016 at 10:48 am

   WHAT PLAN DO YOU HAVE ON THIS? READ BELOW:

   Nigeria News » Headlines » NCEF lists discriminatory appointments against Non-muslims, says Buhari has islamized Nigeria

   NCEF lists discriminatory appointments against Non-muslims, says Buhari has islamized Nigeria
   By Danielle Ogbeche on August 11, 2016

   Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, Solomon Asemota,
   says Nigerians ought to be reminded that the present distress in the
   nation is not an act of God but man-made.

   He said the agenda of the Buhari-led government is to Islamize the
   country which is definitely unfair and unjust to Christians in Nigeria.

   In a press release on Thursday, Asemota listed all appointments in
   the Security Units in the nation, adding that Buhari has ”masterfully
   completed the configuration of the entire National Security
   structure/architecture firmly in the hands of the Northern Hausa-Fulani
   Muslims alone.”

   The statement also contains full list of army officers compulsorily
   retired by Muhammadu Buhari. It said they are 90% non-Muslims which
   projects that Ethnic and Regional cleansing continues.

   The full press statement reads thus:

   “Islamist Jihadists of the Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Ethnic
   Nationalities, who are Negroid immigrants to Nigeria, are pushing the
   nation to an implosion. It is therefore imperative that the remaining
   386 Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria should, as a matter of priority,
   convene a Conference to demonstrate to the few Islamist Jihadists of the
   three Ethnic Nationalities the grave danger of Islamism as a system of
   governance.

   “Nigerians are reminded that the present distress in the nation is
   not an act of God but man-made. The brazen and audacious imposition of
   Islamist Jihadists into key positions in the country is not an
   expression of religious piety but a deliberate manipulation of religion
   for cultural and political domination by three Ethnic Groups. This
   Agenda commenced in 1975 after the overthrow of General Gowon. The
   Islamist Jihadists are a violent and domineering strain of Islam
   rejected by mainstream Muslims.

   “We are reminded that after the Arab Spring, Tunisia and Egypt
   elected Islamists of the Muslim Brotherhood into power. One year later,
   the two Arab Islamic Nations staged another revolution and sacked them.
   If Arab Nations could not tolerate Islamist Jihadists’ domination, we
   wonder how Nigeria, a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-lingual,
   and multi-ethnic nation would cope with the dire consequences of
   flooding government with Islamist Jihadists.

   “The signs are ominous that the Islamist Jihadists, a minority in the
   three Ethnic Nationalities of Arab ancestry, have contrived a
   malevolent agenda against the other 386 Negro Ethnic Nationalities that
   make up Nigeria. These Negro Ethnic Nationalities and non-Islamist
   Jihadists must rise to contain the present challenges especially the
   activities of the murderous Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen that is now
   being strengthened with the discriminatory appointments that weighs very
   much against non-Muslims in Nigeria. The distinction between Negroes
   and Negroids is necessary to reject the assumption of superiority of the
   Negroid of Arab descendants in Nigeria.

   “It is pertinent to explain that there is a difference between Islam and
   Islamism. While Islam is a Religion, Islamism is but a political
   ideology that holds that Islam is not only a religion but a political
   system that must dominate wherever Islam is practiced in the world.
   Islamism is the ideology driving the Taliban, Al Shabab, Al Qaeda, ISIS,
   Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen and others.

   “Islamism operates through religious terrorists and stealthily
   through “Civilization Jihad” (deceit) both seek to undermine democratic
   societies and convert them forcefully to Sharia States. All attempts to
   draw the attention of the Buhari Administration through previous Press
   Releases and Press Conferences have, mischievously, been interpreted as
   politics. We are also dismayed that the Christian Coalition Group as
   well as other arms of Christians in Nigeria that have expressed concern
   about evolving issues in the Nation have been described as members of a
   political party (the PDP). This is a very disappointing response to very
   serious national issues.

   “As Nigerians, we have the right to comment on issues that are of
   great importance to the nation especially when our elected
   representatives chose to be silent. While we were worried about the
   lopsided appointments in the Security Services, we also noticed, a few
   days ago, that the Education Sector has been privatized in the hands of
   only the Fulanis and Islamist Jihadists. Virtually all strategic federal
   educational offices/appointments, have gone to persons with Islamist
   Jihadists tendencies as heads in the universities, polytechnics,
   colleges of education, University Admissions Board (JAMB), Educational
   Funding and Policy Departments, etc. Our concern is not about the job
   and appointments but the fundamental Islamist Jihadists Agenda that is
   playing out in Nigeria. What the list of students’ admission will look
   like in the nearest future in our Nation with an Islamist Jihadist in
   charge of JAMB, we are constrained to ponder.

   “During the 2015 Election a major apprehension was the possibility of
   President Buhari dividing Nigeria along religious lines. This
   apprehension has now been justified as the President has officially
   completed the last phase of the Islamization exercise by instituting a
   strong Islamic foundation throughout the Nigerian Education Sector. Most
   functional Boards in the Civil Service are headed mostly by Muslims and
   Fulanis which is becoming a threat and danger to the very foundation of
   Nigeria. We, as Christians, pray that God will save us from the hands
   of the Islamist Jihadists. We appeal to Mr. President not to set a
   record as the most insensitive President ever in the history of Nigeria.
   Mr. President assured the Nation during his inauguration, that he
   belongs to everybody: “I BELONG TO EVERYBODY, I BELONG TO NOBODY” he
   said. Unfortunately, since coming into office, President Buhari has
   consistently proved that he belongs only to Muslims and the Fulanis. Mr.
   President has finally confirmed what he affirmed in his BBC Hausa
   interview in 2003 when, according to Hope For Nigeria, he stated that he
   would continue in the “quest to ensure that Islamic Sharia is spread
   across Nigeria.”

   Below are some of the very important appointments made by “Federal
   Islamist Jihadist’s imperial Government” to confirm our apprehension:

   Chief Executives of Educational institutions:

   1] Head of Universities: NUC Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed Hausa/Fulani Muslim

   2] Head of Polytechnics: Hausa/Fulani Muslim

   3] Head of Colleges of Education: Prof. Bappah Aliyu Hausa/Fulani Muslim

   4] Head of TETFUND: Dr. Abdulahi Baffa Hausa/Fulani Muslim

   5] Head of JAMB: Prof. Ishaq Oloyede-Professor of Arabic studies–Muslim

   6] Head of UBEC Dr. Hameed Bobboyi: Hausa/Fulani Muslim

   7] Head of NABTEB: Hausa/Fulani Muslim

   8] Head of NTI: Prof. Garba Dahuwa Azare Hausa/Fulani Muslim.

   88% of the appointments are Northern Muslim/Fulani Muslim. (Only one person is from South West, nevertheless, a Muslim.)

   This is in addition of handing over the Security Units in the Nation
   to Muslims. President Buhari has masterfully completed the configuration
   of the entire National Security structure/architecture firmly in the
   hands of the Northern Hausa-Fulani Muslims alone to the exclusion of all
   other ethnic groups in Nigeria. This is definitely unfair, not just to
   Christians but to all non-Muslims in Nigeria.

   The Security Units are configured as follows:

   1. Police IG ……….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   2.Chief of Army Staff ……. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   3. Minister for Defense ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   4. Minister for Internal Affairs …… Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   5. National Security Adviser (NSA) ……… Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   6. DG, Department of State Services (DSS) ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   7. Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   8. Chief of Staff …… Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   9. ADC to President ……. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   10. CSO to President ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   11. Principal Secretary ……. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   12. Private Secretary to President ……. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   13. Protocol to President ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   14. DG Customs ………. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   15. DG, EFCC ……. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   16. DG, Nigeria Prisons ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   17. DG, Immigration …… Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   18. Chairman, INEC …… Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   19. Minister for Petroleum …… Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   20. Minister for FCT …….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   21. President/Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces …………. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   Fellow Nigerians, added to the above disturbing appointments are:

   1. Head of National Assembly/Senate President …… Northern Muslim

   2. Head of Judiciary/Chief Justice of Nigeria ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   3. Head, Federal Courts of Appeal …… Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   4. All Registrars and Principal Officers all Levels of the Federal Judiciary ….. Northern Muslim Hausa-Fulani

   5. Clerk of the National Assembly …… Northern Muslim.

   Police Officers Announced as New AIGs:

   1] Ibrahim Adamu, AIG, Zone 1

   2] Abdulmajid Ali, AIG, Zone 2

   3] Usman Tilli, AIG zone 3

   4] Dorothy Gimba AIG, Investment Formation

   5] Mohammed Mohammed, AIG Special Protection Unit

   6] Mohammed Katsina, AIG National Institute for Policy and Strategic
   Studies, Jos It is notable that State CPs were also Promoted to AIG
   making it a total of 18 New AIGs.

   Other appointments of President Buhari are as follows:

   1. DG DPR, Mordecai Ladan. North/West

   2. Accountant-General Ahmed Idris;. Nort/ West

   3. Chief of Protocol, Lawal Kazaure Kano North/West

   4. Chairman INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu North/East

   5. Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari Borno North/East

   6. DG NIMASA, Buba Haruna Jauro Yobe North/East

   7. Head of Service, Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita South/South

   8. SSA Media, Shehu Garba Kano North/West

   9. SA Media, Femi Adeshina Osun South/West

   10. CG NSCDC, Abdulahi Mohammed North Central

   11. DG SSS, Lawal Daura Katsina North/West

   12. NSA, Babagana Monguno Borno North/East

   13. CDS, Abayomi Gabriel Ekiti South/West

   14. Chief of Army Staff, T. Y. Buratai Borno North/East

   15. Chief of Air Staff, Marshal Sadique Bauchi North/East

   16. Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas Cross River South/South

   17. DG Amnesty, Brig. P. T. Boroh South/South

   18. ADC, Mohammed Lawal Kano North/West

   19. CSO, Abdulrahman Mani North/West

   20. EVC NCC, Umaru Danbatta Kano North/West

   21. Chairman Transition Committee, Ahmed Joda North/East

   22. MD AMCON, Ahmed Lawan Kuru North/West

   23. CG Customs, Col Hameed Ali North/West

   24. Aliyu Yahaya Gusau DG Budget North/West

   25. EC FIRS, Dr Williams Babatunde Fowler Lagos South/West

   26. Babachir David Lawal SGF North/East

   27. CG Customs, Col Hameed Ali North/West

   28. CG Immigration, Kure Martin Abeshi North Central

   29. SSA NASS, Suleiman A. Kawu North Central

   30. SSA NASS, Ita S.J. Enang South/South

   31. MD NPA, Habibu Abdulahi Kano North/West

   32. DG Budget, Aliyu Gusau Zamfara North/West

   33. EFCC, Madu Ibrahim North/West

   34. DG NOTAP, Dan Azumi Mohammed North/West

   35. NIMC, Engr. Aliyu M Aziz North Central

   36. NDIC, Umaru Ibrahim Kano North/West

   37. Federal Character, Shettima Bukar Abba North/East Borno

   38. SA Social Protection, Maryam Uwais Kaduna, North/West

   39. Chairman NDLEA, Muhammad Abdallah Adamawa, North/East

   40. MD NDDC, Sam Ekere A/Ibom, South/South

   41. PA New Media, Bashir Ahmed Kano, North/West

   42. NEITI Waziri Adio, Osun South/West

   42. DG SMEDAN Dr Dikko Umaru Raqqa. Katsina North/West

   43. DG NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside Rivers South/South

   44. OPEC, Sec Gen Mohammed Barkindo North/West

   45. DG NYSC, Kazaure North/West

   46. SA Prosecution, Okoi Obono-obla Cross River South/South

   47. CG Prisons, Ahmed Jafaru Jigawa North/West

   48. CG Immigration, Mohammed Babandede Jigawa North/West

   Let us attempt a tally of the last set numbered 1-48 only

   North/West 25

   North/East 9

   North Central 4

   South/West 4

   South/ South 6

   South/ East 0

   This is the full list of the army officers compulsorily retired by
   Muhammadu Buhari. They are 90% non-Muslims. It projects that Ethnic and
   Regional cleansing continues:

   Maj. Gen TC Ude (SE-)

   Maj. Gen LC Ilo (SE)

   Maj. Gen IN Ijeoma (SE)

   Maj. Gen O Ejimai (SE)

   Maj. Gen PAT Akem (SS)

   Maj. Gen ED Atewe (SS)

   Maj. Gen Letam Wiwa (younger brother of murdered Environmental Rights activist and Author, Ken Saro-Wiwa) (SS)

   Maj. Gen FO Alli (SS)

   Maj. Gen Mobolaji Koleoso (SW)

   Maj. Gen SD Aliyu (MB)

   Maj. Gen MY Ibrahim

   Brig. Gen GO Agachi (SE)

   Brig. Gen Okonkwo (SE)

   Brig. Gen Ogidi (SS)

   Brig. Gen Koko Essien (SS)

   Brig. Gen PE Ekpeyong (SS)

   Brig. Gen Bright Fiboinumama (SS)

   Brig. Gen. M. Onoyiveta (SS)

   Brig. Gen IMD Lawson (SS)

   Brig. Gen Oyefesobi (SW)

   Brig. Gen AI Onibasa (SW)

   Brig. Gen Bashir Mormo (SS)

   Brig. Gen AH Sa’ad (SS)-Former ADC to late President Musa Yar’adua

   Brig. Gen MG Ali

   Brig. Gen LN Bello

   Brig. Gen D Abdusalam

   Col. CK Ukoha (SE)

   Col. OU Nwankwo (SE)

   Col. Nicholas Achinze -Dasuki’s ADC (SE)

   Col. Tonye F Minimah –Younger brother of former Chief of Army Staff, LT. General Kenneth Minimah (SS)

   Col. FD Kayode (SW)

   Col. Ojogbane Adegbe –ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan (MB)

   Col. Audu (MB)

   Col. DR Hassan

   Col. MA Suleiman

   Lt. Col GC Nyekwu (SS)

   Lt. Col C Enechukwu (SE)

   Lt. Col CO Amadi (SE)

   Lt. Col Adimoha (SS)

   Lt. Col OC Egemode (SS)

   Lt. Col TE Arigbe (SW)

   Lt. Col TO Oladuntoye (SW)

   Lt. Col Baba Ochankpa (MB)

   Lt. Col DB Dazang (MB)

   Lt. Col A Mohammed

   Lt. Col AS Mohammed

   With the above statistics, it is fair to suggest that President
   Buhari is promoting division between Muslims and other Nigerians.

   We wonder, whether, Islamism has something to do with the abolition,
   by President Buhari, of the single four-year tenure for Permanent
   Secretaries and two-term of four years (eight years) tenure for
   Directors in the Federal Civil Service in order to entrench Islamism and
   neo-colonialism in Nigeria.

   COLLABORATION AND ACQUIESCENCE OF ELITES IN NIGERIA

   There is need to define imperialism and what it stands for, especially
   because the Fulani Jihadists after having been conquered by the British
   imperialists were appointed junior partners in imperialism and
   colonialism by way of Indirect Rule throughout Northern Nigeria. This
   form of colonial policy was adopted with some modifications to suit
   Southern Nigeria. Imperialism is a type of advocacy of Empire. Its name
   originated from the Latin word “imperium”, which means to rule over
   territories. Imperialism is “a policy of extending a country’s power and
   influence tough colonization, use of military force, or other means”.
   Imperialism also includes a policy of extending a country’s power and
   influence through diplomacy or military force. Imperialism is
   particularly focused on the control that one group, often a state power,
   has on another group of people.

   “This is often through various forms of racial, religious, or
   cultural stereotypes. There are “formal” or “informal” imperialisms.
   “Formal imperialism” is defined as “physical control or full-fledged
   colonial rule”. “Informal imperialism” is less direct; however, it is
   still a powerful form of dominance. Northern and Southern Nigeria ceased
   to exist as political terminologies with the Creation of States in 1967
   by General Gowon. There cannot be a political North when there is no
   such South. Unfortunately, the ghost of colonialism continues to haunt
   Nigeria with the Fulani as the “ghost” and neo-colonialists of Arewa
   (North) with a perceived South. The South as is employed is used merely
   to promote Arewa (North) as a political terminology. After independence,
   the Fulani decided that they were successors to the British imperialism
   in Nigeria, and, thereby have become the neo-colonialists with military
   arsenal and man-power to continue where the British left. This backward
   policy is not in accord with Democracy, the 21st Century Africa and the
   World.

   “History will be very harsh on non-Muslim Nigerians especially the
   “Christian elites” if we do not let President Buhari appreciate that
   Democracy not Islamism is the best form of government invented by
   humans. Only democracy can save Nigeria from the paths treaded by
   Pakistan, Afghanistan, Rwanda, Eretria, Burundi, Southern Sudan, Central
   African Republic, Syria, Iran and Yemen etc. We therefore draw the
   attention of all non-Muslims in government (past and present) from
   Presidents, Heads of State, Vice-Presidents, Presidents and Deputy
   Presidents of the Senate, Speakers of the House of Representatives,
   Governors, Members of the Senate and House of Representative and State
   Assemblies, Church leaders, Cardinals, Overseers, Archbishops, Bishops,
   Pastors and Priests to realize that Christians constitute 50% of the
   population of Nigeria and that it is only with their collaboration and
   acquiescence that the Islamization of Nigeria can be accomplished.

   “This appeal also goes to professional groups like the Nigeria Bar
   Association (NBA), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Nigerian Union of
   Journalist (NUJ), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Chartered
   Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Nigerian Institute of Estate
   Surveyors and Valuers of Nigeria (NIESV), Institute of Chartered
   Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Medical and Dental Consultants
   Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN),
   Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Institute of
   Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations
   (NIPR), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Chartered Institute
   of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Nigeria Institute of
   Architects (NIA), National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives
   (NANNM), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Nigerian Institute of
   Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), National Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas
   Workers (NUPENG), National Union of Textile & Garment Workers of
   Nigeria (NUTGWN) and other professional associations trained in Western
   democracies. Surely they do not want to leave the country once again as
   some did during the 1975 purge of educated Nigerian. They must all speak
   out to save their countr

   “Nigeria and its young Democracy. Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen are not
   alternatives. We, Christians will be called to question in the world
   beyond if we do nothing. We the elites will appear before God to explain
   why we failed to utilize God’s gift to us especially our knowledge to
   solve our country’s problems by working to stop the backward policies of
   Islamist Jihadists. Christian elites who are vocal in condemning
   Christians in authority cannot remain silent unless of course they have
   sold out to the Islamist Jihadists in Nigeria.

   “We must conclude by pointing out that imperialism rested on and
   indeed was sustained by “assumptions of superiority”, where one white
   person or Negroid in the case of Nigeria was thought to be worth
   literally any member of blacks”. In Nigeria, the Arab descendants who
   partnered the British in Indirect Rule believe that they are superior to
   Negro tribes that make up over 80% of the population. Nigerian
   non-Muslims who acquired Western education over 70 years before the Arab
   Negroids are being regarded “technically” as inferior to those with
   Arabic education Boko Haram – Western education is “worthless”.

   “”Thus Western educated collaborators are promoting unwittingly, the
   superiority of the Arab descendants over the other 386 Nationalities
   that make up Nigeria with Islam as superior to Christianity and other
   Religions. Not only are these Jihadists’ assumptions false, wicked and
   devious, they are also backward, retrogressive, undemocratic and against
   the rule of law.

   Our answer is to show that while arms and Taqiyya (deceit) win
   Jihads, it takes ideas to win the peace. The options open to us
   non-Islamist Jihadists in Nigeria today are Dialogue, Reconciliation and
   Restructure in that order.”

   God Bless Nigeria,

   Solomon Asemota, SAN