 It's still the breakfast in Plastivia, Africa. We quickly look at a new program that's provided or established to cob the issue of food insecurity. Now, with the latest global hunger index 2022, the ranks Niger, 100 and third among 121 countries facing hunger crisis in the world, Nigeria might just be on her way to food security. She started her journey, long journey to end hunger and achieve food security by launching the special agro-industrial processing zones, a program initiated by the African Development Bank. According to the president of the African Development Bank, Dr Akumi Adeshina, the special agro-industrial processing zones are new economic zones located in rural areas to be fully supported by infrastructure, that is, power, water, roads, digital infrastructure and logistics. It would allow food and agro- business companies to be located within such zones. This will put them close to farmers in production catchment areas and provide market off-takes for farmers, support processing and value addition, reduce food losses and allow emergency of highly competitive food and agricultural value. The launch that took place in the capital kicks off the implementation of the phase of this program in eight states across the country. Well, this is also in partnership with the Nigerian government amongst others. We just head straight to it as we have a chairman all farmers association of Nigeria, Southwest Dr. Femi Ok. Dr. Femi Ok, thank you for joining us this morning. All right then, I'd like to show you a thought. You are a farmer. What do you make about or what do you make of this recent development, agricultural development that is aimed at earning food insecurity in Nigeria? Well, we are happy to see what is really happening now, especially through the vice president office, to which we have seen the special agricultural processing zone being introduced and supported by ISPAD, etc., food and agricultural development and agricultural development banks in collaboration with the Islamic banks. The thing will be agitated throughout the process. So this one can increase the food security we have in Nigeria. It's a welcome development and we are glad that the program is giving very, very the high experience of solving what they are plotting. Definitely, there's no doubt about that. The processing zones have been set up in the age case that they have been introduced as a final scheme. Definitely, there will be no sufficient food in Nigeria. We are glad to have seen that because even the state who set up the food and food for itself is not doing it. It's not against the thing and that is why we are glad for the collaboration of this agricultural development bank in Nigeria and the ISPAD and farming bank in Nigeria. Like you said, it's a welcome development and an interesting involvement. When we hear the word zones, it obviously means that an area, a piece of land, a geographical area, let me say, will be carved out for this agricultural program. We know about the controversy we are ranching in the country in the federal government's attempt to set up what they call ruga. What is the difference between this? Apart from the fact that you have multiple crops or multiple crops, agricultural items being cultivated in these special agricultural processing zones, but what is different from the ruga policy that the federal government was trying to niche it in these current subs by the AFDB? What we have seen is the element of the environment that the government is producing is going to, that is coming on board. When we are talking of a processing zone, space must have been a very conducive area, especially where we come from. All right, Dr. Femio, it seems we've lost connection with you. Are you still there, can you hear us, sir? It seems that the network has been lost, yes, but this is a very important discussion to have. The reason I asked about ruga is because of the back and forth between the authorities mercy and Nigerians who fell strongly against this because the plan was to have a place, a reserve community for herders where they would leave, they would grow and tend their cattle, produce milk and then take other activities associated with the cattle business without having to move around in search of pasture for pasture. So if this special agricultural processing zones could also accommodate that, then it would mean that then we're still having but under another name. Dr. Femio, sorry about the network challenges, yes, but you were saying about this ruga issue, in comparison with the SAPs program by the African Development Bank. Yes, well, the development is the welcome thing of the government of which we are seen and we are getting for it because the environment of where the processing zones are, they are going to be a conducive area. When we talk of words to that, to those cases, are going to be very close to that. In particular, there are water allegations and they keep on the agencies that satisfy produce. I'm telling you, the presses there, they say they are tense on to see that they're going to produce because everybody cannot have modern technology, everybody cannot own what is used to produce. So if you're going to be bringing your produce to the work where the processing zone is or what you need to do, you can give them your trademark which is going to be a charge into your produce and then later you will have it. What I'm trying to say in exercise is a welcome development that we have in the state that the government in collaboration with AFDD, the African Development Bank and AFDD are bringing in the government and the counterpart fund of which the government is now putting in. So it's a development that we are highly welcome and we are going to reduce food security in Nigeria because everybody wants food on its table. Dr. K, let me ask you this quickly. In the country. Dr. K, if you can hear me. Dr. K, can you hear me? Dr. Femi, can you hear me? Well, unfortunately, we have been disconnected and I was hoping that he would answer if you were here because he's a farmer. So my question to him would be how can you or how can we achieve food security when we have failed at national security? We understand the dynamics or the security concerns. I mean, where farmers are not able to go to their farms because of terrorist attack and some people will say bandits and what have you. How do we get there? And we know that this sounds very lofty. This would probably not be the first time that we're having a program like this in Nigeria. Now, we of course, the government is very positive that in five years all things have been equal. That's half a decade. It's possible that we would actually earn the issue of food security, but I'm sure that you're very conversant with, you know, the structure adjustment program. You're very conversant with the Green Revolution program, Operation Feed the Nation. You want to go on better live and what have you, including the seven point agenda. You also want to talk about the Jonathan administration. All of this agricultural programs that we have had prior, you know, to independence or prior to this time. There's been several of them. Well, how far have we fed with all of it? Really, where are they now? So what's even the guarantee that this particular project would actually see the light of day when you have a different administration? For instance, we have an issue of consistency or continuation with policies, right? So you have a different government coming into place and there's no guarantee that there will be continuation. Because I would ask, if you have several government that has been in place, you know, less even leave the military government. For the time that we say we got into a democratic or civil government, why have we continued with the several agricultural programs that we have had? It's a lot. So could it be that we have issue of policies? Polices are really almost not. Just as this has been crafted, it sounds very fantastic and a lot of people very excited about it. But we ask, will it be implemented? How far will we go with all of this? Unfortunately, Dr. Femi, okay, he's here. And Femi, can you hear me, please? Hello? Yes, Dr. Femi, can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you now. Well, good. So I'll ask you this quickly as we, you know, move on with the show in no time. My question to you as a farmer, you are the chairman of All Famous Association of Nigeria in the Southwest. And I'm asking, how can food security be guaranteed? You seem very excited about this program of the government. How can it be guaranteed when there's no national security? Security has to be provided. We don't have a laudable program that there is and without the security. It's not possible. We appreciate the government that accepted with the ISAB and the AFBD. And for the conducive environment, we have this hope to be established early in the state. I'm sure the governors of those states have to wake up now to make sure that they are safe, they are a security. Because we want food security in our country. So definitely, I'm sure in the state that they are starting, there is going to be a lot of security in this regard. What I'm saying in essence, again, is by the time they started, definitely it is the farmer's problem. And I'm sure there will be food on the tables of every Nigerian because of purchasing the technology and the bottleneck of exportation even, and what have you that are giving us problems. So government is going to provide all those things in these agro-processing zones, so which we call it hope. So all what we need to do as the farmers have said is just for us to bring in our produce, and I'm sure this is what you have mentioned, we'll be a think of past, we'll be a think of past tech. So definitely, I can assure you with this pilot scheme, we are going to get the results within the next few years. All right. There's a lot to unpack still regarding this. For instance, what else does the government need to put in place to take advantage of this? Indeed, Mercy pointed out that we have a history of policy failures, that's okay, but I'm sure you agree that because the federal government is taking up just maybe 18 million out of $538 million of the cost of this project in Nigeria, it's mostly domiciled with the agricultural or the African development bank, and therefore may not be, would you say, not strictly under the control of the federal government? I don't know if you agree with that. And then also very quickly, what does the government need to do to make this work, since it's not domiciled with them? Are we looking at probably roads to ensure that the products are moved easily and smoothly? Cross River State is one of the states named here, and if you want to drive to Calabar, Mexico and Bemi-Widness, Azal-Bewidness, it's not easy. So what does the government very, very quickly, sir, need to do to make this work? Let's go back to what was said. You can even see the government, the states of which was included, which is the cross river state. Look at what the government of the cross river state is doing in the area of livestock. So definitely there's no way the process will not be moved easily into their destination. And as I've said, with the government of food and agricultural development, which is a fact, and the African development bank, most of the agencies that have been lacking, that have been sleeping, definitely we wake up for them to say, okay, this is the way I belong, and I have to perform my duty. So I'm sure there will be no any any slowdown in these activities. So I can assure you that with what we have done, seen, we have announced through the, for this processing zone, coming up, coming on board into Nigeria, is a green, say, things of joy for us, and I'm sure definitely it will be like the past government of which just our past government is also embarking on a project without the follow up. So definitely with the agencies that are involved and all the banks that have come on board, definitely there will be more security, more honesty, more performance in this regard. All right. Thank you so much for your time, Chairman Hoffam, as Association of Nigeria Southwest, Otumba, Dr. Fermi Ok, we appreciate your time, sir. Thank you, my dear brother, God bless you. All right, thank you very much. It's going to be a tall order for those who will be part of this in Cross-Urbanity because we know the roads to Cross-Urbanity are really in poor condition, both from the Uyoto-Kalaba axis, and even from Ben West state and, you know, Eboni state, the northern Cross-Urbanity, it's really in poor condition, I believe, till now. Am I correct? You're very correct. I mean, apart from Cross-Urbanity, if you look at the roads to different local governments, because most times there's always an emphasis on the capital, and so you have a capital of a state, and that's where the priority is, but you have local government. For instance, Cross-Urbanity has 18 local governments. You ask yourself, are those roads motorable, and we understand that this is going to be in cluster. So, but I don't really know how I feel about this, which is not, you know, consequential, it's not important, but I'm sure that a lot of people might have, would also have lost trust in the entire process, because this would not be the first agricultural program that we will have in Nigeria. Our fingers are crossed, let's see how this pans out. Right, please, eventually join us tomorrow when we return, but you can follow up on the updates from Plus TV and even watch, you know, excerpts of this program on our YouTube channel at Plus TV Africa. We also on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook will put up some excerpts of this program there at Plus TV Africa. Also another YouTube account, Plus TV Africa Lifestyle. My name is Kofi Bartels. It's been great having you this morning. And I am Messi Boko. We joined the newsroom at 9 o'clock for the news brief. Please stay with us. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and do subscribe to our YouTube channel as at Plus TV Africa and Plus TV Africa Lifestyle.