Johnson delivers a speech during his visit to Dudley College of
Technology in Dudley, central England on June 30, 2020. – Johnson
said Britain needed the type of massive economic response that US
president Franklin D. Roosevelt mobilised to deal with the Great
Depression. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP)
Ireland on Sunday dismissed a claim by Prime
Minister Boris Johnson that the EU is plotting destabilising new
barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland, as Brexit talks turn
increasingly heated.
“That’s simply not the case,” Irish Justice Minister Helen
McEntee told Sky News. “Any suggestion that this is going to create
a new border is simply not true,” she said.
McEntee said that provisions for Northern Ireland in Britain’s
EU withdrawal treaty were agreed by both sides to ensure fair
competition after Brexit, and to comply with a 1998 peace pact that
ended three decades of unrest in the province.
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The treaty also “ensures the integrity of Northern Ireland as
part of the UK”, she said, and it “ensures we do not see any kind
of a border re-emerging”.
Writing in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph newspaper, Johnson had
accused the EU of threatening to tear the UK apart by imposing a
food “blockade” between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Johnson said the EU’s stance justified his government’s
introduction of new legislation to rewrite its Brexit withdrawal
treaty — a bill that is causing deep alarm in Brussels, as well
among former British prime ministers and his own MPs.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/09/13/johnsons-claim-about-eu-blockade-simply-not-true-ireland/
FG Pledges to Provide Relief Materials to Flood Victims
In Kebbi
Following the devastating flooding that washed off over 450,000
hectares of rice farmlands and other crops in Kebbi State a few
days ago, the Federal Government has promised to mitigate by
ensuring that the farmers get improved seeds to restart
planting as soon as the rains recede.
Speaking during an on- the- spot assessment of the devastation
caused by floods in the State, the Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji
Muhammad Sabo Nanono in company of the Executive Governor, Kebbi
State , Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said it was one of the worst
disasters witnessed in recent times and said his visit was to
restore hope and build up confidence for the farmers in the
state.
The Minister who visited the scenes of the floods in Argungu and
also those along the Dukku- Makera Road that were completely washed
off, said, “what I have seen here today is very devastating,
my coming here is at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari who
has sent me to commiserate with the people of Kebbi state over the
flood and to give you hope and assurance that the government is
concerned about your plight and will do something”. He
appealed to the farmers not to despair that the Federal
Government “will address the situation”.
He acknowledged that Kebbi State is one of the major producers
of Rice in the country as well as other crops such as
maize, groundnuts, wheat, sweet potatoes, sorghum and millet,
stating that a loss to Kebbi will affect other states of the
federation.
Nanono said the ministry will immediately set up a special
committee to mitigate the situation and ensure that the dry season
farming will be boosted. He said the ministry will also encourage
the farmers to explore the innovative early harvesting of their
produce as is done with other crops and promised to assist them
with improved seeds.
The State Governor, Senator Abubakar Bagudu lamented the massive
loss to the farmers, explaining that it is not only the rice farms
that are affected but also animal crops and fishing grounds as well
as human lives were affected.He acknowledged the resilience of the
farmers and encouraged them to do more not only to compensate for
lost grounds but also to generate more support.
He said the latest flooding in the state is the worst after the
2012 experience and has affected over 450, 000 hectares of
land stretching over 270km of farmlands. He thanked the Federal
Government for the proactive steps taken to embark on an immediate
assessment visit to the state and promised that the state will
remain focused and consistent with its agricultural programmes.
Hundreds of villages are said to be affected and many homelands
washed away by the floods.
The Minister also visited the Sarki – Kebbi Argungu, Alhaji
Samaila Mohammed Mera and the Emir of Gwandu who is also Chairman,
Kebbi State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ilyasu Bashar . They
both expressed appreciation for the speedy visit of the Federal
Government to commiserate with the state..
The Emir of Gwandu , Alhaji Bashar said, the flooding has
affected many communities who had no option than to relocate. He
said the disaster came just when the people were
recovering from the shock of covid-19 and listed crops lost
to include; Rice, Millet, Sorghum etc.
The traditional ruler also called on the people to be patient
and appealed to the media to assist in sensitizing them on the
government’s efforts.
The Minister visited the Natsimi Gada of Argungu , also affected
by the flood .
Eno Olotu (Mrs)
DD Information
For: Director, Information