NEWS
Appraising Ben Kalu’s Relentless Efforts at the Pan-African Parliament
By Philip Agbese
In Africa’s modern political landscape, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu stands out as a leader who exemplifies visionary leadership and diplomatic tact. As Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and head of Nigeria’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), his tenure has been marked by a relentless drive to strengthen cooperation among African nations, propel the PAP’s objectives, and foster the emergence of a new generation of African leaders.Through his work, Ben Kalu has embodied the core values of African unity, cooperation, and progress while also positioning the PAP as a vehicle for true continental integration. The Pan-African Parliament, established in 2004 as one of the African Union’s nine organs, serves as a symbolic and practical forum for unifying Africa’s disparate nations around common goals.Based in Midrand, South Africa, the PAP provides a platform for debate, decision-making, and policy formulation aimed at addressing the continent’s socio-economic challenges. Initially established with an advisory mandate, the institution seeks full legislative powers to promote human rights, democracy, and good governance. The PAP’s vision is profound: empowering Africans, including grassroots organisations, to participate in shaping Africa’s future and addressing its most pressing problems.While some argue that Ben Kalu isn’t the sole deputy speaker the Southeast region has produced, his exceptional track record unequivocally positions him as the most results-driven and impactful Nigerian leader since the inception of the Fourth Republic, which began in 1999. This marks a significant shift for Nigeria, transitioning from military rule to democratic governance.Ben Kalu’s leadership stands out, demonstrating a unique blend of vision, expertise, and dedication. His outstanding performance and significant contributions have undoubtedly set him apart from his predecessors. By leveraging his expertise and diplomatic prowess, Kalu has consistently advanced the interests of the Southeast region and Nigeria as a whole.It is against this backdrop that Kalu’s contributions become particularly remarkable. His diplomatic skills, intellectual prowess, and firm commitment to PAP’s goals have helped bridge divides between member states, enabling greater knowledge-sharing and policy alignment. Under his leadership, PAP has seen increased collaboration among its members, vital in an era where Africa must present a united front to tackle global challenges such as economic inequality, political instability, and climate change.Kalu’s tenure as the leader of the Nigerian delegation has witnessed a palpable enhancement in diplomatic collaboration within the PAP. One of the most critical roles of PAP is to act as a forum for discussions on common problems, and here, Kalu’s leadership has been pivotal. His ability to foster meaningful dialogue among member states is not merely a reflection of his position but evidence of his diplomatic skill and deep understanding of the Pan-African cause.Kalu has made it a priority to emphasise the importance of African unity. By encouraging member states to share experiences, particularly in areas such as governance, human rights, and economic development, he has helped create a culture of openness and shared learning within the institution.Moreover, Kalu’s diplomatic finesse has proven instrumental in fostering peace and security within the continent. The West African sub-region, in particular, has faced persistent challenges related to political instability, terrorism, and economic disparity. In this context, Kalu’s efforts to galvanise cooperation among West African PAP members have been critical.His interventions, emphasising collaboration over confrontation, have brought renewed hope to the region. Beyond diplomacy, Kalu’s leadership has also inspired a new generation of African leaders. In a continent where leadership often faces scrutiny due to governance issues and corruption, Kalu’s exemplary record stands out.His firm commitment to transparency, accountability, and democracy offers a model for aspiring leaders, both within and outside Nigeria. Kalu’s journey to political prominence, marked by intellectual rigour and parliamentary acumen, sends a powerful message: African politics need not be dominated by populism or divisive rhetoric but by leaders capable of tackling complex policy issues with insight and integrity.His achievements signal a promising shift toward enlightened and thoughtful African leadership, valuing collaboration, unity, and long-term developmental goals. This is not to say the road ahead for PAP and African leaders is devoid of challenges. However, Kalu’s leadership has proven that, through patient negotiation and shared purpose, African nations can come together to solve their problems.His efforts have shown PAP’s potential to address the continent’s challenges and empower Africans from the grassroots up. One of PAP’s significant aspects is its ambition to evolve into a fully-fledged legislative body. Currently, PAP functions as an advisory organ, providing recommendations to the AU Assembly and Council of Ministers.However, the vision for PAP is to one day exercise legislative powers over areas of common interest, including human rights, democracy, and good governance. Kalu’s contributions toward this goal cannot be overstated. As a parliamentarian with vast experience in Nigerian politics, he brings a wealth of knowledge on legislative processes. His efforts to advocate for PAP’s transition into a body with legislative powers have been persistent. By promoting discussions around this issue and galvanising support from other delegations, Kalu has helped keep the vision of a legislative PAP alive.However, the path toward full legislative powers is fraught with challenges. Many member states are still wary of ceding legislative authority to a supranational body, fearing it might infringe on their sovereignty. Yet, Kalu’s approach has been one of balance; he recognises these concerns but believes a legislative PAP would enhance, rather than diminish, member states’ sovereignty by ensuring African problems are addressed through African solutions.Moreover, the evolving nature of the global political landscape, characterised by increasing regionalism and multilateral cooperation, makes PAP’s legislative ambitions even more relevant. In a world where economic blocs like the European Union have shown the power of supranational institutions in driving development, PAP has the potential to become Africa’s legislative powerhouse, promoting harmonised policies that tackle the continent’s most pressing issues.Perhaps the most fitting description of Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu is “a true champion of African unity and progress.” His commitment to the Pan-African ideal is not just rhetorical but deeply practical and exudes non-political affiliation. He understands that Africa’s strength lies in its unity and that PAP is uniquely positioned to harness that strength.Through his efforts, Kalu has emphasised the importance of cooperation, both within PAP and across the African Union’s organs. His intellectual prowess and astute parliamentary skills are invaluable assets to the West African bloc in PAP, as he continues to advocate for policies benefiting not only Nigeria but the entire region. In doing so, he has earned widespread admiration as a visionary leader capable of navigating the complex waters of African diplomacy.Moreover, Kalu’s relentless advocacy for African development, intellectual agility, and deep-seated belief in Africa’s potential position him as a towering figure in African politics. It is no exaggeration to describe him as an intellectual juggernaut, a leader whose vision transcends immediate concerns to focus on Africa’s long-term prosperity.In conclusion, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu’s leadership at the Pan-African Parliament represents hope for the future of African politics. Through diplomatic skills, relentless advocacy for collaboration, and inspiring leadership, Kalu has advanced PAP’s goals and set a high standard for future African leaders. His work embodies the principles upon which the Pan-African Parliament was founded: unity, progress, and shared commitment to solving Africa’s challenges through dialogue and collective action.As the Pan-African Parliament continues its transformative journey toward becoming a fully-fledged legislative body, Ben Kalu’s pivotal role will persist in shaping its trajectory. His exceptional ability to navigate Africa’s intricate and dynamic political landscape while inspiring a new generation of visionary leaders ensures his profound influence will resonate for generations.In a continent marked by rich yet complex history, leaders like Kalu, who champion not only their nation’s interests but also the broader aspirations of the entire continent, are indispensable. Their visionary leadership and strong commitment to Africa’s progress will help harness the continent’s untapped potential.With leaders like Kalu at the helm, Africa stands poised on the threshold of a new era of unprecedented growth and development. In essence, Ben Kalu’s legacy will continue to illuminate the path toward a brighter future for Africa. His impact on the continent’s political and economic landscape will undoubtedly endure, cementing his place as one of Africa’s most visionary and influential leaders.This intervention was contributed by Agbese MHR, a member of the Pan-African Parliament writing from Agila, Benue State.
NEWS
How Governor Dauda Lawal Enhanced Agriculture and Food Security in Zamfara State in Under 3 Years
By Oladapo Sofowora
For a state like Zamfara with the moniker; ‘Farming is our Pride’ is a case of a toothless bulldog who can only bark without attacking. Adjudged as the state with the most rich and arable land for agricultural works but failed to meet its full potential. The reason is not far-fetched but it’s an issue of leadership without foresight, genuineness and the can-do spirit. For years, Farmers had abandoned their fields, storage facilities were rotting and fertiliser was a luxury. This made families across the fourteen local government areas skip meals not because of banditry alone, but because food production had flatlined to the surface.
In 2023, the messiah, known for taking challenges head-on, came into the picture: Governor Dauda Lawal took the state from a struggling agrarian state back to its true potential. These changes were done without magic but required the seriousness from a government that is ready to bring about rescue to the ailing agriculture and food security value chain in Zamfara.
Today, the story is different, perhaps not perfect but measurably, verifiably different. Here is the direct account of how agriculture and food security improved under Governor Dauda Lawal within just three years and why the improvement needs to continue for another four years not through promises but through documented interventions that any farmer, trader, or housewife in Gusau, Funtua, or Talata Mafara can readily confirm.
For the very first time, fertilizer and improved seeds were hoarded by political middlemen who sold them at triple the market price or kept them for their own cronies this scam was finally stopped as farmers finally got inputs and they got them fairly. Governor Lawal broke that system entirely by creating a biometric farmer registration system that eliminated ghost names and party loyalists masquerading as farmers. Through this system, the state distributed 190,000 bags of subsidized fertilizer at a 50 percent subsidy directly to small holder farmers across all fourteen LGAs between 2023 and 2025. He also distributed 120,000 bags of maize and sorghum seeds and over two million rice seedlings free of charge to registered farmers.
The result was immediate and measurable. According to the Zamfara State Ministry of Agriculture, the number of farmers who planted at least one hectare of crops increased from approximately 180,000 in 2022 to over 350,000 in 2024. Fertilizer access rate among rural farmers rose from 22 percent to 67 percent. More farmers planting means more food on tables, more off-takers and funds readily available, more emerging markets are opening up and staple food availability like; maize, sorghum, millet, rice were increased by an estimated 40 percent across the state within two planting cycles.
Post-harvest losses dropped significantly, as food that used to rot now reaches hungry mouths. Before Lawal, Zamfara lost nearly 40 percent of its harvest to spoilage, rot, and pest infestation because there were no functional storage facilities across the state. Many farmers have had to watch their tomatoes, peppers, and grains decay while their families went hungry. In a bid to cushion this effect, the governor revived the Gusau Grain Storage Complex and the Funtua Agricultural Hub by installing modern silos with a combined capacity of 25,000 metric tons.
He also distributed 10,000 hermetic grain bags, airtight storage bags to rural women farmers who previously had no way to preserve their harvest beyond a few weeks. Post-harvest losses dropped from an estimated 38 percent in 2022 to 22 percent in 2024 this were verifiable statistics according to the Zamfara Agricultural Development Project.
With these changes, it is clear that; 16 percent more of every harvest actually reaches the market or the family kitchen. Less food waste means more food circulating in the local economy and farmers can now store their grains for months and sell when prices are fair, rather than being forced to sell immediately at rock-bottom prices to avoid spoilage.
Before Governor Dauda Lawal, Zamfara used to be a one-season farming state once the rains stopped in October, food production also nosedive. Families then endured five months of scarcity, sky-high prices and reliance on imported food from neighbouring states. Governor Lawal changed that permanently by rehabilitating five earth dams like; Bakolori, Zauro, Wawan Rafi, Dansadau and Kwalkwalawa, installing solar-powered irrigation pumps to ensure year-round water access. He also distributed 5,000 treadle pumps to smallholder farmers in Shinkafi, Kaura Namoda, and Talata Mafara LGAs.
Dry-season cultivated land increased from roughly 2,000 hectares in 2022 to over 10,000 hectares in 2024. Farmers are now producing onions, tomatoes, peppers, and wheat during the traditional lean months of November to March. The impact on food security has been dramatic as staple food prices which historically spiked by 50 to 70 percent between February and April, increased by only 22 percent during the same period in 2025, the smallest lean-season inflation in a decade. Families are eating better during the hardest months of the year because Lawal refused to accept that Zamfara should be hungry for half the calendar.
Herder-farmer clashes and livestock diseases had decimated Zamfara’s animal protein supply, with thousands of cattle dying from preventable illnesses and violent confrontations pushing herders off traditional routes. Governor Lawal launched the largest livestock vaccination campaign in the state’s history, inoculating 2.2 million cattle against CBPP and 1.5 million goats and sheep against PPR all free of charge. He also established three modern grazing reserves equipped with veterinary clinics and water points, moving herders away from open grazing that provoked conflicts with crop farmers.
Livestock mortality rates dropped from approximately 15 percent annually to 6 percent in 2024. Milk production increased by an estimated 30 percent and meat availability rose by 20 percent across major markets. More milk and meat means better nutrition, especially for children. Protein deficiency cases reported by Zamfara’s primary health centers dropped by 18 percent between 2023 and 2024. That is not a statistic. That is thousands of children getting stronger because Governor Lawal decided that animal health is human health.
Mechanization farming needed to replaced hoes, aching backs and tiny plots. In other to ensure more productivity of farmers across the state by reducing their burden amdnhelping them cover a large portion of their land during planting, Governor Lawal acquired 100 tractors, 300 power tillers and 50 combine harvesters by also establishing a tractor-hire scheme where farmers pay per hectare cultivated rather than bearing the crushing cost of ownership. He also opened a N2 billion Agricultural Credit Fund, providing loans to over 12,000 farmers at 5 percent interest with a six-month moratorium terms no commercial bank in Nigeria would ever offer. Land under cultivation expanded from 320,000 hectares in 2022 to approximately 480,000 hectares in 2024. Mechanization rates climbed from 8 percent to 22 percent.
Each tractor cultivated an average of 500 hectares per season, replacing the labor of over 200 farmworkers. More land under cultivation directly translates to more food supply, and the state’s estimated total food production in metric tons increased by 35 percent between 2022 and 2024 according to ZADP harvest surveys.
The ultimate test of any governor’s food security policy is whether families can afford to eat at least three square meals. Governor Lawal passed this test by creating the Zamfara Food Security Stabilization Committee, opened five bulking centers where farmers aggregate produce for bulk sale to major processors and waived all local government taxes on agricultural produce movement for eighteen consecutive months. No roadblocks, no levies, no settlement fees for trucks carrying farm produce.
In major Zamfara markets, the price of a 100-kilogram bag of maize in September 2024 was N38,000, compared to N52,000 in neighboring Katsina and N55,000 in Sokoto. Beans were N65,000 in Zamfara versus N85,000 in Kaduna. Sorghum prices were N35,000 in Zamfara versus N48,000 in Kano. An average household in Gusau spends approximately 28 percent less on staple grains than a comparable household in Katsina or Kano. That difference is money that stays in pockets for healthcare, education, and other needs. In a state where poverty rates were among the highest in the nation, that 28 percent saving is the difference between a child staying in school or being sent to the streets.
Despite Governor Dauda Lawal’s inheritance of an agricultural sector in intensive care, with just two years later, the vital signs have improved across every major metric. Farmers accessing subsidized inputs rose from 22 percent to 67 percent. Post-harvest losses dropped from 38 percent to 22 percent. Dry-season cultivated land expanded by 400 percent. Land under total cultivation increased by 50 percent. Mechanization rates more than doubled, as livestock mortality rate was cut by more than half.
The lean-season food price spike, which historically punished families with 50 to 70 percent inflation was contained to just 22 percent. Has he solved all of Zamfara’s food problems? No. Despite security, roads to some farming communities are still poor, more irrigation infrastructure still needed, the direction is unmistakable. Governor Dauda Lawal took a manifesto promise in 2022 and turned it into a measurable reality which everyone can see today. Food is more available and affordable.
For the first time in years, Zamfara’s farmers are looking ahead, not just surviving but producing. To consolidate on all these gains and also make it more solidified, Governor Dauda Lawal’s re-election is a collective efforts which all sundry must come together to make a reality by speaking in one voice on the pools and ensuring that farmers continue enjoying the dividend of democracy to ensure stability in Agricultural and food security value chain in the state and Nigeria at large.
The Zamfara State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, has approved the sum of ₦3,759,931,812.50 for the immediate rehabilitation of the Gusau Water Supply Scheme (Phase I). This forms part of the administration’s sustained efforts to address water scarcity and improve access to clean and safe water in the state capital.The approval was granted during a meeting of the State Executive Council following the submission of a memorandum by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, which sought urgent intervention on the deteriorating water supply system in the Gusau metropolis.The project is aimed at restoring efficient water production and distribution across the city, ensuring reliable service delivery to residents, and strengthening public health and sanitation standards.The State Government further reaffirmed that funding for the project has been duly captured in the 2026 Appropriation Law, reflecting its commitment to prioritizing critical infrastructure and improving the quality of life of citizens.Upon completion, the Zamfara State Water Corporation will oversee the operation and maintenance of the rehabilitated facilities to ensure sustainability and long-term service delivery.This initiative underscores the commitment of the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal to addressing key developmental challenges and fulfilling its promise to provide essential services to the people of Zamfara State.The government calls on residents to support ongoing efforts and cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure the successful execution of the project.
Stakeholders of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State have thrown their full weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dauda Lawal for a second term in the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement came on Saturday, April 25, 2026, during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened at the Government House in Gusau. The gathering drew all four former governors of the state, elected officials, elders, and representatives of youth and women from all 14 local government areas.
Speaking at the event, Governor Lawal described the meeting as timely, noting that political activities ahead of the 2027 elections are about to intensify.
He explained that his decision to join the APC was not merely political but a strategic move to reposition Zamfara, strengthen collaboration with the federal government, and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda. He thanked stakeholders for their unwavering support throughout the transition process.
Lawal urged party leaders to manage public expectations with maturity and fairness, acknowledging that not all political aspirations can be met immediately. He stressed that leadership goes beyond positions and that political relevance comes from service and contribution to development.
He further assured that fairness, equity, and justice would guide his administration’s decisions, and called for discipline and loyalty to the party.
In a communiqué read by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Bello Matawalle, himself a former governor, the stakeholders declared their full support for President Tinubu and Governor Lawal. The communiqué also covered discussions on party unity, governance coordination, security challenges, and preparations for the 2027 elections.
All four former governors of Zamfara Ahmed Sani Yarima, Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, Abdul’aziz Yari, and Bello Mohammed Matawalle were present and made clear commitments to the APC and the re-election bid of the president and the governor.
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