Category: Southeast report

The Bayelsa State Government has said that available statistics and data revealed that a lot of farmers are losing about 60 per cent of their harvest because of lack of accessibility to market.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief David Alagoa, made the revelation yesterday at a sensitisation workshop in Yenagoa, the state capital.

He said that the only way to succeed was to sensitise those in the rural communities on the benefits of the Bayelsa State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Projects (RAAMP).

Alagoa said RAAMP’s objective was to improve rural access and agricultural marketing as well as strengthening institutional base for effective development through maintenance and management of rural roads network.

He said RAAMP had carried out a sensitisation programme for stakeholders on their roles for effective implementation, noting that the government had fully met all the necessary criteria for the takeoff of the programme.

Alagoa maintained that the inauguration of the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) and the release of the state counterpart fund by Governor Douye Diri attested to the fact that agriculture is a major plank to which the government is anchored upon.

He stated that most projects fail because of inadequate sensitisation programme, noting that the RAAMP would take the sensitisation of the rural communities which are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project seriously.

The Commissioner said: “Available statistics and data reveal that a lot of farmers are losing about 60% of their harvest because of lack of accessibility to market.”

Also speaking, the Bayelsa State Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Dr. Paul Ebienfa, said the state had made significant progress since the introduction of the programme in 2021.

An intervention agency, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to Bayelsa State government for onward distribution to every ward in the state.

Speaking during the distribution in Yenagoa on Friday, the State Director of NDDC, Theophilus Alagoa, said that the Commission decided to give the relief materials to the flood victims in the state as part of its commitment to human development of the Niger Delta people.

In her remarks, the Director of Social Services of the NDDC, Dr. Ezugu Ndidi Amaka, who represented the Acting Managing Director, Dr. Emmanuel Ohwauvbirua, reiterated the determination of the Commission to always identify with the Niger Delta people, particularly the flood victims with a view to alleviating the devastating effects of the flood on them.

She further said that President Muhammadu Buhari and the Niger Delta Affiars Minister, Umana Umana, were aware of the sufferings of Bayelsa people occasioned by the floods and thereby ordered the provision of the relief materials.

The Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Wanama Igrubia, who represented Governor Douye Diri, expressed appreciation to NDDC for the gesture.

The President of National Council for Women Society in the state, Mrs Ann Ziworitin, who spoke on behalf of women pointed out that the palliatives were quite timely in the post-flood period, stressing that NDDC as an intervention agency was doing the needful for the region.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has been commended for his dedication to the building of faith of the people of the state through his administration’s constant sponsorship of indigenes to the Holy lands of Israel and Jordan.

Governor Ugwuanyi was also commended for always putting Enugu in the front position among states in the country that embark on Christian Pilgrimage.

The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam, made the commendations on Friday, in Enugu, during the National flag-off of the December 2022 Christian Pilgrimage, which witnessed the airlifting of 300 Pilgrims to the Holy lands of Israel and Jordan, sponsored by Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration.

Rev. Dr. Pam who described Governor Ugwuanyi as “the governor of the masses, the governor who brought Israel and Rome to Enugu State, a man of peace and a man that his people love so much”, maintained that “Enugu State will always be number one.”

He disclosed that “the first flight that is going to airlift people to the December Pilgrimage touched down first in Enugu and it is in the airport now waiting for you (Pilgrims).”

Appreciating Ugwuanyi’s commitment to the religious exercise and its positive impact on the people of Enugu State, the Executive Secretary stated that the governor has demonstrated “dedication of faith to your people,” adding: “It is not every governor that will realise the blessings behind building the faith of their people.”

In his brief remarks, the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Barr. Nestor Ezeme pointed out that Governor Ugwuanyi has remained consistent in sponsoring Christian Pilgrims to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan in spite of the state’s limited resources, revealing that it was because of this feat that the NCPC honoured him with ‘Best Pilgrimage Governor in the South East Nigeria’ award.

Welcoming the Executive Secretary of NCPC to Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi expressed delight at the choice of Enugu State for the epoch event.

The governor, who acknowledged with deep sense of appreciation, the award of the ‘Best Pilgrimage Governor in the South East Nigeria’ conferred on him last year by NCPC, implored the Pilgrims to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari, all the governors of the 36 state of Nigeria “and indeed all those in authority in the country whom God has anointed to manage our affairs.”

Senate Deputy President and the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has promised to establish a tertiary institution in Ijawland if elected as governor next year.

He spoke at Bomadi when the APC ward-to-ward campaign team visited Bomadi Local Government.

He vowed to connect the community and its environs to the national grid, to end the age-long darkness in the area, as well as fix the collapsing Ohoror/Bomadi Bridge and other access roads in the local government.

The Delta Central lawmaker asserted that the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration abandoned the people of Bomadi and other Ijaw communities despite their contributions to the state’s revenue.

He said: “Under my administration, we will establish a tertiary institution in Ijawland to bring education to the people. The promise I am making to you today can only be possible if you vote for me, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates, who will actualise the yearnings of our people.”

Vowing to elevate the urban status of Bomadi as one of the commercial cities in the state, the APC candidate said: “I want to assure you my good people of Bomadi Council, with Bola Tinubu as the President, I will fix Bomadi, Gbaregolor, Akugbene and Ohoror/Bomadi bridges.

“I will fix the roads that have failed. The only existing bridges and roads still existing in Bomadi were done by former Governor James Ibori.

“Recently, the Catholic Bishop of Bomadi spoke with me, appealing that I should use my good office to ensure Bomadi is connected to the national grid.

“Bomadi has been in darkness for too long. Let me assure the people that Bomadi will be connected to the Ughelli 33KVA line to ensure it is linked to the national grid.”

Noting that he would keep his promises, Omo-Agege urged the people of Bomadi and Delta Ijaw indigenes to vote for him, as well as other APC candidates.

The state Chairman of APC, Elder Omeni Sobotie, assured the people that an APC-led government of Senator Omo-Agege would address marginalisation and underdevelopment.

Speaking in Ijaw language, former minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the Director-General of Delta APC Campaign Organisation, Elder Godsday Orubebe, said an Omo-Agege-led government would not disappoint the Ijaw.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, former managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Amayanagbo of Twon Brass in Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff,  have urged stakeholders of oil-rich communities in oil-producing states to think beyond oil, to boost other economic activities in their areas.

They said since revenue from oil and gas was declining due to unsustainable funding, high production cost, low incentives, secrecy in transaction, difficulty in business environment, overlapping in governance framework, multiplicity of taxes, smuggling and vandalism, there was need for urgent diversity in oil by-products.

They spoke in Owerri at an event tagged: ‘Urashi Economic Summit: Our people beyond oil’.

Uzodimma advised monarchs and people of oil communities to look beyond oil.

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Petroleum, Eugene Opara, said: “I am pleased with this summit, especially the focus on how our people should look beyond oil. We are asking the people of Urashi communities what is their faith beyond oil? It is good monarchs from oil areas are here. You people deserve more than what you have benefitted.

“Chapter 3 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has created a relationship between the community and the stages of how the communities can benefit from the oil exploration in their communities.

“The PIA provides the provision for the board of trustees. So, we plead with our people not to fight over positions. They should rather let us work together to achieve the desired goal. Also, we appeal to our brothers to remove selfishness so that we can benefit. Just like we are talking of the Urashi dredging river project, which covers a lot of communities, Imo State Government is working towards how to make our youths employable and benefit from the project.

“To achieve this, more than 2,000 Imo youths are to be trained to benefit from the Urashi river project. Dredging of the Urashi river will help the oil-free zone project and boost economic activities in the oil communities.”

Dr. Kachikwu said with the decline in oil and crude production, the nation needed “to invest in gas facilities and harvest our gas to grow the economy before it’s too late.

“There is need for massive focus on agriculture, using fertiliser, which is one of the by-products of oil. Our refineries are no longer working. We need to refocus the attention of our youths away from illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism and get-rich-quick syndrome, to manufacturing. We should invest more in oil by-products such as petrol chemicals and maximise our God given resources before it is too late.”

King Diete-Spiff, explaining the purpose of the summit, said: “We want our people to come and instil ideas of what we should do after oil. We should come up with far-reaching decisions.

“The people of Urashi and other oil- rich communities should train youths as pilots. This is an area we can invest in. From there you can decide to have an airline. We should also have a maritime academy to train our children to meet international standard and compete anywhere in the world. This is an opportunity. We have to discuss other opportunities to benefit our people outside oil. We have also heard of solar power and wind power. Our people should invest in these areas.”

The convener of the summit, Ejike Chukwu, said: “The Urashi river project is to prepare us for future of Oguta, Ohaji, Ndoni and all communities near Urashi river. The purpose of the event is to rescue our region, expose opportunities, create new perspectives, shift to renewable energy and create sustainable economic activities for our people.”

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the slow pace of collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) by voters in Akwa Ibom State.

National Commissioner Mrs. May Mbu said this yesterday in Uyo during the INEC-Akwa Ibom Stakeholders Forum.

She urged stakeholders, especially political parties, to sensitise voters and their supporters to the PVC collection exercise far and wide.

Mbu said: “I’m very delighted today to meet for the first time with our stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State. This is an auspicious time, considering the forthcoming 2023 general election.

“‘The statutory notice of the election has been given and activities have begun. Although the commission is not happy with the burning of some of our local government offices in some states.

“Since INEC published the notice of elections on February 28, 2022, activities have begun in full force. We are at the most critical stage in the implementation of the activities in the timeline, timetable and schedule of activities for the general election.

Read Also: 953,803 PVCs uncollected in Lagos, says INEC

“One major reason for this occasion is to take this opportunity to inform stakeholders, traditional rulers, security personnel, politicians, intended voters and indeed, everyone in Akwa Ibom State that the pace of collection of PVCs in Akwa Ibom is slow.”

“We want stakeholders to take up the mantle of spreading the information far and wide. People must collect their PVCs. The commission is working round the clock to make sure these PVCs get to every registrant so that no one is disenfranchised.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, said the forum became important, as it afforded the stakeholders the opportunity to exchange ideas on how to achieve free, credible elections in 2023.

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo yesterday signed the 2023 Appropriation Bill containing N259billion into law.

Soludo, while performing the ceremony at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka, said the budget was premised on five pillars.

He listed them as: Security, Law and Order; Economic Transformation; Social Agenda; Human Capital Development/ Transformation of Government Works and Environment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Soludo had on November 10 presented a proposed budget of N259billion to the House of Assembly for consideration.

The governor thanked the Assembly led by Speaker Uche Okafor for their diligent and expeditious consideration of the budget, which made it ready for signing barely a month after it was presented.

He said his administration was ready to deliver quality governance to the people of Anambra and that the five policy thrusts would get equal and simultaneous attention.

The British High Commission team from Abuja led by its Political Counsellor, Jonathan Beacon, has held a meeting with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, behind closed doors.

A statement signed yesterday by Wike’s Special Assistant, Kelvin Ebiri, said the team met with the governor at his country home, in Rumueiprikom, Obio-Akpor Local Government.

Beacon was quoted as saying that the British government was committed to ensuring a free, fair and credible election in 2023.

He said the government was partnering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the realisation of a smooth election.

Beacon, who led other officials of the British Commission on the visit, described the meeting with Governor Wike as very productive.

Read Also: Wike to Atiku: no deal as long as Ayu remains PDP chair

He noted that the British government was always monitoring the situation in Nigeria ahead of the 2023 elections.

He said: “We discussed the electoral period looking ahead to 2023 and I reiterated the British government’s position that we are supporting the process.

“We are also working very closely with INEC and we’re hoping for a free, fair and credible election in 2023.”

He said the meeting with the governor also centred on how to cement the existing relationship between the United Kingdom, Nigeria and Rivers State.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun renovation work on the buildings affected by the bomb blast at the commission’s headquarters in Owerri, Imo State.

Hoodlums on Monday attacked the commission headquarters along Owerri-Port Harcourt Road, destroying properties worth millions of Naira.

Five people were reportedly killed in the gun battle that ensued between the police and the armed hoodlums.

When The Nation visited the area, work had started on the burnt structures, while some of the damaged vehicles had been removed, possibly for repair.

Read Also: 4 killed in attack on another INEC office in Southeast

Building materials such as planks were said to have been supplied by the state government.

INEC spokesman Dr. Chinenye Chijoike-Osuji, who confirmed the beginning of work, said the commission had also begun the distribution of PVCs, which was disrupted on the eve of the attack.

Security has been beefed up at the INEC offices around the state.

Efforts to get the response of the police spokesman, Michael Abattam, proved abortive, as he did not respond to enquiry.

Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has urged detractors and blackmailers to stay away from the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana.

It said they should allow him to focus on realising his vision for the ministry.

The President, Peter Igbifa, in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said Umana had shown passion and commitment to his job of bringing development to the region and should not be distracted by mischievous individuals.

He said instead of trying to pull him down through baseless, unfounded and false allegations, Umana deserved the support of stakeholders.

Igbifa said since Umana assumed office, he had sent youths on training, especially in Information, Communication Technology (ICT), to create a critical mass of entrepreneurs and employable youths.

He warned youths devising dubious means in an attempt to extort the minister, using the name of IYC, to have a rethink, saying IYC would never engage in underhand practices.

Igbifa appealed to Umana to remain focused on his task to make positive impact in the region.

He said IYC would support him to succeed.