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Tag: Chief Audu Ogbeh

  • Shettima leads presidential delegation to Audu Ogbe’s family

    Shettima leads presidential delegation to Audu Ogbe’s family

    Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday described the late former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, as one of Nigeria’s most visionary leaders whose contributions to food security will remain indelibly etched in the nation’s development history.

    Shettima, who led President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s delegation on a condolence visit to the Ogbe family in Abuja, said the passing of the elder statesman at 78 was “an irreparable loss to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation drive and national development trajectory.”

    In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said, “We are here at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family, the government, and people of Benue State over the sad demise of our elder statesman, Chief Audu Ogbe.

    “We have not just lost a former minister; we have lost an irreplaceable institution whose vision and pragmatic approach to agricultural development transformed the landscape of our farming communities”, the Vice President said.

    Eulogising the late politician, who died peacefully on Saturday, Shettima described him as a transformational leader whose impact transcended political affiliations and regional boundaries, adding that his work offered a blueprint for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

    “He was a most committed advocate of agricultural transformation who endeared himself to many with his wisdom, pragmatism, and genuine concern for the well-being of farming families. His demise represents a collective loss to our entire agricultural ecosystem”, Shettima said.

    The Vice President highlighted Ogbe’s integrity, dedication, and unwavering commitment to rural development, noting that millions of farming households benefited from his initiatives and vision.

    Read Also: 1,000 groups endorse Tinubu/Shettima’s ticket for 2027

    Offering prayers for the repose of the deceased’s soul, Shettima expressed confidence that Ogbe’s example would continue to inspire future generations of agricultural practitioners and policymakers.

    “We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the enduring example he set. His legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to our nation will continue to guide our agricultural transformation efforts.

    “I pray that Almighty Allah will forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah Firdaus. May Allah also grant the family, the government and people of Benue State, and indeed the entire nation, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”, he said.

    Chief Audu Ogbe, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, served in several capacities in government, including as Minister of Communications in the Second Republic and Minister of Agriculture under President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • FG to set up cashew processing plants in four states — Ogbeh

    The Federal Government says it plans to set up cashew processing plants in four states of the country to add value to the produce and create employment, wealth in the country.

    Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    Ogbeh said the move would also reduce the waste of cashew fruits and delay in the export of raw nuts out of the country.

    According to him, we are currently wasting an estimated 8 million tonnes of cashew fruits annually.
    He said the long term solution to the delay in export and stocking of cashew nuts at the ports is for Nigeria to be exporter of finished products and not raw materials.

    Ogbeh listed the states where the plants would be set up to include Enugu, Benue, Kogi and Oyo.
    “The challenge is usually access to credit because a good processing cashew line will cost you about two million dollars to do something like 10 to 20 tonnes a day. We are targeting that to set up at least one plant each in

    Enugu and Benue, two plants each in Kogi and Oyo state, these are the leading cashew producers now.
    “We want to assure the cashew stakeholders that in our next level activities, we intend to stop the export of raw nuts and to process all our cashews here and we hope by the grace of God, to have one or two plants ready before next year.

    “We are talking with the Brazilians now. We want to bring in machines from Brazil to process the cashew fruits into juice which has a high content of vitamin c.

    “It is very good for the health because we are currently wasting an estimated eight million tonnes of cashew fruits annually, throwing them away,” he said.

    Ogbeh added: “That is what the Cashew Association of West Africa told me, in Nigeria alone, that we waste eight million tonnes.

    Read also: Ogbeh appeals for speedy clearing of agricultural export in ports

    “This is our concern, we are very troubled with this development but later in the year, I will have meeting with the cashew producers and farmers association to sit down with the CBN and get some help.’’

    The minister, who lamented that the country has been major importers of goods and services, said government is determined to changing the trend.

    “The challenge facing Nigeria is that we have been an importer nation which has destroyed our economy.

    “We want to change now and become a nation of exporters.

    “We have to find unorthodox ways of finding capital for those who want to grow these industries because on their own, it is impossible for them to meet the conditions of banks and financial institutions.

    “It is impossible for them to raise the necessary capital which is why the CBN initiatives are very important to us and we have been working with them and we are achieving results.

    “The treasury of Nigeria including the CBN has to find a way to by-pass the obstacles, the mountains, the rivers, blocking our way to industrial growth.

    “If not, we will remain perpetually poor and we will remain permanently incapable of creating wealth and creating jobs for our people,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • FG to eliminate chemical fertilisers in agriculture, says Ogbeh

    The Federal Government says it will gradually phase out the use of chemical fertilisers in agriculture to ensure the production of healthy foods for the people.

    Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this on Sunday while inspecting the first organic banana plantation by an Indian company, Contec Global Agro Limited in Kwali.

    Ogbeh, who expressed worry over the increasing numbers of liver and kidney diseases among young people, explained that the objective was the elimination of dangerous elements from foods.

    He noted that the move would also help to reduce the damages in the soil through the application of fertilisers.

    ‘‘We are slowly going to begin to eliminate chemical fertilisers. Organic nature means that this is what nature is all about without polluting it with salt, the chemical fertilisers are salt.

    ‘‘They damage the soil of all kinds and over a while, you find out that the soil is no longer good for you because they destroy the microbes which make the soil more productive. We need to make the food healthier because a lot of self-poisoning is going on in the country.

    ‘‘Even the machines we use to grind tomatoes in the market, metal rubbing against metal; particles of heavy metals getting into the food.

    ‘Suddenly, you see a young person in the hospital, like 20 years of age suffering from liver and kidney problem and you ask, do you drink alcohol, he says no, then what is happening?

    ‘‘We are not probing enough but we want to start in agriculture, eliminating dangerous elements from our food.

    ‘‘The place to begin is the farm, right from where you are planting, from the soil, from the bio-chemicals, the water, all of that has to be controlled and then you have healthy foods,’’ the minister said.

    Ogbeh said the company was already conducting an experiment to develop microbes from the soil in the laboratory and putting them back into the soil without the use of chemicals.

    The minister, who commended the owners of the organic banana farm, said that the Federal Government would continue to support both local and foreign investments in the agriculture sector.

    ‘‘We are happy that in spite of the difficulties people face, they still remain and invest.

    ‘‘This is the message from Mr President, stay close to the investors, and give them all the support they need. If there are things you can’t handle yourself, come and tell me about them and I will do that,’’ he said.

    Mr Thomas Chackunkal, the Managing Director, Contec Global Agro, the initiators and owners of the banana farm, said the plantation was a 250 hectare biologically safe demonstration farm.

    Chackunkal said the banana plantation would be replicated in Osun, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba, Edo and Oyo States.

    ‘‘We want to attract the young people. We want a holistic approach to provide all the basic needs like housing, schools, primary health care,’’ he said.

    Contec agro develops organic farming products such as bio-seed, bio-fertiliser, and bio-planting to help Africa develop its agricultural industry and ensure food security for the populace. (NAN)

  • PDP wasted commonwealth of Nigerians, says Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night again blamed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for wasting the commonwealth of Nigerians during its sixteen years administrations.

    According to him, there was nothing to show for the huge resources that were earned in the country during the period.

    He spoke at a dinner for youth political appointees at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He specifically queried the $16 billion expended on the power sector during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “There was no power they said they spent $16bn on, where is it?” he queried.

    The President also expressed disappointment with the Nigerian press over the poor coverage of his go back to land agricultural revolution program.

    He said that the press did not give the credit of the ongoing transformation in the agricultural sector of the country to his administration.

    Buhari said: “I’m very disappointed with the Nigerian press. They didn’t give this government the credit of the go back to land program. We have cut down the importation of rice by at least 90 percent.”

    According to him, Nigerians are now leaving white collar jobs for farming to tap from the revolution.

    He also said that the country has achieved food security.

    The President said he appointed Chief Audu Ogbeh as the Minister of Agriculture in view of his experience in the sector.

    “Ogbeh went to a bank, borrowed money and invested in the agriculture. He suffered but eventually he paid the money. So, you cannot have a better person than somebody who has suffered in the sector, “he said.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said that the PDP didn’t achieve one-tenth of APC achievements in its sixteen years at the helm of affairs.

    He said “As a Government arm, we have achieved so much and I am going to make available to you a document that we have put together, which captures what the government has been able to achieve in just about two and half years, what I called a midterm report.

    “If we have to make a comparison of what has been achieved in the last couple of years, the 16 years of PDP administration will not constitute one-tenth of what we have been able to achieve in the last three and half years.

    “We went to the 2015 elections with promises, but we will go to the 2019 elections with our scorecard,” he said.

  • FG rakes N400bn investment from rice in three years

    The Federal Government Wednesday disclosed that it has secured a little over N400 billion investments in the rice sector in three years.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Developement, Chief Audu Ogbeh disclosed this at meeting organised by Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Nigeria Agribusiness Group in Abuja.

    Read Also:Kano to harvest three million tonnes of rice

    The meeting was to assess impact of the MIRA Project being implemented by the NABG aimed to provide supports on regulatory reforms especially on farm inputs such as seeds and fertilizer.

    Ogbeh stated that rice production has continued to witness increase in the past three years of the administration from 2.4 tons to 5 tons per hectare on average.

    “It is on record and notable that most of the staple crops witnessed production increase in 2017 compared to what was recorded in 2016.

    “For instance, an increase of 4.4 per cent was witnessed for sorghum, 6.1 per cent for cowpea, 11.4 per cent for soybean, 7.7 per cent for cassava, 5.5 per cent for groundnut while others such as cocoyam increased by 16.8 per cent, tomatoes 13.2 per cent and onion 7.6 per cent.”

    The Minister, who was represented by IFAD Coordinating Director, Alh. Olumuyiwa Azeez  emphasised that all states have  increased production in rice with Lagos on the top list of 30.5 per cent rise.

    “We are able to save close to N300 million forex  in import substitution and through the local processing of rice. There is also increase in milling capacity of functional integrated rice mills from 13 to 21 mills and from less than 600, 000 Mt production capacity to 1.295 million metric tons with total investment of a little over N400bn.”

    However, he lamented over the challenge of Post-Harvest Losses (PHL) and policy reforms adding that PHL still looms.

    In his remarks, NABG Vice President, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere said regulatory frameworks have not been effective in the sector, thus need for the MIRA Project.

    He said there are conflicting laws which according to him called for a process to train lawmakers in the country.

    “We want to support African government’s efforts to reform regulations that limit private sector investment in smallholder value chains,” he said, adding that, they are facilitating passage and enactment of the Growth Enhancements Support bill that targets subsidy to poor farmers for fertilizer and certified seeds.

    AGRA Representative, Zonkeng Guepi restated commitment to addressing problems in the input industry.

  • Flood : Ogbeh predicts rice shortage in 2019

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says if appropriate measures were not taken to replant after the recent flood, the country may be in serious trouble with rice production.

    Ogbeh disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the inauguration of National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) Molecular Facility and the 2018 seed fair and Farmer’s field day.

    He said that the flood had affected some major rice producing states, adding that the country might experience scarcity of rice, if not addressed.

    “We have to find out a way to assist farmers, who were affected by the flood; places like Jigawa, Kebbi, Anambra and Kogi were majorly affected. Farmers lost everything they planted.

    “There are different varieties of rice that are being produced at NASC like faro 66 and 67 which are flood tolerant.

    “We hope to get them into the field in large quantity for farmers to plant in the near future.

    “We are also hoping that as soon as the rain seized, we are encouraging farmers to replant so that the residual moisture on the soil plus irrigation can give us another crop  by the end of December or early January.

    “Otherwise, we will be in serious trouble for rice, millet, sorghum and maize next year,” he said.

    The Minister expressed his pleasure and honour to be given the opportunity to chair this year’s Seed Fair and Farmers’ Field Day and inaugurate the NASC Molecular Laboratory.

    “ It is quite heartwarming to note that NASC has over the years kept faith in its drive to ensure the availability of quality seeds to farmers.

    “Also, this event is being used as a platform for creating awareness among our great farmers and the farming communities to showcase the different improved crop varieties that can enhance the productivity and increase national food security.

    Also peaking, Dr Philip Ojo, the Director-General, NASC, said that the 2018 event was opened with a Road Walk from the Federal Secretariat to the Minister of Agriculture.

    “This was followed by a Symposium. All the events were geared towards creating improved seeds awareness among our great farmers and the farming communities, especially in the Federal Capital Territory.

    “I wish to state categorically that improved seed use is the most cost effective means of enhancing agricultural productivity.

    “It is important to inform you all that between the 2017 and 2018, a lot of successes have been achieved in the Nigerian Seed industry.

    “NASC collaborations with other stakeholders have started yielded positive results such as the NASC Molecular Facility that will soon be inaugurated.

    “The facility which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation under the BASICS Programme will help in the development of the Cassava Seed System in the country and enhance productivity,” he said.

    The director-general appealed for more support from the state governors in order to step up the agency’s regulatory activities to rid the market of fake and adulterated seeds.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the yearly event has: “Enhancing Improved Seed Adoption towards achieving Food Security and Wealth Creation,” as its theme for 2018.

    NAN also reports fake seeds confiscated by the council were burnt by the Minister, during the event. (NAN)

  • FG sets up special fund to crash cost of local rice

    The Federal Government Thursday disclosed that a special fund has been setup to support rice farmers in order to crash the cost of local rice.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said the fund will be managed by the Bank of Agriculture and the ministry stressing that the gesture would ensure local rice become cheaper and more competitive compare to the imported ones.

    He spoke during a meeting with Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) and rice millers at his office in Abuja.

    Read Also:Fear of warehouse raid grips rice dealers

    Ogbeh said: “We have been discussing the modalities to put in place to make sure that local rice sells much cheaper and that the prices can fall to the levels of foreign rice and eventually, below the levels of foreign rice.

    “Every country in the world supports agriculture whether they call it subsidy or support, it is exactly the same thing. We are happy that the CBN has agreed to bring down interest rates on agric and manufacturing to one digit.

    “We applaud that decision but at the level of FMARD and BOA, we have set up a fund which we intend to manage to support both the farmers, millers and marketers to bring down the price of rice because we are concerned about the cost of rice for the Nigerian family.”

    The minister added that, “we want our people to feed well and feed cheaply but these things have to be managed carefully because we are dealing with public funds. We are also going to meet in about two weeks and organise rice fair beginning in Lagos, Abuja, Enugu, PH and one or two other cities to showcase the achievements of Nigerian in rice production.”

    According to him, “there are those who do not believe that Nigerian rice exist but we know they do and we are very proud of the millers for their tenacity, investments and pains they have gone through in the last few years in trying to respond to a national call.”

    He applauded RIFAN for their commitment towards ensuring the country achieves self-sufficiency in rice production.

    “I want to convey to you the appreciation of not only the President but also the Vice President; a nation does not thrive at an import bill of food of $22 billion a year. We just can’t manage it and I want this message to reach those who keep thinking that importation is the answer, we don’t have the money, we want to create jobs so those of you investing in these sectors, we are very proud of you and we want to thank you very much,” he added.

    The Minister reacted to flooded farm lands saying that agriculture research institutes in the country would be tasked to produce flood resistant rice varieties to check deficits in rice production.

    “In two weeks’ time when we meet, between the BOA and the millers, we will put in place a strategy to support rice milling so we can see what we can do for lower prices at Christmas so two weeks’ time, a letter will be sent to you by the director agribiz and also talk with the CBN but be sure that we want you to succeed, to be rich, to make a success like other countries have done but one day, we want foreign rice to be a very rare commodity in this country,” he stated.

    On smuggling, the Minister explained that President Muhammadu Buhari met with the President of Benin Republic and there were discussions towards reducing the scourge.

    He assured that a permanent solution would be provided soon.

  • Ogbeh for CBU annual lecture series 

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has accepted to speak at the 19th annual lecture series of the Catholic Brothers United (CBU) scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 26, 2018, at the McGovern Hall, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland.

    The Minister will be speaking on the theme, ‘Technology & Agricultural Revolution: A Tool for Economic Growth.

    President of the CBU, Emmanuel Okoro, in a statement announcing the Minister’s confirmation to be the guest speaker at the forum, said the choice of the theme is apt, because the federal government has given priority attention towards revamping the near moribund agriculture industry.

    Okoro, noted that technology and mechanisation are key factors that are   germane to achieving the objective of using agriculture as major plank to transforming the economy.

    He also noted that with the use of mobile apps, a farmer can calculate the amount of grass available in the field, and this saves the farmer time and money.

  • Farmers blame Fed Govt for high cost of local rice

    Adamawa State Chapter, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has blamed the failure of the Federal Government  to keep its promise, for the high cost of local rice in the country.

    Its Chairman, Stephen Maduwa, who spoke in an interview  with The Nation in Yola, the state capital, said the government had promised last year to help fix the challenges confronting local rice farmers, especially by providing solar-powered pumping machines for the rice farms to reduce farmers spending on diesel and petrol.

    Specifically, he said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made the promise, lamenting that over a year after, that the promise has not been kept. He said the cost of local rice would continue to rise.

    He added that the farmers buy water-pumping machines at very high cost, petrol, diesel as well as high cost of labour without any form of incentives from the government.

    Local rice is currently being sold between N16, 000 and N17, 000 but the ministry had promised a bag of rice will sell for N10, 000 before December last year.

    “The cost of local rice will continue to be high until the government is ready to trim it down. I put that to the minister in our last meeting. I told him we get pumping machine at very high cost, diesel and petrol are also costly. There and then, he promised us he was bringing in three-inch solar pumping machines through his ministry but up to this moment, we have not got anything. It’s more than a year now,” Maduwa said.

  • FG to take delivery of N10.7bn rice mill Dec 2019

    The Federal Government has said the N10.7 billion integrated rice milling machines procured by the Federal Government will be delivered in December, 2019.

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this Monday at the pact signing with MV Agro Engineers, suppliers of the farm equipment, in Abuja.

    Ogbeh explained that the benefiting states would indicate interest as off-takers, make 10 percent down payment and express technical capacity to own and operate a mill.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) in April approved N10.7bn for the establishment of 10 new rice mills in the six geopolitical zones.

    The 10 participating states include Kaduna, Anambra, Kogi, Benue, Bayelsa, Niger, and Bauchi. Others are Kebbi, Ogun, Zamfara while the mills are expected to produce 100 tons of rice per day.

    Read Also:Fed Govt to rice millers: we’ll reduce interest rates

    The Bank of Agriculture (BoA) is expected to take over the loan repayment in the next 10 years.

    “As these people arrive, they will install these mills and the BoA will take over the loans repayment over a period of 10 years,” Ogbeh said.

    Asked if the 18 months deadline could be reviewed upward, the minister noted that, “building machines is not cheap. It’s a scientific thing. These people say they may do it faster but we give them 18 months, so there won’t be issues for delays.”

    According to him, there are about 16 existing large rice mills from the already procured 100 mills.

    The minister added that 16 large machines would mill 100 tons of rice paddy daily while others could mill about 300 tons daily.

    “Dangote just brought in 10 milling machines which will produce 1 million tons of rice per annum but there are smaller ones we gave out, about 200 mills of 10 tons and 20 tons per annum operating in villages and small corners equipped with the stoners.

    “We are buying smaller mills and giving them out because the smaller mills produce more rice than the big mills added up but they are scattered all over the country. Virtually every state has small rice mills somewhere, Niger, Bayelsa, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Katsina and Jigawa,” he stated.

    He commended the contractors advising them to supply adequate quality spare parts.

    In his remarks, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture, Kabir Mohammed restated commitment to ensure the project is successful while meeting the delivery targets.

    He said the project financing would not be a challenge.

    The Managing Director, Jamu Babba Dan’agundi, leader of the delegation commended the federal government for the gesture.

    He promised to deliver the machines as scheduled.