The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DON

  • Don to govt: establish national emergency centre

    Don to govt: establish national emergency centre

    There is need for the government to establish a national medical emergency service across the country to rescue people from avoidable death. The University of Benin (UNIBEN) Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, Prof Pius Iribhogbe, made this call while delivering the school’s 188th inaugural lecture titled: Injury: Rumination of trauma surgeon.

    According to the professor of Trauma Surgery, Nigerians are dying daily from avoidable deaths because of lack of special emergency facilities. He said many patients died as a result of congestion of public hospitals’ emergency rooms, adding that late emergency response is rendering health workers to be incompetent.

    He also decried the discrimination against paramedics by health workers, stating that it was causing a problem in the health sector.

    He said: “When we started the paramedical training at the UNIBEN Teaching Hospital (UBTH), many of the health workers, including professors, thought it was waste of time. They fought against the programme. Even nurses were afraid that the paramedics were coming to take over their jobs. We educated most of them to understand that medical work cannot be completed by one professional. Everyone has a major role to play.

    “Some of those professors who fought against the paramedical programme were rescued during emergency situations by the same people they fought. I am happy to tell you that the work is now going smooth. Everyone has a role to play in patient management and we must give them the chance.”

    Prof Iribhogbe bemoaned the attitude of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel towards paramedics, saying the federal agency needed the service of paramedics in its emergency response.

    While commending the Lagos State government for the establishment of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the inaugural lecturer said the agency could not serve the emergency need of millions of people living in the state.

    In his recommendation, he urged the Federal Government to “urgently establish” a National Medical Emergency Services as being done in developed countries, adding that paramedics are needed to be employed to operate emergency ambulances.

    He said: “Trauma surgeons have a role to play in trauma management. Beyond treating patients in the emergency room, trauma surgeons need to also create time to educate them on how to prevent injuries and tackle basic emergency conditions. The Federal Ministry of Health must ensure adequate supervision of the teaching hospitals to ensure the safety of emergency departments and also provide necessary equipment to avoid rendering the medical workers incompetent.”

    Prof Iribhogbe said there was need for law to check dangerous driving. This, he said, could be checked by random alcohol blood concentration test, which is to be carried out on drivers.

    He said: “We must also invest in trauma research and fellowship as this will boost knowledge in the field of trauma care for patients. There is also need for the FRSC to intensify advocacy aimed at behavioural change among motorists, with particular focus on enforcement of road rules, speed breaks, seat belts and the use of safety helmet by motorcycle riders.”

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Farady Orumwense, hailed the inaugural lecturer for his brilliance, describing the paper as a “masterpiece”.

    He said: “Inaugural lectures have transformed from being a mere ceremonial academic event to one where we bring the best of our product to showcase their work and educate the audience who comprises of both the low and high in the society. We will submit the recommendations of this inaugural lecture to the appropriate quarter for implementation.”

    Prof Iribhogbe is an alumnus of UNIBEN, where he obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) in 1983. He specialised in General Surgery and obtained the certification of the West African College of Surgeons in 1998. He has served in various capacities in UBTH, before he was appointed the Deputy VC. He is a fellow of the International College of Surgeons.

  • Don calls for ‘re-configuration’ of polity

    Don calls for ‘re-configuration’ of polity

    A university don, Prof. Richard Joseph, has called for what he described as the re-configuration of the polity to give more expression to the practice of federalism.

    He said: “The federal system is the only system under which Nigerian can govern itself,” advising that a regression to any form of centralization or unity system could be counter-productive.

    Joseph, who is Trinidal and Tobago, noted the calls for true federalism by stakeholders, but added that he could not comprehend the real meaning or interpretation.

    He observed that the long period of military rule has affected the federal structure, pointing out that military leaders have structured the federation the way they liked through state creation, despite the fact that the military government, by its nature, was a centralized government.

    Joseph said the disparity between the central and the state, in terms of power and resources, was a subject of concern, urging stakeholders to come up with discussions on the ideas, approaches and perspectives in a bid to arrive at the appropriate form of federalism.

    He said: “There is a shift from agro-economy to petrol dollar economy. The money goes to the centre before allocation. The centre has a disproportionate level of power, authority and revenue.”

    The scholar spoke at a lecture titled: ‘Conglomerate governance and prebendal politics: whither Nigeria’s federal democracy?, organised by a group, the Liberal Forum, in Lagos. Discussants included former Finance Minister Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President Olisa Agbakoba, former Editor of The Guardian, Debo Adesina, Dr. Malafia and Opeyemi Agbaje.

    Joseph urged Nigeria to build on its now stable constitutional democracy and the unfettered freedom it has offered to, unlike during the military rule.

    Lamenting the eviction order by some northern youth groups, he said it was a sad reminder of the sad experience of the civil war.

    Joseph said federalism was the answer to the quest for restructuring, adding that the country will wax stronger, following its re-configuration.

    He said: “Chief Emeka Anyaoku has urged a return to regionalism. My position is let’s reconfigure the federation. The debate is good, but there must be the power to actualize the suggestion. Only the government can take action on the report of the National Conference.”

    Noting that Nigeria may not be able to implement the National Conference Report before 2019 polls,, Joseph said political parties can make the pursuit of constitutional reforms their campaign manifesto for the elections.

    He added: “The constitution ia an autobiography, but it could also be aspirational.”

    Adesina, who doubled as the moderator, said there was no alternative to federalism, urging the government and other stakeholders to embrace the reality.

    Noting that some people have misinterpreted re-configuration to mean balkanization, he warned that there may be no unity, unless the national diversity is recognized and respected.

    Adesina described the 1999 Constitution as a false document, stressing that the defective document cannot serve a useful purpose.

    He stressed: “Is Nigeria working the way it is? No. The sensibility of Nigeria is offended by the false constitution of 1999. The constitution should be the autobiography of Nigeria. Once the foundation is faulty, there will be problem. The 1999 Constitution was hurriedly put together. The committee that put it together was not representative of Nigeria.

    “Before 1960 and 1966, we had a semblance of federalism. Later, we had imposition by the military. The various agitations represent disaffection with the nature of the lopsided federalism.”

    Kalu, who called for constitutional restructuring, said fiscal federalism was imperative, adding that each unit should have control over the resources in its domain. He also said that the reconstruction should give autonomy to the units.

    On the energy crisis, he said only those who have the funds, experience and competence should be engage in the business of power generation and distribution.

    Abakoba blamed the political elite, colonial masters and the military for the national cisis, urging the youths to gird their loins.

    He said: “The problem is the political elite, the colonial masters imprisoned Nigeria in 1914, the independent masters and the military masters. We are in a large prison, a big zoo. It is a big joke to expect that the political parties can salvage Nigeria.

    “We must think about the building blocks; the civil society must rise up. Civil society is absolutely dead. You youths and students should pay attention to your society. I visited Aso Rock Villa and saw why people don’t want to leave power. Power is sweet.”

    Agbaje lamented that pseudo-unitary system has replaced federalism, urging a quick return to federalism, autonomy to states and regionalism to avert disaster.

    Malafia said: ‘The Nigerian crisis is the crisis of leadership. When gifted people refuse to participate in politics, they are domed to be ruled by their inferiors. Nigeria has been ruled by leaders who cannot measure up to its potentials. This has led to decay and imminent collapse.”

    He lamented that Nigerians have ben so distant from one another, referring to the bitter crisis foisted by the Boko Haram sect, Arewa youths, Fulani herdsmen and Igbo secession campaigners.

    Malafia said it was worrisome that Nigerian legislators were the highest paid in the world in a country that cannot pay the N18,000 minimum wage. He also decried the rental state, saying that the country was suffering from over-dependence on oil.

    On the agitation for federalism, he said: “There is no such thing as true federalism. Our federalism should be rooted in our historical experience and mutual understanding. The units should be equal in a federation; none should be too big as to dominate the others as K.C Wheare posited. We need a revised regional structure, not based on the six geo-political zones.”

    The scholar alleged that some external forces wanted Nigeria to disintegrate   , adding that the West disliked the its size while the Midle east was pushing a theocratic agenda.

    Urging the government to embrace reforms and constitutional re-engineering, he said: “Th 1999 Constitution is illegitimate. It is not based on “we the people.”

     

     

    On the power outage, Malafia said the country is the biggest importer of generator in the world. Urging the government to declare a state of emergency in power, he said if the power crisis is resolved, Nigeria will surprise the world.

    On corruption, he said: “The stolen money in foreign banks is too much. Let the money be brought back  and we use them for investment to create jobs. We can give two years of grace to the looters to repent and return the money. After the expiration of two years, we should pursue and prosecute them. We should carry the whistle blowing policy aborad.”

     

  • Educate Muslims on their rights, Shittu, Don urges lawyers

    Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu and Prof. Abdulwahab Egbewole of the University of Ilorin, have advised Muslim lawyers to educate and assist Muslims on their fundamental rights.

    The duo gave the advice in Ibadan during the 20th Annual Ramadan Lecture organised by Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Oyo State.

    Shittu urged Muslims to seek more knowledge on the practice of the religion.

    He also urged Muslim lawyers to support Muslims in pursuing their fundamental rights, adding the constitution of Nigeria guaranteed rights of individual to practice their religion.

    Shittu called on Nigerian youths to key into the N-Power scheme of the federal government, which he said would soon engage another 300, 000 graduates.

    Egbewole, in a lecture entitled Fundamental Human Rights in Nigeria: A Myth or Reality stated that Muslims needed to be educated on the three generations of rights provided by law.

    He explained that such rights include the right of Muslims to practice their religion in line with Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution.

    “This right as guaranteed by the constitution could only be achieved through the principles of Islamic Law.’’

    Egbewole said Islamic law was a complete way of life that regulates the affairs of Muslims.

    He explained that the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution were rooted in Islam, adding that the prescriptions of Islam are more comprehensive.

    “This means that Muslims can realise their right to freedom of religion using the same constitutional provisions. Muslims have not engaged the law enough to the extent of realising fully their guaranteed rights,” he said.

    Egbewole, who is the Director, General Studies of the university, noted that recent wrangling over the use of hijab by Muslims was unnecessary as it did not infringe on other’s rights.

    The university don stressed that Muslims lawyers must engage more in pro bono services for the purpose of making fundamental rights truly available to the Muslims.

    “Muslims should agitate for their rights through dialogue,” he added.

    MULAN Oyo State Chapter Chairman Akeem Adetunji, said the association had in the last one year had provided free legal services to the needy.

  • Why parents must listen to their kids, by don

    It is said that one in three girls in developing countries suffers gender-based violence while over 140 millions girls and women have suffered genital mutilation.

    Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LSUCM), Professor B. A. Solagberu, who was a guest speaker at this year’s Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Children’s Day symposium, made this known.

    According to Solagberu millions of girls are trafficked in modern day slavery and women’s bodies are battle grounds and rape being used as tactics of war.

    “Gender violence is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in the world; one of the least prosecuted crimes, and one of the greatest threats to lasting peace and development. It is estimated that seven in 10 women in some countries face physical and/or sexual violence in their life time. Violence against women has tremendous cost to communities, nation and societies. It results in reduced quality and quantities of life for those affected,”he said.

    The provost, who was represented by Prof Antonia Ogbera, however, sought support and good health care for victims of domestic violence. “A rape survivor must have a rapid access to a health clinic that can administer emergency medical care, including treatment to prevent HIV and unintended pregnancy and sound counseling. A woman who is beaten by her husband must have some place to go with her children to enjoy safety, sanity and shelter. A victim of violence must have confidence that when she files a police report, she will receive justice and perpetrators will be punished,”he said.

    A representative of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Unit, Mrs Alakija Oladapo  said: “I think it has always been there, but it is because of our cultural and traditional values we saw it as if it’s nothing. Now that there is awareness and the world is a global village it is obvious now that it is not cultural, it is wrong and that is why we are raising awareness about it. Citizens of Lagos State should speak out, although it goes beyond Lagos State because Lagos does not live in isolation. You will find out that we have so many laws in Nigeria, but the real issue is about domesticating those laws. If every other state domesticates that law then we’re going to have the same success story.”

    She continued: “Now people find out that domestic violence is all over the place- among the poor, the rich and some celebrated faces, which mean we need to do more. But how do we do more? First and foremost, we should go back to our homes; the family structure is wrong, wrong in the sense that we are all guilty for what we are now seeing. Then when we thought it was ok. The world was not a global village, now children can see everything going on elsewhere. So we need to as a people, as it obtains in Europe when you reach a certain age you leave your family home, instead of what obtains here where we find our nephews are still living with us with our younger ones or grandchildren, there and then, we are creating room for abuses.

    “Most of us are working, but we need to plan ourselves if we need to copy we need to copy right. In the western world the couples don’t work at the same time either they work in shifts, but here everybody goes to work and you leave the children at the mercy of a keeper.”

    She added: “You take the child to crèche very early, but the teachers are not yet there because they resume maybe 8am, so you keep your child with the security man or the gardener, who possibly may abuse. And you pick your child very late and it’s the same routine simply because your work must not suffer. So, we need to create a balance in our home and then the way we bring them up and the way we share the household chores too.”

    A consultant pediatrician and head of pediatric unit of the clinical science department, NIMR, Dr Nkiruka David  said the girl child is more vulnerable to domestic violence, hence, the need to raise more awareness.

    “Every child is vulnerable, but the girl child is more vulnerable and that is why we are raising awareness about the girl child, but actually we will like every child to be protected from violence because even the boy child is at risk, but the girl child is particularly vulnerable and that’s why we are focusing on the girl child.

    “Sometimes parents don’t listen to their girls so they don’t have anybody to run to, but as a mother, we must learn to listen to our children, we must become their friend and confidante so that they can be able to come to us and talk to us about any problem they are facing.

  • How to bridge housing gap, by don

    THE availability of affordable land will help in addressing the country’s housing shortfall and mitigate the proliferation of slums, a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Mohammed Asimiyu Junaid, has said.

    Delivering the 51st inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) in Niger State, with the theme: Housing for the Nigerian poor: A reality or a mirage, he said the National Housing Policy needed to be reviewed for efficient implementation.

    Junaid added that the government’s political will was required to ensure allocations for estate development go to competent developers who can help in achieving the national policy for urban development.

    At the event, which held at Caverton Lecture Hall on Gidan Kwano campus of the school, the don said: “There should be well-developed mortgage institutions to assist developers to obtain loans at low interest rates. The government should also ensure even distribution of resources between rural and urban areas to discourage rural-urban migration and to decongest our cities. The need for functional building designs and very durable materials for mass urban housing provision cannot be overemphasised.”

    Junaid maintained that the government’s aim to provide mass housing for the poor was achievable, adding that feasible financial policies were needed to increase access to materials. He said the government should promote the use of eco-friendly construction materials and energy-efficient technologies.

    He said: “In some emerging economies, housing experts and policy analysts were hired to devise ways of overcoming housing challenges, knowing how significant housing is to a nation’s GDP. Countries, such as India, Mexico, Jamaica, Malaysia, Brazil and Thailan, are good studies for Nigeria to learn from.

    “These countries have deployed strategies and models ranging from Home Loans Guarantee, Mortgage Insurance, Liquidity Facilities, Pass-Through Mortgage Backed Securities, Tax Credit for Low Income Housing, Seed Capital, and Hedging of foreign long-term debts for private market operators. While not recommending a direct transfer of these models, a critical look at them in relation to our internal environment will help a great deal.”

    He advised the government to grant import duty wavers on foreign building materials and also offer tax relief to private developers interested in public-private partnership for delivery of low-income housing scheme to poor workers, noting that the PPP agreement would assist in the provision of basic amenities and social infrastructure in the towns and cities.

    According to the inaugural lecturer, the problems of housing shortage, urbanisation, overcrowding, unemployment, and other urban challenges can be solved if low–cost housing schemes are revived.

    In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Musbau Akanji, hailed the “wonderful presentation” by  Junaid, describing the lecture’s topic as “apt and timely”.

    He said: “The lecture addresses the shortfall in mass housing scheme for poor Nigerians deserves an irrevocable commitment on the part of the government, estate developers and other stakeholders.”

  • How to bridge housing gap, by don

    How to bridge housing gap, by don

    THE availability of affordable land will help in addressing the country’s housing shortfall and mitigate the proliferation of slums, a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, Mohammed Asimiyu Junaid, has said.

    Delivering the 51st inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) in Niger State, with the theme: Housing for the Nigerian poor: A reality or a mirage, he said the National Housing Policy needed to be reviewed for efficient implementation.

    Junaid added that the government’s political will was required to ensure allocations for estate development go to competent developers who can help in achieving the national policy for urban development.

    At the event, which held at Caverton Lecture Hall on Gidan Kwano campus of the school, the don said: “There should be well-developed mortgage institutions to assist developers to obtain loans at low interest rates. The government should also ensure even distribution of resources between rural and urban areas to discourage rural-urban migration and to decongest our cities. The need for functional building designs and very durable materials for mass urban housing provision cannot be overemphasised.”

    Junaid maintained that the government’s aim to provide mass housing for the poor was achievable, adding that feasible financial policies were needed to increase access to materials. He said the government should promote the use of eco-friendly construction materials and energy-efficient technologies.

    He said: “In some emerging economies, housing experts and policy analysts were hired to devise ways of overcoming housing challenges, knowing how significant housing is to a nation’s GDP. Countries, such as India, Mexico, Jamaica, Malaysia, Brazil and Thailan, are good studies for Nigeria to learn from.

    “These countries have deployed strategies and models ranging from Home Loans Guarantee, Mortgage Insurance, Liquidity Facilities, Pass-Through Mortgage Backed Securities, Tax Credit for Low Income Housing, Seed Capital, and Hedging of foreign long-term debts for private market operators. While not recommending a direct transfer of these models, a critical look at them in relation to our internal environment will help a great deal.”

    He advised the government to grant import duty wavers on foreign building materials and also offer tax relief to private developers interested in public-private partnership for delivery of low-income housing scheme to poor workers, noting that the PPP agreement would assist in the provision of basic amenities and social infrastructure in the towns and cities.

    According to the inaugural lecturer, the problems of housing shortage, urbanisation, overcrowding, unemployment, and other urban challenges can be solved if low–cost housing schemes are revived.

    In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Musbau Akanji, hailed the “wonderful presentation” by  Junaid, describing the lecture’s topic as “apt and timely”.

    He said: “The lecture addresses the shortfall in mass housing scheme for poor Nigerians deserves an irrevocable commitment on the part of the government, estate developers and other stakeholders.”

  • Don urges Fed Govt to fund archives

    Prof. James Saliba of the Department of History, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, has appealed to the Federal Government for more funds for National Archives.
    Saliba, in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said this would strengthen its role of record keeping and management.
    The don, who is also the Director of Archives and Record Management in the university, regretted that National Archives had not lived up to its responsibilities.
    He said: “I appeal to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Information and Culture to provide fund to strengthen the activities of National Archives, which is an arm of the ministry.
    “The emphasis on Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and National Orientation Agency to promote the positive image of the country is good, but the National Archives also performs similar functions, using important records.
    “To relegate the National Archives is to do harm to ourselves. Those in position of authority should understand the values of archives and encourage its development.
    “We have National Archives in Kaduna, Ibadan, Enugu and others places; proper funding should be provided to them so that the archivists there can really do the work they need to do.
    “Our children from universities across the country go there for researches, but you discover that those archives are in deplorable conditions.”
    According to him, if adequate funding is provided for the National Archives, the young ones can learn to research in resourceful archives and get a better understanding of the values of records.
    Saliba, the Northeast coordinator of Society of Nigerian Archivists (SNA), said the nation should learn to appreciate the values of records keeping and management.
    He said it was sad that sometimes, some people deliberately destroyed records or ignored record keeping because they wanted to cover up things they did not do or things they did badly.
    The don said it was time to create a new value orientation among youths so that they could understand the values of records management.
    Saliba stressed that the government needed to brace up for the importance of archives in the development of the country and fund the National Archives to perform better.

  • Punish legal fees payment defaulters, don says

    Punish legal fees payment defaulters, don says

    The Federal Government should sanction any International Oil Company (IOC) that fails to spend 100 per cent of its legal fees in Nigeria, the Head of Department, Energy Law, University of Lagos, Dr Adedayo Ayoade, has said.

    He said this had become necessary to ensure compliance with the rules guiding the operation of the sector. Cases abound where firms don’t execute the judgments they receive abroad in Nigeria, he added.

    According to him, the constitution requires that when cases are executed in a place, judgment should also be delivered and executed in the same area.

    In an interview in Lagos, Ayoade urged the government to monitor  such firms and sanction them appropriately by using the Nigerian Content Act.

    He said the IOCs in Nigeria failed to comply with the law on spending 100 per cent of their legal fees in-country as contained in the Act.

    Adedayo said: “Many foreign oil conglomerates are not complying with the Local Content Act as regards spending all their legal fees in the country. To curb the excesses of firms, which flout the rules, the Federal Government should sanction firms that are culpable of the offence. By so doing, the government is putting the firms on their toes by preventing them from taking cases abroad.”

    He urged the Board to compel oil firms to domesticate their activities to strengthen local content policy. For instance, if company ‘A’ made $20million profit yearly in Nigeria, and company ‘B’ realises $50million profit in year, they should be able to plough part of their profits into the economy. ‘’What is the percentage of profits do the firms spend in the country? This is the more reason the government must compel foreign oil firms that are operate in the country to spend the money they set aside for legal issues in Nigeria and not abroad,’’ he added.

    On expatriate quota, Ayoade said the quota has been abused by foreign oil firms, an issue that prevents Nigerians from getting jobs in the oil and gas sector and other sectors that are considered as strategic to the economy.

    He urged the Ministry of Internal Affairs to implement laws that would check the abuse of expatriate quota, stressing that such a step would help to promote local skills. He said a review of the Act, which set up the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, was necessary to address the problems in the industry.

    According to him, the review would enable the Board to provide regular reports of their activities, monitor operators, and sanction the errant. He said the Board had not been able to publicise some of its programmes, stressing that public disclosures bring about transparency and growth in a company.

    Shell’s spokesman, Precious Okolobo, said Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has neither exceeded the expatriate quota, which the Federal Government has given foreign oil firms, nor spends its legal fees abroad.

    “SPDC and other Shell companies in Nigeria are promoting Local Content in their operations. The firms have won awards for promoting Local Content initiatives,” Okolobo added.

    The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, warned the IOCs, including Samsung Heavy Industries of South Korea against flouting Local Content Laws.

    During a visit to Lagos, the Committee said it was opposed to  where IOCs exceed the expatriate quota, among other rules in the Nigerian Content Act, adding that the legislature would take drastic measures against any firm that violates the rules. Adherence to the policy is important to encourage the growth of indigenous oil operators, he asaid.

    Lagos Oil and Gas Base (LADOL)Managing Director, Ms Army Jadesinmi, said the sector would grow, if the relevant agencies comply with the provisions of the Local Content Act, adding that such would lead to job creation. She said job creation would stimulate growth, noting that some operators had assisted in providing growth.

    Jadesinmi said LADOL has created jobs at its fabrication yards, and other technical areas, adding that oil and gas zones are veritable means of providing jobs. ‘’LADOL is working towards becoming an industrial hub in West Africa. The feat is achievable with the right operating environment,’’ she added.

  • Don hails Fed Govt for rice machines

    A lecturer, Dr Awotein George, has hailed the Federal Government’s plan to distribute 200 rice milling machines to farmers across the county.
    He spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.
    George said the measure would reduce the burden of rice farmers in Rivers in particular and the country in general.
    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, announced the government’s proposal in Port Harcourt two weeks ago.
    George, the Head of Department (HOD), Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, said the lack of milling machines had affected rice farmers’ ability to boost production.
    He said rice farmers had to transport their produce to Ebonyi in the Southeast for milling, adding that the situation had increased the production cost of the commodity.
    George said: “I know a rice farmer in this state, Mrs. Ann Amos, who transported bags of rice she produced to Ebony State to mill due to lack of functional milling facilities in the state.
    “The woman’s experience was enough to discourage her from cultivating rice. You can imagine a rice farmer in Rivers carrying the rice she produced to Ebonyi to mill.”

    The don advised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that the distribution of the 200 milling machines was not hijacked by politicians.
    George noted that rice had three to four months period to mature and advised farmers to work hard to plant it twice in a year to increase their income.
    He said producing rice twice a year would guarantee rice sufficiency and food security.

  • Don calls for reduction of chemicals in farm produce

    Prof. Timothy Olabiyi, a crop and environmental expert, says the high use of chemicals by farmers is affecting the acceptability of Nigeria’s farm produce in the international market.

    Olabiyi of the Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, spoke during a one-day training workshop organised for farmers on “Organic Agriculture’’ in Ejigbo, Osun.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the training, which was organised by the Association of Organic Practitioners of Nigeria, has “Go Organic’’ as its theme.

    Olabiyi said organic farming was still the best agricultural methodology which farmers could adopt, bemoaning the excessive use of chemicals for farm produce by the country’s farmers.

    According to him, Nigerian farmers are so used to chemical application to such an extent that some of them believe that they cannot farm without the application of chemicals.

    “Before any developed country takes any farm produce from Nigeria, they will assess the chemical residue in it.

    “And at a point, when the chemical in the farm produce exceeds the required standard, it will be rejected.

    “We need to start producing high-quality produce, devoid of chemical or insects, and wood, among others.”