The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogbeh

  • Nigeria produces 90% of rice it consumes, says Ogbeh

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh, yesterday said Nigeria now producing 90 per cent of the rice it consumed locally.

    Ogbeh made this known at the 2019 Annual Research Review and Planning meeting held at the newly commissioned Balarabe Tanimu Conference Hall at the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The theme of the meeting is: “Harnessing the Potential of Agricultural Export in Nigeria: The Role of Key Stakeholders”.

    Ogbeh, who was represented by the Director of Extension Services in the ministry, Dr Karima Babangida, said the support of the present administration had triggered a visible shift “to eating what we grow rather than eating imported food’’.

    He said: “One very good example that we see today is the locally home grown Nigerian rice, hitherto, Nigeria has been a major and largest importer of rice from Thailand and this implies largest importer in the world.

    “But today, we have been able to achieve a paradigm shift in the right direction and we are now producing 90 per cent of the rice we eat in the country, I think we should appreciate our farmers here.

    “Nigeria does not only have the capacity to feed itself , it also becomes a major actor in agricultural exports to other African countries, Europe and American countries, including the Far East, especially China.”

    According to him, the same thing is happening in other sectors of the agric economy, with collective efforts of stakeholders, Nigeria will have a favourable balance of trade in food items.

    Ogbeh stressed the need for all stakeholders, researchers, extension service providers, farmers groups, policy makers, development partners, input suppliers, agro-based NGOs to synergise to continue to harness the enormous potential in the country.

    The minister called for improved crop varieties, both arable and tree crops, livestock and fisheries, adding that it was the only way to improve comparative and competitive advantages and become self-sufficient in food and agricultural production.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba observed that the future of Nigerian economy depended on agriculture.

    Garba, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics, Prof. Ezra Bako-Amans said the Nigerian agricultural export potentials were enormous.

    “Nigeria has all it takes to lead the African trains-border trades in food and fibre. It can cut its global share too in a number of crops it has comparative advantages in their production.

    “The world’s cotton economy for instance, is about 1 trillion dollars. Needless to say is that cotton used to be one of the most important fibre crops in Nigeria, but down the line, we lost relevance on this crop.

    “With the current renewed focus on agriculture, this glory can be reclaimed and Nigeria can have her fair share in the global cotton industry,” he said.

  • Ogbeh praises CBN’s 9% credit lending to farmers

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, yesterday applauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Committee of Bankers for pegging interest rate to farmers at nine per cent.

    Ogbeh said the development will assist the agricultural sector create jobs and promote food security through loans disbursement to rural women and youths at the grassroots.

    Ogbeh, who spoke in Abuja, described the policy as a first major step Nigeria was taking to reverse the ‘horrible damage’ done to Africa through the Structural Adjustment Programme of the mid 1980s.

    “The tenure for this loan is good, seven years tenure, two years moratorium and maximum of N10 billion per borrower but I appeal to the borrowers, if you are going to take this loan, you have to swear to God that you will repay. We don’t want the banks losing all their money,” Ogbeh said.

    He applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to the ministry’s appeal and other stakeholders who had pushed for the cut in interest rate for over 30 years.

    However, the minister urged borrowers to ensure whatever was being borrowed are repaid as financial institutions are profit-making organisations.

    Ogeh assured that the ministry would ensure loan repayment, adding that government intends to disburse the funds through cooperatives to rural farmers in the country, who are largely women and youths.

    “We believe that under this condition, our youth and women, big and small scale farmers can now have access to credit to fulfill their dreams and drive Nigeria towards self-sufficiency in food production.

    “We have to grow our agriculture and to grow agriculture, you need cheaper credits, 18, 25 and 35 per cent interest rates are for traders, not producers and I am glad the central bank has recognized this. I have complained about this since 1986.

    “I was travelling in Hong Kong when I phoned home and I was told structural adjustment programme had started and that the dollar was being auctioned. That day, I said to my friend, this is the beginning of Nigeria’s disaster. We carried on every week devaluing our currency for nearly 32 years.

    “I don’t know where the economist discovered this marvelous formula but I have never seen any country practicing that nearly insane monetary policy. The Naira used to exchange $1.5. As a result, it was better to import than produce, then interest rate went to 35 per cent.

    “A friend of mine told me he borrowed at 40 per cent. We committed suicide then and this is the first major attempt to redeem that disaster. That is why I am so excited about it,” he added.

  • Nigeria’s agric export earnings N5b, says Ogbeh

    The Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh yesterday said Nigeria’s agricultural export earnings have increased by 180 per cent, hitting over N5 billion in the last one year.

    He spoke in Abuja when the ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with John Deere Tractor Manufacturing Company on the procurement of tractors and the provision of farm mechanisation services.

    Ogbeh expressed optimism that the country’s export earnings would continue to increase because of the tractor mechanisation services which would be rendered to smallholder farmers through the partnership with John Deere.

    “This partnership means greater wealth, more exports for our country. I like to say how proud we are that agricultural exports in the last one year and half have gone up by 180 per cent, as we earned well over N5 billion from these exports. We are on the way and with your support, we will get there,’’ he said.

    On delay in the planned recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Ogbeh said efforts were being made to restructure the bank in a way that people would no longer be able to take loans and refuse to pay back.

    “It is taking so long because we have had to remove an entire management and bring in bankers now. The shareholders are mainly the Federal Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and they said they are ready to give us money. The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) is doing a new restructuring. Farmers are going to own 30 per cent of the shares of BoA.

    “And the bank would have a branch in each of the local government areas of the country where they can talk to farmers,’’ he said.

    He said the newly introduced Agriculture Input and Mechanisation Services (AIMS), which would replace the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, would soon be launched.

    “We will launch the AIMS once our committee submits its report and we will tell you exactly how things will be done. We will screen those people who have applied; there will be no question of just fixing names because of any influence. AIMS will help to track fake seed companies and distributors because there are a lot of people who still do fake things in agriculture believing that as soon as they supply inputs, nobody can track them,’’ Ogbeh said.

  • Ekwueme was a Good, Exemplary Nigerian – Obi, Nwosu, Ogbeh, Orji

    The former Gov. of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has described the former Vice President, Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme as a good Nigerian, who showed us example through his commitment to Nation- building.

    Obi, who accompanied his mortal remains from U.K yesterday spoke during the brief ceremonies  at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja. Describing Ekwueme as a father, Obi said that “the best way to preserve his memories  is through good governance along his lofty dreams of peace and development anchored on justice and equity, which he pursued with adamantine consistency.”

    Similarly, the former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu said that Dr. Ekwueme, until his last breath, remained a thoroughbred professional, focused politician,  committed patriot and worthy statesman. He prayed to God to grant him eternal rest.

    On the part of the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Ekwueme was a true father and a patriot.

    Collaborating the foregoing, the former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji described Ekwueme as one politician that had the interest of the country at heart and remained focused and consistent on that.

    The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh( middle), flanked by fmr Gov. Peter Obi( left), and Fmr. Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu, during the brief burial ceremonies of Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, yesterday.

     

  • Ogbeh: Time to bow out

    I am sure that many readers of this piece will not consider me disrespectful to our politicians if I write that most of the Nigerian politicians do not have principles and that they are in politics to feather their own nests. They jump from one political party to another as they are not ideologically rooted in any political party. Many of them are now leaving the PDP, the former governing party in droves to APC the current ruling party at the federal level. They are doing this not because they believe in the ideology of APC which to me unfortunately is opaque but to seek ways to butter their bread in the federal government controlled by APC. The jumbo salaries being taken home monthly by our National  Assembly members at the time when the minimum wage is mere N20,000 per month is a clear testimony, that the politicians in Nigeria are in the profession to feather their own nests. Our politicians also lack the courage to speak the truth so as not to jeopardize the perquisites of offices they occupy. For these listed shortcomings and others not listed, I have no apology for the above characterization of our politicians.

    However, despite my above take on Nigerian politicians, I respect and admire few of them. One of the politicians who earn my respect is Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture in the present Buhari’s federal government. In fact, to me he is one of the few performing ministers in the cabinet despite his age which is above 70 years. Audu Ogbeh came to national prominence in 1982, when he became minister of communication and later of steel development in the inefficient and rudderless Shagari government of 1979 to 1983. Despite the fact that the administration he served was a disaster, Audu Ogbeh left with his honour intact when the Buhari-led military coup sent the administration packing. When politics returned fully in 1997, Audu Ogbeh joined the PDP and was drafted by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to be the chairman of the party in place of Chief Barnabas Germade, who could not be controlled by the all-powerful President Obasanjo. Audu Ogbeh held the post of the chairman of PDP from 2001 to 2005. He had offended Obasanjo for writing a well-publicized letter where he detailed the highhandedness of the president in the affairs of the party. His principled stand against the mighty President Obasanjo was applauded by many Nigerians. He later resigned from the party and returned to his Efugo farm in Makurdi.

    Audu Ogbeh came to his present post in 2015, and Nigerians were told by the Vice-President Professor Yemi Osibajo that he was begged to take up the post. Personally, I think he was the right person for the job. There is no doubt that Chief Ogbeh has performed creditably well in this post despite his advanced age. I am in position to asses him objectively because I am a professional agriculturist trained to the highest level in the profession. Having said this, I believe now that Chief Ogbeh is now suffering from what people referred to as ‘diminishing return’, if one judges by the fiasco that characterised the recent exportation of yam to USA under his watch and his recent patronising and insensitive comments on the fiendish activities of the murderous Fulani herdsmen in Benue states and other parts of northcentral and southern states of Nigeria.

    I consider the ill-fated exportation of yams to USA as nothing but unnecessary playing to the gallery because we are yet to satisfy our internal need for yam consumption in the country. In a bid to impress Nigerians that yams can bring needed foreign exchange to the country, proper paper documentations with regard to sanitation and customs requirements were not properly worked out. We arrogantly refused to learn from Ghana which has been long in the business of exporting yams to USA. The net result of this unplanned venture was a national disgrace as the exported yams were rejected in USA with attendant loss of revenues to the country. I hope proper lessons had been learnt from this unmitigated disaster for future guidance.

    It will be an understatement to say that Audu Ogbeh disappointed many Nigerians by his recent statement on the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen who had been tormenting our country. Their latest murderous action led to the untimely and unnecessary death of 71 of our country men and women in Benue State. According to Ogbeh, “the inability of the government to pay attention to herdsmen and cow farming unlike other developed countries contributed to the killings”. He continued to tell Nigerians that unlike other farmers involved in arable and permanent crops, the herdsmen had been ignored by the government. This is an unfortunate statement coming from a man known for his principles and honesty. Audu Ogbeh by this statement was inadvertently justifying the killing of his fellow citizens in his own state of Benue State and other states in the country. His statement is in the same despicable league as that of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris who said the vicious killings in Benue State was a result of communal crisis. Audu Ogbeh is a well-educated man and as a former university lecturer, I expect him to have done a little research and consultations with officials of his ministry before making the statement that has brought down his esteem as a principled and reasonable politician. I am sure that he made that statement so that he would continue to be in the good book of the ruling elite in the country.

    I know as a matter of fact that since 1973 when the first document titled ‘Agricultural Development in Nigeria (1973-1985)’ was prepared by the late Professor Olajuwon Olayide, the renowned agricultural economist and former vice chancellor of University of Ibadan, efforts had been made to encourage the Fulani herdsmen to embrace settled agriculture through ranching and use of grazing reserves. The inability and omission referred to by Audu Ogbeh in his statement were not necessarily caused by the government but were brought about principally by the refusal of the Fulani herdsmen to embrace modern system of livestock farming which has been adopted by many developing countries in Africa such as Kenya and Botswana. Their obduracy to this system of modern livestock farming was because they had solid political backing at the federal level and this still continues till the present time.

    Nobody with conscience and human feeling will find any justification for the barbaric killing in Benue State after watching the gory pictures emanating from the mindless massacre. It is unfortunate that Ogbeh made that statement and with this statement, I think for some inexplicable reasons, he has lost touch with reality.  He should now bow out and go for deserved rest in his Efugo farm in Makurdi. Luckily for him, he should take advantage of the imminent cabinet reshuffle to tell his boss that he wanted to throw in the towel. I sympathise with the families of those who were needlessly hacked to death in Benue and other states by these untouchable marauding Fulani herdsmen.

     

    • Professor Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.

  • Ogbeh: Time to bow out

    I am sure that many readers of this piece will not consider me disrespectful to our politicians if I write that most of the Nigerian politicians do not have principles and that they are in politics to feather their own nests. They jump from one political party to another as they are not ideologically rooted in any political party. Many of them are now leaving the PDP, the former governing party in droves to APC the current ruling party at the federal level. They are doing this not because they believe in the ideology of APC which to me unfortunately is opaque but to seek ways to butter their bread in the federal government controlled by APC. The jumbo salaries being taken home monthly by our National  Assembly members at the time when the minimum wage is mere N20,000 per month is a clear testimony, that the politicians in Nigeria are in the profession to feather their own nests. Our politicians also lack the courage to speak the truth so as not to jeopardize the perquisites of offices they occupy. For these listed shortcomings and others not listed, I have no apology for the above characterization of our politicians.

    However, despite my above take on Nigerian politicians, I respect and admire few of them. One of the politicians who earn my respect is Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, Minister of Agriculture in the present Buhari’s federal government. In fact, to me he is one of the few performing ministers in the cabinet despite his age which is above 70 years. Audu Ogbeh came to national prominence in 1982, when he became minister of communication and later of steel development in the inefficient and rudderless Shagari government of 1979 to 1983. Despite the fact that the administration he served was a disaster, Audu Ogbeh left with his honour intact when the Buhari-led military coup sent the administration packing. When politics returned fully in 1997, Audu Ogbeh joined the PDP and was drafted by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to be the chairman of the party in place of Chief Barnabas Germade, who could not be controlled by the all-powerful President Obasanjo. Audu Ogbeh held the post of the chairman of PDP from 2001 to 2005. He had offended Obasanjo for writing a well-publicized letter where he detailed the highhandedness of the president in the affairs of the party. His principled stand against the mighty President Obasanjo was applauded by many Nigerians. He later resigned from the party and returned to his Efugo farm in Makurdi.

    Audu Ogbeh came to his present post in 2015, and Nigerians were told by the Vice-President Professor Yemi Osibajo that he was begged to take up the post. Personally, I think he was the right person for the job. There is no doubt that Chief Ogbeh has performed creditably well in this post despite his advanced age. I am in position to asses him objectively because I am a professional agriculturist trained to the highest level in the profession. Having said this, I believe now that Chief Ogbeh is now suffering from what people referred to as ‘diminishing return’, if one judges by the fiasco that characterised the recent exportation of yam to USA under his watch and his recent patronising and insensitive comments on the fiendish activities of the murderous Fulani herdsmen in Benue states and other parts of northcentral and southern states of Nigeria.

    I consider the ill-fated exportation of yams to USA as nothing but unnecessary playing to the gallery because we are yet to satisfy our internal need for yam consumption in the country. In a bid to impress Nigerians that yams can bring needed foreign exchange to the country, proper paper documentations with regard to sanitation and customs requirements were not properly worked out. We arrogantly refused to learn from Ghana which has been long in the business of exporting yams to USA. The net result of this unplanned venture was a national disgrace as the exported yams were rejected in USA with attendant loss of revenues to the country. I hope proper lessons had been learnt from this unmitigated disaster for future guidance.

    It will be an understatement to say that Audu Ogbeh disappointed many Nigerians by his recent statement on the murderous activities of the Fulani herdsmen who had been tormenting our country. Their latest murderous action led to the untimely and unnecessary death of 71 of our country men and women in Benue State. According to Ogbeh, “the inability of the government to pay attention to herdsmen and cow farming unlike other developed countries contributed to the killings”. He continued to tell Nigerians that unlike other farmers involved in arable and permanent crops, the herdsmen had been ignored by the government. This is an unfortunate statement coming from a man known for his principles and honesty. Audu Ogbeh by this statement was inadvertently justifying the killing of his fellow citizens in his own state of Benue State and other states in the country. His statement is in the same despicable league as that of the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris who said the vicious killings in Benue State was a result of communal crisis. Audu Ogbeh is a well-educated man and as a former university lecturer, I expect him to have done a little research and consultations with officials of his ministry before making the statement that has brought down his esteem as a principled and reasonable politician. I am sure that he made that statement so that he would continue to be in the good book of the ruling elite in the country.

    I know as a matter of fact that since 1973 when the first document titled ‘Agricultural Development in Nigeria (1973-1985)’ was prepared by the late Professor Olajuwon Olayide, the renowned agricultural economist and former vice chancellor of University of Ibadan, efforts had been made to encourage the Fulani herdsmen to embrace settled agriculture through ranching and use of grazing reserves. The inability and omission referred to by Audu Ogbeh in his statement were not necessarily caused by the government but were brought about principally by the refusal of the Fulani herdsmen to embrace modern system of livestock farming which has been adopted by many developing countries in Africa such as Kenya and Botswana. Their obduracy to this system of modern livestock farming was because they had solid political backing at the federal level and this still continues till the present time.

    Nobody with conscience and human feeling will find any justification for the barbaric killing in Benue State after watching the gory pictures emanating from the mindless massacre. It is unfortunate that Ogbeh made that statement and with this statement, I think for some inexplicable reasons, he has lost touch with reality.  He should now bow out and go for deserved rest in his Efugo farm in Makurdi. Luckily for him, he should take advantage of the imminent cabinet reshuffle to tell his boss that he wanted to throw in the towel. I sympathise with the families of those who were needlessly hacked to death in Benue and other states by these untouchable marauding Fulani herdsmen.

    • Professor Lucas writes from Old Bodija, Ibadan.
  • Why Fed Govt is promoting cattle colonies, by Ogbeh

    Why Fed Govt is promoting cattle colonies, by Ogbeh

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbeh explained yesterday why the Federal Government substituted the plan to create ranches with that of cattle colonies.

    He said: “Ranching is more of an individual venture for those who want to invest, but cattle colony is bigger in scope and size. It is going to be done in partnership with states government who wish to be part of it. Already 16 states have volunteered land. Nobody is going to seize land from any community for the project”,

    Speaking yesterday during a meeting with Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, Ogbeh added:

    “Cattle colony is not using Fulani herdsmen to colonize any state. It is going to be done in partnerships with state governments that would like to volunteer land for it. Federal government will fund the project and those wishing to benefit from it will pay some fees.”

    Lalong said he came to visit the minister to get explanations on the new policy of cattle colony.

    The governor added that his state would participate in the project, provided it is capable of providing lasting solution to the herdsmen and farmers clashes.

  • How ECOWAS free movement treaty affects Nigeria, by Ogbeh, others

    How ECOWAS free movement treaty affects Nigeria, by Ogbeh, others

    IN times past, agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. As a matter of fact, a lot of countries depend solely on agriculture for survival and sustenance.

    Despite the neglect it suffered following the discovery of oil in commercial quantity, the importance of agriculture can never be over-emphasised, as it provides livelihoods for a larger percentage of the citizens.

    The determination of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations to fast-track regional development through economic integration was the raison d’être behind the decision of the heads of regional organisation to enact and adopt the ECOWAS Free Movement treaty in May 1979.

    The treaty aims at strengthening sub-regional economic integration via progressive freer movement of goods, capital and people, while consolidating the efforts of the member states to maintain peace, stability and security.

    The ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of People and Goods ensures free mobility of the citizens of member states.

    It confers on the people of the region, the right to enter and reside in the territory of any member state, provided they have valid travel documents and international health certificate.

    Although the main aim of the treaty is to boost economic activities, including agriculture, concerned observers note that some citizens of member countries have been abusing this entry privilege, to the detriment of other member nations.

    The member nations of ECOWAS are Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

    In the case of Nigeria, some agriculturalists moan that the constant abuse of the treaty, owing to the porous nature of the borders, has contributed to some challenges facing the country’s agricultural sector.

    They believe the treaty’s implementation in the region is somewhat an impediment to the realisation of the Federal Government’s plans to make agriculture the mainstay of the country’s economy.

    They insist that the free movement of persons and goods within the region is a contributory factor to the rising cases of insecurity of lives and property, smuggling of agricultural produce, farmers-herdsmen crisis and transference of some animal diseases in the region.

    Speaking on the impact of the treaty on agriculture, Agriculture & Rural Development Minister Audu Ogbeh, said some ECOWAS citizens were abusing the treaty.

    The minister, who spoke while analysing the achievements of the Buhari-administration in the agricultural sector, noted that the abuse of the treaty had promoted smuggling of agricultural products, particularly grains; thereby sabotaging the Federal Government’s plans to ensure attainment of self-sufficiency in the production of rice and other produce.

    He said: “We will like to advise our neighbours who believe that the ECOWAS treaty means that Nigeria is a volunteer nation for economic suicide.

    “We have no such plans; we cannot destroy our own economy to make any neighbour happy.

    “The ECOWAS treaty does not suggest that any country can be an avenue of smuggling foreign goods, which are not produced in that country, for dumping in a neighbouring territory.

    “If that practice persists, I do not think that government is far away from considering permanently closing certain borders very near us; and when we do, nothing will make us change our minds on the issue, ECOWAS treaty or not.’’ Reinforcing the minister’s viewpoint, the National Chairman, Association of Indigenous Sea Food Stakeholders, Lamina Rasheed, said that Nigeria lost N9 billion revenue annually to illegal fish importation and smuggling through the land borders.

    He frowned at the development, saying that it had negatively affected the business of many genuine importers and local fish farmers across the country.

    Rasheed said that illegal fish importation was still ongoing through the land borders, adding that the establishment of a monitoring and prosecution task force would be helpful in efforts to curb the menace.

    He appealed to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to step up efforts to curtail the activities of smugglers.

    Also speaking, Baba Ngelzarma, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), said that some pastoralists who engaged in conflicts with farmers were foreigners.

    Ngelzarma, who bemoaned the excesses of some foreign herdsmen, urged security agencies to increase their surveillance on foreign herdsmen coming into the country in order to monitor their activities.

    He said: “If you look at the international routes that allow the international pastoralists to enter into the country, those routes are not monitored by any security outfit in the country.

    “What we discovered in Niger is that before they allow their pastoralists come into Nigeria, they have to give them permits, know where they are going to and the number of cows that they are taking out before allowing them to go.

    “And if the number of their cows increases when they are coming back, they would be questioned. However, that system of check is what is absent in Nigeria.’’

    Ngelzarma also called for a synergy between the governments of those states in the border areas and the neighbouring countries in efforts to curtail the excesses of some international pastoralists.

    He said: “Niger Republic usually allows all their international pastorialists to come into Nigeria around December because by December, they must have gathered their farm produce but in Nigeria, our harvest period is not the same.

    “The time they release their pastoralists to come to Nigeria is the time when our farmers are still busy with their cultivation in farms.

    “There is no synergy between our country and the neighbouring countries; we have to work together and if this is done, the incessant farmers-herdsmen crises will reduce significantly.’’

    Nevertheless, Ernest Aubee, the Head of Agriculture Division, ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, emphasised that the ECOWAS protocol did not promote illegality.

    He said that the citizens of member countries, who were fond of hiding under the guise of the protocol to perpetrate evils, were criminals flouting national laws.

    Aubee, nonetheless, stressed that the abuse of the treaty by some citizens of member states was totally “unacceptable’’.

    Aubee said: “No one should trade in commodities that are going to be detrimental to any member state.

    “You cannot take something that is sub-standard — something that is bad — and then move it from country A to country B, just to make money.

    “It is unacceptable for anybody to try to dump substandard foods in any ECOWAs member states.

    “It is also unacceptable if you decide to violate, not just the regional laws but also the national laws of a country, when it comes to food quality and food safety issues.

    “My appeal to all business people, especially those involved in the trade of agricultural commodities, is that they should respect the regulations and the protocols on free movement of peoples, goods and services.

    “They should also respect other protocols dealing with the marketing products from one place to another.’’

    Perceptive analysts acknowledge that no region of the world that is totally free from the incidence of trans-border wrongdoings in the agricultural sector but they insist that pragmatic efforts should be made to address the perceptible challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

    They add that the challenges that have somewhat resulted in poverty, inequality, hunger, unemployment and corruption in the country.

    The analysts insist that if the Federal Government must succeed in its efforts to diversify the economy through agriculture, it must initiate decisive strategies to combat all the barriers inhibiting the growth of the agricultural sector.

  • House of Reps faults Ogbeh on director’s removal

    House of Reps faults Ogbeh on director’s removal

    THE House of Representatives may intervene in the  withdrawal of the appointment of Napoleon Aisueni as the Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Institute for oil Palm Research, Benin City, it was gathered yesterday.

    Aisueni, who was in acting capacity for three-month, was removed as substantive  director after one month in office with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh allegedly claiming the “appointment was made in error”.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma (PDP, Edo), at a media interactive session yesterday said the minister need to explain to Nigeria what constitute the error in the appointment.

    Saying that the withdrawal was suspicious, the lawmaker said the House might intervene because due process was followed in the initial appointment.

    He said: “The minister, following a memo from the office of Permanent Secretary in the ministry directed the appointment of directors of 13 institutes, including Dr. Aisueni, who was duly appointed on the 9th of November 2017.

    “But following a frivolous petition, the minister came out  with the opinion that the appointment of Dr. Aisueni was done in error.

    “From the establishment Act and the interpretation of public service rules on tenured appointments of serving public officers and a memo from the office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, the appointment of Dr. Aisuene and the 13 others followed due process.

    “It is disheartening that the minister is prejudiced by his action following his affinity to one of the petitioners. I sincerely request the minister to adhere to the rules of the land.

    “This is not about ethnicity or tribalism , it is about justice. We should not allow anything that will jeopardise what this government is trying to do  about corruption.

    “The House of Representatives is about justice and under the leadership of Yakubu Dogara, it will not allow this injustice to prevail.”

     

     

     

  • Ogbeh on herdsmen-farmers clashes

    Ogbeh on herdsmen-farmers clashes

    ADAY before the conference on the transformation of the national livestock industry was held in Abuja, the Agriculture minister, Audu Ogbeh, last Monday addressed the concerns of many stakeholders regarding, particularly, the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers. He needed to assuage the feelings of hopelessness in the sector, but he was unable to raise expectations that the clashes would end soon. He said unequivocally that he was unable to stick his neck out to hazard a date when the conflicts would end.

    According to the minister, “I can’t give you a date when the conflicts will end, but I can give you a date when the conference will end. I can give you a date and I will, when implementation begins. And we will start as soon as possible.” He adds, “To solve this problem requires a great deal of planning and expenditure. You can’t think that after one meeting, then recommendations come, you want to solve the problem; you don’t have all the funds at once, because this is a problem that has been with us for quite a while, it’s just growing and getting worse. The budget we have can’t cope, the state governors must be involved. Other stakeholders who want to keep ranches, cattle must be here. If we don’t have the money, we ask the FAO, the World Bank or AfDB because that is their job- to help us out. Then, we draw our design, do a costing and pass it on to them.”

    As everyone recalls, there has been no consensus whatsoever on how to limit or even eradicate the clashes. A number of plans have been suggested, but many of those plans are mundane, insensitive and provocative. But as the minister said, even when the plans become fully sorted out, sufficient budgetary provision and infrastructure to tackle the worsening menace have been lacking. In effect, lack of thinking has apparently met lack of funds; and lack of urgency is feeding lack of resolve, thereby cooking a lethal brew of explosive rage certain to shake the nation to its foundations if the right tactics and policies are not adopted sooner than later.