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Tag: Southsouth

  • ‘The Southsouth needs to have common voice’

    ‘The Southsouth needs to have common voice’

    Chairman of the Southsouth Consolidated Forum, Mr Dick K. Harry, in this interview with NICHOLAS KALU, speaks on the need for the people of the region to attract attention for economic empowerment and development by speaking in a common voice.

    What do you mean by the saying the Southsouth has no voice?

    The south has no voice because it does not have a collective voice. Other groups have voice, when they come together, they speak with one voice. And that has always been why they are benefitting. And the Southsouth is just an individual or some groups that would just get up and say something and those things are not to the general good of the region. For instance now, we have Ijaw National Congress, we have MOSOP and others. If any of these groups is speaking, they are speaking based on their own tribe. A tree cannot make a forest. We must come together and say yes we agree to speak with one voice. So how do we start building? We begin from the grassroots. To get the consent the grassroots to say yes, what you are doing we love it and would want to be part of it. We must have a voice. We must speak with one voice and that is why we began this building.

    What is your impression of state of development of the south-south?

    The state of development in the south-south is zero. When you come to the South-South, because we don’t have a voice, even when we have all the resources in our own control, we are less developed. If you go from Edo to Delta to Bayelsa to Rivers to Akwa Ibom and Cross River, you can agree with me that the Southsouth has been neglected for a very long time. And these are the things that have been built by the old leaders of this country. Because we don’t have a voice, the Federal Government has neglected this region.

    But a son of the Southsouth is in the saddle now?

    A tree cannot make a forest. There are challenges where he is coming from because they see him as a minority. They see him as people who don’t have one voice. All what is happening is because of the challenges he is facing because of where he is coming from.

    Like the challenges facing the Rivers State government, it’s all political with different political interests. And like I have been saying, because we lack one voice, we allow strangers, people who are not from the region to speak for us. How can you cry more than the bereaved? As far as we are concerned – the people of the Southsouth – the problem of Rivers State is not what people are saying. This is the handiwork of people who feel that they can benefit from the government, they want to do divide and rule. I want to make this clear to Nigerians and the sons and daughters of the Southsouth. Nobody seems to love us more than we love ourselves. Nobody feels he can show us love now than we do to ourselves. Why are outsiders looking as if they are interested in our own issue? It is because they want to do divide and rule. They want us to fight among ourselves. The same politics they have been playing all these years that is the same politics they are still playing up till now.

    Let us end all these political crisis. It will not benefit our region anything. If Rivers suffers, Bayelsa suffers. If Bayelsa suffers, Delta suffers and so on. We should all come back home as one body and one united body. Let us not mind all the distraction from people who feel they love us. They love us now because our son is there. They want to use us to fight against our own son because they are already fighting him. So, they want us also to begin the fight at home. I want to advise that if you love the Southsouth, do everything that will bring peace and unity to the people of the region. Don’t do anything that will cause breach of peace in the region?

    There has been an outcry by Nigerians, even from the Southsouth that the President has performed below expectations, particularly for the region.

    People who say he has not performed are the same people who want to put factionalise the Southsouth. Yes, because you can see what is happening – divide and rule. He is suffering because of where he is coming from because there is no common voice. They will team up to give him trouble. He seems not to have people to stand behind him and back him up from his own place. So, he will try to make sure he does everything over there to please them and in so doing his people are suffering and they will still use us from the Southsouth to fight him. If a man is going for a war and his household is fighting him, how can the man succeed? We need to be united and give him our support to succeed.

     

  • Southsouth urged to embrace executive education

    People from the Southsouth region have been urged to embrace executive education which is now available with the establishment of the Port Harcourt School of Management and Economics (PHSME) in Rivers State.

    Speaking during the launch of the school, a board member of the school, Mr Adeleke Olufade explained that executive education is very important in the lives of everyone irrespective of cadre.

    Olufade said through the PHSME, he and his team are set to change the culture of executive education. He stressed the need for people to support the school by registering with it.

    “The school was registered in 2011 by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to provide opportunities for millions of young men and women who desire quality and globally-competitive higher education to actualise their dreams and aspirations on Nigerian soil,” he said.

    The school, which has also been approved by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), is affiliated to Regenesys Business School in South Africa and will run programmes in oil and gas, management skills, political and social research, riggers, health and safety environment.

    Others include consultancy and corporate redesign and competitiveness.

    In his presentation, the Chief Operating Officer of Regenesys Business School, Mr Riaan Steenberg said his school has trained about 75,000 students across the globe in the last 15 years.

    Steenberg also said that his school which is fully accredited has international recognition with “a knack for solving clients’ needs.”

  • Southsouth, Southeast monarchs unite for Jonathan

    Southsouth, Southeast monarchs unite for Jonathan

    • Rulers forum inaugurated in Yenagoa

    Traditional rulers from the Southsouth and Southeast yesterday backed the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The monarchs also said they would support the President’s second term ambition in 2015.

    They spoke at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the inauguration of the Southsouth and Southeast Traditional Rulers Forum.

    According to them, Jonathan had provided effective leadership despite the challenges confronting the country.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and Gbong Gwom, Jos, Da Buba Gyang described him as one of the best leaders to have ruled the country.

    Oba Sijuwade, who was represented by the General-Secretary of the Council of Yoruba Monarchs, Oba Aderemi Adedapo. said: “Dr. Jonathan’s emergence as President was a fulfilment of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s prediction that an Ijaw man would rule this country some day in the future.

    “We thank God today that we have an Ijaw son as a good and great leader of this country. If you were there on May 29, 2013 in Abuja where I was representing the Southwest, you will agree with me that this man (Jonathan) has surpassed many leaders we have ever had in this country.

    “I am not a politician, I’m a traditional ruler. We thank God for giving us this President at this point in this country.”

    A business mogul and politician, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu called on Nigerians to give Jonathan a second chance.

    He claimed that there was no time the President pledged to serve a single term.

    Iwuanyanwu said: “Today, I have gone round everywhere in this country and I feel a sense of joy and happiness that Jonathan has not disappointed us. He has done well.

    “However, I am surprised to hear some people in some circles talking about four years’ tenure when our Constitution allows him to run for eight years, if he wishes to do so.

    “Some people even say there is an agreement to that effect, but I am telling you royal fathers, that there was no such agreement”.

    But Gyang urged political class to give constitutional role to traditional rulers to enable them contribute to decision-making.

    He said: “Let me say with humility that the traditional institution in Nigeria is not asking for any executive powers that will bring us at loggerheads with constituted and elected democratic rulers.

    “We are asking for recognition for the obvious reason that governance itself today requires the role and input of the traditional institution.

    Besides, the Chairman, Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, Cletus Ilomuanya, noted that the two geopolitical zones share common heritage.

    “Historically, we are one people of the same lineage but for political expediency and administrative convenience, we now pretend to be people from two different zones of Southsouth and Southeast.

    “Therefore, it is one of the aims of the Southsouth and Southeast Traditional rulers to re-orientate and galvanise our people to begin to think and act as people of one cultural and traditional identity.

    At the meeting were the Sultan of Sokoto, represented by the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey and former Governors of Bayelsa and Imo states, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Ikedi Ohakim.

    They all expressed delight at the formation of the Forum, stressing that it would cement the bond of unity between the zones and promote stability in the country.

    Addressing the forum, Jonathan lauded traditional rulers across the country for complementing government’s efforts, especially in the maintenance of peace and order in their respective domains.

    Jonathan, who was represented by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, urged them to partner stakeholders in the ongoing effort to build an egalitarian and prosperous Nigeria.

    He said:“Traditional rulers occupy a special place in our system. It was so before in the days of our forefathers and it is so up till now and will continue to be.

    “You are the critical link between our cherished history and past. You have a duty which of course, you are doing well to maintain our values, traditions and cultures.

    “And hopefully, working together with other stakeholders, we believe that you will also successfully transfer these same values to the future generation of our people.

    “I thank you all for the support that you have been giving to those of us, who are in secular leadership because you cannot talk of mobilising and influencing our people positively and even maintain law and order without the role of traditional rulers.

    However, Dickson advocated the need for the political class to support traditional rulers to enable them perform their duties effectively.”

     

  • PIB: Southsouth student leaders decry delay

    PIB: Southsouth student leaders decry delay

    Student leaders in the Southsouth geo-political zone have protested against the delay in passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law.

    The students, under the aegis of the South–South Youths and Students Organisation (SSYSO) said the speedy passage of the bill into law would assist the host communities and empower youths in the area.

    Rising from an emergency meeting yesterday at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt, the student leaders, who represent higher institutions in the region, decried the slow processing of the PIB.

    The President of SSYSO, Comrade Tonye Tom-George, who spoke on behalf of presidents of Students’ Union Governments (SUGs), said stakeholders should join a call to pacify the National Assembly over the need for a speedy passage of PIB into law.

    He said: “We are no longer comfortable with the delay in passing PIB into law. As students from the Southsouth region, our lives are tied to this bill. If passed into law, most of our youths will not only be empowered, but will also be economically- buoyant to face the challenges of life.

    “As representatives of students in higher institutions in the Southsouth, we want the National Assembly to note that continued delay in the passage of PIB into law may appear as a conspiracy against host communities in the region.

    “We take this opportunity to urge the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to pay attention to project- monitoring.

    “There are many abandoned projects. NDDC should focus on project-monitoring and concentrate on the completion of existing projects.”

     

  • Can Southsouth-Southeast integration work?

    Can Southsouth-Southeast integration work?

    Southsouth and Southeast governors have met in Asaba, Delta State capital, to fashion out an agenda for economic integration and development of the two zones, MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports.

    Regional economic integration has become a model for political cohesion in most countries. In Nigeria, it is now the norm. It was adopted in the First Republic and it provided the regions with the opportunity for healthy competition for the socio-economic advancement of their people.

    Last week, governors of the Southsouth and the Southeast geo-political zones gathered in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, for the same purpose. Besides, they also reviewed the political situation in the country. At the end of the day, they agreed to cooperate on economic matters for the development of the two regions.

    The meeting held behind close doors. However, Cross River State Governor Senator Liyel Imoke and his Anambra State counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi later addressed the media on their deliberations.

    Others at the meeting were Abia State Governor Theodore Orji; Akwa Ibom-State Governor Godwill Akpabio; Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson; Ebonyi State Governor Martins Elechi; Enugu State Governor Sullivan Chime; Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru.

    The host, Governor Uduaghan, told newsmen that the meeting was called to deliberate on the national issues and how they affect the two regions. Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was however, absent.

    Although the meeting reviewed issues which and major challenges confronting the country, it was particularly concerned with how to restore the country’s past glory where regions affected the lives of their people through regional economic development with a spiral effect on the overall growth of the country.

    Setting the tone for the discussion Imoke remarked that it has become very important to call the meeting to to enable the governors reflect on developments in the country and see how they could assist to get it back on course. He said that it was only when there was stability that meaningful development could take place.

    Governor Obi, who had the mandate of the governors to provide further clarifications, said: “The Southsouth and Southeast governors commend President Goodluck Jonathan for his focussed leadership, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians.”

    According to him, the Southsouth and Southeast regions could not fold their hands, if they must meet the yearning and aspirations of the people in jobs creation infrastruc-tural development and enhanced social welfare for the people.

    He said, in view of the impressive record of the defunct Midwest and Eastern regions in the areas of political stability and economic advancement, it was worth borrowing a cue from the past to salvage the regions.

    The governors, while acknowledging the enormity of the task and challenges before them, called on the Federal Government to fulfil its statutory obligations to make their dream come true.

    They also called on the Federal Government to intensify its efforts on the on-going rehabilitation and modernisation of airports across the country, particularly, those in the regions, to open the country to wide investments.

    The governors stressed the importance of the railway and the need for government to rehabilitate all lines linking the states in the regions.

    Obi said: “We have pledged to come together to ensure the development of all the ports in the regions including building the Abia Dry Port and call on the Nigeria Port Authority to facilitate the achievement of this objectives.”

    He also spoke on the importance of agro allied economy. Agriculture, which has been the mainstay of the economy, he said, has suffered much neglect as successive administrations have been paying less attention to the sector.

    “The governors would deploy their full potential to this sector to make the regions, not only self- sufficient for their economic needs, but secure foreign exchange for the country.

    “We have agreed to work to revive agro-allied industries, particularly in palm and rubber plantations for the full benefit of comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions.”

    To ensure that agricultural products are sold with relative ease and with good returns, the governors called on the federal government to facilitate the full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status within the states of the regions.

    With the regions now pursuing economic development, it is believed that the people would now enjoy the dividends of democracy, which have eluded them in the past.

    The governors frowned at the revenue allocation formula, saying it has lost its relevance. They argued that, instead of going cap in hands, begging for government handout, it was better to take the advantage of the economic potential of the regions.

    The issue of regional cooperation is already on the fast lane in the Southwest, where the states are controlled by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The new initiative in the Southsouth and Southeast regions may encourage other regions to tow a similar line for the benefit of the electorate.

    Governor Uduaghan expressed optimision that the regions would be the better for it. He urged the National Assembly to look dispassionately at the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in the overall interest of the country.

    He said: “The fact that the oil-producing communities are ready to accept 10 per cent showed that the people have been very magnanimous and it should be considered in the overall interests. My position on the matter has never been hidden and that is where I still remain.”

    The governor that the strategic position held by Delta State in the unfolding transformation agenda would make it re-double its efforts to make the state better. He said as the gateway between the Southsouth and Southeast, it was imperative to improve on the security situation to guarantee stability for those who have businesses to do in the regions.

    Uduaghan added: “We are located in a vantage position in the regions. That is why we are going to do everything possible to ensure that any act that will jeopardise the economic interest will be tackled and ensure that business life flows.”

    He stressed the need to give support to the noble ideas initiated by the governors. According to him, the regions had been the hob of kidnapping a development which, he said, being curtailed by the government.

    The governors urged Nigerians to adopt dialogue as means of resolving crisis. They condemned the attitude of some individuals who collaborate with terrorists in carrying out their rebellious activities against the country.

    According to them, the country would not benefit from Direct Foreign Investment, if the wanton destruction of lives and property is allowed to continue.

    Notwithstanding the new deal, stakeholders in the regions believe that what had been agreed upon should go beyond mere wish. They believe that only concrete action would lead to its realisation.

    Prominent Itsekiri leader Ritalori Ogbebor called for the full implementation of the agreement reached by the governors. She said such cooperation would help in the development of the regions.

    “I am a business woman and knows what is involved in doing business. I have attended some meetings in the Niger Delta development plan. I was supposed to be part of this one held in Asaba but my schedule was tight.

    “There have been similar moves in the past on how to develop the regions. What I want the governors to do at this point is to implement the agreement they had reach. It is not just to sit down and talk; but if they truly allow the economic cooperation to take place, it will bring good things for the regions,” she said.

    The governors have spoken and have expressed their determination to improve the lives of their people, particularly, those at the grassroots, using the vehicle of integration. But how far can these governors would go to match their words with action.

  • Ikimi, House of Reps, Southsouth ACN, NANS mourn Ekiti Deputy Governor

    Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Chief Tom Ikimi; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Vice-Chairman, Southsouth, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have visited Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi to condole with him on the death of his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

    Ikimi said her death is not only a loss to the ACN and the state, but also to the women folk “she represented with dignity and selfless service”.

    He said many people did not know the late Mrs. Olayinka was ill because she always carried herself with elegance.

    The former minister, who also visited the deceased’s parents, described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “a shining star, an articulate, determined and like-able person, who endeared herself to people everywhere she went”.

    He said: “We are saddened by the death of the deputy governor. She was a shining star and, as you know, our party is gender conscious. We are looking for women like her, who will take prominent positions in our states and nation. She was a very articulate, determined popular and like-able person. I know how much she supported the governor and how much work she did for women in our party across the country. So it is indeed a big loss for us.”

    NANS President Yinka Dada said the late Mrs. Olayinka was not just a leader, but “an agent of positive change”.

    Dada said she was a key player in the transformation of Ekiti State and should be immortalised to encourage people to be selfless.

    Fayemi said his late deputy played a major role in the draft of the ACN’s manifesto for the active participation of women in politics.

    He said her memory would be kept alive.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, said the late Mrs. Olayinka was an exemplary leader and urged the people to emulate her.

    The House of Representatives also commiserated with the Government and people of Ekiti.

    At plenary yesterday, the lawmakers observed a minute silence in prayer for the repose of the soul of the late deputy governor.

  • Six Southsouth states mull regional investment fund

    Governments of Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta states are considering the establishment of a regional investment fund in furtherance of the economic integration and development of the region.

    The six states had established a regional economic cooperation and integration-BRACED Commission, as a joint economic and development corporation for the region. BRACED was derived from the first letter of the name of each state in the region.

    The regional investment fund will take cue from the Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), a common investment vehicle for the federation recently constituted by the Federal Government.

    Each state within the zone is expected to contribute to the seed capital for the establishment of the regional investment fund. The oil-rich South-South states receive the highest allocations from the Federation Account.

    The idea of a BRACED’s investment fund is one of the outcomes of a retreat organised by the BRACED Commission with participations from key decision markers across the states and beyond. The BRACED Commission will serve as the coordinating centre for the establishment of the regional investment fund.

    Participants at the retreat agreed that the establishment of a regional investment fund would act as a catalyst for economic revival of the region through investments in key development areas including small and medium scale enterprises.

    They noted that the non-renewable nature of crude oil and the global clamour for alternative and environment-friendly sources of energy have made it imperative for the zone to diversify its economy.

    The regional investment fund would invest in businesses and infrastructures with immense impact on the ordinary people within the zone, thus serving as a vehicle for mass wealth creation and distribution.

    Stakeholders at the retreat recommended that each state should its financial contribution to the BRACED Commission in its annual budget with a view to grant adequate and autonomous financial capacity to the BRACED Commission.

    According to participants, all the states need to mainstream BRACED issues, policies and programmes into their strategic plans while the BRACED Commission also needs to develop a sub-regional strategic plan consistent with the priorities of the states.

    Key speakers at the retreat included Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador David MacRae, Lead Economist at the World Bank, Abuja Office, Mr John Litwack and Director General of the BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi.

    MacRae noted that the BRACED states can learn a lot from the EU in building strong institutions, planning and public finance management.

    He drew a correlation between the governments of the 27-member nations of the EU and the six BRACED states and the commission.

    He advocated that the State Houses of Assembly of the BRACED states should provide the legal backing that transcends current and future administrations to give the commission legal perpetuity irrespective of changes in governments.

    “The leaders of the BRACED states should ensure that a legal framework is fashioned to guarantee the sustainability of the BRACED Commission,” MacRae said.

    Litwack said the BRACED states have good potential for growth and development pointing at significant government resources, port access and large and young population that stand out the region as good investment destination.

    According to him, the states can leverage on these potentials to develop sustainable economic growth through determination and effective leadership.

     

  • The changing face of the Southsouth creeks

    The changing face of the Southsouth creeks

    In executing its mandate, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has continued to deliver on projects to states under its purview. These projects range from roads to hospitals and ultra-modern hostels for higher institutions.

    Some of these projects were inspected recently by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Imo, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

    The Senate toured Abia, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, the House visited the other five states.

    Touring five states in four days was hectic for the lawmakers, but they took it in their strides. Their Chairman Nicholas Mutu said their findings after inspecting the projects were revealing. “We now appreciate the need to commit more funds to the rapid development of the oil-rich region. What we have seen convinces us that the NDDC is making tremendous impact on the lives of the people. We will, therefore, urge the Federal Government to give the commission the financial muscle to be able to handle more big ticket projects,” Mutu said.

    He said the Niger Delta terrain was a big challenge to development agencies, noting that this made it difficult and expensive to execute projects in the region. He added that the long rainy season in the area affects the delivery time for projects. “We commend the NDDC for working against these odds and still delivering on its mandate of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta. In the light of this, we call on the Federal Government to encourage the commission by releasing the over N500 billion it is owing in outstanding statutory allocations to it,” he said.

    At the site of some of the projects, poor funding dominated discussions among the lawmakers. For Chief Barry Mpigi, representing Tai/Eleme Federal Constituency in Rivers State, the funding problem goes beyond the outstanding arrears of N500 billion. He advocated the swift passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to provide another source of funding for the development of oil-producing communities.

    The lawmakers inspected nine road projects including the 23.7kilometre Owaza-Etche-Igwuruta Road and the 18.9 kilometre Erema Ring Road in Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of the state. They also visited the Koko-Ugheaye-Escravos Road, which will link Delta to Ondo State, with six bridges; the 28-kilometre Patani-Angoloma Road in Delta State and the Sampou-Odoni Road in Bayelsa State.

    In Imo State, they inspected the 17-kilometre Ishinweke-Onicha River Road in Ihite Ubuma Local Government Area and the 18-kilometre Obokofia internal roads in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area. But the project that caught their attention was the Imo State University hostel, which was being painted. They, however, expressed displeasure with the handling of a similar project at the University of Benin in Edo State. The lawmakers were disappointed with what they saw and they told the contractor to sit up or face sanctions. They sought to know from NDDC Managing Director Dr Christian Oboh why the contractor was not living up to expectations. He told the lawmakers that he did not understand why the contractor failed to deliver on agreed milestones after he had been mobilised.

    Oboh said the project was one of those placed on fast-track by the commission to ensure that they were completed as quickly as possible, adding that some other projects on priority list had been completed and would be commissioned soon.

    One of such projects is the Ewohime-Onicha Ugbo-Abudu Road linking Delta and Edo states. The lawmakers who drove on the road and bridge were satisfied with the quality of job done. Oboh was delighted that an indigenous contractor, Inter Bau, could put up a Grade A performance.

    Another project that will be ready for commissioning soon is the Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-Iwuo Achang road with a 600-metre bridge across the Qua Iboe River. The project links Iwuo Achang mainland to Okoroutip, a community of 13 villages, bringing civilisation to the riverine areas which were hitherto forgotten. It is the longest bridge being built by an indigenous contractor, Viche Nigeria Ltd, in the region.

    The project was also inspected by the Senate Committee. The committee chair, Senator James Manager, said: “We, the Senators are happy and we have seen that the communities around here are happy too. This is a landmark project and it is unique.”

    The committee inspected the Specialist and Orthopaedic Hospital being built by the NDDC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Justifying the need for the hospital, Oboh said: “The people need to be healthy to savour the benefits of good roads and bridges,” adding that it comprised orthopaedic and cardiovascular units. He said the project would be replicated in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta states. “We want to reverse the trend of medical tourism in the Niger Delta. We want our people to begin to get their medical treatment from our specialist hospitals, instead of travelling overseas for their healthcare needs,” he said. And in his characteristic manner, Senator Manager intoned: “To God be the glory”, in appreciation of what the lawmakers saw.

  • Farmers dazzle at agric feast

    Farmers dazzle at agric feast

    Farmers in the Southsouth have proved their resurgence, posting an impressive harvest, despite of last year’s devastating floods.

    The Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Ltd, which is hosted by communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta as well as Imo states, praised the farmers whose commitment paid off with a remarkable yield.

    The growers produced enough foodstuff to showcase at the NAOC-Green River Project (GRP) Farmers’ Day and the launch of the 2013 farming season.

    The Managing Director of NAOC, Mr Ciro Antonio Pagana, who made this commendation in Obie-Obrikom, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State during the 17th edition of the GRP, also promised that his company would continue to impact lives in areas such as multiplication and distribution of planting materials as well as various agricultural services in partnership with non-governmental agencies.

    Represented by the General Manager, Human Resources of NAOC, Engr Namaan Dienye, the MD who listed the key areas the company had assisted farmers in 2012 as well as the activities carried out for the improvement of cultivation materials also said that they had provided extension services and training to 54 cooperative societies and 22 secondary schools across the company’s host communities.

    The NAOC Boss also said that during the period under consideration, the company in partnership with Community Development Foundation disbursed a total of N20.8million to 41 farming cooperative societies, women and youth organizations in its micro credit programme.

    To further ameliorate poverty in its host communities, the company also engaged 548 youths in various skills under its skills acquisition programme.

    While commending the efforts of research institutes in the Southern states of Nigeria, he also lauded the governments of the four states where NAOC operates for being of “tremendous assistance to us and our various extension officers operating in these states.”

    In his welcome address, the General Manager District of NAOC, Mr Giovanni Salvini also praised the farmers “who despite the great challenge of 2012 flood disaster, weathered the storm to still provide the agricultural produce we see today.”

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Boma Oruwari, who said he was involved at the inception of the GRP also urged Nigerians to take interest in farming because food is important.

    Oruwari who is also the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt also expressed happiness with the crop of young men who took part in the exhibition of their farm produce noting that “the GRP is getting better and better.”