Niger Delta
Edo Farmers Lament Cassava Glut
Farmers in Edo State have decried the current cassava glut in parts of the state, blaming the state government for the situation, according to an official of AFAN.
They said that the government had encouraged the farmers to cultivate more cassava with assurance that there was ready market for the produce but expressed regret that the government had abandoned them.
They also alleged that the government reneged on its promise to provide cassava processing centres in the state, noting that the inability of the state to meet its promise caused the glut.
Edo North Coordinator of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Abdulahi Mohammed, said these in an interview with the newsmen in Auchi in Edo.
Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, said: “The government is the cause of our woes.”
The coordinator said that many farmers were encouraged to go into cassava production based on the understanding that there would be market for it.
He said that even Root and Tubers Expansion Programme (RTEP) organised seminars to further encourage us.
Mohammed expressed regret that “the story is different today”.
He recalled that the government promised to establish 25 cassava processing mills but what they had as at date were only five.
“The processing centres were to be encouraged to produce garri and process starch for export.
“But the dream has not been realised because the government did not pay counterpart fund for the centres to be built.
“And, as I speak with you, the five existing processing centres are idling away because counterpart fund has not been paid to make them functional,” Mohammed said.
The coordinator pointed out that the farmers were suffering because of glut, saying “cassava has time limitations. If it matures, harvested but not processed, it rots away”.
Mohammed said that if the government had established the 25 cassava processing centres and facilitate the market as it promised, the cassava glut in the state would not have arisen.
“The price of cassava that rose to more than N30,000 per tonne has now fallen to about N15,000 per tonne as a result of the glut,” he said.
But Mr John Omoruyi, an official the state’s RTEP, dismissed the allegations of the farmers against the government, saying that the five garri processing centres were functional.
He also said that the government did not default in its counterpart contribution.
“The government contributed during the first phase of the RTEP programme, which has just ended and we are waiting for the release of modalities for funding of the second phase.
“The next phase of the programme is the sustainability where the Federal Government is still being awaited to come up with its modalities.
“The five processing centres were established in the first phase of the programme and they were completed and equipped according to specifications of the programme.
“The centres could not have been idle, but if it is true, then it is the fault of the cooperative groups that are supposed to run the processing centres as their own,” Omoruyi said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.
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