Niger Delta
SACA Begins Post-Flood Response Farm-Inputs Distribution In Bayelsa
A Non-governmental organisation, Stakeholders Alliance for Corporate Accountability (SACA), yesterday commenced the distribution of Farm-inputs to farmers in Bayelsa State to cushion the impacts of the 2022 floods that ravaged farmlands across the state.
The programme, tagged “Commissioning and Flag-off of farm-inputs disbursement”, held at Bayelsa State School-To-Land Authority in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The Tide reports that following the 2022 floods that wrecked havoc in the state and triggered medical challenges and shortage of food supplies, SACA conducted Flood Disaster Risks Assessment that led to the rejigging of its existing project tagged: ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy- UNGP-P2R-Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Conflict and Post-conflict Contexts in the Niger Delta’ to meet community needs.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of SACA, Mr. Kingsley Ozegbe, noted that the flag-off of the disbursement of the farm inputs that consisted of hybrid plantain suckers and cassava stems aligned with an objective of the project that seeks to support citizens to uphold their rights to sustainable livelihood.
He described the programme as paramount, saying 1,023 farmers in 24 pilot communities across the state would benefit from the distribution.
“This programme is part of our existing project. The decision to support farmers with these food crops was taken by the Agriculture Management Committee (AMC) after reviewing the Flood Disaster Risks Assessment report that SACA produced”, he said.
Ozegbe commended partners of the NGO, Misean Cara of the Republic of Ireland, the St. Patrick Missionary Society, and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) for funding this component of the project to assuage the plights of the impacted people of the State.
Performing the flag-off, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief David Alagoa, represented by the Project Manager of the Bayelsa State School-To-Land Authority, Mr Godwin Adeh, restated the State’s preparedness to continue to partner with SACA in its programmes.
Ade, who lauded the NGO for the initiative, describing it as timely, said the ministry, in its quest to ensure food security in the state, recently distributed over 7,000 cassava stems and other improved seedlings, and crops to farmers in the State.
In separate goodwill messages from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Augustina Osuya, the state’s Branch Manager of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Mr Ikegwu Kenneth, and Mr Suowari Tonbara of the Nigeria Agriculture Insurance Corporation (NAIC), the trio commended the NGO for the initiative and encouraged beneficiaries to use the support to boost their production and enhance their potentials to access credit facilities from their banks.
Mr Tonbara specifically encouraged farmers to take up insurance schemes for their farms to minimise risks of loosing all their investment to unforeseen disaster like the recent flooding that occurred in the State.
He said the premium is usually very small because both the Federal and State Government pay substantial part of the premium.
Highpoints of the event were the field demonstration of planting techniques by a staff of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He presented and taught participants modern ways of planting cassava stems and plantain suckers to achieve very good yield.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
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.