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Venture Into Agric To Feed Rivers, Fubara Tells Women
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has tasked Rivers people, especially women, to venture into agriculture in order to mitigate the impact of high cost of living and feed the State.
This is as he maintained that agriculture will be accorded top priority in 2025 budget to achieve the agriculture policies of the government for the people of the State.
Governor Fubara spoke when he received Rivers State women under the aegis of Women in Farming and Agro Allied Support Network (WIFAASN) on solidarity visit at Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.
Represented by the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr George Nweake, Governor Fubara noted his administration’s agricultural policies geared towards ameliorating the plight of the citizens which are waiting for implementation.
He noted that the agriculture policies of his administration are fashioned in a way that merit will be accorded top priority, as it abhors portfolio recognition.
He said, “The agriculture policies of the government have already been perfected, waiting for the time of execution and implementation.
“The Governor has said it that, that is the main target of next year’s budget: agriculture. But we will not give it to people who don’t have farms. We will not deal with portfolio farmers. Those that will come with jackets are not the farmers we are looking for.
“We will not throw it in the air for the fastest person to catch it. No. If the best person in farming is a lame person, he will get it. Even if a sprinter is there, the sprinter will not be able to reach it. We are going to do things that will have a human face,” he added.
The Governor, who recalled the enormous agriculture potential and produce that abound in the State, and how they are being neglected, sued for a change of heart among the people by keying into farming to catch up with the reality of the times and ensure food security.
This, he noted, is also in line with the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative pet projects: “Agricultural Support Programme” and “Every Home a Garden”, aimed at supporting women farmers nationwide to strengthen the agricultural sector of the economy.
He said, “Before now, this our place, Rivers and Bayelsa, we were known for oil palm production, which is rooted in agriculture. Every part of Rivers State supports that and each of us had palm fruits in our places, and that has been neglected over the years.
“We also have different agricultural products which thrive very well in Rivers State. If you talk of fishing, I think almost every local government area have rivers where they fish. We also have every farm produce and livestock which, over the years, we have neglected.
“Again, there was a research done about ‘Rivers State Without Petroleum’, and we see that the Abua and Ahoada-West areas are noted for fruits. We have fruits everywhere, but their fruits are unique. You talk of plantain: Etche, Omoku are noted for plantain, but they are not in the market.
“So, I am happy that you have come to understand that the way forward is for us to first take agriculture seriously, and then, the rest will be history; Rivers State will be transformed.
“Imagine a situation where every person here can produce one bag of garri. The impact it will have in our nation will be huge.
“You are all aware that there is even a project by the Federal Government, the pet project of Her Excellency, the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu geared towards women having their own gardens to support women farmers nationwide to strengthen the agriculture sector of the economy. I urge you to key into the initiative.”
He commended members of the organization for their resolve to venture into farming and ensure food sufficiency in the State, and urged them to put their house in order and reach out to the Ministry of Agriculture to incorporate them into the government’s agriculture initiative.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii, thanked members of the organization for the visit, noting that it demonstrates their commitment and dedication to the welfare of the State.
Kii, who noted that the Governor is working assiduously to ensure the development of the State’s agricultural sector, hinted that it is for this reason that the Governor recently approved the state’s participation in the special Agro Processing Zone Project, which will commence soon.
He asserted that, “A lot of you are aware of the policy plan of His Excellency, and in terms of agriculture, at different fora, he has continuously insisted that agriculture is one of his focus areas.
“His Excellency is working tirelessly to ensure that the agriculture sector is developed. A lot of you are aware that quite recently, His Excellency approved that the State should participate in the special Agro Processing Zone Project which is going to kick off very soon.
“And you know that the delegation from the African Development Bank and the Federal Government had been in the State to access the project site. So, it shows that this is a government that has the interest of the people at heart in terms of agriculture,” he said.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Roseline Adawari Uranta, noted the concerns of the Governor, his Deputy and wife of the Governor to the plight of Rivers people, emphasizing that it is against this backdrop that the Governor has prioritized agriculture as well as health and education in his administration.
She noted the concerns of the women over the high cost of living as critical stakeholders in the family, and however, urged them to always put the Governor and his administration in their prayers to enable him succeed.
In her remarks, National Coordinator of Women in Farming and Agro Allied Support Network (WIFAASN), Mrs Glory Coker, said their visit is to intimate the Governor on their desire to go into mechanized farming to ensure food sufficiency in the State.
She said the move will in no small measure reduce the cost of living experienced in the State, and solicited government assistance to achieve set goals.
She said, “We are already farmers, but we want to go into mechanized farming in the State to make sure that if egg is N5,000 in the market, we want to bring it down to N2,500. If garri is N5,000 in the market, we want to bring it down to N1,200. So, we want to go into farming, and by the support of the government, we know that Rivers women are going to make it.
“We want the Governor to support us. If it is garri, we want him to give us garri processing machine. We need fertilizer. We need seedlings,” she added.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of the Women in Farming and Agro Allied Support Network (WIFAASN), Mrs. Ihuoma Eze, explained that the state chapter of the organization will be launched on Saturday, July 20, 2024, and solicited for logistics support to ensure the success of the programme.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.