Niger Delta

AFAN Laments Drop In Prices of Cassava

Published

14 years ago

November 21, 2011

Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta, Mr. Chris Kpalogi, has lamented the drop in the prices of cassava.

Kpalogi who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Asaba observed and that price of a tonne of cassava had doubted to N5,000 as against N10,000 sold late last year.

“As at the ending of last year, a tonne of cassava was sold for about N10,000 and more but from January this yar, a tonne of cassava crashed to less than N5,000”, he said.

Kpalogi also decried the rising cost of farm imputs that aid the production of cassava adding that cost of funding had remained a major concern to farmers.

He said that his four-hectare cassava farm located at Ewulu in Aniocha South Local government Area could not break even because of the rising cost of production.

On the one billion naira Federal Government Agriculture loan scheme, Kpalogi said that the cost of accessing the loan was high and called for its review by the government to make farming profitable.

“To pay a deposit of 25 per cent of the amount you want as loan from the one billion naira agricultural loan and another 21 per cent interest on the amount borrowed, I feel is very high.

“I will propose that the government should bring the interest rate down to three per cent because government is not doing this to make gain but just to help farmers”, Kpalogi said.

In another development, the Delta State Executive Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a seven-day mourning for the late NLC Chairman, Mr Mike Akusu.

Akusu died Thursday, November 10, in Warri, Delta.

The council which convened at the Labour House in Asaba, said that the mourning period which started on Nov. 11 would end on Friday.

The council also announced the elevation of Comrade William Akporeha, the Vice Chairman of the congress to the position of Acting chairman.

It also directed all affiliated unions in the state to fly their flags at half mast, adding that labour leaders should wear black band and open condolence registers at the offices.

In his acceptance speech, Akporeha, who is also the National Treasurer, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), eulogised Akusu, describing him as a visionary leader whose plans were aimed at improving the welfare of workers.

“We have no doubt that we will miss him, but we believe that wherever he is, his spirit will be with us to enable us achieve what he could not do during his life time.”

In his tribute, Mr Mike Okeme, the immediate past NLC state chairman, who handed over the mantle of leadership to the late Akusu, described him as a bosom friend and a hardworking man.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.