News
GES: FG Targets 20m Farmers
The Federal Government, says it intends to register 20 million farmers for the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme in the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who said this during the official flag-off of the initiative at Saakpenwa, headquarters of Tai Local Government Area, Rivers State, however, noted that only 4.5million farmers have so far been registered on the national farmers’ database.
Represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Ezekiel Onyemoni, he stated that the GES scheme was an initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of past system of inputs distribution and subsidy administration in the agriculture sector, which according to him, had been largely inefficient.
“It is designed to facilitate timely and easy access to seedlings and fertilisers at affordable prices to farmers,” he said, adding that the new arrangement entailed a shift from direct procurement and distribution of seedlings by government, thereby allowing the private sector’s participation in the process.
He commended the Rivers State Government for its “keen interest and support for the development of agriculture in Nigeria and the contribution of the state to the development of the oil palm industry,” and called on farmers in the state to embrace the initiative, which he said was expected to register five million farmers annually.
Speaking, Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, said his administration was focused on job creation for the teeming youths, adding that the GES initiative was in line with the state government’s commitment to fight crime.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, urged farmers in the state to follow the instructions on the use of seedlings and fertilisers to achieve best results, and lauded the Federal Government for initiating the scheme.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Emmanuel Chinda, had said that the state had been sub-divided into six centres for the distribution of seeds and fertilisers, while 32,879 farmers have been registered for the scheme in the state this year.
Chinda said that the Saakpenwa centre will cover Tai, Eleme, Ogu/Bolo, Okrika, Gokana and Oyigbo local government areas while the Bori centre will cater for farmers from Khana, Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro local government areas.
According to him, farmers from Abua/Odual will take their fertilisers and seeds from Abua Central while those in Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas are to take their from Ahoada.
He added that the Degema centre will cover Asari Toru and Akuku Toru local government areas while farmers from Obio/Akpor, Etche, Omuma, Ikwerre, Port Harcourt, Emohua and Bonny local government areas have their centre at Rumuodumaya, headquarters of Obio/Akpor LGA.
The commissioner said that under the scheme, each registered farmer is entitled to two bags of fertiliser, one bag of NPK and a bag of Urea as well as 40kg of maize seeds and 50kg of rice seeds.
According to him, both the federal and state governments will pay 50 per cent of the total cost while each registered farmer is to pay the balance of 50 per cent cost of the fertilisers.
Some farmers who spoke to The Tide in an interview said that the gesture would help to boost food production in the country.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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