Niger Delta
C’ River Set For Sugar Cane Production
Independent National Electoral Commission official accrediting Hon (Dr) Farah Dagogo, Candidate PDP, Representing Degema Constituency 1 in Rivers State House of Assembly, during the re-run election at Ward 7 Unit
The Cross River State
Government is to partner the Trans-Sahara Group of Companies in making the state a major production of sugar cane in the country.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Anthony Eneji stated this, when a delegation of the National Sugar Development Council paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Calabar.
The Commissioner, represented by the Director of Administration in the Ministry, Dr. Francis Adie, commended the vision of the company towards making Cross River one of the Sugar Cane producing states in Nigeria.
Prof. Eneji dismissed the notion that, sugar cane could only be planted in the North and expressed optimism that with the coming of the Trans-Sahara Consortium to the state to invest in sugar development, it would benefit tremendously.
He called on the delegation to see the state as capable of providing not only land for the cultivation of sugar cane, but also human and material resources to sustain the project, when fully operational.
Earlier in his speech, the leader of the National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Lawan A. Sani, stated, that the consortium had signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with the state government last year, for the acquisition of land for sugar cane production.
Dr. Sani informed the commissioner that, their mission in the state was to inspect the sites for the sugar cane production, to enable them carry out the feasibility studies.
He maintained that, with the dwindling federal revenue allocation, there was need to diversify to agriculture, adding that sugar cane was one of the major cash crops that could increase the revenue profile of the state.
In his remarks, the Director of Agric. Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Anari E. Anari, informed the commissioner that the project would cover both length of the 260 thousand Super High way, spanning from Bakassi to Obanliku, thus, making the state, one of the major sugar cane producing states in the country.
Mr. Anari maintained that the company would be capable of employing more than five hundred Cross Riverians, mostly youths and women as well as reducing the level of over dependency on the Federal Government by the state for revenue allocation.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
