Agriculture
Ogoni, Not Breeding Ground For Political Violence -Bakpo
The American Philosopher and activist, Walter Lippman once expressed concern over the overbearing nature of politics and the degrading of public morality, when he stated that, “the balance of power in our society has turned dangerously against the peace forces”.
Lippmann’s postulation has today, become evidently manifest, with the society drifting into unbriddled anarchy.
However, the preservation of the peace forces in the society remains a moral responsibility of critical stakeholders. Pperhaps, in recognition of the famous historian. Will Durant’s observation that “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”, not a few concerned stakeholders are earnestly seeking a collective and strategic approach towards addressing the challenges of security and promoting sustainable peace and development in the society.
One of such critical stakeholders in Rivers State, is a group known as the Association of Retired Military and Para-Military Officers of Ogoni.
Recently, the group paid a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in Government House, Port Harcourt.
During the visit, the body expressed concern over the security challenges in Rivers State, particularly in Ogoniland which is their primary constituency, and offered to use their wealth of professional experience to promote peace in the area.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Tide, political correspondent, Beemene Taneh, leader of the delegation, Rear Admiral Nicholas Bakpo (rtd), disclosed that the idea of forming the body arose out of the urgent need to address what he described as “the growing spate of politically motivated violence in Ogoni land”.
He said as retired military and para-military officers, the group must not turn in their tongue alongside their uniforms but have a moral responsibility as patriots to contribute to the promotion of peace and development of Ogoni and by extension Rivers State.
Bakpo who retired from the Nigeria Navy in 2014 as a Rear Admiral, decried the growing instinct for violence on the part of youths, and cautioned against the use of Ogoniland as a breeding ground for politically motivated violence and cult related activities.
He pointed out that it would be unpatriotic and a disservice to remain on exile after retirement from active service, noting that as retired military officers, they have a moral sense of duty to return home and serve the people with their wealth of professional experience.
Bakpo recalled with nolstagia, that as a growing child in Ogoni, he enjoyed a life of communal bond and bliss, but such sense of convivial existence has today been replaced with communal crisis and a penchant for aggression and self destruction, mostly on the part of the youths.
“It is important that after serving the nation, you return home to give encouragement mentorship and a sense of leadership direction to your people.
“Most Nigerian leaders such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida, and even the serving President Muhammadu Buhari, retired from active service and returned home to give leadership backup to their people.
“It is regrettable that Ogoniland has been made uncondusive as a result of politically motivated violence, chieftaincy wraggling and unbridled crisis.”
“We have a duty to protect the land for posterity, and if we falter, generations yet unborn will not forgive us. We have the experience to mentor the youth, and shield them from being used as pawns in the political chessgame.
“Any politician that wants to engage in election rigging should use his children and stop using the blood of other people’s children. We can’t afford to be loosing our young ones,” Bakpo said.
He added that most of the crisis in Ogoniland are externally motivated, as the youths in the area,were vulnerable and prone to a wrong doctrine sold to them, as against the “ideals of hardwork, patriotism, honestly and hospitality for which Ogoni is renowned.”
Commenting on the Neigbourhood Watch and Safety Corp Agency recently established by the Rivers State Government, Bakpo applauded Governor Wike for his vision, describing the initiative as an expansion of the frontiers of operations of military intelligence.
“I think the Neighbourhood Watch Agency is a step in the right direction as it will complement the efforts of security agencies. Any person that have a contrary opinion on the creation of the agency, on personal reasons, should have a rethink and support the vision of the Governor.
“The beauty of the Agency, ofcourse, is its intense grassroots involvement. It is easier to detect the criminals within us. These criminals have parents, relatives and we know them. Our collective liberty is at stake, and we must work collectively to restore public order by providing information on security, we must improve our intelligent gathering by getting the people involved, all strata of the society such traditional rulers, Community Development Committees (CDCs) religious leaders, among others must play active roles in the security of our communities.”
He cautioned against the politicisation of traditional and religious institutions, noting that such tendencies make the revered institutions to lose the respect of the people.
The security expert who called for sustainability in government policies and programmes also urged the people to assert themselves and participate actively in the electoral process to check the abuses of power by politicians, noting that real authority belongs to the people.
Speaking on the United Nations Environment Project (UNEP) report implementation in Ogoni, the retired senior naval officer noted that Ogonis are not effectively represented in the process. He called for a strong political will on the part of the Federal Government to carry out the clean-up exercise based on international best practices.
He also cautioned against the polarization of Ogoniland through the existence of splinter groups, noting that, “environmental pollution should not be reduced to oil spillage,” as all Ogoni communities suffered the hazards of environmental pollution.
He said Ogonis have over the years suffered the brunts of oil politics which has compounded the crisis of development in the area.
According to him, the only Panacea for sustainable development in Ogoni and other Niger Delta communities is for the people to resist the politics of divide and rule which is the hallmark of multinationals operating in the Niger Delta.
He also called for re-orientation on the part of youths to embrace the culture of resilience, creativity and hardwork as the foundation of their livelihood.
Taneh Beemene
This the farmers attributed to inadequate pest control facilities, lack of in-depth managerial skills, crisis, Climate control and other factors.
These were the observations of the farmers during the training of 6000 Cassava farmers and facility tour both at Fashola Agribusiness hub and Iseyin.
The training was coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology (AATF) Foundation and National Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia state, funded by Germany based Foundation.
The project coordinator of AATF, Samuel Ogunleye said the training has benefited the farmers immensely.
According to him, ‘the training is designed to benefit 6,000 Cocoa farmers in the 33 local government areas of the state.
‘The programme was incubated in 2023 but inaugurated in 2024. The programme has taken place in Ido and Ibarapa areas with the training of over 1,200 farmers.
‘Today similar programme is taking place here in Iseyin with over 2,000 farmers in attendance.
Farmers are being trained on how to increase their output as well gets it to the market through modern technology.
‘In Iseyin, there is a modern Cassava processor machine aimed at easing the processes.
‘The local farmers have access to the processor at a subsidize rate. Also, the foundation is assisting them at getting their products to the market”.
In his own presentation, the team leader, National Root Crops Research Institute, Dr. Adeyemi Olojede said the training was designed to address the decline in the
production of Cassava nationwide.
He said: ‘The training is designed for the off season in order to allow active participation of farmers.
‘Some of the challenges confronting the farmers are tabled while the solutions are proffered.
On the issue of funding, the University don blamed successive administrations in the Country for paying lip service to the sector.
According to him, the Research Institutes in the Country have not been able to access the Budget in the past five years.
The researchers are using their personal contacts to access funds from local and international organization to carry out research.
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, has lauded the Federal Government’s approval of 57 crop varieties to strengthen agricultural productivity in the country.
The Lagos State AFAN Chairman, Mr Sakin Agbayewa, disclosed this in an interview with the Newsmen, Wednesday in Lagos.
Reports said that in March 2026, the Federal Government approved 57 new improved crop varieties to boost food security, improve nutrition, and strengthen agricultural productivity.
The crops, selected for early maturity, higher yields, and resistance to pests and diseases, include 14 different types of staples, with notable advancements in rice, maize, yam, soybean, and plantain.
Agbayewa noted the approval of the crop varieties would help improve the yields of farmers in the state.
“We are excited to hear about the 57 new varieties of crops recently approved.
“What we desire currently in crop farming is not just about planting, it is about increased yield.
“A farmer can have a plot of land and have a high yield and another can have big plots of land and have a low yield.
“So, if when are talking about food security, it starts from the varieties you are planting and it starts from the seedlings”, Agbayewa said.
He described the introduction of the crops as a new development for crop cultivation.
“This newly approved 57 crop varieties should however be popularised among local farmers because not everyone is aware of this latest development.
“There are lots of issues currently affecting the cultivation of crops and the development of improved crop varieties will help the farmer’s productivity.
“Issues such as climate change effects, inconsistent rainfall patterns and weather clash among others are affecting farmers’ yield,” he said.
Agbayewa said there should be massive advocacy of the approved crop varieties across the board for farmers, adding, “The government is now waking up to their responsibility. So, we are”
The event, with the theme “Aligning Science, Enterprise, and Policy to Scale Insect-based Feed Solutions,” brought together policymakers, researchers, regulators, private investors, and BSFL farming entrepreneurs to map out strategies for integrating insect protein into Nigeria’s agricultural system.
According to him, black soldier fly larvae can feed on organic waste including market and kitchen refuse and develop into high-protein feed within 10 to 14 days.
“It contains about 40 to 45 per cent protein, making it a viable alternative to some protein source feed ingredients in poultry, fish, and pig feed ration if produced sustainably” he said.
Amole noted growing interest from feed manufacturers, stressing that supply, not demand remains the major constraint
“The question now is who can produce at commercial scale,” he added.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s comparative advantage, citing its tropical climate and abundant organic waste, which support year-round production without the need for expensive temperature control systems.
He however emphasised the need for standardisation to ensure consistency in nutrient quality and safety across producers.
Also speaking, a Senior Scaling and Innovation Expert from the institutes ‘headquarters in Nairobi, Dr. Ijudai Jasada, identified fragmentation within the BSFL value chain as a major barrier to scale.
“We need a coordinated system that connects all actors and reduces inefficiencies,” he said.
Stakeholders at the Roundtable reached a consensus that ILRI should take the lead in establishing and championing a national platform on BSFL.
Jasada said plans are underway to establish a national coordination platform to improve collaboration, attract investment, and support long-term growth of the sector.
He said the goal is to integrate insect-based feed into Nigeria’s mainstream feed industry by 2030, while creating employment opportunities for women and youth.
On capacity development, Prof. Cordelia Ifeyinwa Ebenebe of Nnamdi Azikiwe University acknowledged ongoing training efforts by development partners and institutions but warned that Nigeria’s regulatory framework for insect-based feed remains underdeveloped.
She noted that standards are still evolving and are expected to align with benchmarks being developed by the African Organisation for Standardisation.
Similarly, Prof. Olugbenga Adeniran Ogunwole stressed the importance of safety assurance and regulatory clarity, warning that policy gaps could hinder large-scale adoption.
He identified key challenges, including variability in nutrient composition, digestibility concerns linked to chitin content, and relatively high production costs.
A BSFL producer, Mr. Kolawole Ogunleye, said large-scale production remains difficult due to limited access to equipment, financing, and infrastructure, adding, “The process is labour-intensive, and most of the equipment is still imported,” he said.
From the private sector, Mr. John Amole, Country Representative of New Generation Nutrition (NGN), described insect protein as a growing but still underutilised solution in Nigeria.
He noted that although insect meal has been approved as a feed ingredient, it has yet to gain widespread market acceptance.
“There is interest, but the ecosystem is still developing, and there are no guaranteed off-takers,” he said.
Sharing international experience, Ms Talash Huijbers of InsectiPro, Kenya, highlighted the success of circular economy models that convert organic waste into protein and fertiliser.
The roundtable concluded with key recommendations, including the establishment of a clear legal framework for insect-based feed, financial incentives for startups, standardised substrates, integration into national waste management systems, and increased funding for research and extension services.
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