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Premabiri Rice Project: Reflections

Published

6 years ago

November 1, 2019

The issues about closure of Nigerian borders with neighbouring countries, for economic and security purpose, have been generating mixed reactions and misgivings by various people and interest groups. One major or visible effect of the border closure policy is the rising cost of food items, particularly rice.
Reasons necessitating the border closure are quite valid on the long-run, but the biting effects on the population raise humanitarian question.
Someone gave a humorous parable that if in an effort to encourage your children to learn how to roast corn, your house gets burnt down, then, such project makes no economic or security sense. But border closure has no basis for comparison with roasting of corn. However, managing the affairs of a nation demands the application of three vital management principles, namely: efficiency, effectiveness and continuity (EEC principles).
Efficiency has to do with internal organizational cohesion arising from sound division of labour, cooperation, motivation, accountability and speed and economy in the accomplishment of tasks. These would demand a clear road map. Effectiveness is determined by the ability to accomplish objectives as planned, coupled with the quality of services and level of satisfaction derived by those being served. These are achievable by the installation and operation of adequate control measures. Continuity is the ability to remain stable and grow, because people happy.
What determines the happiness and cooperation of people in a management process is largely the level of transparency, accountability and sense of responsibility exhibition by a management team. Wherever those taking on the duty of managing the affairs of a nation are seen to deviate from the rules of transparency, accountability and responsibility, then, the cooperation and patriotism of the masses would dwindle.
In the case of management public affairs in Nigeria, there is an obvious loss of confidence in the psyche of the masses towards the leadership. If nobody has had the sincerity to state this fact in public, the reason is that people are afraid to says the truth. Wherever the masses are afraid to say the truth but resort to flattery because it pays to do so, what results is a slow decline.
Once upon a time when Rivers State included current Bayelsa State, there was an agriculture project involving the production of rice in large scale, in Peremabiri located in Bayelsa State. Conception of the project was noble and full of good intentions, including the creation of job opportunities and food for the masses. Feasibility study was undertaken by some zealous and expert authorities, vast area of land acquired for the purpose, and personnel trained and hired. There were great expectation!
Today, the memory of the Peremabiri Rice Project evokes not only sadness but mockery as well. Sadness, because it was a failed project, despite the initial enthusiasm, expectations and huge revenue invested therein, Mockery arose from the fact that some cynical persons right from the initial stage predicted a possible failure of the project. Failure of the Peremaabiri Rice Project, for those cynical persons, became a self-fulfilled prophecy. What the cynics foresaw came to pass.
What would be of vital interest to the reading public in this article, include what the cynical persons saw earlier which made them to predict a possible failure of the Peremabiri affair. In a situation where foreign agricultural experts were brought to Rivers State, kept in Hotel Olympia and other 5-Star hotels, with bills running into million of naira, the cynics kept watchful eyes.
Were they wrong to predict that gains made from the rice project in the first four years would go into payment of hotel bills?
Obviously, within Nigeria, there are local experts in race cultivation business. Hiring some of such local rice farmers to pass on their experiences and skills, to boost the Peremabiri project would have reduced costs considerably. They would not have been lodged in S-Star hotels but would gladly have lived with Peremabiri indigenes. A Local Content Policy can be interpreted and meant to include the identification and effective utilisation of locally available talents, abilities and resources. We know how patriotic our elites are in the encouragement and consumption of what products that are available with us, locally.
It was quite instructive, interesting but really shocking, listening to what a PhD student under my supervision had to say about what he meant by “kill and divide” culture in Nigerian business and political affairs. It is like saying: “You provide the fire and I would provide the sacrifice.” With regards to doing business in Nigeria, the “Kill-and-divide culture translates into the mechanism of corrupt practices, whereby one person provides the contract, and another does the dark deals.
These are well known facts, even though some people would pretend not to be aware that sharp and unethical practices have resulted in the killing of state-sponsored projects and the dividing of the spoil arising there from. Therefore, what became of the Peremabiri Rice Project would not be different from the fate of other failed projects also.
We had Rubber Estates, Oil-palm Estates, Brewing and Bottling Companies, Fisheries and Banana Farms, Fibre Boat Building Companies and made attempt to establish a business estate in Ahoada, what happened to all these projects?
The cynical persons whose prophesy about Peremabiri Rise Project became a reality, would tell us that the “kill-and-divide” culture accounts for why we have failed projects in Nigeria. With all good intentions, border closure would throw up a few people who would turn it into a failed project.
Why so? The EEC Principles in management can give us some answers.

Featured

Tinubu Hails NGX N100trn Milestones, Urges Nigerians To Invest Locally

Published

10 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu yesterday celebrated the Nigerian Exchange Group’s breakthrough into the N100tn market capitalisation threshold, saying Nigeria has moved from an ignored frontier market to a compelling investment destination.

Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to increase their investments in the domestic economy, expressing confidence that 2026 would deliver stronger returns as ongoing reforms take firmer root.

He noted that the NGX closed 2025 with a 51.19 per cent return, outperforming global indices such as the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, as well as several BRICS+ emerging markets, after recording 37.65 per cent in 2024.

“With the Nigerian Exchange crossing the historic N100tn market capitalisation mark, the country is witnessing the birth of a new economic reality and rejuvenation,” Tinubu said.

He attributed the stellar performance to Nigerian companies proving they can deliver strong investment returns across all sectors, from blue-chip industrials localising supply chains to banks demonstrating technological innovation.

The President added, “Year-to-date returns have significantly outpaced the S&P 500, the FTSE 100, and even many of our emerging-market peers in the BRICS+ group. Nigeria is no longer a frontier market to be ignored—it is now a compelling destination where value is being discovered.”

Tinubu disclosed that more indigenous energy firms, technology companies, telecoms operators and infrastructure firms are preparing to list on the exchange, a move he said would deepen market capitalisation and broaden economic participation.

He also cited what he described as a sustained decline in inflation over eight months—from 34.8 per cent in December 2024 to 14.45 per cent in November 2025—projecting that the rate would fall below 10 per cent before the end of 2026.

“Indeed, inflation is likely to fall below 10 per cent before the end of this year, leading to improved living standards and accelerated GDP growth. The year 2026 promises to be an epochal year for delivering prosperity to all Nigerians,” he said.

The President attributed the trend to monetary tightening, elimination of Ways and Means financing, and agricultural investments, which he said helped stabilise the naira and ease post-reform pressures.

Nigeria’s current account surplus reached $16bn in 2024, with the Central Bank projecting $18.81bn in 2026, reflecting a trade pattern shift toward exporting more and importing less locally-producible goods.

Non-oil exports jumped 48 per cent to N9.2tn by the third quarter of 2025, with African exports nearly doubling to N4.9tn. Manufacturing exports grew 67 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter.

Foreign reserves have crossed $45bn and are expected to breach $50 billion in the first quarter, giving the CBN ammunition to maintain currency stability and end the volatility that previously fuelled speculation, according to the President.

Tinubu also highlighted infrastructure expansion in rail networks, arterial roads, port revitalisation, and the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, alongside improvements in healthcare facilities that are reducing medical tourism costs, and increased university research grants funded through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.

“Our medicare facilities are improving, and medical tourism costs are declining. Our students benefit from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, and universities are receiving increased research grants,” he said.

He described nation-building as a process requiring hard work, sacrifices, and citizen focus, pledging to continue working to build an egalitarian, transparent, and high-growth economy catalysed by historic tax and fiscal reforms that came into full implementation from January 1.

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RSG Kicks Off Armed Forces Remembrance Day ‘Morrow …Restates Commitment Towards Veterans’ Welfare

Published

11 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment towards the welfare of veterans, serving officers and widows of fallen officers in the State.

?The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, in a statement by ?Head, Information and Public Relations Unit, SSG’s ?Office, ?Juliana Masi, stated this during the Central Planning meeting of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

?Anabraba thanked the Committee for their contributions to the success of the Emblem Appeal Fund Ceremony recently held in the State and called on them to double their efforts so that the State can record resounding success in the remaining activities.

?According to him, the remembrance day events will begin with Jumaàt Prayers on Friday, 9th January at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt Township, while a Humanitarian Outreach/Family and Community Day will be hosted on Saturday, 10th January, by the wife of the governor, Lady Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, for widows and veterans.

?”On Sunday, 11th January, an Interdenominational Church Thanksgiving Service will hold at St. Cyprian Anglican Church, Port Harcourt Township while the Grand-finale Wreath- Laying Ceremony will hold on Thursday, 15th January at the Isaac Boro Park Cenotaph, Port Harcourt”, he said.

?The SSG noted that one of the highlights of the events is the laying of wreaths by Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Heads of the Security Agencies.

Featured

Fubara Redeploys Green As Commissioner For Justice

Published

1 week ago

December 30, 2025

The Tide

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the State Executive Council.

Under the new disposition, Barrister Christopher Green, who until now served as Commissioner for Sports, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Justice as the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

This is contained in an official statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.

According to the statement, Barrister Green will also continue to coordinate the activities of the Ministry of Sports pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner to oversee the ministry.

The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, was approved at the last State Executive Council meeting for the year 2025, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to strengthening governance, ensuring continuity in service delivery, and optimising the performance of key ministries within the state.