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Rivers Signs MoU For N10bn Banana Plantation …Amaechi Assures Quick Gains For Investors
The Rivers State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union De Initiative SA DE CV of Mexico, for the establishment of a N10billion banana plantation in the state.
The commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Chinda who performed the ceremony on behalf of the state government in his office in Port Harcourt, said that the state government would contribute 40 per cent of the project sum while the Mexican firm will contribute the remaining 60 per cent.
Mr Chinda said that the plantation which will be sited in the Ogoni axis of the state, is meant to generate employment opportunities for the people of the state.
The Commisisoner also said that the plantation is part of the programme put in place by the government for the establishment of large-scale farms in the state.
“The state government is laying a lot of emphasis on large scare agriculture, we will re-examine all we have done in the area of agriculture so far, and try to raise the value chain of that sector so that it creates the necessary employment , that is supposed to be for our people”, he said.
He used the occasion to assure the Mexican investors of government’s preparedness to assist in the realization of the project.
Speaking on behalf of the firm, Mr Gabriel Airedondo said they were proud to partner with the state government in the establishment of the plantation, describing it as a historic event.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Jokotade Adamu thanked them for their interest and stressed the need for the establishment of a factory that will process the banana harvested from the plantation.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Amaechi has assured prospective investors in the N250 billion Rivers bond of quick returns on their investment.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi gave the assurance, on Monday, when a team of Standard and Poors – an International public finance rating body led by its Director, International/Sovereign Public Finance, Mr. Lorenzo Pareja paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Governor Amaechi disclosed that the State has worked out modalities for paying back the loan. His words, “we assure all those who would invest in the bond that they would get back their money with good returns in good time.”
The Governor who reiterated the rationale behind going for the bond, averred that the bond is aimed at assisting government fund on-going projects such as the new M-10 Highway, the Greater Port Harcourt City, the Monorail, the New Mega Hospital, the new Rivers State University of Science and Technology complex and several other landmark developmental projects.
“What I’ve told them is, we must pay back within our tenure,” the governor said.
According to the Rivers State Chief Executive, the state government would not wait for the monthly revenue allocation to drive development.
“This administration needs money to complete its projects. Our target is to be able to fund capital expenditure. If we wait for Federal Government revenue, we may not be able to complete our projects on time.”
He added that, “in the next four years our projected revenue is estimated to be between 900 billion and 1 trillion naira.”
He disclosed that currently the internally-generated revenue has risen from N4.5 billion to N5 billion which makes the State viable to repay its debts without stress.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Pareja intimated the Governor that the team was in the State to carry out its yearly monitoring and assessment of the Rivers State credit ability.
So far, he said that the State has shown remarkable improvements in the management of its resources and governance in general.
Considering the current economic boom the state is witnessing, the Standard and Poor’s Director stated that the government could go ahead to issue the bond, noting that it is in line with the Rivers State capital expenditure.”
“We have heard of plans by the State to issue bond in the capital market. This is quite historic because it’s the first time Rivers State is doing it. N250 billion capital expenditure is a substantial investment.
“We hope that this very remarkable investment plan will have a lasting impact on the State and its internally generated revenue.” Pareja said.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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