Business

Community Demands Employment Slots

Published

11 years ago

February 23, 2015

The Oginigba community in
Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has called on the management of Pabod Breweries to employ indigenes of the community into its managerial cadre and also give to the community 20 employment slots to ensure that men and women of the community are fully engaged, among other demands.
The community which made the demands on the heels of a peaceful protest by indigenes of the community last Tuesday at the company’s main gate said it was unfortunate that the company had not done enough to employ and empower the people.
Articulating the community’s position during a peace meeting brokered by the Paramount Ruler of the community, Eze G. B. Odum, at his palace onTuesday between managers of the company and indigenes of the community, former Public Relations Officer of the Oginigba Youth Association, Mr. Kenneth Onunwor Amadi, appealed to Pabod Breweries management to create an avenue where both the youths and women of the community are allowed to do contract jobs, vendorship and supplies for the company, saying, allowing them to do so
would go a long way to empower them.
He decried a situation where an indigene of the community had never been employed as the Human Resources Manager of the company, for which reason, it was resolved by the community at the meeting that since the company already had a Human Resources Manager, the company should appoint an indigene of the community as Assistant Human Resources Manager within the shortest possible time.
While commending the company for executing various development projects in the community, Mr. Amadi equally appealed to the company to execute more projects in the community this year.
He also stressed the need for the company to give 10 additional scholarship slots to the community this year to enable the three compounds that make up the community to benefit maximally.
The former PRO equally stated that the community had resisted the change of labour brokers earlier appointed by the company, and demanded their immediate reinstatement and also the review of their contract terms.
He further alleged that the company had refused to grant the community access to negotiate with a new company, a Shopping Mall established inside Pabod Breweries, stressing that the company had equally refused to acknowledge and recognise a new Community Liaison Officer (CLO) posted to it by the community.
Amadi also brought to the fore the issue of the members of the new interim committee of the youth body duly appointed by Obio/Akpor Local Government Council which the company had refused to recognise.
In its response, the management of Pabod Breweries represented at the meeting by the Corporate Affairs Manager; Mr. Ken Ichoku, the Human Resources Manager, Mr. Benjamin Akunjobi and the District Manager, Mr. Chiemeka made some concessions to the community.
Speaking at the meeting, the Paramount Ruler of Oginigba community, Eze G.B. Odum thanked all the parties for their cooperation, and expressed joy that problems affecting companies in the area and the community were always amicably resolved at a round table.
He, however, blasted the Human Resources Manager, Mr. Benjamin Akunjobi for avoiding him for close to four years he had worked with the company in that capacity, and urged for a change of attitude.
Odum also decried a situation where the General Manager of the company who is from Mozambique and the other two top managers of the company did not attend the meeting. attend
attend the peace meeting, stressing that their presence would have created an atmosphere for all other knotty issues affecting the company and the community to be thrashed out.
While stressing the need for the company to always carry along both the King and the people of the community, he said he was happy that his intervention had brought about peaceful and amicable resolution of the issues at stake, and cautioned the people, Pabod Breweries and other companies in the area not to do anything that would fuel crisis and jeopardise the peace the community has been enjoying.

Donatus Ebi

Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has solicited support in fighting smuggling and other economic crimes at the Nations border.

The Area Comptroller, Olukayode Afeni made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun.

The comptroller stressed the need for the public to provide timely and reliable information to the Service, saying noting that fighting smuggling is a collective effort

“I urge the general public to join hands with NCS by providing timely and credible information that would help toward suppressing smuggling and other economic crimes.”

“Together, we can build a prosperous nation where compliance is the norm, and criminality has no place,” he said.

Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to combat smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade, as well as generate revenue for national development.

Chinedu Wosu

Business

IFAD: Nigeria Leads Global Push For Youth, Women Investment In Agriculture

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council has concluded in Rome, with Nigeria taking a prominent leadership role in advancing global agricultural development priorities, particularly strategic investment in youth and women.

The biennial meeting, themed “From Farm to Market: Investing in Young Entrepreneurs,” underscored the growing recognition of young people as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across global food systems.

The session opened with the election of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as Chairperson of the IFAD Governing Council.

Having previously served as Vice Chair, his emergence as Chairperson reflects the strong confidence reposed in Nigeria by Member States, recognising the country’s constructive engagement and leadership in promoting global food security.

In his acceptance remarks, Senator Kyari expressed deep appreciation to Member States for the trust placed in him, pledging to serve with humility, diligence, and a strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural women and men across the world.

Addressing delegates during the session, the Chairperson emphasised that prioritising youth and women in agriculture is key to unlocking economic opportunities, accelerating innovation, and driving inclusive growth.

He noted that such investments would ultimately strengthen global food systems while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.

Senator Kyari also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of Nigeria’s national priorities.

He noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at IFAD aligns with the President’s directive to boost agricultural productivity, expand economic opportunities for youth and women, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and market shocks.

The Minister further praised the IFAD Nigeria Country Office, led by Country Director Ms Dede Ekoue, for translating global development commitments into measurable outcomes for rural communities.

He highlighted the office’s role in strengthening agricultural value chains, empowering youth and women, and improving resilience among smallholder farmers nationwide.

Business

Expert Tasks FG On Food Imports To Protect Farmers

Published

2 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has been urged to balance consumer protection with farmers’ sustainability by ensuring timely food imports, input subsidies expansion and price stabilisation mechanisms to secure investments across the agricultural value chain.

An agriculture expert, Dr Fatai Afolabi, gave the advice at a forum organised by the Plantation Owners’ Forum of Nigeria (POFON), in collaboration with the Oil Palm and Other Oil Seeds Value Chain, themed ‘Current Government Food Strategy, the Concomitant Effects and Implications for Food Security in Nigeria’, and held in Lagos, Wednesday.

Afolabi cautioned that the recent food import policies, while easing consumer prices, could undermine local farmers and long-term food security if not carefully managed.

He noted that Nigeria’s food system was navigating an exceptionally difficult period, marked by inflationary pressures, climate variability, insecurity in major food-producing regions, and rising energy and logistics costs.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily relax restrictions on selected food imports was understandable, noting that the market had responded swiftly with a reduction in prices of major staples.

However, the convener observed that while the policy had brought much-needed relief to consumers, it posed significant challenges for local farmers and agriculture value chain investors.

“While output prices have fallen, the cost of producing food in Nigeria remains stubbornly high.

“Farmers continue to contend with expensive fertilisers, rising transport costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply, weak road infrastructure, and inadequate storage and processing facilities, which result in significant post-harvest losses.

“This situation, where farmers sell produce at declining prices while production costs remain elevated, has created widespread distress across agricultural ecosystems,” he said.

Afolabi said the effects were being felt across all segments of agriculture, with rice farmers among the hardest hit.

He said reports from producing states indicated that about 3,500 rice farmers were considering exiting rice cultivation after incurring estimated losses of over N93 billion.

He added that cassava farmers were selling produce at prices that barely covered harvesting costs, leaving them unable to recover their investments.

According to him, vegetable and edible oil producers are also under pressure as imported vegetable oil brands reduce demand for locally processed alternatives.

He added that cocoa farmers continue to battle price volatility in international markets amid rising domestic labour and maintenance costs.

Afolabi noted that tree crops such as oil palm and cocoa, which require long gestation periods, were particularly vulnerable to sudden market disruptions that undermine investor confidence and discourage new investment.

He said the effects extended downstream to agro-processing and value addition, with soybean farmers supplying vegetable oil processors experiencing reduced demand and lower prices.

He said the development threatened not only farm incomes but also rural employment and agro-industrial growth, raising concerns about national food security.

According to him, sustained losses could force farmers out of production, increasing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and exposing the country to global supply shocks, foreign exchange pressures and long-term vulnerabilities.

Afolabi cited India and the Netherlands as countries offering useful lessons in balancing consumer protection with farmer sustainability.

He said India deploys food imports strategically during shortages, while complementing them with strong domestic support systems.

He added that the Netherlands, despite being one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, supports farmers through input subsidies, tax incentives, affordable energy, strong cooperatives, and close integration with research and extension services.

He said agricultural students in both countries also benefit from subsidised tuition, transportation and meals, as well as grants and start-up support for farm enterprises.

“This approach ensures generational continuity and innovation in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigeria’s current food import policy could play a stabilising role if complemented by deliberate measures to protect local producers.

He recommended carefully timed imports to avoid peak harvest periods, strengthened price stabilisation mechanisms, aggressive subsidies for critical farm inputs, and support for agro-processors to remain competitive.

He also called for clear communication of policy intentions to reassure farmers that import measures were strategic and temporary.

“Food imports should function as a strategic shock absorber rather than a permanent market feature.

“Government should develop and publish a national crop production and harvest calendar for major staples and align import decisions with documented supply gaps.

“Affordable food and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive goals. With thoughtful coordination and sustained support for farmers, Nigeria can achieve both,” he said.