Opinion

Appraising NAFDAC’s Export Promotion Effort (I)

Published

10 years ago

November 9, 2015

In what apparently seems an attempt to accord Nigeria a prideful place in the international non-oil export trade, the National Agency for Food,Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] has unfolded series of Agricultural exports redemption packages in an attempt to shore up the nation’s reputation in global non-oil export markets.
Reeling out the scientific based solutions in Abuja,the nation’s administrative capital recently ,the agency’s Chief Executive Officer and Director General Dr Paul B. Orhii, said he was outrightly uncomfortable with the orchestrated and seeming gang-up by developed nations against our resolve to explore alternative means of foreign exchange earnings through maximum participation in the highly coveted and age long non-oil export trade particularly in the exportation of value added agricultural products.
The European Union member nations under the auspices of the European Food Safety Authority had recently placed a one year[ie from July 2015 to July 2016] blanket-ban on the exportation of key value added agricultural products comprising Beans, Sesame seeds,Melon seeds,Dried Fish,Meat,Peanut chips and Palm oil emanating from Nigeria an acclaimed Giant of Africa owing to what it tagged-prevalence of very high level of injurious and deadly contaminants such as Mycotoxins,Pesticide residues as well as abnormal level of Dichlorvos pesticides [in the case of beans].
Consequently, NAFDAC has commenced frantic and very intense efforts geared towards urgently correcting this foreign exchange denying economic malady. It has eventually adopted for immediate implementation, ultra-modern cutting-edge technologies for the rectification of this economic disaster so as to avoid further extension of the hydra-headed ban upon its expiration in June 2016.
The technology based agric export solution filled package being initiated by NAFDAC under Dr Orhii renowned for his preference for digitalised regulatory engagements, will involve massive deployment/distribution of mobile motorized testing laboratories to all nooks and crannies of the nation’s 36 states and Abuja including remote farms, exportable agric products processing centers, produce market centers, sea and air ports as well as Land border stations in the country.
Also to be engaged in by the agency with the aid of the yet to be deployed ultra-modern specialized mobile scientific laboratories is the intensive training/supervision of farmers ,produce marketers and other stakeholders in Agric export business nationwide with a view to compelling them to comply with the rules of the game via meeting global standards specifications in this trade. They will be maximally furnished with the required know-how on Food storage, ideal packaging practices and other relevant quality control measures.
Consequently, funding for this urgent patriotically dynamic interventionist initiative amounting to a negligible token sum of about Two billion naira only [2billion naira] is being sought from the Federal Government either through outright operational grant or a repayable loan to enable this lofty bail out NAFDAC concept become a maximum reality inview of perceived urgency required by the situation to aid immediate acquisition, shipment, freight and deployment of these resourceful /ideal solution providing facilities.
Undoubtedly, this innovative technological adoptions is of enormous benefits to the nation. Aside successfully combating food contaminants/poisons, help analyze regulated products, effect on-the-spot quality assessment and monitoring of value chain agricultural exports, avoid a permanent European Union ban on Nigeria non-oil export and grossly reduce porverty.
The Dr Orhii’s agric export revitalisation and quality standardisation initiative will make Nigeria become agric export dependent rather than being export dependent in this regard as currently the case. It will avail the nation, mass employment opportunities, massively boost government foreign exchange earning capacity and thus becoming a steadily dependable alternative revenue source,accord the nation a befitting reputation in the committee of nations among others.
Expectedly, diversification of Nigeria’s economy from that of a majorly crude oil export dependent to an inclusively Agricultural produce exporting nation is being maximally craved for particularly as being projected by the seeming puritanical President Muhammadu Buhari led democratic administration.Undoubtedly, Agricultural export trade has the capacity to continuously and adequately sustain the nation should our potentials in this regard be ideally harnessed for a befitting socio-economic growth.
Ikhilae is a Lagos State-based Public Affairs Analyst.
However, trade in agricultural products at the global market strata is certainly not an all comers engagement as it is largely dependent on a variety of factors. To earn admissible status , agric exports must as a matter of necessity comply with specific international quality standards.Unfortunately, the nation’s desire to maximize foreign exchange earning through international agric export trade is being massively threatened by inability of operators in the sector to comply with specified quality benchmark.
Regrettably, rather than reap bountifully from this money spinning trade, Nigeria is loosing greatly and unbelievably owing to technical hitches which incidentally borders on inability to satisfy laid down standards in trade. Sadly, the nation’s status in the trade has gone so terribly bad that many exportable agric products emanating from Nigeria to foreign countries particularly members of the European Union, has earned a one year [12months] ban effective from June 2015 to June 30th, 2016 .
The trade restriction measure which affects Cashew nuts, Cocoa, Palm oil, Peanut chips, Meat, Fried Fish, Melon Seeds, Sesame seeds and Beans according to EU authorities was meant to compel the Nigerian government to institutionalize stringent and dependable quality control systems capable of guaranteeing persistent compliance with internationally specified acceptable quality standards in non-oil export trade henceforth since according to them series of previous warnings issued to Nigerian Government by the Union on this issue, were outrightly ignored.
The major areas which requires urgent government attention in salvaging the disastrous economic situation are to compel exporters/ stakeholders to fulfill global trade standards as well as urge them to desist from anti- non-oil export trade practices like poor/substandard products packaging, poor labeling, insufficient nutritional content information provision,high chemical content reduction, ,presence of Mycotoxins, Aflatoxins and presence of high level of pesticide residue.
Worried by this shameful and highly embarrassing situation which is almost dashing our hope of becoming a successful non-oil export trade nation,the Dr Paul B. Orhii led management of the National Agency for Food,Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] has opted to salvage the ugly situation through the adoption and deployment of modernized mobile and motorized scientific Laboratory facilities nationwide for the entrenchment and enforcement of globally specified standards in the sector.
The proposed massive procurement, adoption and deployment of these ultra-modern cutting-edge technology which will comprise of numerous units of mobile products quality certification and training laboratories will be adequately provided in all nooks and crannies of the nation [36states and Abuja] as well as all Land border stations, air and sea ports. Although Federal Government funding is being sought to make this lofty initiative a reality.
Compulsorily,Nigeria deserves to be ideally and urgently placed on a competitive edge in the global non-oil export trade pedestal by ensuring that her agric exports are not made to suffer any form of rejection by importing countries forthwith .The fact that revenue from crude oil sale has become unstable inview of its perceived dwindling and consequent unreliable status has placed on our political leaders the responsibility of finding economic succor/comfort in the non-oil export trade .
It is in this regard that the presidency, the senate, house of representatives as well as the nation’s economic managers must rise to this historic call to rescue the nation from this pending agricultural export trade doom by effecting immediate release of funds to actualize this NAFDAC well conceived and very patriotic solution filled initiative as “it will be improper for us to go to sleep while our roofs have been gutted by fire.”
Martins.F.O.Ikhilae,is a Lagos based Public Affairs Analyst Tell:08023405821.Email:martinsikhilae@ymail.com

Opinion

Righteous Leadership Still Thrives

Published

6 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “Institutional decay is not irreversible when integrity and action sit at the helm.”

In every institution, there comes a defining moment when leadership either deepens decline or inspires rebirth. For the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (Publishers of The Tide), that defining moment arrived when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir. Honour Sirawoo Ph.D, came to share the premises with the Staff of The Corporation due to the ongoing renovation work at the State Secretariat. For years, the physical condition of the corporation mirrored the uncertainty that hung in the air. Leaking roofs told silent stories during the rainy season, damaged floors bore the weight of neglect, and the once vibrant environment seemed to plead for urgent attention. Staff members worked under conditions that tested both resilience and commitment. Buckets placed strategically to catch dripping water became a routine sight at some quarters, while cracked tiles and weathered walls diminished the pride that should accompany service in a state-owned media institution.

Yet, in the midst of these challenges, hope was not entirely lost. There remained a collective belief that with purposeful leadership, restoration was possible. That hope found expression when Honour Sirawoo Ph.D., Permanent Secretary in the Rivers State Ministry of Information, assumed as a co-occupier. His arrival was quiet, but his impact would soon resonate loudly across the premises.Leadership, it is often said, is not about occupying an office but about occupying responsibility. From his earliest inspections of the corporation’s facilities, it became evident that he saw not just buildings in disrepair, but a workforce deserving of dignity.The transformation began swiftly. Contractors appeared on site. Assessments were carried out with precision. Plans were not merely announced; they were implemented. Leaking roofs that had long defied repair were carefully amended.

For the first time in years, staff could listen to rainfall without anxiety. Damaged floors were reconstructed, restoring both safety and aesthetics. Walking through the corridors no longer required cautious navigation around broken surfaces. The fencing of the premises, once a pressing security concern, became a priority. A properly secured environment now speaks of order, responsibility, and foresight. General maintenance, often overlooked in public institutions, was institutionalized. From structural reinforcements to aesthetic upgrades, the corporation began to wear a new look. But beyond bricks and mortar, something deeper changed. Morale improved. Staff productivity increased. The psychological boost of working in a conducive environment cannot be overstated. The transformation has not merely been cosmetic; it has been cultural.

Workers now speak with renewed pride about their workplace. Visitors to the premises have noticed the difference. The once tired-looking structures now stand as testimony to what decisive leadership can accomplish. In governance, righteousness is reflected in fairness, diligence, and a genuine concern for people. These virtues have characterized the stewardship of Honour Sirawoo Ph.D.His approach demonstrates that public office is a sacred trust, not a ceremonial title. He has shown that administrative leadership can be both compassionate and result-driven.The improvements at the corporation align with a broader vision of strengthening information dissemination in Rivers State. A vibrant media institution is essential for democratic growth.By restoring the physical infrastructure of The Tide, he has indirectly strengthened the voice of the state. Journalists and editors now operate in an atmosphere that encourages excellence.

It is often said that environment influences output. The recent editions and renewed energy within the newsroom reflect this truth. When righteous leadership prevails, systems respond positively. Accountability replaces complacency, and progress becomes measurable. Honour Sirawoo Ph.D. has exemplified a leadership style rooted in integrity and practical action. He did not merely acknowledge problems; he confronted them. Such commitment deserves recognition beyond routine commendation. It speaks to a capacity for higher responsibilities within the state’s administrative architecture. Rivers State stands at a critical juncture where visionary administrators are needed across ministries and agencies. Leaders who understand that development begins with attention to detail are invaluable. The transformation at the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation serves as a case study in responsive governance. It proves that institutional decay is not irreversible.

Higher positions of trust demand proven competence, moral uprightness, and administrative foresight. In these respects, Honour Sirawoo Ph.D. has demonstrated remarkable readiness. His performance suggests suitability not only for continued leadership within the Ministry of Information but also for broader strategic roles that shape state policy. Beyond the state, Nigeria’s public service landscape requires administrators who combine academic depth with practical efficiency. His credentials and achievements place him in that league. “When the righteous bear rule, the people rejoice” is more than a biblical aphorism; it is a lived experience within the corporation today. The chapter of the Holy Bible that declares, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice”, (Proverbs 29:2), is a timeless reminder that good governance brings joy and stability to the people.

The joy of the staff is visible in their renewed dedication. The pride of ownership has returned. The institution breathes again. History often remembers leaders not for speeches but for tangible impact. The restored roofs, repaired floors, secured fences, and ongoing maintenance are enduring symbols of purposeful governance. The place started its journey to new looks with the arrival of the acting General Manager, Stella Gbaraba, who in her little way, initiated and executed some repair works in the premises. It will be worthy to point out that the duo are of the Ogoni extraction of the state, it is then safe to say that the combination is superb in that it has produced some excellent results. Importantly, the Permanent Secretary did not stop at The Tide Newspaper premises alone. His vision of renewal extended beyond a single institution to embrace all the State owned media houses under the ministry’s supervision.

At Rivers State Television, he executed massive renovation works that redefined the operational environment. Offices were upgraded, structural defects corrected, and modern standards restored to a facility that serves as a visual voice of the state. State-of-the-art office equipment were procured to enhance efficiency, ensuring that staff members could perform their duties with contemporary tools befitting a modern broadcast station. Radio Rivers too also got its own share of the Permanent Secretary’s benevolence and team spirit. Understanding the strategic importance of radio in grassroots communication, he ensured that critical infrastructure received attention. He provided them with steady power supply, reducing the interruptions that once hampered seamless broadcasting and ensuring consistency in programming delivery.

A functional Out Broadcast Van (OB Van) was made available, expanding the station’s capacity for live coverage of events across the state and beyond. The studios were upgraded to be up-to-date, improving sound quality, technical operations, and overall broadcast standards in line with modern expectations. Garden City Radio equally got its own touch in a superlative way. Renovation, equipment upgrades, and operational enhancements positioned the station on a stronger footing. Across the board, his interventions were not selective but comprehensive, reflecting a leadership philosophy anchored on inclusiveness and institutional strengthening. His target generally is to leave the State-owned media houses in a better shape than he met them. That objective is not rhetorical; it is practical and measurable in bricks, cables, studios, offices, and renewed human confidence.

By strengthening television, radio, and print under one coordinated vision, he has reinforced the information architecture of Rivers State. The cumulative effect of these interventions is a more vibrant, responsive, and professional state media system capable of meeting contemporary communication demands. As the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation along side its sister state-owned media houses continue their journey, it does so strengthened by the evidence that righteous leadership still thrives. And indeed, when the righteous bear rule, the people truly rejoice.

By: King Onunwor

Opinion

Incentives: Key to Police Morale

Published

6 days ago

February 23, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “When a police officer rejects ?50 million in bribes to rescue over 100 victims, integrity stops being a slogan and becomes a standard.”

It is important we first commend the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his policies that are geared towards eradicating terrorism and banditry in the country. In recent times, his policy on national security which resulted in strategic partnership with United States of America and other countries, has paid off. In the same vein, we commend the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for implementing the security policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which has culminated into effective, proactive and result-oriented policing. Also worthy of note is the effective oversight function of the Police Service Commission (PSC) led by DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd) in terms of adequate monitoring and supervision of personnel. The Nigeria Police Force has been plagued by negative perceptions in recent years, with some officers engaging in unprofessional conducts.

The Police high command and the Police Service Commission (PSC), in line with rules and regulations governing the Force, have being prompt in punishing erring officers. We have seen some officers dismissed from the service for gross misconduct while some others were punished depending on the gravity of their offense. While we commend the Police authority for their proactiveness in restoring discipline to the Force, they should also imbibe the culture of rewarding distinguished and outstanding Police officers. Very Senior Officers like the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Auwal Musa Mohammed, in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, who ensured personnel and men in his zone comply and adhere fully to security tactics and instructions of IGP Egbekotun that translated to massive achievement over the weekend should be encouraged.

Meanwhile, the likes of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zonal CID 6 Calabar, DCP Udu Moses Ogechi, PhD, who are working tirelessly to restore reputation to the Police Force should be rewarded to boost their morale, and inspire other officers to put in their best. DCP Ogechi is currently the Head of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) in Zone 6, Calabar. He recently led a successful operation on Valentines Day (14th February) to dismantle a kidnapping and job-scam syndicate, rescuing over 100 victims. The syndicate had been exploiting Nigerians, particularly youths who are eager to relocate abroad, promising them fake job opportunities and visa.What is remarkable about DCP Ogechi’s achievement is not just the rescue of the victims, but also his refusal to be swayed by corruption. The syndicate attempted to bribe him with ?50 million, but he and his team rejected the offer, stood firm and demonstrated their commitment to professionalism and the rule of law.

This is commendable and deserving of recognition. DCP Ogechi’s patriotic action and his uncompromising stance especially at a time when the Police Force is working to regain public trust, deserves accolades and recognition by the police authorities. His bravery and integrity in the face of corruption are a shining example to other officers. DCP Ogechi’s sterling personality did not come as a surprise to us given his track record of excellent performance everywhere he goes. While serving in Rivers State as ACP Operations, he successfully flushed out cultists from the State. He led the team that apprehended notorious cultists led by Nwondi Onuigwe who were responsible for killing Police Officers, kidnapping and robbery of passengers along Emohua East West road. Recall that the Rivers State Government had placed millions of Naira bounty on Wordi.

It is on record that crime was reduced to its barest minimum during Ogechi’s reign as ACP Operations in Rivers State. His efforts earned him an award for excellent professionalism from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council. As Nigeria strives to strengthen its institutions and combat corruption, it is essential to acknowledge serving officers who have distinguished themselves. The reward system is a crucial aspect of motivating officers to perform their duties creditably. Rewarding deserving officers like DCP Ogechi will surely inspire other fine officers who are working tirelessly to rid our society of crimes and criminality.

By: Ike Wigodo

Opinion

Time and Season Can Tell

Published

2 weeks ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

Quote:”In matters of the heart, seasons expose what emotions try to hide.”

There is a silent crisis unfolding in modern relationships—one that many people endure quietly but rarely articulate. It is the experience of emotional attachment without clarity. Unlike betrayal, which announces itself loudly, or conflict, which forces confrontation, this crisis creeps in softly. It begins with warmth, grows through shared vulnerability, and then dissolves into silence. In my observation, some of the deepest emotional wounds are not inflicted by harsh words or dramatic endings. They are caused by something far subtler: the gradual withdrawal of affection without explanation. Silence in relationships is often mistaken for neutrality, but it is not neutral. Silence communicates—only it does so in a language of confusion. When someone slowly retreats without offering clarity, they leave the other person suspended between hope and reality.

There is no clear goodbye, no decisive closure—only distance. The unanswered messages. The reduced enthusiasm. The subtle shift in tone. Emotional ambiguity can be more painful than open rejection because it denies finality while sustaining expectation. It leaves the heart in limbo. In today’s world of instant communication and digital closeness, emotional intensity is frequently mistaken for love. When someone gives us attention, listens attentively, checks in consistently, and offers companionship during vulnerable moments, it is natural to assume that something meaningful is forming. After all, connection feels like commitment. But attention is not always intention. Closeness is not always clarity. In emotionally complicated relationships, there is often an imbalance that goes unnoticed at first. One person invests deeply—emotionally, mentally, even spiritually—while the other remains cautiously detached.

The connection may feel mutual, but the level of commitment is not. And when investment is unequal, pain eventually follows. One of the most dangerous consequences of such relationships is how subtly we lose ourselves in them. It does not happen overnight. It begins with small shifts. We check our phones more often. We rearrange our schedules. We replay conversations in our minds. Gradually, our emotional world begins to orbit around one person. Friends grow distant. Personal goals lose urgency. Self-worth becomes tied—quietly but firmly—to someone else’s presence and validation. When that person withdraws, the collapse feels catastrophic. Yet the devastation is not solely because love has ended. It is because identity has been shaken. We are not grieving only the person; we are grieving the version of ourselves that depended on them.

Silence, I have come to believe, can function as a form of power. When one person controls communication through distance—responding selectively, appearing and disappearing unpredictably—they unintentionally gain emotional dominance. The other person is left waiting, interpreting, hoping. They analyze every word, every delay, every change in tone. This imbalance may not always be intentional. Sometimes it arises from emotional immaturity or fear of confrontation. Yet its impact is undeniable. It reveals an uncomfortable truth: emotional availability is not guaranteed simply because connection exists. Chemistry does not equal commitment. Attraction does not equal accountability. With time, I began to understand that not every relationship is meant to last. Some people enter our lives not as permanent partners, but as temporary teachers.

They are not there to complete us, but to confront us—with our vulnerabilities, insecurities, and unmet needs. At first, this realization felt discouraging. It seemed to reduce love to a series of lessons. But eventually, it felt liberating. Emotional loss stopped looking like failure and started looking like revelation. Each experience—especially the painful ones—exposed areas where I needed growth. Where I needed stronger boundaries. Where I needed deeper self-awareness. Boundaries, I have learned, are not barriers against love; they are protections for it. Love without boundaries is not love—it is emotional exposure. Connection without clarity is not intimacy—it is uncertainty. Affection without commitment is not partnership—it is illusion. Healthy love requires mutual understanding, transparency, and intentionality. It demands that both individuals stand on equal emotional ground. Where one speaks, the other listens.

Where one invests, the other reciprocates. Where one withdraws, the other communicates. Time, more than emotion, reveals truth. In the beginning, feelings are loud. They rush, they excite, they overwhelm. But time tests what emotions promise. It exposes inconsistency. It clarifies intention. It separates temporary attraction from sustainable partnership. Seasons, too, teach us something essential about relationships. No season lasts forever. Some bring growth. Others bring pruning. Some relationships stay long enough to build a foundation; others stay just long enough to teach resilience. Neither is wasted. When we accept that relationships operate in seasons, we release the need to force permanence. We stop chasing clarity from those unwilling to give it. We stop romanticizing inconsistency. We stop equating intensity with depth.

Instead, we begin to value emotional safety over emotional excitement. We learn that peace is more sustaining than passion without direction. We recognize that self-worth must never depend on someone else’s attention.In matters of the heart, time and season always tell.They reveal who is consistent and who is convenient. They expose what is genuine and what is temporary. They show whether a connection is rooted in intention—or merely in circumstance. And perhaps the greatest wisdom is this: not every silence deserves to be decoded. Some silences are answers. When we understand that, we stop fearing endings. We begin trusting timing. We stop clinging to uncertainty and start choosing clarity.Because in the end, the heart may feel quickly—but time always tells the truth.

By: Isiocha Kate