News
Let’s Heed Audu Ogbeh’s Call
The Minister of Agri
culture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, recently raised an alarm that Nigerians risk starvation by 2050 if nothing is done to introduce an all-year-round farming. This call underscores the urgent need to improve on our farming method to achieve increased productivity.
In the first place, do we have to wait for the Honourable Minister’s admonition before we realise that the current mode of farming in the country is archaic or outdated and is incapable of sustaining our soaring population and ensuring food security in the near future? That is the issue.
That is why we must heed Chief Ogbeh’s call. All stakeholders in the agricultural sector must work very hard to improve mechanised farming and irrigation. This will ensure that farming, contrary to the way it is done currently, can become an all-year affair.
The Minister’s warning is important and must not be taken lightly. It is imperative that we change our low mentality on farming and introduce technology-driven agriculture that is the practice globally. This nation must invest massively on irrigation activities so that our output is not determined by the vagaries of the seasons.
Ogbeh’s clarion call highlights some of the things Nigeria needs to avoid a food crisis. But the responsibility to ensure that his prediction does not happen rests squarely with his ministry on one hand, and the other tiers of government on the other hand.
Therefore, a framework for the promotion of a mechanised agriculture and a profitable marketing strategy of farm products are needed urgently. Also, farmers have to be educated on good and healthy farming practices like shifting cultivation and irrigation. Of course, if the goal of commercial and mechanised farming is to be achieved, improved funding of the sector cannot be left out.
If we must be successful in our drive towards mechanised farming, the nation must return to the template with which we recorded huge successes in agriculture in the time of the regional administrations. At that time, the Western Region, known for the production of cocoa, attained huge successes. The Eastern and Northern Regions produced coal/palm oil and groundnuts respectively as their major revenue earners and were very successful in them.
Those agricultural products sustained the economy of the nation as well as the respective regions. A return to this template and massive investments in the sector will transform Nigeria into a food basket and a major exporter of agricultural products.
I am particularly sad that despite our great potentialities to grow food massively enough to take care of our needs and our greed, the prices of virtually every food item is on the rise. Shouldn’t we take advantage of the brazen fall of crude oil price in the international market to invest in agriculture and boost our economic fortunes?
We must not allow the hardship of the times to shift our focus from food production. If anything, it should motivate us to take agriculture seriously and make it a major revenue earner for the country. It is important we do all that is required to boost agricultural production.
It is time we viewed agriculture as a serious business. Therefore, individuals and all relevant government agencies have to support farming projects while banks and other financial institutions are made to assist with the availability of necessary credit facilities.
It is also necessary for research institutions, universities and other tertiary institutions to step up research that can aid food production. For this business to thrive, it must be put on genuine scientific or technological basis. Fortunately for us, Chief Ogbeh, who raised the alarm on the impending food crisis, is no stranger to farming. That is why he has to do everything to avert the starvation he warned the nation about.
In a country where agriculture is at best paid lip service, the Agriculture Minister must develop long and short term strategies to prevent the predicted food shortages. I would want him to lead Nigeria away from the current subsistent farming to big time all-year-round farming. Let him also do whatever is required to link agriculture to the industries so that value can be added to the products.
If these actions and many more are taken by the authorities, in the not very distant future we may hope for a better state of things in that sector.
We must act timely.
Arnold Alalibo
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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