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Why Agric Sector Is Functional – Wike
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has stated that the nation’s agriculture sector is functional because of the background of the Ministers of Agriculture who were key members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before defecting to the ruling party.
Declaring open the 42nd Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development, Wike said that the foresight and national view being exhibited by Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, prove that they imbibed the culture of service while they were PDP members.
He said: “Agriculture is working because they have good ministers from a sound background. The Minister of Agriculture was a former national chairman of PDP, while the Minister of State for Agriculture was a senator under the PDP. Their background has helped them.
“You can see the kind of products that PDP has. We have sent them on Sabbatical to help other people. When children are productive, you ask who are their parents?
“We have products who received good upbringing. Their parents, the PDP, gave them quality parenting”.
On the development of agriculture in Rivers State, Wike said the Rivers State Government will take full advantage of the Federal Government’s agriculture initiatives, including the commercial agricultural credit scheme and the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
He said that his administration will galvanise the state into becoming a major player in the agriculture sector.
The governor stressed that his administration will review its agricultural policy for the development of the sector.
He said: “In Rivers State, government has, over the years, channelled enormous public funds into the development of agriculture without measurable outcomes.
“For this reason, we have decided to review our agricultural policies and programmes to ensure that efforts, funds and inputs are not wasted for the sake of political expediency, as it has been the case with the past.
“This having being said, it is important to emphasize that the agricultural potentials of Rivers State are clearly enormous. Furthermore, being the host to two of the largest fertilizer production plants in the African continent gives us additional horizontal advantages for the advancement of this sector in the state.”
In his address, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, called for the expansion of research in the agriculture sector for the improvement of food production.
He said the Federal Government will ensure that farmers get the required credit for commercial farming.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, stated that the Federal Government was treating agriculture as a business through public enabled but private initiatives.
The Commissioners for Agriculture from the 36 States of the federation attended the 42nd Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development in Port Harcourt.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has stated that investments in agriculture will help the nation tackle youth unemployment, reduce violent crimes, and restore peace and ensure sustainable development of the country.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, Wike said agriculture was essential to the revival of the nation’s economy.
He said: “If Nigeria must move to the next level, agriculture is key. To reduce unemployment, we must focus on agriculture”.
The governor lauded the Minister of Agriculture for displaying maturity by ensuring that the issues of food production are insulated from politics.
The governor said that his administration was developing a public private partnership model to enhance the development of agriculture.
He said, “we are developing a cassava factory to improve the commercial farming of the product. We are also working with a private company to revive our rubber factory”.
He informed that his administration was working with the Rivers State University to revive the College of Agriculture, in Onne, for the training of agricultural professionals.
Wike said that the state government will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to improve key aspects of the state’s agricultural sector.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said unless the youth are reintroduced to agriculture, the country will always have security challenges as most urban youth are idle.
He advised that issues of agriculture must be placed above politics in the overall interest of the country.
The minister said that Rivers State has the potentials to be a major source of fish for the entire country.
The both Ministers of Agriculture and all the Commissioners of Agriculture are in Rivers State for the National Council of Agriculture.
The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.
The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.
Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee
highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.
“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.
Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.
The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.
