News

Why Agric Sector Is Functional – Wike

Published

9 years ago

April 28, 2017

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.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.