Business

‘Constructive Engagement, Panacea To Oil Theft’

Published

7 years ago

July 12, 2017

Outgoing Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Central Naval Command, Yenagoa, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba, says constructive engagement is critical to checkmating oil theft and other criminal acts in the Niger Delta.
Garba made the observation during a passing-out-parade organised in his honour at Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) in Warri.
He remarked that it was only when the people had been adequately appeased that they would willingly listen and imbibe ideas.
“To eradicate illegalities, you must be able to discuss and convince the people, rather than hurting their feelings.
“Roundtable discussion is the only way through which they can listen to your ideas and by implications achieve success.
“Ideological warfare is not about the people, who win by weapons, but those who win by ideas, so advising the people is important,’’ Garba said.
According to him, everybody at the higher level of command must be able to translate national policies in a way that will shape, reshape and understand the environment.
He said that this was to enable the Navy to direct its tactical actions.
The out-going commanding officer enumerated the achievements of the command under his leadership.
He said the command had, in line with its mandate provided security in the maritime space, attributing the feat to a coordinated strategy of appeasement, constructive engagement and application of kinetic means.
He also said the command provides platform, facilities and other interventions to complement those at the Naval Headquarters.
These, he said had spurred the officers and men to give their best in providing security at the maritime domain.
“I urged you to remain discipline and dedicate yourself toward ensuring the continuous safety and security of the maritime environment in the command,’’ he said.
While imploring the men to support the incoming FOC, Rear Adm. Abubakar Alhassan, Garba commended traditional rulers, states and local governments for their support.

Business

IFAD, VCDP Harp On Rice threshing Machines To Boost Harvest

Published

8 seconds ago

December 13, 2024

The Tide

The Niger State Programme Coordinator for the Federal Government’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), have expressed concern over the low usage of rice threshing machines by farmers in parts of the Nigeria state.

These machines were provided as part of an initiative to help increase harvest yields and reduce post-harvest losses.

In a statement during a training session for rice farmers in Majingari, Katcha Local Government Area, the Value Chain Agricultural Production Officer, Dr. Lawal Mohammed, said adequate use of the machine would help in food security.

According to Dr. Mohammed, the IFAD programme distributed threshing machines to rice farmers in the eight participating local government areas of Niger State to help reduce losses during harvest.

Many farmers have, however, abandoned the machines in favor of traditional threshing methods, thereby missing out on the benefits of increased efficiency and reduced losses.

The Programme Coordinator lamented that due to the underutilisation of such equipment, Nigeria faces a significant challenge, with up to 40 percent of post-harvest losses in the agricultural sector.

During the training, Hajiya Isah emphasised the importance of adopting best agronomy practices, including the proper use of threshing machines, to minimize losses and improve production, particularly for dry season farming.

A rice farmer from Shiroro Local Government, Mustapha P. Gaiya, reiterated that the thresher machine boosted his harvest and income, adding the benefits of the programme of the programme cannot be over emphasised.

He noted that while some farmers consider the thresher to be slow, he finds it faster and more efficient, allowing him to thresh over 40 bags of rice in a day.

The Lead Consultant for the IFAD programme in Niger State, Prof. Abigail Jirgi, also emphasized the need for farmers to follow best practices throughout the entire rice production process, from harvest to storage, in order to reduce losses.

She urged farmers not to burn rice crop residues, as it depletes soil nutrients, but to allow the residues to decompose and enrich the soil.

Prof. Jirgi also called on community leaders to encourage farmers to adopt these best practices for improved yields and economic growth.

The Majingari community, represented by Mohammed Idris Ndaloke, expressed gratitude for the training and pledged to support the effort to educate local farmers on improving their harvest practices and overall economic prosperity.

Business

NNMDA To Train 5m Nigerian Youths On Cassava Plantation

Published

46 seconds ago

December 13, 2024

The Tide

The Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has unveiled plans to train five million Nigerian youths in cassava cultivation through its Cassava Value Chain Initiative.

The Director-General of the NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, who announced the initiative, highlighted the agency’s goal of harnessing Nigeria’s vast cassava production potential to spur economic growth and development.

“Nigeria accounts for over 20% of global cassava production, making it the world’s largest producer”, Emeje noted.

He emphasised that the initiative aims to create jobs, generate wealth, and support the pharmaceutical and natural medicine industries by leveraging cassava’s value chain.

The programme will involve collaboration with stakeholders to establish large-scale cassava farms and modern processing facilities.

Emeje, a nanotechnology expert, explained that the project would focus on producing pharmaceutical-grade starch and developing innovative natural medicine products.

“Our strategic approach includes advancing research to produce high-quality starch for pharmaceutical use and creating products that combine cassava-derived starch with natural ingredients”, he said.

Business

NCDMB Recommits To Youths’ Capacity Building

Published

4 days ago

December 9, 2024

The Tide

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola-Ogbe, has reeled out initiatives evolved by the Board in its contribution towards capacity building for youths across the country.
The NCDMB Scribe revealed this recently at the 2024 Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Youth Forum held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Tagged “empowering the future: unlocking the opportunities in the Niger Delta oil and gas sector”, the event featured three thematic lecture series delivered by the founder and leader of the Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC), Mr. Zik Gbemre, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youths Development, Mr. Alfred Kemepado Nimizigha, and the Chief Executive Officer, PE Energy ltd., Mr Daere Akabo.
Ogbe, who was represented by the Manager, Capacity Building of the Board, Mr. Olugbenga Sheba, noted that the NCDMB has recently partnered the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) to commence the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (NC-HCD) in the oil and gas sector for the training of 331 young graduates.
“As you already know, the NCDMB was established by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.
“Our mandate is to develop human capabilities and material capacities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, and to monitor and enforce compliance with the provisions of the act”, the NCDMB Scribe said.
“The theme for this year’s youth event is ‘Empowering the future: Unlocking the opportunities in the Niger Delta Oil and Gas Sector’. This theme speaks to our determination and ongoing efforts to introduce youths from the Niger Delta to opportunities that abound in the oil and gas industry.
“Few weeks ago, we partnered the NLNG to kick start the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (NC-HCD) basic training programme for a total of 331 young graduates. The training covers ICT, Engineering, Welding and Fabrication, Non-destructive Testing (NDT), Lifting and working at Height, Quality Management Systems, Marine and offshore services and Facility Management and Maintenance.
“We also organised training for youths with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), WalterSmith Petroleum, and other organizations. And as part of the NCDMB’s initiatives in the Niger Delta, we’ve developed two oil and gas parks at Emeyal one in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and Odukpani in Cross River State”, he added.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa