Business
‘Poor Conservation May Hinder Agric Production’
Environment experts have warned that poor conservation policies and programmes of government may affect agricultural production in the future.
The experts bared their minds at a one-day seminar organised by the Department of Applied and Environmental Biology in the Rivers State University, recently.
Professor of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation, Prof Godfrey Akani stressed that conservation is key to ensuring sustainable agricultural production.
He pointed out that the current scenario where people are allowed to poach, hunt and log wood without adequate regulation may deplete soil and other natural organisms that enhance agricultural activities.
Akani stressed the need to maintain conservation policies and programmes in all spheres of agricultural activities as he expressed fears that many species of animals and plants are facing extinction.
“The state ministry of Agriculture should engage in tree planting programmes, so as to revive lost forest resources”, Akani recommended.
On her part, Director of Forestry in the state Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Nkemdiri Odoya, stated that many conserved forests in Rivers State have been encroached upon.
She stated that the Niger Delta accounts for 50 per cent of fresh water fish in Africa, but observed that, “over hunting and over harvesting of wildlife is such that it has depleted the growing ones”.
Odoya called for the enforcement of forestry laws in order to curb the activities of people who encroach into restricted areas to hunt and fish.
The Director of forestry sought for the training and equipping of staff in the department to be able to monitor conserved forests and lands.
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Blue Economy: Minister Seeks Lifeline In Blue Bond Amid Budget Squeeze

Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is seeking new funding to implement its ambitious 10-year policy, with officials acknowledging that public funding is insufficient for the scale of transformation envisioned.
Adegboyega Oyetola, said finance is the “lever that will attract long-term and progressive capital critical” and determine whether the ministry’s goals take off.
“Resources we currently receive from the national budget are grossly inadequate compared to the enormous responsibility before the ministry and sector,” he warned.
He described public funding not as charity but as “seed capital” that would unlock private investment adding that without it, Nigeria risks falling behind its neighbours while billions of naira continue to leak abroad through freight payments on foreign vessels.
He said “We have N24.6 trillion in pension assets, with 5 percent set aside for sustainability, including blue and green bonds,” he told stakeholders. “Each time green bonds have been issued, they have been oversubscribed. The money is there. The question is, how do you then get this money?”
The NGX reckons that once incorporated into the national budget, the Debt Management Office could issue the bonds, attracting both domestic pension funds and international investors.
Yet even as officials push for creative financing, Oloruntola stressed that the first step remains legislative.
“Even the most innovative financial tools and private investments require a solid public funding base to thrive.
It would be noted that with government funding inadequate, the ministry and capital market operators see bonds as alternative financing.
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