News
Life Project Recruitment Not Political -CRSG
Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Okon Owuna, has disclosed that the ongoing Life Project recruitment exercise in the state had nothing to do with politics.
Owuna made the disclosure last Wednesday in Calabar during the recruitment interview of prospective officers into various positions for the commencement of the Life Niger Delta (ND) Project for the state in Calabar.
The Life ND Project is a partnership between the Federal Government, NDDC and IFAD to ensure food security and enhance job creation for youths and women in the Niger Delta region.
The commissioner said that the programme would not be like the usual political appointments because it was an intervention put together by different stakeholders to empower residents in agriculture for food sufficiency in the nation.
“All the stakeholders having met and seen Cross River as one of the states leading in agricultural revolution thought it necessary for the interview to hold on June 28 and June 29 in the state to support our agribusiness development.
“The programme is not just an incentive but comes as a form of empowerment to support the growth and development of agriculture in our rural communities and nation at large,” he said.
Similarly, National Coordinator of the project, Mr Abiodun Sani, said the interview and recruitment exercise would be transparent.
“Ordinarily, you would have expected people to be selected without consideration of due process but failure of any project starts from the beginning when you don’t get the right people to man it.
“We also have systemic checks to ensure that things flow normally and all the challenges associated with project failure are mitigated,” he said.
In his remark, Director, Project Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Bright Watergire, said the project was meant to be implemented in the nine states of the Niger Delta region; six of the states to be funded by IFAD while the remaining three by NDDC.
“The project has lost time in terms of implementation. So, there is a need to fast track and get the staff of Cross River on board to quickly commence the implementation of the project in order to achieve the desired objectives,” he said.
The Tide reports that some of the positions to be filled included: State Project Coordinator, State Agribusiness Promotion Officer and others.
The recruitment would be supervised by all stakeholders involved, while appointment was subject to the approval of the governor.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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