Niger Delta
‘C’River Special Grass’ll End Farmer-Herder Conflicts’
Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, says massive production of a rare regenerative organic grass called King grass, is all Nigeria needs to end the intractable farmers- herders clashes.
According to him, the grass is a special pasture “that grows more than two meters within 45 days of planting and once it is cut, it regenerates even faster. So, within a small landmass, you can keep your cattle and grow this special grass and feed them.”
The governor, who spoke during a demonstration planting of the grass at the industrial park, Calabar, disclosed that Cross River was pioneering the production of the grass in collaboration with technical partners from Cambodia in furtherance of his administration’s multi-faceted agro- Industrialisation drive.
“Herders have a right to the source of their livelihood. So, they move from place to place in search of pasture for their cattle, thus pitting them against farmers who also have the right to protect their crops.
“To put an end to this intractable conflict between these two groups, I have sought partnership with a team of experts from Cambodia and they are here with a special grass specie called king grass.”
The governor bemoaned a situation whereby herders stress their cattle by walking them through long distance whereas they can keep them in a location and feed them with king grass “which grows lusciously and luxuriously and contains high level of nutrients for the cow. These nutrients make cow healthy for consumption.”
The unique nature of the king grass, he said, lies in the fact that it has the capacity to grow under any climatic condition, having been successfully demonstrated in the three senatorial zones of the state, which have different climatic conditions.
With the Obudu Cattle Ranch in Northern Cross River as a pilot study, the governor disclosed that government was working to create a feeding lot where king grass will be grown and fed to the cattle in the ranch.
“My ambition is national security and oneness of this country. I am therefore, announcing to Nigeria that Cross River has got a permanent solution to the herders – farmers conflict”, Ayade said.
The Akwa Ibom State Government has released N132 million for the maintenance of General Hospitals across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state in the last one year.
The State’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Augustine Umoh, disclosed this during an Inter-Ministerial Briefing, tagged, “Tracking the Promise” in Uyo, recently.
Umoh said Governor Udom Emmanuel is committed to effective healthcare delivery service in the state.
He noted that the State Government is aware of shortage of Nurses and Midwives in the health sector, adding that the shortfall of medical personnel has been addressed through employment of over 300 Doctors and Nurses in hospitals .
The Commissioner, however, said the number of recruited medical personnel was not enough, and government planned to bring back retired Midwives, who are still strong to support existing ones in the healthcare service.
“We will soon bring back retired Midwives who are still strong into the state hospital service. Government will pay them stipends to encourage them in contributing through their acquired experiences in the health sector.
“However, more health personnel would be employed to ensure efficient healthcare delivery in the state”, Umoh said.
He reeled out achievements of the Governor in the health sector in the last eight years to include renovation of hospitals and construction of new ones.
He listed the remodeled hospitals in the state to include; General Hospitals in Ikot Abasi, Eket, Anua and the procurement of medical equipment.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong, said it became necessary to sensitise the public on the true position of government’s projects, programmes and activities.
Ememobong said it was worrisome that after seven and half years of governance with numerous record of achievements in all sectors, some sordid and disparaging news items are still being spread around.
“We have, therefore, brought every section of the society together here to find out the reason the stories and reports sent out do not correspond with what we have on ground in the State.
“Governor Emmanuel has constructed numerous roads in the State, such as the Uyo-Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road and Ikot Oku Ikono flyover, among others but someone will write that there is no road in Akwa Ibom State,” he said.
The management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has expressed grief over the death of Prof. Michael Ibadin, a former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital.
In a statement made available to The Tide’s source in Benin yesterday, the CMD, Dr Darlington Obaseki, said the deceased succumbed during a brief illness.
Obaseki described the late Ibadin as a quintessential leader and a mentor to many.
He said his demise was a big loss not only to his family, but also to the hospital community and the medical world.
“With a deep sense of loss and pain in our hearts, we submit to the will of the Almighty God on the passing into the celestial realm of our former CMD, Prof. M.O. Ibadin after a brief illness.
“Until his death, he was a Professor of Paediatrics, a Consultant Pediatric Nephrologist and an astute health administrator.
“He was also a mentor who introduced several persons into hospital administration and management, including myself.
“We commiserate with his immediate family at this time and pray that God himself will console them and grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss,” he said.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has directed the management of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, to immediately reverse all recent disengagement letters issued to some staff of the institution.
The government directive is contained in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media Projects to the Governor, Mr Crusoe Osagie, and made available to newsmen in Benin.
Obaseki, in the statement, said the sack notices issued earlier to some staff of the university were illegal, null and void.
“The management is to retrieve any such illegal letters if they were ever issued and reinstate the affected staff.
“I have ordered an in-depth investigation into what led to the sporadic issuance of illegal sack letters and ensure that anyone found culpable will be brought to book”, the Governor said.
Obaseki reiterated his commitment to the welfare of members of staff, adding that he was working to find solutions to all lingering issues affecting workers in the state-owned institution.
-
Nation5 days ago
Train-Bus Accident: 66 Patients Out Of Hospital
-
News5 days agoIGP Orders Movement Restriction On Election Day
-
News2 days agoNDLEA Intercepts Cannabis Concealed In Dried Onions At Lagos Airport
-
Niger Delta2 days agoUBTH Mourns Former CMD
-
Rivers5 days ago
Guber Polls: Group Cautions Against Conducts Capable Of Threatening Peace In ASALGA
-
Politics5 days agoDSS Alleges Plot To Destabilise Kano Over March 18 Elections
-
Business2 days agoNigeria’s LNG Output Struggles, Despite Europe’s Demand
-
Sports2 days ago
Betking Partner Ikorodu City Football