News
Agric Experts Say Tinubu’s Broadcast Raises Hope, Requires Proper Implementation
Some agricultural experts say President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast is full of hope and many fruitful expectations but requires proper implementation.
They charged the President to set up mechanisms for proper planning and smooth implementation of his administration’s agricultural policies.
The experts disclosed this in seperate interviews with The Tide source yesterday while reacting to the President’s national broadcast.
Prof. Ayo Olalusi, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, said the president broadcast, particularly his plan on agriculture, was a welcome development.
Olalusi said the implementation of the food security plan should be strictly supervised and monitored by the presidency.
“It is full of hope and many fruitful expectations.
“However, it should be noted that this is not the first time the nation will be listening a well-articulated speech and good proposals from our leaders.
“Most of the time, the implementation is usually the major challenge,”Olalusi said.
He said the implementation of the state of emergency declared on food production should be strictly supervised and monitored by the presidency.
Olalusi stressed that the implementation should not be hijacked by the political parties.
“Another challenge that hinders implementation is the problem of the ‘deceptive data base ‘ of farmers.
“The presidency should find a way of purging those who are not true farmers from the data base being paraded by the Ministry of Agriculture.
“Most of the time, the inputs go to the hand of those who will resell it to the farmers at high cost.
“The government should map out innovative ways of reaching the real farmers without passing through the middle men,” he said.
On his own part, Prof. Femi Ajayi, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Extension, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, urged the president not to make the food security plan another white elephant project.
Ajayi, who doubted the workability of all the president’s proposal said there were many questions begging for answers in the broadcast.
He called on the government to work with committed people that would think through the process to make the proposals achievable.
Ajayi urged the Federal Government to desist from dealing with political associations or farmers in order not to truncate the process.
“Honestly, we need eggheads that will be able to think through with the government and make these proposals achievable.
“I am only saying as a professor of agriculture how are all these proposals workable?
“In agriculture, there’s something we call planning, implementation and evaluation. The president’s plan is supposed to go in that circle but does not appear so.
“We want to bring down the price of food but it is not only grain that we consume in Nigeria, government need to focus on all agricultural produce, grains, tubers , vegetables, fruits and others.
“Don’t focus only on rice, maize and wheat.
“How will the grains be distributed among the 36 states and FCT? Are we sure the process will not be hijacked by political or party faithful?
“There are many questions that are begging answers.
“If we solve our immediate problems what will happen in the long run. The strategy will not address the present food security confronting the nation because many people will hoard it.
“The distribution of grains may not amount to food on the table of average Nigerians,” he said.
Ajayi said the president broadcast had not really changed the situation on ground.
He the government need to give all these strategies a thought and see how they are going to lay it out and bring out a very strong strategic planning and break it down to cycles.
“Let me say that I don’t know of anybody that is jubilating over the broadcast, everything is like putting or postponing something.
“Don’t let it be another type of talk to hail agriculture because of the problem we have at hand.
“Where is the land to cultivate all these crops? Have they acquired the land? Have they allocated the land to people that will manage them? Or is it going to be another white elephant project?, Ajayi asked.
He urged the government to work with universities of agriculture and research institutes to find lasting solutions to mirage of problem confronting the nation’s food security.
“We have universities of agriculture, but it is as if they are not useful. We have faculty of agriculture and colleges of agriculture but it is as if they are not useful.
“Poultry farmers are crying and government has not been able to find a lasting solution to the sector.
“We cannot do it at a shot like this, the government is just two months old in office.
“By so doing, maybe we will get some where.
He urged the Federal Government to address the nation’s food security, make farms safe and attract young people to agriculture.
“I believe that the government can still do better with time,” he said.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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