Business
Diri Pushes For Africa’s Sub-nationals’ Partnership On Economy … As Bayelsa, Angolan Province Synergizes On Fisheries, Agric
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has advocated for economic cooperation between states in Africa.
He said such cooperation would promote African unity, boost the economies of the sub-nationals, and reduce the economic dependence on the Western world.
The Bayelsa helmsman stated this at the weekend during a meeting with the Governor of the Province of Namibe in Angola, Mr. Archer Mangueira.
He noted that Bayelsa and Namibe shared similarities as coastal states bordering the Atlantic Ocean, and that both could benefit from areas that they had comparative advantage.
A statement made available to newsmen by the Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said Namibe has developed its marine economy to become the fishery hub of Angola and the southern African sub-region.
The statement also noted that the discussions between both leaders were centred around exploring the opportunities of collaboration in the marine sector, amongst others.
“We’ve discovered that relationship between governments has not been very cordial across the continent of Africa. We rather prefer to value our relationship with Europe and Asia.
“Among presidents and governors, we have not related so well and I think that this kind of visit will address such relationship within us in Africa, particularly between states and countries.
“Bayelsa has a whole lot of similarities with Namibe. Like your province, Bayelsa borders the Atlantic Ocean except that Namibe has low lands with a dual advantage of the Atlantic Ocean and the desert”, Diri said.
He continued that “Bayelsa is at the heart of the Niger Delta, which is the oil-producing region of Nigeria, and like Namibe, it is also in the southern flank of our country. The state is very rich in oil and gas, and, in fact, it is richer in gas than oil.
“Like Namibe, we are also interested in fisheries because of our aquatic location and having the longest coastline in Nigeria, which has remained largely untapped and undeveloped.
“So, as we speak, our government is constructing roads to hit the Atlantic Ocean on three fronts in order for us to actually explore the ocean as you have done in Namibe.
“From what we have seen, we can collaborate in fisheries, which is one area you can explore beyond Bayelsa.
“I have also seen that there is a developed and functional seaport here. We are trying to develop a deep seaport at a place called Agge, and we are looking out for investors that have the potential and resources to actualise this. So we are interested in collaborating with you on that.
“Also in agriculture, our land is very fertile for the cultivation of rice, plantain, cassava, bananas, potatoes and vegetables.
“We recently established a relationship with the South Korean Government, which has donated equipment to our state for mechanised farming.
“I believe that there many areas we can collaborate. Where you have comparative advantage, you produce, and where we have comparative advantage, we also produce.
“From our meeting, I’m aware that Namibe is also a potentially oil producing state. So, areas of collaboration include fisheries, agriculture, culture, tourism and potentially oil and gas.
“This meeting should be an eye opener for African countries and states. There is need to have this kind of bilateral relationship between states in Africa”.
Diri thanked his host, Mangueira, and his Vice-Governors, Ema Samali Henriques da Silva and Abel do Rosário Kapitango, for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation, saying it epitomised the true spirit of African brotherhood.
In his remarks, Governor of the Namibe Province, Mangueira, said he was excited about the visit and the prospects for collaboration and investments.
Describing Namibe as the Land of Happiness, Mangueira noted that there was a lot to learn and benefit from a huge country like Nigeria.
He said although the province grapples with erosion challenges, it was focusing on its tourism sector for economic development of the region.
“We also have a very rich ecological biodiversity and a desert that is considered the oldest in the world. We have had potential in the fishery industry since the colonial era.
“Unfortunately, we do not have the level of funding that we had previously. Nevertheless, it remains one of the most important sectors for our socio-economic development.
“The oil industry also holds a lot of potential and we look forward to your expertise and support. We equally have the mining sector apart from oil. At the moment, we are exploring the mining sector for marble and granite production.
“This year, we are looking at completing the modernisation of our seaport to make it possible for export of our minerals.
“We look forward to the expertise of Nigeria and learn how it developed its mining sector. We are privileged to be in an area that is abundant in many minerals. So, there is a lot of potential to invest.
“We would like to learn from Nigeria’s experience regarding the use of pesticides and the treatment of agricultural products. We are open to partnerships with Nigeria to develop our agricultural sector in Angola, cultivating crops like watermelons, bananas, and mangoes.
“We believe that cooperation between our countries is key to advancing towards development. Mutual cooperation can be an effective way to overcome underdevelopment.
“It is important to emphasise that, in forming partnerships, we should also seek investments in the financial sector. There are already movements in this direction in Angola, with the presence of banks and ongoing negotiations. South-South cooperation should be prioritised as should agricultural development initiatives.
“I firmly believe that the future of African development is intrinsically linked to the strengthening of the agricultural sector in our countries.
“Thus, I accept the governor’s invitation for us to work together to build an agenda that is not limited to meetings but results in concrete actions that benefit our regions and strengthen our relations”, the Namibe Governor said.
On the visit with governor Diri were a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ebizi Brown, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Iroro Komonibo.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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The Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has unveiled the plans to host a major economic and investment summit aimed at attracting five billion dollars, ( N7 trillion) investments in addition to creating about 500,000 jobs over the next five years.
The Chairman of NDCCITMA Board, Ambassador Idaere Ogan, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently.
Ogan stated that the initiative is designed to reposition the Niger Delta as a viable destination for sustainable economic growth and development.
He explained the summit would bring together investors, policymakers, manufacturers and business leaders from within and outside Nigeria to explore opportunities across key sectors of the regional economy.
According to him, the event is expected to attract high-profile participation, with President Bola Tinubu billed as Special Guest of Honour, while the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, is expected to deliver the keynote address.
Ogan said the summit would focus on critical sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and the blue economy, which he described as areas with significant untapped potential.
He called on state governments, development partners and private sector stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that collective efforts are required to unlock the region’s economic prospects.
NDCCITMA chairman further stated that improving security conditions and increasing economic confidence in the Niger Delta have made the region more attractive to both local and foreign investors.
He emphasised that ongoing economic reforms at the national level have also contributed to creating a more favourable investment climate.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Summit Organising Committee, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, said the event would prioritise the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across the region.
He noted the summit would provide a strategic platform for networking, business partnership and policy dialogue aimed at strengthening the private sector.
Edebiri disclosed that findings from a recent business roundtable revealed significant untapped investment opportunities, which the summit seeks to harness through targeted collaborations.
He revealed that the event would feature exhibitions of viable projects, facilitate business-to-business and business-to-government engagements, and also promote innovations across multiple sectors.
According to him, the expected outcomes of the summit include job creation, increased industrial activity and improved livelihoods for people in the Niger Delta.
To build momentum ahead of the event, NDCCITMA said the body would embark on awareness roadshows across states in the Niger Delta, as well as in Lagos and Abuja, to attract broad participation.
King Onunwor
The Management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has set N1.489 trillion as its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) target for the 2026 fiscal year.
NPA says the figure represents an increase of N21 billion over the N1.468 trillion target for 2025, which the agency exceeded with an actual revenue of N1.97 trillion.
The Managing Director NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, stated this during the agency’s 2026 budget defence before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.
Dantsoho said the authority was set to begin groundbreaking projects for the modernisation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports to enhance global competitiveness.
According to him, of the projected revenue: N945 billion is allocated for capital projects, N447.5 billion for operating expenses, and
N90.6 billion for remittance into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
The MD explained that the budget was anchored on the mantra, “Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”
Dantsoho said that the modernisation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports were flagship projects aimed at boosting revenue.
“Apapa and Tin Can Island ports are old and no longer adequate for modern global port operations.
“Apapa Port is about 100 years old, while Tin Can Island Port is over 50 years old, with limited capacity for handling modern vessels and cargo volumes.
“Groundbreaking for their modernisation will commence within the next two to three weeks,” he added.
On the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Dantsoho said all revenues generated by the NPA are paid directly into the account managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“We do not retain any funds. The Central Bank is the signatory and we must apply for funds whenever needed,” he explained.
Earlier in his remarks,Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ports, Sen. Wasiu Eshinlokun (Lagos Central), said the committee’s oversight function was collaborative rather than adversarial.
“Our goal is to work with you to strengthen institutional capacity, eliminate inefficiencies and ensure that every naira appropriated serves the public interest,” he said.
Chinedu Wosu
Nigeria Police Force has disbursed a total of ?21,678,120 to the deceased police officers families in Rivers State as part of ongoing welfare interventions by the force.
The gesture formed a major highlight of the activities marking the 2026 National Police Day celebration in the state, underscoring renewed institutional focus on personnel welfare and post-service support systems.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, who presided over the cheque presentation ceremony, said the initiative reflects the Force’s commitment to honouring officers who paid the ultimate price in their line of duty.
He explained that the financial support is designed to cushion the economic burden faced by bereaved families, while also reinforcing confidence among serving personnel about the Force’s long-term welfare structure.
Adepoju conveyed the sympathy of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to the beneficiaries, noting that the sacrifices of fallen officers remain invaluable to national security and public safety.
The police boss further stressed that sustained welfare interventions are critical to boosting morale, enhancing productivity, and strengthening institutional loyalty within the Force.
He reiterated that the welfare scheme aligns with broader reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigeria Police Force as a responsive and people-oriented institution.
Beneficiaries of the cheques commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for prioritising the welfare of officers and their families through consistent and impactful interventions.
They described the initiative as timely and compassionate, noting that it would go a long way in alleviating financial pressures arising from the loss of their loved ones.
The families also acknowledged ongoing reforms under the current police leadership, which they said have strengthened trust, improved service delivery, and enhanced the overall image of the Force.
The Rivers State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining similar initiatives as part of efforts to uphold the dignity, sacrifice, and legacy of officers who served the nation with distinction.
King Onunwor
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