Business

Diri Pushes For Africa’s Sub-nationals’ Partnership On Economy … As Bayelsa, Angolan Province Synergizes On Fisheries, Agric

Published

2 years ago

January 28, 2025

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

Business

Bayelsa To Spend N1.24trn As Diri Presents 2027 Appropriation Bill …Works, Education, Sports, Others Gulp Lion’s Share

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has presented the 2027 Appropriation Bill of the State to State House of Assembly.
Christened the ‘’Budget of Assured Prosperity for Sustainable Growth and Development”, the appropriation bill was based on a projected revenue of N1,242, 688,970,520,22.
The Governor said the 2027 proposals were derived from broad stakeholder engagements involving traditional rulers, technical experts, the organised private sector and citizens across the state, noting that it was a historic budget being the first as the state was beginning its fourth decade and presented at a time sustained investments were visible in all the local government areas.
“Our fiscal priorities remain clear: roads and bridges that connect communities, better health and education services, reliable power and an environment in which businesses and families can thrive”, he said.
Presenting the estimates, governor Diri said N840.791 billion representing approximately 68 per cent was proposed for capital expenditure while recurrent expenditure was put at N401.897 billion representing approximately 32 per cent.
He observed that the proposed budget was approximately 22 per cent larger than that of the 2026 fiscal year, which was N1.016 trillion, just as he listed some strategic projects that would continue to receive priority attention in 2027, saying they were all at advanced stages of completion.
The projects according to the governor, include the Ekeremor–Agge Road Phase I, Nembe–Brass Road Phase I, Akaba–Ayakoro Road with spur to Otuegwe 1, Glory Drive Phase 3, Agbere-Elemebiri Road, the 30,000-seater stadium at Igbogene, and the nine-storey state secretariat complex.
The governor expressed the conviction that with work progressing on the three senatorial roads, all local government headquarters would be connected to the state capital and boost socio-economic activities across the state.
“With work progressing on all senatorial causeways, we are moving closer to an ambition our people have held since the creation of the state: to connect the capital to every local government headquarters and open up access to our coastal communities. This will boost fisheries, marine and blue economy enterprises, and tourism.
“These projects demonstrate that our beautiful terrain should not limit our ambition. With resolve, sound planning and prudent management, Bayelsa is building what many once thought were impossible”, he added.
Giving a breakdown of the sectoral allocations, Works and Infrastructure got the lion’s share of N422.84 billion followed by Education ¦ 126.97 billion and Sports ¦ 68.50 billion.
Also, Health was allotted ¦ 53.32 billion, Security N24 billion, Public Utilities N22.94 billion and Agriculture got N17.74 billion.
Diri charged the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to enforce coordination, transparency and accountability and ensure effective implementation of the budget.
According to him, government would continue to improve its model schools, support accreditation of programmes in tertiary institutions, strengthen science and technical education and introduce digital learning tools in schools.
He added that the administration would pursue the upscaling of its 60 megawatts independent power plant to 100 megawatts and prioritise water provision in 2027.
He also remarked that the allocation to the sports sector would enable government accelerate work on the stadium project as the state prepares to host the National Sports Festival.
In his remarks, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Ogbere, commended Governor Diri for the successful implementation of the 2026 budget, and appreciated him for his visionary leadership.
Hon. Ogbere described Diri as a peace maker, bridge builder and a leader who has constructed roads and bridges across 80% of all communities in the state, expressing confidence that the projects outlined were achievable.
The Deputy Speaker assured the governor of the 7th Assembly’s support and speedy passage of the budget while the Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Monday Bubou, moved a motion for the members to pass a vote of confidence on Governor Diri and the administration, which was unanimously endorsed by the lawmakers.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Business

NNPC Targets Two Million Bpd Productions In 2027

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has said that ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector have lifted national crude oil production by 600,000 barrels per day, from about 1.2 million barrels per day to 1.8 million barrels per day.
According to the company, the improvement has strengthened Nigeria’s position as a destination for international energy investment.
Group Chief Executive Officer ( GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, made the remarks last week at an Energy Talk titled “Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital”, moderated by John Defterios, Chairman, MENA, APCO, at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Ojulari linked the production growth to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, an improved investment climate, better investment decisions, and stronger collaboration between NNPC Limited and its partners.
He said the current output level is a milestone in NNPC Limited’s journey towards its 2 million barrels per day target by 2027.
The Company, he explained, is focused on maintaining infrastructure, protecting base production, increasing output from existing assets, and advancing new projects designed to lift production further.
“The figure of 1.8 million barrels per day is a stage in a journey towards our objective.
We are concentrating on the basics, which are maintaining our infrastructure, protecting base operations and executing the projects that will take production higher,” Ojulari stated.
On the domestic market, the GCEO said the removal of petrol subsidy has been accompanied by an expanded Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) programme.
He noted that over 400 CNG conversion centres have been established, while more than 1,000 trucks are transporting petroleum products

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

SEREC Demands Independent Forensic Audit Of NIMASA CVFF Funds

Published

2 days ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has call for an independent forensic audit of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), following conflicting claims over the management and currency status of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).
The centre said the controversy surrounding the fund had reinforced its earlier concerns about transparency, accountability and the possible erosion of contributions through currency conversion and administrative decisions.
In a reaction titled, “Cocks Crow at Dawn — On the CVFF Audit Crisis,” forwarded by SEREC’s representative, Eugene Nweke, the organisation said the latest revelations had vindicated its earlier calls for a comprehensive examination of NIMASA’s accounts from 2004 to date.
SEREC said former NIMASA Director-General, Temisan Omatseye, had disclosed that dollar-denominated contributions were converted into naira and invested in fixed deposits during his tenure, while the incumbent Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, maintained that the fund remained in dollars with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The organisation said the conflicting accounts raised questions about the actual value, location and management of the fund, which was to provide financing support established for indigenous shipowners under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act.
It argued that shipowners, as contributors to the fund, deserved documentary evidence showing how much had accrued, where the money was domiciled, the interest generated and the amount currently available for disbursement.
SEREC also warned that converting dollar contributions into naira exposed the fund to significant foreign exchange losses, given the depreciation of the local currency over the years.
According to the organisation, if the contributions were converted into naira and retained in that currency, the fund could have suffered a substantial erosion in its real value, undermining its original objective of strengthening indigenous shipping capacity.
It maintained that the CVFF was contributors’ money and should not be treated as government largesse, stressing that shipowners had a legitimate right to demand accountability.
The centre further criticised maritime industry stakeholders, particularly shipowners’ associations, for allegedly prioritising access to the fund over sustained demands for transparency in its management.
SEREC insisted that no disbursement should take place without a comprehensive forensic audit to establish the fund’s financial history and current position.
It said the audit should cover all contributions, currency conversions, investments, accrued interest and administrative transactions relating to the fund from 2004 to date.
The organisation said the findings would provide the necessary clarity on the financial position of the CVFF and help restore confidence among indigenous shipowners seeking access to the facility.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos