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‘Agriculture, Vital Part Of Rivers Economy’ 

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The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, King Leslie Eke,  has said agriculture is a vital part of Rivers State’s economy that provides employment opportunities, generate income, and contribute to food security.
Eke, who is the Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo Kingdom, said this recently when he spoke with  newsmen at his palace in Woji Community, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
He noted that the State is known for producing crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam, maize, rice, and beans, with approximately 39 percent of its land area suitable for cultivation.
He listed some of the challenges in the system to include, high cost of farm  implements such as fertilizers, seeds and other agricultural  equipment which, according to him, has made things difficult for farmers.
Other challenges, he noted, are high cost of production and access to long term loans/grants that have so far hindered farmers’ ability to expand their farms.
Eke, who also is the Chairman of the Supreme Forum of Ikwerre Government Recognised Traditional Rulers, urged the government to take steps and remove some of its regulatory policies, if they want the farmers to do well.
“These challenges have significant implications on food security, poverty reduction, and economic growth in Rivers State. The state’s agricultural sector is not operating at its full potential, resulting in reduced food production, increased poverty, and limited economic opportunities”, he said.
He reiterated the need for government and private sector to invest more in agriculture to improve infrastructure, access to inputs and credit facilities.
According to him, such moves must be intentional while the government should also consider improved policy implementation.
“Policies must be implemented effectively, with minimal political interference. Farmers should have access to training and education to adopt modern farming practices. The Federal Government’s agriculture subsidy programmes should be inclusive, covering all regions and farmers.
“To revitalise the agricultural sector in Rivers State, a comprehensive approach is needed. This includes addressing the challenges mentioned above, investing in infrastructure, and promoting modern farming practices.
“By working together, stakeholders can improve food security, reduce poverty, and promote economic growth in the state”, he said.
He, however, noted that agricultural challenges in Rivers State are significant, but not insurmountable, adding, “if  effective policies, increased investment, and stakeholder engagement can be considered by all relevant authorities in the field, the problems would be solved.”
The Tide learnt that the Rivers State Government recently received about 21,650 bags of grains from the Federal Government to tackle economic hardship.

King Onunwor – Eze Gbakagbaka

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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