From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has mourned the passing of a veteran journalist and National Treasurer of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) Hajia Rafatu Salami who died in Abuja.

Ododo condoled with members of her immediate family, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the management of Voice of Nigeria (VON) where she worked as an Assistant Director, Digital Media until her death.

“As we mourn the passing of our sister and one of the outstanding female journalists in Nigeria, we are comforted by her legacy of remarkable achievements as a courageous professional and a caring mother as well as her compassion for humanity, unwavering integrity and dedication to public service”, Ododo said.

The Governor prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul and for God to grant her family the fortitude to cope with the pain of the loss.

The late Hajia Rafatu Salami who hails from Ihima in Okehi local government area of Kogi State died at the age of 55 and has been buried at the Gudu cemetery in Abuja according to Islamic rites.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has again commended the officers and men of the 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army for their show of professionalism and commitment while working for the peace and security of the state.

Diri gave the commendation over the weekend while speaking as a special guest of honour at this year’s West African Social Activities (WASA) event of the Nigerian Army at the Brigade headquarters in Yenagoa.

The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also acknowledged the contributions of other security agencies, describing the synergy existing between the Nigerian Army and other security services as topnotch and productive.

He said Bayelsa would not have been ranked as one of the safest states for living, investments and other socio-economic activities in the country without the sacrifices being made by the Nigerian Army and its sister security agencies.

According to him, the efforts, professionalism and commitment to duty being displayed by the military officers were quite commendable, assuring that the government would continue to support the Brigade and other security agencies to do what was needed to sustain the prevailing peace in the state.

Diri also commended the spouses of the military officers for their understanding and support, underscored the importance of the yearly WASA event which helps to improve military and civilian relations.

The state Chief Executive who called for better cooperation between the military and their host communities, urged all security agencies to work harder to make Bayelsa the unarguably safest state in Nigeria.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Brigade Commander of the 16th Brigade, Brig. Gen. Oluremi Obolo, explained that the West African Social Activities (WASA) event was an age-long sociocultural activity celebrated annually in all military formations in the Nigerian Army.

Brigadier General Obolo said the event was meant to bring soldiers of all ranks together, with their families and civilian friends to integrate, socialize and mix friendly away from routine regimental life, and to formally mark the end of the year’s training and operational activities.

He thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, by whose directive the celebration was marked, the Governor Douye Diri, and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and other dignitaries who contributed to the success of the programme.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State has flagged off an expansive dry season farming programme to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food security.

The programme entails supporting farmers with the necessary inputs, offering technical assistance to ensure successful farming season and harvest as well as organising training for farmers to enhance their skills and knowledge in areas such as soil preparation, irrigation and post-harvest management.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources will also assist farmers in the state to embark on aggressive rice, cassava; plantain farming as well as other crops the state had a comparative advantage.

Flagging off the 2024/2025  Dry Farming Season on Friday at the Ministry of Agriculture rice farm in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area, Governor Douye Diri urged Bayelsans to key into his administration’s agricultural revolution to promote food security in the state.

He particularly charged government officials to engage in farming to complement the government’s effort towards ensuring that Bayelsa became a productive rather than a consuming economy.

The governor said in his first term, more than 400 youths were trained at the CSS Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State and another 200 recently trained at the same centre.

He equally stated that his administration recently completed the training of another 77 youths in soilless and green house farming in Ogun State and assured that an additional 100 would be sent for training in January next year.

Diri, however, expressed displeasure that despite the funds disbursed to each trainee after their CSS training, the state had yet to see any positive results.

He directed the Commissioner for Agriculture to ascertain the number of trainees that actually utilised the funds, stating that the government will no longer give out cash incentives to trainees.

He said: “All of us should engage in farming, including all appointees. It is a clarion call to own a farm no matter how small. We are prepared to support farmers to change the narrative and ensure food security.

“The era of subsistence farming is over. Farming now is big business. That is why we are constructing roads to the hinterlands to help farmers transport their produce.

“l am aware that a lot of farmers benefitted from the Central Bank of Nigeria agricultural loan. Some of our CSS trainees benefitted from the loan and N300,000 was given to each trainee of the two batches.

“In each of the batches, not less than 200 persons were trained. But we are yet to see what came out of those who received the money. The records are there.

“So, I have directed the Commissioner for Agriculture that we will no longer give cash to any trainee because it appears not to be the solution. Rather, we will encourage them and other farmers to take advantage of the various agric loan schemes and repay whatever is obtained.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof. Beke Sese, said this farming season, the government would cultivate about 208 hectares of rice farms at Amassoma (100 hectares), Otuasega (30 hectares), School-To-Land in Yenagoa (10 hectares) and 50 hectares at the Niger Delta University.

“It is estimated that these rice farms will yield up to 16,640 bags of rice paddies that can give up to 8,320 bags of 50kg milled rice after the next harvest.

“We still have other locations for expansion of rice farming at Isampou (4,500 hectares) and Peremabiri (2,500 hectares), both of which can produce 560,000 bags of rice paddies that can give up to 280,000 bags of 50kg milled rice. One of the major target milestones in the Bayelsa Agriculture Prosperity Plan is one million tonnes of rice production per year and the attainment of 100 percent processing of rice in the state.”

Sese further stated that the ministry was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, international development partners, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

“We are also working with international partners, including France, South Korea, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to bring in global best practices and investments in our agricultural sector. These partnerships are already yielding positive results and we are confident that the impact will be far-reaching.”

Speaking on behalf of trainees of the third batch at the CSS Farms, Miss Rhoda Enabogha said they underwent two weeks of intensive agricultural training in livestock management, fisheries among others and thanked Governor Diri for giving them the opportunity.

A representative of the Nigerian Women in Agriculture (NIWA), Ebimotimi Leghemo, said they were mobilising women to go into cluster farming across communities in the eight local government areas to increase food production.