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.

From Samuel James, Ilorin

Goods worth millions of Naira with huge cash from sales have been burnt into ashes during a midnight inferno that occurred at Akerebiata area of Ilorin metropolis in state capital.

It was gathered that an unfortunate incident happened around 12am during the weekend at a shop where engine oil, brake fluid motor and other associated products are sold.

Ahmad Toyib, the owner of the affected shop who shares the same building with his wife who is also into tailoring materials business lost all the tailoring equipment in the severely burnt.

In addition, all the cash sales made a day before the incident and POS machine were also completely razed down.

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has charged officers and men of the Nigerian Navy to uphold professionalism by continuously improving their skills and aligning with global standards in forensic and investigative practices.

CNS Ogalla assured that the Nigerian Navy is committed towards adopting global best practices in forensic and investigative operations to support national development.

He stated this during the combined graduation ceremony for three courses for the Advanced Provost Officers Course, the Advanced Detective Investigation Course, and the Outriders Course—held at the Nigerian Navy Provost and Regulating School in Makurdi, Benue State,

Ogalla, who spoke through Rear Admiral Noel Madugu, highlighted the importance of the training, explaining that the courses were designed to enhance the competencies of the officers and ratings graduating from the Provost and Regulating Department.

CNS however commended the graduates, particularly those from the newly introduced specialist programs, as pioneers in advanced forensics and investigative fields.

“As pioneers, the Nigerian Navy is proud of the milestone you have achieved as custodians of forensics and specialist investigators within the Service.

“Our hope is that you will build on the knowledge gained here through dedication and professionalism in your assignments, striving for greater excellence” he maintained

Earlier, Navy Captain Henry Ejeh, Commandant of the School, detailed the rigorous 10-week training program, emphasizing its focus on instilling best practices in law enforcement within and beyond the military. He noted that the program employed diverse methods, including classroom lectures, practical demonstrations, and training attachments, to ensure the students were well-prepared for their roles.

The ceremony underscored the Navy’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its role in advancing national security through cutting-edge forensic and investigative training.