News
Obaseki Charges Politicians on Devt, Warns Against Stirring Crisis In Communities
..as Edo College of Agric set for reopening
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the reopening of the Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will bolster the government’s efforts at diversifying the State’s economy through agriculture, ensuring the development of the manpower to drive the government’s agriculture-based economy.
READ ALSO:Obaseki Performs Groundbreaking For Skills Lab, PHC at College Of Nursing
Obaseki, at the Pre-College Opening and Agribusiness Stakeholders engagement at the newly rebuilt Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Iguoriakhi, Ovia South West Local Government Area of the State, said the institution has been upgraded to compete favourably with the best of specialised agricultural training institutions across the globe.
The governor said the College, with three campuses in Iguoriakhi, Agenebode and Uromi, will groom and harness the knowledge and skills of the state’s teeming youth population to drive the government’s vision to boost food production and grow its economy.
Obaseki noted, “You are all aware that agriculture is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, not oil. It is becoming clear that for us to have food sufficiency, raw materials for our industries must be produced.”
Noting that his government has in the past six years embarked on transformative reforms and programmes to guarantee the enabling environment to attract investments into different sectors of the State’s economy, Obaseki said, “We are calling on investors who have invested in the State and soliciting their support to move this institution and the State forward in terms of developing the agricultural sector.”
He said: “Our role as government is to enable things to happen. We want to use this opportunity to have on board some of our investors who have worked hard with the State over the last two years to create Africa’s largest oil palm programme, the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP). The first phase of the programme which is focused on the Orhionmwon axis has been completed.
“We have allocated almost 70,000 hectares of degraded forest land and fresh land to a new set of investors, many of whom have started developing their nurseries but have not signed the final agreement. We will be signing the negotiated agreement of ESOPP and let our critics see what MOU produces for us.
“As a government, we are not farmers and don’t know how to farm. Our role as government is to support and encourage those that know how to farm and want to farm. We did it in Edo as we made land accessible to investors. We worked with the communities to create the enabling environment for our investors in the State.”
Warning politicians to foster development in their communities and desist from stirring crisis, the governor said, “I want to appeal to politicians never to play politics with communities but rather interact with the communities, bridge the gap for investors to invest as there are mutual benefits for investments in a peaceful environment. Don’t stir up crises in communities and drive investors away to other areas that are peaceful.
“When elections are coming, they stir up politics of trouble, telling the people that government wants to take their lands because they want to leave such communities in poverty. I appeal to my fellow politicians to set politics aside and put development in front. We should be able to train our people to be able to work for our investors in the State rather than allowing investors to import workers from other places.”
Speaking on the need for investors to be involved in the governing of the School, Obaseki said, “As a government, we have built this institution to woo our young ones who want to make a career in agriculture. This school is to train people practically not only to give certificates. We have created this institution to train people that can work for you and not for you to bring people from outside.
“The fancy building will not give the required manpower with good quality but the participation of investors in the governing process in the school will help develop the required manpower as you define what you need, creating the opportunity for intakes to know what is required to give the best.”
On the development of other campuses for the institution, he said, “We are going to award the contract for the other two campuses and will open the two schools before leaving office in November 2024. I thank our partners for the work and also appreciate the communities for creating the atmosphere for the project to succeed.
“I thank the agricultural investors and appeal to them to be part of the governance board which will have more operators than statutory members to allow us to build a unique school that caters for our needs as a people.”
The governor added, “Our focus is to allow graduates here to get the certificate and also be sure of getting employment to face the future. This will be a busy campus as we will put more infrastructure here. This place is already connected with fibres; there is internet connectivity here. We are working on how to extend IPP to ensure a 24-hour power supply to this location and extend or dualize the road to this place. I appeal to the Edo State House of Assembly to ensure they make money available to accomplish more for the school.
Also, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Steven Idehenre, while commending the governor for the noble feat, said the Institution will serve as a magnet for the most talented students and faculties making a real impact on improving the training of technocrats for agricultural development in Edo State and Nigeria.
“The former College of Agriculture in Iguoriakhi and Agenebode was closed down in 2017 and 2018 due to poor learning facilities. The closure was to allow the government to restructure and reopen three schools under one college.
“The College will house the School of Aquaculture and Marine Studies at Agenebode, School of Environmental Studies and Wildlife in Uromi and the School of Agricultural Engineering and Technology in Iguoriakhi, while the College at Iguoriakhi will serve as its headquarters.”
He added, “Today, we are proud to say we have some of the most imposing structures and learning facilities on any monotechnic or University campus in Nigeria. Due to the infrastructural facilities, equipment and environment, we are confident that the accreditation team that will be visiting the College in September will approve all courses in the Institution.”
On his part, the consultant on the college revamp, Professor Oluwafemi Balogun, said the reopening of the College will attract more investors and boost agricultural development in the State, noting, “You gave the task team a matching order to develop and build a unique and foremost Agricultural College in Nigeria and here we are today, presenting to you a world-class Agricultural College that can compete with any other in the world. In the next few months, some Universities will be coming here to benefit from the facilities on ground.”
According to him, “The College has acquired teaching and farm equipment for the College worth N625 million. All ICT laboratories in the College are now 24/7 solar-powered, and fishery and research farms fully developed. NBTE accreditation team will be visiting the school to accredit the programmes.
“The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iguoriakhi is the headquarters of the College, while Agenebode and Uromi will house the other college or campus for the Institution. The College will now have 16 programmes structured into three schools.
“We have added a unique programme that has never been done in any agricultural Institution in Nigeria. It’s a vocational enterprise programme which is open to all categories of people in the society.”
“Administrative work will commence on 1st of August 2023 as all 208 staff of the College will resume while the academic session for 2023/2024 will commence in September 2023,” Prof Balogun added.
By Abubakar Yunusa
Dr Yusuf John Suberu, founder of the Dr Yusuf John Suberu Foundation, has congratulated Nigeria on being honoured with the prestigious Kofi Annan Road Safety Award at a ceremony in Eswatini.
The award recognises the country’s significant progress in reducing road crashes and improving safety..
The accolade, celebrated by stakeholders across the continent, highlights Nigeria’s dedication to improving road safety standards.
Dr. Yusuf John Suberu, founder of the Dr. Yusuf John Suberu Foundation, attended the event and engaged with prominent figures, including the Ministers of Transportation from Cameroon and Eswatini, as well as Mr. John Todd, the United Nations Envoy on Road Safety.
The foundation, which focuses on poverty alleviation, education, and health, praised the Federal Government’s achievement as a milestone in fostering safer communities.
“This award reflects Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to road safety, a cause that resonates deeply with our mission to empower and uplift communities,” Dr. Suberu said in a statement.
“We commend the government and reaffirm our support for initiatives promoting sustainable development and safety.”
The Dr. Yusuf John Suberu Foundation has impacted over 5,000 individuals in the past year through its programmes and aims to train 500 youths in the Federal Capital Territory with skills for financial independence and self-employment.
The organisation views the award as a testament to the power of collective action in driving meaningful change.
The foundation expressed its eagerness to deepen collaboration with government bodies, international organisations, and local stakeholders to advance road safety and community development across Nigeria.
Want Full Probe of Port Harcourt Refinery Repairs
The National Transparency Network, a coalition of Civil Society Organizations and patriotic citizens, has demanded a thorough investigation into the financial activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under the leadership of former Group CEO, Mele Kyari.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group called for a Special Commission of Inquiry to probe the $1.5 billion spent on the Port Harcourt refinery, which has yet to deliver refined products.
The CSOs expressed outrage over the reckless expenditure of $1.5 billion on the Port Harcourt Refineries (PHRC) 1 and 2, an amount equivalent to the annual budgets of several African countries.
They questioned the initial plan to rehabilitate two refineries, which was abandoned without justification, and demanded answers on where the funds disappeared to.
The group led by its National Coordinator. Dr Fabian Opialu criticized the Kyari-led administration for lack of transparency and accountability, citing false reports of “mechanical completion” despite the refinery’s non-functionality.
The group also raised concerns about suspicious arrangements between NNPCL and Matrix Oil, which invested $400 million in the refinery rehabilitation without clear terms or benefits to Nigeria.
They demanded a comprehensive audit and prosecution, including a forensic audit of all NNPCL financial transactions over the past five years, publication of those involved in the alleged misallocation of 89 million barrels of crude oil to non-state actors, a detailed report on how $1.5 billion was spent on the Port Harcourt refinery, interrogation and possible prosecution of Mele Kyari, dismissed board members, and other NNPCL executives found culpable, and a legislative oversight hearing to ensure transparency requirements for the newly appointed NNPCL board.
The National Transparency Network expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, commending his commitment to reforming Nigeria.
However, they emphasized that reform without accountability is merely cosmetic and urged the President to act swiftly to address the situation.
They called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Assembly, and the Presidency to act swiftly and without delay to investigate and prosecute those involved in the alleged financial malfeasance.
The CSOs believe that a proper investigation, followed by judicial action, will send a strong message that Nigeria is ready to conduct business within the parameters of accountability.
The statement added: “Firstly, we must draw attention to the previously mentioned staggering sum of $1.5 billion earmarked for the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries. Nigerians were led to believe that these funds, allocated by the Buhari-led administration in 2021, were intended for a comprehensive overhaul.
“However, to the shock and dismay of the public, not only were these funds entirely expended on just one refinery, but the said refinery turned out to be non-functional, failing to meet even the most basic industrial standards expected of such an investment.
“Such fiscal mismanagement should have been the subject of a rigorous criminal investigation involving all national and international parties implicated in this debacle.
“Yet, under President Tinubu’s administration, the silenced voices of Nigerians are being amplified, demanding answers to critical questions: Where did these huge funds disappear to? Why was the initial plan of rehabilitating two refineries abandoned without justification?
“Who are those responsible for this national capture of our resources? Moreover, this treacherous act defies logic and prudence. The dissipation of such a colossal sum with no concrete outcome or accountability speaks volumes about the Kyari-led administration.
“Despite false reports of a ‘mechanical completion’ the Port Harcourt refinery has yet to deliver refined products to Nigeria and Nigerians. On behalf of Nigerians, we ask: What was the essence of this prodigious spending? Where are the contractors? Can we see the audit trails? Finally, what role did Kyari’s NNPCL leadership play in enabling or facilitating this dereliction of duty against the nation?
“Perhaps even more alarming is the unresolved scandal surrounding the disappearance, or rather the misallocation, of over 89 million barrels of crude oil to non-state actors. While many view this as a case of mismanagement, we see it as an enormous economic sabotage of the highest order.
“It is an undeniable fact that Nigerians deserve to know who authorized such transfers, who the beneficiaries are, and why no arrests have been made to date. The absence of accountability concerning this monumental loss is a disgrace to the stature of leadership and a great threat to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.
“Nigerians will not tolerate another phase of misappropriation and concealment. We appeal to the media to amplify this call and maintain pressure on the authorities. Likewise, we urge all stakeholders and groups to lend their voices to this cause for a better Nigeria. It is only through our collective vigilance that the heart of our nation can be preserved from kleptomaniac interests.
“Otherwise, our collective silence will embolden corrupt actors to continue their plundering of our national resources. The situation at the NNPCL is symptomatic of a deeper malaise that must be uprooted if Nigeria is to fulfill its economic potential. The NNPCL $1.5 billion refinery debacle is not just a case of wasted funds; it is a national emergency that demands immediate and thorough redress. “
The most remarkable and halcyon spectacle of good governance in the present Republic is unarguably the government of Enugu State under the watch of Dr Peter Mbah. Ndi’Enugu are clearly unanimous in the praise and appreciation of the commitment of their Governor to make real the promises of democracy.
The Peter Mbah led government has redefined governance in so many ways that every so often the trophy cabinet of the State government calls for regular review and rework as monstrous accolades stream in almost on a daily basis. Enugu State has become the lead example of exemplary and servant oriented leadership. And Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is without an ounce of doubt a homo sequentum.
Have you googled Enugu State to see the remarkable strides in Agriculture? Have you searched the internet to see the monstrous strides in Infrastructural Development? Have you heard of the unassailable commitment of the Enugu State Government to the protection of lives and property? Have you heard of the Digitalised Control Centre that works for seamless synergy between Security Agencies in the State? Have you seen the beautiful Smart Schools that define the commitment of the Enugu State Government to Education? Have you read about the monumental investment of Enugu State in Healthcare, and the Healthcare Centres springing up across the Wards in Enugu State?
Have you seen the Cargo Wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport targeted at opening new frontiers for business? Have you seen the ongoing International Conference Centre and the Five Star Hotel project, with the profound intention of making Enugu State the go-to destination for Business, and for leisure? Have you seen the commitment of the State to Arts, Culture and Tourism? Have you seen the resurgence of Pipe Borne Water in Enugu State, and are you aware that no State in Nigeria comes near Enugu State in the restoration of Pipe Borne Water? Have you seen the level of work on both urban and rural roads that has turned Enugu State into a huge construction site? And have you seen the olympic strides of the State government in Skill Acquisition, Human Capital Development, and Empowerment? Do you think that the popular refrain THE FUTURE IS HERE is masturbatory? Folks, without a shade of equivocation Enugu State is the lucid manifestation of the greatness that responsible and responsive leadership engenders.
Within the past 6 months the Enugu State Government have been first in almost every parameter and sector of governance. Peter Mbah has been Governor of the Year. Enugu State has led the pack in Infrastructural development. Enugu State tops the chart in Healthcare, in Education, and in the commitment to the Security of lives and property. Yes, laudable laurels and trophies litter the Enugu tapestry, thanks to the unalterable commitment of the Governor to make Enugu State profoundly better than he met it.
The awesome strides of the Peter Mbah led government of Enugu State are so manifest that even the fiercest opponent of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in the 2023 contestation for the high office of Governor, Barrister Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party has returned to the Governor’s Party, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP. And in doing so, Edeoga was emphatic about the great strides of the Peter Mbah led government. Edeoga was forthright in his call for Ndi’Enugu to support ‘the man who knows the way’, and ‘to stand with the man whose commitment to an Enugu State that works for all is without blemish.’
Edeoga’s return to the PDP and his profound testimony about the man that is consistently Making A Difference MAD in Enugu State enamours; and very striking however is the recent endorsement of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah by the leaders of Nsukka Community, and take note that Nsukka is arguably the largest voter demography in Enugu State.
In endorsing and applauding the Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah led administration, the Nsukka Leaders noted that they are overwhelmed by the strides of the government in Infrastructural Development, in Healthcare, in Education, in Urban and Rural Development, in Skill Acquisition and Human Capital Development, and in improving the general well-being of Ndi’Enugu.
Need I tell you that as the endorsements stream in, the humble People’s Governor of Enugu State has remained focused, Unfazed and committed to the promises that he made to Ndi’Enugu during the 2023 campaign season. To Governor Peter Mbah there is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off. And he is unwilling to allow the blinding lights of sycophants and Court-jesters derail his vision and dream of an Enugu State that meets the standards of a highly progressive world. To Peter Mbah The FUTURE IS HERE.
And to all advocates of good governance and servant oriented leadership I commend the watchman in the saddle at the Government House in Enugu, knowing that when in unison we applaud all vistas of good governance on our political kaleidoscope, we shall be redefining thereto the moral and ideological minimums of leadership in Nigeria.
To Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah a heart of love and admiration. And to Ndi’Enugu I say, The Future Is Here.
Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr
Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVT.
A Good Governance Advocacy Group.