Restructuring: Jonathan, Dickson, Top Ijaw Leaders Call For Sincere Implementation Of Apc Report

Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (right) explains a point to former President Goodluck Jonathan (left) during a high level consultative meeting of Ijaw leaders in Yenagoa. Photo by Lucky Francis

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, on Thursday led a high powered delegation of Ijaw leaders to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to deliberate on the All Progressives Congress Committee’s report on Restructuring. 

Jonathan, the Governor and the top Ijaw leaders called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to be sincere with the implementation of the recommendations of the party’s committee led by Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State.

The former President and the group said that, a holistic and sincere implementation of the recommendations of the report on restructuring would encourage inter-ethnic harmony and development in the country.

A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor Dickson on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, on Thursday quoted Jonathan as having said that, the issues which fell under the purview of the committee were exhaustively treated during the 2014 National Conference whose sincere implementation would definitely move the nation forward.

He said that, it was a good idea that the APC was able to set up a committee to look into the same grey areas, which featured prominently in the deliberations of the 2014 Conference.

Jonathan commended Governor Dickson for playing the leadership role of coordinating the thoughts of the Ijaw people on the sensitive issue of restructuring.

He said that the Governor must be appreciated for ensuring that the Ijaw Nation did not speak with discordant tones on the issue of restructuring.

He stressed that he was pleased that Governor Dickson was performing the leadership role in accordance with his expectations by coordinating the Ijaw Nation on the topical issue.

He said, “I am pleased with the caliber of people who came with the Governor to brief me on the issue of the recommendations of the APC Committee on restructuring.

“I must say that I am happy with the role being played by the Governor on this issue of restructuring. Ethnic nationalities must not speak with discordant tones on such pertinent issues. I am pleased that Dickson is coordinating the Ijaw Nation.

“I am also pleased that the APC set up a committee to look into the grey areas to come up with these recommendations. When we were in government, we came up with a confab and several issues were addressed which if sincerely implemented would encourage relationship in the country. A sincere implementation of the recommendations on these grey areas will make the country to move forward.”

Speaking also, Governor Dickson said that, he led the delegation of the Ijaw leaders to the former President on a consultative meeting and to brief him on the steps the Ijaws had taken to build bridges of understanding in the pursuits of what is right in the country.

He explained that, the meeting focused on the issue of restructuring and the moves being made to bring about a just, fair and egalitarian Nigerian society.

Dickson noted that, the recommendations contained in the report of the APC committee were the same as those contained in the 2014 National confab.

He said, “As you all can see, this is a high-powered delegation of Ijaw elders and leaders from all the zones from Ijaw nation. I am leading them to meet and consult with our respected leader, the former President and also to brief him on steps we are taking; steps we will continue to take to unify our people to build bridges of understanding and to support all that is right and good, not only in this region, but across the nation.

“As you are aware, there is a raging issue of restructuring and moves made to bring about a fairer, egalitarian, stable and prosperous Nigeria. And here, in this state and in this region, we are proud to have our leader, the former President and so today we came to brief him about the steps we are taking to study all the reports, including, the reports of the 2014 Confab which was rightly empanelled by Mr. President and it is gratifying to note a number of the recommendations given by the APC panel are the same conclusions that the 2014 Confab arrived at.”

The meeting was a follow up to an earlier meeting of top Ijaw leaders at Kiagbodo, the country home of Pa Edwin Clark on January 20, 2018.

The meeting, which had in attendance, the Governor of Bayelsa, Pa Clark, Alabo Graham Douglas affirmed that the 2019 general elections would be a referendum on restructuring across Ijaw land.

The meeting also called on President Buhari and the APC to ensure that the recommendations contained the report of the APC Committee on restructuring were sincerely implemented. 

NIGERIA SET TO BENEFIT FROM DEEP SEA MINING – DR. DAKUKU ...seeks support on capacity building

Dr. DAKUKU PETERSIDE, NIMASA DG

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that Nigeria is set to benefit from the deep sea mining through effective harnessing of the opportunities by working with the International Seabed Authority (ISBA).

The NIMASA DG who made this known at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) held in Kingston, Jamaica said that irrespective of the numerous resources in Nigeria, there was the need to work more closely with the ISBA in the area of seabed resources exploration.

Dr. Peterside who led the Nigerian Delegation to the event commended ISBA on its role in the optimal utilization of seabed resources among maritime stakeholders and solicited for assistance in the area of capacity building to survey deep sea and establish data base of mineral resources available for the benefit of all mankind. 

He stated further that the Federal Government is currently developing policies that will aid the harnessing of seabed resources and will be working closely with the ISBA.

According to Dr. Peterside, "the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Transportation is developing a country blue economy policy and strategy which will incorporate the sustainable development of the country's deep seabed resources".

Speaking further, he said at the moment the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic office has been undertaking hydrographic survey and charting of our maritime area, and added that in the same vein NIMASA is working with Nigerian Navy to effectively enforce the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea and other relevant international maritime instruments to which we are a party around our continental shelf. 

He also noted that, while seeking exploitation of the mineral resources within the Seabed off our national maritime jurisdiction, marine environment preservation and protection will continue to be given top priority.

Dr. Dakuku used the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Michael Lodge of the United Kingdom on his appointment as Secretary General of ISBA Council and Eugenio Joao Muianga of Mozambique on his election as President of the Authority's 23rd session. 

He added that Africa is proud of the feat of Eugenio Joao Muianga and pledged that Nigeria is ready to cooperate with and support the work of the Authority while looking forward to benefiting from available opportunities. 

The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Authority, which has its headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, came into existence on 16 November 1994, upon the entry into force of the 1982 Convention and as at July 25, 2016 it has 168 member countries of which Nigeria is one.

Anambra Moves To Start Rice Export By 2018

Jude Nwankwo, the acting programme manager of agricultural development programme (ADP), Anambra, says plans are underway to commence export of rice from the state in 2018.

Nwankwo disclosed this in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Awka.

“By the grace of God, Anambra will commence rice export after our harvest this year,” he said.

He assured that the state will produce more than 500,000 tonnes of rice in the 2017 harvest year based on projections from the field.

He said that the figure would be 300, 000 higher than what was recorded in 2016.

“In 2016, we projected 180, 000 metric tonnes of rice, but we surpassed it by 20, 000. In 2017 our target is to produce 500, 000 metric tonness of rice, but the information from the field indicates that the figure will even go higher again,” he said.

He said that more rice farmers were being supported by government to cultivate rice in Orumba north, Ayame­lum, Awka north, Anam­bra east and Anambra west local government areas and other communities across the state.

“We distributed hybrid FERO 44 rice, maize, cassava and yam to farmers, in addition to huge support the state gave to vegetable farmers who already are exporting pumpkin and bitter leaf to markets in America and Europe.”

NAN reports that many communities in Anambra such as Owusi, Omasi, Omor, Ifite-Og­wari, Enugu-Abo, Ufuma and Umuekete-Aguleri, among others have enormous potentials for commercial rice farming.

Nwankwo said a more cheering development in the state was that more youths especially graduates are now showing serious interest and passion in farming due to evident prospect in commercial agricultural ventures.

“In Anambra now, the involvement of youths in agriculture is affecting rural/urban migration. Hardly do I spend up to one hour in my office without receiving youths coming to ascertain how they can establish one agricultural venture or another.

“The state currently has more than 2, 000 registered Farmers Cooperative Societies and many jobs and wealth are being created in the sector in the state,” he said.

The Anambra ADP boss noted that the state is practicing e-agriculture which enables information on agricultural activities to be easily generated and transmitted to the state agricultural data unit.

On meteorological agency (NiMet) prediction that Anambra will be among states to record flooding which may lead to poor harvest, Nwankwo allayed the fears, insisting that it would not affect plants in the area.

“We already have the records of communities with high risk for flooding; our agricultural extension officers guided farmers from such locations to strictly adhere to agricultural calendar.

“And so farmers in these places like Ogbaru and FADAMA communities would have harvested their crops before the flooding will occur this time,” Nwankwo noted.

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