By David Owei, Baylesa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has again appealed to the Federal Government to make good its promise of supporting the state in developing the Agge Deep Seaport.

Gov Douye Diri of Baylesa state

Governor Diri, made the appeal at the flag-off of the Marine Safety Sensitization and Distribution of Life Jackets for Inland Water Travels at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, at the weekend.

Represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the governor described the Agge Seaport project as a gateway to regional and international trade that would be of immense benefit to the state and the country at large.

Governor Diri, who assured the federal government of his administration’s commitment to actualising the project, called for effective collaboration from all critical stakeholders including development partners.

His words:” We are happy that you have spoken profusely about the Agge Deep Seaport. But we will be happier if all of us work together in pursuing this endeavour to its completion and use.

“We need complementation and not competition; collaboration and not confrontation because we believe that it is in collaborating and complementing each other that we can achieve the Agge Deep Seaport project

“The Agge Deep Seaport is not only important to Bayelsa. It will not only open the gateway to Bayelsa, but also open the gateway to the Nigerian economy in several ways.”

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for selecting Bayelsa as one of the inaugural states for the marine safety initiative.

The Bayelsa Governor urged the people of the state, particularly boat drivers and their passengers to be more safety conscious by always making use of the life jackets, describing safety as a collective endeavour.

According to him, “I call upon all stakeholders-traditional institutions, transport unions, community leaders and security agencies to collaborate with us. Safety is a collective endeavour, and development is a shared pursuit.

“A life jacket is not a hindrance, but a lifesaver. It’s your protection, your safeguard. Wear it, encourage others to do the same, and let us cultivate a culture where safety is valued as a strength, not stigmatized as a weakness.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, acknowledged the Diri-led prosperity administration’s alignment with the federal government’s vision on marine economy.

Chief Oyetola pledged the federal government’s commitment towards the actualisation of the Agge Deep Seaport project to engender job creation, economic development and attract local and foreign investments to the Niger Delta region and beyond.

He said: Your Excellency, Governor Douye Diri, I wish to commend your unwavering support for this initiative and your administration’s alignment with the broader Marine and Blue Economy vision of the Federal Government. Your commitment to the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport is both timely and visionary.

“Let me briefly underscore what the Agge Deep Seaport means — not just for Bayelsa, but for Nigeria as a whole. This port will serve as a major maritime gateway in the South-South, facilitating international trade, reducing congestion at existing ports, creating jobs, boosting local and foreign investment, and accelerating economic development in the Niger Delta and beyond.”

In a goodwill message, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, called on the federal government to establish marine safety corps to make the nation’s waterways safer and more secure.

Highpoint of the ceremony which had in attendance, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and several government officials, including the Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Faith Zibs-Godwin, was the flagg off and distribution of safety materials.

By Abdul Ganiyyi Akanbi-Abuja

Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria, NOAN, has called for the promotion of the organic agriculture system for sustainable food system and human health for nutritional and environmental benefits.

President of the association, Jude Obi, who made the call during the opening ceremony of the Technical Workshop, Organic Fair and Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the theme: “Innovative Organic Food Systems for Sustainable National Development” held in Ikeja, Lagos State, expressed happiness that many people desired to live and eat organic, but lamented that few are willing to propagate, practice and advocate organic.

Obi said there’s hardship in every sphere of life, increased incidents of strange ailments, diseases and deaths, poverty, and unemployment in the country, but affirmed that “production of healthy and qualify food is imperative for the livelihood of the citizenry.”

He pointed out that the achievement of food security is not without sustainability which environmental degradation and climate injustice will exacerbate requiring ingenious, concerted and coordinated approach.

“It is important to note that organic agriculture and agroecology is the easiest means of distorting circle of poverty because of its characteristics and long value chain.

“Emergence of organic agriculture and agroecology inspires a vista for sustainable living. It is enshrined in creativity ‘innovation’. Hence, the ability to conceive, develop, deliver, and scale products, services, processes, and business models is emphasized to engender best practices in organic agriculture.

“These can thrive in the presence of properly developed market with great opportunities. The roles of policy and regulatory frameworks remains indispensable to achieving these lofty objectives for organic agriculture and agroecology.

“The hallmark of the principles, practices and advocacy in organic agriculture and agroecology is to ensure sustainable food system and human health for nutritional and environmental benefits.

“These could be achieved through the collective process that empowers small holder farmers and rural communities, emphasizing and popularizing urban production without diminishing post harvest handling. The combination these processes targets achievement of food security and probably sovereignty,” he stressed.

The NOAN President disclosed that Lagos was chosen for the programme that has been held in different geopolitical zones because of its population, market, networking, policy, advocacy and signaling the readiness of the association to change the dynamics of the food and nutrition system for improved health and sustainable environment.

He added that establishing the foothold of the association in Lagos, being the commercial and financial nerve centre of the Nigeria, attracting major corporations, financial institutions, and businesses, driving a significant portion of its economic output and foreign investment, is another way of setting the tone for significant growth and development of organic agriculture and agroecology in the country.