Niger Delta - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Tosin Kolade
Apr, Sat, 2025

LIFE-ND begins project in 3 states

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By Felicia Imohimi

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project has commenced the implementation of an agri-entrepreneurship initiative across Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Imo states.

Dr Abiodun Sanni, the National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja.

His statement followed a sensitisation and inspection tour by project officials.

Sanni identified the three states as part of those funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

He emphasised that implementation has begun with community sensitisation and the identification of both incubators and incubatees in the participating states.

According to him, the sensitisation aims to create awareness within the communities and instil a sense of ownership.

He noted that the exercise involved engaging community members and leaders, as well as identifying potential incubators (trainers) and incubatees (trainees) in the respective Local Government Areas.

“This sensitisation exercise creates a background to the next exercise, which is profiling of potential incubators and incubatees who are the key players in the LIFE-ND incubation model.

“This model takes it roots from the traditional master-apprenticeship system popularly practised in the eastern region of Nigeria.

“The set target is that each state is expected to empower 4,250 beneficiaries and there is a deliberate effort at ensuring gender balance is achieved,” he said.

Sanni explained that the identified beneficiaries would be profiled and that prospective incubators and incubatees would subsequently be selected.

“In terms of commodity focus, Akwa Ibom will prioritise cassava, oil palm, poultry, and aquaculture; Imo will focus on cassava, rice, poultry, and aquaculture; while Rivers will target cassava, plantain, poultry, and aquaculture.

“The overall goal of the LIFE-ND project is to realise a transformed rural economy in the Niger Delta from which the rural population can derive prosperity and equal benefit.

“The project development objective is to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women through agri-enterprise development on a sustainable basis in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria”.

The LIFE-ND project, a joint initiative of the Federal Government and IFAD, officially began on February 21, 2019.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) serves as the lead implementing agency, while NDDC acts as a partner in delivering the project across the nine Niger Delta states.

The project is targeting a total of 38,250 beneficiaries across Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers states.

Sanni clarified that IFAD is funding six of the states; Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Ondo, while the remaining three are funded by NDDC.

He further noted that the project includes an initial six-year phase with parallel funding from NDDC, and an additional six years under future IFAD financing.

According to Sanni, “IFAD has released 60 million US dollars in the first which has enabled the implementation of the project in the six states of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo from 2019 to 2025.

“NDDC funded states commenced implementation in 2024 when its made the initial commitment of 2.5 million dollars in August 2024 and another 2.5 million dollars in Jan. 2025. The said amount will enable the three states swing into full implementation”.

Meanwhile, on the ground in Imo State, stakeholders are already witnessing the impact of the project.

Mr Mbaeyi Emeka, an incubator and owner of Prince Mbaeyi Emeka Farm in Obollo Autonomous Community, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, commended the LIFE-ND intervention.

Emeka recounted that he had previously operated as a subsistence cassava farmer before joining the project.

Now, he proudly identifies as a full-fledged commercial farmer.

“I advise youth and women indulging in cassava production to be dedicated. If you can endure for one year when the cassava has matured, you will realise bumper harvest, self-sustaining economically and employer of labour.

“There is money in farming, especially cassava.

“When l came back from Italy after spending four years l went into farming which is profitable.

“So, l advise people to be courageous and go into farming especially cassava production rather than waiting time in expectation of civil service and oil job that is not available,” he said.

Similarly, Mrs Ifeoma Njoku, an incubatee under Mbaeyi Farms, described cassava farming as a lucrative venture.

She encouraged other women to take advantage of the LIFE-ND project to improve their livelihoods and boost household incomes.

She praised the project for alleviating the struggles of the less privileged.

Also, Mr Young-man Soseipiri, Assistant Farm Manager at Petros Poultry Farms in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, said the initiative had provided an opportunity to train incubatees in broiler and layer production. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Tosin Kolade
Apr, Thu, 2025

General News

FG to enhance rural infrastructure in Niger Delta- First Lady

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By Shedrack Frank

First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has assured that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to delivering accessible and affordable infrastructure to rural communities in the Niger Delta region.

She said this during the inauguration of access to health insurance services for poor and vulnerable people and the commissioning of the Cottage Hospital and Community School.

The event was organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative in Otuasega, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa on Thursday.

She added that the Federal Government was focused on significantly aiding in saving lives and ensuring that communities received prompt medical attention when needed, to reduce the health mortality rate in the country.

The First Lady also inaugurated the commencement of the NDDC 2025 free medical outreach and the donation of medical equipment to some health facilities in the region.

Tinubu explained that the introduction of a health insurance scheme, specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta, would provide thousands of families with access to affordable and reliable medical care.

“I am honoured to be in Bayelsa State after my first visit, and it is a great delight for me to officially inaugurate the NDDC medical outreach programme.

“The health insurance scheme and the distribution of school desks, benches, and textbooks, in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative, will benefit the nine states of the Niger Delta region, namely: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Abia, and Ondo.”

“Bayelsa is graciously hosting us today.”

She further explained that the NDDC/RHI collaboration began in 2024 to provide further support in critical areas of development by empowering communities.

According to her, this will improve the quality of life in the Niger Delta region, in line with our Renewed Hope Initiative model for a better life for families.

“You may recall that the NDDC’s earlier interventions in education provided more than 45,000 preloaded educational tablets and textbooks to upper primary schools, junior, and senior secondary school students.

“These resources were distributed in both urban and rural communities across all the NDDC states.

“Additionally, the NDDC-RHI internship scheme has begun disbursing N50,000 monthly stipends to 500 pre-identified beneficiaries for one year in all nine states, through the office of the state First Ladies.

“This is akin to a conditional cash transfer.

“Today, the medical outreach programme, which I am told is conducted quarterly, aims to deliver special health services directly to the communities.”

The First Lady said it would address common health issues, provide preventive care, and raise awareness about health concerns that disproportionately affected rural residents, particularly in maternal and child health.

She said in addition, 11 fully equipped ambulances would be donated, along with the supply of personal protective equipment to enhance healthcare delivery.

“Each NDDC state will receive one ambulance, while Bayelsa and Delta will each receive two ambulances.

“This contribution will significantly aid in saving lives and ensure that communities receive prompt medical attention when needed.

“The introduction of the health insurance scheme specifically designed to cover rural communities in the Niger Delta will provide thousands of families with access to affordable and reliable medical care,”she said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said that the essence of the partnership between the Renewed Hope Initiative and NDDC was to ensure the commission delivered the dividends of development in the areas of health, education, and other social services.

He emphasised that these efforts particularly focused on benefiting women, children, and youth in the Niger Delta region.

He further stated that for the past month, NDDC has been commissioning road projects in the region, initiated by the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu.

On his part, Gov. Douye Diri expressed his appreciation to the Federal Government for several developmental projects executed in Bayelsa, especially the linking of roads to some coastal communities.(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Philip Daniel Yatai
Feb, Sat, 2025

Environment

Senate committee seeks sustainable policies to tackle climate change

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By Naomi Sharang

The Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged the implementation of proactive and sustainable policies to address climate change in West Africa.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong, made the call when members of C7 West Africa Project Consortium paid him a visit in Abuja on Friday.

Ekpenyong noted that one of the most pressing challenges that must be addressed was the growing threat of climate change.

“To tackle it effectively, we need a comprehensive understanding of its impact on the Niger Delta.

“This will enable us to craft and implement policies that are not just reactive but proactive and sustainable”.

He lamented that decades of oil exploration had caused severe environmental damages to the region, with rising sea levels, flooding, and erratic weather patterns displacing communities and threatening livelihoods.

According to him, these challenges also contribute to the spread of diseases, further straining an already overstretched public health system.

“Moreover, the connection between environmental degradation and social unrest is undeniable.

“To achieve lasting peace, we must first address these root causes.

“However, our response must be guided by reliable data. Without it, our interventions risk being inadequate or misdirected,” he said.

In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, retired Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi, said that the phenomenon of climate change was an existential reality and a threat to the global system.

He said this was evident in the growing crisis across the world, the Sahel region, Northern Nigeria through desertification and the South South of Nigeria as seasonal floods wreaked havoc in its trail.

“Climate change is therefore altering the security landscapes around the world.

“West Africa is experiencing climate change at rates faster than the global average, leading to violent conflicts and complex humanitarian emergencies.

“Nigeria is already having much more than its fair share of this global phenomenon due to its continued impact on natural resource availability, biodiversity and agricultural productivity among others”.

Abdullahi called for research, mitigation and adaptation efforts “we have had to embark on over the past three years to enhance resilience leading to our policy brief. (NAN)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki and Kevin Okunzuwa