Obi made this remarks while speaking on “Budgeting and Economic Planning” at the Bayelsa State Government Cabinet Retreat held at Ibom Resort Centre, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Though he described speaking to Bayelsa Government as “preaching to the converted”, but he said such exercise was good from time to time as part of routine evaluation.

He explained how important it is for every individual, organisation and more so, the government to work with clearly defined goals. He said that with a clear vision, the State and the stakeholders in the state would be able to work together to achieve their common goals.

He went further to state that clear vision brings about good planning and budgeting which, he said, were very critical in governance, especially in the management of the scarce economic resources. Obi noted that no government, no matter how prosperous it appears, has enough economic resources to achieve their goals. But with good economic planning, one can prioritise and maximise the scarce resources.

On the inevitability of borrowing, he advised: “You do not borrow to support a budget, but you borrow to support a project. Many nations across the world borrow to make their economy better. Singapore’s debt to GDP ratio today is 120%. Japan has a debt to GDP ratio of 200%, while the United States of America have 100%. These are all prosperous nations with obvious debts. Investing in productive ventures is what differentiates their debts from ours that are consumed rather than invested.”

The former Governor of Anambra urged Bayelsa Government to prioritise support for small businesses as a way of poverty eradication. He opined that a booming private sector will ensure reduction in unemployment resulting in reduction of crime.

As a way of improving the local economy, Obi advised the government to always patronise local manufacturers. He recounted how he, as the Governor of Anambra State, bought over 1,000 vehicles from Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing paying about N5 billion. He however, expressed joy that today, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing contributes not just to state economy but to national economy, with a workforce of over 7,000 individuals.

He finally encouraged the State Executive Team to continue to work together as a team for the good of the people of Bayelsa. In his words, “Every plan, budget and policy must be geared towards improving the life of every Bayelsa indigene. You are not in entertainment business so don’t expect to make everyone happy, but deliver good governance to the people. That is what they truly need from you.”

Present at the event were Bayelsa State Governor, Sen Duoye Diri; Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; honourable commissioners of Bayelsa State; heads of service and agencies.

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According to its Agro Geo-Cooperative® (AGC) model, NIRSAL Plc structured the farmers into a group which was aptly named the Uyo Women Agro Geo-Cooperative. Thereafter, the 475 female farmers were trained on Good Agronomic Practices and received various inputs for their use. In addition, all 478 hectares of land will be mechanized throughout the planting season to enhance yields & profits and eliminate the drudgery of farming with crude implements.

Furthermore, members of the Uyo Women AGC will receive finance through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) for which NIRSAL Plc is playing a critical role as a Participating Financial Institution (PFI) in ensuring that the CBN’s and indeed the Federal Government’s developmental and economic diversification goals are met.

To officialize activities, NIRSAL Plc flagged-off the distribution of inputs to the farmers during a ceremony held at Anang People Primary School, Obio Ndot, Oruk Anam LGA of Akwa Ibom State where Mrs. Theresa Thompson Akpan, the President of the Uyo Women AGC, described the CBN’s support through NIRSAL as a milestone in enhancing cassava production in the state.

She tasked farmers under the Uyo Women AGC to embrace NRSAL Plc’s approach of farming as a business in order to move from peasant farming to sustainable agribusiness. She thanked NIRSAL Plc for harnessing the female farmers’ potential and for its continued support of agribusiness in Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking through Helen Akula, the Head of NIRSAL Plc’s Akwa Ibom State Project Monitoring, Reporting and Remediation Office (PMRO), Aliyu Abdulhameed, the organization’s Managing Director/CEO, noted that NIRSAL Plc’s support of Uyo Women AGC will not only empower the 475 farmers of the AGC but will create jobs for many families in the community, thereby achieving NIRSAL Plc’s mission of forging partnerships between finance and agriculture while achieving food security, creating jobs and spurring economic growth.

He added that through the ABP, the farmers’ door to commercial financing had been unlocked, thereby paving the way for a better-quality life. He however reminded the farmers that “the input you received today is not a grant but a loan that must be paid back for other farmers to also benefit from. I have faith in you all that together as a team every kobo will be repaid with ample profit left in the bank for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour.”

Also speaking at the event, Desmond Ushe, the Acting Head of the CBN’s Akwa Ibom State Development Finance Office, noted that with the integration of NIRSAL’s AGC concept, risks will be reduced significantly, and the participation of farmers in the ABP would be boosted.

Ushe solicited for sincerity and commitment from the farmers to match that of Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the CBN, whom he said possesses the utmost passion for the ABP and for economic growth through agriculture.

The event in Akwa Ibom fits into NIRSAL Plc’s regional and nationwide support for farmers under the ABP. A total of 2,872 rice, maize and cassava farmers belonging to Uyo Women AGC, Pemo Anegbette AGC, Upalibuisi AGC, Southern Basin AGC, Integrated AGC, Ijeoma Aibiokula AGC, Green Money Initiative AGC and God’s Own AGC are receiving NIRSAL’s support in the South-South states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta while a total of 44,670 farmers cultivating on 68,771 hectares of land are benefiting nationwide.

It may be recalled that rice, maize, cassava, sesame and soybean farmers in Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi states and the FCT were recently positioned for an increase in yields and improvement in livelihoods following NIRSAL Plc’s support for their 2020 wet season farming activities also under the ABP.

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Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, who made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said the president would use the occasion to present the scorecard of the APC administration and its successes on its three cardinal objectives.

This, he said, included security, economy and the fight against corruption.

The APC spokesman said President Buhari would also use the occasion to outline his vision and programmes for Nigerians for the next four years.

“The launch, which signals the commencement of the campaign rallies of our great party for next year’s general elections christened: The Next Level,’ would be attended by the President, and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo” he said.

Issa-Onilu added that the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and its Governors would also attend the event.

He added that members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and its other prominent leaders and members of the National Assembly and top government officials would also be at the event.

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Odion Ighalo wrote his name in gold after scoring three goals, his first hat-trick in the Nigerian colours, before Samuel Kalu scored a beautiful goal to wrap up the game.

The match began straightaway in favour of the Super Eagle as Libyan goalkeeper Mohamed Abdaula fouled Ighalo, who was making his way to scoring, two minutes into the match. The FC Changchun Yatai striker stepped up to convert the awarded penalty, giving Nigeria a very early lead.

Ighalo sought for another penalty in the ninth minute when he fell inside the penalty area of the Libyans after a slight contact with the goalkeeper, but referee Jean-Jacques Ndala waves aside all appeals.

The Nigerians missed many goal scoring chances, leading to the end of the first, and waited for thirteen minutes in the second, before getting their second goal. Alex Iwobi delivered a pass to Ighalo who maintained his composure to dibble the goalkeeper and score his second goal for Nigeria.

Ighalo completed his hat trick ten minutes later after connecting to a cross from Ahmed Musa, found scrabbled the ball past the Libyan defenders and the goalkeeper.

With two minutes to the end of the match, Samuel Kalu got a pass from Henry Onyekuru who had just missed an opportunity to score, and he curled a shot outside the 18-yard box past Mohamed Abdaula.

Libya, whose coach, Adel Amrouche suddenly resigned leading to the battle against Nigeria, leaving Omar Al-Marime to take over, will host Nigeria on Tuesday in Sfax, Tunisia. They now sit third in the group with four points, as against Nigeria in second place with six points after three matches.

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Governor Godswill Akpabio made the call during the 2014 dinner and award night for him as the “Best Governor since the creation of the state” by the League of Newspaper Publishers in the State at the Le’ Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo.

“Avoid tribal-based publications that might tend to divide the state. There must be re-orientation in the profession where total repackaging of the industry must be done. Journalists should tend towards the support of government for the development of the state. I also call on them to be focused in their profession in bringing peace and unity to the society,” Akpabio said.

The governor said he was not deterred by the various negative reports against him in some local tabloids, stressing that he will never lost focus in serving the people.

Akpabio thanked the League of Newspaper Publishers in Akwa Ibom State for the award, adding that the award marked a turning point between the state government and the League.

He noted that his administration has touched the lives of the people without tribal sentiments, and dedicated the award to Akwa Ibom children for witnessing the developmental strides and  promised to continue to support journalists in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Udom Emmanuel, commended  Governor Akpabio for his numerous achievements in the state, stressing that the entire Akwa Ibom people are behind him as a true leader, teacher and father of the new Akwa Ibom.

The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Elder Samuel Ikon commended the Governor for transforming all the constituencies in the state, stating that the State House of Assembly was proud of him, and stressed that the House of Assembly would continue to partner the state government for the progress of the state.

The Chairman of League of Newspaper Publishers,  Akwa Ibom State, Uko Umoh said newspaper publishers were incomplete without the leadership of the state, and explained that their duties as journalists are based on honesty, hinting that a task-force committee has been set up to monitor their reports.

Umoh said the publishers have access to all the achievements of the former Governors of the State and found Governor Akpabio worthy to receive the award.

He commended Akpabio for changing the landscape of the state through high quality infrastructure which he said has made the state a cynosure of all eyes.
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Governor Akpabio, who stated this during his 51st birthday celebrations with the state PDP members at the Party Secretariat, Edet Akpan Avenue, Uyo, remarked that “President Jonathan has positioned our party to bring about peace and to ensure that harmony is achieved in our party so that we could continue to win elections and remain the hope of the ordinary Nigerians on the streets.

“PDP has been a fantastic platform in producing leaders. And it is the PDP that has brought the uncommon transformation of my state. I must thank you all. Things would not have been possible if not for the cooperation in the party and party members,” Akpabio said.

Governor Akpabio said that he very proud of the party and “I must thank you all for making me a model in Nigeria and I must say that all the awards and honours that come my way is because I represent the party well”

The State PDP Chairman, Paul Ekpo said Governor Akpabio has made the party proud by re-positioning the country through the state.

While congratulating the Governor on his 51st birthday, Ekpo described Akpabio as a model man with leadership qualities that has brought a total transformation through good governance to the state, praying God to keep him alive till old age.

Earlier, Akpabio had at a mass at Government House Chapel, Uyo  stated that the aspiration of all men should be to continuously be a source of inspiration to others. “In all my life experiences, God was turning me from furnace to help me shine better because all the life difficulties we face are to enable us to face the challenges ahead and the secret of success is through God. So, I therefore call on everybody to recognize that only partnership with God will make the state flourish”.

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The national president of the group, Ita Udoh, said this on Monday in a statement issued in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital and made available to journalists.

Udoh said that “Oil and Religion are going to be the major issues of the Conference,” even as he praised President Goodluck Jonathan, for setting up the National Dialogue committee.

He said the dialogue will be an opportunity to address the myriad of problems the country is facing. “He said that the challenges, which minorities of the Niger Delta region and the old Benue Plateau are facing, will be resolved through the dialogue,” he said.

He advised traditional rulers, political activists, elites, youth and women from the Niger Delta region to take active part in the proposed conference, stating that the Conference will give birth to a New Nigeria with a New Constitution which majority of Nigerians had longed for.

He called on the Niger Delta governors to order the printing and circulation of Federal Constitutions of 1954, 1957 and 1963 for citizens of the region to study and acquaint themselves with the provisions in the constitutions, particularly the aspects that provides for resource control by the regions.

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Residents of Anua, Nsikan Eduok and Atan Offot on Olusegun Obasanjo Way were mostly affected as some of them lost household items including clothes chairs and beddings.

Some residents of Eniong and Mbiabong Housing Estate said the downpour had destroyed their household items worth millions of naira.

The rain, which started on Monday night, lasted several hours; it submerged many houses and obstructed vehicular movements in some parts of the state capital.

Affiong Udoh, a house wife at Atan Offot village, said in Uyo that she had hectic day salvaging some property from the flood.

She lamented that the rug, refrigerator and other electrical appliances in her house were completely soaked and may not be useful again.

Udoh, who called on the State Government to come to the aid of the residents, blamed the flood on indiscriminate development in the state capital.

Also, the President of Mbiabong Estate Residents Association, Anselm Etuk, said his house was completely submerged by the flood.

Etuk said that flooding was a perennial problem in the estate and appealed to the state government to extend its flood control technology to the area.

Another resident of the estate, Florence Eyo, whose house was submerged, said: “In 2011, I lost all my property and started all over; in 2012, I had the same experience.‚Äù

Eyo said the residents of the estate had been tormented over the years by flood and appealed to the government to come to their aid.

It would be recalled that N13.6 billion had been invested in “pipe jacking flood control technology‚Äô‚Äô by state government.

The Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Enobong Uwah, whose Ministry oversees flood control, did not respond to text messages on measures taken to curb flood in the affected areas.

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