Niger Delta region and NDDC’s agricultural initiatives

SIR: For many years, there exist a veiled agreement that one of the perverse and unintended consequences of the discovery of oil in Nigeria is that governments have almost completely abandoned agriculture in the mad quest for petrol dollars. The nation is a mono-economy, depending on the volatile fortunes of oil. Added to this governance failure is the further deterioration in agricultural fortunes caused by oil pollution. Thereby, oil pollution becomes an indirect violation of the right to life, even as it is a violation of the right to a safe and habitable environment.

In view of the above ecological challenge, many environmental analysts have in the past argued that it will be futile to hope that investment of inputs and skills into the sector will boost food supply in rural communities without first addressing adverse oil operation activities. Environmental regulations, they added, must be enforced in order to aid rural development. To others, the first step is for the government to recognise that destruction of agricultural prospects in rural communities through irresponsible oil operations is an indirect violation of the right to life and the right to a safe environment, and also a negation of the policy of economic diversification.

In fact, greater chunk of concerned Niger Deltans were of the view that the federal and state governments should take practical steps to empower communities to protect their environment through policies and legislations that obligate oil companies to apply best practices and grant communities the right to determine how and when oil operations are compatible with human conditions in the communities. They concluded.

In the face of all these conflicting arguments and inordinate postulations, Niger Delta youths waited patiently for a leadership that will offer a sustainable roadmap for inventing the agricultural sector in the region, to create employment and guarantee food security for the people of the region and beyond.
  
The above understanding fully explains the perception by stakeholder, as a right step taken in the right direction, the recent decision by Barrister Chiedu Ebie leadership of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to move beyond rhetoric via its project HOPE’ initiative, and create youth employment opportunities, especially in agriculture through support to small-holder farmers in order to ensure operational growth while shifting from traditional to mechanised farming methods.

“The Niger Delta region because of the arable wetlands, rainfalls and other favourable ecological factors, is in a better position to plant various crops and vegetables at least four times within a farming season. We are trying to move away from the oil economy and the sector which can accommodate our youths in large numbers is the agricultural sector.”

Essentially, in my view, aside from confirming as true the age long belief that every leadership of an institution develops a culture of their own and the success or failure of such an institution is closely tied to that culture.

There are glaring reasons that characterise the present move Ebie-led board and management, to support job creation for the youth through agricultural initiatives in the region, as not only welcoming but loaded with leadership lessons for other public office holders in the country to internalise.

Good means of transportation,  as we know,  will contribute to lower food prices through its impact on the operation of the market, increase the welfare of households and improve food security, increase trade, lead to lower prices and lower price dispersion, and offer farmers incentives to commercialise while leading to a reduction in price competition.

Jerome-Mario Utomi is the programme coordinator (Media and Public Policy), at Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos.