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Monday 4 March 2019

NIGERIA OVERTAKES EGYPT AS LARGEST RICE PRODUCER IN AFRICA

Nigeria has overtaken Egypt as the largest rice producer in Africa, Director-General,Africa Rice Center, Benin Republic, Dr Harold Roy-Macauley has said .

Roy-Macauley, revealed that Nigeria is now the largest rice producer at 4 million tonnes a year.

Egypt was producing 4.3 tonnes annually but production has reduced by almost 40 percent this year, attributed to the Egyptian government decision to limit cultivated to preserve water resources.

Egypt rice cultivation requires about 1.8 billion metres of water in evaporation, transpiration and irrigation each year.

Africa produces an average of 14.6 million tonnes of rough rice annually.

He said there were efforts to increase overall rice production in Africa but expressed doubts that it will curb rice importation as population has increased across the continent.

He said consumers are looking for rice that safe and certified.

To meet expectations, he said his centre is ready to partner with Nigeria and other governments in Africa to train farmers, extension officers and exporters on best practice’s in cultivation and post- harvest care and to understand market requirements.

Roy- Macauley stressed the African rice value chain needs to be better integrated and be capable of competing with imported rice in terms of quality.

He added that the goal to achieving rice self- sufficiency is not just about on farm assistance but also involves introducing rice varieties that fit the diverse African agro-ecologies, improve irrigation facilities and disseminate rice growing techniques to farmers.

ABONNEMA KILLINGS: EX-MINISTER GRAHAM-DOUGLAS URGES FG TO EVALUATE, PUNISH CULPRITS AND THEIR SPONSORS

Alabo TOG

A four-time minister of the federation, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, has appealed to the Federal government to carry out a critical evaluation of the attacks on the Nigerian military and the attendant killings on Saturday, February 23, during the presidential and National Assembly elections in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Graham-Douglas, who is also a monarch in Abonnema town, made the call when he spoke in Port Harcourt, on the heels of tension in the area, which has forced some residents to flee their homes.

He noted an influx of suspected militants in the community ahead of the last presidential and National Assembly polls, urging the Federal government to investigate who invited the hoodlums into the area and provided them with sophisticated weapons.

The former Minister of Aviation, Labour, Sports, Culture, and Tourism also said that reports available showed that over 30 persons were killed during the botched polls in the area. He said: “The Abonnema situation, which now concerns the Federal government, should be used to resolve multiple inquisitions, namely: ‘who hired the large numbers of militants and brought them to Abonnema?

“Who provided the sophisticated weapons, like the AK-47 to those militants that came into Abonnema? Who accommodated them in Abonnema? Who were the political leaders and actors in the community who aided and abated the opposing political youths? Which of the groups actually confronted the law enforcement agencies on the day of the elections? he asked rhetorically.

“What happened during the presidential and National Assembly elections in Abonnema was very unfortunate. There was massive importation of hoodlums. Where did they come from?”

He frowned that militancy had become a profession in the Niger Delta, and urged security agencies to nip the culture in the bud.

He, however, advised Rivers people to be peaceful and vote on Saturday according to their conscience.

DEEP BLUE ENERGY SERVICES LIMITED (DBESL) JOB RECRUITMENT (6 POSITIONS)

Deep Blue Energy Services Limited (DBESL), is a resource and solution management company that specializes in assisting international/Local companies in identifying Potential market opportunities, assisting with permits, sourcing highly skilled employees, bidding on and negotiating contracts and navigating the often complex political and policy environment of many sub Saharan African countries.

We are recruiting to fill the following positions below:

1.) Sales Engineer

Location: Lagos

Deadline: 4th March, 2019.

Monday 4 March 2019

Saturday 2 March 2019