Boosting the fortunes of Niger Delta, by Adewale Kupoluyi

Niger Delta is one of the most volatile regions in our dear country.
Despite the abundant human, natural and material endowments of this important part of Nigeria, what has become recurring decimal are restiveness, kidnappings, bombing of oil installations and disruptions in business activities.
Series of interventions and programmes have been embarked upon by governmental and nongovernmental actors to improve the fortunes of the people and the states.
This time around, it was encouraging when I received a press statement from Gavin Serkin, who is in charge of Frontier Funds’ Media and Intelligence, United Kingdom, saying that the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) would be Alluvial Agriculture, a collective farming business grouping of thousand smallholders in Nigeria.
What gladdens one most is the fact that, another opportunity has presented itself in addressing some of the agitations for better opportunities, which would calm frayed nerves; promote peace, security and development in the Niger Delta.
Serkin had disclosed that CIAT, a research centre for the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR); a global research partnership for a foodsecured future, supported by private foundations, national governments and multilateral development agencies was engaging in an important agreement with Alluvial during the Feed Nigeria Summit, the biggest annual gathering that focused on addressing global food security challenges.
CIAT conducts research for development in tropical regions of Latin America, Africa and Asia.
CGIAR, a global research partnership for a food-secure future, is dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition, security, and improving natural resources and ecosystem services.
Serkin’s statement, titled “‘Feed Nigeria’ Spurred by CIAT Agreement with Alluvial on Groundbreaking Block Farming Initiative”, added that CIAT Regional Director for Africa, Dr.
Debisi Araba, and Alluvial’s Managing Director, Dimieari Von Kemedi, would ensure the successful implementation of the project in the interest of Nigeria.
For Dr. Araba, Alluvial is capable of tackling systemic problems that make most African smallholders to be in poverty as well as food insecurity issues across the developing world by aggregating farmers to create a nucleus of minimum efficient scale and the necessary education, mechanisation, inputs and market access.
It is interesting that in the new project, both CIAT and Alluvial would establish a replicable model for scaling up the adoption of agricultural technologies and innovations to improve livelihoods across the food value chain and foster environmental-sustainability of agricultural development that should benefit all value chain actors, including those working in the production, distribution and consumption hubs of the food system.
Dr. Araba disclosed further that CIAT’s initial five-year plan with Alluvial would centre on climate change adaptation, soil fertility and mapping, yield optimisation and strategies that would make markets work for the poor.
What are other benefits of CIAT working with Alluvial to aid food security in the country? Mr.
Kemedi said it should touch the lives of the communities by providing scientific and social lessons applicable to CIAT’s extensive network across the tropical world.
Meanwhile, a recent United Nations report indicated that poverty had been falling across the developing world, but food shortages had been rising, based on the available evidence by increased malnutrition rates in recent years.
In the UN Report titled; “World Hunger Again on the Rise, Driven by Conflict and Climate Change”.
The product, Alluvial, is made of alluvium, deposits of clay, silt and sand that are left by floodwater in the river valley or delta that typically produces fertile soil for the Niger Delta vegetation that is less known for its rich soil and capable of supporting abundant agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture.
However, as lofty as this collaborative project promises Nigerians, there are certain issues that must be addressed, to make the desired impact.
These include appointment of only qualified beneficiaries, contractors and other personnel that would be required.
Retrogressive factors such as nepotism and favouritism should be avoided as much as possible.
It does not give room for meritocracy and objective appraisal of competent and suitable persons.
This should be tackled headlong.
Whatever it takes to ensure that corruption does not intrude into the affairs of the programme should be pursued.
It is a sad reminder that corruption has remained a great obstacle militating against the development of many African countries.
Management of the project should also uphold the principles of transparency, accountability and due process.
Virile government and media relations should be maintained.
The officials should not forget local content requirements and also embark on genuine corporate social responsibility initiatives that would promote sound community relations.
They should bear it in mind that most of the youth restiveness and apathy in the Niger Delta can largely be traced to the perceived injustice brought on the people partly by local and foreign investors.
We should learn from past mistakes and forge ahead.
That is what many people expect from new project, as reiterated in my earlier e-mail to Serkin that hopefully; the project ‘would spur national development’.
Certainly, when the necessary mechanism is put in place, the initiative would boost the fortunes of the Niger Delta and indeed, our nation.