Niger Delta Development Commission Partners with Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria to Boost Food Security

In a strategic move aimed at enhancing food security, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has forged a collaboration with the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN). The decision was disclosed by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, following a crucial meeting between the commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and a delegation from the farmers’ association led by Mr. Victor Korede, the Deputy National President. The meeting took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Represented by the NDDC’s Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, Dr. Ogbuku expressed the commission’s readiness to partner with RIFAN to advance rice cultivation efforts in the Niger Delta region. Emphasizing the NDDC’s interest in the smart agriculture practices advocated by the farmers’ association, he highlighted the presence of two rice mills – one in Elele-Alimi, Rivers State, and another in Mbiabet-Ikpe, Akwa Ibom State – as key infrastructural assets for the collaboration.

Referring to the visionary approach of the NDDC Managing Director, Sir Victor Antai underlined the commission’s commitment to spearhead transformative projects that would directly benefit the populace of the region. The partnership with RIFAN aligns with the NDDC’s strategic focus on executing impactful initiatives, particularly in the agricultural sector.

The NDDC also introduced a signature program named Holistic Opportunities, Projects, and Engagement (Project HOPE), with agriculture prominently featured as one of its core pillars. This initiative resonates with President Bola Tinubu‘s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,’ signifying a concerted effort towards harnessing the agricultural potential of the region. ‘Project HOPE’ is designed to engage the youth demographic by creating avenues for employment, with a specific emphasis on the agricultural domain. By prioritizing food security in the Niger Delta region, the NDDC aims to leverage the interest of the youths in agriculture, leveraging their energy and enthusiasm towards achieving sustainable agricultural objectives.