Boosting the fortunes of Niger Delta
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”, global hunger is on the […]
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”, global hunger is on the rise, affecting 815 million people in 2016 alone, or 11 per cent of the global population and multiple forms of malnutrition are threatening the health of million people worldwide. About 155 million children aged below five are stunted while 52 million people suffer from medical abnormality in which their weight remain too low for their height, as an estimated 41 million children are now overweight.
The UN report further revealed that anaemia among women and adult obesity are also source of concern in the sense that these trends are a consequence, not only of conflict and climate change, but of sweeping changes in dietary habits and economic slowdowns. The report added that there are 243 million hungry people in Africa while malnutrition affects children under five years of age that suffer from stunted growth while the number of adults who are obese is 641 million people.
It was further stated that higher population growth puts Africa at particular risk of food and humanitarian crisis with global dimensions in terms of unprecedented migration, as Nigeria occupies the epicentre and is the world’s seventh largest country that would most likely overtake the United States of America, as the third most populous nation by 2050. With these statistics, the imperative of putting in place sustainable food security programmes cannot be overstated. 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. 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 relations and adequate media engagements should be maintained. 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.
Adewale Kupoluyi, Abeokuta, Ogun State.