N’Delta Summit holds in Bayelsa

By Samuel OYADONGHA, Yenagoa
AS part of diversifying  the economy of the Niger Delta states, a Niger Delta Agriculture Summit is to hold in the first quarter of next year in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Tagged, “Agriculture in the Niger Delta: Nigeria’s Untapped Resources”, the summit is being put together by the National Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Agro Nigeria and is expected to ramp up production and processing activities in the agricultural sector as a veritable alternative to oil and gas in the Niger Delta economy. It is slated for 22-25 March 2010.

It is also expected to open up the sector for private sector investment within the region and encourage the states to provide adequate policy template for the development of the sector.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Diekivie Ikiogha, who disclosed this in Yenagoa, said the proposed summit would go a long way to showcase agriculture as a potent tool for restoring and sustaining peace in the region, employment and rehabilitation of youths under the post amnesty Niger Delta programme.