NAF Empowers Youths Through Fish-Farming
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has flagged-off a Fish Farming Scheme for youths at the Sam Ethnan NAF Base, Lagos.
A statement signed by Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Olatokunbo Adesanya, said the initiative is in continuation of efforts at empowering dependants of NAF personnel through a programme dubbed ‘Base Youths Empowerment Through Agriculture’ (BYETA).
The Programme, which is an initiative of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, was instituted in 2016, as part of efforts at empowering Barrack Youths in all NAF Bases across the Nation by training them in different aspects of agriculture so as to be positively engaged in productive enterprises while their parents are away on different security operations across the country.
The Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Lagos State, Mr Oluwatoyin Suara, who was represented by the Director of Fisheries, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Tokunbo Emokpae, noted that BYETA was in line with the vision of the Lagos State Government on food security and job creation in the state.
She congratulated the CAS on the initiative and drive towards empowering youths as well as contributing to food sufficiency in the country.
She also assured the gathering of the readiness of the Lagos State Government to render necessary assistance to interested youths and women by training them in various aspects of agricultural activities. In his remarks, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Nnamdi Ekeh, posited that the BYETA programme was carefully instituted to gainfully engage the youths residing in NAF Bases in productive ventures, such as fish farming, to help curb the proliferation of social vices in barracks. “This programme is a deliberate effort by the CAS to key into the Federal Government’s agricultural plan, which is targeted at creating gainful employment for youths as well as helping to develop the agricultural sector of country”, he added.
The AOC lauded the CAS for the initiative and thereafter called on the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity.
Earlier in his welcome Address, the Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Musibau Olatunji, disclosed that the BYETA Programme has been well received by the Base Community.
According to him, a total of 96 barrack youths had since shown interest and had been trained and empowered to commence the fish farming business. “The youths have also come together to form an agricultural cooperative society so as to make it possible for them to access loans and other benefits from banks.”
He added that the BYETA Programme at the Sam Ethnan Base would not be limited to only fish farming but would also explore piggery, poultry, snail rearing, goat rearing and others.
In a related development, on 24 April 2018, the Headquarters Air Training Command (ATC), flagged off a comprehensive fish farming scheme, as part of the BYETA Programme, to engage youths at the premier NAF Base Kaduna in a gainful enterprise, so as to empower them and make crime less attractive.
While speaking during the commissioning, the AOC Air Training Command, AVM Muhammed Idris, expressed his gratitude to the CAS for such a life transforming initiative.
Furthermore, the Commander 453 Base Services Group Kaduna, Air Commodore Ismaila Yahaya, explained that the programme was intended for barrack youths but might accommodate wives of personnel who are interested in farming.
He disclosed that all BYETA members in the Base, 70 in number, had formed cooperative societies to enable them have access to Federal Government agricultural loans. “As a pilot project, two big ponds containing 1000 post-jumbo fingerlings were constructed and commissioned while more ponds will be commissioned in the nearest future”, he added.
It would be recalled that BYETA Programme was first launched in the NAF in Year 2016 and only recently, the crop farming season was flagged off at the NAF Base Port Harcourt.
Insecurity: Gen Abubakar of 82 Division Inspects Troublespots in Benue
The General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army, Maj Gen AB Abubakar has paid a visit to 77 Special Forces Battallion in Makurdi today Wednesday the 26th of April, 2018 in connection with the latest security challenges in Benue State.
The GOC was briefed on the general security situation in the State by the Commanding Officer of the Battallion Lt Col SS Mohammed.
These were contained in a press release signed by the Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division, Colonel Sagir Musa as published on https://prnigeria.com.
Thereafter, the GOC and his entourage visited the Commissioner of Police Benue State Mr Fatai A Owoseni where he was further briefed on the security situation in the state.
After the visits, General Abubakar used the opportunity to visit and interact with the Deputy Governor of Benue State Engineer Benson Abionu on the current security situation in the state.
In his remarks during the visit, the Deputy Governor commended the Nigerian Army for the good work they are doing in different parts of the state.
He informed the GOC that in his address to the people of Naka community earlier on, he emphasized on the need for peaceful coexistence and the necessity for having Nigerian Army personnel in Benue communities. “As a responsible government, we are investigating the Naka incident, attack on the church and the latest deaths recorded in many areas of the state, if we find anybody incriminated, we will deal with such a person” Engineer Benson stated.
In his response, General Abubakar informed the Deputy Governor that – “I am in the state on the instruction of the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen TY Buratai to interact with the field commanders and other heads of security agencies in Benue State with the aim of getting further credible situation report on the rising security challenges in the state with the view to checkmating the problems… I wish to thank you, government and good people of Benue State for appreciating the Nigerian Army, as well as to inform you that Iam visiting Naka village where there was reported security breach”.
While in Naka, the GOC was received by the Chairman Gwer West Local Government Area Mr Francis Ayagah. Mr Ayagah conducted the GOC and his team round the troubled mud houses and the shallow grave of a murdered soldier. Gen Abubakar assured the government, Naka community and the entire good people of Benue State of the readiness of the Nigerian Army to protect lives and properties of the people of the state.
In the entourage of the GOC were the Commanders of Military Intelligence Brigade and 82 Division Provost Group Colonels KN Nwoko and AT Bitiyong respectively. SAGIR MUSA Colonel
