The 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference of the Rivers/Bayelsa states chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has come to a close with a strong call for both states to drive the blue economy.

The communique just issued after the AGM pointed to what it called emerging prospects in fish processing, seaweed cultivation, ship repair, and marine technology.

The communique which also mentioned human capital gaps that must be filled through technical and vocational training that are aligned with modern industrial needs, said the blue economy represents a viable pathway for Nigeria’s industrialisation.

It said MAN and Arican Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI) have the capacity to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy sustainably and inclusively, but said the region required dedicated infrastructure upgrades, including roads, waterways, and power.

The communique was signed by Vincent Okuku (Chairman of Rivers/Bayelsa States Branch); Michael Nosa Agana (Branch Vice Chairman/Chairman AGM planning Committee); and Chibuzor Eze (Executive Secretary, Rivers/Bayelsa States Branch).

The resolutions said the future of the Niger Delta economy lies in diversification rather than dependence on extractive industries. “Technology and innovation, value addition and local processing, strategic infrastructure, and a skilled workforce are essential pillars for the future of manufacturing in the region.

“Governments in the region must intensify support for manufacturing activities. Various forms of collaboration across sectors should be actively encouraged.”

It specifically advised Bayelsa and Rivers States to fully develop and harness the blue economy as strategic gateways for sustainable growth; and called for cross-border partnerships with neighbouring states to enhance trade, security, and environmental management.”

The Rivers/Bayelsa States branch of MAN held its first (41st) AGM outside Port Harcourt for the first time, hosted by Bayelsa State Government at the Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, with the theme: ‘Trade, Technology, and the Future of Manufacturing in the Niger Delta.’

In his welcome address, the chairman of the branch, Okuku, commended the Bayelsa State Government under the leadership of Gov Douye Diri for its efforts in industrial development, investment promotion, and strong partnership with the private sector.

He also acknowledged the Rivers State Government for its commitment to rehabilitating industrial clusters, improving access roads, and delivering key infrastructure.

He, however, expressed concern over persistent challenges such as high energy costs, unreliable electricity supply, weak transport systems, rising logistics expenses, multiple taxes and levies, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, and pressure from host communities, which continue to hinder manufacturing growth in both states.

The President of MAN, Francis Meshioye, noted that the Niger Delta, with its abundant resources and strategic location, holds vast potential for industrial expansion. He called for policy frameworks that promote local manufacturing, enhance trade, and attract investments to the region.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, represented by Wasa Festus, Director of Community Development and Education. Another goodwill message was also presented by the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment, Ebieri Jones.

In his remarks, Gov Diri praised MAN for its contributions to Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, noting its resilience, innovation, and strategic role in national development. He stated that the conference theme aligns with his administration’s mantra of “Assured Prosperity.”

Gov Diri offered 24-hour service to manufacturers wishing to relocate to the state, and highlighted the State’s ongoing transformation through deliberate investment in infrastructure, security, and human capital aimed at positioning Bayelsa State as a hub for industrial growth, particularly in the blue economy, agriculture, and manufacturing.

He further noted that hosting the 41st AGM fulfilled a long-desired aspiration of the State following the successful 2024 MAN event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He officially declared the exhibition open.

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara , has reiterated that his resolve to provide democratic dividends to the people remains a top priority of his agenda.

According to Governor Fubara, his administration’s social contract to be steadfast and resolute in giving his best will continue to be his driving force.

The Governor spoke during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2025 Batch C, National Youth Service Corps Members deployed to Rivers State at the Permanent Orientation Camp at Nonw-Gbam Tai on Friday, 21 November.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, he emphasised that the State will continue to partner with the NYSC and grant priority attention to the welfare of youths to achieve this goal.

“My administration’s social contract with the good people of Rivers State to be steadfast and resolute in giving them the best of democracy dividends remains sacrosanct.

“We will continue to give priority to the welfare of youths, especially Corps members, by providing them an enabling environment to discover and harness their God-given potentials.

“I am confident that with God on our side, we will never lose focus of our promise to uplift the quality of life of the youths as the bedrock of society and by so doing, make Rivers State the envy of other States nationwide,” he stated.

He charged the Corps members to be exemplary, dedicated, and committed in all they will do throughout the service year.

Meanwhile, the State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Moses Oleghe, admonished the Corps members to take the lessons and experiences of the orientation programme seriously, especially, the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) training, security lectures and other activities during camp.

“Note that the service year is more than just a year of experience. It is a commitment to laying the groundwork for a more united and greater Nigeria.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger has condemned the gunmen attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area.

The Chairman of CAN in Niger, Rev. Bulus Yohanna, disclosed this in a statement issued in Minna and made available to newsmen on Friday.

Yohanna stated that the association was disturbed by the attack and the abduction of pupils, students, teachers and a security guard by the assailants.

He added that the gunmen invaded the schools between 1am and 3am and shot the security guard before abducting their victims.

The chairman, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, described the attack as “distressing and unacceptable”.

He expressed concern over the safety of the abducted victims and the trauma faced by their families.

He added that CAN was working closely with security agencies, community leaders and government authorities to support ongoing rescue efforts.

Yohanna appealed to the residents to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives.

He also urged Christians and other Nigerians to pray for the safe and quick return of all those abducted.

He affirmed the association’s commitment to advocating for the protection of children and improving security around schools.

“May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect His people from all dangers,” the CAN boss said.

Stakeholders have advocated adoption of indigenous solutions, advanced technology and state policing to curb rising insecurity.

The stakeholders made the suggestions at a South-West Zonal National Security Summit convened by the Senate in partnership with Lagos State Government.

The stakeholders emphasised strengthening collaborative strategies, enhancing operational capacity and prioritising community-driven interventions to stem security threats across the country.

The renewed attacks in some states have prompted urgent national conversations on effective responses to insecurity.

Senator Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East) said the summit, conducted simultaneously in Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, showed the need for decisive partnerships among governments and security institutions to prevent escalation of insecurity and reinforce sustainable national stability.

He warned that the geopolitical zone must not be allowed to become a haven for criminality, saying that only coordinated, technology-enabled and community-rooted strategies would protect its long-standing values of openness, fairness and tolerance.

“Security is a collective responsibility, and while global partnerships can help, the real implementation must be local and led by experts who understand our terrain,” he said.

In a message delivered by Mr Ayodele Ogunsan, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improved security.

He also advocated a regional framework essential for safeguarding lives and promoting long-term economic resilience.

“We need to ensure that we make security our businesses, it is the nerve centre that binds us a citizens,” he said.

The Traditional Ruler of Ilara in Epe Town, Lagos State, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, called for community policing, modern technology deployment and joint taskforces.

He also urged expanded police recruitment, increased funding, better equipment and more employment opportunities to limit youth restiveness and associated threats.

He said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had intensified collaboration with international partners, but noted that weak structures at the grassroots continued to derail progress.

“Traditional rulers are closest to the people and must be fully integrated into security planning because they provide first-hand knowledge of strange movements, cross-border infiltration and early signs of criminal aactivities, ” he said.

The royal father said that daily cases of kidnapping insurgent incursions, banditry, youth involvement in violent crimes, unemployment-driven criminal recruitment, porous borders with Benin, Niger, Cameroon and Mali, and inadequate intelligence capacity were fuelling insecurity across the South-West Geo-political Zone.

He emphasised that recruitment of additional police officers, proper equipping of security forces, inter-agency coordination, legally-backed state policing, improved youth employment, equitable distribution of national resources and strengthened border management would help to stabilise the zone.

“These criminals are not ghosts; they come in through weak borders or live among us, and we must build the kind of local coordination that brings information from the community level straight to the state and national levels,” he said.

Senator Ibrahim Jimoh, sponsor of the National Security Summit Bill, said terrorism and Boko Haram insurgency represented non-conventional warfare requiring military-civilian synergy operations to tackle.

“Non-conventional warfare is a continuous process that government must be deliberate about, by consciously educating pepetrators and also the citizens.

“When you see something, say something, it is a collaborative effort, and we must engage everyone,

“This is crucial as militancy cannot combat non-conventional war which is indigenous and must be given local treatment rather than international intervention.

The Aare Onakankanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, said that state policing remained the most viable solution.

” If the local government autonomy had been enforced, local government chairmen will have more funds at their localities to tackle insecurity.

” We need a drastic action, we should ensure that state police is established,” he said.

However, security operatives in the South West who spoke through the Lagos State Commissioner for Police, Mr Jimoh Olohunwa, kicked against establishment of state police.

Olohunwa said that operations of Amotekun security outfit in some states in South West, and Neighborhood Watch operatives in Lagos were complementary to existing security formations and should not be duplicated.

“There is commitment of all security formations to protecting lives and property of all Nigerians irrespective of religion, ethnicity and political affiliations.

Representatives of Christian and Islamic leaders called for improved welfare packages for security operatives to motivate them to diligently discharge their duties without fear or favour.

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has condemned the abduction of pupils and teachers from St. Mary’s School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, describing it as saddening and worrisome.

The forum also called for swift, decisive, and well coordinated action by security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted children and to prevent similar occurrences.

The forum Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, said this in a statement by his media aide, Ismaila Uba-Misilli, on Friday in Gombe.

Yahaya described the incident as disturbing and unacceptable.

He said the attack was an affront on the safety of children, stating that schools must remain centres of learning and not spaces for violence.

The governor that northern Nigeria could not afford further setbacks in its collective push to mop up out-of-school children and return them to the classroom.

“As a forum, we have consistently maintained that schools must remain sanctuaries of learning and growth, not theatres of fear, violence, or terror.

“Northern Nigeria already contends with significant challenges and educational setbacks, and we can not allow criminal elements to derail our collective efforts at returning out-of-school children back into the classroom,” he said.

Yahaya said that governors from the north would not fold their arms and watch criminal elements undermine their efforts and instil fear in young learners and the region in general.

He said the forum was particularly worried, especially at a time when governments across the north were investing heavily in creating safe, conducive, and resilient learning environments.

“The rising trend of attacks on schools is worrisome and saddening.

“As governors, we will continue to work closely with the security agencies and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance community vigilance, and reinforce the protection of our schools.

“Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, on behalf of the forum, conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the parents of the abducted pupils, the school authorities and the government of Niger State, the ordeal is heart-breaking and deeply troubling,” he said.

Yahaya commended the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts and urged security agencies to intensify operations with utmost urgency.

The governor also urged the people to be calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing information that may aid rescue efforts.