The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) welcomes the endorsement of its solar-powered irrigation pumps by the National Economic Council (NEC) for nationwide rollout ahead of the 2025 dry-season farming.

This landmark decision, taken at NEC’s 152nd meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday underscores the Council’s confidence in NASENI’s capacity to deliver homegrown, energy-efficient solutions that directly respond to Nigeria’s food security challenges.

For decades, Nigerian farmers have struggled with the high cost of irrigation, heavily dependent on fuel-powered pumps.

In line with its 3Cs mandate, Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialization—NASENI developed the solar-powered irrigation pump as an affordable, energy-efficient, and sustainable alternative.

The NASENI solar irrigation pump is also designed to help boost agricultural productivity by lowering operational costs for farmers, increasing yields, raising incomes, and improving rural livelihoods.

Speaking on the development, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, commended NEC’s resolution;

“NEC’s decision is a strong vote of confidence in our ability to deliver energy-efficient, homegrown solutions that will boost food production, lower costs for farmers, and secure livelihoods. Special appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the continuous support, ensuring NASENI remains at the forefront of advancing his administration’s reforms on industrialization, technology transfer, and food security. Together, we are building a more resilient agricultural sector, harvesting more sustainably and unlocking infinite possibilities for Nigeria.”

To facilitate immediate mass production and distribution of the pumps, NEC further mandated the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, to work out funding modalities for NASENI.

This endorsement reinforces NASENI’s role as a key driver of President Tinubu’s #RenewedHope Agenda, particularly in advancing industrialization, local technology transfer, and sustainable solutions for national prosperity.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has taken part in a National Crisis Response Simulation Exercise, code-named “Ex Rapid Response 2”, organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The simulation, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, tested inter-agency coordination in responding to a large-scale Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attack (MTFA) scenario. While Nigerian security forces neutralised the threat under the coordination of ONSA, NEMA led first responders in managing the aftermath.

Specialised counter-terrorism and emergency resources—including K-9 units, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) assets, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) specialists, and mass casualty evacuation systems—were deployed during the exercise.

NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, who actively participated in the drill, commended the joint efforts of the agencies involved. She described the exercise as a crucial platform to identify gaps, strengthen synergy, and enhance the nation’s emergency preparedness framework. 

“This simulation has once again demonstrated the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in tackling emergencies of national concern. It also underscores the need for continuous training, resource integration, and information sharing to improve our collective capacity for timely and effective response,” she said.

Director, Presidential Communications, Command and Control Centre, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Nmoyel, who coordinated the exercise, explained that its primary objective was to reinforce synergy among agencies, strengthen joint operations, and build resilience against emerging security threats.

As the lead agency for mass casualty management and public health emergency coordination, NEMA reaffirmed its commitment to sustained inter-agency cooperation in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to bolster national security and disaster management capabilities.

….. Confers Citizenship On Envoy

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has advised the European Union to retool its approach for its impact to be more noticeable in the oil region of Niger Delta.

According to a press release on Thursday September 18, 2025, signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Governor Diri said the EU had spent huge financial resources on development initiatives in the region over the years but noted that the communities barely felt the effect of such projects.

Senator Diri stated this on Wednesday during the courtesy visit of the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Gautier Mignot, to Government House, Yenagoa.

He said: “It is amazing the amount of money the EU has committed to development of the Niger Delta region, particularly in Bayelsa State. But compared with the impact of such projects on communities, I believe the EU needs to look inwards.

“We do not know your processes but I think the impact of such projects would be more seen on communities in Bayelsa and its neighbouring Rivers and Delta states if properly channelled. Likewise, if other development partners toe the path of the EU, the ties would have been stronger.”

On its new Global Gateway strategy, the Bayelsa governor said his administration would work closely with the Union to sustain the peace in the region and address developmental challenges.

Describing the EU as grassroots-oriented development partners, Diri expressed the optimism that the leadership of Amb. Mignot would add more value to development of the region.

He also commended the cordial relationship with Bayelsa, which resulted in robust discussions with the EU in Abuja about a year ago on peace-building efforts, security in the Gulf of Guinea, youth engagement, technical and vocational education and marine and blue economy.

“There was a period of insecurity due to militancy in the Niger Delta, which was actually in response to the level of under-development against the backdrop of the oil resources that had been taken from our state and region.

“But, this is the time not to engage in violence but in diplomacy. That is why we are ready to keep the peace in our state and region to sustain the development we are witnessing.”

In his remarks, Amb. Gautier Mignot said the EU had supported many projects in Nigeria in the last decades.

He said in 2021, it launched globally a new cooperation strategy called the Global Gateway and the union was expected to leverage more on investments in Nigeria working in partnership with its 27 member states.

He also stated that in 2023, the EU launched in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states tailor-made projects with 6.5 million euros and implemented through its partners, Search For Common Grounds.

Mignot said about 5000 had benefited from the project, which was about peace-building, resilience, reduction in violence, criminality and livelihood, and that the visit was to assess the progress in 16 communities across the state’s eight local government areas.

At a state dinner held in honour of the delegation on Wednesday night, Governor Diri conferred the state’s citizenship on the EU envoy.

He said: “Bayelsa is the cradle of the ijaw nation and the epicenter of the Niger Delta. A visit to the Niger Delta without a visit to Bayelsa is incomplete.”

In his welcome address, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, said Bayelsa cherished the partnership and collaboration of the EU and will continue to sustain it.