19/05/2026
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, PROF. BEKE TUBOUKIYE SESE VISITS PEREMABIRI; DISTRIBUTES 5000 KILOGRAMS OF RICE PADDIES, PUMPING MACHINES, SPRAYERS AND OTHER FARM INPUTS TO FARMERS FROM PEREMABIRI , EKOWE AND IKOROMOGBENE
_CONFERRED CHIEFTAINCY TITLE AS THE KIRIGBOROTU EBIDOWEI 1 OF PEREMABIRI
AS BAYELSA DEEPENS RICE PRODUCTION DRIVE_
May 18, 2026
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Bayelsa State, Prof. Beke Tuboukiye Sese, on Monday led a high-powered delegation of the Ministry to Peremabiri Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, where rice paddies, pumping machines, sprayers, and other farm inputs were distributed to farmers from Peremabiri, Ekowe, and Ikoromogbene communities.
The Commissioner and his entourage were received by the community amidst fanfare before paying a courtesy visit to the palace of the Paramount Ruler of the community, HRH Wisdom D. Ogirigi.
Speaking during the visit, Prof. Sese expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to the Ministry’s delegation, commending the leadership of the community for sustaining peace, noting that peace remains the foundation for development and agricultural growth.
According to the Commissioner, “We have come to put Peremabiri in its rightful place in agriculture,” stressing that rice farming in Bayelsa cannot be discussed without recognizing the contribution and importance of Peremabiri.
He disclosed that the Ministry came with improved FARO 71 and FARO 72 rice seed varieties as part of government’s broader plan to strengthen rice cultivation and food production across the state.
Prof. Sese further revealed that the Ministry recently off-took rice paddies from farmers in the community and was impressed by both the quality and commitment of the farmers, a development that informed the Ministry’s decision to further support the clusters with additional interventions.
The delegation later proceeded to the community town hall where hundreds of farmers and residents had gathered for the distribution exercise.
In his welcome address, the CDC Chairman, Engr. Prince Otokolo, appreciated the Ministry for remembering the farming communities and bringing direct support to local farmers.
Flagging off the distribution, Prof. Sese described the intervention as the beginning of many positive developments to come for the communities, hinting that the distribution exercise included 5,000 kilograms of rice paddies intended for planting, over 20 pumping machines, 250 knapsack sprayers, herbicides, nutrients, shovels, machetes, and other farm tools.
In his remarks, Secretary and Spokesman of the community, Chief Imgbi Bourdillon Robert, stated that the community was overwhelmed by what he described as the Ministry’s landmark gesture toward the people.
Goodwill messages were later delivered by representatives of the Rice Farmers Clusters from Peremabiri, Ekowe, and Ikoromogbene communities, as well as Chief Sinclair Wasini, Liaison for the Reviving of the Peremabiri Project, all of whom praised the Ministry and the Bayelsa State Government for supporting local farmers.
As a mark of appreciation and honour, the community conferred a traditional chieftaincy title on Prof. Beke Tuboukiye Sese, naming him the Kirigborotu Ebidowei I of Peremabiri Kingdom, meaning Benefactor of All Farmers in Peremabiri Kingdom.
The title was formally bestowed on the Commissioner by the Paramount Ruler, who declared him a son of the community.
The community also extended deep appreciation to His Excellency Sen. Douye Diri, noting that the agricultural support reaching the communities was made possible through the Governor’s commitment to development and food security.
The farmers and community leaders further presented bunches of plantain and fish to the Commissioner as symbols of gratitude and acceptance.
In his closing remarks, an emotional Prof. Sese expressed deep appreciation for the love shown to him by the community.
“I came here to work, and now I am going back with a chieftaincy title and all these gifts. I am overwhelmed with joy,” he stated.
He revealed that for over a year he had desired to visit Peremabiri but had repeatedly heard concerns about insecurity. However, having witnessed peace firsthand, he declared that the community was ready to reclaim its place on the agricultural map of Bayelsa State.
The Commissioner stressed once again that peace remains the key to attracting development, adding that the peaceful atmosphere in the community must be sustained. He described Governor Douye Diri as a man committed to peace and prayed that greater opportunities and development would begin to open up for the people.
Prof. Sese further disclosed that the Ministry had successfully off-taken and paid for over 680 bags of 50kg rice paddies from Peremabiri & Ikoromogbene farmers with confirmed alerts further assuring the rice farmers to farm more, so the collaborative effort will be a continuous and sustained process.
He also thanked the Governor for approving the ₦200 million monthly agricultural grant scheme for farmers, noting that disbursement would commence shortly.
The Commissioner additionally informed the community about the Ministry’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Dangote Group on rice production and related agricultural investments, emphasizing that Peremabiri would play a central role in the initiative.
The event ended with renewed optimism among farmers and community leaders, many describing the visit as historic and a major turning point for rice production in the area.
