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By Chinyere Anyanwu
The Abia State government has assured the residents of government’s commitment towards reviving all abandoned farm settlements in the state for increased food production.
The state Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, gave the assurance during an inspection tour of Ukwa Nkporo Palm Oil Plantation at the weekend, where he decried the lack of attention by the past administration over such massive investment.
While addressing newsmen, Emetu grieved over the abandoned palm estate and its moribund state due to lack of political will by the previous administration. In a statement signed by Authority Michael Ukpabi, the deputy governor’s aide, Emetu reiterated the commitment of the Dr. Alex Otti-led administration towards developing and improving agricultural sector for food security, job creation and improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The deputy governor was accompanied on the tour by the Deputy Mayor of Ohafia Local Government Area, Mkpa Oku Uka.
Mkpa thanked the deputy governor for the tour as he explained that the farm settlement became moribund due to abandonment by past governments.
He pleaded with the state government to step into the palm estate to ensure its revival, community development and for the presence of the government to be felt in the community.
He lamented that the neighbouring community of Oso Edda in Ebonyi State had been encroaching into the farm to harvest the yields, which poses threat to the people of Ukwa Nkporo Community.
He explained that this has led to various clashes between the two communities. He, therefore, expressed optimism that the deputy governor’s visit would yield the desired result of recovering and revival of the palm plantation.
