Gov Eno Harps On Involvement Of LG Councils, Civil Servants In Farming Activities

By Bassey Nkponam
NSIT IBOM
The Akwa Ibom governor has stressed the need for government at the third tier and civil servants in the State to be more involved in farming activities to increase food production and ensure food sufficiency.
Pastor Umo Eno bared his mind, Friday, during an inspection of local government area demonstration farms at Nsit Ibom and Nsit Ubium Council Secretariats, noting with dismay, the non-utilisation of the first and third Fridays of the month as work-free and farm days as declared by government.
Eno noted that having been blessed by God with the vast farm area, good soil, weather, topography and fertile lands that could yield enough food to sustain the citizenry, there was no excuse for any local government council’s noninvolvement in farming, warning of consequences for councils which abuse the farm days.
He enjoined Akwa Ibom people to return to the farm and strive to produce at least what they consume, as this will lower the price of staple food items in the state.
Eno lauded the milestone recorded by the transition committee chairman of Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, Deaconess Otobong Aaron, saying he was deeply impressed with the report of her feat, hence his decision to visit the farm to see things for himself.
  The governor commended Aaron and the transition committee members for keying into the agricultural revolution of his administration, and urged ward chairmen to replicate same feat in their respective wards to enable the administration attain its food sufficiency goals.
The State chief executive officer specifically applauded the synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Nsit Ibom Local Government Council in the training of young people in agriculture, expressing hope that the synergy will enhance growth and productivity.
He appreciated the people of the area for coming out in their numbers to receive him, noting that his visit to the council farm was part of his administration’s strategy to grow the farm initiative.
Eno maintained that the solution to the current food crisis in the country is for everyone to return to the farm and utilise the vast farm area, good soil, weather, and topography that the state is blessed with.
  “I am happy, but I want to thank the chairman of Nsit Ibom Local Government for the work and effort she has put in. This is not a day’s work. It means she keyed into the vision and ran with it. One of the reports I got was when the House of Assembly came on inspection of what the interim local government chairmen have achieved. I felt very happy with what is going on here, so I decided to visit to see it myself. I am very impressed.
  “But it’s more than just the farming, the way she goes about it, we have seen that the director from the Ministry of Agriculture is working with the local government, training young people in the farm and then sending them back to their own farms, which is what really gives me joy because you can see the multiplier effect.
  “Iam very impressed with this kind of synergy that I see. She works with the State Ministry of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development is here and she has posted some extension workers here, and they are helping out to train some of the locals with this demonstration farms, giving them seeds to plant in their own areas. That is the way to go! That is the way to grow food.That is the way to ensure that Nsit Ibom Local Government can feed itself, the governor said and expressed satisfaction at the pace of work in the farm, particularly the growing of okra, tomatoes, pepper, yam, corn, and cucumber in large quantities, urging everyone to be diligent in growing their farms, as food remains a basic need of man.
Eno, who said he was a supporter of people with the “finisher’s anointing”, pledged to support Aaron in completing the council’s office complex initiated by past administrations, even as he commended the council administration for judiciously utilising the council’s funds.
The commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Dr Offiong Offor, expressed the readiness of her ministry to assist council areas with necessary inputs and manpower to fast track the attainment of food sufficiency in the State.
The transition committee chairman for Nsit Ibom, Aaron, said Eno’s visit to the area was a morale booster, saying she was determined to deliver on her mandate by ensuring equal development and working for the attainment of the food sufficiency goals of the administration.