GOVERNOR WIKE EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S REFUSAL TO GRANT RIVERS STATE AGRICULTURAL FACILITY

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the importance of agriculture in lifting the country out of its present state and enhancing food security cannot be overemphasized.

He has also stressed the need for the non-politicization of the process of achieving the desired goals for the overall good of the nation.

Governor Wike made the assertion when the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt. 

The Governor described as unfortunate the denial of Rivers State Government Agriculture Loan applied for over a year now by the Governor of the Central Bank which other states in the country had benefited. 

He noted the achievement made by the state government in the area of agriculture despite the non-assistance by the Federal Government and relevant agencies.

Governor Wike stated that he would invite the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development to the state to inaugurate the Cassava Processing Plant at AFAM, geared towards boosting agricultural activities and food production and urged the Minister to partner the Rivers State Government to move the agricultural sector of the nation’s economy to greater heights. 

Earlier, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mustapha Baba Shehuri said he was in the state to inspect ongoing and completed projects of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development funded by the Ministry with a view to promoting agriculture nationwide as well as develop rural communities to stimulate rural economy in line with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Baba Shehuri who noted the enormous potentials of cassava production in the state assured of the Federal Government’s support to farmers in the state through the aid of the new technology to address the problem of low yield and access to improved varieties of cassava.

He lauded the Governor for shifting his development agenda to the rural communities through people oriented projects commissioned recently.