NAN-AE-8
Cassava
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Jan. 31, 2018 (NAN) The Cross River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) is collaborating with a Chinese firm, Ruyi Holdings Group, on large-scale cassava production.
The Managing Director of the Authority, Mr Bassey Nkposong, said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday that the partnership would also include the construction of a hydro-electric power plant for the catchment area.
He said that the partnership, which was in liaison with local farmers, youths and community entrepreneurs, was expected to engage more than 1,000 farming families in the area.
Nkposong, while welcoming the investors to the state, pledged the willingness of the Authority to accommodate more investors who were willing to exploit the vast agricultural resources of the area.
He said that at the meeting, the Agricultural Services and the Planning/Design departments of the RBDA made presentations, showcasing the agency’s potential in agriculture and dam construction.
The leader of the Chinese team, Mr Wang Wei, said that the agricultural resources of the catchment area needed to be harnessed for large-scale food production.
Wang said that the company would also explore the possibility of harnessing the power generation potential of the Ijegu Yala Dam, with a view to providing electricity for the catchment area.
NAN reports that the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, had given an assurance that the Federal Government had no plans to privatise the river basin development authorities.
He said that government would only reposition them for efficient service delivery.
According to the minister, this strategy aims at meeting the goals of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration with regard to the country’s food security.
He said that the revitalisation of RBDAs would also strengthen efforts to create employment opportunities for the citizens, adding that it was saddening that the river basin authorities had failed to meet their expectations.
“If they are intended to uplift the people’s standard of living, provide employment and boost the economy; then, all ongoing projects must be completed, and fast too,” the Adamu said. (NAN)
TAK/COF/OOK
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare and Dayo Komolafe