Host Community commends Governor Udom over moves to revamp Akwa Palm
One of the host Communities of the defunct Akwa Palm Industries LTD, Etebi Idung Assan, Esit Eket Local Government Area has commended the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration over its move to revamp the oil palm plantation.
The commendation was made during an interactive meeting by the Directorate of Agric Investments in company of the State Surveyor General and Town Planners, at the Palace of the Village Head, Etteidung Effiong Okon Issangideh.
In his welcome remark, the Village Head, Etteidung Issangideh said the village was excited when the news got to them that Government was making plans to revamp the oil palm plantation.
The Village Head who was represented by the Village Chairman, Mr. Sunday Effiong Ebritam said they were ready and willing to give the needed support to enable the project to succeed.
According to him, “we are more than happy that this defunct oil palm will be revamped in our lifetime. It is a very welcome development in our community. We all know that unemployment is high across the country, so this will help reduce the unemployment rate in our community and the state generally.
“We had written to the State Government appealing for the revamping of this defunct oil palm plantation, and we are happy that the Government has responded to our plea. We are ready in every ramification to support this light that the Government is bringing to our community.”
Addressing the community, the Executive Director, Akwa Ibom Agric Investments, Pastor Umo Eno said the team were in Etebi Idung Assan on the directive of the State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel who had promised to revamp the Akwa Palm.
He said the visit to the plantation was another reconnaissance trip and in company of the State Surveyor General – Mrs. Emem Isang, Director of Town Planning, and two members of the Technical Committee on Food Sufficiency – Mr. Gabriel Nkanang and Dr. Edna Akpan, to establish government boundaries.
Pastor Eno reiterated that the land had been abandoned for over 25 years by successive administrations, adding that it has observably been encroached and the government was ready to reclaim and revamp the plantation.
He stated that the State is blessed with a listening and people centered Governor who keeps to all promises and plays no politics with governance, adding that it was an opportunity for the host communities of the defunct oil palm plantation to key in and support the initiative of Government for their benefit and that of the State at large.
Pastor Eno who is a farmer and the CEO of Royalty group of companies with over 500 in its employ, said youths of the community will form part of the labour needed during the revamping process and even when it fully takes off.
While hinting that a meeting with all the host Communities’ leaders will be convened through the office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, he urged them to render maximum cooperation and support to enable the project succeed.
It would be recalled that the Directorate had last week led the development partners (Solidaridad) to the project site on inspection. This earlier visit was followed up with preliminary project implementation strategies and timelines.
