* Herdsmen/farmers clash threat to food security in the country
*Explains his administration’s involvement in devt of markets
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his deputy Barr. Kingsley Otuaro during today’s mid-year quarterly press briefing at Asaba
ASABA- Delta state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has said that his administration must bring a lasting peace to the lingering crisis between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja by sharing the controversial land boundary for the communities for peace to reign.
Okowa made the disclosure today at first quarterly media interaction in 2018 in Asaba today (Wednesday), said the lingering crisis between the two communities affected development in the area.
His words ‘Speaking at first quarterly media interaction in 2018 in Asaba ‘We have decided to share the boundary for the communities there is a lot of corporation from leaders in the two communities. I believed that Aladja/Ogbe-Ijo is the new face of development in Warri and its environs. As you know, the DSC has been taken over my another steel company, Premium steel company and they have commenced work on siye. The company will engage lot of youths in that area and things will turn around for better. There is the urgent need to bring peace in the two communities for development to thrive’’
Also, the governor has described the numerous clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country as great threat to sustainable food production.
The Governor decried the threat posed by herdsmen to food production across the country.
According to the Governor, “if we are going to encourage agriculture in this country, we must address the loss of farm produce from these security challenges posed by the herdsmen/farmers clash.” all over the country.
While disclosing that his administration took proactive steps, including setting up interventionist committees to ensure that the clashes does not escalate as being witnessed in some states of the federation, Governor Okowa expressed confidence that the Presidential Committee set up on the issue will proffer solutions for the Federal Government to give policy trust for Nigerians to follow.
He also, stated that the issue of herdsmen taking over Uwheru community in Ughelli North local government area was being taken care of by security operatives, asserting that his administration will always employ diplomacy to avoid loss of life as a result of the activities of herdsmen.
On the issue of tractors being hired to farmers at exorbitant cost, the Governor expressed joy that most Deltans were into farming, noting that farmers’ co-operative societies took charge of the hiring of tractors, but promised that more would be procured to cater for those who could not access tractors being run by the co-operative societies.
Fielding question from Journalists on the taking over of land belonging to Umutu community by the Edo State government, Governor Okowa stated that the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice has been directed to liaise with Umutu community because, the issue was before the court.
On the issue of security generally in the state, Governor Okowa thanked Deltans for their peaceful dispositions which has ensured effective take off the multi-billion naira Premium Steel Rolling Mill, formerly, Delta Steel Company, Aladja. He attributed the performance of ground-breaking ceremony for the take-off of companies in the state and the flooding of the state by investors to the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
He observed that the state was peaceful, adding that his administration also, hold regular Security Council meetings to nip security challenges in the bud.
Meanwhile, Okowa has explained why his administration was involved in the construction of markets despite the fact that it is the function of local government councils to do so, saying markets grow rural commerce.
The Governor at a quarterly interactive session with Journalists yesterday (21/03/18) in Asaba stated that his administration was committed to the over-all socio-economic development of the state and markets, especially in rural communities where such markets play vital roles in the development of the areas.
He said, “we are trying to assist our people through rural markets because, that helps to grow commerce and the local government councils that are directly in charge of markets may not be very strong financially and if we continue to leave them, that means we will be impacting very badly on the economy of the state and in the course of this year, we are building markets, one of which is the Ozoro market which was just recently awarded, it was a promise made and it is a huge market; the other is the Oghara market which was in very bad shape; we are also building the market in Burutu town and others.”
At the well-attended session, Governor Okowa lauded the synergy that exists between his government and the media, stating, “without that partnership (with the press), it will be difficult for the world to know exactly what we are doing as a state either in terms of projects or the challenges that we have in the course of this administration.”
He disclosed that the revenue to the state has greatly improved which led to the state not owing salaries of workers and also, complementing local government councils to offset backlog of salaries owed their staff.
“I know that when we spoke the last time, that we were anticipating things will gradually get better and I want to confirm to us that by the special grace of God in terms of receipts from Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation as it concerns the state, and by God’s grace a lot has been done in the course of time; it has been confirmed that at the end of December 2017, in terms of salaries, we have paid all our salaries at the state level up to date; we have even began as a state to give support to the local government councils to enable them pay their salaries more regularly and we are beginning to find ways to settle some of the backlog of salaries; we are committed to that and it is going to be a gradual process and we hope that the councils that owe will eventually be able to settle the backlog of salaries,” the Governor assured.
Governor Okowa who reeled out some of the achievements of his administration, urged Deltans to key into the compulsory health insurance scheme of his administration, adding that the contract for the construction of phase I of Oko road in Oshimili South local government area have been awarded.
