AKSG is in aggressive paradigm shift from mono-oil to agrobased economy, says Commissioner Charles Udoh

By Grace Akpan in Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Government is in an aggressive paradigm shift in its development matrix from a mono oil-driven to an industrialized agro-based economy.  

This much was said by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Charles Udoh in Uyo, while reacting to the ongoing rejuvenation of Agriculture by Governor Udom Emmanuel in Public schools across the 3 Senatorial districts of the state. 

Sir Charles Udoh said that, with the dwindling fortunes in crude oil in the world market especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Emmanuel is refocusing his economic development approach from total dependency on crude oil revenue to Agriculture, with the huge derivables of the sector, coupled with the inherent value chain opportunities in agric and agro-based ventures. 

The state information boss reiterated that, the numerous agricultural programmes initiated by Governor Udom Emmanuel for schools in the 3 Senatorial districts and the renaissance in the thriving agric and agro-based industries dotting the landscape of the state, are eloquent testimonies of the booming agricultural-driven economy of the  Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government. 

He reiterated that, the commitment of the government in pursuing an industrialized agro-based economy is manifested in the cultivation of over 11,000 hectares of coconut Plantation, 3,240 hectrares of Cassava plantations and over 1,200 hectrares of rice plantations across the State. 

Governor Udom Emmanuel he added, “has vigorously ensured the supply of improved seedlings,  cassava cuttings, plantain suckers, farming implements, fertilizers and provision of soft loans to farmers in the state, adding that, the construction of numerous cassava/Garri processing factories, the Agricon Rice Mills and the Fertilizer Blending plant in the state are all efforts by Governor Udom Emmanuel geared at boosting Agriculture in the state. 

“So far, Governor Udom Emmanuel has re-energized farming in public schools across the state with the provision of improved Coconut seedlings, Cassava cuttings, pineapple suckers, oil palm seedlings, maize seedlings, cucumber seedlings and other crops for cultivation. Farming implements including shovels, wheel barrows, hoes, machetes, watering can, head pans, insecticides and fungicides have also been supplied  in the ongoing exercise which 9 schools in Uyo, 11 in Ikot Ekpene and 10 in Eket Senatorial districts have so far benefitted.” 

It would also be recalled that, the State Information helmsman, Sir Charles Udoh, had in one of his briefing sessions with Government house correspondents in Uyo, intimated that, government has approved the establishment of a 50-hectare coconut plantation in each of the 31 local government areas and 300 coconut stands in 230 secondary schools in the state to serve as sources of raw material for the State’s coconut refinery.

Sir Charles Udoh, had emphasized that, the measure was in line with the commitment of the Governor Udom Emmanuel-led government to move the state from a mono oil-driven economy to an agro-industry based. 

He commended the foresightedness of Governor Emmanuel in the paradigm shift to an industrialized agric/agro-based economy, acknowledging with pride that, it has paid off handsomely especially in this COVID-19 era, as the bulk of palliatives distributed to the people are sourced locally through this ingenuity and proactive approach of Governor Udom Emmanuel.