Water Minister Flags Off Dry Season Cropping in C’River
From Ani Bassey
The Minister for water Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, FNSE has flagged off the dry season cropping programme of the Cross River Basin Development Authority.
The Minister who paid a one day working visit to the state expressed dismay with the level of looting and vandalisation of the CRBDA but encouraged management and staff not to dismay but forge ahead.
He assured that the government through his Ministry is committed to revitalising River Basin Authorities across the country to guarantee food security.
“Today, I also use this opportunity to flag off the dry season cropping program of the CRBDA, at least we can demonstrate to the staff and people that we are not crippled or dead.
“The dry season cropping is a sign that the CRBDA is not relenting, discouraged and will continue to do business as usual”, he said.
On the vandalisation, he maintained that damage done to the authority is huge but government is committed to getting the authority back to normal.
He said the revitalization of River Basin Authorities remains a priority of the government in order for them to impact farmers and guarantee food security.
Earlier in his remarks, Engr. Bassey Nkposong the Managing Director of the CRBDA said property worth billions were looted, vandalized, burnt and totally destroyed.
He said the authority is not deterred by this but is forging forward.
“On Saturday 24th October 2020, a gang of armed men numbering over 1000 invaded the premises of the Authority, over powered the security and unleashed mayhem targeted at total destruction of assets of the Authority.
“Property worth billions of naira at the headquarters of the Authority were looted, vandalized, burnt and totally destroyed”, Engr Nkposong said.
He listed them to include Basin school, administrative complex, workshop, stores, car park, guest house, headquarters integrated farms, among others.
On the dry season farming program, he said the program will engage 1500 farming families, create jobs for 2500 youths as well as skill acquisition for 100 young graduates.
As part of his visit to the state, the Minister paid a courtesy call on the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, IV where he sought His Majesty’s support, leadership and direction in handling the aftermath of the EndSARS protests.
