Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged his administration’s full commitment to a collaborative partnership with the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA), with a focus on transforming the State’s Agricultural sector.
Governor Otti made the pledge when he received the Management Committee of the AIRBDA, led by its Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, at Nvosi Isialangwa South LGA.
Governor Otti who welcomed the delegation to Abia, commended their decision to prioritise the State in their engagements and assured them of his administration’s willingness to collaborate.
The Governor noted that Agriculture remains the mainstay of the Nigerian economy and a central pillar of economic development for his administration.
He outlined his administration’s efforts already underway, which includes identifying, reclaiming and revitalizing long abandoned farm settlements in the State.
Governor Otti explained that the State is transitioning from subsistence farming to a value-chain approach that includes processing and value addition.
“We are working on transiting from the kind of agriculture that we call subsistence farming to the value chain, all the way from primary products to secondary products, processing them into final products, and selling them.
“Instead of selling cocoa, we want to be able to sell chocolate”, the Governor said.
He also highlighted major strides his administration has made so far in the Power Sector, noting that nine out of the seventeen Local Government Areas now enjoy constant power supply with plans underway to extend reliable power supply across the entire State.
Governor Otti noted that improved power supply has stimulated economic activity, particularly in Aba and Umuahia.
The Governor established a joint technical committee to crystallise the partnership and
directed the Commissioners for Agriculture, Lands, Environment, and the Managing Director of the Abia State Investment Agency, to engage directly with the AIRBDA.
He charged the team to identify and deliver achievable results, reiterating that Abia State is open for business and committed to result driven collaboration.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Anambra- Imo Development River Basin Authority, Senator Anosike, explained that the delegation’s visit to Abia State was part of a tour of South-East States to introduce the Committee Members and explore areas of collaboration.
Sen Anosike noted that although the headquarters of the Commission is in Imo, the team chose to commence its engagement in Abia because of its strategic importance, particularly in Agriculture, which falls within their core mandate.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s declaration of an emergency on food security and stressed the need for strong partnerships with States to revitalize Agricultural Production.
Senator Anosike lamented the decline in productivity on over 1,300 hectares of land previously used for rice, cassava and fish farming within the South East region, and attributed it to weakened collaboration with States.
He appealed to the Abia State Government to support efforts to revive the Agricultural assets for the benefit of the region and reaffirmed the Committee’s readiness to work closely with the State and the South-East Development Commission in areas of Agriculture among others.
Sen Anosike commended Governor Otti for the State’s improved infrastructure under his administration and commitment to leaving Abia better than he met it.
