Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has declared that his administration will tap into the huge agricultural potentials in Etche to boost food sufficiency and create wealth in the state.
Governor Fubara who spoke during the official flag-off of the construction of the 12.3 kilometers Egwi-Afara-Mba road in Etche LGA on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, said part of the preparation for the agricultural project in Etche is the construction of access roads in the area which is currently being embarked on by the government.
The Governor thanked the people of Etche for their support, and urged them to be vigilant and not succumb to the politics of blackmail and sabotage advanced by some people in the area.
“What we are doing today is to tell Etche people thank you. Thank you for supporting, believing and still standing by us. Our thank you is not limited to the construction of roads alone, it will still extend to the development of your people through manpower development.”
“If we finish the road without the right manpower, the rightful employment and engagement of the youths, the road is useless. We are not going to limit it to just the road.”
He noted, “We will bring agricultural development to Etche, knowing that Etche is the food basket of Rivers State. So, what I have come to do this afternoon is to do the preparation, the road that you are going to use to transport those products that you are going to produce here.”
The governor explained that the target is to complete the road project within a six month period and urged the community to give the necessary support to contractors for smooth execution of the project.
He directed the Commissioner for Works to as a matter of urgency extend the road project in line with the request of the traditional rulers to the boundary between Rivers and Imo State which is estimated to be 10 kilometers from Mba.
Speaking as special guest of honour to flag-off the road, a former governor of the State, Sir Celestine Omehia commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for embarking of rural infrastructural development to provide access to the agricultural belt of the State in Etche.
He said the agro produce of the Etche people is enough to feed Rivers State and Nigeria is given adequate attention just as the government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara is now developing the area for easy access.
Sir Omehia condemned those demarketing the State because of their personal interest and queried what they have attracted to the State since they got ministerial appointment.
He enjoined Etche people to continue to support and stand by the government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as he will continue to provide them with the required development.
In providing description of the road the Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-amadi Commissioner for Works, Hon. Elloka Tasie-amadi said the road running from Egwi through Afara to Mba is a 12.3kilometer project with 9000 (8.5kilometers) meters drains and 10.3meters wide (7.3 carriage way & 3 meters shoulder) and it is expected to be delivered in 6 months
On his part, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Hon Uzodinma Nwafor thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his love for Etche people especially with the massive projects in the area.
He assured the governor of their continued support adding that they will reciprocate the gesture by consistently standing by him and appealed that the road be extended to Imo boundary in line with the request of the traditional rulers from Etche.
