The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, has expressed optimism that every investment in the Niger Delta States would not only yield good returns, but help to curb youth restiveness and insecurity, which abound in the area.
Akobundu stated the above, Monday, at the Imo Modern Poultry, Avutu, Imo State when members of the Presidential Economic Diversification Mission to Imo State, led by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pst. Usani Usani, visited the multi-billion naira project in the State.
While praising the initiatives and efforts of Nigerian past leaders all of which, the NEPAD Nigeria boss said, were geared towards making our nation develop at the pace of some Asian and even European counterparts of their day, Princess Akobundu said it was sad to, however, note that leaders who came after them neither considered it necessary to build upon what they met nor to initiate new ones.
Stressing that all hope was not lost, since President Muhammadu Buhari has made the development of the Niger Delta States an utmost priority in his agenda for job creation and economic empowerment for the area, the NEPAD Nigeria CEO told investors that it was time to take advantage of the peace enjoyed in the region at present to enter into the many factories that were either not functioing or running below their installed capacities to access the nation’s market, promising that the Federal Government and all other stakeholders that are driving the development initiatives would not fail to give them the enabling environment to succeed.
Earlier, while carrying out the day’s programmes, Barr. Rex Anunobi, Special Adviser on Trade and Investment to Imo State Governor, told the delegation that the State was an investor’s hub that was second to none in the surrounding States, describing it as having the ideal sunlight, rainfall and friendly communities that would ensure that there were quick returns on investment.
The delegation, apart from visiting the over 200-hectare poultry farm, also visited the 75-hectare Acharaubo Farms and Green House at Emekuku, Adapalm Plantation at Ohaji, Imo Rubber Plantation at Obitti as well as Cassava Farms at Imo Polytechnic, Umuagwo, where the delegation was introduced to their cassava-processing methods that seek to free the staple of its high starch and acid content that makes its flour a good meal for even diabetic sufferers.
The programme is part of the initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari to develop the Niger Delta States by identifying moribund alternative sources of oil and initiating moves for revamping them by linking them to interested investors and development partners for job creation and economic diversification. It was first launched in Ondo State last month and expected to go all through the nine States that make up the Niger Delta States.
Among those participating in the programme are NNPC, , NEPAD Nigeria, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIRSAL, Banks of Industry and that of Agriculture; Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund, other public and private- sector enterprises.
The programme will end tomorrow.
Nkem Anyata – Lafia
NEPAD Nigeria
August 14, 2017