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…meets with land donors

Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru, according to a report made available to Pacesetter, on Thursday, inspected the Special Agro Processing Zone in Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area.

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The land, which is over 500 hectares, was donated by the people of Owo community to serve as a processing zone for the entire Enugu East senatorial zone.

The Commissioner and officials of the ministry, accompanied by the Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government, Hon. Okechukwu Sydney Edeh, during a brief stopover at the palace of the traditional ruler of Mbulu Owo, Igwe Okeke Arum, met with the village heads who expressed their readiness to give the state government maximum support on the project.

The council chairman, while introducing the visitors to the people of Owo, expressed joy over the interest and cooperation shown by them by donating the large expanse of land for agricultural purpose, saying it was in line with Governor Mbah’s promise to make Enugu the number one exporter of agricultural produce in the country.

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Speaking, the Commissioner gave details of how the lands would be utilized, reminding them of the benefits they would get from citing the project in the area, while commending them for their support in ensuring that the governor succeeded in his stated desire for food security and eradication of hunger in the state.

“I want to assure the people of Owo, Nkanu East and Enugu East zone in general that this project will create numerous employment opportunities for the people and equally develop the area,” the commissioner assured.

Also speaking, an agricultural expert, Prof. Nnaemeka Chukwuone of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, who was among the team led by the Commissioner, said they were in the host community to help the state in conducting environmental and social impact assessments to ensure there would be no negative environmental impact of the project on the people.

According to him, it was necessary to conduct feasibility and envionmental studies to ascertain the profits expected to be made and recommend measures to avoid environmental depletion.

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Speaking for the host community, Igwe Okeke Arum lauded the state government for its readiness to embark on extensive agricultural revolution targeted at increasing the gross domestic product (GDP) of the state, assuring of their eagerness to provide more lands if need be.

“The people of Owo are happy and we are yearning for more projects like this to come to our land because it will bring in development and create employment for our people,” Igwe Arum said.