The Chief Executive officer (CEO) of NIger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA)prince Ebitimi Amgbare said the agency have revived the moribund peremabiri rice farm which is capable of feeding the whole nation if properly harnessed.
He said despite negligence by several administration’s and government, his administration within a year was able to reactivate and revive the rice farm.
So far there are so many local activities ongoing at PEREMABIRI RICE FARM he stated.
Prince AMGBARE who gave a graphic analogy of his one year scorecard reiterated that they are working with Rice farmers associations in Nigeria to achieve this feat.
It would be recalled that PEREMABIRI RICE FARM existed before the Civil war which was abandoned for decades,the rice farm can be cultivated all year round that is thrice yearly.
He said investors willing to take over the farm have shown interest tremendously.
‘We are leveraging so much on partnership whereby the Niger Delta region is set for business in this area of rice production,cattle rearing,piggery,integrated massive production of pigs.
[9/28, 2:13 PM] Savannah New: Prince AMGBARE informed that what the pig is to the Niger Delta people is what cows is to the fulani people of Nigeria.
Commenting on fishery,he maintained that fisherman have received a huge boost from the agency as they have been really supported with fishing nets,canoes,to ensure that they grow the local economy which will curb rural urban migration.
He recalled that he assumed office on 14th May 2024 and when he got in to assess the facilities of the agency he discovered that the agency predominantly have agricultural mandate.
He applauded his team for their proactive stance in providing drainage to channel water to canals for agricultural development .
When they realized that they have wonderful access for the provision of food which he discovered was moribund they brought in the private sector in the business of agriculture.
So far three of the agency farms are to be managed by the private sector, the songhai farm over sees their farms situated at isiopko,kalabari all in Rivers state.
“We brought in the private sector who signed the required documents, I took them to songhai Portonovo Benin republic, so commercial agriculture can thrive if we apply songhai methodology. “
He announced that within one year in office he has strategically positioned the agency to dominate the ocean for fish sufficiency from portharcourt in less than one hour you are in the ocean, portharcourt, bayelsa,Delta to the fishing ground.
He informed that the agency is facing myriad of challenges in the areas of clean drinking water, which is one of the sustainable development goals attributing their inaction due to low budget which cannot give clean water.
‘The Niger Delta environment is a peculiar one because the people defecate,urinate on the water.”
‘It is so worse that even the cemetery the flood exhumed corpses from the cemetery.”
The budget for affordable clean water is huge and enormous, the agency can not carry it,the agency operates within eight local government of bayelsa, Delta and Rivers state as their catchment areas of operation he stated.
Prince Ebitimi AMGBARE outlined that the health of the ocean is the collective wealth of all the people hence they are clearing all the rivers which is so expensive calling on the polluters of the water ways to pay the damages, the IOCs must also pay.
On the welfare of the agency workers their moral are high and they are happy.