Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has called upon Nigerians to embrace agriculture as a long-term solution to the challenges posed by the removal of fuel subsidies. His remarks were made during the September edition of the monthly Covenant Service at the Government House Banquet Hall in Uyo, as reported by NAN.
Governor Eno urged the populace to wholeheartedly support the agricultural revolution outlined in the ARISE Agenda blueprint of his administration by returning to farming. He emphasized that agriculture holds the key to alleviating the current hardships caused by the elimination of fuel subsidies.
The Governor clarified that he was not leading a state dependent on government hand-outs for survival, underscoring the need for Akwa Ibom residents and Nigerians in general to engage in agriculture at various levels to boost food production in the country.
Governor Eno stressed that his administration had taken measures to reduce the cost of governance by curbing excesses and reinvesting the savings to address pressing intervention needs in society. He emphasized the importance of self-reliance and the cultivation of agricultural ventures.
He noted, “Times are tough, but the question is how long can we rely on palliatives? The answer is, how can we help ourselves? We have arable land everywhere and favourable weather conditions. The most viable solution is for us to get back to work, to return to agriculture.
This isn’t a communist country where you wake up to find provisions in front of your house. Agribusiness is a serious endeavor, and our youth must get involved. This is what will truly aid us. All these interventions can only provide temporary relief. If you receive a bag of rice today, you’ll eventually consume it. Will you keep coming back, waiting for the government to provide more? In all honesty, we cannot sustain such a model.”
Governor Eno also revealed that the State Government had procured 100,000 bags of rice at a cost of N40,000 each. Additionally, they received 7,200 bags of rice and N2 billion from the Federal Government. He announced that each of the 2,772 villages in the state would receive 40 bags of rice as part of these efforts.
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