Rivers State Executive Council has approved the concession of existing
\nagricultural facilities in the state to investors who are interested in
\nbringing their expertise to bear in harnessing the potentials in the
\nsector.<\/p>\n
At its meeting held on Thursday, June 4, 2020, that held at Government
\nHouse Port Harcourt, which was presided over by the state governor,
\nNyesom Ezenwo Wike, the council said the decision is predicated on the
\nfact that the state is been driven to become the agricultural hub in the
\nsouth-south region.<\/p>\n
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Rivers State Commissioner for
\nAgriculture, Dr. Fred Kpakol said such investors will be expected to
\nindicate interest in any of the agricultural facilities existing in the
\nstate.<\/p>\n
He said there are fish farms and multi-crop school-to- land farms in the
\n23 local government areas of the state including the Songhai Farms that
\nare now available for investors who want to key into the agricultural
\nprogramme of the government to achieve food security and generate
\nemployment for Rivers people.<\/p>\n
The commissioner also said the name of the cassava plant at Afam, Oyigbo
\nlocal government area of the state has changed to Rivers Cassava
\nProcessing Company limited.<\/p>\n
Dr. Kpakol said the change became necessary because one of its partners,
\nDatco changed the name it used in 2011 on the contractual agreement,
\nwhich made it cease to be a recognized entity.<\/p>\n
According to him,\u00a0 the equity shareholding of the partners in the
\ninvestment still stands at 70% for Rivers State Government, Datco has
\n28% and SPDC 2%.<\/p>\n
Also addressing journalists after the meeting, the Rivers State
\nCommissioner for health, Professor Princewill Chike said after the index
\nCOVID-19 case was recorded, the state government had taken measures to
\ncontain the spread of the virus in the state.
\nThe success of those measures, he said, is evident in minimal spread
\nseen.<\/p>\n
Prof.\u00a0 Chike said the testing capacity of the state has also been
\nboosted with the acquisition of testing machine by the state government,
\nwhich now aids the collection of more samples daily.<\/p>\n
Commissioner for special duties,\u00a0 Dr. Thomas Bariere said the council
\nalso approved the opening of the Ogbum-nu-abali Fruit Market for daily
\nbusiness activities beginning from Monday 8th June 2020.<\/p>\n
He said allottees have been issued designated bank accounts into which
\nto pay the required shop allocation fees and any person who failed to
\npay within the stipulated time will risk losing ownership.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bariere stated that all traders and members of the public going to
\ndo business at the market must observe all public health and safety
\nstandards including the use of face masks.<\/p>\n
He said there will be handwashing facilities provided at the entrances
\nof the market for use by people going to do business there, including
\nthe use of hand sanitizers and physical distancing must not be
\ncompromised.<\/p>\n
On his part, Rivers state commissioner for information and
\ncommunications Paulinus Nsirim said the council has also approved
\nguidelines to adopt by members of the public who want to bury their
\nloved ones during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
He urged those who want to bury their loved ones to apply to the
\nministry of health to obtain the guidelines that have clearly spelled
\nout what they should do and the attendant sanctions to incur should they
\nviolate any of the guidelines<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rivers State Executive Council has approved the concession of existing agricultural facilities in the state to investors who are interested in bringing their expertise to bear in harnessing the potentials…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-news"],"yoast_head":"\n