Ebonyi State Government Calls For Permanent Borders Closure

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Ebonyi state Governor, Engr. David Umahi has expressed delight over the closure of Nigeria borders saying it has  made Abakaliki Rice appreciate credibly across the globe.

Governor, Umahi who described farmers as successful, independent and worthy persons who are contribute and bear the vision of State, prayed that the borders would remain permanently closed so as to prevent the importation of foreign rice and other illegal products into the country.

Governor David Umahi stated this while declaring open the USAID sponsored Agribusiness Finance and Investment Summit, held at Osborne La Palm Royal Resort, in Abakaliki.

The Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government and Coordinating Commissioner, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala lauded the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID) for identifying and choosing Ebonyi State among the seven states of the federation that qualified for participation in the summit.

Governor Umahi further maintained that Ebonyi State was the only state in the South East region selected by USAID to partake and benefit from the feed the future programme, stressing that agriculture is alternative to zero oil agenda.

According to Umahi, the said programme would offer Ebonyi farmers the opportunity to interact with skilled farmers, as well as enable them go into peer review mechanism.

The Ebonyi state Chief Executive noted that USAID value chain captured Ebonyi State agricultural mainstay, hence Ebonyi Rice is the best in the local and international markets, adding “its nutritional content is unsurpassed in the market. I want to thank you for the partnership and also recall that late we were here last year for the same programme too. And each time I look at your concept “Feed the Future” we know that you are thinking ahead of us”, he said.

“Just like the stakeholders in agriculture earlier point that “No food, no nation” I want to thank the USAID for the beautiful initiative that gathered well meaning Ebonyians to this particular summit to brainstorm on how to feed the nation. Your programme, as a matter of fact, is in line with our vision where everybody is committed to a meaningful venture in agriculture”, he narrated.