Governor Ben Ayade’s economic vision for Cross River State will crystallise next week as President Muhammadu Buhari will next Tuesday commission the multibillion naira automated rice seed and seedlings factory in Calabar.
The factory, according to a statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Christian Ita, is the first of its kind in Africa.
“Cross River State Government is happy to announce that His Excellency, the President and Commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, commission our ultra-modern, fully automated rice seeds and seedlings factory in Calabar, “ the statement reads in parts.
Reputed to be the first in Africa, the factory which is also a seed multiplication centre, produces high-yield, disease resistance and vitaminised rice seeds and seedlings.
The facility is of one many investments made in agriculture by the Ayade led administration in keeping with his commitment to decouple the state from federal allocation through non-oil sources.
Speaking on the project recently, Governor Ayade said the state was capable of generating at least N70 million from the factory every year if given federal government support.
“When I told Cross Riverians that my ambition was to restructure the state and free it from over dependence on federal allocation, I truly meant it because with projects like this; we are going to generate more revenue for the state,” he said.
We assured that when it goes into commercial operation, the factory will produce seed and seedlings that will be natural with no chemical added.
The governor expressed joy “that Cross River is on the path of independence even after we lost our oil wells unjustifiably. We now have a world-class investment that needs federal government’s patronage”.
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