…promises more life touching projects in the area
Newsie Events:-
The member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, Rep. Unyime Idem, Monday September 12, 2022, flagged off the rehabilitation of the 75 years old Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR Sub station, located in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Performing the flag off of the rehabilitation, Idem decried the level of decay and abandonment that has visited NIFOR, a substation established in 1946 and was reputed to have played host to visiting Malaysian Agricultural experts in 1960. During the said visit the visitors took palm seedlings from the substation and today occupies the position of the second world largest producer of palm oil.
“Let me first and foremost appreciate God Almighty for granting us journey mercy to this place. We are here to flag off the rehabilitation of this money-making agricultural venture that has been allowed to rot away. This substation donated palm seedlings to the visiting Malaysians who now occupies the position of the second world producer of palm oil. I am informed that this station is the second best in Nigeria in terms of size after the station in Benin, Edo State, yet it was allowed to decay to this level”. Idem said.
The Ukanafun born Lawmaker added that when completed, the sub station will not only have its former glory restored but will guarantee massive employment, foreign exchange, food security, boost local economy and improve the living standard of the people.
“The potential inherent in this complex is massive. When fully operational, it will provide jobs for our teeming youths, provide raw materials for our industries, foreign exchange earnings for the country, food security, boost local economy and improve the living standard of the people. The crude oil we used to depend so much on in the past has failed us. It is time for us to look inward and harness the potentials of this place. We cannot have a place like this and our youths are idling away without jobs. I trust that the rehabilitation will be done in record time so our youths can be meaningfully engaged”. Idem added.
He appreciated members of his entourage for their unwavering support and for sparing time out of their busy schedules to attend the flag off exercise. He urged the host communities and the youths to always eschew violence, embrace peace and cooperate with the contractor to ensure that the rehabilitation exercise is hitch free and delivered on schedule. He also assured the host communities that pending issues in the memorandum of understanding with NIFOR will be given due attention. He promised to attract more life touching projects to the area.
In their separate speeches, the Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Pst Ekerete Inyang, the Paramount Ruler of Oruk Anam, HRM Obong J.J Obosi, Paramount Ruler of Abak, HRM Akuku Saviour Sylvester Udofia, and the Councillor representing the host community, Hon. Mbetobong Tom, charged the youths to be law abiding, peaceful, and team up with the contractor to ensure timely delivery of the project. They also lauded Rep. Idem for his developmental impact and for making the people proud as well as attracting life touching projects to the area. They said Idem has proved that a Lawmaker is not only known for lawmaking but for also for attracting projects to the constituency noting that Idem has done well in that regard.
Speaking on behalf of the Contractor, Cassel Construction Limited, the Project Manager, thanked the people for the warm reception and cooperation accorded his team. He assured that the project will be completed in three months.
Recall that in July 2019, Rep. Unyime Idem, performed his first official assignment as a Federal Lawmaker in the House of Representatives, when he moved a motion drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the decayed infrastructure at the NIFOR Substation, Oruk Anam LGA and called for resuscitation of the oil palm station to boost employment, wealth and living standard of the people. The House in its wisdom approved the prayers contained in the motion and urged the Federal government to act accordingly. The rehabilitation flag-off exercise is a direct consequence of the motion moved by Rep. Unyime Idem and duly approved by the House of Representatives in 2019.
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