Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to President Bola Tinubu on Community Development, Mrs Chioma Nweze, has said that the Federal Government will partner South-East Governors to end insecurity and develop the region.
Mrs Nweze made the disclosure shortly after the official handover of agricultural equipment to IFAD beneficiaries in Onuebonyi, Ebonyi State.
She maintained that agriculture is one of the policy trust of the Federal Government to end insecurity and boost food security in the South-East.
She said: “Mr. President is interested in what happens at the grassroots level. The President has recognised that communities are the strength of the nation. When the people in the communities are strong, that means the government is strong.
“This IFAD programme will end in a year plus. We are sure that with what we are seeing and the positive impact/ benefits, the programme will continue and we are going to expand it.
Mrs. Nweze during a courtesy visit to Governor Francis Nwifuru urged states to release more funds for agricultural programmes at the grassroots.
She commended the Ebonyi State Government for the release of N100 million naira to IFAD as the state’s counterpart fund.
”I encourage states to release more funds to IFAD because IFAD is about the people in the grassroots, the communities. The beneficiaries shouldn’t eat their seed money, there was a time they gave people rice to plant and they ate it. Once you plant, you will reap.
“The more you plant, the more you reap. The next generation of billionaires are going to be agriculturists. The people that are going to make money in this country are people who take agriculture to the next level.
“The President wants to remove all these beggars from the streets. He wants to remove them so that we can go into agriculture. If you want to go into fishery, poultry, etc, we are there to help, so that you can be self-sustainable.
Governor of the State, Rt. Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, called on the Federal Government to site more projects in the State.
He said it has become worrisome that no Federal Government project is currently going on in the state, describing it as unacceptable.
He made the call when he received in audience, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Development, ( South-East) Barr. Chioma Nweze.
“It is unfortunate that currently no Federal Government project is going on in Ebonyi State, that is the number one thing we plead with you to tell Mr. President.
“Even the Teaching Hospital we handed over to them is not functioning optimally, including the David Umahi University of Health Sciences.
“As it stands now, Ebonyi State Government is giving the university One Hundred Million Naira every month to sustain the institution.”
The Governor congratulated Barr Nweze on her appointment and encouraged her to become good Ambassador of the State by putting in her best on the job.
The governor assured the Senior Special Assistant of support of the government and people of Ebonyi to enable her succeed.
