The Central Bank of Nigeria has expressed satisfaction with the level of commitment shown by the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led Abia State Government in the implementation of the ‘Poultry Chain’, an Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) by establishing the Abia State Poultry Clusters at Umuosu, Umunna Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North LGA.
The Head, Development Finance Office of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ogbuagu Camillus who made this known to Abia Online after joining the Project Monitoring Team (PMT) that inspected the project, described the achievement of Governor Ikpeazu as a sign that other clusters would soon take off too.
Mr. Ogbuagu explained that the project was the pilot scheme and is among the facilities the CBN extended to the State Government to provide a minimum of 1000 jobs. He assured that with what has been done so far, Abia State would be able to create more thousands of jobs for her people.
According to him “With this, the State has an opportunity to create many other thousands of jobs. But without this one being implemented, that window will not be opened and that is why we are so much happy that they (the State) are meeting up with the first requisite of this scheme for them to be able to access as many funding as possible, as they want in this poultry chain; Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, is one of the keys to make sure that massive employment is created across the country and Abia State has keyed in and it is very impressive.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Project Monitoring Team and Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji has described the level of preparedness of the State Government in the project as a sign that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is committed to ensuring that Abians get a lease of life, creating employment opportunities, driving the vision of government in Agriculture and encouraging the youths to key into his Agricultural revolution in the State.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Barr. (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne, he listed the facilities on ground to include: sixty-nine poultry pens (42 of which houses 1000 capacity of birds while 27 houses 500 birds), as well as a multipurpose magnificent administrative block.
Prof. Mgbeoji advised the beneficiaries of the first phase of the programme to see it as a rare opportunity for them to utilize effectively, adding that with the knowledge gained, their capacity would be built and the starter pack they would get would give them the empowerment they need to start their own poultry business.
The Commissioner used the opportunity to explain that the state government has started the process of tackling the flooding issue affecting the project site with the mobilization of a Grader to re-channel the water ways.
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