May 29, (THEWILL) – The Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Cocoa Development and Control, Dr. Oscar Ofuka, says the outgoing Governor of the state, Ben Ayade, brought stability to the cocoa sector of the state.
He said the payment of decades-old royalties by the government has created the enabling grounds for the revolution in the sector.
In his words, “Before now, Cocoa was treated as political largesse where anyone who wins elections shares it to those who supported him.
“We have a commodity that can transform Cross River State and let’s de-emphasise these politics in cocoa and make it an economic crop that can change the fortunes of the state.
“As it is now, the Governor of the State has excelled in the area of agric development, particularly cocoa production.
“As at two months ago, we have been able to pay N12.5 million, which was the money owed to landlords by the Liyel Imoke administration, but as at now, over N60 million has been paid.
“For the landlords, the days of coming to ask the government for rent is over and the problem has permanently been solved.
“With this, we expect increased revenue for the government as cocoa is a major foreign income earner, which can generate funds for the state.
“There will be wealth creation for families and massive employment generation in the sector, which is projected at 500,000 for direct and indirect labour.
“It will also foster peace building among the cocoa communities and their youths,” he said.
He said the present arrangement, which is part of the consent judgment, will have all payments for allocation paid into a SmartGov account and the money automatically split between the government and landlord communities.
He added that as part of the repositioning of the sector, about 30 million improved seedlings have been distributed in the three Senatorial districts of the state.
“In the south, we raised about 10 million seedlings and distributed to all Local Government Councils.
“In the centre, we distributed over 10 million seedlings also and distributed where the Deputy Governor was there to flag off.
“In the north, we raised about ten million seedlings, which was flagged off by the late Uti Jedy Agba,” he said.
He added that they have been able to recover 32 hectares of land that government officials illegally ceded to an individual in Etung.
He added that they have been able to settle all obligations and there are no cases in court again, particularly bordering on royalties.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
