FG donates equipment to over 300 farmers, physically challenged, Bakassi returnees in Niger Delta

The federal government has flagged off free distribution of farming equipment, walking aides and other gadgets to the physically challenged and other less privileged persons in the Niger delta region. i

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Pastor Usani Uguru Usani while distributing the equipment in Calabar Monday, said the idea was to demonstrate the good intention of government to take care of the downtrodden, improve agriculture and food sufficiency in the region.

The minister, announcing the distribution formula said 120 Abgito Tillers would go to farmers in the farming communities of Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River state, 28 wheel chairs and crutches to physically challenged persons, while  96 sewing machines were allocated to tailors, 5 computer sets for 5 youth and 77 wrappers to the less privileged women.

Usani stated that the gestures would bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in the state and other states in the Niger Delta region, as more people in the region would soon benefit from such exercise.

The minister said modern farming equipment being given to the farmers would boost their morale and enhance improved food production and sufficiency in the area.

He said the beneficiaries should reciprocate the good gestures by supporting the programmes and activities of the federal government towards improving their livelihoods.

Earlier, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Aliyu Aminu Bisalla, represented by the director community development and education, Mrs Lauren Braide, said what the ministry was doing was among many strategies it had recently adopted to reach out to the people  at the grassroots in the Niger Delta region.

In his remarks, the Paramount Ruler Calabar Municipality, His Royal Majesty, Ndidem Patrick Inok Oqua Agbo v, represented by His Royal Highness, Etiyin Francis Effiom commended the federal government for impacting on their lives positively.

In a related development, while commissioning the Ministry’s Housing Estate at Ekpiri Ikang, Bakassi local government area of Cross River state, the minister announced that 30 units of houses would be allocated to the displaced people of Bakassi who could not afford houses for themselves while the undeveloped plots within the estate would be allocated to the traditional rulers and those who have been providing security for the estate over the years.

In his response, Chairman Cross River state traditional rulers council and Paramount Ruler of Bakassi, His Royal Majesty, Etim Okon Edet expressed gratitude to the federal government for giving succour to the  Bakassi returnees.

He called for total re-settlement of the displaced people of Bakassi as total re-settlement would end their agitation once and for all.

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