Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has inaugurated a task force charged with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms as diversifying the economy of the state becomes inevitable.
Governor Fubara said, during the event in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, that solving the challenges of food shortages and providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the state are reasons great care was taken to critically look at the prospects of reviving the farms, in partnership with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, also reveals that the task force, under the chairmanship of Mr. Biedima Oliver, has members that include the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Victor Kii, and Commissioner for Finance. Others are Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo and Mr. Maurice Ogolo.
It also states in parts: “It took us time to approve the constitution of this task force because of the ugly experience with the previous group that showed such interest. A process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task”.
“As a matter of fact, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and believing that he has the capacity, we okayed it and we had already signed up. But he came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee.
“We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement”, he said.
Fubara further said, “Now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, I am delighted and hoping to see them meeting that expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
“That expectation, he insisted, is also what my administration wants to see actualized within its lifespan. We want to see food sufficiency because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.
“Although I believe in the presentation made by the group and have taken their assurance to heart, I hope your story will not be (ended) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical know-how to handle it. It is not when we start now; after we have finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2 million. If we have $2 million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
The governor, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the Task Force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
His words, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
He added, “Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force, Mr. Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
He assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms and do so as scheduled so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
