NDDC acquires tractors to boost food production

Posted by admin Headlines, Niger Delta Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has procured over 100 tractors for distribution to state ministries of agriculture in the nine Niger Delta states to boost food production.

Managing Director of the Commission, Dr. Christian Oboh, in a chat with newsmen after inspecting the tractors in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that plans were in top gear to inaugurate 11 completed hostel blocks, out of 18, in various institutions of higher learning across the region, adding that the Ibeno Road, with a 600m span bridge and side-drains, in Akwa Ibom State, was ready.

On the tractors set for distribution, Oboh said that for Nigeria to tackle youth’s unemployment and to be self sufficient in food production, it must embrace mechanized farming.

He said: “We are determined to properly engage our youths in line with the transformation agenda of Mr. President through agriculture. To support this, NDDC has acquired over 100 tractors to support various ministries of agriculture in the nine states of the region to boost food production.”

He added that the Commission will partner government of the BRACED states, comprising Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states to establish rice farms.

“The building of hostels in various institutions of higher learning in the nine states is one of the legacies that I felt this current board would leave behind for posterity. When we came on board, these projects were in very bad shape and nearly all the reports of the various agencies had criticized NDDC for its poor state. But thank God, today, we have been able to deliver at least 11,” he added.

He commended some contractors working with the current board for timely execution of projects and advised those who are not serious to brace up or be prosecuted for non-performance.

-Vanguardwp_posts