COVID-19: Cross River civil servants resume as government boosts agro drive

Governor Ben Ayade has directed all categories of civil servants in Cross River state  to return to work just as his administration  began to relax some of the restrictions put in place in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.  

The governor, who about two weeks ago recalled civil servants from grade level 10 and above back to work, has now directed all civil servants to return to work from Monday, May 4th, 2020.

A statement issued by Mr. Christian Ita, the Special Adviser to the Governor, reminded the returning civil servants that the ‘no mask, no movement’ order was still in full force and must be observed by them.

“Consequently, all the returning civil servants are therefore, to wear nose mask as they resume in their various offices,” the statement emphasized.

The statement said other restrictions such as border closures and ban on large gatherings, be it social or religious, remain in place. The measures, the statement added, will be reviewed as days go by.

In a related development, the Cross River state government is forging ahead with its Agro- Industrialisation drive in order to be able weather the attendant food shortage expected to hallmark the post coronavirus pandemic.

Governor Ben Ayade who stated this in Calabar at the weekend, explained that his administration was determined to make the state self -sufficient in food production, adding that “we are not resting on our oars  in our agro-industrialisation drive because of the likelihood of global food crisis after COVID-19.”

“In the face of the lock out of Cross River State, isolating Cross River State from the infiltration of  coronavirus into the state, we are aware that we have properly secured our external borders while allowing the economy to continue to run. It is against that background that I have come here to mobilize all our equipment to move to the field,’’ Ayade said.

Disclosing that the equipment were being moved to some of the farms in the Northern Senatorial district of the state, the governor explained: “The idea is that Cross River is already looking at the post Covid 19 era because we don’t want to be caught up in vortex of  hunger and food scarcity. Now that oil price has come to zero and even below the cost price, it is obvious Nigeria will have to move to agro dollar. Nigeria should be migrating from petro dollar to agro dollar and Cross River will be leading that process.”

While calling on African leaders to brace up for the worst and look inwards, Governor Ayade predicted that after COVID-19,  most countries will be concerned with feeding its citizens and will be unwilling  to export food items.

“It is obvious that most  countries will be very unwilling to export their food because they won’t have enough to even feed their own citizens. So, when it gets to that situation where our agrarian reserves are completely limited and we turn back and look at our harvest and it is nothing to write home about, what do we do? Therefore,  I am just looking into the future and saying look, Cross River State has to start the process of agricultural densification and putting our footprints on the ground to ensure that we create sufficient cultivation of our landmass.”

“For the massive land deforestation like in Akamkpa where there is a brand new massive rice farm we are doing the clearing work, definitely the equipments will be needed there,” the governor said.

Ayade also hinted that  another set of equipment were being deployed to the Cross River international airport in Obudu, located close to the Obudu cattle ranch.

“The airport will offer opportunities so that Cross River will be exporting ornamental flowers to Europe. To do that we need a temperate climate of about 11,000 feet above sea level which we have up the ranch. So Obudu Ranch will not only provide tourism, it is now going to be an agro-horticultural business hub, producing flowers and taking them to the cargo airport for export to Europe. If Kenya can make 9 billion Euros from exporting flowers, from 8000ft, then Cross River which has 11000 ft above sea level, should do better. We have the best temperate climate suitable for the cultivation of ornamental flowers.”

According to him, “We are doing all of this because we, as a state know that agriculture is the future and I say it as a timely warning to Africans and Nigerians that it is time for us to isolate Africa and look inwards.”

The governor expressed optimism that his administration’s huge investment in Agro-industrialisation and the expected handsome returns in terms of profits and job creation will rake in, will in no time mitigate the pains of Cross River losing its 76 oil wells.


Segun Fatuase
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