Efio-Ita Nyok|25 September 2017
Mr Wabilly Nyiam, a member of the national Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) recently bore his mind on a handful of topical issues particularly as it affects Nigeria and his home state, Cross River ranging from agriculture and human development, restructuring, infrastructural development and sustainable domestic paradigm of development amongst other issues. In this issue however, NegroidHaven will highlight on his perspectives as it concerns agriculture and human development.
For Nyiam, any development model that does not translate into putting funds into the pockets of the citizenry is a far cry from development. Accordingly, he questioned the benefits of the monorail linking Tinapa and the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC). He also challenged the overall benefits of the famous Obudu Cattle Ranch to the ordinary Cross Riverian. For him, in so far as indigenes and residents of the state that visit the Ranch are less than 10%, then the recreational facility is of no use to Cross Riverians. According to him, 'Look at the Ranch, I want to authoritatively say that, not up to 10% of Cross Riverians have been up the ranch …You need to think of a situation where you put funds in the pocket of the people, it's only when the people are comfortable, that they go for recreation.
'the Obudu Ranch, for instance, when it was still viable, if it's records 1000 visitors, you will discover that 10% of that or less are from Cross River State, so, you start asking, of what use is that when you create a facility that the indigenes cannot access?'
For Nyiam, When government involves itself in business with the people, it will not want to sabotage its investments, and the people will also jealously protect their deal with government.
Agriculture and human development…
Concerning agriculture and human development, Mr Nyiam noted that there's suppose to be a mutual beneficial relationship between the government and the people —that is, the farmers.
Haven challenged the benefit of the monorail; the ranch, and a host of other elitist programmes in Cross River, because it is not patronised by even 10% if the indigenes and residents and to that extent useless, he proposed a situation where government involves itself in agro-business with the people.
For Nyiam, government can benefit from agriculture. Now, since land preparation is capital intensive, government can wade in by fragmenting it into hectares; upon fragmentation, she leases it to the citizenry, provide the necessary financial inputs and at maturity of agro-products buys it from the farmers. Through this method of providing the enabling financial and otherwise environment, according to Nyiam, the duo of farmers and partnering government make money.
His words, 'One of the most expensive part of agriculture is land preparation. The government fragments the land into hectares. Lease them out to the citizens. Give them the necessary agricultural inputs. On maturity, the government buys back the products.
'The government should create the enabling environment and possibly source for finances for the farmers. The farmers are making money and you the government can look for the best market. And the government is increasing his revenue.
Kebbi: instantiation of government and the people in mutual agro-business…
Nyiam continues, 'I give you an instance of Kebbi State, the Governor has transformed every available land into a rice farm. In fact, the zeal and interest is such that when you see the manner in which they plant rice close to their houses, you start thinking if they are regretting why they built the houses, honestly, you know… And what is the impact?
'The Governor told me that, before he took over as Governor, not up to 400 person from Kebbi state could pay for the Hajj out of their pockets; but, after the first, second years, over 5,800 persons paid out of their pocket. What does that mean, that he has been able to put money in the pockets of the citizen.'
I think, the government of Cross River can take a cue from the Government of Kebbi State under His Excellency Abubakar Atiku Bagudu particularly as it borders agriculture.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven
