By Gladys Nweke
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, says the State Government is
ready to partner investors in revamping moribund state owned
agro-firms as a way of creating employment and boost food production.
Speaking during an inspection visit to Siat Nigeria Limited
(FormerRison palm) at Ubima recently, Chief Wike said that through
commercial agriculture more than 10000 youths will be gainfully
employed in the coming months.
He said that the Rivers State Government will partner with Siat
Nigeria Limited to revive Delta Rubber, which has been moribund for
years.
The governor therefore directed the Commissioner of Agriculture,
Barrister Onimim Jack to commence immediate discussion with the
company over the privatization of Delta Rubber Company.
He said: “With the commitment that Siat Nigeria Limited has shown in
the revival ofRison palm, we believe that the company will make Delta
Rubber functional once again.
“With 5000 persons already employed by Siat Nigeria Limited (Rison
palm), we believe that the privatization of the Delta Rubber will
also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”
The governor noted that commercial farming estates in Bori would also
be privatized for the creation of jobs for Rivers youths.
Earlier, the Chairman of Board of Directors of Siat Nigeria Limited,
Mr Vandebeck said that since the take over of the facility in 2011,
the company has made substantial investments which has led to the
emergence of a state of the art oil mill, with fruit bunches being
harvested in commercial quantity both in Ubima and Elele palm
estates.
He added that the company also purchases fruit bunches in large
quantities from private farmers within the catchment area.
Also speaking, Mr Flex Nwobuko said that Ubima and Elele Plantations
have been cleaned up and first class maintenance operations and
practices constantly applied.
He noted that the replanting of Elele estate old palms has commenced,
with 2700 hectares already completed, while another 1700 has been
planned for 2017.
