Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state on Wednesday while addressing Journalists during his first quarterly media interaction at the Press Centre, government house, Asaba, said the numerous clash between herdsmen and farmers in the country is a great threat to sustainable food production.
“If we are going to encourage agriculture in this country, we must address the loss of farm produce from these security challenges posed by the herdsmen/farmers clash. all over the country.” saying his administration took proactive steps, including setting up interventionist committees to ensure that the clashes does not escalate as being witnessed in some states of the federation.
Governor Okowa expressed confidence that the Presidential Committee set up on the issue will proffer solutions for the Federal Government to give policy trust for Nigerians to follow, stated that the issue of herdsmen taking over Uwheru community in Ughelli North local government area was being taken care of by security operatives as his administration will always employ diplomacy to avoid loss of life as a result of the activities of herdsmen.
On the issue of tractors being hired to farmers at exorbitant cost, Mr. Okowa expressed joy that most Deltans were into farming, noting that farmers’ co-operative societies took charge of the hiring of tractors, but promised that more would be procured to cater for those who could not access tractors being run by the co-operative societies.
Fielding question from Journalists on the taking over of land belonging to Umutu community by the Edo State government, the governor stated that the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has been directed to liaise with Umutu community as the issue was before the court.
On the issue of security generally in the state, Governor Okowa thanked Deltans for their peaceful dispositions which has ensured effective take off of the multi-billion naira Premium Steel Rolling Mill, formerly, Delta Steel Company, Aladja, attributing the performance of ground-breaking ceremony for the take-off of companies in the state and the flooding of the state by investors to the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
Okowa however observed that the state was peaceful, adding that his administration also, hold regular Security Council meetings to nip security challenges in the bud.
