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Rubber can generate N200bn annually – NARPPMAN chairman
The Chairman of Natural Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPMAN) in Cross River State, Mr Umo Inameti, has said that natural rubber can generate as much as N200 billion every year for the state if it is given the necessary attention.
Inameti stressed the importance of rubber and the need for the state and federal governments to support it in order to boost the economy and reduce unemployment.
He said that if the state can cultivate 50,000 hectares of rubber in the next few years, it will drastically reduce rural-urban migration and generate about N200 billion in direct income to the state’s primary industries annually, not to mention the income from by-products.
Inameti said that since the oil boom, the state has not given the same attention to rubber, which used to be its mainstay years ago. He said that the state currently has less than 10,000 hectares of prime producing rubber due to the impact of the oil boom.
He also said that there used to be many rubber processing factories in the state, but currently, only Royal Farms, which started in 2018, is functional.
Inameti appealed to the government to add rubber to the state’s 2024 budget and to come up with a policy document to develop the commodity by making available at least 100,000 hectares of land for rubber cultivation.
The National Vice President South-South of NARPMAN, Mr Usen Umoh, also spoke on the importance of rubber and called for its development in the state. He reminded the commissioner of the promise of the state government to establish 50,000 hectares each for rubber, cocoa and oil palm, adding that if that was done, Cross River would be on its way to economic growth.
Mr Fidelis Obi, Managing Director Pamol Nigeria Limited, added that the rubber estates established by the colonialists had all been destroyed.
In his remarks, the commissioner, Ebokpo, said the state government has a strong desire to boost the local processing of natural rubber. He disclosed that Governor Bassey Otu had directed that agricultural commodities such as oil palm, cocoa, rice, cassava and natural rubber be effectively developed and processed in the state.
Ebokpo said that he intends to visit Royal Farms in Biakpan community where rubber is being processed for export and officially inaugurate it. He also said that he will meet with all the players in the rubber value chain to develop a policy document that gives clarity to the entire value chain.
Ebokpo said that the state administration is very serious about agriculture because it does not have a choice. He said that it is the evacuation of some of the produce that will make the state’s seaport work and boost the economy.
Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has voiced his concern regarding the disruption in electricity supply caused by the reported vandalization of four transmission line towers along the Jos-Gombe 330kV line.
The interruption, which occurred on April 22, 2024, has resulted in a complete blackout in the state for nearly three weeks.
During a press briefing held in Jalingo on Thursday, the governor, represented by his Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, Naomi Tanko Agbu, denounced the vandalism as senseless. He remarked, “These senseless acts of sabotage have not only compromised the reliability of electrical infrastructure in the North-East region but have also led to widespread inconvenience and hardship for our community, leaving millions in darkness.”
Governor Kefas also criticized the prolonged delay in resolving the issue, attributing it to what he perceives as neglect by the federal government towards Taraba State and the region.
He emphasized the vulnerability of the network serving the North-East region and advocated for the urgent implementation of a robust plan, such as the North-East ring circuit proposed in the TCN expansion plan, to connect the North-East to the South of Nigeria.
The governor urged residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities or individuals observed near transmission line towers or electrical facilities attempting to vandalize infrastructure. He highlighted that YEDC has provided contact information for whistleblowers to report such incidents.
Furthermore, he called on federal representatives from the state and the North-East region to investigate the prolonged delay in restoring power to the region.
Governor Kefas assured that the state government is fully committed to restoring normal electricity supply and implementing measures to prevent future acts of vandalism.
Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has returned to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to face charges of alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Sirika is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday (today) to face charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, regarding an alleged N2.7 billion fraud linked to the failed Nigerian Air project.
His arraignment is set to take place before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court.
Former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has returned to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to face charges of alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Sirika is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday (today) to face charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, regarding an alleged N2.7 billion fraud linked to the failed Nigerian Air project.
His arraignment is set to take place before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the FCT High Court.
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