Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has assured that his administration is committed to ensuring that the rich agricultural endowment of the state is developed, and made to become the economic mainstay of the state.
Speaking from his office in Calabar, when he received detailed report from the fact-finding committee he set up to look into the activities of ENG-HAUT Rubber Industries Limited, located at Uyanga in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, the governor reminisced about the prosperous era of Sir Michael Okpara, the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, when Oil Palm, Rubber and Cocoa were the mainstay of the region, which encompassed the present-day Cross River state.
He expressed confidence that his administration could rejuvenate the past glories, when Cross River was renowned as a state where agriculture was the economic mainstay, and all the potential of the rubber plantations, oil palm and cocoa endowments were fully operational and profitable for the state.
Governor Otu thanked the fact-finding committee, led by the Chairman, Major General Okoi Ubi Obono Rtd, who was represented at the report presentation by the committee’s Secretary, David Amlye Esq., noting that what they did, from the report presented, would have impact beyond the current generation.
The governor promised to critically look into their report, and the committee’s recommendations, in order to ensure that the steps to be taken would turn around the fortunes of the industry.
Speaking when making the presentation of the committee’s report to the governor, Major General Obono Rtd. told the governor that ENG-HAUT rubber industries limited owed the state over one hundred and seventy eight million naira, for non-payment of ground rent dating back to 2006.
The committee made six-point recommendations, including suggesting the revocation of the Right of Occupancy, by invoking the Sections 1 and 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
The committee also suggested that due process be followed in acquiring the company’s land, but where compensation was to be paid, the amount should be deducted from the accumulated ground rent owed the state government by Eng-Haut rubber industries limited.
