The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has initiated steps on improving the business conditions of cattle and goat dealers, butchers and other legitimate businesses at the State Central Abattoir in Itam, Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom state.
This, followed an oversight visit undertaken by the House Committee on Agriculture and natural resources on Friday, 13 October, 2023.
Leading the team, the member representing Ibesikpo ASUTAN state.constituency and the Committee Chairman. Hon. Ubong Attah, said the oversight was in line with pastor Umo Eno's Arise Agenda to revolutionize Agriculture with the aim of increasing the value chain for overall improvement of Agricultural dividends in the State.
Attah encouraged youths to embrace agriculture to create employment opportunities for themselves.
" We will ensure that we generate revenue for the government and provide employment for the Youths, we are coming under Agricultural agenda of Pastor Umo Eno that seeks to provide job opportunities for the Youths through Agriculture.
"So am using this platform to call on all the Youths in Akwa Ibom State to embrace agriculture, the attitude of farmers must improve so that we can bring the dividends of agriculture to Akwa Ibom State and to increase the value chain, the chain in agriculture is very important, not just farming or trading, we have to explore other agricultural value chains among the commodities that we are engaging, wether goat, cow, oil palm, rice, beans among others" he said.
He enjoined all business operators in the facility, the indigenes and the Hausa community to maintain the existing peace between both parties for the generality of economic boost.
The Lawmaker lauded the State Governor, pastor Umo Eno for the successes recorded in Agricultural sectors and promised to channel the challenges that could impede business growth in the Abattoir to appropriate authority for remediation.
Attah called on Abattoir operators to ensure steady supply of livestock and other commodities from within and outside the State.
Welcoming the team, the Chairman, Butchers Association, Mr. Saviour Edem expressed gratitude to the delegation for the visit and Governor Umo Eno on the move to improving their wellbeing and solicited for a better working facilities, provision of soft loans/grants to ensure business sustainability.
He lamented lack of capital, access road, insufficient shades, trucks for goods convergent, excessive foreign livestock assistants as some of the challenges facing them.
On behalf of market women Association, Mrs Stella Akpan commended the State Chief Executive for empowering women in the State especially in the market sector and appealed for the renovation and expansion of central Abattoir to accommodate the growing number of entrepreneurs in the site.
On his part, the Chairman, Cattle Dealers and Livestock Association, Alhaji Mohammed Mijinyawa responding to the complaints of excessive foreign livestock assistants, revealed plans for Biometric registration of their workers to authenticate the real business operators to forestall any future breach of security and other miscreant activities .
Mijinyawa while appreciating the Akwa Ibom State Government for creating an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive, attributed the high cost of livestock to the country's economic challenges especially in the fluctuating foreign exchange rate.
Also present during the visit were committee members, including Hon. Dr. Nsidibe Akata (Representing Eket), Hon. Jerry Otu (Representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara), Hon. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot (Representing Etinan), Mrs. Mary Ukoette Bassey, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and legislative Staff
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