OWERRI – The Imo State Government has called on communities experiencing setbacks in the `Palm to Palm’ project to report to the relevant ministry for swift resolution.
The Commissioner for Community Government Council, Culture and Traditional Affairs, Chief Val Mbamala, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri on Thursday.
He said the ministry had been working with the special adviser to the governor on palms and fruits on the ways to realise the project.
The commissioner said that guidance and technical assistance would be provided by the ministry to such communities.
“Some communities have not been able to start off this project because of minor setbacks; such communities are advised to report to this ministry with their issues so that we can provide the necessary assistance or direct them to appropriate quarters for prompt resolution of their problems,” he said.
He added that the ministry would meet traditional rulers in the state to ascertain communities which had not commenced the project.
Mbamala said the project would reduce the over-dependence on federal allocation and also make the Community Government Council self sufficient.
“Agriculture has become the mainstay of many countries; Gov. Rochas Okorocha was wise enough to release the benefits of having palm plantations in every community.
“By the time this project is fully realised, we will become less dependent on federal allocations; most communities can even survive only on their internally generated revenue,” he said.
The commissioner appealed to the communities to ensure that the grant of N300,000 from the state government was utilised judiciously.
“We appeal to the communities to ensure that the grant for this project is not diverted or used for any other projects, rather it should be used judiciously to achieve this goal,” he said. (NAN)