by By Ezechukwu Adimoha
In line with the community development agenda of Governor Alex Otti’s administration, the state government on Tuesday conducted a delegation of the Bulgarian government on a soil sampling tour of some communities in Abia North Senatorial Zone.
The delegation which includes the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yanko Yordanov and team of Professors from a reputable Bulgarian University of Agriculture.
Addressing members of the Enachioken Abiriba in council led by Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu and the Ohafia traditional Rulers Council at the palace of Ezieogo of Ebem Ohafia, Eze Ukoha Kalu Ukoha, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Yanko Yordanov said that they came to collect soil samples for investment in various Agricultural value chains.
He noted that apart from Agriculture, they are equally partnering the state in technological development, skills development, human capital development and will provide the state access to international market.
Speaking during the exercise, the leader of government team and special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem said that the visit was in line with the partnership between the state government and Bulgarian government to invest in areas that will be of immense benefit to the state, particularly in various Agricultural value chains.
Chief Inem noted that the proposed investment will lead to provision of needed tools for extensive mechanized farming which will automatically lead to food security, job creation, wealth and foreign exchange earnings.
“The visit of the Bulgarian delegation is of immense benefit to Abia state giving the discussions we are having with the Bulgarian government through the Ambassador to Nigeria who has facilitated a lot of interest with investors from Bulgaria in Agriculture and other economic approach”
“The whole idea about the investment we are jointly going to make is scientific in approach and by sending their experts to do soil analysis, it will help us to be guided in the type of crops that will developed”
He said that with the scientific analysis of the soil, it will be easy to determine the best crop that will give us maximum yield for both local and international consumption and to a large extent export to european markets as well as improve on our IGR” Chief Inem said.
Also Speaking, the Transition Committee Chairman and Mayor of Ohafia Local Government Council, Chief David Ogba – Onuoha said that Governor Alex Otti has through the initiative, demonstrated determination to raising the economic fortunes of the rural dwellers and assured that the local government will give the Bulgarian team the needed cooperation to succeed in their investment proposals.
Baring his mind, one of the prominent Sons of Abiriba kingdom, Chief Kelvin Jombo-Onuma said the Abiriba community is super excited to witness the new dawn under the present administration led by Governor Alex Otti and Chief David Ogba-Onuoha at the local government level.
He said that one of the major challenges of Nigeria is inability to produce in large quantity for export and expressed optimism that when the business ideas come to fruition it will encourage some business owners to bring their businesses home.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze and other government functionaries were part of the government team on the visit while the team later visited the traditional rulers of Nkporo.
