Six communities in Niger Delta get cassava processing plants
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA) has handed over six completed Cassava Processing Plants to the benefiting communities in the Niger Delta regions in keeping with the present administration’s resolve to complete all ongoing projects in the region.
The Minister, Usani Uguru while handing over one of the projects to the people of Mbutu community in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State recently stated that the completion of the project was a challenge to the members of the community to intensify efforts in the production of cassava in order to have more to process.
Usani who was represented by the Deputy Director, Economic Empowerment Department in the Ministry, Mr Philip Ndiomu also said “the more cassava you have to process through this facility, the more your economy will continue to grow.”
He added that the facility was intended to produce Gari, starch and cassava flour; urging the people to protect the Project with a view to reap all the benefits it was intended for.
Usani also charged the people of the communities to cooperate with the Federal Government in its resolve to bring more development projects and programmes to the region.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary communities, the leader of the Mbutu community, Eze Nwaigwe Demia said the plant would create employment for the women and youth in the area, as some of them would be trained in the handling of the equipment thereby getting them empowered.
He urged the Federal Government to help the community in ensuring that the output from the Cassava plant got the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) certification adding that the government should assist them with take up grant for the takeoff of the Cassava Processing in the area.
Other benefiting communities in the region are Okweketa Umuekwune in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State; Ibeku Village, Umuahia, in Abia State; Wanakom in Yala Local Government Area, Cross River State; Gbarantoro, Epeiama in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and Bah Lueku, Nyokalena Village in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.