Members of the Imo House of Assembly have expressed unreserved concern about acute food shortage across states of Nigerian federation, with fears about food sufficiency in Imo.
This is as the lawmakers have passionately charged the state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, to take urgent measures to reactivate and expand the production of the naturally endowed Ihitte-Uboma rice production industry.
Adopting a motion chiefly sponsored by the house member for Ehime Mbano, Hon Bernard Ozoemena in conjunction with nine other members of the house, the house said that the thickly populated Ihitte-Uboma local government area is blessed with an abundant natural rice belt.
Hon Bernard Ozoemena in moving his motion on the floor of the house, observed, ” massive investment in Ihitte-Uboma rice farming and production with provision of standard rice mill located within the rice farm, will provide massive jobs for youths, reduce social vices, restiveness, guarantee improved food sufficiency as well as attract investors via the private public partnership (PPP) to Ihitte-Uboma, Okigwe zone and entire Imo state”.
He called on the house Members to urge the state governor to consider massive investment in the Ihitte-Uboma rice industry adding that the area is naturally endowed with the best natural rice belt in the entire Nigerian nation.
” The shared prosperity government of Gov. Uzodimma has shown capacity in developing different sectors in Imo state, ranging from education, sports, youths development, works and housing, agriculture, and other.
“ To fully realize the cardinal objective of the shared prosperity government in the area of agriculture which is, positioning Imo state as one of the food basket states in Nigeria, it is very important to invest massively in rice farming and production, with focus on the abundant natural rice belt in Ihitte-Uboma local government area”, Hon Bernard Ozoemena stated.
Members of the house from across the three senatorial districts of the state during the exhaustive deliberations on the motion commended Ozoemena, describing the motion as most relevant and timely.
When the Speaker of the house, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe asked if any member of the house had reasons to kick against the motion, there was no dissenting opinion.
Thus, the motion sailed through successfully as a resolution of the house, with a call on Uzodimma to act on the resolution with dispatch, especially, at the commencement of this year’s farming season.