An Expert in the field of agriculture, Engineer Muzan Umor, has thrown his weight behind the current move by the Rivers State Government to lease out the Delta Rubber Company to a private firm.
The Agricultural Engineer who spoke in Port Harcourt on Thursday affirmed that the Delta Rubber Company would fare better in the hands a private company than what the state could achieve with it.
Engineer Umor stated that experience has shown that several ventures by past governments in running agricultural enterprises failed, recalling that the demise of such ventures as the Rivers State-owned School-To-Land Authority.
Last week, the Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, expressed the state government’s willingness to lease the Delta Rubber Company to a private firm. He spoke during a working visit to the oil palm estate (SIAT) formerly known as Risonpalm, in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State.
He said that the Rivers State Government would partner with SIAT Nigeria Limited to revive Delta Rubber which has been moribund for years.
The governor reiterated his commitment to the creation of jobs for unemployed youths in the state through the promotion of public/private partnership in commercial agriculture.
The governor said that through commercial agriculture more than 10000 youths would be gainfully employed in the coming months.
“With the commitment that SIAT Nigeria Limited has shown in the revival of Risonpalm, we believe that the company will make Delta Rubber functional once again.
“I direct the Commissioner of Agriculture to open up immediate discussion with the company over the privatisation of Delta Rubber.
“With 5000 persons already employed by SIAT Nigeria Limited (Risonpalm) we believe that the privatisation of the Delta Rubber will also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs,” he said.
The governor noted that commercial farming estates in Bori would also be privatised for the creation of jobs for Rivers youths.
Recall that the former Risonpalm was leased to a Belgian Company, SIAT, in 2011 for a period of 35 years by former Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
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