FG hands over poultry cluster, motorised borehole to Isiala Ngwa community

It was a moment of joy as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Abia State office, last Wednesday, handed over a motorised borehole with overhead plastic tank to Umuomainta community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.

This is in a positive move to alleviate the problems and difficulties associated with hand pumps, which is described as energy sapping.

Speaking during the event at Umuomainta community center play field, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, said apart from the borehole, the Federal Government has constructed a poultry processing mill in the area which, according to him, excited the Abia State government to site poultry cluster, which will in turn feed the mill.

Ogbe, who was represented by his State Director, Deacon Ebere Simeon Oziri, said previously the Federal Government was constructing hand pumps for the communities but when it could not contend with the complaints associated with the hand pumps, it introduced motorised boreholes and appealed to the community to embrace the spirit of maintenance culture and ensure that the borehole will not be abandoned or vandalised.

He also appealed to the leadership of the community not to exploit the beneficiaries, pointing out that the Federal Government constructed the borehole to be free of charge, unless in a situation where the generator will need to be refueled, little amount of money should be introduced but not to the detriment of the beneficiaries.

Responding, traditional ruler of Umuomainta-Nbawsi, HRM Eze Christopher Ihemegbulam Ebere, expressed happiness that his community has benefited from the benevolence of the Federal Government.

He said: “We are happy to note that by the remembrance of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of our community, it is a clear indication that we are expecting a better dividend in future.

“May we request you to please mention us to other Federal Ministries as Umuomainta-Nbawsi as at today has no Federal nor State Government Secondary School. Water is highly essential to life, but we expect better amenities from other Federal Ministries”.

The monarch on behalf of his community promised to make good use of the borehole for the benefit of the Umuomainta community.

Speaking in the same direction, the traditional Prime Minister of the community, Oke Nze Obialor Wachuku and the Chairperson, Umuezenta village in Umuomainta, Dame Joy N.C. Nwogbe, said the first borehole was cited in the community in 1963 and served from then to 1993 before it broke down.

They praised President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for the project which they promised to maintain/sustain and appealed to FMARD to link the community to other Federal Ministries so that more dividends of democracy will be experienced in the community.

In his speech, the Chairman, Isiala Ngwa North L.G.A, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, represented by the Community Development Officer (CDO), Helen Ofiagu, said he was happy to have the project in his local government and expressed optimism that more projects from the Federal Government will come to Isiala Ngwa North.

The Umuahia branch chairman of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Victor Ihediwa, village heads, traditional prime minister, Nzes, elders, and Chiefs from the community graced the occasion.