In line with Governor Hope Uzodinma's vision to rehabilitate the Agricultural Sector in Imo State as part of his 3R agenda, His Excellency, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma has distributed over a thousand bags of fertilizer to Ngor Okpala farmers in this Covid-19 period in order to enhance food production in the LGA.

On Monday, September 14, 2020, the IMC Chairman, Ngor Okpala Local Government Council, Hon. Chief Mayor Obinna Nweke, distributed the bags of fertilizer to various Ngor Okpala Farmers Associations and the appellant farmers body, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Ngor Okpala Chapter.

The fertilizers were distributed free of charge to the famers.

Hon. Chief Mayor Nweke, flanked by Ngor Okpala Councillors, thanked Governor Uzodinma "for his outstanding gesture to Ngor Okpala on Farmers Fertilizer Initiative Programme." He applauded the Governor for providing over a thousand bags of fertilizer to Ngor Okpala farmers.

He described Governor Uzodinma as "a man that has weight in all spheres of life, including the agricultural input weight." He said that "with the level of preparedness and standard set by the Governor in the agricultural sector, certainly there shall be bountiful yield in agricultural produce during harvest."

Mayor Nweke explained that the fertilizers would be distributed to all Communities, Women Farmers Union, Men Farmers Association, Farmers Cooperative Association and All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Ngor Okpala Chapter.

The IMC Chairman concluded his address to the farmers by saying that he is "convinced that Ngor Okpala people are very pleased and happy with the Governor of Imo State for making a difference."

The Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council, Ngor Okpala LGA, HRH Eze Geoffrey Okoro (Oko 1 of Upe Autonomous Community) expressed his warm greetings to Governor Uzodinma. He thanked the Governor for sending trailer loads of fertilizer to Ngor Okpala farmers, describing the gesture as an extraordinary one. He said that the distribution of fertilizers to Imo farmers will go a long way in boasting farming activities in Imo State and Ngor Okpala in particular.

HRH Eze Geoffrey Okoro remarked that the distribution of fertilizers to Ngor Okpala farmers through the IMC Chairman, Chief Mayor Nweke is a monumental activity in Ngor Okpala LGA in the sense that the LGA has never witnessed such since her creation under the Imo State Government. He noted that this year's farming season will receive a peculiar boast in agricultural produce.

Also, HRH Eze Okoro described the IMC Chairman, Chief Nweke as the best Care-taker administrator since the inception of the LGA. Speaking on behalf of the Ngor Okpala Traditional Rulers, Eze Okoro assured the Governor of the full support of Ngor Okpala Traditional Rulers. Lastly, he blessed Governor Uzodinma and Mayor Nweke.

The Vice Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Owerri Zone, Imo State, Mr. Iwejuo A. Nnadozie, who witnessed the distribution of the customised bags of fertilizer to AFAN Ngor Okpala Chapter, thanked the Governor for sending fertilizers to their own group. He described the event as unusual considering what has been the farmers situation before now. Nnadozie pleaded with the Governor to make the Farmers Fertilizer Initiative programme a yearly event.

On his part, the Ngor Okpala LGA Coordinator, AFAN, Pastor Kennedy Okere, stressed that "this is the first time AFAN is receiving this type of Agric input in the LGA." He noted that Chief Nweke "is a very lucky person for the administrative narratives of the state to have taken a new shape in his dispensation as the IMC Chairman." He called on all Ngor Okpala people "to support our amiable Governor, His Excellency, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma and the IMC Chairman, Hon Chief Mayor Obinna Nweke."

Also speaking, the chairperson of Ngor Okpala Women Farmers Union, Mrs. Georginia Onyeulo, thanked the Governor for remembering Ngor Okpala Women Farmers Union during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

The Leader of the Council, Ngor Okpala Local Government, Hon. Remy Okere, expressed satisfaction with the governorship of Senator Uzodinma "and his wisdom in identifying the immediate needs of the state." Hon. Remy emphasised that agricultural and food production "are of immense priority to the state in this period."

The SA to the Chairman on political affairs, Hon. Nze Christian Nwaorgu, pointed out that Imo is now on the right track of development in all facets and for the Governor to have given a face lift in the Agricultural Sector in this period means that he is a visionary leader. Also he called on all Ngor Okpala people to support the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma and the IMC Chairman, Hon. Chief Mayor Obinna Nweke.

•PHOTO: Mayor Obinna Nweke (standing besides the bags of fertilizer) and other dignitaries after taking delivery of the consignment

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