By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The moribond Multi Million Naira Akwa Prime Hatchery owned by Akwa Ibom government may soon experience a new lease of life as the state government has promised to look into the challenges of the company.
The hatchery was established by Akwa Ibom Government a few years ago but was later leased out to an investor who was said to have failed to break even leading to the suspension of its operations as it could neither produce any of the poultry products expected nor run the hatchery profitably.
At the inauguration of the hatchery, it was expected to meet the poultry needs of the people by producing poultry products including eggs and being able to produce day-old chicks for poultry farmers in the state.
Governor Umo Eno gave this indication during a media interaction with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Uyo.
Eno who decried the low private sector participation in businesses in the state by indegenes however promised to revisit the project with a view to reactivating it to enable it to meet the poultry needs of the people.
“We can get the private sector to be interested in the hatchery project,” and expressed hope that it would be revitalised as the cost of poultry products had reached an all time high in the state.
Speaking on the high cost of food items, he said the Bulk Purchase Agency, established by the State Government was not meant to lower the prices of food items, adding that it was meant for the most vulnerable people in the society.
Governor Eno said the solution to the high cost of food prices was that ‘’all of us need to return to fhe farm,’’ adding that if everyone has a farm to cultivate basic food crops, prices would witness reduction.
He said it was unfortunate and unacceptable for Akwa Ibom to depend on food items such as garri from other States of the Federation when it is blessed with an arable land for cassava.
Last month, the State Government declared every first and last Friday of the month as work free days to enable civil servants engage in agricultural activities.
