60 Years After, Abia Rubber Estate Host Community Allege Neglect

Leaders of Abia Rubber Estate host- community, Ndi Oji Abam in Arochukwu local government have said the community is yet to benefit from the estate 60 years after donating the land.

Speaking on the behalf during a courtesy visit to the state commissioner for agriculture, Monica Ironkwe in Umuahia, the capital, Herbert Okpi decried the condition of roads in the community.

They said they sincerely believe that the present administration in the state, going by its campaign promises and the steps it had taken so far, would address their complaints.

Assuring of their preparedness to work with the Alex Otti administration, they added that they believe that a good story is on the way for the estate.

“Previous administrations made promises about the estate that never saw the light of the day. I pray that the present will do the needful about our complaints,” they said.

They used the forum to congratulate Ironkwe for the appointment, assuring her of their interest to partner with the administration to achieve its agriculture agenda.

In her response, Ironkwe said the administration is ready to partner committed investors to recover and develop abandoned farm settlements, plantations and estates in the state.

The commissioner, therefore, appealed to farmers in the community to form cooperative societies to enable them access government assistance for imputs at subsidised rates.

“Let them form cooperative societies and come and register with us for us to know how to assist them. Our focus is to restore the glory of the state in agriculture,” she said.