Cross River Govt. receives report on activities of rubber Industry
Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has expressed his commitment to ensuring that the rich agricultural endowment of the state is developed and becomes its economic mainstay.
Otu made the commitment when he received the report of the fact-finding committee on activities of the Eng-Haut Rubber Industry in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state in his office on Thursday in Calabar.
He noted that in the past, oil palm, rubber, and cocoa were the mainstays of the region, which encompassed the present-day Cross River.
He pledged that his administration would rejuvenate the agricultural potential of the state by enhancing the production and processing of rubber, oil palm, and cocoa, making it profitable for the state.
According to him, Cross River was renowned as a state where agriculture was the economic mainstay and all the potentials of rubber, oil palm, and cocoa were fully operational and profitable in the state.
“I thank the retired chairman of this fact-finding committee, Maj.-Gen. Okoi Obono, because what they did in the report presented would impact the state beyond the current generation.
“I promise to critically look into the report and the committee’s recommendations in order to ensure that the steps to be taken will turn around the fortunes of the industry in the state.”
In his remarks while handing over the report to the governor, Obono said that Eng-Haut Rubber Industries owed the state N178 million for non-payment of ground rent dating back to 2006.
Represented by the committee secretary, Mr. David Amlye, he said that the committee made a six-point recommendation, which included the revocation of the right of occupation, by invoking Sections 1 and 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
He also said that the committee was of the view that due process be followed in acquiring the company’s land.
He added that where compensation was to be paid, the amount should be deducted from the accumulated ground rent owed the state government by the rubber industry.
