The Federal Government at the weekend promised to create an enabling environment that will bring back the fortunes of the Cross River Basin Development Authority.
Adamu Suleiman, minister for water resources, disclosed this in Calabar after embarking on a tour of the basin authority.
He described the damage done to the authority as huge but promised the Federal Government’s commitment to getting the authority back to normal operation.
“The main purpose of the visit is to access the attack that was done to the Cross River Basin Development Authority head office here in Calabar. I came to see for myself the extent of damage, engage with the staff and encourage them not to despair.
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“It’s certainly not a simple thing, not just an issue of vandalism, the whole structure of the River Basin has been affected.
“We are here to encourage them and give them the necessary support. One of the key focus areas of the ministry is to revitalise the River Basin Development Authorities to make them the focus of agriculture, food security and integrated rural development”, he said.
Suleiman noted that the flag-off of the dry season farming was a sign that the Cross River Basin Development Authority was not relenting but forging ahead with its mandate.
Earlier, the managing director of the basin authority, Bassey Nkposong, said property worth billions were looted, vandalised, burnt and totally destroyed, but added that the authority was not deterred by the destruction suffered.
Nkposong said the dry season cropping which has been flagged off, would engage 1500 farming families, create jobs for 2500 youths and provide skill acquisition for 100 young graduates.
As part of his visit to the state, the minister paid a courtesy call on the Obong of Calabar where he sought the monarch’s support in handling the aftermath of the ENDSARS protest.
