Hon Armstrong Moses Takes Agricultural Revolution to Oro Nation, Visits core fishermen

Major Fishing beach in Oro Nation stood still Friday afternoon as Hon. Armstrong Moses and his Agricultural Monitoring and Sensitization Team Stormed the three major beaches in Oro nation to encourage Fishermen, Sea Food Traders and Fish Farming.

Receiving the Governor's Aide and his team unbehalf of Sea Food Marketers at Eyo Abasi fishing port, Esin Ufot Oro, the coordinator Akwa Ibom Youths in Agriculture and the Special Assistant to The Oron Local Government Transitional Council Chairman in Agriculture matters, Mr Ime Edet Effiong thanked the Governor's Aide for the visit, he said that the stead of decadence at the beach calls for urgent intervention and pleaded that Government should urgently come to their Aid.

Mr Ime Edet Effiong stated that Oro beach has the greatest trade and economic history in West Africa as Oro people were exporting crayfish to the Portuguese before the British colonization of the Atlantic. He lamented that today it is foreigners that are feeding on Oro River while the indigenes watch helplessly.

Mr Ime Edet lamented that there are many foreign ships in Oro seas fishing crayfish and other species of fishes and exporting them out of the state while they the indigenes watch helplessly as they could not afford the means to stop these aliens and they don't have the money to buy modern fishing trolleys and fishing ships to dominate the business.

Also Speaking, the President Akwa Ibom women in Agriculture Hon. Mrs Nkoyo E. Edet who led a three comparative Union leaders including the Sea Food Traders Association to the beach to receive the Governor's Aide Thanked GOD Almighty for the victory of our Governor Deacon Udom Emmanuel at the Supreme Court, she also thanked Hon. Armstrong Moses for being the first Government official to come down to the fishing pot to interact with the core fishermen.

The women leader stated some major challenges of the fishermen which includes, Capital, Lack of Access to upgraded Fishing Equipments, Security Challenges and Lack of A genuine insurance policy, on the security challenges she said Militants invades the beach on weekly bases, threaten them and make away with their monies and goods thereby instilling fear in the minds of fishermen.

Mrs Nkoyo Edet said that last week the Militants send a letter to the Mbo fishing community warning them from advancing into the high sea to fish, the woman leader lamented that the whole Oro high sea that is the richest in sea produce has been taken over by Militants as they made the sea their base thereby making it difficult for them to do business freely at the sea, she called on Government security agencies to come to their Aid by intervening in the situation.

The women leader also stated that the fishermen lack a basic means of preservation of their goods, she said fishing is seasonal, there are seasons that fishes are gotten in large quantities and there are also seasons where the fishermen experience scarcity of fishes, She narrated an ugly experience where fishermen will toil the sea fishing just to return to shore and buyers are not available immediately and the fishermen are helpless, instead of letting the fish waste they poured back the fish into the river. The women leader pleaded with government to help them build fish preservative plants at the major beaches at Oro Nation.

In his speech the oldest farmer in the area Apostle Peace Anwana Esin was so excited to receive the Governor's Aide he said he was one of those who benefited from the Government Scholarship to study Agriculture in Canada but on his return he was not impressed the way Agricultural Projects were treated in the State in the past but he is so grateful to GOD for the Vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel and his Agricultural Revolution project and pray GOD to Bless the Governor.

Hon. Armstrong Moses was so moved by the passion on the faces of the fishermen at the fishing ports, The Governor's Aide gave them encouragement from the State Governor Deacon Udom Emmanuel saying that the Governor on many occasions has openly stated his Administration's plan to change the fortune of Oro fishermen.

Hon Armstrong Moses assured them that Government is making plans to build preservative plants and beg them to continuously support the Udom Administration, The SA promised to visit the Ibaka burnt fishing port that was razed by fire few weeks back and report same to His Excellency.

Highlights of the visit was the SAs monitoring and inspection of the different sections of Oro fishing ports where he interacted with the fishermen encouraged them to keep faith that Governor Udom Emmanuel's Administration will surely change their current story and put a new song in their mouths.

- Moses Eskor