C’River May Lose Billions From Rice Seedlings To COVID-19, Ayade Tells FG, CBN

 Leadership | March 27, 2020

Cross River state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has lamented the state may lose billions of naira to the Coronavirus pandemic unless the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the federal government urgently stepped in.

Ayade told journalists at the Rice Seeds and Seedlings Factory in Calabar that before the outbreak of Coronavirus the Factory had received an order of N8.5billion worth of rice seedlings from the CBN for onward delivery to states.

According to the governor, the sudden outbreak of the global pandemic in Nigeria and the subsequent partial lockdown of the country has however, affected the evacuation of the seedlings which have since matured for transplanting, to farmers across the country.

He implored the CBN to indemnify Cross River against any monetary loss arising from the situation.

He said, “We have a massive order of over N8.5b from CBN through the rice program and through the anchor borrowers program and in partnership  with Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, RIFAN.

“Having made that order and having secured an LPO to procure and deliver to the various States of Nigeria for this dry and wet seasons rice farming, Cross River state has massively invested in the seed multiplication and seed cultivation to seedlings. Now, we are prepared and fully ready for delivery.

“You can see the massive expanse of seedlings that are ready for delivery now  but we have challenges of the off takers in line with the order that was made by CBN. This so because of lockdown  of states , lockdown  of the country”.

Continuing, Ayade pleaded with CBN and the federal government to ensure that the billions of Naira worth  of rice seedlings do not become waste.

His words:  “Please let us not allow this seedlings go to waste because of coronavirus. Federal government has to do something to protect the lives of these young seedlings, looking so fragile, so beautiful, so fresh and willing to change the landscape of agriculture, particularly the rice beneficiation process.

“It is my sincere commitment, it is my sincere wish and aspiration that CBN will appreciate the value on of the life of these seedlings. They have been brought into this world by the instrumentality of President Buhari’s policy thrust  on rice, please let them not die, let them be transplanted so that they can grow food, so that when we are off the coronavirus saga, we should be able to have food to eat. This is my prayer.”

Continuing, he said: “I call on the entire Nigeria to rise to this occasion. Coronavirus has caught up with the Cross River rice seed and seedlings business and  CBN has to come to our rescue.

“We cant afford to lose N3 billion plus. As a state, we have put in over N3 billion to do this investment  at this first phase.”