AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, CHIEF/SIR T. A. ORJI (OCHENDO) GOVERNOR ABIA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL HAND-OVER CEREMONY OF ABIA RUBBER COMPANY LTD, TO IMONI-YAME HOLDINGS LTD, HOLDING AT AMEKE ABAM, ON THE 5TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2012
PROTOCOLS
DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
I am very pleased to be here today, to perform this significant ceremony, which concludes the official leasing and handing-over of Abia State Rubber Company Ltd, to a private operator, The Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd.
It is our hope that this hand-over will introduce greater efficiency in the management and utilization of the abundant rubber resources in this area, and to the benefits of the indigenes of this area and the entire State.
This ceremony we are conducting today is borne out of our firm belief that Government alone, cannot solve all the socio-economic problems of our citizens through its singular efforts, but must necessarily seek collaboration with the Private Sector in those relevant areas where shared investment with the State, can provide predictable catalysts to the engines of State development.
This has become necessary, if Governments at all levels are to speedily and adequately address the issue of high level of youth unemployment and hunger in our society. I see today, as signifying another milestone in our Administration’s effort to transform Abia State’s economy, through a more efficient collaboration with the Private Sector in transforming our agricultural Sector policies, for the creation of dependable jobs for our people.
Our Government arrived at the decision to lease the Abia State Rubber Company to Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd, after a thorough due diligence on the track records of the Firm.
The Company which was founded in 1987 has grown to become the foremost natural rubber export processing and indigenous Engineering Company in Nigeria. It was able to do this through discipline and committed growth; extensive development and cultivation of rubber plantations; strategic planning and committed execution of its operational vision.
Our Government has no doubt that this disciplined and honest private operator, has the resources, human and material, to perform optimally, and be a new source of wealth creation to all the stakeholders in the Abia State Rubber Company, and especially, become the new driving engine in the socio-economic and industrial development of our State.
I therefore urge the land donors of this Abia Rubber Plantations and the operators of this new enterprise, to work harmoniously with the core Investors to achieve high ideals, and where necessary, channel all disagreements and grievances arising in the process, to the State Government, so that sustainable peace and industrial harmony are ensured at all times.
I will also urge all parties to avoid any act that will be tantamount to black-mailing the core investors, when-ever disagreements arise, as our Government will always act decisively to protect both the interests of our citizens and the core investors, at all times.
Also, while our State Government will continue to create the enabling environment for private sector investment and partnership in our State to boost the State’s economic base, we expect investing companies to always stick to the terms of the Article of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
We will not hesitate to invoke the acts of Investors that breach their lease agreements, or those that embark on calculated attempts to exploit the lease assets without proper maintenance, or with wanton disregard of the interests of their operating areas.
Having said this, I want to thank everyone who worked tirelessly so that we could reach the level of collaboration with Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd, which we are celebrating here today.
The job of creating a new and a more progressive Abia State is a collective assignment, and failure is not acceptable to all of us as an option. Our Government will always be there to offer our support and encouragement to all committed investors and genuine farmers, who are the vanguards of our State agricultural revolution and transformation.
Our current disbursement of N1 billion Agricultural Loan facilities; our assistance in agro inputs and fertilizers to farmers; our provision of tractors and tractor heads at subsidized prices – which are now expanding farm lands in our State; and our planned Liberation Farms in all the 17 LGAs of our State, are eloquent testimonies that our Government desires to make agriculture the largest employment delivering sector in Abia State.
PROTOCOLS
DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
I am very pleased to be here today, to perform this significant ceremony, which concludes the official leasing and handing-over of Abia State Rubber Company Ltd, to a private operator, The Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd.
It is our hope that this hand-over will introduce greater efficiency in the management and utilization of the abundant rubber resources in this area, and to the benefits of the indigenes of this area and the entire State.
This ceremony we are conducting today is borne out of our firm belief that Government alone, cannot solve all the socio-economic problems of our citizens through its singular efforts, but must necessarily seek collaboration with the Private Sector in those relevant areas where shared investment with the State, can provide predictable catalysts to the engines of State development.
This has become necessary, if Governments at all levels are to speedily and adequately address the issue of high level of youth unemployment and hunger in our society. I see today, as signifying another milestone in our Administration’s effort to transform Abia State’s economy, through a more efficient collaboration with the Private Sector in transforming our agricultural Sector policies, for the creation of dependable jobs for our people.
Our Government arrived at the decision to lease the Abia State Rubber Company to Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd, after a thorough due diligence on the track records of the Firm.
The Company which was founded in 1987 has grown to become the foremost natural rubber export processing and indigenous Engineering Company in Nigeria. It was able to do this through discipline and committed growth; extensive development and cultivation of rubber plantations; strategic planning and committed execution of its operational vision.
Our Government has no doubt that this disciplined and honest private operator, has the resources, human and material, to perform optimally, and be a new source of wealth creation to all the stakeholders in the Abia State Rubber Company, and especially, become the new driving engine in the socio-economic and industrial development of our State.
I therefore urge the land donors of this Abia Rubber Plantations and the operators of this new enterprise, to work harmoniously with the core Investors to achieve high ideals, and where necessary, channel all disagreements and grievances arising in the process, to the State Government, so that sustainable peace and industrial harmony are ensured at all times.
I will also urge all parties to avoid any act that will be tantamount to black-mailing the core investors, when-ever disagreements arise, as our Government will always act decisively to protect both the interests of our citizens and the core investors, at all times.
Also, while our State Government will continue to create the enabling environment for private sector investment and partnership in our State to boost the State’s economic base, we expect investing companies to always stick to the terms of the Article of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
We will not hesitate to invoke the acts of Investors that breach their lease agreements, or those that embark on calculated attempts to exploit the lease assets without proper maintenance, or with wanton disregard of the interests of their operating areas.
Having said this, I want to thank everyone who worked tirelessly so that we could reach the level of collaboration with Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd, which we are celebrating here today.
The job of creating a new and a more progressive Abia State is a collective assignment, and failure is not acceptable to all of us as an option. Our Government will always be there to offer our support and encouragement to all committed investors and genuine farmers, who are the vanguards of our State agricultural revolution and transformation.
Our current disbursement of N1 billion Agricultural Loan facilities; our assistance in agro inputs and fertilizers to farmers; our provision of tractors and tractor heads at subsidized prices – which are now expanding farm lands in our State; and our planned Liberation Farms in all the 17 LGAs of our State, are eloquent testimonies that our Government desires to make agriculture the largest employment delivering sector in Abia State.
We will continue to encourage private sector investments in this area of our State economic activity, so as to truly banish youth unemployment in our State, especially in the rural grass-root environment.
We have today taken a visible step in this journey of enhancing the employment opportunities of our people, and the economic development of our State, through the efficient management of our agricultural resources.
It is therefore now my privilege and honor to formally hand-over the management and operations of the Abia Rubber Company to Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd, and in accordance with the terms of the subsisting Lease Agreement.
Thank you and God bless Abia State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
We have today taken a visible step in this journey of enhancing the employment opportunities of our people, and the economic development of our State, through the efficient management of our agricultural resources.
It is therefore now my privilege and honor to formally hand-over the management and operations of the Abia Rubber Company to Imoni-Yame Holdings Ltd, and in accordance with the terms of the subsisting Lease Agreement.
Thank you and God bless Abia State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
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