ICYMI: Governor Otu Flags Off Distribution Of Boats To Fishermen

By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent 

The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu has flagged off the livelihood component of the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) program with the distribution of boats to fishermen and riverine communities of the state.

While presenting the items to beneficiaries on Thursday at Calabar Municipality headquarters, the Governor described the event as another milestone in his administration’s drive towards achieving food security through enhanced agricultural methods.

“It is now time for the State Government to support those whose occupation is to harvest the marine resources because of their nearness to water. It is time to reduce the labor of our fishermen’s hand-paddling canoes to go fishing and artisans to ferry people across rivers. 

“Today is, therefore, a day our people in the riverine areas cannot forget quickly. The boats distributed today will enhance your productivity, improve your livelihood, ease the movement of your farm products and people across bodies of water”.

According to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gill Nsa, he was represented by his Deputy Rt. Honorable Peter Odey, who stated that the 100 units of fishing/commercial boats distributed are a bold step by the present administration to touch lives positively in fulfillment of its election campaign promise.

The event also witnessed the commencement of distribution of over two billion grants to the poor and vulnerable Cross Riverians. 

“These grants are therefore more than just financial aid; rather a form of humanitarian investment – empowering our fellow Cross Riverians who are most disadvantaged, with the resources they need to lift themselves economically; invariably making meaningful contributions to the society.

“This is an all-inclusive growth strategy employed by my administration to remove barriers to economic emancipation of all the citizens of this state irrespective of the circumstances they may find themselves in.”

He urged the beneficiaries of the fishing/commercial boats to make judicious use of the items received so as to justify the interest and sacrifice made by the government to place the people first, before other considerations.

He cautioned them to pay attention to safety measures such as wearing of life-jackets, loading the boats according to built-in capacity to avoid boat mishaps and sued for patience from those who are yet to benefit from any of the intervention programs.