TheCable

Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom, has condemned the destruction of a multi-million dollar coconut plantation by youths allegedly from eastern Obolo local government area of the state. 

The governor spoke on Tuesday, at the inauguration of a 16.71 kilometres Abak Ifia-Ikpe Mbak Eyop road.

Last year, Emmanuel inaugurated the St.Gabriel coconut refinery located in the Mkpat Enin local government area of Akwa Ibom.

The facility has a daily capacity to crack 1,000,000 coconuts and is estimated to employ at least 3,000 direct and indirect staff.

Following the inauguration, the management commenced the cultivation of a coconut plantation with two million stands of hybrid coconut seedlings on an 11-hectare expanse of land.

Speaking on the recent incident, the governor said the “entire coconut plantation was destroyed”.

Emmanuel, therefore, condemned the act and described it as an “extremely unfair” action against the state government’s investment drive.

He said the incident occurred at a time the state government was about to conclude negotiations with foreign investors on the coconut plantation and its refinery and urged youth leaders in the state to rise and condemn the action.

“Today, even with all these developments we’re trying to put on the ground, people are trying to destroy it,” he said.

“We woke up this morning and the entire coconut plantation that we did that has been fruiting already.

“The youths of eastern Obolo went and destroyed all those coconut plantations. A multi-million dollar project is all gone and we have a refinery. So, when I tell people how difficult it is to develop Africa you now understand what it means.

“Each of those seedlings, if you go and price them how much in dollars, tell me what the government would do to provide employment and uplift the economic wellbeing of the people.

“If you can have such a fantastic idea and over 350 people are working on that farm, not even one is from my village. They are all from the three local government areas — eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi, and Mkpat Enin.”

While Emmanuel had claimed that the entire plantation was destroyed, TheCable understands that only a part of it was cut down in the incident that occurred on Monday.

Odiko Macdon, state police spokesperson, also confirmed the incident to TheCable. 

Macdon said although no arrests have been made, an investigation was ongoing.

“A part of the coconut plantation was cut down, destroyed by people yet to be known. We are investigating this incident and will release an official statement on this, ” the police spokesperson said.