By Ebere Suzy Okoye
The Chairman, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Chief Victor Edeoga has revealed the plans by his council to focus on agricultural-based empowerment for youths in the area in other to deal decisively with restiveness and idleness.
Edeoga revealed this while addressing the members of Ogbaru Stakeholders Forum who paid him a courtesy call at Atani local Government Headquater Atani, Anambra State.
He noted that the council would encourage youths to take to modern farming methods, which does not necessary mean tilting the land.
He said that one of his priority policy is to improve agriculture by encouraging youths of the area to go into modern farming; through agricultural education and provision of soft loans.
He noted that the days of our youths roaming the streets aimlessly searching for jobs over years and some engaging in unwholesome youth vices would be over soon, encourages everybody to see advantage of the abundant benefit of the nature around us.
“I believe that within six months, as we kick-start the programme; most of our youths would start enjoying the benefit of the programme,’’ he said.
The chairman said that the council would also check trading along the roads as well as traders littering the drains with refuse.
On youths disturbing the peace of residents of Okpoko and Onitsha-Owerri Road, he said that the council would collaborate with security agencies to put an end to it.
He tasked everybody especially the youths to look for something legitimate doing adding that they are poised to direct peoples minds and hands to the agricultural empowerment scheme.
Earlier, Chairman of Ogbaru Stakeholders Forum, Comrade Peter Okala, thanked the new chairman for addressing the indiscriminate levy collection on commercial bus and tricycle operators in the council area.
He appealed the council leadership to take advantage of the arable land in the council area to boost food production as well as creation of transport means through the River Niger to move people and agricultural products to Onitsha.
He also seek help on Atani road down to Uga Junction road de congestion by removing all abandoned vehicles and makeshift structures blocking flow of traffic on the road.
The chairman also lauded the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Mr Afam Ogene, for his developmental stride.
“If others that had who represented Ogbaru for years had done so much in empowerment and skill acquisition like Ogene, this council area would have been the best in Anambra State’’, Edeoga said.
