…Releases 54 inmates from four correctional centres
The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has said that his administration will soon be handing out 400 bags of rice per community to each of the 181 communities in Anambra State.
Obiano who disclosed this in a statewide broadcast yesterday said that the bags of rice should be distributed to the youths of those communities through the same channels that were used in distributing the ones meant for the senior citizens adding that “it is my fervent hope that this gesture will go a long way in alleviating the pains of Covid-19 on our youths.”
He noted that the administration had always prioritized the youths in all its activities even as he stated that it was on account of that that the administration had decided to extend a similar gesture it gave to senior citizens above 70 years to Anambra youths this time around.
On the Nkpor incident, the Governor observed that the clash between a group of youths and some security operatives at Nkpor that resulted in the unfortunate death of one person and injuries to other was extremely regrettable.
While describing it as one avoidable incident which must not be permitted to happen again, Obiano noted that “the Government of Anambra State will foot the medical bills of the injured as well as underwrite the burial costs of the deceased.”
“However, in the interest of peace in our communities, I wish to appeal to Ndi Anambra to refrain from anything that would lead to a head-on collision with the police. I also appeal to the police to adopt best practices in dealing with the challenges that this difficult moment will most certainly provide. May the soul of the departed young man rest in perfect peace! Amen”, he added.
The Governor also informed of his decision to exercise his Prerogative of Mercy and released 54 inmates from the four correctional facilities in Anambra State even as he hoped that the decision would not only bring hope and joy to some families but that it would also help to decongest the correctional facilities.
Meanwhile, Governor Obiano has directed all farmers in Anambra State to return to the farm with immediate effect insisting that the directive was to allow them to participate in the current planting season.
“I also wish to urge Ndi Anambra to return to the farms because that is the only way we can fend the impending hunger that Covid-19 has created”, he added.
While pointing out that Anambra State was seriously looking at the effect of the pandemic on food supply while it lasted and in the near future, they had come up with a short term plan that would ensure that food supply was not adversely affected in the state after Covid-19.
He said, “To achieve this, we have taken the following steps: secured 3000 hectares of arable land in the agricultural belt of the state for large scale farming during this planting season. This initiative is expected to take over 2000 youths off the labour market; ordered the purchase of 7 Tractors to be deployed in the cultivation of the land; empowering women and youths by providing them with cages for poultry and feedstock for birds; commenced the distribution of agricultural inputs at subsidized rates to farmers.
“Umu nnem, I have no doubt that a strict implementation of this initiative shall give us food security during this pandemic and afterwards.”
Photo: Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano.
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