…commissions cassava factory in Cross River

Director General of the NDE Malam Abubakar Mohammed who said establishing the factory which is a “Common Facility Centre (CFC)” of the directorate is a clear manifestation of the effectiveness of the Public Private Partnership(PPP) model.Represented by NDE’s Director of Small Scale Enterprises Mr. Aye Jibrin Adejo, Mohammed stated that the centre was put in […]

Director General of the NDE Malam Abubakar Mohammed who said establishing the factory which is a “Common Facility Centre (CFC)” of the directorate is a clear manifestation of the effectiveness of the Public Private Partnership(PPP) model.
Represented by NDE’s Director of Small Scale Enterprises Mr. Aye Jibrin Adejo, Mohammed stated that the centre was put in place under a tripartite arrangement between NDE, Boki Local Government Area and Okundi community each having a distinct role.
“The NDE provides the machinery/ Processing equipment, Boki Local Government Area provides the infrastructure while Okundi community provides the raw materials and takes care of the finished product and marketing,” he said.
He added that the choice of Okundi was based on the availability of the raw material (cassava) in the area, stressing that the NDE realises the method of processing of cassava into garri is streneous, cumbersome and full of wastages hence the introduction of modern processing methods and storage for improved income and employment generation. He observed that the concept of the Common Facility Centre is a departure from the old system of project implementation characterised by monopoly of ownership by government which in most cases suffers neglect due to lack of a sustainability machinery that involves the community.
Commissioning the factory, the Chairman of Boki Local Government area Hon. Jonas Obi Otu, commended the NDE for citing the project in the area, adding that the project will curb the untoward activities of the youths in the areas and at the same time generate employment for the idle population after harvest.
He advised for the establishment of a similar processing factory for plantain chips to further enhance income generating activities of the rural dwellers.