…as Obordor bemoans lack of misunderstanding of motion by some Lawmakers
By Joy Odor
The House of Representatives (HOR) on Tuesday rejected the motion seeks to Establish Garri Processing and Storage facility as another part of measure to cushion food crises in Nigeria.
The motion is titled “Need to Establish Garri Processing and Storage facility in Otuokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and sponsor by Hon Mitema Obordor witness low debate by the Lawmakers.
In his Lead debate, Obordor worried that Farmers face significant losses due to inadequate storage facilities and limited production on small scales, while younger generations are discouraged by the rigorous manual procedures
He recognized that establishing a Garri processing and storage facility will reduce waste from cassava farm produce, encourage youth farming, reduce unemployment, boost economic conditions, and address the hunger crisis.
The Lawmaker cognizant that Bayelsa State government plans to upgrade its mini Garri processing facility due to outdated equipment and machinery, and to expand it to accommodate the growing population and neighboring states;
“Notes that food is essential to the existence of man and Garri is one of the staple foods in Nigeria that cuts across all tribes and social strata;
“Aware that the people of Ogbia Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State are predominantly Cassava farmers, a major raw material in the manufacturing of Garri, Fufu, Cassava Flour, Farina Colloquially referred to as kpokpo garri” he said.
Obordor urged the House to ask the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Fadama ll to approve the construction of a Garri storage and processing facility to be located in Otuokpoti, Ogbia; and
He called on the House to mandate Committees on Agricultural Production and Services and legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.
Meanwhile, after the debate and in the process of amending the prayers, the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Adewomi Onanuga speak against the motion which resulted killing of the motion by the House.
In an interview with Hon. Obordor, the Lawmaker informed that during the debate he notice that some persons or very few members misunderstood the contents of the motion which resulted in the rejection.
“First, l want to state categorically that there is no ambiguity in the motion l presented at the floor of the house today. But some how or very unfortunately, l notice that some persons or very few members misunderstood the contents of the motion.
“Now, l was not talking about mini Gari processing machine that every household are doing, even the poorest of the poor gav a local way of processing their Gari.
“If that was the case, l would not bring up such a motion. We have been processing gari for feeding in our families and in some small commercial quantity.
“What we are saying, is that Nigeria as a Nation is facing food crises and drawing example from what happened during COVID time, and the kind of flood ravaging the country during raining season, there is need for government to go into the gari storage facility for distribution during hard crises as a palliatives measure to the people.
“Now, one of the food that every Nigeria consumes is gari and it is produced more especially in the Southern part of Nigeria and less in the North.
“The purpose of the motion is we have enough cassava in Balyasa State and especially in my constituency and so we need a storage facility. This is what the person who oppose or cause concussion to the motion did not look at the letters of the motion. I have pensil down 300 rural farmers in my constituency l provide facilities and funds to invest in farming.
“Recently, the Federal government just issue a release of grains for Nigerians as palliatives and these grains are from storage facilities” he stressed.
However, Obordor promised to look into the motion again more critically and reintroduce it for better benefits to the Nigeria citizens.
