…Says ‘we are ready to give loans to farmers at 9 percent interest’
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has said Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State is changing the face of governance in the state through his adequate attention to security and prompt payment of workers’ salaries in the state.
The acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isaac Okoroafor, gave the commendation at the Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, Awka, during a three-day sensitisation workshop for the people of the state on CBN loan facilities.
He said, “We are pleased with the security initiatives in this state and the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.
These are great indices for development. “Some years back, Upper Iweka in Onitsha was a den of criminals; but when I passed there yesterday (Sunday), everywhere was orderly. The environment was beautified to taste. In some states, workers are owed eight months’ salaries, but that is not the case here.
“This shows a responsible and responsive government. We commend the governor.”
The apex bank also hailed Obiano on what he had done in the agricultural sector, especially in rice production.
Okoroafor said the CBN had stopped granting forex for the importation of 41 food items, including rice, to encourage local production of such foods.
He said, “We need to go back to the basics. The CBN is now ready to give loans to farmers with nine per cent interest. We want to go back to how it used to be before the oil boom; we’ve created development functions to help the people with the funds.”
He said the neglect of agriculture and manufacturing as a result of oil boom was the bane of the nation.
“It’s disturbing that eggs were being imported from South Africa before now, while meat was being imported from Zambia and rice was coming from different countries of the world. This is not acceptable anymore,” he said.