Irked by the failure of Ibom FADAMA Micro Finance Bank to achieve its mandate and assist farmers with credit facilities in Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno has ordered the immediate disbandment of the bank’s management team.
Speaking during the Akwa Ibom Dialogue for interpretation and implementation of the ‘A.R.I.S.E. Agenda blueprint’ in Uyo, on Wednesday, the Governor regretted that the disbanded management was known for the continuous depletion of shareholders’ funds.
While revealing that Akwa Ibom has 496,000 registered farmers, he said plans were underway to link them to the Bank so that when the government releases money to the bank, it will go straight to those farmers.
He said, “I don’t have faith in the present management of Ibom FADAMA and as long as that management is in place, I will not empower that bank.
“We need a brand new management that will be able to work together. We have 496,000 farmers registered in this State. We can link them to the Bank so that when we release money to the bank, it will go straight to those farmers.”
Eno also announced that the Ministry of Agriculture has been merged with Rural Development, a new Ministry created for Water Resources and Sanitation, while the Ministry of Power will function in a separate capacity.
He, however, decried the exclusion of the State in water-related benefits from the Federal Government and donor agencies, saying that the creation of a designated Ministry for Water Resources would fully integrate the State in the United Nations Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, programme.
