The Anambra State Government has denied the rumour that it plans to secretly establish cattle colony in the state.
Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta, the state commissioner for information and strategy, who refuted the reports in a press briefing on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, described such allegations as the handiwork of mischief makers.
He said the state Council of elders, traditional rulers, community and opinion leaders including Chukwuemeka Ezeife,a former governor of the state, Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary of Commonwealth, among others had submitted that the state had no land to donate as cattle colony or ranch, due to its limited land mass.
He rather noted the efforts of the government towards achieving a healthy relationship between herdsmen and the host communities in the state, revealing that the Fulani had been co-habiting with the indigenes of the state over the past 60 years.
Nnacheta who disclosed that there are presently 76 Fulani settlements scattered across the state, commended the peaceful coexistence between the Fulani herdsmen and their host communities, despite few isolated clashes and tensions at certain period.
“Government is pleased with the maturity and understanding of our community leaders hosting cattle and herdsmen in 76 locations in Anambra State. Both host and herdsmen are cooperating through the machinery of the governments special Assistant and other communities”, Nnachetta noted.
He hoped that the relationship would yield more fruits, especially economic growth.
The commissioner further disclosed the approval of the recruitment of about 1000 more teachers to improve standards in the education sector, adding that more incentives have been approved for the teachers.
“For human development, government would recruit 100 teachers for the technical education, 500 teachers each for the Secondary and Primary schools. There would be consideration for retired teachers: Teachers, who have retired but are still able and willing to continue to work, will be engaged”.
He added, “State has received accreditation for eleven Technical Colleges from the National Board of Technical Education for 18 courses, bring total to 28 trade courses, 16 of which were for full accreditation.
“Government has offered to equip laboratories in 60 secondary schools across the three senatorial zones, especially in Biology and Chemistry, with modern equipment to boost education.
“We have approved recruitment of 300 junior staff, deployment of unique tricycle ambulance services to ensure that each primary health Centre delivers additional capacity linked to the Anambra Health Insurance Scheme”.
He called on the public to continue giving their unalloyed and maximum support to Obiano for the continued delivery of the democratic dividend to Anambra people.
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