30/08/2012 (THISDAY Live) - Malaysian palm oil giant, Wilmar Nigeria Limited, has been advised to manage the Ibiae and Calaro Oil Palm Estates in Cross River State successfully, to generate revenue and create 900 jobs for youths of the host communities.

The development arose as the state government looks inwards to shore its internally generated revenue (IGR) base following the loss of 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State.

Ibiae plantation is located in Biase Local Government Area and Calaro Palm Estate at Akamkpa Local Government Area. Both were privatised by the Cross River state government recently to get them working again after years of mis-management and lack of returns on investment.

At a public forum on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the Ibiae and Calaro Plantations held at Akamkpa LG secretariat, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. James Aniyom, urged the firm to bring its experience to bear on the estates, as the state government sought to generate revenue from the estates besides jobs being created for the people.

Aniyom said it would make no sense if the administration of Liyel Imoke continued to grumble over the economic fate that has befallen the state; hence it has decided to move forward by initiating the cultivation of more oil palm plantations with a view to creating more job opportunities for the people of the state.

He revealed that 1,900 hectares of land have been acquired for the cultivation of more plantations noting that with that the government was sure that restive Youths can be meaningfully engaged by the company.

General Manager of Wilmar Nig Ltd, Mr. Lee Kok Seng assured the host communities that the machines to be imported for the production process would be in compliance with the standard Nigerian Environmental Act.

Apart from the provision of employment opportunities which he said would be given to youths of host communities, the Malaysian also promised to adequately meet the expectations of the people, ensure transfer of technology and generate revenue and that the company would also cultivate nursery of improved varieties and process oil into edible palm.

In his speech the Managing Director of Ibara Environs Consultant Nigeria Ltd, Chief William Usetu Unoh, urged indigenes of Biase and Akamkpa to give their support to Wilmar as the oil palm giant meant well for the people.

The consultant advised Wilmar to adhere to whatever terms of agreement reached with the people and also plant improved varieties to replace the old ones found in the plantations.

Resource person and lecturer in the University of Calabar, Dr. Edet Eyo, who spoke on environmental baseline and its impact, enumerated the host communities' expectations to includes provision of good schools, scholarship, employment opportunity, improvement in commercial activities, rural roads and health centres.

Chairman Nigeria Environmental Society and Lecturer in the University of Calabar, Dr. Ernest Asikong, predicted that with the state government’s bold initiative of venturing into agriculture, very soon it would be on the path of sustainable economic development.