Gov. Bassey Otu
By Ita Williams, Calabar
In a move to address concerns in the state’s cocoa industry, the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, has directed the immediate suspension of the Cocoa Allocation Taskforce and Surveillance Team operating in the four government-owned Cocoa Estates in Etung Local Government Area of the state.
This decision was announced in a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Comrade Nsa Gill.
According to the release, the Cocoa Allocation Taskforce and Surveillance Team, which was set up by the Cocoa Allocation Committee, has been headed by Mr. Cosmos Ebori Nku, who was the chairman of the suspended committee until the government’s directive.
The statement reads, “The state Governor, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu has directed the immediate suspension of the Cocoa Allocation Taskforce and Surveillance Team set up by Cocoa Allocation Committee operating in the Four(4) Government owned Cocoa Estates in Etung Local Government Area headed by by Mr. Cosmos Ebori Nku whose until the government immediate directive was the chairman of the suspended committee,”
The release further stated that the payment of government lease fees in the concerned areas has also been suspended until further notice. The Cocoa Allocation chairman has been directed to inform the banks accordingly.
The decision to suspend the Cocoa Allocation Taskforce and Surveillance Team comes amidst growing concerns over the management of the state’s cocoa industry. Stakeholders have raised issues regarding transparency and fairness in the allocation of resources and the distribution of benefits to local communities.
“The government’s decision to suspend the Cocoa Allocation Taskforce and Surveillance Team is a step in the right direction,” said a local farmer, who wished to remain anonymous. “We have been facing challenges with the allocation process, and we hope that this suspension will pave the way for a more transparent and equitable system.”
The suspension of the Cocoa Allocation Taskforce and Surveillance Team is expected to be followed by a comprehensive review of the state’s cocoa industry policies and the implementation of new measures to ensure better governance and accountability.