…GOV. DIRI’S SSA TELLS CORPORATE BODIES IN BAYELSA.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo has called on corporate organisations doing business in the state to emulate the beach tourism development initiative of Jefstone Skill Services Ltd, the firm handling site preparation work for the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa state.
Mr Kiyaramo who spoke with travel writers shortly after having audience with the Managing Director of Jefstone Skill Services Ltd, Mr Gladstone Amabebe Humphery in his office in Yenagoa, described the indigenous Company’s intention to plant of fifteen thousand (15,000) coconut trees along the Odioama shoreline as part of efforts to protect the beach from the adverse effects of climate change as very innovative.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Tourism, reiterated the urgent need for corporate organisations whose activities negatively impact on the environment and livelihoods of coastal communities to emulate Jefstone Skill Services, by planting coconut trees along the coastline, informing that coconut and palm trees act as windbreakers against storms or strong tidal waves.
Speaking on the benefits of the coconut tree, the SSA on Tourism said, woven coconut leaves are used as thatch, while the coconut timber is used widely as rafters, adding that mats and basket ware are also woven from the treated leaves, while the spiny ekels (mid-ribs) are used to make ekel brooms and baskets, elsewhere.
Earlier, Amabebe Humphery had hinted on planting a minimum of ten to fifteen thousand coconut trees along the Odioama shoreline, explaining that the move will help to showcase the state’s coastal tourism potentials.
“We are from the Niger Delta region coastal area. My community is facing the Atlantic Ocean, and we facing very huge challenges. I have intention of planting ten to fifteen thousand coconut trees along Odioama shoreline. Despite that I have passion for tourism as a traveller.
“So I need others to come and see what we have here in the Niger Delta region, the ecosystem, the fine beaches that can compete with anyone elsewhere in the world, the beautiful mangroves and our rich cultural heritage.
“I have travelled to so many countries in the world and I know how they promote their own tourism, but we have the best here, it is natural. So I need them to come and see what we have in Bayelsa State, particularly our coastal communities”, he said.
Conservatively, each coconut tree would produce about 200 coconuts in a year, and the nuts would increase as the trees mature in age, bearing fruits for no fewer than 60 years.
Experts say coconuts are in high demand in the United States of America, presenting a huge opportunity for Nigerians to key into its production, commercialisation and exportation.