Niger State governor, Muhammad Bago, has said that the state, with its enormous water bodies and the attributes of 23 grazing reserves in addition to 94 forest reserves, remains a key factor in combating hunger and ensuring food sufficiency.
The governor gave the assurance in his keynote address during the commemoration of the 2024 World Food Day in Minna, on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Represented by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, the governor maintained that the state government is determined to explore three million hectares of land across the state to harness the state’s potential in the Green Economy and tap into the numerous gains of productive agricultural production.
Bago described this year’s theme of World Food Day—The Right To Food For a Better Life and a Better Future—as apt, bearing in mind that the nation is faced with the critical challenges of high living costs resulting from economic realities, insecurity, and climate change, which, he said, have aggravated food insecurity and threatened the survival of vulnerable people in society.
The governor hinted that his administration has invested heavily in the agricultural sector by procuring machinery and technology to enhance land preparation and cultivation.
Bago enjoined all stakeholders to work closely and fine-tune implementable policies and strategies that will facilitate sustainable food for all. He also called on genuine investors and partners across the globe to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities available in the state to invest in all aspects of agricultural practice.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Musa Bawa Bosso, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Mathew Ahmed, acknowledged the massive agricultural development programs of Governor Bago under his New Niger Agenda, adding that it has set the pace in implementing the Sustainable Food Security agenda of the Federal Government.
Dr Mathew stated that the ministry remains resolute in implementing the policies and programmes of the administration through collaborations with development partners and other government agencies to produce more food and eliminate hunger in the state and Nigeria in general.
In their separate remarks, the State Coordinator of Green House, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ladan Suleiman; the Executive Director, National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Dr. Mohammed Ndagi; the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alh. Shehu Galadima; and the Executive Director of Operations, Niger Foods, Patience Koku, applauded the efforts of the Niger State government in the agricultural sector and reaffirmed their commitment and support through their expertise to achieve the set targets.
The guest speaker, Prof. Job Nmadu of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Federal University of Technology, Minna, in a paper titled ‘Niger State Agricultural Revolution: Is it a solution to hunger and better health?’, commended the Niger State government for its transformative agricultural policies aimed at boosting food production to address hunger and poverty.
Represented by Dr Halima Salau, a senior lecturer in the department, the guest speaker suggested that people-centric development policies, appropriate technology commensurate with the knowledge and capacity of farmers, and research to produce high-yielding seeds, among other measures, are needed by the state government to achieve its objective of eliminating hunger and ensuring better health for all citizens.
Awards were presented to Governor Bago and other individuals, as well as development partners, in recognition of their efforts in agriculture toward ensuring food security.
The governor had earlier inspected some food crops and livestock displayed at the exhibition stand.
