The Tropical General Investments (TGI) has expressed readiness to offer technical support to displaced farming communities and over 250,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Katsina State.
The Vice Chairman of the multinational conglomerate, Mr. Farouk Gumel, who disclosed this during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Katsina State Government, Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and TGI, at the Katsina State House, promised to also provide agri-inputs and zero interest loans, while committing to off-take their produce.
“For TGI, our belief is that rural inclusion is core to the overall economic development of our nation. We have a long history of working with smallholder farmers across the nation, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to thrive.
“This initiative is important because it will not only strengthens food security but also promotes a dignified approach to re-integrating displaced members of society, while expanding the capacity of the agricultural value chain,” said Gumel.
Earlier, the State Governor, Dikko Umar Radda, announced the allocation of 600 hectares of land to relocate the displaced communities and offer the IDPs opportunity to live in dignity and earn a livelihood once again.
Radda noted that the state is committed to ensuring that all displaced communities can return home safety or find a suitable alternative in the meantime where they live in safety, adding that the initiative underscores the state’s commitment to its people.
The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, said the ministry will support the social inclusion and assistance to the communities. He said: “This project will stabilise 600 families and allow for dry season irrigation, to ensure that more families are employed and that we are one step closer to tackling food security and ensuring economic independence to some of the most vulnerable families, especially during the lean season.”
On his part, the Representative of the UNHCR in Nigeria, Mr. Arjun Jain said the UNHCR will be supporting the communities and installing a solar-powered irrigation system that will allow for dry season irrigation that will eventually be run by the communities themselves.
“The numbers of internally displaced persons across Nigeria are increasing every year. We need to urgently find solutions for them, and towards that we are delighted that the government of Nigeria and Katsina are taking the lead on this and that the private sector are engaging more actively.”
