The Yobe State Government has earmarked the sum of N480m for the procurement of 490 solar-powered irrigation water pumps, to tackle food insecurity and unemployment among youths and women in the state.

Accordingly, the state government is targeting the small-scale irrigation farmers operating in the Kumadugu/Yobe River Basins of Lake Chad region.

Highlighting the outcome of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Damaturu, the Information Commissioner, Abdullahi Bego, stated:”The council, led by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana, ratified several approvals for the construction of office complexes to accommodate the Bureau for Public Procurement, Fiscal Responsibility Board.”

The Commissioner further revealed that N3.8b was also approved by the council for the procurement of additional agricultural inputs for this year’s dry season to boost farmers’ productivity and livelihoods.

Highlighting the significance of the all-round season farming, he said: “The Buni administration will continue to accord top priority to the agricultural sector by fully harnessing the rich agricultural and water resources of the rivers and basins in the state.”

Other approvals of the council included the construction and establishment of the Yobe State agency for Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion, Bureau of Statistics, and the Yobe Investment Company office complex.