Steel minister assures Kogi indigenes of more FG support

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, has assured Kogi indigenes of more Federal Government-driven initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration, aimed at cushioning the hardship faced by the people.

The minister stated this during the flag-off of the distribution of bags of rice and fertilisers as palliatives worth millions of naira to Kogi indigenes across the 21 local government areas of the state.

He noted that the initiatives are in furtherance of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu on food security and are also part of the activities to commemorate his one year in office as minister.

Prince Audu said that the distribution of the items to vulnerable indigenes and eligible farmers is to ensure that all indigenes of the state benefit from the efforts of the Federal Government aimed at ameliorating the living conditions of the people in the face of the ongoing transformative agenda of the President.

The minister noted that in fostering peace and unity among indigenes of the state, under the leadership of the governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the palliatives will be distributed across the board.

He noted that the beneficiaries will also include those from opposition parties, all ethnic and religious groups in the state, widows, traditional leaders, and market women, among other groups across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“Today, I am here to distribute about 4,000 bags of rice and fertilisers across the 21 local government areas of Kogi State to ensure that all stakeholders in Kogi benefit from the palliatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President to ensure food security,” he said.

“And I want to thank all of you, the youths, for abstaining from the nationwide protests in Kogi State. It was a wonderful outcome, and I came here to thank all of you as we distribute these palliatives since you listened to your leaders, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and myself, the Minister, as we advised that you engage in dialogue rather than joining the protests. We would not let you down for giving us the benefit of the doubt.

“In the last one year, during my tenure as Honourable Minister, I have provided several succours to the people of Kogi State, including 50,000 naira in nano-business grants to 5,000 beneficiaries in Kogi State under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, meaning that 250 million naira was distributed to Kogites. We distributed several palliatives earlier this year, and in addition to that, we are also doing more today.”

Prince Audu assured the people of the state that, as their highest representative at the Federal Executive Council, he will continue to drive home all the initiatives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, geared towards developing the state and improving the welfare and livelihood of the people.

The minister thanked the people of the state for their support throughout his one year in office, urging everyone to collaborate with him, the governor, and other key leaders to bring the desired development to the state.

The Maigari of Lokoja, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, thanked the minister for the incentives, noting that it will go a long way in bringing succour to the people, praying that Almighty Allah continues to protect the minister and give him the wisdom to succeed.

Comrade Stephen Bala Jibrin, Secretary of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, described the gesture as very timely, expressing the appreciation of farmers in the state who are in need of fertilizers, especially during the planting season.

“As farmers, we express our heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for recognizing Kogi State. We thank the Minister because our association has been fully carried along as beneficiaries,” he said.

“The leadership of the association will ensure that the fertilizers get to farmers even at the grassroots. We have local government coordinators and ward coordinators, so we are going to channel the items through them for further distribution.”

Miss Ruth Dada, a trader from Kogi, also thanked the Honourable Minister for remembering his own people and reaching out to them.

She said, “He knows there is hunger, and he has the heart of feelings for the masses by doing this, and we pray God will continue to promote him more and more. We also appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for remembering all the people.”

The Minister also bagged the Outstanding Personality Award from the Progressive Empowerment Project for Nigerian Women in recognition of his commitment to reviving the steel industry as well as his dedication to ameliorating the sufferings of his people in the past year.