• Govt assures of succour, says policy to foster food security
The agricultural revolution policy of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago may run into troubled waters, as communities in Zone C Senatorial District of Niger State have opposed the administration’s activities, alleging moves to clear and forcibly confiscate their farmlands.
This is coming on the heels of the ongoing destruction of over 60 hectares of farmlands belonging to some farmers in Mariga, Kampanin Bobi, and Durgu communities of Mariga Local Council.
Resident of one of the communities, Musa Sale Bobi, claimed that several hectares with grown maize were being destroyed by the state government’s ‘Niger Food’ tractors without compensation or prior information.
He alleged that the ongoing activities of the food agency, which commenced last Thursday, had seen over 200 farmers with about 50 hectares of cultivated lands affected.
Also, one of the affected farmers, Abubakar Yari Kampan, from Bobi, in a radio programme in Minna, lamented that his 52 year-old farmland with grown maize, covering two hectares, had been completely destroyed without information or compensation.
Another victim, Sanusi Power from Mariga explained that his 23-year-old farm, which covers 13 hectares, was gone, while his friend’s 30 hectares of farmland was destroyed too.
Ibrahim Yerima, who has eight hectares of farmlands, said they had been taken over, and crops destroyed.
He called for fairness, justice and sympathy from the governor so as not to create more hardships and difficulties for the citizens.
The victims, in their separate interviews, decried absence of information from the state government, saying they would not have cultivated their lands if aware of the project.
They, however, demanded adequate compensation and alternative farmlands.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Bawa Bosso, who confirmed the development in a telephone chat, assured the affected farmers of appropriate compensation, noting that the policy was to ensure food security and sufficiency in the state.
