Gov. Ododo Reaffirms Commitment to Food Sufficiency
Kogi State Governor, Alh. Ododo Ahmed Usman has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment towards investing in agriculture and partnering with relevant stakeholders in order to find a lasting solution to the problem of food insecurity in the State.
The indication was communicated on the heels of the directive given by the Governor to some stakeholders at the State’s Ministry of Agriculture during the Farmers Interactive Session a few days ago.
According to Gov. Ododo, top on his chain of priorities that has geared up his swift action towards achieving the set goals is to support food production for the masses, and ensure that extreme hunger and starvation are curtailed to the barest minimum.
Following the directive by the governor, the Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture has summoned an all-important meeting presided by the Permanent Secretary on behalf of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
Hillcrest TV correspondent gathered that the 21 Local Government Caretaker Chairmen across the state were equally directed to provide 100 hectares of land for farmers in their various localities.
The Ministry of Agriculture Liaison officers in the various local governments and the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Kogi state chapter, Alh. Salihu Adobanyi have also been instructed alongside the Caretaker Chairmen to perfect the arrangement.
Hajiya Lamy Saratu Lawal, who said that planning and execution of any viable programme remain impossible without adequate and reliable data, stressed that the Ministry has all it takes to provide the needed quality data of farmers, urging AFAN to furnish them with their own data for harmonization and ensure all farmers in the state are captured in the effort.
Hajiya Lamy Saratu Lawal the Permanent Secretary, ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with All Farmers Association of Nigerian (AFAN) have further constituted representatives across the three senatorial districts to oversee the process which Engr. AbdulRazak Musa, Alh. Salami Damisa, and Mrs Esther Audu (WIA) from Kogi Central, HRH Yahaya Musa Ibrahim, Mr. Zakari Barry Yakubu and Hon Hannatu Umaru from Kogi East, while Mr. Musa Raji, Maiyeko Johnson and Azubike Comfort were selected from Kogi West.
Others who were part of the interactive Session and gave their solidarity are Mr. Adams Aduojo, Elder Assorese, Musa Raji, Richard Oguche, Joe Aribo, Shittu Gladis, Aisha Victoria, Ahmed Rafat Onyize, Amb Rabbi Mohd, Gabriel Yunisa, Audu Onotu and Don David.
In a closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture Hajia Lamy Saratu Lawal thanked Governor Ododo Ahmed Usman for being steadfast in rolling out series of initiatives and programmes to ensure that the local farmers get the needed support to improve their productivity, and in turn boost food security in the state.
“While expressing that the Stakeholders’ Interacting Session would be a continuous one until the state of emergency on food security and hunger is conquered, he admonished the people of the state to be appreciative of the progress made so far in the fight to eradicate food shortage.
