Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has warned that the Federal Government’s palliative cannot address the hardship imposed on Nigerians by the removal of fuel subsidy.
He advised the government and Nigerians to seek alternative means of tackling the current economic hardship the country is going through, saying the subsidy palliative is not sustainable.
The governor gave the warning at the flag-off of the distribution of farm inputs to wet season farmers from the 25 local government areas of the state.
“I want to use this medium to thank President Bola Tinubu, the Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, for coming to the aid of vulnerable Nigerians.
“But we must be honest with ourselves; the palliative scheme cannot be sustained, we have to go back to the farm to reinflate our economy.
“In Niger State, we are poised to make agriculture become the focus of our administration in addressing poverty and food security”
The governor pointed out that to realise the policy thrust of his administration, the government would cultivate 10,000 hectares of land in each of the 25 Local Government Areas of Niger State.
“We are planning to cultivate 250 hectares of land in the next cropping season with each local government area cultivating crops they have comparative advantage.
“I want all the local government council officials to take this as a marching order as we make available 78 metric tons of fertilisers and other farm inputs“.
Bago reiterated his government’s decision to negotiate with bandits troubling the local government areas in order to ensure that farmers were secure and safe to return to work.
“We want to discuss with the people (bandits) and see how the carnage in our state is brought under control to enable us achieve our agricultural goals and empower our people and ensure food security.
“To achieve an all-inclusive government, we have now established the Ministry of Nomad and Pastoral Affairs to bring on board the hitherto neglected segment.”
Governor Bago urged the teeming youth population in the state to key into the agricultural activities of his administration to create employment.
“Youths should go back to the farm and be part of the agricultural revolution we are starting,” he said.
