The Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim
Shema has added his voice to the clarion call by well-meaning Nigerians on
federal, state and local governments to make agricultural development their
focal point.
Governor Shema made this call while
speaking at the opening ceremony of LAKAJA Agricultural Growth Corridor
Investment Summit in Abuja, stressing that “the USAID summit was absolutely
important because it offers a unique opportunity for citizens to expand their
potentials in agricultural development and to have clear access to market.”
Shema explained that agriculture is
the way forward not only for northern Nigeria but for the entire country
because the nation’s soil is fertile that could grow seeds from the first day
of January to the last day in December.
On agricultural development in
Katsina State, the Governor said his state was working hard and had revived
irrigation schemes, asserting “we have a Shanghai-Katsina Initiative, we are
working in Niger Porto-novo where we have a 3.4 billion initiative going on
training young farmers on modern ways of farming and we are supporting
agriculture to be turned around, mechanised with improved variety of seedlings
and other varieties of essential services important to farmers.”
He said that as part of the
preparation against the 2013 flood warnings, the state government has cleared
the waterways and also put up standby emergency teams who will move in to
assist in any ravaged area.
“Those villages that are very
close to major waterways or river tributaries were the ones most affected by
last year’s flood, but we are working hard to sensitise the people to make sure
that their homes are moved away from the flood prone areas and then we are
giving assistance, shelter, health facilities and others,” Shema said.
On his part, the Governor of Niger
State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said that his adminstration was committed to
supporting initiatives that would transform the state agriculture sector, stressing
that Niger State stands as a hub in the corridor because it has greater
advantage in landmass, three major hydro-electric power stations and route
linkages to the South-West of Nigeria
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