Economy
Gov. Buni’s Welcome Address On Launching Of Agricultural Empowerment Programme by President Tinubu
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Gov. Buni’s Welcome Address On Launching Of Agricultural Empowerment Programme by President Tinubu
By Usman Bello, Damaturu.
Your Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander in-Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria, ably represented by His Excellency, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima GCON,
Your Excellency, the National Chairman All Progressive Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR,
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State and Chairman Nigerian Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak,
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State and Chairman Progressive Governors Forum, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma,
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman PDP Governors Forum, Alhaji Bala Mohammad,
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Gombe State and Chairman Northern Governors Forum, Alh. Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya,
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State and Chairman North East Governors Forum., Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum,
Your Excellency, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State,
The Hon. Speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, Right Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio,
Your Lordships, the Honourable Chief Judge and the Hon. Grand Kadi,
Distinguished and Hon. Members of the National Assembly here present,
Hon. Minister of Police Affairs,
Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security,
Former Ministers here present,
Former Deputy Governors here present,
Honourable Members of the Yobe State House of Assembly,
Honourable Commissioners,
Heads of Security Agencies and Para-military Agencies,
The State Chairman APC,
The Secretary to the State Government,
The Head of Service,
The Chief of Staff,
Special Advisers,
Permanent Secretaries,
Chief Executives of Federal and State Boards and Parastatals and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments,
The Chairmen of Local Government Councils,
Your Royal Highnesses, Emirs and Mais,
Distinguished sons and Daughters of Yobe state,
Our Invited Guests,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu alaikum,
It is with profound gratitude to Almighty Allah (SWT) who has made it possible for us to be here today to witness this historic event of the launching of the state Agricultural Empowerment Programme. I, therefore, feel honoured to on behalf of the Government and good people of Yobe State welcome our leader, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, ably represented by my dear brother, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and all our other guests to Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.
2. Mr. President sir, your esteemed presence at this occasion today gives our people a sense of belonging as being celebrated with resounding cheers by the mammoth crowd since your arrival. I, therefore, wish to reassure you that the good people of Yobe state would continue to support your administration as you strive to improve the economy, security and other developmental challenges facing the nation.
3. Yobe State as you know is one of the states grossly devastated by protracted security challenge. The inaccessibility to farmlands due to security threat and other natural factors such as erosion, desert encroachment, low rainfall etc have massively affected agricultural productivity with monumental consequences on the lives of our predominantly agricultural population, and the economy of the state.
5. In spite of all the challenges, agriculture remains the major preoccupation of our people. With the improvement in security across the state, farmlands are now accessible in almost all the local government areas. This, therefore, has made agriculture the key sector for the post-insurgency economic recovery programme. The government has adopted these strategic measures to revitalize the sector :-
i. Convening of Agricultural Summit to chart a new course for improvement in productivity,
ii. Constitution of a Steering Committee on Revitalization of Agriculture, and development of a State Sector Strategic Plan in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
iii. Developed agricultural policy document to achieve food security and contribute to National economic diversification. The document has been validated in collaboration with EU-Yobe Public Finance Management (PFM) Project, in conjunction with DAI international.
iv. The Yobe State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government has established Livestock Development Centers (LDCs) to curb farmers/ herdsmen clashes, commercial pasture production, and increase in meat and dairy production.
v. The State is currently reviving 2000 hectares Lava Irrigation Scheme in Bursari Local Government Area to cultivate wheat, rice and vegetables in the next dry season irrigation programme.
vi. As a leading state with the largest production of high quality Sesame seeds, we have established four Sesame Seeds processing factories in Damaturu, Nguru, Machina and Potiskum.
vii. Government has also awarded contract for the rehabilitation of the Agricultural Development Programme Headquarters in Damaturu and the five Zonal Offices in Buni-Yadi, Geidam, Gashua, Nguru and Potiskum to enhance effective and accessible extension services to our farmers.
viii. The Damaturu International Cargo Airport would effectively be used to transport livestock, meat, dairy products, Gum Arabic, Sesame seeds, cowpea and groundnuts within and outside the country.
6. Your Excellencies, distinguished invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, this State Visit is no doubt a significant milestone as we launch the agricultural empowerment programme with a distribution of 100 Zoom Lion Tractors, 10 IMC Double Cabin 4 wheel drive vehicles for supervision of the extension service workers, 200 motor cycles to extension service workers to boost agricultural extension services, 300 sets of Ox-drawn ploughs, 5,349 small ruminants (goats), 1,349 hand push planters, 889 hand-push plough machines, 590 hand-push tiller machines, 4,202 solar-powered irrigation water pumps, improved assorted seeds and 72,000 bags of fertilizer, among others.
7. The distribution arrangement is made up of 30 farmers in each of the 178 electoral wards of the State making a total of 5,340 farmers to benefit from the scheme. Except for the tractors and fertilizer, all the other agricultural equipment and inputs are to be given out free to our large scale, medium and subsistence farmers. These efforts we believe will augment large scale agro-value chain development in the State.
8. Government has instituted some measures to check abuse and sale of the machines by the beneficiaries to avoid sabotaging the lofty goals of the intended agricultural revolution in the state. The tractors are to be in custody of the State Agricultural Development Programme at the Headquarters in Damaturu and the zonal offices in Buni Yadi, Geidam, Gashua, Nguru and Potiskum, to be hired out to individuals and group farmers. The Agricultural Development Programme would be carefully monitored to ensure efficiency in service, effective maintenance and accountability in proceeds accruing from the hire of the tractors.
9. Let me warn in strong terms that government would not tolerate any act of sabotage to frustrate our commitments to make agriculture attractive, profitable, sustainable and economically viable and, to guarantee food sufficiency and food security in the state. Therefore, government would deal ruthlessly with any official, individual or group who test our will in this regard. I hereby direct the security agencies to arrest and impound tractors and other machines crossing the border lines of the state, while such saboteurs are made to face the full wrath of the law.
10. Let me use this opportunity to passionately appeal to the good people of Yobe state to take advantage of this laudable opportunity to embrace agriculture for us to cultivate and produce what we eat to ensure food security and economic development.
11. You will recall the sad and unfortunate experiences we had in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states during the trying moments of adverse security challenges, when our people could not access their farmlands as peace eluded this part of the country.
12. We know better, what the absence of peace means. We have many sad stories to tell from our horrible experiences. We cannot afford to invite any other threat to peace and security. Therefore, we should jealously guard the peace we now enjoy and never be part of any plot to disturb our hard-earned peace.
13. We must not create opportunities for our common enemies to take advantage of any form of protest to send us into another dark and horrible experience. Therefore, Yobe state is categorically saying, NO to protests, and would not participate in any form of protest by whatsoever name.
14. We should remain faithful, prayerful and optimistic as the federal government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking drastic measures to address all the challenges. This agricultural revolution we are embarking on, is in tandem with the Federal Government’s Food Security and Agricultural Mechanization Agenda. I urge you all to support the programme for us to succeed.
15. May I crave the indulgence of Mr. President to support the State to enhance its irrigation scheme. We would appreciate you supporting us with mini-rigs for tube wells, solar-powered water pumps, agro-chemicals, power tillers, more fertilizers and other farm implements to complement our efforts in attaining food sufficiency, food security and economic growth.
16. Let me appreciate the foresight of Mr. President in creating the new Federal Ministry of Livestock. As you may be aware, Yobe state is a leading state in livestock production. We, therefore, look forward to extension of the services of the new Ministry to the huge livestock farmers population in the state.
17. It is now my singular honour and pleasure to invite His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief, ably represented by the most loyal, dependable and dedicated Vice President, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima GCON, to deliver his address and flag-off the launching of the agricultural empowerment programme.
Your Excellency, Mr. President.
