By Mohammed Abubakar Dutse
The Federal Government has described Jigawa state as pivotal in Nigeria’s quest to attain food security.
Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris made the remark in Dutse, Jigawa State capital when he led a delegation from the Presidency and heads of agencies under his ministry on a courtesy visit to Governor Umar Namadi at the Government House.
The large delegation, which comprised top Presidency information managers, and heads of agencies of the Ministry was in the state to assess the successes being recorded by the state government in agricultural sector.
According to the minister “Jigawa istate is central to the federal government’s food security initiative. As you may be aware, food security is one of the eight pivotal pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Today Jigawa state Ieading light in showing the entire country in terms of the way successful agricultural production could be practiced, and thus is happening because ok f the pragmatic and committed leadership being offered by the state governor..
“It was here in Jigawa, on November 25, 2023, that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security flagged off the ongoing dry-season farming in Nigeria under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket programme financed by the African Development Bank,” he said.
Idris expressed delight that the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket program, which focus on five key staple commodities rice, maize, wheat, sorghum, and soybeans, is already yielding transformational results, impacting the availability and affordability of food in the country.
“I am aware that harvesting is already going on, which means that the products are already making their way to the market. This is a very positive narrative that Jigawa has been instrumental in achieving for the country. We look forward to the State playing even more significant roles in attaining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food sufficiency and security agenda,” he said.
The Minister acknowledged the challenges accompanying the reforms being implemented by the President, stressing that they are necessary prelude to better times for all. “Things will certainly get better. Some difficult economic decisions have had to be made for the ultimate benefit of the country. The pains are temporary, but the benefits will last and be enjoyed by all,” he said.
Idris said the ongoing economic reforms have significantly increased the revenues available to all three tiers of Government, is optimistic that more would be done to ensure that States enjoy the support and collaboration of the Federal Government to accomplish their laudable programs for the people.
Idris said the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, under his leadership, is poised to restore public trust in public communications; amplify policies and programs of the Federal Government; reorient national values and deepen the social contract between government and citizens; modernize technology and talent in the Federal Government’s Information and Communications systems and create an enabling operating environment for the media in Nigeria, through favorable policies and incentives.
In his response, Namadi commended the minister for bringing the entire federal communication structure to Jigawa State, saying it shows the minister’s sincere commitment.
The governor announced that the state has made significant progress in supporting the president’s food security agenda, which has manifested in positioning Jigawa as the leading producer of wheat, hibiscus, sesame, and gum Arabic in the country while it’s also competing for the top spot in rice production.
He assured the minister that self-sufficiency in wheat production would be achieved in the next few years, noting that presently, 70% of Nigeria’s non-oil exports are made up of hibiscus and sesame, which are products of Jigawa state.
The minister and his delegation later visited the palace of the emir of Dutse, Muhammad Hamim Nuhu Sanusi, where he tasked the governors to judiciously utiliise the available by meagre resources for the good and betterment of their people..
Thereafter, the ministerial delegation held a town hall meeting with stakeholders in agricultural production in Auyo local government in the Northeast part of the state.
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