Tinubu lauds Yobe’s multi-billion naira empowerment programme
By Bala Dauda, Damaturu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Gov Mai Mala Buni-led administration in Yobe for investing heavily on procurement of agricultural machinery and farm equipment.
Tinubu made this known at the launch of Agricultural Empowerment Programme in Damaturu.
Represented by the Vice President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the president pledged to support the state’s efforts toward developing the agricultural sector.
He noted that agriculture enhanced food security and general wellbeing of the public.
Shettima charged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the machinery to improve their living conditions.
Earlier, Buni listed items to be distributed to include 100 Zoom Lion Tractors, 10 IMC Double Cabin 4 wheel drive vehicles for supervision of the extension service workers.
He said others were “ 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,” the governor said.
Buni said 5,340 farmers would benefit from the scheme – 30 farmers from each of the 178 political wards in the state.
“ 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,” he said.
The governor said effective mechanism had been put in place to avert sharp practices and ensure that the equipment were used for the intended purposes.
Buni warned that any official found sabotaging the laudable programme would face the wrath of the law, urging security agencies to arrest anyone found crossing the state’s boarders with any of the machinery.
