President Bola Tinubu on Saturday, 20 July said his administration was determined to ensure food security and stimulate economic growth across Nigeria. President Tinubu spoke during the Yobe State Agricultural Empowerment Programme launch in Damaturu, the state capital.
The initiative, which includes the provision of agricultural machinery and implements, was part of a broader national strategy to revolutionize the nation’s agricultural sector.
The President, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the programme was at the heart of his administration’s ongoing efforts to enhance food security, create jobs, and diversify Nigeria’s economy through agriculture. President Tinubu stressed the critical role of agriculture in national development and security, saying “Food is the heart of security in every society.” “It is the foundation upon which we build our health, our well-being, and our economic stability.
There’s no way we are going to achieve our grand goals as a government, whether at the state or national level until we support and empower our farmers,” he added. The President noted that apart from boosting agricultural output, the initiative also aims to engage more Nigerians in the nation’s economic life. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernizing the agricultural sector, including the livestock industry. The President said the recently approved Ministry of Livestock Development was intended “to improve livestock production in the country and to change the destiny and narratives of our livestock production.”
Addressing the shift towards modern farming techniques, President Tinubu said, “Each of us in this gathering must come to terms with the fact that the era of relying on rain-fed agriculture is gone. These machines are here to ease our practice of irrigation farming.” The launch of the agricultural empowerment programme also saw the President approving Yobe State’s request for additional resources to support its agricultural ambitions. These include “mini-rigs for tube wells, solar water pumps, agrochemicals, power tillers, more fertilizers, and other farm implements to complement your irrigation scheme.” President Tinubu also addressed security concerns, assuring the audience that the government is “taking drastic measures to address the security challenges to make farmlands safe and accessible in every state of the federation.”
Shettima also visited the Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Shehu Hashim II Ibn Umar Al-Amin El-Kanemi, to convey President Tinubu’s high regard for Yobe State and its people. He praised Governor Mai Mala Buni’s achievements, particularly in agricultural investments, emphasizing the potential for agricultural mechanization in the state. Responding, the Emir of Damaturu expressed gratitude for President Tinubu’s support and appreciated the administration’s efforts towards national progress.
Earlier, Governor Buni of Yobe State reaffirmed the state’s support for Tinubu’s administration, acknowledging the challenges faced by Yobe, particularly in the agricultural sector.
