From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Ministries of Water Resources and Sanitation, and Agriculture and Food Security is partnering to end food shortages in the country.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Terhemen Oraduen in Abuja.
According to the statement the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said the aim of the collaboration is to scale up food production, end hunger, address food shortages and inflation in the country.
It explained that the Ministry has abundant water for irrigation farming, land, and technical expertise, stressing that what was needed is the provision of seedlings and other inputs to enable his Ministry to cultivate its five hundred thousand irrigable lands across twelve River Basins and make food available and affordable for citizens.
The statement further stated that during a meeting between both ministries, a Ministerial Joint Action Committee on Food Security involving the private sector to effectively deploy all the resources available for mechanized farming was set up.
According to the statement, on his part, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stresses that his ministry will continue to provide inputs and other farming incentives, as well as the necessary support needed to enhance food production in the country.
He assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to ensuring enough food for citizens and addressing other challenges facing the country.
Speaking on behalf of the private sector, Mr. Magaji of African Farmer expresses satisfaction that the Federal Government has given them the opportunity to contribute towards achieving food security in the country.
He pledged to make a significant change in the agricultural sector before the end of the year.
According to the statement the meeting was attended by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, and his colleague from Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Mohammed Goronyo, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Mohammed, as well as members of the private sector.