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From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
After 31 years of existence, Kebbi State has boasted of its tribal, religious tolerance as well as cultural divergence.
The state was created from Sokoto by former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, in August 27, 1991. From that moment, song of hope spread all over the 21 local government areas of the state and their four emirate councils.
Kebbi is bordering Sokoto, Niger and Zamfara states, as well as Dosso Region in the Republic of Niger with a total area of 36,800 km2 (14,200 sq mi). The state is famous for its highly celebrated Argungu Fishing Festival, Yauri Regatta Festival, Hotugo and Uhola cultural festivals which unites the people.
Both the present and past administrations have been commended for contributing positively to the development and growth of the state.
According to many observers, Kebbi is growing steadily with many institutions springing up, hotels, hospitals, modern markets, relaxation centres, tarred roads, private schools and housing estates dotting many places which were formerly known as forest.
While speaking on the journey so far, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Chika Malami(SAN), who is one of the industrious sons of the state, congratulated the people of the state and Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, whom he described as the hero of modern Kebbi.
He said: “As we celebrate the anniversary of the creation of Kebbi State, I want to congratulate the state government and people of Kebbi. It is in the instance of the state government that I was appointed as a minister which paved the way for me to provide meaningful contribution to my country and my community.”
He noted that the office of the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice has been instrumental to the attainment of the cardinal objectives of President Muhamamdu Buhari-led administration in the areas of the fight against corruption, enhancement of the rule of law and entrenchment of democratic ideals, among others.
“As a representative of the people of Kebbi State at the Federal Executive Council and for the purposes of elaborative stakeholders’ engagement and community outreach, I have been consulting Kebbi State indigenes holding executive positions at the federal level and strategize on the most effective and efficient ways to serve our community.
“It is also important to state that out of the need to access Federal Government intervention programmes, we actively engaged and worked with some Federal Government officers in Kebbi and/or of Kebbi State origin to establish non-governmental organizations of Kadi Malami Foundation (KMF) and Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative (KDI) to support our people with social amenities and diverse economic empowerment programmes,” he said.
Determined to develop his state and community, Malami has continued to facilitate employment opportunities to the youths, women and professionals in various agencies and parastatals. Apart from that, the AGF through his NGOs, has empowered thousands of people, small scale enterprises, establishment of radio stations, mega private primary and secondary school and a private university, which is about to kick off. To many observers, Malami has become the highest employer of labour in the state.
Besides, the state government, under the leadership of Bagudu, is said to have continued to attract investors to the state. As gathered, under his watch, no fewer than four multi- billion naira rice mills have been sited in the state with many small and medium scale rice mills springing up in different local government areas.
Speaking on this breakthrough, the commissioner for agriculture, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigari Dakingari, explained that many multibillion-naira rice mills have sprung up in the state. According to him, apart from Labana Rice Mill in Birnin Kebbi, “we now have Wacot Rice Mill, Dangote Rice Mill, Lolo Rice Mill and over 20 small scale rice mills at various locations across the state. This is to tell all Nigerians that, in Kebbi, our governor is working hard to ensure that the state metamorphose to industrial state where our IGR, employment opportunities would be at the apex level for other states to emulate.”
Dakingari explained that the success story of Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) was due to hard work and diligence of the Bagudu’s administration, whereby LAKE Rice was given birth to, which is the outcome of the collaboration of Lagos and Kebbi states. The feat, he said, was unique in Nigeria.
He added that Kebbi has witnessed the establishment of a tomato factory in Gafara.
The commissioner further said: “All are private driven as a result of the conducive atmosphere for private sector to flourish in the state. There is also the proposed disbursement of AGMIES loan to 10,000 youths.”
He noted that in the area of infrastructure, Bagudu has constructed many rural roads and in the state capital, which paved the way for free transportation of farm produce from rural areas to urban markets.
The commissioner disclosed that the governor recently purchased 128 trucks of fertilizers for onward distribution to the farmers across the 225 wards in the state, as well as N40 million to be used to fight Quelea birds which are invading the farmland from neigbouring countries as part of measures to sustain food security in the state.
According to him, “this fertilizer we procured from the company was at the cost of N23,000 per bag. The condition we found ourselves now demands for reflections, the Rusian-Ukrainian war is affecting the production of fertilizers across the world. And we don’t have enough fertilizers in Nigeria to take care of our farmers in Nigeria. That is why these fertilizers we procured are going to be sold to the farmers at a subsidised price of N15,000 per bag. On the Queala birds continuous control, the governor has approved the sum of N40 million for the continues killing of Quealla birds.
Dakingari explained that Bagudu’s main concern is how to ensure and sustain food security in the state.
