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By Chinyere Anyanwu
Farmers in Benue State, at the weekend, took delivery of about four thousand bags of fertiliser and irrigation equipment from the Federal Government as part of its efforts to boost agricultural activities and attain food security in the country. The Federal Government, in addition, distributed bags of rice to Benue citizens to reduce the hardship being faced by citizens.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, during the distribution in Makurdi, explained that the fertiliser and irrigation machines were in addition to the earlier distribution to the state by the Federal Government to ensure bumper harvest and all-year-round agriculture in Benue, which is an agrarian state. He added that such interventions were ongoing across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the minister, the fertiliser and irrigation machines which were free of charge were to make agriculture attractive and to encourage more youths and women to venture into farming to make ends meet.
The minister maintained that with the declaration of the state of emergency on food security, both the federal, states and local governments were working together to ensure that every Nigerian has food to eat at no cost.
Prof. Utsev announced that construction of dams and water schemes across the country including Benue State were ongoing to ensure irrigated agriculture and enable citizens have access to clean and safe water especially those in rural communities.
He told Benue people that the present administration has also introduced reforms aimed at improving the lives of citizens such as student loans, mass urban housing scheme across the 36 states and FCT, ongoing construction of roads across the 36 states to ease vehicular movements and enable farmers transport their farm produce to the markets.
The minister said work on the construction of River Katsina Ala at Buruku crossing has also commenced while approval has been made by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the construction of Makurdi, Gboko and Katsina Ala road.
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He added that conscious efforts were being made to tackle insecurity in Benue and other parts of the country, urging Benue people to appreciate the support and attention the state has received under the current administration and appointment of many sons and daughters into key federal positions.
The Water Resources and Sanitation Minister appealed to Benue people not to be part of the planned nationwide protest being canvassed by some people, saying President Bola Tinubu was aware of the challenges facing the country and was doing everything possible to address them and return Nigeria to greatness.
Also speaking, the House of Representatives member for Kwande Ushongo Federal Constituency, Mr. Terseer Ugbor, said the National Assembly was committed to working in synergy with the administration of President Tinubu to provide the desired dividends of democracy to citizens.
This, according to him, is exemplified in the recent passage of a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers and the student loan scheme where thousands of Nigerian students have already been enrolled.
On their part, members of the Benue State House of Assembly who spoke through Gboko East representative at the assembly, Mrs. Becky Orpin, said they were solidly behind the policies and programmes of President Tinubu’s administration, stressing that the country stands to benefit more from the administration.
They called for more patience and understanding with the administration and thanked the Nigerian judiciary for restoring local government autonomy.
Speaking on behalf of the Benue youths, Mr. Terdindi Adom and President, National Union of Benue State Students, Mr. Sylvester Terwase, as well as a retired civil servant, Mr. Peter Chiangi, and market women who also spoke at the occasion, enumerated the achievements of President Tinubu within one year in office.
They promised never to be part of any protest against the administration of President Tinubu who they said was on track to address the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
They expressed appreciation to the president, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, for supporting Benue farmers with fertiliser free of charge and food items and pledged their total loyalty and support for the success of the Tinubu administration.
