As part of efforts to ensure food security and stimulate economic growth across Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Yobe State Agricultural Empowerment Programme in Damaturu, the state capital.
The initiative, which includes the provision of agricultural machinery and implements, is said to be part of a broader national strategy to revolutionise Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Speaking during the launch of the programme in Damaturu, President Tinubu who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima said the programme is 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.”
The launch of the agric empowerment programme also saw President Tinubu approving Yobe State’s request for additional resources to support its agricultural ambitions.
These include “mini-rigs for tube wells, solar water pumps, agro-chemicals, power tillers, more fertilisers, 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.”
Source: Kashim Shettima