By correspondent.
Photo credit:Babban Gona.
A silent revolution is taking place in the agricultural sector of Nigerian economy, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
This is contained in a statement signed by Rabiu Ibrahim,
Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister and a copy made available to The Reporters on Monday in Abuja.
The Minister’s aide said his boss made the observation when he(minister) led the National Communications Team on a duty tour of Kano and Jigawa states, to feel the pulse of the silent agricultural revolution gradually taking place in the country
The team comprised senior media and communications advisers to the President, and the Directors’ General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the NTA, VON, and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The minister said:”Our team’s visit to the Federal Government and World Bank-backed Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme showed a massive agricultural production of rice, hibiscus, and wheat, amongst other crops, by resilient farmers in Jigawa state.
“These farmers work all year round on the banks of the Hadija-Jama’are River Basin. “Please, let’s all embrace agriculture and the vast value chain potential it holds.”
He said said his team was amazed by the level of successes being recorded in dry season farming when they recently undertook the tour of some farming communities in Kano and Jigawa States.
The minister assured of the commitment of the present administration in the country to creating an enabling environment for all Nigerians to prosper through the implementation of bold fiscal and monetary reforms.
These reforms,he said, were aimed at growing the economy, reducing poverty, and promoting sustainable development.
“The reforms being implemented by Mr. President, are not knee-jerk reactions to our economic challenges; they are well-thought-out plans to run concurrently with a comprehensive Social Intervention Programme to mitigate the transient pains of the reforms,”he added.
The Minister said with the reform of the National Social Investment Programme, additional safeguards had been introduced to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of funds to the poor and vulnerable in society.
He said that henceforth, beneficiaries would be identified with their National Identification Number (NIN) and BVN or identified mobile wallets.
Edited by Dawud Ahmed.