By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi
Incumbent administration in Kebbi State, says, it has expended twenty one billion Naira on the purchase and distribution of palliatives, pumps, fertiliser as well as disbursement of financial support to its people to improve their livelihood.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi, announced this in Birnin Kebbi this Saturday at a news briefing.
He said the government of Governor Nasir Idris has remained steadfast to the provision of essential intervention to enhance food security, implement policies to empower individuals, support farmers and provide free sustenance to the populace.
The Commissioner spoke about prompt action to combat the menace of migratory birds attack, quelea birds, which posed threat to food security.
“The government has sprayed more than 4,000 litres of chemicals and operated many flight hours to safeguard agricultural yields from pests, purchased fertiliser worth N2.6 billion and distributed free to farmers.,
“Furthermore, N8.5 billion was spent on procurement of solar powered water pumps, CNG pumps, conversion kits, power tillers and motorised sprayers to support farmers, reduce operational costs aimed at improved agricultural productivity and sustainability”, he explained.
Alhaji Yakubu Ahmad Birnin Kebbi informed newsmen that the administration purchased hundreds of truckload of grains including rice of billions of naira, 200 truckload procured in the Ramadan period and distributed free to the people throughout the state.
The government’s image maker made it clear that criticisms were central and logical in democratic governance, but when such criticisms were bereft of facts on significant issues of development, the whole essence of oversight has been defeated and rendered immaterial.
He was unamused about the recent reaction of the opposition on the palliatives’ looting incident and the resignation of the Chief Imam of the oldest JUMU’AT Mosque in Birnin Kebbi, saying that the comments were unwarranted and misplaced because the purpose was to gain cheap political relevance.
