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The Niger State Government targets two million farmers in its agricultural revolution strategy after signing a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bayer AG.
The signing of the agreement took place on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring meetings in Washington, DC, USA.
The partnership is under the shared vision of 'Feeding the Nation' for the state government and 'Health for All, Hunger for None,' for the multinational company.
According to the MoU, the multinational company is expected to provide innovations in agriculture so as to improve food production in line with the "feed the nation" policy of the present administration in the state.
On the other hand, the Niger State government, through Niger Foods Limited, would spearhead an efficient and profitable agribusiness with a focus on maize, soy beans, tomatoes, and onions, among others, using about 500,000 hectares of land.
The collaboration, which will be carried out in phases, will be guided by a progressive and sustainable strategy of 1/10/100.
The deal will also boost global market access for the state, leading to significant economic growth, which will not only be beneficial to Niger State but to Nigeria in general.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Science, and Sustainability at Bayer AG, Matthias Berninger, both agreed at the event that the partnership will be of immense benefit to Niger State and Nigeria, especially in supporting environmental resilience and productivity, ensuring food safety, and promoting economic growth.
The Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, has expressed deep regret over the demise of a former Kwara South Senatorial District Senator, Dr. Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, whose transition, following a brief illness, was announced in a family statement on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
In a condolence message to the Kwara State Government, the people of Kwara South Senatorial District, and the Ojoku Community in Oyun Local Government Area, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi said he was saddened by news of the death of an illustrious son of Kwara and former colleague with whom he had a healthy and productive working relationship.
He recalled that he and the late Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim were freshmen Senators in the Eighth National Assembly from 2015 to 2019, during which period Sen. Rafiu served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions and was a member of the Media and Public Affairs Committee under the chairmanship of Sen. Sabi Abdullahi.
The Minister of State described the late Sen. Rafiu as a friend, brother, confidant, and reliable sounding board with whom he shared common views on the welfare of citizens and the progress of the nation. The deceased, he said, was an embodiment of passion, selflessness, and hard work. He noted that the late Sen. Rafiu was a truly distinguished gentleman whose persona radiated confidence and a ready willingness to cooperate in achieving the common good.
Sen. Sabi Abdullahi also recalled with fondness that the late Sen. Rafiu joined him in solidarity at the launch of a constituency project in his (Sabi’s) Niger North Senatorial District and that the late Sen. Rafiu willingly stood in for the Senate President on the occasion, when the Chairman of the National Assembly could not arrive early enough owing to weather constraints.
The Honourable Minister of State prayed Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the late Sen. Rafiu and to grant his soul aljannah firdaus. He equally urged members of the family of the deceased to be consoled by the remarkable accomplishments of the late Senator, who has passed away at the age of 57.
In a related development, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi expressed condolences to his erstwhile colleague in the Ninth Senate, Sen. Sadiq Suleiman Umar, who lost his father, Alhaji Suleiman Mora Omar, the Makama of Kaiama Emirate in Kwara State. According to Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, his common Borgu lineage with Sen. Sadiq means that the transition of the Makama is a loss to the larger Borgu Clan.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the late Alhaji Suleiman, the Minister of State noted that the legacies of exemplary service of the late Makama as an administrator and traditional ruler should be sources of comfort to the family.
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