Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has congratulated the “Farmer Governor” of Niger State, His Excellency, Mohammed Umaru Bago, on his investiture as the Leadership Newspapers “Governor of the Year 2023.”.
Abdullahi, in a message he personally signed, said the honour, coming just nine months into Bago’s first term in office, is an appropriate recognition of his dedicated focus on delivering meaningful governance to Niger State, as evidenced by urban renewal, investment in infrastructure, and rural transformation.
“You are truly living your conviction by walking your talk,” the minister, who is Baraden Borgu, said.
“Like many Nigerlites, I am excited about your commitment to harnessing the immense natural endowments of Niger State to boost agricultural production in dimensions that can only be revolutionary.
“When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security, he directed that 500,000 hectares of arable land be brought under cultivation country-wide. But Your Excellency has responded to that clarion call by taking practical and visible steps to bring at least one million hectares of fertile land into agricultural production in Niger State. As a vindication, hundreds of high-capacity tractors and harvesters, ordered by the state government, have been delivered along with complementary implements that will boost mechanisation and other sustainable agronomic practices.
“The Leadership Newspapers Award is a motivator for Your Excellency to keep your eyes on the ball as you strive methodically to alter the governance narrative of Niger State. Not surprisingly, a day after the awards ceremony, you flew into Lagos to ink a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with your brother Governor of Lagos State. The MOU, Produce-For-Lagos Initiative, is a strategic long-term partnership agreement between Niger and Lagos states that guarantees Lagos as the off-taker of a range of agricultural produce from Niger State.
“All well-meaning Nigerlites are in support of your efforts, and the great expectation is that things can only get better for Niger State.”