Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to leveraging the state’s vast agricultural potential to enhance food security for both Niger State and Nigeria. Represented by Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba, the Governor shared his vision during the 2024 World Food Day celebration at the Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre in Minna on Wednesday.
The Governor emphasized the importance of World Food Day, designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about global food sufficiency and the urgent need for sustainable practices to feed a global population projected to reach 10 billion by 2050. He highlighted this year’s theme, “Safer Foods and Better Health,” as especially relevant, noting that Nigeria faces significant challenges from economic pressures, insecurity, and climate change. These factors, he said, aggravate food insecurity and threaten the welfare of the most vulnerable citizens.
Governor Bago called for collaboration among stakeholders to develop and implement policies aimed at sustainable food production. Under the New Niger Agenda, he noted, his administration has reoriented its focus to position Niger State as a leader in agriculture, helping to drive food security for the nation. The Governor reported that, within the past year and a half, over a thousand tractors have been deployed to modernize farming practices, while efforts are underway to cultivate approximately three million hectares of arable land, utilizing the state's ample water resources, grazing reserves, and forest reserves.
Expressing gratitude to the Niger State Ministry of Agriculture, Governor Bago commended its role in advancing state agricultural policies and acknowledged the contributions of partners across the sector.
In his remarks, the Niger State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Salihu Bawa Bosso, noted that the state had not celebrated World Food Day for two decades. The Governor’s drive to revolutionize agriculture, he said, has brought renewed enthusiasm to the occasion. Represented by Permanent Secretary Dr. Mathew Ahmed, the Commissioner shared that Niger State leads in the production of rice, sorghum, and yams, according to recent federal reports. He added that the state has attracted agricultural investments worth billions of Naira, as well as international partnerships and collaborations.
Guest speaker Professor Job Nmadu of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, represented by Dr. Halima Salawu, praised the administration’s agricultural initiatives. He encouraged continued collaboration between the government, partners, and farmers to maximize the state’s agricultural potential.
The event featured goodwill messages from various stakeholders, including representatives from Niger Foods, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi (NCRI), among others.