Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, says, the ethanol bio-fuel project being executed jointly between Kebbi state and the NNPC Limited is progressing steadily.
A memorandum of understanding MoU signed by both parties would enable Kebbi state to begin the production of ethanol using cassava and sugarcane as raw materials.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu made this clarification this Saturday at an interactive session with journalists at the Press Centre, Government House, Birnin Kebbi, to mark the sixty-second independence anniversary of Nigeria.
The governor explained that the project experienced slow motion as a result of the global impact of covid-19 but has now assumed accelerated action as technical person has already been appointed for the commencement of production which subsequently would make Kebbi state an oil producing area.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu described ethanol as fuel of the future, saying that the production of such energy was for profit making.
The governor was emphatic that Nigerians have a cause to celebrate the independence anniversary of the nation in an appraisal of her evolution from the colonial period to date during which monumental achievement has been recorded on infrastructural development, especially roads construction.
On behalf of the government and people of Kebbi state, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for leading the nation to fruition and commended security services for their gallantry, sacrifice and victory in surmounting security challenges in the country.
He was also thankful to the people of Kebbi state for their loyalty to the government and compassion to refugees from neighbouring states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger, now in IDP camps in Sakaba, Danko-Wasagu and Koko-Besse local government areas.
The governor expressed support to local policing in solving local security problems but advocated for a law to prescribe their mode of operations.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu offered condolences to security services on the road accident by a bullion van along Birnin Kebbi – Argungu road that led to the demise of two policemen and injury to another.
Commenting on agricultural sector, the Kebbi State Chief Executive remarked that the state under the agricultural revival policy of President Muhammadu Buhari has witnessed massive boost in production, particularly rice, since Mr. President launched the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme in Zauro, in 2015.
Testimony to this achievement is the establishment of WACOT Rice Mill, Labana Rice Mill, Lolo Rice Mill, and Dangote Rice Mill as well as medium and small scale rice mills throughout the state including the Tomato Processing Plant in Ngaski local government area.
On politics, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu described the Kebbi state APC Gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasir Umar Idris, Kauran Gwandu, as his close ally and dependable person, saying he would vigorously campaign for him to secure victory in 2023 elections.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu used the opportunity of the Media chat to announce that new commissioners would be appointed soon to revalitise the cabinet.
He further spoke about the regularity in power supply to Kebbi state based on financial and material support by his administration, explaining that the government spent one hundred and ninety-eight million naira to restore electricity to Argungu town in addition to four hundred million naira expended on the procurement of transformers for other parts of the state recently.
On education, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu was glad that hundreds of out-of-school children have been returned to classes under the Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA, which has now removed Kebbi state from the five endemic states with out-of-school children.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu informed journalists that the administration would sustain youth and women empowerment for wealth creation and self-reliance.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu added that the government has paid four hundred and fifty million naira counterpart fund to the World Bank assisted programme for women empowerment that now made it possible to cover the whole twenty one local government areas of the state.
The governor explained that initial take-off of the scheme involved three local government areas of Ngaski, Maiyama and Argungu where thirty-four thousand women received financial support from the total sum of two billion naira.
Present at the media parley were the state deputy governor, retired Colonel Sama’ila Yombe Dabai, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Alhaji Babale Umar Yauri, the acting Head of Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena and all Permanent Secretaries in various ministries, including the Accountant-General of the State, the Auditor-General and Local Government Chairmen.
