The Islamic Development Bank, IDB has been commended for actively supporting Nigeria in various fields both at the Federal and State levels.
Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu made the commendation this Monday while playing host to a delegation of the IDB led by Alhaji Sabi’u Awwal in company of officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Federal Ministry of Finance who visited him at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
The team is in Kebbi State for a three-day appraisal mission of agricultural potential of the State under the phase two of the national food security programme with major financial support from the Islamic Development Bank.
Governor Bagudu said because food security is top priority of present administration, Nigeria has introduced policies to facilitate quest for food security as evident in the establishment of the national food security council chaired by President Muhammad Buhari with himself as the Vice-Chairman of the council.
He expressed delight about the myriad of achievements of Kebbi State Government under incumbent administration in the revival of agricultural production which paved way for the state to becoming rice hub in the country that attracted neighbouring nations of Benin and Niger Republics to attend last year’s rice festival in Birnin Kebbi to under study paddy cultivation.
He recalled that Northern Governors had sent a delegation to the Islamic Development Bank, to explore areas of cooperation on livestock production, especially goat rearing aimed at hastening food security and poverty reduction.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu also advocated for rechanneling of unused IDB fund on covid-19 assistance to Nigeria into agricultural development, saying the world food structure has remained precarious.
The governor added that the situation has been worsened by recent flooding in many parts of the globe including Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Joel Aiki told the governor that the delegation was on appraisal mission to Kebbi State with similar teams doing the same thing simultaneously in Kwara, Ekiti and Kano states for the implementation of the Phase II of the National Food Security Programme.
He added that it was in recognition of the achievement recorded in the first phase of the scheme in Gombe, Yobe and Anambra states, the Federal Government extended the programme into second phase of which Kebbi state has been included.
He attributed this honour to the untiring efforts of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in agricultural growth in both Kebbi state and nationwide, which earned him, the conferment of the national award of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, and public service award of excellence by President Muhammad Buhari.
The team leader, Alhaji Sabi’u Awwal acknowledged that Kebbi State has become the food basket of Nigeria under Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
He explained that the team would hold extensive discussions with relevant officials of the state government and interact with local farmers on different components of agriculture after which the members would summit report to the management of the Islamic Development Bank for implementation.
Alhaji Sabi’u Awwal revealed that the IDB delegation would focus attention on cattle fattening, sorghum or export and rice in view of the position of Kebbi state as the vanguard of rice production in Nigeria.
He announced that the project entailed thirty-three million dollars of which the Islamic Development Bank would provide thirty million dollars while the federal and state governments would contribute three million dollars to the scheme.
The team leader further informed his guest that two million dollars would be made available as revolving fund for Kebbi state to be domiciled in bank with Islamic Sharia compliance for one hundred thousand beneficiaries including men, women and youth.
