Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has announced that the state government will introduce measures to reduce the cost of food items for the upcoming Ramadan season. This move is aimed at ensuring food affordability for the people of Niger State.
Governor Bago made the announcement during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the Gates Foundation at the Government House in Minna. He explained that the state has successfully harvested over one million metric tons of maize and is utilizing Niger Foods to stabilize food prices across the country.
“We are committed to ensuring that foodstuff is affordable for everyone, especially during Ramadan,” Governor Bago said. “Through our efforts, we have not only harvested a significant amount of maize but are also stabilizing food prices to benefit all Nigerians.”
The Governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s agricultural sector, emphasizing the goal of increasing the cropping seasons from one to three annually. He called on the Gates Foundation to further collaborate with the state in areas such as crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and housing development to improve the lives of the people.
“Collaboration on irrigation is critical,” Bago noted, “as it holds immense potential for boosting crop production and combating the challenges posed by climate change.”
Obai Khalifa, the Leader of Agricultural Development Work at the Gates Foundation, commended the Governor for his agricultural initiatives. He emphasized the importance of agriculture in enhancing food security and nutrition. “Agriculture is vital not just for security but also for its nutritional value,” Khalifa said.
Audu Grema, Senior Program Officer for Agricultural Development at the Gates Foundation in Africa, also praised the Governor’s efforts in transforming the agricultural sector. He stated, “Governor Bago’s investment in agriculture is a pathway to lifting people out of poverty.”
The Gates Foundation expressed its continued commitment to addressing key challenges such as underfunding in agriculture and the impacts of climate change in Africa, highlighting the importance of supporting agricultural transformation in Nigeria.