Course participants of NISS, rates Kebbi high on agriculture

By: Abdullahi Faruk, Birnin Kebbi

Course participants of the National Institute for Security Studies NISS, Abuja, are convinced that Kebbi state has the capacity to feed Nigeria not only with rice but also with other grains.

This is the formal assessment by the participants at the end of their study tour to all the four emirates of the state.

The team leader, Mr. Isaac Shotayo made the assertion at a dinner party in their honour by the Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu at Government House, Birnin Kebbi and also appreciated him for his tiring support and encouragement to farmers to increase yields.

Mr. Isaac said they have seen the enormous fertile land, potentials and prospects of massive agricultural production in Kebbi state, capable of providing food security to the nation.

He confirmed to the governor that they have visited WACOT Rice Mill, Argungu of which the company has doubled its production by establishing a second rice mill of equal capacity as well as paid a visit to the tomato processing factory at Ngaski Local Government Area, the longest in Africa.

Members of the team were also at Yauri, Zuru, Argungu, Dole Kaina, Kamba and Aliero inspecting farmlands, interacting with farmers and traditional rulers.

However, team leader, said on behalf of the Commander National Institute of Security Studies and the course participants, thanked Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, for the hospitality accorded to them in the course of their visit, saying that they have been thrilled.

In the same vein, the Chairman of the team, Bashir Jurzuli, extended similar appreciation to the governor, local government chairmen, traditional rulers and the people of the state for their generosity, magnanimity and care to the members of the course syndicate in all the places visited.

He extended an invitation to the governor to witness the formal presentation of the report of the study tour by the participants to the institute in Abuja later this month.

In a remark the coordinator of Kebbi Ethanol Bio-fuel Project, former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Muhammad Abubakar Ka’oje said he has interacted with members of the team on the project during which he briefed them and responded to their inquiries.

Professor Ka’oje announced that shareholders agreement has already been signed while the board of the company has been inaugurated.

Furthermore, the ground breaking ceremony for the commencement of production would be performed in the next two weeks.

Professor Ka’oje intimated the gathering that officials of the project have visited India to inspect machinery for the bio-fuel production, which would use independent electricity supply that would be enjoyed by the host community as part of the corporate social responsibility of the company.

In addition, payment has been made for fabrication of machinery while six thousand eligible Nigerians would be employed to work under the project.

In response, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu indicated that the government would welcome any valuable information on better performance from members of the study tour about their assessment of the Kebbi state.

Senator Bagudu made it clear that Nigeria has the potential capacity and ability to imbibe the development strategy adopted by Brazil and Malaysia that facilitated their economic and human advancement.

The governor expressed appreciation to the former Minister of Science and Technology, former Vice-Chancellor, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, an erudite scientist, Professor Muhammad Abubakar Ka’oje for accepting to lead the ethanol bio-fuel project to fruition, the first of its kind in Nigeria, using cassava and sugar cane as raw materials.

He further stressed that one hundred and twenty million dollar agreement has been signed with three companies for the take-off of the project which has been sited at Gwazawa, Danko-Wasagu local Government area in Zuru emirate.

The governor thanked President Muhammad Buhari for including Kebbi state in the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining initiative, now ongoing near Yauri of which twenty thousand youths, males and females, have been registered to partake in the scheme for economic prosperity.

He announced that another gold bar from Yauri would be presented to the president to portray the success of the initiative.