The Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has said that his government attracted over $1 billion investment into the state agricultural sector over the last six months.
Governor Bago stated this during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, Friday in Abuja.
The Niger State governor emphasized that agriculture can create the number of jobs Nigeria needs as well as boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings and food supply, adding that “we have no other way to go than the way of agriculture.”
Gov Bago said crop production, aquaculture and animal husbandry is the focus of his government.
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“As a state, we are sitting on 76,000 kilometers of arable land, 4 hydropower dams, 74 earth and water dams with over 100 warehouses for storage of produce. Therefore, we have no reason to be poor.
“In this dry season farming, the federal government targets 500,000 hectares but Niger State is providing one million hectares. We have double the ambition of the federal government.
“As at today, we have prepared over 150,000 hectares. We have invested so much in irrigation facilities,” the governor said.
Earlier, the minister of Agriculture and Food Security Sen Abubkar Kyari assured the governor of the federal government support and collaboration with state to ensure more food production in the country