Begins sale of subsidised fertilisers to farmers
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has ordered the dissolution of all statutory commissions, boards and parastatals, as well as the sack of political appointees that predate his inauguration on May 29, 2023. He has also flagged off the 2023 wet season sale and distribution of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to farmers in the state at a subsidised rate.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, stated, yesterday, that the dissolution and termination of appointments took immediate effect.
The SSG explained that tenured or untenured commissions, boards and parastatals were also affected, and urged concerned officials to comply immediately with the directive.
While recognising their contribution to the state’s development, the SSG directed those affected to hand over all government property, including official vehicles, in their possession to the most senior director in their respective organisations.
In the statement, the governor wished the affected political appointees success in their future endeavours.
THE flag-off, which took place in Minna, yesterday, was to boost agricultural activities and guarantee food security, in line with the Bago administration’s policy thrust on agriculture.
While calling on the relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) responsible to ensure equitable distribution, the governor said “each of the beneficiaries is entitled to 10 bags of fertilisers,” warning that security operatives had been directed to deal decisively with any one found wanting.
He added that 60,000 bags of fertilisers had been provided for a start, and that 120,000 more bags would be provided.
To further demonstrate his administration’s resolve to maximise the agricultural potential that abound in the state, Bago pledged to revive the Niger State Agricultural Mechanisation Development Agency (NAMDA), formally known as Agricultural Development Project (ADP), with the procurement of 300 tractors, out of which 10 would go to each of the 25 local councils of the state. He announced that Bago Foundation, headed by his wife, Fatima, donated 300 pumping machines to boost irrigation farming across the state.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Idris Gbogan, explained that the state government approved 20 per cent subsidy on 100 trucks of fertiliser and that each bag of 50kg would be sold at N18,000 against the open market price of between N24,000 and N30,000.
