The federal government is not alone in the race for improved production of food in 2024. It has the support of state governments who have shown considerable pursuance of the goal towards the production of food items with a purpose to making same available at affordable rates. One of such state is Niger State. Governor Umaru Bago who has taken many steps toensure increased production of food in the new year was a guest of the president in Lagos on January 1, 2023. He said he had briefed the president that his administration has secured one million hectares of farmland for the cultivation of crops, which include rice. Bago said, “We have secured over one million hectares of land. I will start preparing this land and Iam sure before the next rainy season, I will have over 250,000 hectares prepared and I will also inform (the president) about the irrigation investment we have put in place.” The target of Governor Bago is to improve the cultivation of rice, maize and cotton. He noted the importance of maize to the livestock sector, promising to address that with the planned high yield maize in the state.
He said, “In Niger state, we are very ready to do as a leading state in rice paddy, improve rice production and cotton production.” The governor added that the state will not also lower its guard as a leading producer of sesame. Hear him: “You know, Niger State is also a leading state in the production of sesame,… and we have told Mr. President exactly what we are about to do.”
- It is believed that if all these efforts coalesce, the prevailing hunger in Nigeria will ease, and the excess production would provide the country the opportunity to earn foreign
exchange.