Kwara State
Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has called for urgent diversification of
Nigeria’s economy to agriculture as the only credible and sustainable solution
to the current economic recession in the country.
Governor Ahmed
also called on the Federal Government to reconsider diversification to
agriculture with deliberate effort on advocacy on agriculture as a source of
wealth.
The Governor,
who made the call when First Class traditional rulers from Kwara South
Senatorial District visited him at the Government House, Ilorin, promised that
the state government would continue to assist farmers with information,
seedlings and chemicals to boost agric-business in the state.
Governor Ahmed
charged the traditional rulers to develop more interest in agriculture and
continue to support programmes and policies of the state government.
Dr Ahmed
called on royal fathers in the country to be major players in the promotion of
peace and security in their domains. The Governor who noted that it was only
when lives of people and their property are secured that government’s
developmental and infrastructural efforts could yield desired results, said
“Government will continue to partner with our royal fathers on security so that
our people can live in peace because it is only when we have a secured
environment that we can truly progress economically”.
“Most
importantly”, the Governor continued, “we’ll create a sense of
transparency in the area of project execution because monies that will be used
for the projects will be monies gotten from the people under the internally
generated revenue. Transparency in governance is necessary for people to have
confidence”.
The Governor
promised that all projects to be initiated by the state government will be
completed before December, 2018. This, according to the governor, will be
possible as the newly established Kwara Infrastructure Fund is positioned for
the financing of projects across the state from inception to completion stages
within given time frame.
According to
him, with a minimum of five hundred million naira from the internally generated
revenue earmarked for the fund monthly, financing of projects would become
easier and consistent.
Earlier, the
Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye, who led the traditional rulers
explained that the visit was to congratulate the Governor on a successful
sallah celebration in the state and promised continuous support to the state
government.
Oba Esuwoye
sought the support of the government to farmers in the state through the
provision of farm input and fertilisers with a view to solving problems
associated with food insecurity.