From Daniel Abel Lafia

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on Sunday flagged off the disbursement of $250, 000 World Bank facilitated Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) loan to farmers from 10 communities in the state.

The project is a World Bank assisted in collaboration with the federal government and Nasarawa state.

Speaking at the event in Doma Local Government Area (LGA) the governor indicated that the disbursement was in line with the vision of the state and Federal Government to support farmers to boost their productive activities on farm.

Sule added that the state government had recently distributed 23 tractors and farm inputs to 10, 000 farmers in the state to support farming.

The Governor explained that the ACReSAL loan is a revolving and interest free to farmers aimed at boosting agricultural output and improving the livelihood of the beneficiaries.

According to him, the 10 benefiting communities were from Doma and Toto Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The governor added that climate change has brought so many challenges to the environment as well as the livelihood of farmers.

He said that his administration would continue to collaborate with partners to provide resources and support that would cushion the effect of climate change and tackle poverty in the state.

“To this end, We are partnering with the Federal Government, World Bank through ACReSAL project help vulnerable communities to adopt to the impact of climate change.

“We expect this support to lead to food security, improve income of the communities and generate employment.

“Enhance farmers and communities capacity for climate smart agriculture through technology and innovation and enhance understanding of sustainable agricultural practices to help address conflicts,” Sule added.

Gov. Sule expressed appreciation for the selection of Nasarawa State among the right piloting states for the scheme.

He said that the state government would support farmers to implement community climate resilient initiatives beyond the lifespan of the ACReSAL project.

He therefore urged the beneficiaries to utilise the funds for the purpose it was meant for.

On her part, Dr Joy Iganya-Agene- Task Team Leader ACReSAL said that 620 farmers comprising 367 male and 253 female from the 10 communities of the two LGAs were given the free interest agricultural loan.

Iganya-Agene who is also a Senior Environmental Specialist World Bank Nigeria Office, listed the communities in Doma to includes Ohiha, Madative, Odurigya, Yalwa and Alagye, while those from Toto are; Zolo, Umasha, Dereegba, Ayiwawa, and Sere.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Aliyu Ogah, Andoma of Doma expressed gratitude to the state government and the organisation for the gesture to farmers in his domain.

The royal father expressed optimism that the support would help toward improving productivity of farmers in the benefiting communities.

From Daniel Abel, Lafia

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has unveiled the economic potentials of the State to investors at the ongoing “Nasarawa Investment Summit 2024”
In his welcome address at the event the Governor declared that the state is housing several mineral resources that have attracted huge investors already.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained effort in driving the Nigerian economy to prosperity and his unalloyed loyalty and continued support in order to take the country to greater heights.

“It is pertinent to remind you that Nasarawa State organised the first edition of the Nasarawa Investment Summit in 2022 under the theme “Diamond in the Rough: The Making of a New Investment Frontier”aimed at ushering investment and showcasing our mineral resources to potential investors.

“I am happy to state that the outcome of the Summit informed the influx of investors into the State who are variously harnessing our God-given endowment.

“Interestingly, the recently commissioned Avatar New Energy Materials Company Limited in Nasarawa State performed by Mr. President, the ASGARD Mining and Processing Plant, Karu, the Nasarawa Technology Village Project in Karu, as well as other numerous investments being carried out in the State were all informed by the outcome of the Summit conducted in 2022.

“It is also heartwarming to state that the Federal Government commissioned the spud-in of the Ebenyi-A Oil Well in Obi Local Government Area of the State.

“The discovery of Oil and Gas and its subsequent exploration and exploitation will further boost the economy prosperity of our dear country and put Nasarawa State among the comity of Oil producing States.

“I, therefore, call on the investors on Oil and Gas to take opportunity of the exploration activities to begin to invest in the sector for the benefit of the society.

Sule however assured that his administration would continue to fully utilise potentials of the state resources by sustaining the Investment Summit in order to further showcase other solid mineral resources which are yet to be identified by interested investors.

“This is why the theme of this year’s Summit is deliberately coined as “The Industrial Renaissance”, having built some of the key fundamentals required to drive our industrial agenda and present other minerals to our potential investors.

The governor noted the summit will further expand the existing pathways to leverage on the industrial, agricultural and mining sectors towards enhancing inclusive and sustainable wealth creation and economic prosperity of the state.

“It is pertinent to point out that, as a State, we have been deliberate in stimulating our economy, building human capacities, creating wealth and generate employment to our people.

“It is for this reason that we have adopted our policy document christened “Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS)” as a driving force towards the initiation and implementation of various programmes and policies which we have achieved so far.

Sule stated that with the assemblage of the experienced and versatile resource persons the outcome of the Summit will go a long way towards actualizing the dream of industrializing Nasarawa State and position it as a leading champion.

Mr. Sule called on development partners to continue to invest in Nasarawa State with the view to open the frontiers of economic prosperity for the benefit of all, noting that “Nasarawa mean business”

From Daniel Abel, Lafia

Concerned youth group and stakeholders in Agwatashi community in Obi local government have expressed concern over the rate of influx of government officials who in their droves are rushing for land acquisition in the area by every means.

The leader of the concerned youth group from Agwatashi, comrade Barr. Isa Adeka who spoke to our reporter in Lafia on Wednesday said they are no longer comfortable with the recent development where politicians and top government officials are using their position to grab lands in the oil bearing community.

“We are worried and uncomfortable with the way and manner some desperate top government officials have suddenly developed interest in acquisition of farm land of our people.

“It is no longer news that recent oil exploration shows huge oil deposits in Agwatashi community of Obi local government and else where even though drilling of the oil has not started apart from the one in Obi.

“We are using this forum to inform anybody who is using his position as government official to acquire land in Agwatashi and its environs to exercise restrain as we are keeping watch over every land deals.

“We also caution the traditional rulers, sons and daughters in all the communities in Agwatashi to desist from selling farm lands or be used by any influential figure.
“We are aware that moves are being made by some highly placed persons in government to acquire large piece of land in their area for their personal interest using their offices.

The youth group noted that because of the oil prospect in the area merchant politicians and some top government officials are acquiring lands at very cheap prices so that they will make fortune tomorrow at the expense of the owners of the land who will be stripped to become stranger in their own land.

Comrade Mohammed sited an instance in neibhouring community in Awe local government where former governor of Bauchi, Isa Yuguda, who came all the way from his state to purchase a large space of land harbouring some mineral deposits but was not known to the community then.

“We do not want to regret later given what happened to a nearby community in Awe that sold a large space of land to the former Bauchi State governor Isa Yuguda who is harvesting huge deposit of expensive mineral deposits today and nobody can collect it back from him, not even the state.

The group called on the sons and daughters of Agwatashi to learn from history and from what is happening at the Niger Delta where most of the oil well owners are not from the community.

He appealed to community heads and leaders, youth groups from the various communities not to allow themselves to be used by the merchants to sell their God given wealth and plunge their children into poverty and restiveness in the future.

The youth group urged indigenes of Agwatashi and other communities in Obi and Keana not to allow greed to push them into selling their ancestral land for pea nut.
In his word, “never trade your future for a pea nut. Tomorrow is bigger than today. Resist any temptation and pressure from any quarter to sell your future. A word is enough for the wise”.