2nd September, 2024
By Richard Elesho/Kogi
Hundreds of women and men in Kogi State on Saturday benefited from the distribution of bags of rice and fertilizer carried out by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu. The flag off, which took place in the expansive Prince Audu’s Palace in Lokoja, attracted people from all the local governments in the state.
The symbolic distributions of the palliatives; 2,400 bags of rice and 1,200 bags of fertilizers — are in furtherance to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on food security and also part of the activities to commemorate the one year in office of the minister.
Audu said that the distribution of the items to vulnerable indigenes and eligible farmers is to ensure that all indigenes of the state benefit from the efforts of the Federal Government aimed at ameliorating the living conditions of the people in the face of the ongoing transformative agenda of Mr. President.
He said that in fostering peace, and unity among indigens of the state, under the leadership of the governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the palliatives will be distributed across board, noting that the beneficiaries will also include those from the opposition parties, all ethnic and religious groups, widows, traditional leaders and market and women.
“Today, I am here to distribute almost 4,000 bags of rice and fertilisers across the 21 local government areas of Kogi states to ensure that all stakeholders in Kogi benefit from the palliatives under the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President to ensure food security.
“And I want to thank all of you, the youths, for abstaining from the nationwide protests in Kogi State. It was a wonderful outcome, and I came here to thank all of you as we distribute these palliatives since you listened to your leaders, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and myself the Minister as we advised that you engage in dialogue rather than joining the protests. We would not let you down for giving us the benefit of the doubt.
“In the last one year as Honourable Minister, I have provided several succour to the people of Kogi State, including 50,000 Naira, in nano-business grants to 5,000 beneficiaries in Kogi State under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, meaning that 250 million naira was distributed to kogites. We distributed several palliatives earlier this year, and in addition to that, we are also doing more today” he stated.
Audu assured that as Kogi’s highest representative at the federal executive council, he will continue to drive home all the initiatives of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President geared towards developing the state and improving the welfare and livelihood of the people.
The Maigari of Lokoja, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, thanked the Minister for the incentives, noting that it will go a long way in bringing succour to the people. He prayed that Almighty Allah would continue to protect the Minister and give him the wisdom to succeed.
Commrade Stephen Bala Jibrin, Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kogi State Chapter, described the gesture as very timely, expressing the appreciation of farmers in the state who are in need of fertilisers, and promised to ensure farmers get the input.
“As farmers, we express our heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for recognising Kogi State. We thank the minister because our association has been fully carried along as beneficiaries.
The Minister also bagged the Outstanding Personality from the Progressive Empowerment Project for Nigerian Women in recognition of his commitment towards reviving the steel industry as well as his dedication to uplifting the suffering of his people in the past year.
