The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) agency will soon complete a local agricultural machine institute in Imo State, its Executive Vice Chairman, State/ Chief Executive Prof. Mohammed Haruna, said yesterday.
He said the facility, known as the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), will be part of steps to promote the country’s food security.
Speaking during a visit to Governor Hope Uzodinma in Owerri, Haruna said that with the pace of work at AMEDI in Mbutu-Aboh in the Mbaise axis, the project would soon be commissioned.
He said: “The Chairman of the NASENI Governing Board, President Muhammad Buhari, was inspired by the mandate of AMEDI Mbaise and swiftly directed NASENI to establish similar institutes in the six geo-political regions of the country to accelerate government efforts in food security for Nigeria.
“NASENI has responded immediately by proposing the establishment of AMEDI in the remaining five geo-political zones.
“It is, therefore, imperative that the institute in Imo State is a pacesetter for a revolution waiting to happen in the agriculture sector.”
Read Also: Adebola Williams makes institute’s honour’s list
He spoke on the objectives of the agency to establish the agricultural equipment and machinery in all the country’s six geopolitical zones, the development of agricultural equipment and machinery and their production systems and the transfer of these capabilities to private sector satellite industries for mass production.
“The mission of NASENI was therefore well-crafted to depart from carrying out basic research performed in the academics without thought of practical ends.
Uzodimma expressed hope that with the establishment of an agricultural equipment and machinery development institute, a nuclear project would soon be commissioned in the country.
He said he was excited that, at last, work had started on the project.
The governor said: “We were here when he visited us last year and he promised us that he would continue work as soon as the environment is enabling for the construction of the facility in Aboh Mbaise and now they have come to continue with the project.
“If the project is completed, it will not only provide job opportunities to the youths but it will be a base to launch the nation’s nuclear project,” Uzodimma added.