Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has said no other government has invested in agriculture like that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has done in the last two years.
Sani spoke during the distribution of presidential palliative relief materials at the Umaru Yar’adua Conference Centre yesterday in Kaduna.
The governor noted that President Tinubu’s interventions have reduced the level of poverty in the North.
“The poverty level in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest, was hovering around 65 per cent to 70 per cent. But in the last two years, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made very important interventions. We are not just talking about palliatives; we are talking about deep structural support.
“No other president has supported agriculture development like President Tinubu has done. We have received fertiliser support, funding for smallholder farmers, and billions in monetary support, irrespective of party affiliations. These interventions have addressed infrastructure deficit, job creation, and poverty reduction,” he said.
Sani sought support for President Tinubu’s grassroots development agenda from all levels of government.
The governor said the battle against poverty and unemployment cannot be won without full autonomy for local governments.
READ ALSO: Awka: trader vs professor
He noted that President Tinubu’s understanding of the challenges of sub-nationals has enabled his administration to initiate critical interventions for uplifting the poor, especially in Northern Nigeria.
Sani stressed that local governments must be empowered to sustain the gains of President Tinubu’s administration.
“Without allowing local governments to have autonomy, we cannot address poverty or employment in Nigeria. All 23 local government chairmen in Kaduna are here today. You are the real drivers of this initiative,” he added.
Underscoring Kaduna State’s commitment to agriculture, the governor said the sector contributes about 43 per cent to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs around 60 per cent of the workforce.
He added: “In Kaduna State, we are fighting poverty through agriculture. We want to remain the agricultural hub of Nigeria.”
Also, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, lauded the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, praising the President for his courage in implementing tough but necessary reforms.
“The President thinks, breathes, and works for Nigeria. He’s confronting our realities without blame. Today, our global ratings have improved, and bold measures are turning the country in the right direction,” Bagudu said.