Governor Bago dangles N3.5 billion to 1000 youths to go back to farming
Tamarauemi Ebimini
Governor Mohammed Bago has offered the sum of N3.5 billion incentive to 1,000 youths as part of measures aimed at boosting agricultural development in the state.
Governor Bago who reeled out the first Executive Order on tree planting, expressed his administration’s readiness to create all and necessary environment for business to thrive, directed all Niger State residents to plant a tree.
He disclosed that: ‘1,000 youths to go into the agro initiative would be incentiviced with a million naira each.
“Because you talking about green economy, we understand our strength as a people, we understand our strength as a State. What’s there for youths? Incentives will have to come first before any other thing.
“So, I’m also on behalf of every Local Government pledging the sum of N100 million each into this fund. So, as a government we have a seed money of N3.5 billion for people to enroll back into farming for sustainable future.
“This fund will be growing and revolving, these are not going to be loan, they are going to be grants.
In the bid to fasttrack the initiative, he disclosed that all Local Government Secretariats will establish an Extension Colleges and Nursery to be located on between 2 to 3 hectares of land within each Local Government where the trees will first germinate and later transferred.
To ensure sustainability of such novel initiative, he underscored the need for Federal Government and key institutions like Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), TeTfund and other stakeholders to key into the initiative as a renaissance for Nigeria.
Also at the event, Governor Bago reeled out the first Executive Order on tree planting and the need for all Nigerlites to key into the laudable green economy initiative.
He said: “We need to educate our people for them to understand the comparative advantage of doing a green economy we have to be realistic.
On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas noted that the summit provides a major milestone in our collective determination to promote sustainable development and tackle the challenges of caused by climate change.
Hon. Abbas to was represented by Majority Chief Whip, Hon. Usman Kumo averred that it is a significant event that promoting and highlighting the potentials of green technology, renewable energy projects, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism in Niger State.
