Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule.
By Collins Sunday, Lafia
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has tasked the state Ministry of Agriculture and Water resources to be more transparent in the sales and distribution of fertilizers to genuine farmers for improved productivity.
Speaking today in Lafia, the Nasarawa State Capital, Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Natural resources, Dr Ibrahim Peter Akwe gave the task when he led other members on an oversight visit to the ministry and Nasarawa State Agricultural Development Program (NADP).
He emphasized the importance of fertilizers distribution in boosting food production and urged the committee concern to be transparency in sales and distributions of fertilizers as well as ensure it reach genuine farmers in Nasarawa State.
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According to Dr Ibrahim Peter Akwe(PDP Obi One) the committee is determined to assist the ministry to overcome it challenges for food security to be guaranteed in the state.
“This visit is to assess the 2020 budget performance of the ministry with the view of tackling any challenge if discovered.
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“The importance of fertilizers in boosting food production cannot be overemphasised.
“It is in view of this that the committee is calling on the management of the ministry to be more transparent in the allocation, distribution and sales of fertilizers to farmers in the state, ” he said.
The committee’s chairman has assured the ministry of its support to succeed.
The committee chairman and his members also demands to know the level of budget performance of the ministry’s 2020 budget, mode of distribution and sales of fertilizer, fertilizer revolving account balance and all the receipts of transactions as one of the Cardinal objective of the visit.
The committee equally requested the ministry to explain the circumstances surrounding the petition written against it on auctioning of two tractors without due process.
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Responding to issues, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Water resource, Professor Allanana Otaki, who particularly spoke on the petition written by one kabiru said due process was followed in the sales of the tractors with the approval of the state Governor and tendered all the relevant documents to the committee to further support his submission.
On mode of distribution, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry Mr Naphtali Dachor said it started from the executive during flag off of cropping season then followed by distribution to LG and development areas by constituting a committee headed by local government chairman and solicit the support of the committee in ensuring adequate funding of the ministry to deliver on it mandate efficiently.
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On water resources, the commissioner Professor Otaki said it has been a serious challenge to the ministry due to lack of resources, hence the committee decision to call for the declaration of the state of emergency on the sector in order to address water scarcity in some parts of the state.
“We are going to declare state of emergency on water supply because honestly the problem is getting much”. Dr Peter Akwe Said.
While at the NADP, the committee after listening to their presentations assured the program Manager, Allahnana Emmanuel of it readiness to help the agency overcome it challenges and urged him not to relent in doing his best to make a change.
