Mr Larry Ven-Bawa, member representing Akwanga North constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has distributed 900 bags of fertiliser worth over N8 million to his constituents.
This, he said, is to boost food production and enhance food security in his constituency, the state and the country at large.
Ven-Bawa (APC), who is the Chief Whip of the House, distributed the input while flagging off his Maiden Edition of the Annual Value Addition Agricultural Empowerment Scheme at Andaha, Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the distribution was a deilberate step taken to complement Gov. Abdullahi Sule administration’s policies and programmes in the agricultural sector of the economy aimed at ensuring food security in the coustituency.
“My mission statement during campaign was ‘Value Addition’. The raining season demands that we should add value to the constituent’s agricultural efforts in farming.
“This inform the reason why I have purchased one and half trailer load of fertiliser in order to distribute to them free without demanding for counterpart funding from them.
“This empowerment on agriculture is aimed at reducing poverty in order to create wealth, to terminate hunger and starvation so that food security is guaranteed, among other benefits,” he said.
According to him, this first edition of the empowerment is a litmus test, saying “by next year God’s willing, we will improve both on the quantity and quality of supply and distribution pattern”.
The lawmaker urged the people of the constituency to take advantage of the exercise and make best use of the fertiliser in order to achieve the desired goal for which the programme is meant for.
“I want to advise you to use the fertiliser in your farm lands in order to boost food production.
“You are advised not to sell the fertiliser as the importance of fertiliser in boosting food production cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
Ven-Bawa appreciated his constituents for the support given him and assured them of his continous determination to change on their lives positively.
He however appealed to the governor to urgently construct rural roads in his constituency considering the challenges of poor road network in the area.
“This development hampers the movement and transportation of farm produce either to their homes or markets,” the chief whip said.
He assured of continous purposeful and quality representation at the state legislature.
The chief whip called on his constituents and other Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Abdullahi Sule to succeed.
Dr Emmanuel Akabe, the Acting Governor of the state, renewed the administration’s commitment to boost food production in the state.
Akabe appreciated Ven-Bawa for contributing positively to food security in the state.
“To get out of poverty in the society, we must boost food security. Hon Ven-Bawa intervention is in line with Gov. Sule’s agricultural policies as well in line with realities,” he said.
The acting governor called on the beneficiaries to use the fertiliser judiciously.
“The fertiliser is not meant to be sold and if you know that you are not an original and genuine farmer, please don’t take the fertiliser,” Akabe advised.
The acting governor also urged farmers, herders and other people of the state to co-exist peacefully in order to boost food security and for more dividends of democracy.
On his part, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, expressed happiness with the gesture.
Abdullahi, who was respresented by his Deputy, Mr Abel Bala (PDP- Nassarawa Eggon West), called on the people of the constituency to support Ven-Bawa to succeed at all times.
“Hon Ven-Bawa has just spent two months in office and has done this wonderful gesture. He has set a precedence and an example for other members to follow.
“You have given us a challenge,” he said.
Abdullahi also called on the people of the constituency to support him, Gov. Abdullahi Sule and other leaders to succeed.
The speaker assured of his leadership continued readiness to enact laws and passed resolutions that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.
On their parts, Dr John Mamman, the state APC Chairman and Commissioner designate; Mr Samson Gamu Yare, the Chun Mada; Mr Kwanta Yakubu, former commissoner and Commissioner designate; and Alhaji Abbas Liman, APC Chairman, Akwanga LGA, among other stakeholders, also appreciated Ven-Bawa for empowering the farmers.
While praying God to bless the lawmaker, they urged the beneficiaries not to sell the fertiliser but use them in their farms in order to boost food security.
They assured Ven-Bawa of their readiness to support him to succeed at all times.
NAN
