Economic crisis: Gov Adeleke unveils food security plan, preaches unity

Governor Ademola Adeleke today unveiled his government’s food security plan as he advocated national unity to resolve the current national economic crisis.

The spokesperson for the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, in a statement, “Senator Adeleke, who attended President Bola Tinubu’s briefing with Governors on Thursday, was at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture today, during which he opened up on the extensive agenda of the state government on food security and expanded food production.”

“Hosted by the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Osun Governor, accompanied by his Commissioner for Agriculture, Tola Faseru, said, ‘These are emergency eras in the economic life of this nation.'”

“‘We, therefore, have a duty to look and act beyond partisan politics and ensure collective efforts towards the restoration of normalcy. A federation works best when component units join hands for the common good,’ the Governor told the minister.

‘It is in that line that I am here today. The first reason is to brief you on what the Osun state government is doing on the issue of food security and ongoing economic challenges facing the nation.

‘Mr. President yesterday briefed the state governors on the state of the nation. He outlined several steps state governors should take to stem the crisis of food security and inflation.

‘I am happy to report that the Osun government has been very proactive. First, we are setting up a State Security Trust Fund to mobilize financing for security agencies. This is going to be private sector-driven.

‘Secondly, I have convened a food security meeting for Monday to brainstorm on how to further secure our farmlands. I will be meeting representatives of the Hunters association and the Amotekun commanders alongside the civil defense and police services. The goal is to strengthen farm security.

‘Our administration is also working on Small Farmers’ Equipment Lending service. This is to ease small-scale farmers’ access to tractors and other needed machineries. We are meeting this week to finalize the plan ahead of the onset of the rainy planting season.

‘To expand food production, we are also pushing to implement a City-to-Farm program. This was designed to encourage young small-scale farmers. This will expand production and also engage our youth.

‘This is alongside our plans for regional farmers’ markets where off-takers can meet farmers for exchange and market relationship. We need your technical support to implement many of the listed areas.

‘On a more general level, our administration recently unveiled a Cocoa Revival plan for the state. It involves several activities that focus on moving Osun from 3rd to the 1st cocoa producer in Nigeria. We seek partnership with the federal Ministry of Agriculture on this.

‘Our government is also interested in the livestock development program. We have submitted our expression of interest. Kindly help to facilitate early approval.

‘The state is also interested in the Agro-processing zones project being implemented under the African Development Bank. I hosted a delegation of the AFDB in Osun two weeks ago. Your ministry’s support on this is also solicited.

‘Overall, I seek an MOU with the ministry to ensure standby collaboration with our government. I will be glad if we can have a small committee to ensure the making of the MOU,” Mr. Governor told the Minister and top management of the federal ministry.

The spokesperson, however, quoted Senator Abubakar to have commended the multi-partisan approach of the Governor to state governance, pledging to work on all the areas touched by the Governor.

He restated the determination of President Bola Tinubu to address the national economic challenges, informing the delegation that the meeting with the Governor was part of a broad plan to ensure the immediate resolution of the current dislocations within the economy.

While describing the state governments as key partners in national economic development, the minister expressed happiness with the proactive measures listed by the Governor and assured him of federal support and assistance.”

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