Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said that adopting and tapping into the green economy in the state will boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Governor expressed concern that 82 per cent of people are going through multidimensional poverty in education, health, security, portable drinking water, and sanitation.
Governor Umaru Bago stated further that a green economy would facilitate the use of renewable energy, thereby reducing overdependence on the national grid, promoting agriculture, and increasing employment opportunities for youths in the state.
The Governor disclosed during the technical session of the first Niger State Green Economy Summit held in Minna, the state capital.
While explaining the advantages of tree planting considering the land mass and arable land in the state, the governor said harnessing a green economy will move the state from largely depending on federal monthly allocations.
The Governor, who urged Nigerlites to key into his administration’s vision for sustainable economic growth, assured that the state government will provide an enabling environment for youths to understand the equation for self-reliance and sustainable development.
He emphasised that plans are underway to create farm cities using renewable properties, adding that youths will be gainfully employed in the construction of farmhouses.
To achieve his initiative of cultivating 10,000 hectares in each of the 25 local government areas, Governor Umaru Bago said the state will procure hardware to prepare the land.
He says, “it is time for all hands to be on deck to change the narratives. We don’t have a reason to be poor. We are agrarian, and we are very proud of it”.
He assured the summit would be an annual event to make the state an agricultural hub.
Meanwhile, the technical session featured presentations, panel discussions, questions and answers segments.
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