Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Tuesday said the government would?distribute 100 tractors to farmers?to boost food production in the state.
The governor said this in a broadcast to the people of the state to?mark Democracy Day.
Aliyu said 50 of the tractors would be issued out to farmers for?rice cultivation while the rest would be made available to other farmers.
He said the programme would be coordinated under the state?Tractor Hiring Scheme.
“We are also adopting the Drip Irrigation Scheme in the three agro-ecological zones of the state to boost year-round agriculture production?with a view?to creating employment for our youth while enhancing?food security in the state”, he said.
He reiterated that?education remains the government's?major priority.
The governor said special attention would be given to reposition tertiary?education in the state.
“We shall?strengthen our?free education policy at the basic level to take more children out of the streets into?the classrooms.
“This is evident with the increase in school enrolment from?about 612, 000 in 2007 to 1. 3 million in 2011.
“Similarly, in the health sector, we sustained intervention efforts in the?provision of facilities and equipment?to the primary healthcare centres to improve the health of the people?at the grassroots and in our secondary and tertiary facilities.
?”We are upgrading facilities in the IBB?Specialist Hospital with expanded scope?for tertiary healthcare deliveries demonstrated with the installation of dialysis machines to assist patients with kidney ailments,” he added.
Aliyu said the state?would continue to?consolidate?its?ranking?as the?state with least?incidence of poverty in the country.
“We believe that once we can conquer poverty, hunger and greed our state will be the most peaceful and secured state in Nigeria”, the governor said.
He?called on?residents?not to allow themselves to be consumed by personal ambition and hatred, but to unite in?building a better and more prosperous?state.
“This is the time to ask ourselves what we can do or contribute to take Niger state to a higher level of economic development, and?not how we can destroy our state through negative thinking and actions.
“There will be noise and mischief of different dimensions as we approach 2015.
“Nigerlites should not preoccupy themselves with that but leave everything to Allah who in His infinite mercy have ordained what will happen.
“We?should not lower ourselves to the level of those?who are desperate but we should fear Allah and His will shall be done.
“I therefore appeal to all Nigerlites to eschew bitterness and animosity, and come together to build a Niger state of our pride,” he said. (NAN)