SENATOR A A KYARI SECURES A 5-YEAR AGRICULTURAL ACTION PLAN WITH BELARUS FOR FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

BY: HON B G GALANGI

The Tinubu-Shettima led Nigerian government has been breaking new frontiers in recent times especially in the area of agriculture and food security.

The latest in the arsenal of achievements recorded by Nigeria’s Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, was the signing of a 5-year action plan geared towards strengthening partnership in Agriculture and Food Security between Federal Republic of Nigeria and Republic of Belarus during a working visit to Minsk, its capital.

The Republic of Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Poland. With a population of about 9.1 million, area of 207,600 square kilometers and a high human development index (HDI), Belarus is global force to reckon with, as it is technologically advanced in mining, manufacturing and agriculture.

During this bilateral working visit, Senator Abubakar Kyari was received by Belarusian First Deputy of Foreign Affairs, Sergie Lukashevich. After fruitful deliberations, both countries signed a 5- action plan which would foster significant growth and development in Agriculture and food security for both nations. The details of the action plan include;

a) Supply of 2000 tractors to Nigeria

b) Supply of 9022 units of assorted agricultural implements

c) Supply of 9022 sets of spare parts

d) Establishment of 52 service centres and training of youths throughout Nigeria

e) Establishment of tractor assembly plants in Nigeria by Belarus through AFTRADE DMCC from 2024 to 2029.

Speaking in an interview with NTA Nation Wide, Senator Abukakar stressed that the dedication to this collaboration reflects shared vision in the future of sustainable agricultural development and mutual benefits for Nigeria and Belarus. Furthermore, the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security emphasized that the training centres will provide training to youths in the area of operating the mechanized equipment.

In a related incident, Senator Abubakar Habu Kyari thanked the President and Commander in Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu GCFR for providing visionary leadership especially in Nigeria’s roadmap towards economic recovery.

The Minister also thanked the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima GCFR for bringing the wealth of his expertise and experience to bear in steering the economy of Nigeria to a safer point. Senator Kyari thanked the VP for being a remarkable bridge builder both at Party level, Borno State and the country at large. He prayed God’s divine protection and guidance upon all Nigerian leaders as they navigate through troubled waters of perennial economic woes orchestrated by enemies of the country.

In the same vein, the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Abba Kyari congratulated the Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum for being visionary and unrelenting in both human and capital developments.

Senator Abu Kyari congratulated Zulum for winning the Nigerian Union of Journalists Good Governance Award 2024 on Education and the Security Excellence Award of the Institute of the Security and Strategic Studies (ISSS) for his exceptional leadership and innovative strategies and providing humanitarian aid in one of Nigeria’s most challenging regions. Enumerating some of his achievements so far, Senator Kyari thanked Prof Zulum for;

1. Approving over 500 post- graduate students to study abroad. This remarkable feat will enable the State to bounce back through quality educational experience in future. Senator Habu Kyari projected that this kind of human capital developments will make Borno State a very elite society in near future.
2. Supervising the distribution of food aid to over 52,000 families in seven LGAs of Borno State
3. Distributing N100 million to 2000 youth and women to support them in cultivating their farmland.
4. Unveiling of water projects in Azare, the headquarters of Hawul Local Government Area and counting.

In conclusion, I am deeply optimistic that Nigeria, through our amiable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Habu Kyari, will bounce back on its feet through agriculture. I see better days ahead as there is light at the end of the tunnel. However, this glorious vision will only come to pass when compatriots maximally encourage and support our leaders.

My several years experience with the Minister has left no iota of doubt at all about his capacity and willingness to answer the clarion call of this great nation, Nigeria.

SENATOR A A KYARI SECURES A 5-YEAR AGRICULTURAL ACTION PLAN WITH BELARUS FOR FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA