Gombe State Governor Urges Residents To Embrace Agriculture Over Reliance on N5 Billion Palliative

Muhammadu Yahaya, the Governor of Gombe State, has advised the residents of the state to shift their focus towards embracing agriculture instead of relying solely on the N5 billion palliative provided by the federal government.

He emphasized that there should not be an expectation of miracles from the palliative and urged people to make prudent use of available resources by engaging in agricultural activities….CONTINUE READING

Yahaya, who also serves as the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, made this statement on Wednesday during the final phase of palliative distribution at the Gombe Emir’s palace grounds.

The distributed items included five kilograms of rice, two bags of fertilizer, two liters of pesticides, and a carton of macaroni or spaghetti.

Last week, the governor inaugurated a distribution committee led by the chairman of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency to oversee the fair distribution of the palliative resources.

Through his visits to all nine local government areas (LGAs), the governor personally ensured the distribution of the palliatives to households and polling units.

During the concluding event, Yahaya highlighted, “We have been distributing across the 11 Local Government Areas. This distribution is a preliminary step, anticipating the Federal Government’s further assistance of N5 billion to alleviate the impacts of subsidy removal.

The dislocation in the country and ongoing problems demand immediate attention.”

Yahaya emphasized the need for the recipients to utilize the distributed items effectively, especially those who own farms. He recommended using the provided fertilizer to enhance agricultural productivity.

Speaking about the anticipated N5 billion from the Federal Government, he expressed skepticism about the availability of such a substantial amount and its potential inflationary impact on the market.

“We need to carefully evaluate how to best utilize our own funds and ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries. The deputy governor will oversee the implementation of the Federal Government’s palliatives to ensure they reach the right individuals,” Yahaya stated.

He further shared his preference for guiding people towards agricultural self-sufficiency instead of solely relying on palliatives. Yahaya urged a collective effort to transition away from dependency and toward productive agricultural activities for sustainable progress.