… harps improved production
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, on Thursday has decried the impact of importation on the economy of Nigeria, saying that the era where people sit to collect money from federation has expired.
He made this disclosure at the commissioning of a privately owned fertiliser plant in Kwadon, Yalmatu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
According to him, agriculture remains the surest means of alleviating suffering, noting Naira can only grow when the power is increased through improved production.
Yahaya said, “If Nigeria must change, what we need now is to face production head-on from all angles to ensure we stabilise the Naira. At whatever level so that we have enough export for us to bring in enough flow of foreign exchange to support this import and there’s no reason whatsoever with the population of over 200 million why Nigeria will depend on import. We should not import anything, God has blessed us and we have all the resources agricultural, human and land and mineral resources. 200 million people is about 1 over 10 of China or India that is exporting things. Vehicles others are made there nothing is made in Nigeria now it’s very sad and disheartening and under our watch with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President change will come.
“If you are expecting that we will just sit down and share money, am sorry but we are ready to support people to ensure we produce what we eat and eat what we produce. We should be able to export the capacity of plant and the one in town they can cover Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic besides our own selves. There is window to earn money it’s only when we earn money we put people to life, Government alone has no capacity to take everyone in terms of work.”
The governor noted that the establishment of the plant would help boost food security which is keep, saying “Nothing will thrive until there is good food for us to eat, good healthcare and protection through security and social services.”
He added that his administration’s commitment to agriculture is 100 per cent, “or even more if you say 1000 per cent I will clap for you, you say a million times I will clap better for you because our people are 100 per cent even our Emirs and Chiefs, even the governor, Permanent Secretaries have a place in form of a form or a small ranch he keeps livestock. We are agricultural people, agrarian in nature,” he added.
While warning those building on pipelines, Yahaya said his administration would not pay compensation before demolishing them adding, “Anyone building on pipeline supplying water to Gombe, it will be demolished and we will not pay any kobo. So operate within the armbit of law and order and we will help you maximise the potentials of your company.”
