Hon Larry Ven-Bawa, member representing Akwanga North constituency at the Nassarawa State House of Assembly, has distributed 900 bags of fertilizers worth over N8million to the people of his constituency.
This, he said, is to boost food production and enhance food security in his constituency, the state and the country at large.
Ven-Bawa ( APC), who is the Chief Whip of the House made the distribution while flagging off his Maiden Edition of the Annual Value Addition Agricultural Empowerment Scheme in Andaha, Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the distribution was a deliberate step taken to complement Gov. Abdullahi Sule administration’s policies and programmes in the agricultural sector of the economy aimed at ensuring food security in the coustituency.
“My mission statement during campaign was, Value Addition” The raining season demands that we should add value to the constituent’s agricultural efforts in farming.
” This inform the reason why I have purchased one and half trailer load of fertilizer in order to distribute to them free without demanding for counterpart funding From them.
” This empowerment on agriculture is aimed at reducing poverty in order to create wealth, to terminate hunger and starvation so that food security is guaranteed among other benefits” he said.
According to him, this first edition of the empowerment is a litmus test, by next year God’s willing, we will improve both on the quantity and quality of supply and distribution pattern.
The lawmaker urged the people of the constituency to take good advantage of the exercise and make best use of the fertilizers in order to achieve the desire goals for which the programme is meant for.
” I want to advise you to use the fertilizers in your farm lands in order to boost food production.
” You are advised not to sell the fertilizers as the importance of fertilizer in boosting food production cannot be overemphasized” he said.
Ven- Bawa appreciated his constituents for the support given to him and assured them of his continous determination to change on their lives positively.
He, however appealed to Gov. Sule to as a matter of urgency and importance to consider and construct rural roads in his constituency considering the challenges of poor rural roads in the area.
” This development hampers the movement and transportation of farm produce either to their homes or markets,” the Chief Whip said.
He assured of continous purposeful and quality representation at the state legislature.
The Chief Whip called on the people of his constituency and Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Abdullahi Sule to succeed.
Dr Emmanuel Akabe, the Acting Governor of the state restated the state government continue commitment to boost food production in the state.
Akabe appreciated Ven-Bawa for contributing positively to food security in the state.
” To get out of poverty in the society, we must boost food security. Hon Ven-Bawa is in line with Gov.Sule’s agricultural policies as well in line with realities,” he said .
The Acting Governor called on the beneficiaries to use the fertilizers judiciously.
” The fertilizer is not meant to be sold and if you know that you are not an original and genuine farmer, please don’t take the fertilizer,” the Acting Governor said.
The Acting Governor urged farmers, herders and other people of the state to co- exist peacefully in order to boost food security and for more dividends of democracy.
On his part, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Nassarawa State House of Assembly expressed happiness with the gesture.
The Speaker, who was respresented by his Deputy, Hon Abel Yakubu Bala ( PDP- Nassarawa Eggon West) called on the people of the constituency to support Ven- Bawa to succeed at all times.
” Hon Ven- Bawa has just spent two months in office and has done this wonderful gesture. He has set a precedence/ example for other members to follow.
” You have given us a challenge,” he said.
Abdullahi also called on the people of the constituency to support him, Gov. Abdullahi Sule and other leaders to succeed.
The Speaker assured of his leadership continued readiness to enact laws and passed resolutions that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.
On their parts, Dr. John Mamman, Nasarawa State APC Chairman and Commissioner designate, Mr Samson Gamu Yare, the Chun Mada, Hon Kwanta Yakubu, former Commissoner and Commissioner designate, Alhaji Abbas Liman, APC Chairman, Akwanga LGA among other stakeholders appreciated Ven- Bawa for providing the farmers of his constituency with the fertilizers.
They prayed God to bless the lawmaker abundantly.
They urged the beneficiaries not to sell the fertilizers but to use them in their farms in order to boost food security.
They have assured Ven-Bawa of their readiness to support him to succeed at all times.
Those in attendance include Hon Abel Bala ( PDP- Nassarawa Eggon West, the Deputy Speaker of the House Hon Danladi Jatau ( APC- Kokona West) , the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Yusuf Aliyu ( PDP- Akwanga South)
Others are Hon Ovey John ( PDP- Keffi East) Hon Musa Saidu Gude ( SDP- Uke/ Karshi, Hon Suleiman Yakubu Azara ( APC- Awe South) Dr. Jonathan Thani, Provost, College of Education Akwanga, Hon Samuel Tsebe, former member of the state Assembly, traditional rulers, among other stakeholders, women, youths and other well wishers