Kwara Governor restates Commitment to Food, Nutrition Security for Citizens

By Muyideen Aliu llorin

Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to food and nutrition security of citizens through timely interventions and purposeful partnerships with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective livestock development.

This was made known by the Senior Advisor and Councillor, to the state Governor, Alhaji Sa’adudeen Salau stated during a meeting with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University Kano, in Ilorin.

While addressing the team, Salau expressed optimism that the CDA’s intervention in geospatial exercise would be of great help to address the crisis between herders and farmers as well as address the challenges facing both the federal and state governments at the sub-national levels on agricultural production and food security.

“The state has benefited immensely from the L-PRES Project. L-PRES has been supportive and filled a relevant gap in the Agric value chain, supporting the government’s commitment to improving food productivity and security in the State.” He said.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief (Mrs) Bukola Babalola, commended the activities of the centre towards advancing technologically driven livestock and agricultural practices with a view to achieving self-sufficiency in food production in the State.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Bashir Adigun said the outcome of the geo-mapping exercise would help the Federal Government of Nigeria and other neighbouring west countries to manage the problem of farmers and herders crisis and improve agricultural production in the country.

The State Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye had earlier said that CDA team were in the State to carry out a geospatial mapping of transhumance routes exercise under the L-PRES Project initiative is to outline livestock routes aimed at mitigating farmers/herders clashes in the country.

Earlier, the CDA team lead, Professor Muritala Gbadamosi said the visit was to solicit for the support of the State government for a successful exercise, adding that the intervention will support the livestock production systems of the State and optimize the operation of L-PRES activities requiring interventions.

Gbadamosi stressed the need for all the stakeholders to be on the same page to addressed the challenges facing the sector with a view to guide against the rampant farmers/ herders crisis in the country