December 08, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Lands Development Authority (NALDA), to immediately procure additional five spraying aircraft to boost food security.
The President gave the directive when the agency showcased its achievements in Abuja, on Thursday.
“In addition to the one spraying aircraft, I am directing the Executive Secretary of NALDA to procure additional five aircraft in order to have each geopolitical zone covered”, President Buhari said.
Represented by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President Buhari said the Federal Government had procured various equipment for agricultural mechanisation, including tractors, combined harvesters, pumping machines, surveillance and spraying drones among others.
He charged NALDA to strive hard in other to achieve food security, while also creating jobs in the sector
“Again, I charge the Executive Secretary of NALDA and his team, to pursue this mandate vigorously without any discrimination, fear or favour, being an agency under the Presidency.
“Within these two years of my bringing NALDA back, I am pleased that NALDA, under my watch, is achieving results that are directly and positively affecting the people, especially from the rural areas.
“In line with my vision of seeing Nigeria lead in agricultural development, I believe that after having resuscitated NALDA, my successors will build on its legacies, so that this country can achieve food sufficiency in no distant time”, he said.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Paul Ikonne, commended the President for resuscitating NALDA, for the purpose of encouraging young Nigerians to embrace agriculture.
He said the agency with farms across the six geo-political zones, has empowered more than 50,000 young Nigerians, excluding women
“When we came on board, this administration did not inherit anything in terms of equipment or infrastructure from the old NALDA. But as we speak, NALDA has offices in almost all the 36 States, including the FCT, and has acquired tractors, farm implements”, he said.
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