The former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said the Zero Hunger programme of the federal government would end poverty and hunger in Ebonyi State.
Chief Obasanjo made this known in Abakaliki during the 2nd meeting of Nigeria Zero Hunger Forum meeting held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abakaliki.
He noted that the goals behind the Zero Hunger Policy of the federal government was not only for the elimination of hunger among Nigerians but to also improve their living standard through an implementable agenda and network of agricultural programmes and activities.
“The aim of zero hunger is not to have money locked up somewhere and being dished out; the aim is to make sure that the policies that are required, the programme that will take us to the promise land are implemented by all federal, state, local and communities, individual farmers, NGO, international organization; we are a group of actualizers.
“We will go round this beautiful state; we are looking for agricultural programmes to implement and policies to actualize; we want to help the state in any area the state might need help; what we have seen that is going well and or wrong; the governor will be telling us about the next level; production of all commodity that the state can produce; we want to make this state, a most important food basket of Nigeria.”
Responding, the governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi said the Zero Hunger policy of the federal government would succeed if Nigerians changed their attitude even as he said it would not be an easy venture.
Umahi further thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving support to the agricultural policies of his administration, adding that the state would in the near future establish rice mills across the 13 local government areas of the state.
“Achieving zero hunger is possible if Nigerians change their attitude; it is not going to be easy; Borno has shown resilience in tackling the situation in the north east; it would have been much more than what we are seeing today.
“That’s why we support Mr. President to make agriculture our main stay; he has given unprecedented support to ebonyi state. Ebonyi under my watch has great passion for agriculture and we have made lots of impact in our one man one hectare police”, he said.
The programme, which continues tomorrow (Tuesday) would witness tour to several agricultural sites and establishments across the state.
Comments