ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state governor, Mohammed Bago has called on the World Food Programme (WFP) to include the state in its humanitarian assistance programs.
The governor stated this on Wednesday when a team from the WFP, led by the Country Director, Mr David Stevenson, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Minna.
The Niger state governor who decried the humanitarian crisis in some parts of the state due to insecurity and flooding urged the WFP to consider the IDPs in the state in its food and cash intervention programmes.
Bago said that the state government was willing to partner with the WFP in the area of Agriculture.
Bago who noted that the agricultural value chain in the state is huge said that the state is capable of engaging in all-season farming,
This, with the WFP’s support will help the state transition out of food scarcity and hunger.
He explained that his administration would reintroduce school farms which would create job opportunities, aid food security as well as trade investment.
Speaking during the visit, the Country Director of, the World Food Programme, Mr David Stevenson disclosed that their visit to Niger State was to study the prospects of agricultural investments in the state.
He said that understanding the level of development in the agricultural sector in the state will help the WFP decide on possible areas of partnership with the state government.
He explained that the World Food Programme is an organisation established by the United Nations to provide humanitarian support, especially food support to people recovering from disaster, conflict, or the impact of climate change.
He said the WFP usually purchase food locally and distributes it to deserving beneficiaries.
The Country Director then commended the Governor for his achievements in the last year, especially in the agricultural sector and expressed optimism that the partnership, when sealed, would produce the desired result.
