Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed on Tuesday, flagged-off distribution of Emergency Agricultural Inputs for farmers affected by 2020 flood in the South West states.
A statement from the Agency said the flagging off and symbolic presentation of the inputs to the farmers was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
TheFact Nigeria learned that the items were approved by the National Food Security Council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking at the event, the NEMA DG, Mustapha Habib Ahmed said: “I am extremely delighted to witness this milestone event of the flag-off of distribution of inputs to farmers in the South Western states of Nigeria affected by the 2020 flood disaster.
“The choice of Ogun state for this ceremony is indeed not by accident. Ogun state is one of the heavily impacted states during the 2020 flood disaster.
“In the aftermath of the 2020 flood disaster, a verification exercise was conducted to compile a data base of farmers that lost their crops to the floods.
“A total of 2, 463 farmers have been verified in Ogun state and are slated to benefit from this agricultural inputs intervention.
“What we are witnessing today is therefore a fulfilment of the Federal Government’s commitment to give a lasting recovery intervention to the farmers and to ensure the completion of their recovery cycle in line with global best practices.
“In this regards, the following items have been delivered for distribution to Ogun state farmers:
S/NO ITEM QUANTITY
1 Herbicides 4,106 litres
2 Pesticides 1,642 litres
3 Growth Enhancer 3,284 litres
4 Rice 12.5kg 821 bags
5 Maize 10kg 821 bags
6 Yam seeds 821 baskets
7 Water pump 164 units
8 Knapsack Sprayers 820 units
9 NPK fertilizers 50kg 1,642 bags
Mustapha Habib Ahmed thanked President Buhari and the Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq for making the items available for distribution to the affected States.
Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun was represented at the occasion by the State’s Commissioner for Special Duties Mr Femi Ogunbanwo.
Ogunbanwo appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the kind gesture and acknowledged the roles of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq and thanked NEMA for successful implementation of the intervention.
On arrival in Abeokuta, the NEMA boss and his team paid a courtesy call at the Governor’s office where they were received by Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olatokunbo Joseph on behalf of the Governor.
Also present were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Commissioner for Special Duties, Head of Service and some top officials of the State.
The DG NEMA’s team comprised of the Director Planning Research and Forecasting, Director Disaster Risk Reduction, Director Relief and Rehabilitation, Deputy Director Special Duties, Special Assistant to DG, Head of Internal Audit, South West Zonal Coordinator, Head of Ekiti Operations Office.
