The Nasarawa State Executive Council, under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Sule, has recorded fresh achievements in road infrastructure, solid minerals, agriculture and humanitarian affairs.
- +Nasarawa approves N52bn supplementary budget for rural projects
The State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Ibrahim Tanko, disclosed this on Tuesday shortly after the monthly Executive Council meeting held at the Government House.
The State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Ibrahim Tanko, disclosed this on Tuesday shortly after the monthly Executive Council meeting held at the Government House.
Briefing journalists after the session, Dr Tanko said the meeting reviewed issues that are critical to the development and progress of the state.
The information commissioner was joined at the press briefing by his colleagues, including the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Tanko Tunga; the Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Muluku Agah; and the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Hon. Munirat Abdullahi.
On rural infrastructure, Dr Tanko disclosed that the council approved 32 projects covering roads, bridges and culverts across rural communities in the state.
He said the projects are designed to open up rural areas, ease the movement of farm produce to markets, and improve access to schools, health facilities and other essential services for residents in the affected communities.
The commissioner disclosed that the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, will on Wednesday flag off the construction of a major road from Akwanga through Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe states, terminating in Borno State.
He described the project as a key achievement of the present administration and the APC.
Giving further details, Sule had earlier disclosed that the National Chairman of the APC would represent President Tinubu at the event, alongside the Minister of Works and officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, with governors of the affected states also expected to attend.
“On solid minerals, the council also discussed progress made on lithium production in the state. A company has obtained a licence covering 1.5 hectares in the Toto Local Government Area.
“The development will create jobs, generate revenue for the state, and open up further opportunities for the people of Nasarawa State,” he said.
On agriculture, Tanko said Sule, popularly referred to as the “Farmer Governor,” remains committed to boosting the sector, noting that the state’s Nasara Rice brand will witness a major boost in production this year.
He said the move is expected to create job opportunities for farmers, make food more affordable and accessible to residents, and position Nasarawa State as a major supplier of food to other parts of the country.
The commissioner added that the state has partnered with Silvex, a rice milling firm, to manage the 3,500-hectare Nasarawa rice farm this planting season, an arrangement designed to sustain production, protect about 1,000 jobs and support the Federal Government’s food security drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
On funding, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Muluku Agah, said the council approved a N52 billion supplementary budget to finance the execution of the identified rural development projects, adding that the funds would ensure the 32 road, bridge and culvert projects are delivered without delay across the affected communities.
On humanitarian affairs, the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Hon. Munirat Abdullahi, said the council ratified three policy documents, namely the General Humanitarian Policy for Nasarawa State, the domesticated National Policy on Internally Displaced Persons, and a five-year roadmap for government interventions targeting vulnerable populations, including displaced persons and host communities.
She said the documents are designed to help the state meet its obligations under the World Bank-supported Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities Programme, known as SOLID, in which Nasarawa State is a participating state.
On finance, Abdullahi also said the council reviewed the overhead allocations for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure the timely release of funds for routine operations and reduce the volume of requests reaching the governor’s desk.
She added that the state has continued to reduce its outstanding liabilities even as expenditure profiles remain dynamic, in line with the administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline.
The briefing ended with the commissioners reaffirming Governor Sule’s commitment to sustained development across infrastructure, agriculture, security and human capital, describing the outcomes of Tuesday’s council meeting as further evidence of the administration’s focus on improving the welfare of Nasarawa State residents.
