Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has sought further collaboration and support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, especially in to the area of boosting agricultural activities, as well as rural roads.
Engineer Sule made this known when he paid a thank-you visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Shanono, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to the Governor, with Nasarawa State being an agricultural state, it will require the support of the ministry to attain its potential of adding a lot of value to the agricultural sector of the country's economy.
Engineer Sule made case for Nasarawa State to participate in the Rural Agricultural and Marketing project (RAAM), especially with the proximity of the state to the Federal Capital Territory and the high number of agricultural activities the minister has indicated interest during his two-day working visit to the state.
The Governor equally solicited the support of the ministry in the area of critical infrastructure like rural roads and water supply.
He specifically reminded the minister of his earlier promise to consider the Doma/Rukubi, Azara/Gindin Asha, as well as the rehabilitation of the Awe/Tunga rural road.
Engineer Sule identified the Lafia/Kilema/Rice Mill internal road, the borehole facilities at the rice mill and cassava processing plant.
"You have seen that Nasarawa State is truly an agricultural state and if properly giving the support, Nasarawa will add value to the agricultural sector of Nigeria," the Governor said.
He showed appreciation to the minister for taking time out of his tight schedule to pay a two-day working visit to the state, during which he made some promises, with the Governor returning the visit as a follow-up.
Responding, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Shanono, said Nasarawa State is key to agricultural development in the country and that with its enormous potentials, the state holds a future for a strong agricultural relationship in the industrial sector.
Alhaji Shanono gave the Dangote Sugar plantation as a testimony of the great potential Nasarawa State holds in especially large scale allied industries.
According to the minister, when fully operational, the Dangote Sugar refinery has capacity to employ 30, 000 people.
"I see that Nasarawa State will be lifted from a rural to a major industrial state. The business acumen that you put into your governance will attract people to the state to invest," the Minister said.
Alhaji Shanono assured that his ministry will give Nasarawa State support in some rural roads, as well as influence major agricultural undertakings to the state.
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