Prof. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, has urged Benueans not to participate in the upcoming statewide hunger protest that certain Nigerians are pushing.
Prof. Utsev made the appeal in Makurdi while distributing irrigation equipment and fertilizer, on top of the federal government’s earlier distribution of farm inputs to ensure a bumper harvest and year-round agriculture in Benue. Prof. Utsev said President Bola Tinubu was aware of the challenges the nation faced and was making every effort to address them in order to restore Nigeria to greatness.
He gave information regarding the Federal Government’s (FG) ongoing intervention to enhance farming activities in the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states that make up the Federation.
The minister stated that the goal of the fertilizer and irrigation equipment giveaways was to increase the appeal of agriculture and inspire more young people and women to take up farming as a means of subsistence.
The minister insisted that the federal, state, and local governments are working tirelessly to guarantee that every Nigerian has access to free food in light of the proclamation of a state of emergency on food security.
Prof. Utsev declared that in order to guarantee irrigated agriculture and provide people, particularly those in rural areas, with access to clean and secure water, dams and water schemes are being built throughout the nation, including Benue.
He informed the people of Benue that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration had also implemented reforms to enhance the quality of life for the populace. Examples of these reforms include student loans, the Mass Urban Housing Scheme, which is being implemented in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and the continuous construction of state-wide roads to facilitate vehicular traffic and allow farmers to sell their produce.
The minister also disclosed that building has started on the River Katsina-Ala at the Buruku crossing. The Federal Executive Council approved the construction of the Makurdi, Gboko, and Katsina-Ala Roads at the same time, stating that deliberate measures were being taken to address insecurity in Benue and other regions of the nation.
Professor Utsev asked Benue’s citizens to recognize the great attention and support the state has gotten from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, as well as the appointment of numerous sons and daughters to important federal positions.
Speaking at the same time, Terseer Ugbor, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kwande Ushongo Federal Constituency, stated that the National Assembly is dedicated to collaborating with Tinubu’s administration to deliver the desired democratic benefits to the populace. This is demonstrated by the recent approval of a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers and the Student Loan program, in which thousands of Nigerian students have already enrolled.