Publisher of Democracy Newsline Newspaper, Chief Olugbemi Femi has commended the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu for the commissioning of the 3.5m cubic irrigation dam in Odo – Ape community, Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi State, stressing that the gesture will go a long way to reduce poverty, as farmers especially the youths can take advantage of the facility.
He gave the commendation in a message he signed and made available to newsmen in Lokoja, pointing out that such a facility should be replicated across the country to encourage dry season farming to reduce the hardship being experienced lately in the country.
Olugbemi said Nigeria is blessed with arable land that can grow almost all crops and farm produces that will be enough to feed its citizens and even export to other countries if the necessary approach is employed to deliberately encourage the people to return to farm like in 1979 of “Operation Feed the Nation”, the General Olusegun Obasanjo national policy on agriculture.
He said for the facility to be fully utilized, there is need for a concerted efforts by the security agencies to provide adequate security for the beneficiaries that will be using the facility, pointing out that the upsurge in insecurity in the state and country lately has risen to a disturbing dimension hence the need for the government to act to tackle kidnapping, armed robbery etc.
He urged the state government to continue to prioritize the welfare and well-being of the populace, and commended Governor Ododo Usman for his actions so far especially on the prompt payment of salary and the upscale of the percentage salary payment to the local government staffers and distribution of palliatives.
He urged him to continue to focus more on education, health, and rural roads as these will reposition the state for better.
He called on the people of the area especially the youths to take advantage of the facility in order to get themselves empowered to add value to the society through agricultural activities that take place there
