President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his role in assisting the country attain food security. The President said governor Bagudu had demonstrated great sacrifice as the Vice Chairman of National Food Security Council which the President chaired. The President made the commendation in Argungu on Thursday as the Special Guest of Honor at the Agricultural show in the ongoing Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival.

The President said his food security agenda started in 2015 in Kebbi State supported by governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and that what was displayed during the agricultural event in Argungu is an indication of the progress made by the nation towards self sufficiency in food production. Buhari expressed delight that farmers, fishermen and farming communities have truely embraced progress recorded in agriculture and served as a pointer that Nigerians can produce what they need. He averred that the revival of the 60th Argungu International Fishing Festival was also an indication of government commitment to restoring security and attend to domestic food production as the core mandate of his administration. He said the rice pyramids on display at Argungu testified to the success recorded in the agricultural sector.

The revival of the event , President Buhari said represented remarkable improvement in security "The event suspended for 11 years due to insecurity, today the program is back and back for good" , he said. He pointed out that 6 years ago , no one would have expected to see paddy pyramids or rice Mills in any parrt of rural Nigeria, however with the improvement of security many aggregarian towns have such Mills. The President expressed optimsm that Nigeria can solve its problems and assured Nigerians that his administration would secure and ensure the development of the country. On the fishing festival, President Muhammadu Buhari described the Argungu fishing festival as tool of strengthening peoples unity and their co-existence . He promised to continue to encourage and support cultural festivals.

The festival he added would boost the tourism sector, which according to him has not been developed over the years. President Buhari mentioned that Argungu fishing festival was recognized by UNESCO as one of world heritage event .

In his address, the Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku thanked the President for coming to Kebbi describing him as a visionary leader who has provided the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. Bagudu remarked that the agricultural show was a celebration of the revival of agricultural production launched by the President in Kebbi in 2015 through the Anchor Borrowers Program. Governor Bagudu commended President Buhari for reviving and infusing the spirit of confidence in Nigerians that they can really produce what they eat. The governor was full of praise to the President on efforts made in security , economic and agricultural sector.

He said what the President had achieved over the last 5 years has made Nigeria to become prosperous while commending his policies as patriotic and nationalistic which according to him benefited the state and country in many aspects.

He opined that the good policies of President Muhammadu Buhari was instrumental to Nigeria's recovery out of recession, springing up of rice mills and processors not only in Kebbi but across the country. The Kebbi governor called on President Buhari to extend similar support given to rice value chain to other agricultural value chains in the country. Earlier, the emir of Argungu, commended the federal government, Kebbi State Government, sponsors and all the stakeholders for their efforts in the restoration of the fishing festival this year after years of inactivity. According to him , the festival served as historical documentary that symbolised diverse culture, strengthening unity and boosting economic prosperity.

He specially appreciated the attendance of the President at the occasion and equally begged the President to extend the same gesture he extended to the rice value chain to other agricultural products . Highlights of the event was agricultural display, durbar procession. turbaning of Alhaji Abdullahi Saidu Maigandu as " Sarkin Noma 2020" Chief Farmer who collected a prize of a tractor from WACOT Rice Mills , Hajiya Kulu Ali Namani Kotoko as the best female farmer and Alhaji Muhammad Tajuddeen , the district head of Sauwa as the best rice farmer also got 1 million naira each from Labana Rice Mills.

Some of the important dignataries that graced the occasion include, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, Alhaji Lai Muhammad, Minister of Information and Culture, Abubakar Malami (SAN) , Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation , the CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Senate leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi , Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero, emirs of Gwandu, Yauri ,Zuru and neighboring Niger republic, members of the business community and politicians.

Signed :
YAHAYA SARKI
SA Media to Kebbi State Governor
12/3/2020