After a seven-hour meeting, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday in Abuja approved N27.5 billion intervention fund for the restoration of farming and other agricultural activities in states where conflicts, flooding and other devastating events had affected economic activities of Nigerians.
The council also approved N3.03 billion remediation contract for Ogoni clean-up to five companies.
Briefing journalists at the end of the weekly FEC meeting in the State House, Kebbi State governor and Vice-Chairman of National Food Security Council, Senator Atiku Bagudu, said the council approved two memoranda presented by the food security council, acting on information from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),
According to the governor, the council approved a memorandum seeking the award of N18.942 billion contract to 15 companies for the supply of seedlings, fertilizers and agro-chemical products to 163,117 citizens in 14 states where farming activities were devastated by flooding.
The governor said the memorandum was approved in acknowledgement of the negative impact of flooding and other emergency activities on farming and livestock activities in the affected states.
Bagudu who said the intervention fund was meant to help victims return to their economic activities, added that other initiatives meant to cushion the effects of the crises on citizens were still being worked out.
He listed beneficiary states to include: Adamawa, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara and Rivers States. Others are Sokoto, Taraba, Niger, Edo, Bayelsa, Benue and Anambra.
He said: “Last year, there was unusual amount of flooding in some states about 14 of them and the national food security council considered the impact of that flooding on the agricultural sector, food security, animal husbandry and fisheries. And so, today the council approved an intervention fund totalling N18,942,818,912.14. Contracts would be awarded to 15 companies to provide seedlings, agro-chemicals and fertilizers to 163,117 beneficiaries located in 14 states.
“The states are Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto and Taraba.As part of the work of National Food Security Council, other interventions have been considered and are being worked upon by the beneficiary communities and also the livestock sector.”
Bagudu also disclosed that FEC approved another memorandum which sought the award of N8.558 billion contract for the supply of fertilizer products, seedlings and chemicals in six states where many residents were displaced by conflicts and insecurity such as herdsmen violence.
