(Supervising minister of Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Musa M. Sada during a courtesy call on Gov. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State on Wednesday. Photo: Govt House, Kano. 28/11/2013(Kano Govt House Picture)
Kano state government has sealed an agreement with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) for N2 billion counterpart fund to boost the agricultural projects in the state. Under the agreement Kano state government will provide N1billion to access the fund, to help farmers of the state enhance their agricultural productivity.
Speaking shortly after signing the agreement, at the Government House Kano, the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso said the loan facility highlighted the seriousness of the state government in transforming the agricultural sector. He explained that “peasant farmers from across the 44 local government areas of the state will be selected to benefit the loan and it is interest-free. It will go a long way in ensuring that our set goals in the agricultural sector”.
Governor Kwankwaso explained that agriculture is one of the priority sectors receiving serious attention from the state government, highlighting that government is taking proactive measures to exploit the numerous potentials in the sector for food security, job creation and revenue generation. To improve the irrigation, he disclosed that the government decided to draw a comprehensive blueprint on utilizing the 23 dams in the state, noting that although the administration may not be able to execute the plan in totality, it will serve as a guide for the incoming administration.
The governor also disclosed that the government is now putting into good use the Tiga and Challawa dams by using them to generate power at cost over N14 billion.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the Bank of Agriculture, Alhaji Waziri Amadu, said that BOA agreed to give the out the loan considering the seriousness of the state government in agriculture, pointing out that it is a pride for his bank to enter into the agreement.
Alhaji Amadu added that BOA has satisfied with various agricultural policies and programmes of Governor Kwankwaso and assured that BOA is ready to work with the Kano state to actualize its agricultural dreams.
.. To Construct Under Pass Road In Kano City
Kano state government is fine-tuning plan to award contract for construction of an under pass road linking Malam Aminu Kano Way–Kofar Gadon Kaya road in Kano to decongest the heavy traffic flow in the area, the state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has disclosed.
Announcing this while receiving the supervising Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Musa Muhammad Sada, at Government House, Kano, Governor Kwankwaso explained that the contract will be awarded to a reputable contractor after the necessary formalities.
He said this effort emanated from the zeal of his administration to transform Kano state into a mega city, explaining that the ancient city of Kano is now wearing a modern outlook.
Governor Kwankwaso explained that his administration has political will and resources to complete all the projects currently going on before the expiration of his tenure in 2015. He said it is the intentions of his administration are to leave a befitting legacy for the state.
He added that the policy of his government is to allocate plots of land to people and organizations that have the capacity to develop them to encourage rapid urbanization. This effort and many more, he said, gave birth to
Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandarawo cities, stressing that the three cities are equipped with modern urban facilities.
On the other hand, government, according to governor Kwankwaso, is dualizing all metropolitan roads in Kano apart from constructing Kofar Nassawara flyover, which is the first of its kind in the state.
Earlier, the supervising Minister, Arc. Musa Muhammad said that he was at the Government House to exchange ideas with governor Kwankwaso and learn from the state government’s achievements in housing and urban development.
He said that National Council on Housing and Urban Development will continue to work with the state government in tackling urban issues as most of the identified problems in the urban development are being efficiently managed in Kano state.