The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Tuesday, approved the procurement of fertiliser, valued at over N5bn, to show the state’s commitment to food sufficiency, through agricultural transformation.
The governor’s spokesman, Dawakin Tofa, said in a statement that the N5bn was approved during the 15th State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House on Tuesday.
Tofa said the move was in fulfilment of Yusuf’s campaign promise to support smallholder farmers, especially in rural areas, toward a high yield of crops in the 2024 rainy season.
“A substantial amount of N5,073,840,000 has been allocated by the Kano State Executive Council for the acquisition of fertiliser across the 44 local government areas of the state.
“Governor Abba Yusuf had previously purchased grains, worth billions of naira and distributed them to the vulnerable people in the state, to cushion the economic hardship faced by a significant number of people in the state.
“The fertiliser approved for purchase will complement those already produced by the state-owned Kano Agricultural Supply Company and would be made available to farmers at a subsidised price within the state,” the statement read.
It added that the governor also approved the sum of N1bn to improve the quality and access to healthcare services for all residents.
The approval included N165m to procure essential medications and welcome packs for newborns, as well as the provision of free maternal, neonatal, child health, and emergency supplies.
The statement announced the re-award of the contract to complete the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Madobi, with an investment of N57m.