NEMA flags off distribution of emergency agric inputs for S’West farmers

Director General National Emergency Management Agency Mustapha Habib Ahmed today flagged-off distribution of Emergency Agricultural Inputs approved by the National Food Security Council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari for farmers affected by 2020 flood in the South West states.

The flagging off  and symbolic presentation of the inputs to farmers in States in the South West was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Governor of Ogun State Prince Dapo Abiodun was represented at the occasion by the State Commissioner for Special Duties Mr Femi Ogunbanwo who appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the kind gesture. He also acknowledged the roles of the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq and thanked NEMA for successful implementation of the intervention.

Earlier on arrival in Abeokuta,  the DG NEMA  and his team paid courtesy call at the Governor’s Office where they were received by the Secretary to the State Government Mr Olatokunbo Joseph Talabi who represented the Governor. The SSG was together with the Chief of Staff to the Governor Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Commissioner for Special Duties, Head of Service and some top officials of the State.

The DG NEMA led a team that comprised of the Director Planning Research and Forecasting, Director Disaster Risk Reduction, Director Relief and Rehabilitation, Deputy Director Special Duties, Special Assistant to DG, Head of Internal Audit, South West Zonal Coordinator, Head of Ekiti Operations Office.

21st September 2021

The speech of DG NEMA at the flag-off ceremony is as follows:

I am extremely delighted to witness this milestone event of the flag-off of distribution of inputs to farmers in the South Western states of Nigeria affected by the 2020 flood disaster. The choice of Ogun state for this ceremony is indeed not by accident. Ogun state is one of the heavily impacted states during the 2020 flood disaster. Beyond that, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you may recall that on 2nd August, 2021, we woke up to the sad news of the loss of Dr. Emmanual Adesanya Abiodun an educationist, a philanthropist, community leader and father to His Excellency, Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Executive Governor of Ogun state.

Testimonies from all walks of life have proved that Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya committed his life to service to humanity. He was fondly referred to as Baba Teacher. His uncommon service to the people will no doubt remain evergreen in the minds of the people of Ogun state and beyond.

I want to use this opportunity to on behalf of myself and the entire management of NEMA condole and commiserate with His Excellency Governor Dapo Abiodun and all the good people of Ogun state over the irreparable loss.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, for us at NEMA, what an opportunity to follow on the great humanitarian footsteps of Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun than to flag off the distribution of federal government agricultural intervention in the South West region here in Abeokuta, Ogun state. As the saying goes, the best way to immortalize a man is to support a cause that is close to his heart.

In the aftermath of the 2020 flood disaster, a verification exercise was conducted to compile a data base of farmers that lost their crops to the floods. A total of 2, 463 farmers have been verified in Ogun state and are slated to benefit from this agricultural inputs intervention. What we are witnessing today is therefore a fulfilment of the Federal Government’s commitment to give a lasting recovery intervention to the farmers and to ensure the completion of their recovery cycle in line with global best practices. In this regards, the following items have been delivered for distribution to Ogun state farmers.

S/NO ITEM QUANTITY

1 Herbicides  4,106 litres

2 Pesticides 1,642 litres

3 Growth Enhancer 3,284 litres

4 Rice 12.5kg 821 bags

5 Maize 10kg 821 bags

6 Yam seeds 821 baskets

7 Water pump  164 units

8 Knapsack Sprayers 820 units

9 NPK fertilizers 50kg 1,642 bags

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to use this occasion to thank His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for placing priority on supporting small scale farmers, thereby making this intervention a reality. The unprecedented green revolution ignited by Mr. President has no doubt spread across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Nigerians now consume food crops cultivated by Nigerians. Farming is now an illustrious and rewarding profession, thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Let me also appreciate the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq for her continuous support to NEMA in disaster recovery initiatives like the one we are witnessing today. We are now attacking vulnerability through productivity. I also thank our partners including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning and the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation for supporting this intervention.  To our farmers, the beneficiaries of this intervention, I implore you to make good use of this inputs to transform your production into sustainable business ventures.

I cannot finish my remarks without commending members of the Emergency Agricultural Intervention Secretariat domiciled at NEMA. You have sacrificed your weekends and private moments to ensure the success of this event. I thank you for your exemplary commitment to duty. For our good friends, members of the press, I implore you to inform and let Nigerians appreciate the Federal Government for heralding the dawn of agricultural transformation in Nigeria. We must celebrate this great success story in the agricultural sector with all its attendant positive multipliers.  The

Thank you all and God bless.