By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State Government has symphatized with the people of Gbaradogi and Saachi Communities in Patigi Local Government Area, over the recent flooding which destroyed farmlands and other valuable items in the area.
A statement issued today by the Press Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Yusuf Ganiyu Adebisi, stated that in its bid to ascertain the extent of the damage, the state government held a town hall meeting with the people of Patigi, especially the victims of the recent flood disaster in the area.
The town hall meeting was a follow up to an earlier sympathy visit by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi to Patigi Emirate and the affected Communities.
The State Government delegation, led by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Gidado AbdulLateef Alakawa, expressed the Governor’s sincere sympathy to the people and reassured the victims of the present administration’s support through its phases of intervention programmes.
Responding, the Etsu of Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II expressed his appreciation to Governor AbdulRazaq for his kindness to his people and appealed for more support especially the flood victims.
“As we all known that, the main function of a responsible government is the security of life and properties of his people; hence, the present administration had held various consultations with relevant disaster management agencies such as; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), among others, on the ways to mitigate and ameliorate the suffering of the victims caused by this sad event and also to guide against future occurrences.
“To achieve this, the State Government is partnering with NAIC in the payment of 12.5% insurance cover on each farm, we hereby advise farmers to insure their farms with a view to mitigating their losses against any form of natural disasters.
“To promote all-year-round farming, the present administration had procured necessary irrigation facilities and its implements for dry season farming in order to reduce over dependent on wet season farming which will be launched soon”, Alakawa disclosed.
The Commissioner had earlier visited the Etsu of Patigi in his Palace, where he was received by Shaaba of the Emirate, Alhaji Abubakar Adama.
He appreciated the Monarch for maintaining peace and security in the Emirate and solicited continuous support for the success of the present administration.
Responding, the Etsu of Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi II expressed his appreciation to Governor AbdulRazaq for his kindness to his people and appealed for more support especially the flood victims.
In his remarks, the Seriki Samari of Patigi, Alh. Hassan Mohammed advised the state government to ensure that any intervention to be given gets to the indigenous people, identifying farmers’ census as the major solution to the previous problems.
In his contribution, the Branch Manager, NAIC, Mr. Moses Alaofin explained that the agency was established to provide insurance cover to farmers as a result of government’s concern on the vacuum created, due to the unwillingness of conventional Insurers to accept agricultural risks.
Highlight of the visit was the inspection of the affected Communities by the delegation.
