[Nigeria] Emir Asks Obasanjo to Fight Poverty, Hunger

From All Africa

Emeka Mamah
Kaduna

Chairman of the Kaduna State Council of Traditional Rulers, and Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris has urged President Olusegun Obasanjo to address the twin problems of poverty and hunger in the country as food prices soar beyond the reach of the masses.

He gave this advice in his palace yesterday in Zaria, Kaduna State while welcoming President Obasanjo to a reception by the people of the Emirate.

A grand Durbar was held for President Obasanjo during the reception. The Emir spoke against the backdrop of a promise by the Federal Government to construct a gas pipeline from the Niger-Delta region to Kaduna State and also facilitate the establishment of a private fertilizer company for the people of the area.

Idris said: "I wish to appeal to Mr. President to address the continuing problem of poverty and the exorbitant prices of food grains and other essential commodities which are not affordable by many people in Nigeria.

"The position of the economy now in spite of the federal and state government's effort deserves to be given more attention and consideration to encourage Agriculture and Agro-Allied industries to enable Nigerians produce enough foods and to avoid unnecessary importation of food from abroad.

"There is need to provide more fertilizer and vital inputs to boost Agriculture in the whole country, with the introduction of tractors hiring units and fadama or irrigation scheme in the states. We hope the Federal Government will supplement the efforts of the state governments through the Poverty Eradication Programme and commercial banks to provide specialagricultural loans at lower interest rates to farmers and other handcrafts workers which will also go a long way to reduce the problem of unemployment in Nigeria.

"Mr. President, during your last working visit to Kaduna State, we complained about the persistent water shortage in Zaria and environs which you acted promptly by awarding a contract for the rehabilitation of the existing Zaria Water Supply.

"Unfortunately, the problem still remains. We hope theGALMA Dam Construction contract will soon be awarded in order to resolve the perennial water shortage permanently. Here I want to thank the Kaduna State government and members of the state and national Assemblies for the good role they have played in reminding Mr. President to assist in resolving the problems once and for all."

President Obasanjo in his response said the Federal Government would construct a gas pipeline from the gas centre in the Niger-Delta region adding that the project would ensure the adequate supply of gas and electricity, "along the road up to and including Kaduna State.

"The aim is that we will be able to have power generation of about 1,500 MegaWatts along the roads and at the same time we have another fertilizer plant which will be private.

"We will encourage the private sector to come into it and do it because anything that you put Federal Government hands in, it will be destroyed by our own people, your (Emir's) brothers and my brothers,your sisters and my sisters" he said.