KEMI OMONIYI
The Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima has said that the Federal Government has secured $163m loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), for the production of wheat in the country.
This is as he assured that Bola Tinubu’s led administration remains committed to fulfilling all its promises made to Nigerians.
Shettima gave the assurances yesterday at Argungu, Kebbi State, while on a condolence visit to the family of late Sheikh Abubakar Giro Argungu, who died recently.
The Vice President further assured that agriculture and food security would receive serious attention from the government under this administration.
“Two million jumbo cashew seedlings are in place and would be planted in the affected states.
“We have also obtained a $163m dollar loan from the African Development Bank for wheat production. The scheme would be launched on November 10.
“We need 10,000 hectares of land in Kebbi. But the scheme would be well executed in Jigawa State with a cultivation of 50,000 hectares of land to boost wheat production”, he said.
The Vice President, in his condolence message to the family described the late Islamic scholar as a great loss to the state, nation, and West Africa.
“I am here on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, who called me from India and directed that I should come to Argungu to commiserate with the family of the respected Sheikh, government and people of Kebbi State.
“Late Sheikh Abubakar Giro was a respected scholar. He worked for God, he didn’t bother about things of the world he lived a humble life.
“May God forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternity,”he prayed.
In his remarks, the Emir of Argungu, Sumaila Mohammed Mera, said the entire emirate was proud of the achievements of late Sheikh Giro.
He prayed for the unity and progress of Nigeria, as he also thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their support.
On his part, the National Leader of Izala sect, Sheikh Bala Lau, who received the Vice President on behalf of the family, thanked President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their show of love.
The Vice President, upon arrival in Kebbi, was received at the Sir Ahmadu Bello airport in Birnin Kebbi, by the State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris who accompanied him on the visit.
Sheikh Giro, a renowned cleric, who died last Wednesday, has since been buried according to Islamic rites at his hometown in Argungu, Kebbi State.
