NEWS

GOV SULE DISTRIBUTES 30 TRACTORS, UTILITY VEHICLES FOR MDAs, SECURITY AGENCIES

Governor Abdullahi Sule has distributed additional 30 tractors in Nasarawa State geared towards enhancing mechanized agriculture, with two each given to the 13 local government areas.

Governor Sule equally distributed utility vehicles and motorcycles to security agencies and other government establishments in order to enhance the security of lives and properties of the citizens of the state, as well as facilitate effective and efficient service delivery by government ministries, departments and agencies. 

The Governor distributed the tractors, vehicles and motorcycles at a ceremony that held at the Government House on Wednesday. 

According to him, two tractors were given to the traditional council, with the remaining balance of two set aside for commercial farmers in the state.

He said the gesture was part of the commitment of his administration to build on the existing efforts to provide mobility to security agencies and government establishments, including those of the Federal Government, aimed at accelerating the realization of the vision and mission of the state government. 

"I make bold to state that the achievements we have recorded since the assumption of office in 2019 are attributed to your dedication and commitment in carrying out your statutory mandate. That is why in Nasarawa State, we have less bureaucratic bottlenecks in the execution of projects considering our support to the service and our policy direction to engender socioeconomic development in the state. 

"This has informed our sustained efforts to distribute vehicles to MDAs lacking operational vehicles in our quest to arm them with the required logistics in order to enhance their operation. 

"In our desire to ensure a crime free society, this administration has continued to accord priority attention to the provision of security as a panacea for socioeconomic development.  This is why we have remained resolute in our provision of logistics support to our security agencies in the onerous duty of protecting lives and properties of our citizens. Hence, the relative peace we are enjoying in the state today," he said.

While recalling that his administration recently distributed 23 Mahindra tractors across the 13 local government areas and the then development areas, Governor Sule explained that the additional 30 tractors were distributed to enhance agricultural production and value chain. 

He tasked local government chairmen in the state on the need to be accountable in the management of the tractors and to utilize them for the purpose of generating internal revenue.

 

"Any time I talk about revenue, I am talking about revenue from experience.  I think a lot of you have seen the ongoing debate in the country. By the time that debate succeeds, you will be shocked about the amount of revenue that will be coming to the local government area. It will be better for you to start looking inwards to see the possibility of generating your own revenue," he stated.

The Governor disclosed that since the inception of his administration in 2019, Nasarawa State has not borrowed a single kobo.

"We are making everything possible not to go and borrow money only to spend it in areas that we know there is no way that money can be replaced. I am happy to tell you that since the assumption of this administration, from the tractors, to the vehicles Nasarawa has not borrowed one naira in order to purchase any of these items," he added.

He therefore appealed to the beneficiaries to utilize the vehicles judiciously in order to consolidate his administration's strides in the  area of security of lives and maintenance of property in the state, as well as the implementation of the various programmes and policies in the state. 

In an opening remarks, Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Barrister Mohammed Ubandoma Aliyu, commended the Governor for according top priority to the welfare and security of the people of Nasarawa State. 

The SGNS recalled that in the recent past, the state government procured and distributed vehicles and motorcycles to top government functionaries, MDAs, including the security agencies in the state, in order to enhance their operations and ensure sustainable peace and stability in the state. 

"Since 2019, this administration has so far procured and distributed 35 vehicles and 131 motorcycles to security agencies.  Similarly, we have procured 114 assorted vehicles and allocated to state establishments.  In the same vein, we have procured 23 tractors and allocated them to the 13 local government areas chairmen and other relevant agencies to support our farmers in order to ensure food security," he said.

He explained that the latest distribution was a further demonstration of the commitment of the Governor Sule administration to build on previous efforts and to enhance effective service delivery. 

The vehicles distrubuted to the MDAs and security agencies include 10 brand new JAC piculkups, 4 Nos. Toyota Hilux, 10 Nos. four by four Peugeot, 4 Nos. 301 Peugeot, two Nos. 18-seater buses, one No. 32-seater bus, two Nos. Camry, 5 Nos. Sharon, one No. towing truck, one No. ambulance,  10 Nos. power bikes and 15 Nos. Bajaj motorcycles.

In a vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, Dr. Margaret Elayo, Commissioner for Special Duties on Humanitarian Services and NGOs, requested for a standing ovation for Governor Sule in recognition of the giant strides being recorded by his administration. 

She also urged the beneficiaries to utilize the vehicles for the purpose meant.