Ex-HOS lauds Buhari for rehabilitation of National Food Reserves

Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulrahman, a former Head of Service (HOS), Yobe State, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over the rehabilitation of the National Food Reserves, to enhance food security in the country.

Supreme reports that Buhari in a nationwide broadcast directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to liaise with security agencies, Nigeria Commodity Exchange and the National Assembly to fast track rehabilitation of the food reserves.

The president said the rehabilitation would check hoarding and artificial scarcity created by some middlemen which resulted to hike in prices of food commodities.

In his reaction, Abdulrahman said that the directive would also tackle post harvest losses experienced by farmers in the country.

"This year we anticipated bumper harvest in parts of the Northeast, therefore, you can see that the directive couldn't have come at a better time.

"You must have a storage capacity to take care of the excess, surplus crops produced by farmers to last for a long time otherwise it become wastage," he said.

Abdulrahman, who is also a farmer, advised the Federal Government to revisit the issue of fertiliser subsidy to farmers.

"Currently, there is fertiliser in abundance, but the price remains high because of involvement of third party, instead of buying directly from the wholesalers.

"Presently fertiliser was sold at N10,000 as against it previous price of N5,000 per bag," he said.

On security, he also commended the President for insisting that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.

"The President must go tough on any individual or group that want to truncate our hard earned democracy using money and other subversive activities, and run to live a abroad. This must be stopped.

"Thank God there appears to be progress made as evident in the surrendered of 8,000 insurgents, this is due to appropriate steps taken by government for the security of this country.

"With the 17,000 military personnel recruited and 10,000 policemen to be recruited annually for the next six years, the end of security challenges facing the country is in sight," he said.

Abdulrahman also urged governments at all levels to accord priority to completing existing projects instead initiating new ones.

"Government is a continueos process, leaving behind abandoned projects is a serious problem that brought about huge losses to this country," he said.

Meanwhile, some residents of Gombe have celebrated the peaceful coexistence amongst the different tribes and religions living in the state, as Nigeria marks its 61st independence anniversary.

Elizabeth Ogunjobi, a resident said that in any society peace was always a major reason to celebrate in view of its role in laying the foundation for sustainable development.

Ogunjobi said Nigeria like every other country in the world has its challenges, noting that in the midst of all the challenges, "the country is moving on and we thank God for that.

"This is the reason our church is holding special prayer sessions to appreciate God for the peace we are enjoying especially in Gombe State and the country in spite of the challenges."

On her part, Mariam Bulus, 68, said some youths may not see reasons we should be celebrating in view of the challenges we are facing.

"But as an old woman who has witnessed violence and crises in the past, I know we have peace now and we must be thankful for that."

Bulus urged the youths to remain peaceful and keep praying for the country, adding that "better days are ahead."

While felicitating with residents on the 25th anniversary of the state, Bulus said that peace had played a major role in the developmental strides so far witnessed in Gombe.

Malam Suleiman Kabir, a resident of Bagadaza area of Gombe, who corroborated earlier opinion, said that it was imperative for Nigerians to pray and work for peace in the country.

Kabir said that no meaningful progress could be achieved without peace.

He said that "This is why I am praying for peace for Nigeria. Gombe is making progress today because we are in peace.

"I urge Nigerians to embrace peace and stay united for our strength is in our unity," he said.