Date: 2016-12-08

The Agric loan will guarantee food security in Kwara State.

The Kwara State House of Assembly has approved the request of the State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed to access a loan of N1 billion agriculture credit facility scheme of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The lawmakers gave the approval on Wednesday during plenary, having been satisfied with the response on those that are to benefit from the loan facility scheme.

Food production

They agreed that when the loan materialised, it will boost the economic ability of the State, especially in food production as the Nigeria also seeks to diversify from mono-oil economy to agriculture based one.

They commended the effort of the Ebonyi State government in agriculture, following the ban on importation of foreign Rice in the state, saying if such can be emulated by other states, it will go a long way in helping the economy of Nigeria as a whole.

The House expressed satisfaction on those who are to benefit from the loan scheme.

According to the lawmakers, "it's painful when real farmers are deprived of receiving agricultural loan; rather the loan goes to political farmers who have no business in farming."

Reading the resolution of the house, the speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, who presided over the plenary, said, "As the House has granted loan, the executive should carry all the stakeholders along in the disbursement of the loan, while the House shall perform its statutory duty of oversight functions to ensure transparency and accountability."

The Kwara government had on November 22, 2016, sought the approval of the lawmakers to access loan aimed at boosting agricultural activities across the State.

This is with a view not only to guarantee food security, but also to make Kwara take its pride of place as a robust foreign exchange earner in the face of fallen global oil prices.