The Federal Government on Friday said it would develop 500,000 hectares of irrigable land as part of renewed effort to boost food production in the country.The Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Sulaiman Adamu disclosed this at the Special Town Hall Meeting held on Friday in Kano.NAN reports that the meeting was organised by the Federal Government as part of activities to celebrate the one year anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari.He said that the Federal Government found it necessary to give priority attention to agricultural sector in order to provide jobs to the teemingWe have five River Basins in the country, so we plan to use the irrigation sites to boost food production in the state and the country, he said.He said that the Federal Government would partner with investors with a view to achieving the desired result.He said that over 50 millions Nigerians lacked potable water and assured that the Federal Government was doing everything possible to change the ugly trend by ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe drinking water by 2030.The ministry has designed a 10 year working plan which will go along way in addressing the inadequate access to portable water, he said.He further disclosed that the government was working to end open defecation in the country by 2025.The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar said that the Federal Government would support small and medium enterprises with loan facility to enhance their businesses.She said the decision was in line with the governments effort to provide job opportunities to the people.She noted that supporting SMEs with its multiplier effect had huge number of people earning their livelihood in the sector.The minister said that the support would be given with the assistance of the Bank of Industry.In his remarks, the Minister of State for Solid Minerals, Bawa Bwari said that the country has a large deposit of different solid minerals.He, however, lamented that the previous administrations had ignored the sector and concentrated on the oil section.But with commitment and seriousness of the present administration, the Buhari administration will invite foreign investors to harness them, he said. (NAN)The post FG To Develop 500,000 Hectares Of Irrigable LandMinister appeared first on Nigerian News from Leadership News.
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