By Atoyebi Nike
The Federal Government says it has invested billions of naira in agricultural development and education across Nigeria’s North-West region.
Mukhtar Lawal-Tsagem, Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Katsina State Directorate, disclosed this on Tuesday at a sensitisation programme organised by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
He said wheat farmers in 12 local government areas of Kebbi State benefited from the National Agricultural Growth and Agribusiness Programme (NAGAP), while ginger farmers in Kaduna State received ₦1.6 billion to boost production.
According to him, the interventions are designed to strengthen food security and position the North-West as a key driver of Nigeria’s agricultural economy.
Lawal-Tsagem also revealed that the government has spent ₦2.086 billion through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), providing interest-free loans to 20,919 students in higher institutions across the region.
Other projects include the ₦2 billion Yawuri Water Scheme, expected to provide vital irrigation support for farmers.
Adamu Muhammed, a lecturer at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, commended the federal government’s dual focus on education and agriculture, urging communities to sustain goodwill to continue benefiting from such programmes.
