By Cross Udo, Abuja
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State said that the state does not need to talk about food insecurity.
Governor Alia stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after meeting with the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The governor, who said that the state has fully gone into farming to live up to its name as the nation’s food basket, added that there was a bumper harvest this season.
He further said that instead of talking about food insecurity, the state should be able to support other states in farming.
The governor thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Vice President, Senator Shettima for their tremendous support to the state
He explained that he was at the seat of power to let the presidency know how the state was doing in farming, adding, “But this year, we’re even going back to the farms 100%.
“Benue doesn’t have any need to talk about these food insecurities at all. As an agrarian state Benue has mounted even more pressure on our folks, on our people, to get back on the farm.
“So, during the campaigns, the vice president as a candidate, promised he was going to support us with tractors and with some farm inputs and he has been doing that.
“And just like the president, who wants the state to live up to what we are, the food basket of the nation. So, the President has been supporting us very hugely, and then the vice president as well.
“So once in a while, I try to let them know how far we’re doing on this farming issue and all that. But this year, we’re even returning to the farms 100%. Benue doesn’t have any need to talk about this food insecurities at all.
“Rather, we should be supporting the president to ensure that Benue strongly supports all the states that seem to be fighting food insecurities.
“So that is where we are and we will continue to do this. So I’m hoping that with the support we gained, we’re coming along, we’re doing so well. So I know that we’re going back to the farm in the state 100% this season.”
On Security, he said that the state a few weeks ago, launched its support for all our security apparatuses and donated a number of trucks toward the security groupings and 100 Toyota trucks.
He advised the people to be on alert and support the security personnel.
“So that is where we are in the security and relative peace is coming back to Benue, and we are quite happy about this. And the level of farming has also increased since last year.
“So many people went back to their farms. And we have a lot of of harvests. We want to call it bumper harvest, because for many years, we never experienced that in the state. Some people are still harvesting, and it’s been all smiles.
“So we plan to do even higher this season. So even on the levels of insecurities, it’s gradually dying out. We truly thank the President for his continued support for the state to stabilize even on this issue of insecurity.
“We thank him for challenging us to live up to the name of the food basket. So we are back there, and I’m happy we had a very bumper harvest this this season.”
