Nasarawa’s N3bn Relief Fund: Story That Touches The Heart

The commendation was handed down by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima during a visit to the state recently.

During the visit, Shettima performed four key state functions which include flagging off the distribution of tractors, and paddy rice to the 13 Local Government Areas; distribution relief materials to 2000 flood victims; and the groundbreaking of the Nasarawa State One-Stop Investment Centre, as well as presentation certificates to grandaunts of the State Technology and Vocational Training Institute respectively.

At the tractors and paddy rice event, the vice president hailed

Governor Sule for being a shining example of in the country’s food sufficiency drive.

He particularly commended Governor Sule for his “monumental accomplishments in Agriculture”, a feat which he said, put the state as “an agriculture powerhouse of the nation”.

“For the monumental accomplishments in Agriculture, Nasarawa state is an agriculture powerhouse of the nation.

“Beyond being a home of solid minerals, Nasarawa State is in the position to feed the whole of the nation,” Shettima remarked.

He promised that the federal government will continue to support Governor Sule’s transformative leadership in a bid to ride the country out of its challenges.

“We will continue to identify with you under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we will render whatever support necessary to see that this nation gets out of this present challenge,” he said.

This is not the first time Governor Sule will earn presidential accolade for his transformative stride in the state. In May, 2024,

President Tinubu singled him out for praises for his vision towards creating an enabling environment through the implementation of his industrialization policy that has attracted both local and foreign investors to invest in the state.

The president particularly appreciated Governor Sule for his encouraging efforts in implementing policies and programmes which led to the establishment of a 4,000 tons per day lithium processing plant in the state.

Recall that President Tinubu, on May 10, commissioned the first largest Lithium processing plant in the country in Kama Otto community, Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.

The One hundred million US Dollars Lithium Processing Plant which was built by Avatar Energy has the capacity to provide about 4,000 job opportunities for the youths in the state and the country.

The president, at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Nasarawa State Investment Summit, held at Aliyu Doma Banquet, Hall, Government House sometimes last year, also commended Governor Sule for encouraging efforts in implementing policies and programmes that foster a business-friendly environment, investment infrastructure, promoting value addition in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, and energy.

“This achievement underscores his reputation as an investment destination and his dedication to provide enabling business environment,” he had said.

He urged other states to emulate Nasarawa example by intensifying efforts to attract investment.

“Nigeria is truly proud of Nasarawa State, particularly for the strides it has taken within the mining sector. This state has shown great vision in ensuring that their vast lithium deposits are developed and processed, ensuring that raw material are not exported out of this country without any value addition, in line with the renewed hope agenda,” he stated.

Shettima equally reinforced the state’s potential also in agriculture  and Governor Sule’s leading role in utilising the opportunity for the benefit of the state and the country during his last visit.

The paddy distribution flagged off by the vice president were part of the harvest from the food security initiative.

In October 2024, the state government commenced the first phase of the harvest of rice from the 10,000 hectares of farm it acquired under the  programme.

Governor Sule personally supervised the harvest of the rice from the large expanse of land located in Jangwa, Awe Local Government Area of the state.

The initiative just like that of the solid mineral exploration drive, have enjoyed alot of acolades and media attention. So also is the vocational institute which has trained thousands of youths including graduates who are doing well in their chosen trade.

However, among the state functions performed by the vice president during his recent visit, the flood relief initiative has a touching story that may have evaded the ears of many observers.

In August, 2024, Governor Sule had announced the receipt of N3 billion flood relief fund from the federal government to address flood-related challenges in the state.

Now fewer than 17 communities across five local government areas of the state were submerged by rampaging floods last year.

The affected local government areas include  Awe, Nasarawa, Toto, Lafia and Doma.

On the receipt of the fund, Governor Sule assured the people that every single kobo received must and would be used judiciously and strictly for the purpose of mitigating the impact of floods.

He therefore directed the ministry of finance to open a dedicated account for the fund.

“The money has been received by the Accountant General. When I was informed, I called the team together to discuss it. But I think we should discuss it in detail here to accept how to utilize the funds.

“What I asked the Accountant General to do is to create a dedicated account for this N3 billion.

“We want to make sure that every kobo that we spent is accounted for and is related to flood. It will come from the items of people who have some kind of destruction and see how we are assisting them.

“I think that is what the government would like to have. So that even if no state is submitting details of how they spent the money, I want us in Nasarawa to do that”, he had said.

Before the money was even released, the ministry of Special Duties, Humanitarian Affairs and NGOs, had already undertaken the assessment on areas affected by the floods.

. “Some of these people literally lost everything—their homes, childhood, and livelihoods.

“We were able to collect data on the homes that were destroyed so that we could report to His Excellency. As soon as we did that, he took action to get support for the displaced individuals,” the immediate past commissioner for the ministry, Margaret Elayo had explained.

With the recent flag off by the vice president, the State Emergency  Management has since commenced work in the affected areas and providing relief item to the victims.