On Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima provided reassurance to the Jigawa State Government in Abuja, stating that President Bola Tinubu’s led administration would offer assistance in mitigating the severe flooding occurrences that affected the state during the previous rainy season.
Speaking to a delegation of the Hadeija Emirate Council led by its Emir and Chairman of Jigawa State Traditional Council, Adamu Maje, who paid him a courtesy visit at the State House, Abuja, Shettima said, “I want to convey to you the message from President Bola Tinubu that the challenges of the place will be adequately captured in the next budget.”
In a statement titled ‘Vice President Shettima restates the importance of peace for national development,’ Olusola Abiola, the State House Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President, disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima pledged the assistance of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration in mitigating the devastating effects of flooding experienced by Jigawa State in the previous rainy season.
This assurance was given in response to the significant damage caused by torrential rainfall since August 2022, which led to the destruction of over 257 health facilities and schools in Jigawa, as highlighted by Sadiya Farouq, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Recognizing the negative impact of flooding on agriculture and food production, Vice President Shettima assured that the Federal Government would soon take action to address this challenge.
While speaking on the high capacity of the state for wheat production, Shettima said, “In the next programme, we want to cultivate a minimum of 100,000 hectares in the wheat belt, so nearly 50,000 hectares will be devoted to Jigawa State as it is one of the few states which grow wheat in the belt comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Yobe and to Borno. I think Jigawa is our food basket.”
He also restated the importance of peace for achieving any meaningful development in the country.
