Governor Abdullahi Sule has said that with the efforts being put in place by his administration, Nasarawa State will be able to contribute to the federation account through agriculture and mining.

Governor Sule stated this while appearing as a guest recently on Channels Television political programme as monitored in Lafia.

While responding to the question of what Nasarawa State will be adding to the federation account, instead of over reliance on the monthly revenue from the federation allocation, the Governor listed agriculture, mining, oil and gas, as opportunities that are being vigorously pursued by his administration through which Nasarawa State can be able to contribute to the federation account.

He reiterated that his administration is poised to leverage opportunities in agriculture and mining to reposition Nasarawa State as a major contributor to the federation account.

“Nasarawa will be known for what it has always been known for. You will be shocked to learn that because of this scarcity of food, in one area alone, one local government, Awe Local Government Area, the farmers on their own, the outgrowers supplied almost 500 trucks of rice from that location alone. Nasarawa wants to be known for agriculture.

“In most cases, you will discover that we are either number one or number two or even number three in terms of particular crop production. We are the number one producer of sesame in the country. We are number five in rice production. We are number two in yam production in the country. Cassava we are number two in the country,” he stated.

Governor Sule emphasized that the goal of his administration is to work alongside other development partners to make Nasarawa State number producer of most crops in the country.

“Our plan is to be number one anywhere that we can. That is the reason why in addition to what all the other people are doing, like Olams which has its biggest mill here in Nasarawa State. Fifty percent of the 120, 000 metric tonnes mill is being fed by outgrowers in Nasarawa State. They gave them the seeds, they supply them with the paddy,” he said.

He disclosed that the state government has already acquired ten thousand hectares of land, where youths from across the state would engage in mechanized agriculture for enhanced food production.

“Our plan is to employ some of our youths in the area of mechanized agriculture. We are going to buy more tractors than we need in that farm. We are already talking to some tractor suppliers, Mahindra and Co. And we are going to lease them to some of our farmers. So that our farmers can also do more,” the Governor added.

Governor Sule also identified mining, an area long neglected but for which his administration is working tireless to revamp, which possess great potentials for the state.

“I just mentioned to you one area that has been neglected which I believe Nasarawa State is going to do very well which is the area of mining. Along with the Chinese companies, we have built the first lithium processing plant that is going to be processing nothing less than 4000 metric tonnes per day. We are going to commission it in the next two months. It would be an opportunity for the foreign exchange,” he stated.

The Governor hinted that oil and gas is another major economic boost for Nasarawa State.

“I am not talking about the oil yet. Because as far as the oil is concerned, the are still working on the exploration well which they started one year ago. And they have not finished that. From all indications, before they do the appraisals well and then unfold their development plan, it’s going to take longer before Nasarawa State begins to make impact in the oil and gas sector,” he said.