By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari in the course of the outgone week inaugurated the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), Lafia, Nasarawa State, to enhance food security and create jobs for the youths across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AMEDI is one of the Buhari administration’s legacies meant to make Nigeria a hub and supplier of agro-allied technology, equipment and machinery.

AMEDI, a multi-billion Naira product of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is equipped with modern laboratories and machines for mechanised farming and agricultural development in the country.

The project is also aimed at making the nation self-sufficient in food production as well as creating more sustainable jobs for Nigeria’s teeming youths.

At the inauguration of AMEDI in Lafia, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Prof. Muhammed Haruna, said the institute would be established across the six geopolitical zones of the country in line with Buhari’s directive.

The president, who inspected façilities including equipment and laboratories at the institute, also inaugurated the Federal Secretariat, Lafia.

He named the edifice situated on 10.9 hectares of land after Justice Sidi Bage, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and the Emir of Lafia.

The president also named the Conference Room at the Secretariat after late Maimuna Katai, another eminent citizen of the state.

He said that the recognition of the two Nasarawa State indigenes, Bage and Katai, was in appreciation of their sterling contributions to national development.

Buhari also attended the APC presidential campaign rally at Lafia Square on Saturday where he again endorsed the candidature of the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Earlier in the week,the president had inaugurated several projects executed by the Federal and State Hovernments as well as the private sector in Kano and Jigawa States on Jan. 30 and 31.

In Jigawa, Buhari inaugurated 5,700-hectare Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa, saying the project will significantly contribute to Nigeria’s quest for food security, job creation and economic diversification.

The president urged the host community to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the gigantic irrigation infrastructure, saying ‘‘It will be a small part in our over-all quest to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years’’.

On Feb. 1,  Buhari presided over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) where the council approved a refund of N9.6 billion to Plateau and Borno State Governments for road projects executed by the two states on behalf of the federal government.

The council also approved about N4 billion for the execution of three projects across the nation.

The amount would cover the construction of Senate Buildings in Osun State University, Osogbo; and Federal University, Lokoja, as well as erection of radio antenna for the National Commission for Nomadic Education.

Buhari also inaugurated the Governing Council and Board of Directors of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) shortly before the commencement of the council meeting.

He charged the MOFI to grow its Assets Under Management from the current value of N18 trillion to at least N100 trillion in the next 10 years.

On Feb. 2, the president met with Dr Kunio Mikuriya, the Secretary General, World Customs Organisation (WCO).

Mikuriya was in Nigeria for a Global Conference on Fragile Borders.

At the meeting with Mikuriya, Buhari said Nigeria and her neighbours must place higher premium on the effective policing of borders to check criminal activities.

According to the president, the fragile nature of entry points into various countries enhances terrorism, economic sabotage and illicit flow of arms.

Buhari also hosted members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum on Friday in Abuja over critical national issues of election and currency swap.

The governors were in the Presidential Villa to share with the president the negative impact of the Central Bank’s policy on renewed Naira notes.

According to the governors, the currency re-design policy is undermining the painstaking efforts that have been put forth by this administration in transforming the economy.

In his remarks, Buhari urged citizens to give him seven days to resolve the cash crunch that had become a problem across the country following the CBN policy to change high value Naira notes with new ones.

He pledged to interrogate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other government agencies involved in the printing and distribution of the new Naira notes in the country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola