Mohammed’s Massive Investment in Agric Yielding Results -Agriculture Commissioner

AGRICULTURE

Bauchi can meet up with its fertilizer demand under Kaura He wants to see Bauchi State develop in all aspects of life, that is agriculture, roads, transportatio n, security and so on. Coming on board in 2019 he set the ball rolling and hit the ground going. He started massive transformations in different sectors. Specifically in agriculture we are not left behind.

♠ There are five agencies under the ministry:
the Fertilizer Blending Company, Bauchi Meat Factory, Gallambi Cattle Ranch, Bauchi State Input Supply Company of and the BSADP, a research and development outfits of the state. Take for instance fertilizer, in the past, people would go round and far and wide looking for fertilizer and they would not get it. But with the coming of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, fertilizer becomes cheap and available as you can imagine.

♠ Chinese, Dubai, British investors express interest in Bauchi Agric potentials:
Plans are underway now to launch the farming season for 2024 and fertilizer is being produced for that. His Excellency has directed that money should be made available so that enough quantity is made available. Besides that, around September last year he led a delegation to many countries -some went to Dubai, some went to China, and some went to the UK and so on. My team went to China and we were privileged to visit different organizations and companies dealing with tractors manufacturing and small implement farming fabrication, fertilizer blending, soil testing, training on smart agriculture, trade import, and so many others.

In that delegation, MOUs were signed on some of the aspects of mineral resources, agriculture. In agriculture, they have been given a return visit to Bauchi state so that they can see for themselves the potentials and the vast land that we have so that they can invest. We are in high level discussion with investors in terms of modifying and upgrading the fertilizer blending company, training of personnel in modern fertilizer in mass and soon.

We also have L-Press and recently the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones and we have quite a number of others. Each of these interventions have a lot of impacts on the people. Through the NGKS rural farmers are supported with inputs subsidized by the Federal Government and further subsidised one way or the other by the state. Chemicals are provided to take care of affected farm lands and crops. Typical of this are the quelea birds and we received support from the Federal Government and also gave support as state government to see thatthis menace is curbed.

♠ World Bank's L-Press Programme to boost agriculture:
Under the L- Press of the World Bank certain steps have been taken. There is a ground achievement in that one on the North Eastern States livestock service. Centre is being established in Bauchi State for the entire North East and that will be the first of its kind in the entire North East and Nigeria. The World Bank team came a month ago and they have visited the state, and designed how the livestock service centre will look like.

According to the national office of the L-Press, once that of Bauchi State takes off, another centre will be established in the South and that will make two. However, that of Bauchi State takes the front burner and this is courtesy of our Governor who has provided the counterpart funding and the enabling environment to make sure that these things happen.

♠ African Development Bank (AOB) programmes:
SAPZ- This is another funded or supported project of the Africa Development Bank. For this project, the bank will support the state with a lot of money in foreign exchange so that a centre will be established called the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone that will comprise of multiple companies of value chains that are predominantly produced in parts of the state.

This main hub takes from the different units and other processing and adds value to it by making it something portable to export. This is underway and one of the requirements is the environmental impact assessment and then other processes will continue so that we can fall under phase two. Phase one has already been done by the Federal Government and only three states met the requirements. Phase two is competitive but we are hopeful that Bauchi State will be part of it. Our governor has really put efforts and has visited the ministry and banks responsible and shown willingness of the state to join and even conduct the environmental impact assessment and so many things.

♠ Boosting Agriculture:
Bauchi State is widely regarded as an agricultural state with a vast fertile soil advantage fo,r agricultural products, which include maize, rice, millet, groundnut and guinea corn with irrigation farming a popular practiced that is supported by the use of dams like Balanga Dam and others.

Considering the immense potentials in the agricultural sector, the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed hit the ground running immediately he assumed office on May 29, 2019. In a bid to boost food security, the administration introduced the Fertilizer Revolving Scheme which has created massive achievements in the ministry from 2019 to date.

In 2019, no fewer than 200 trucks of NPK Fertilizer worth N500 million was supplied to farmers at subsidized price for a bumper harvest even as the administration also purchase 23, 809 metric liquid fertilizer worth N99 million.

In order to boost local production and make the commodity available, the administration of Senator Bala Mohammed approved a whooping N1 billion for purchase of raw material to Fertilizer Company to produce fertilizer at affordable rate. Besides, the State Government released N53 million for the purchase of seeds for sales to farmers at subsidized rate.

The year 2020 saw a collaboration between the state government and OCP Africa for the establishment of One-stop sales of inputs in Bauchi, Alkaleri, Katagum, and Ningi & Toro LGAs. The renovation of the Ningi One-Stop equipped with borehole was completed in 2021. To enhance the skills of farmers in order to boost food production, the administration offered free training to 5000 farmers in collaboration with OCP Africa.

In continuation of the determination of the administration to boost production, it distributed and sold 225 trucks of NPK to 20 LGAs at subsidized rate in the year 2021. To sustain the tempo, it purchased chemical for continuous production of 2022 fertilizer by the State Fertilizer Company at a staggering N2 billion. Indeed the administration places premium in agriculture as available records showed that from 2019 to date, it has delivered a record 135 trucks of fertilizer sold at affordable process per bag of 50 kg to farmers.
To revive the fortunes the Bauchi Meat Factory and return it to its lost glory, the administration has kick-started commercialization and privatization of the company to improve service delivery. This step has been boosted with the enlistment of the Bauchi Meat Factory as a beneficiary of the Central Bank of Nigeria/NISRAL N4 billion intervention to reactivate the company.

To consolidate on the past achievements in agriculture in the past half a decade, the administration initiated the Establishment of the highly acclaimed Bauchi State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in collaboration with African Development Bank (ADB) to boost food security. No doubt that the investments in agriculture has been linked to the relative peace being enjoyed in the state under Governor Bala Mohammed.

Kaura, Driving Force' of our Success - PC ACReSAL

ACReSAL

♠ Overview of ACReSAL Project:
ACReSAL is World Bank Assisted Projectthatis currently taking place across 19 Northern states and FCT. It works across three sectors of agriculture, environment and water resources. Bauchi is one of the states that kick started ACReSAL early in 2022. That means we have spent almost two years in this project. It has a life span of six years and a budgetary allocation of 700 US Dollars, which is in a basket, so all the 19 northern state governors and FCT are striving to get what they can from the project. In Bauchi, His Excellency, the Executive Governor Senator Bala Mohammed was able to meet up with the requirements outlined by the World Bank and provided a counterpart fund of N500 million, established the State Project Management Unit (SMU), a technical team to handle various portfolios. About eight items were sent to him as a guideline and requirements, including the procurement of new Toyota Hilux vehicles, which he instantly provided. That's how it started and Bauchi was the first state that launched ACReSAL. We have four hectares of land as part of the requirement to launch the ACReSAL situated in ATBU, ATAP, BASUG, and FEDPOLY. In total we have5.9 hectares that are growingthere.

♠ Harness Water resources:
His Excellency requested during the interaction with the WB that he wants to have at least 100 earth dams across 20 local government areas of the state. He is targeted to have five earth dams to boost irrigation, agricultural activities and encourage water conservation, particular in semi-arid areas of the State. He got approval for 20 as a pilot.
Currently we have engaged consultants to do 10. Secondly we have communities prone to flooding and erosion. We are going to build a big drainage that will be a major outpour for rainfall in Bauchi Metopolis.

♠ Tacklingflooding:
There is lingering issue of flood in Kirfi Local where had intervened on interim basis. Currently our engineering team and the consultants are coming up with the design and are already on site. We have similar issue in Misau, Gololo in Gamawa, where work is ongoing, Duguru where when it rains heavily, and the whole community will be inundated with water because they are at the lowest part of the slope where water passes. We intend to do retention wall to divert water to go round instead of passing through the communities.

♠ Procurement of heavy equipment:
We have advertised for some of our procurements to purchase heavy equipment forthe relevant ministry of works in the infrastructure institution maintenance, and Bauchi Environmental Protection Agency. We are now in the process of purchasing wheel loaders, excavators, bulldozers, tippers for waste collection. They will be purchase through a genuine vendor that has the technical know¬how on how to maintain them. Also, we are in the process of procuring 20 tractors for each local government. His Excellency targets 100 but said let's start with 20 to see the level of maintenance within the couple of months then we can go for the procurement.

♠ Plan to plant 2 million trees:
We are in the process of establishing two hectares nursery of plantation where we will be raising seedlings and making them available for the general public across the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State so that we engage a rigorous Bauchi greenery project. We have Bauchi Greenery Project (BGP) where His Excelency is targeting to plant two million trees. The best way to go about it is to have these nurseries ready across the 20 LGAs. Our target is that in six months each of these seedling will produce 100, 000 seedlings. We are hoping that within 18 months or two years we will be able to achieve the two million taregt. We are also in the process of road side planting of trees from the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport to Awala round about. We insisted that the communities have to be engaged so that the project will be CDD (Community Driven Project) to ensure sustainability.

♠ Solving Farmer-Herders clashes:
His Excellency the governor has targeted 47 cattie rearing routes to establish water schemes that can be used by cattle readers. Currently, we have outsourced the services of 20. We are coming up with the additional 27 as slot two. Each of the 47 districts will have one integrated water scheme for cattle herders.

♠ Agriculture:
We are currently in the process of providing farm inputs with the weather forecast that Bauchi will be among the vulnerable communities in terms of erratic rainfall. We need to go into climate resilience that's why we are launching distribution of seeds for early planting and early harvesting so that our people will not be victims of the erratic rainfall this year.

♠ Irrigation:
We are currently piloting irrigation schemes in six LGA areas of Alkelri, Misau, Gamawa, Ningi, Itas Gadau and Toro to have 1000 hectares of irrigation farming. We brought an expert who at any hourwill beableto provide water by tapping underground water and making it available on the surface for irrigation farming.

♠ Kaura, driving force for Bauchi ACReSAL's success:
His Excellency, the governor is the driver of all these developments, because he provided all the necessary requirements and he is the one controlling what we do because you need to understand that whatever we are going to do is fruitful to the general public and they benefit.

What the support of the governor means for us His Excellency is a driver of ACReSAL not only in Bauchi, but in the whole country. He has been interfacing to sensitise so many governors about the impact of ACReSAL Project. He is the only governor today that whatever goes to his table, whether from agriculture, environment and water resources. Knowing the significance. That alone shows that he has the partnership of the project. The project coordinator or the technical team or the steering community or the staff of the SMU are just supporting the governor as te driver. He said he has never seen any project that targets the common man in hard to reach communities more than ACReSAL. He has never seen a multi-faceted problem like ACReSAL because for you to solve agricultural problems, for you to solve environmental problem, to sole water resource problem they have to be integrated because they are interwove. That clear understanding that he has about the ACReSAL makes it to prosper in Bauchi.

♠ Mission to Safeguard the Environment:
The launch of the Agro-CIimatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes ACReSAL Project in Bauchi on May 26, 2023 has brought renewed prospects of restoringtheenvironmentfrom utter abuse. The impact of natural and man made activities has led to serious consequences such as global warming, desertification, drought and other environment hazards.

The coming of ACReSAL will no doubt galvanise Stakeholders and sensitise members of the public to be active participants to protect the environment.
At the launch, the Executive Governor, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Muhammed, the World Bank and Federal Team that participated acknowledged the project to be Community Driven Development Project. Immediately after the project launch, Bauchi ACReSAL has commenced implementation and so far, a lot has been achieved.

One of the achievements of ACReSAL Bauchi is Evidence based 5.9 hectares Plantations across four institutions of learning. These arr the Botanical Garden at Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, shelterbelt at Sa'adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus. Roadside Tree Planting at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Gubi Campus and Shelterbelt at Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi.

Another notable achievement since its launch is the massive intervention at the Special Eco System of Yankari Games Reserve was implemented. Bauchi ACReSAL has trained Yankari Game Reserve Rangers to meet the world best practice of ecosystem.

ACReSAL in Bauchi also procured conservation gadgets and equipment, rehabilitated Wikki Warm Spring and its facilities. It also procured two Safari vehicles that has boost the revenue generation of Yankari and the State in that direction.
To this end, Bauchi ACReSAL is at Disbursement Stage in CRF across 10 selected Communities forthe Community Revolving Fund Piloting. Bauchi has been very strategic in Stakeholders mappingand engagement.

The Food and Agriculture Organization stake holding led to the formation of Sustainable Platform for Bauchi Large-Scale Land Restoration. Bauchi . In this regard, Bauchi ACReSAL partners in a workshop with Sheffield University on Low Carbon Action in Ordinary Cities. It also carried out engagement with Flood Prone Communities, Partnered WaterAid Nigeria for Climate Change Resilience among other Partnership and Engagements.

Investors Jostling for Bauchi’s Natural Resources -Natural Resources Commissioner

NATURAL RESOURCES

♠ Extracted from Ministry of Environment to boost State economy:
Having seen the need to tap the natural minerals to boost the economy of the state, His Excellency established the Ministry of Solid Minerals and later renamed it the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2020 to accommodate more resources. It was initially established to participate in mining activities by establishing an entity. Then, the Bauchi State Mining Synergy Exploration Limited (BAMSEL) was created.

♠ Establishment of Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy:
The Bauchi State Oil and Gas Academy, Alkaleri is the second in Nigeria after the PTI (Petroleum Training Institute) in Delta. His Excellency felt there should not be a shortage of human resources in Bauchi State as it has become an oil-producing state. The Kolmani oil discovery has necessitated the Institute where our youths are being trained to work in oil exploration jobs.

♠ Chinese investors jostling for Bauchi's minerals:
We were in China last year where we met with different investors in natural resources and agriculture, they showed interest, they returned with us to take some samples. We signed some Molls and left for China for sample analysis and they returned to Bauchi in readiness to invest millionsof dollars.

We just discovered monoxide and iron ore. These are in global demand. Monoxide is really in high demand and we just discovered it in all out 20 local government areas of Bauchi. We are blessed.

♠ I moved Oil and Gas Academy from the Ministry of Power to Natural Resources:
When I was appointed, the Academy was under the Ministry of Power, I raised a memo and convinced the Executive Council on the need to move it to my Ministry, we achieved thisthrough His Excellency's support.

Bala Mohammed loves people more than himself, He is a patriotic leader, a man of integrity and a great man. He is a committed person who wants people under him to grow more than him. I learned commitment and dedication from Governor Mohammed. He taught me dedication and commitment. If you are appointed or assigned to do something and you accept it, you have to be committed, no shortcut. The Governor is good at sourcing for technocrats to deliver tasks for him. The gathering of talented people is part of what I admire about him. He fulfils promises He doesn't fail in his promise. Whatever he promises he tries as much as possible to fulfil at the right time.

♠ Kaura believes in the youth:
His Excellency rewards those who have worked with him when he was nothing. He believes in the youth. He believes in grooming them to take over leadership and do better than him. He is a selfless leader who carries everyone along. I was appointed commissioner when 134 years. Traditionally, this position is normally given to older people. I never lobbied for this position but His Excellency appointed me when I wasn't without expecting it. The only thing I can remember is that I was invited by the DSS for an interview and others. I didn't know it was forthis position.

♠ The Governor appointed me without prior notice:
When I was appointed as commissioner, I never saw that coming. I read in the news just like other people that the House of Assembly has received the list of commissioner-nominees and my name was among them. I was so surprised then calls started coming in. I received over 1,000 calls that day. Mostly from people I didn't know.

♠ Ministry of Natural Resources Exploring Bauchi's Natural Wealth:
When Senator Bala Mohammed came into office in 2019, he created the Ministry for Mineral Resources to boost the economy of the State; and so that Bauchi, being one of the states with the largest deposits of natural resources, could harness her potentials. His Excellency in his wisdom in 2023 renamed the Ministry to bear the 'Ministry for Natural Resources' to accommodate more resources on the soil of Bauchi.

Having been among the oil producing states and the flagging off of the Kolmani Well in November 2022 by the then President, Muhammadu Buhari and further commitment of Bauchi and Gombe States to key into the development of the area. The government of Bala Mohammed created the Oil and Gas Academy in Alkaleri to provide manpower in the oil and gas industry where Bauchi youths will benefit greatly.

In the area of mining, the Kauran Bauchi administration also established the Bauchi State Mining Synergy Exploration Limited (BAMSEL) where the state could also participate in mining activities.

The government is also partnering with Menshung Group of China to develop the natural resources of the State. The Ministry and the Governor were in China in 2023 to woo investors where many of the Chinese investors expressed interest in investing in Bauchi State. Recognising his efforts, the State emerged as the "Best Emerging Oil-Producing State 2023".

His Excellency the Governor was conferred with the award of "Best Emerging Oil- Producing State 2023" of this 2024 January at the International Conference Center by Rana Continental during the Oil & Gas Dinner and Award Night 2024.

His Love for Bauchi People is Marvelous -Culture and Tourism Commissioner

CULTURE AND TOURISM

♠ Leadership style of His Excellency:
I've been working with His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed, the Kouron Bauchi for the past nine months. Actually, he's a governor per excellence. He has the mandate of the people and he's loved by his people. He has an excellent political will to the people who mandated him to serve the Bauchi State Government. I've never worked with a person like him as an Executive Governor of Bauchi. The number of projects he put forward and the ones he's already done is amazing, beyond expectation. Senator Bala Mohammed has shown that he's a person who wants to uplift the people of Bauchi State from the position where he met them to greater heights.

His leadership exemplary and whosoever succeeds him now as governor of the state has a big challenge and he must work closer to his performances to be known as Governor because Senator Mohammed as a governor did a great work. I don't think in the next future we'll have somebody that will work like the Kauran Bauchi. We hope so. The manner he does things, the way he loves his people is marvelous and we appreciate the works he does and pray that God the almighty will keephimto continue the good work.

♠ The Yankari Game Reserve:
The Yankari Game Reserve is a pride of Bauchi state, Nigeria and West Africa. It's the Governor's intention to give Yankari Game Reserve a new look. He's already started and we are proud because if Yankari Game Reserve is given the desired attention, it'll generate about 30 percent of the state revenue for Bauchi state. With this efforts to renovate Yankari Game Reserve and other tourists attractions in the state, I am quite sure that this ministry's name will be heard all over the world. He awarded contract also to renovate the tomb of the late Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa which has been awarded. This tomb is also a tourist centre for people who come to Bauchi state.

♠ Lessons I learned:
The governor is prudent. He is somebody that needs results and if he's working with you he wants you to work like he does. When he returns either from Abroad or Abuja, he'll not rest until he goes round the state to make sure that all the projects he awarded are going as it's supposed to be within the limited period he's awarded the project. He's conscious of time and doesn't just award things and abandon it. He's a leader that is merciful. Whenever he feels you're supposed to be taken care of, he'll quickly come to your rescue and he doesn't carry bias but carries everybody along in the state. This is the kind of people that should lead people.

♠ The Sumo Wild Life Park, others:
TheSumo wild life park was introduced in 2006. It's a wild life park that has lots of animals like giraffe, zebra, and the rest. So many people who come to see this wild life park become interested His Excellency, the out of his benevolence and humility donated some of these animals in the pakr. He recently donated some giraffe to the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and has given to his colleague governors and friends. That's the kind of person he is. So this he wild life park is interacting people and given name to Bauchi state. The environment over there is good fortheanimals.

♠ Kaura Promotes Diverse Cultural Heritage:
The Bauchi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has made significant achievement in promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of the state, developing tourism infrastructure and enhancing overall tourism experience for visitors.

The Ministry has successfully promoted and preserved the diverse cultural heritage of the state through various initiatives, such as cultural festivals, exhibitions, performances of arts and theatreandsoon.

Investment in the development of tourism infrastructure and development of tourism sites in the state, including the Yankari Game Reserve, award of contracts for the renovation and rehabilitation of Late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Tomb, rebuilding of New Bauchi State Museum to the modern state-of-art.

Improvement of these tourism facilities has enhanced overall tourism attractions and experience for both domestic and international tourists. The administration, under the Ministry has launched various promotion campaigns to attract more tourist to the state, including social media campaigns, participation in national tourism fairs and festivals, partnerships.

The Ministry through various ethnic groups of the state has promoted cross-cultural understanding and cooperation as well as showcasing the cultural richness of the state. The government has provided support for local artisans and craftsmen to help them preserve and promote traditional crafts, thereby contributing to their economic development.