From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) has named a recently revived Borno State owned company, Borno Plastic Industry the official manufacturer of millions of sacks for the packaging of rice being cultivated under a national food programme.
NALDA’s Executive Secretary, Prince Paul Ikonne made the announcement on Wednesday when Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum visited the Authority’s headquarters in Abuja.
Ikonne said: “Borno state is our official producer of local sacks both for our rice programme and other programmes. We have placed an order of two million sacks, it will not stop at the initial two million, it is going to be a continuous process as we made a request. Your Excellency, we are committed to working with you.”
The latest announcement by the executive secretary is in actualization of an order NALDA had placed when he led top officials of the body on an inspection tour of production facilities at Borno Plastic Industry (BOPLAS) last January.
Ikonne had announced after his inspection, that with what he saw, NALDA was buying two million pieces of 50kg sacks from BOPLAS.
He has explained that the choice of Borno was not because of the state’s peculiar challenges but particularly due to the governor’s commitment to agricultural development.
He equally said Borno was chosen for the launch of a programme on “Soil Doctors/agricultural extension workers” that will hold on 1st of March 2021.
Ikonne equally noted that Borno will be a take off point for NALDA’s “grow your food” programme in which Nigerians will be encouraged to grow what they will eat.
Governor Zulum had during his visit, informed the NALDA boss of his administration’s commitment to food production.
He said Borno State Government will collaborate with NALDA to key into all federal government agricultural programmes, while assuring of the payment of all counterpart funds to NALDA.