Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has urged the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to prioritize strategic investments in Plateau’s agricultural sector, describing the state as a potential food hub for Nigeria and the entire West African region. He made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from MOFI, led by its Executive Director of Investment, Dr. Femi Ogunseinde, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Jos.
The governor stressed that Plateau’s rich soil and unique climate offer enormous potential for large-scale farming and agribusiness. He noted that virtually everything can grow on the Plateau—from grapes and avocados to strawberries, vegetables, and the famous Miango pepper—and insisted that proper harnessing of these resources would not only secure food sufficiency but also position Nigeria to achieve genuine food sovereignty. Citing potato production as an example of underutilized opportunities, Mutfwang lamented that while Plateau farmers currently produce seven tons per hectare, farmers in the Netherlands produce as much as 40 tons. He maintained that the least Nigeria can do for itself and for Africa is to guarantee food security, which, according to him, is a necessary step for the nation to be regarded as the true giant of the continent.
Responding, Dr. Ogunseinde described Plateau as a special state with untapped agricultural treasures and pledged MOFI’s commitment to driving transformative investments. He explained that the agency’s priority areas include modernizing farming techniques, building storage and processing facilities, enhancing special agricultural processing zones, and creating sustainable export routes. He added that efforts are already underway to establish markets for Plateau’s potatoes, roses, flowers, horticulture, and dairy products across the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, assuring that with continued support from the state government, Plateau’s vast agricultural potential would soon be recognized globally.
In a related development, Governor Mutfwang appealed to parents and guardians across the state to protect their children from the dangers of human trafficking. He made the call while receiving Miss Dorcas Shut, a Plateau indigene who was rescued alongside her daughter Isabella after being trafficked to South Africa nine years ago. The governor expressed gratitude for their safe return and advised young people against being deceived by promises of a better life abroad. He reminded them that many who fall into such traps never return, but Dorcas was fortunate to be given a second chance at life. He assured her of his administration’s support to help rebuild her future while warning traffickers to desist from their unlawful activities or face the full weight of the law.
Mutfwang emphasized that his government, working with the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Gender Equality Commission, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Diaspora Commission, would continue to intensify efforts to rescue victims and protect vulnerable citizens. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Caroline Dafur, commended the governor for personally approving the flight tickets that enabled Dorcas and her daughter to return home, describing him as a leader committed to the welfare of children. Overcome with emotion, Dorcas recounted her ordeal, warning young girls not to be deceived by traffickers’ enticing promises of opportunities abroad, which she said often end in exploitation and abandonment.
Reported by: Stone Reporters News
📩 info@stonereportersnews.com | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNews
Add comment
Comments