The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has commended Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, of Kebbi State for donating 10 hectares of land to the Agency to construct an Agricultural Machinery Development Institute in the state.
The Director of Procurement, Dr Muhammad Muhammad Aliyu, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the Agency, Malam Khalid Suleiman Halilu expressed the gratitude after the formal allocation of the land to the organization by officials of the Kebbi State Government on Thursday.
While appreciating Governor Nasir Idris for providing the land at a choice area for the construction of the agricultural machinery center in the state, Dr. Aliyu explained that the project would commence within the next two weeks, assuring that all engineering, architectural, civil and electrical designs have been completed.
“We have the bill of quantity ready and every approval needed from the government for the project has been obtained,” he said.
The Director further affirmed that funding for the project has been captured in the 2024 appropriation Bill already assented to by the President.
”We will start with what we can accommodate this year and we will continue next year. We have funds to commence the basic infrastructural construction,” he assured.
The Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Alhaji Dahiru Zaki, who led other Kebbi State Government officials to hand over the ten hectares of land to NASENI, explained that the land was set aside for the agency for the last two years for the construction of the agricultural machinery centre.
“The Machinery centre is to serve as a Regional Office for the production of agricultural equipment and we are happy that today, we have handed over the land to NASENI.
“I believe that Kebbi State was selected in the North West region because of its huge potential in agriculture, particularly rice production and other crops,” he said.
Zaki was also appreciative of Governor Nasir Idris’s kind gesture to the agency, tailored to provide job opportunities to youths and further bolster agricultural production in Kebbi State.