By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Benue State Government has collaborated with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to set up the ‘Barrack Youths Agricultural Empowerment Programme.’
This is aimed at helping officers cope with home front demands from their dependents.
At the launch of the initiative on Wednesday in Makurdi, the state capital, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, expressed hope that officers engaged in counter-terrorism would now focus on the task at hand, knowing that their families were comfortable.
The scheme is expected to benefit over 3,000 persons across Nigeria.
Mr Abubakar stated that any youth living within the NAF barracks qualifies for the programme, but must be members of an agricultural cooperative group.
He stressed that membership was needed to enable them access funds from banks listed under the programme.
The Air Chief enjoined the beneficiaries to help support officers in the fulfilment of their duties, by engaging in productive activities like agriculture as he gave an insight into the operations of the programme.
On his arrival at the Officers Mess of the barracks, Mr Abubakar was welcomed by one of the benefiting youth with a basket full with fruits and food items, as a symbol to highlight the inauguration.
Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr James Anbua, said a total of 3,750 hectares of land had been earmarked for the youths to practice agriculture.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka