By Dipo Olowookere
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, on Thursday visited the the Institute of Livestock and the School of Pest Control in Kaduna.
Mr Ogbeh used the occasion to have a first-hand assessment of the facilities and operations at the two institutions.
The Minister embarked on a guided tour of the pest control laboratories, livestock workshops and agricultural equipment warehouses, some of which were in a state of disrepair.
It was gathered that the warehouse containing the stock of new rice mills recently procured to boost rice milling capacity nationwide was also inspected by the Minister.
Speaking after the inspection, Mr Ogbeh promised that the Federal Government will try to transform the institutions.
“We will do our best to lift up the standard of these institutes, to help you all put in your best and to enable you serve the purposes for which these institutions were set up,” the Minister said.
The Minister was accompanied on the field visit by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Bukar Hassan; Director, Federal Department of Agriculture, Dr Amin Babandi; Director, General Services, Mr Isa Musa; Director of Procurement, Mr Ibrahim Badeiri; and other senior officials of the Ministry.
Adedapo Adesanya