Govs, CBN to discuss prospects of dry season farming Dec 14

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will hold an emergency virtual meeting on December 14, 2020, to discuss prospects of dry season farming as facilitated by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor borrowers program (ABP).

This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday, signed by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, head of media and public affairs, NGF secretariat.

On July 28, 2020, NGF had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CBN on the scheme, which is aimed at strengthening the implementation of ABP and economic opportunities for smallholder farmers in all states.

According to the statement, NGF will finalise its partnership with CBN on its ABP, while Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, will also provide insight on the partnership.

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, will address the governors on its ABP, which is aimed at enlightening them on necessary steps to ensure success of the scheme in their various states.

Also, the statement disclosed that an NGF peer learning event (PLE) will precede the meeting on December 14, 2020.

The 6th NGF internally generated revenue (IGR) PLE will take place at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro District in Abuja.

At this event, Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti, and Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, will both give a keynote address.

“Some of the key lessons at the event will include how digitalisation helps to sustain revenue collection during the COVID-19 pandemic and how states can choose the right incentives for the right taxpayer group” the statement read.

The forum said 10 states are expected to attend PLE, while Ibrahim Babangida Umar, Jigawa state commissioner for finance; Ayodele Hamzat Subair, executive chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Lagos state; and Asuquo Ekpenyong, commissioner for finance in Cross River state, will share their experiences based on their success stories.