Third from left, Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office; Alh Dahiru Zaki, handing over the documents of the 10 Hectares of land meant for the establishment of the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) to NASENI’s Director of Procurement, Dr Mohammad Mohammed who represented the EVC/CEO, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State on Wednesday 17th April, 2024.
The Kebbi State Government officially allocated ten hectares of land to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for the establishment of the Agricultural Machinery Development Institute (AMEDI), aligning with the Federal Government’s directive to have one AMEDI in each of the six geopolitical zones.
The documentation for the ten-hectare plot, situated along the Birnin Kebbi-Argungu road, was handed over to Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, by Alhaji Dahiru Zaki, the Permanent Secretary of the Kebbi State Cabinet Office. Present at the event were officials from the Kebbi State Government, including Alhaji Abukar Ahmed from the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Alhaji Adamu Dankawu representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Shafiu Zauro, the Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Governor, and a representative from the host community, the District Head of Zauro.
Kebbi State was chosen by the Federal Government due to its significant agricultural potential, particularly in rice production, compared to the other states in the North-West geopolitical zone. The land transfer ceremony took place at the permanent site designated for the institute, with Dr. Mohammed Mohammed, NASENI’s Director of Procurement, receiving the documents on behalf of the EVC/CEO.
Alhaji Zaki expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for selecting Kebbi State for the institute, emphasizing its potential to expedite development and provide employment opportunities for the youth. He highlighted Kebbi State’s prowess in rice production and other cash crops as the rationale behind choosing the state for the AMEDI.
Dr. Mohammed, speaking on behalf of the EVC/CEO of NASENI, thanked Governor Nasir Idris for the strategic allocation of land along the Airport road in Birnin Kebbi for the institute’s construction. He assured that the project would commence promptly, as all necessary preparations had been made.
