By; NICHOLAS DEKERA, Kaduna
Ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial elections in Kaduna State, the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Honourable Isa Ashiru Kudan has promised to reintroduce fertilizer subsidy to ensure food security.
Speaking at the maiden media parley for political parties and candidates organized by Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna Council, Ashiru maintained that as part of his five points agenda to revamp agriculture, the cost for fertilizer needs to be subsidized to enable farmers acquire the essential commodity at very affordable rates.
“Farming has become challenging as a result of high cost fertilizer, a bag of fertilizer is 35 thousand Naira now, while as a bag of maize is 20 thousand Naira. That means an average farmer needs to sell almost two bags of maize to buy a bag of fertilizer. This has to be done alongside tackling insecurity which has almost destroyed agrarian lifestyle,” he stressed.
While promising to establish diagnosis hospitals in each of the three senatorial zones in the state under health, Ashiru noted that most of the existing hospitals are mere structures that should have been equiped.
The gubernatorial candidate said that with over nine million population, Kaduna has less than 200 medical doctors, against the universal standard ratio of 1 to 600 people.
On education, the PDP flag bearer, promised to introduce skilled based education to produce employable products, especially artisans.
Ashiru promised to set up a committee to review the increase in tuition fees at the Kaduna State University to affordable level to curb drop outs.
While pledging to create a leveled playing ground for all the candidates, the NUJ Chairman, Kaduna Council, Hajiya Asmau Yawo Halilu in her welcome address, assured the gubernatorial hopeful and his campaign team that members would be committed to doing their stories objectively.
