Al-Makura Rallies Support For Poverty Alleviation

Al-makuraGovernor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, has said that alleviating the prevalent rate of poverty among Nigerians is a non-negotiable task which must be tackled fast with all the seriousness and sincerity of purpose it deserves.

Al-Makura, who stated this in Lafia, the state capital yesterday, stressed that Nigerians have suffered for too long to the point where they had lost hope in their leaders and become cynical about government’s ability to affect a positive change in their lives.

He said: “Poverty alleviation is neither an act of charity, nor something that could be dealt with swiftly. But it can be done if all concerned make the right choices”.

The governor also assured citizens of Nasarawa State of his commitment to the cause of alleviating poverty among them, which is the focus of his second term in office.

“On our part, we pledge our best and honest endeavours and provided you keep faith in this shared voyage of hope and renewal, we assure you that we would in time prevail”, he said.

Gov. Al-Makura lamented that the wave of communal conflicts, occupational violence between farmers and Fulani herdsmen, as well as violent ethnic extremism that confronted the state in the recent past had cost it dearly in both human and capital resources, and urged citizens of the state to live in peace with one another for their overall development.

He maintained that the conflicts “diverted huge state resources that would otherwise have been channeled to other socio-economic purposes”.