Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago has presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding MoU between Niger Foods Ltd and The Niger State Contributory Healthcare Agency (NiCare) to provide access to health insurance for farmers in the state. The signing of the MoU took place at the Government House, Minna, the state capital. Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago commended both parties for coming up with the initiative, describing it as unprecedented. He noted that the contributory health scheme had not achieved the desired result in the State adding that the State government is in discussion with the civil servants to ensure that the scheme is turned around for effective and efficient service delivery.
The Farmer Governor further observed that lack of production is the bane of the economic challenges facing the country, adding that the agricultural initiative both at the Federal and State level would be a lasting solution. He said the State government has reduced the quantity of shipment of food items out of the State in order to protect Farmers and the citizens from exploitation pointing out that a price control mechanism would be introduced. Earlier, the Commissioner for Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur said the state is embarking on a massive and unprecedented agricultural activity hence the need for health insurance coverage. He said workers on the 250 hectares of farmland that would be cultivated by the state government as well as every farmer on the farmland that is registered by the Niger Foods Company are eligible to benefit from the health insurance.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Niger Foods Ltd, Mr Sammy Adigun disclosed that the programme would empower 350,000 farmers, explaining that the health insurance scheme is for a farmer, one wife and his children. He further disclosed that the scheme would cost N12,000 for each family and where cash is not available, farmers would pay back with crops, emphasizing that it would be of great benefit to farmers as it would allow them to save more money. The Executive Secretary, Niger State Contributory Healthcare Agency NiCare, Sulayman Abu-bakr said part of the responsibility of the agency is to ensure that residents of the state have access to quality and affordable healthcare services. He expressed optimism that the MoU would increase enrolment in the Scheme. Chairman of Niger Foods Ltd, Mr Sammy Adigun signed for the State-owned Private Enterprise while the Executive Secretary, NiCare, Sulayman Abu-bakr signed on behalf of the Health insurance Agency.
