Some okada riders in Garin Iliya village, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, who have spent years traveling to Lagos and Abuja in search of better jobs, have waved goodbye to the chaotic city life.
Some of the okada riders disclosed this on Sunday after receiving NG-CARES results area 2 (FADAMA Support) in Taura LGA.
According to them for years youth in the village had little choice but to leave their families and community behind to seek greener pastures in the distant cities.
Malam Ibrahim said he worked as an okada rider for years passing through risk of accidents, police harassment, maltreatment and other dangers associated with riding motorcycles in urban areas.
Ibrahim said, “Riding an okada in those cities is not easy. The police would stop us frequently, sometimes seizing our bikes. There were too many risks, and I was always away from my family.
“I was given water pump machine under Jigawa FADAMA CARES and I will be using it to start irrigation farming.
“With this, I can now farm all year round, not just during the rainy season. What I will be making from my farm will be far better than what I was earning in Lagos or Abuja.”
Another beneficiary, Musa, said that the new source of income (irrigation farming) will provide a sustainable and secure future for his family.
“I’m done with the city. I’ll be staying here, farming and living a happy life with my family,” Musa noted.
The State Program Coordinator Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Umar Idris, said the project’s aim is to support vulnerable households and small-scale farmers.