Commissioner Tasks FG On Agric Sector

The Commissioner representing Bayelsa in the Federal Character Commission, Mr. Bob Ozaka, has stressed the need for the boosting of the agriculture sector to reduce poverty in the country.

Ozaka told newsmen in Abuja last Thursday that agriculture is the bedrock of industrialisation in any given country.

“Poverty, agriculture and education are inter-related; any place there is low educational level, the productivity in the agricultural level will also be low and this can increase poverty in the country.

Ozaka urged the government to improve the agriculture and education sectors to fast track Nigeria’s development process.

“Nigeria is blessed with natural resources and has every machinery to improve agriculture; but everybody is after crude oil and we forget about the major thing that can bring about development in our land.’’

He stressed the need to encourage entrepreneurship and small-scale businesses by setting up factories and industries in the states to boost the national economy.

The commissioner said that maintenance of factories and industries would strengthen the agricultural sector and also  provide the enabling environment for job creation.

According to him, sustained support through expanding social protection, long-term investment in education and training, and measures such as subsidies to promote the employment of young people are needed now more than ever.

He, however, urged young people to endeavour to acquire skills that would expand their knowledge and help them to be self-employed.

“I am appealing to every Nigerian to go back to agriculture, that is the only way our country can grow.

“We should improve our agricultural sector by maintaining our factories and industries; it will reduce poverty and unemployment and increase development in our country,’’ Ozaka advised.

“We should improve our agricultural sector by maintaining our factories and industries; it will reduce poverty and unemployment and  increase development in our country,’’ Ozaka advised.