The Lamido of
Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Aliyu Mustapha, has no doubt earned a reputation as the most controversial delegate at the on-going National Conference. His utterances right from the early stage of the conference has made many wonder his motive of being there.
First he threatened to pull his people out of Nigeria and move them into neighbouring Cameroon when some delegates tried to stop him making a point. A few days later Alhaji Mustapha suggested that if Niger Deltans insist on resource control, in return they should give up all their land in Abuja.
Just as the dust raised by the audacious statement was settling, the Lamido last Saturday caused a further stir by labeling northerners as lazy people who have become totally dependent on oil for survival, neglecting other avenues that could bring economic prosperity to the region.
The out-spoken monarch noted that, but for the laziness on the part of the people of the region, the proceeds from agricultural produce would have made the region less dependent on oil.
Although many consider this criticism as being too harsh, I see it as a food for thought not only for the northerners, but people from every part of Nigeria. The Lamido has challenged our leaders at Federal, States and Local Government levels to think of ways of harnessing the abundant natural resources in various parts of the country for the good of the nation.
Until the discovery of oil in Nigeria in 1958, agriculture was the country’s mainstay of the economy with different regions boasting of different cash crops like groundnut, cocoa, rubber, palm oil produce and many more. Then, the country was a net exporter of food and earned most of its foreign exchange from agricultural produce.
Today, with the expand land and over 160 million people, Nigeria cannot feed its citizens not to talk of exporting to other lands. At a forum recently, President Goodluck Jonathan said the country spent N630 billion in 2012 to import agricultural products. In July 2013, the Minsiter of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina had lamented how Nigeria fritters away a whopping N1.3 trillion to import four food items yearly. This includes a monstrous N356bn, or roughly N1bn per day, on importation of parboiled rice, a humongous N217bn on sugar and unbelievable N97bn on fish.
Some stakeholders in the agricultural sector have argued that with over 79 million hectares of arable land, diversified ecological conditions, abundant water resources and adequate rainfall, there is no justifiable reason for food insecurity and the growing number of jobless youths in the country.
They blamed the high rate of unemployment the increasing social vices, rise in crime rates and security challenges facing the nation on poor attention to agriculture.
Incidentally, both past and present administration at both federal and state levels has claimed to be investing in agriculture with little or no improvement to show for it.
A major disturbing development is the dwindling population of farmers in the country, as farming has become largely unattractive to the youth because of certain socio-economic considerations.
It is therefore, imperative that different levels of government should institute pragmatic plans to make farming more appealing, particularly to the youth, as part of their efforts to transform agriculture and boost food production in the country.
Government should encourage farming by providing modern farming implements to farmers to boost their production. A situation where most farmers still rely on crude farming implements like hoes and cutlass is most discouraging.
Farmers who are willing to expand their farms often complain of lack of support from banks. Unless this problem is solved and provision of soft loans to farmers is made possible, our dream of having a thriving agricultural sector may not be realized.
Provision of power, accessible roads and good transport system is also paramount. Many farm products perish in villages due to non-avalability of access roads and transport system to bring them to the cities for the consumers. And yet, there is no storage facilities.
Some people have also argued that unless government strictly enforces  the ban on importation of certain farm produce all efforts towards improving agriculture in Nigeria will almost be a waste.
There is indeed need for Federal, State and Local Governments, as well as individuals to show more commitment to agriculture if the looming food crisis is to be averted. Many of our citizens have forgotten that foods are produced by human beings and would one day be scarce if we continue to neglect food production.
The northern region and indeed other regions should heed to Alhaji Mustapha’s Consel by making the best use of all the arable land they have as it could generate as much revenues as oil if well exploited. To achieve this however, the lives of the people must be secured. The continued slaughter of Nigerians, particularly in the North East everyday by terrorists would only force farmers out of the villages, that is why the likes of Alhaji Mustapha and other stakeholders should do everything possible to ensure peace and security in the region and the country at large..

Calista Ezeaku