Business
Senator Urges More Investment In Agric
Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, has advised Nigerians to invest more in farming, as part of efforts to expand the ongoing national economic transformation.
Aguariavwodo, a member of the Senate Committee on Education, made the appeal in an interview with our correspondent in Abeokuta on the sidelines of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB).
He said that agriculture remained the fastest route for Nigeria to achieve its economic development goal.
“Before the export of crude oil started to generate about 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings for the government, the profile of the Nigerian economy was such that it was agrarian.
“Proceeds from the export of agricultural produce helped to fund the first wave of development in the country after its independence in 1960.
“Crude oil has failed the nation, therefore, it is high time the nation went back to the basics, which is agriculture.”
According to him, any nation that cannot feed itself will always be at the mercy of other nations.
The former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) appealed to the private sector to take advantage of the enabling environment provided by the government under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).
“If both the private and public sectors team up to invest in agriculture, hunger and malnutrition will be eliminated and Nigerians will be assured of adequate food security.”
Aguariavwodo also urged the nation to rise up to the challenges facing the development of the agriculture sector and participate more actively in the development of the nation’s agriculture.
The Tide source reports that the members of the committee visited the Federal Government-owned tertiary institutions in Ogun State, FUNAAB, Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, and the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.

Iranian Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade/Head of Iranian delegation, Mr Mohammad Nemaizadeh (left) and Minister of State (1) for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, signing Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism, Geology, Mining, Mineral Processing and Industrial Cooperation at the 5th Nigeria-Iran Joint Commission meeting in Abuja, yesterday.