News
Agriculture Reduces Nigeria’s Dependence On Oil Sector, FG Admits
The Federal Government, yesterday, disclosed agriculture has reduced Nigeria’s dependence on oil sector in generating foreign exchange revenue.
This was made known by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar, during the launch of ‘Technical Working Documents and Debriefing of Outcomes of Socio-economic Studies’ by ICRISAT Nigeria, held in Abuja.
According to Abubakar, investment in agriculture is paying and the country has become the largest producer of rice and sorghum in Africa, second largest producer of millet.
He said: “Our investment in agriculture is paying and the country has become the largest producer of rice and sorghum in Africa, second largest producer of millet in Africa and the first in cassava and yam production globally.
“However, more needs to be done, the potentials across crops, livestock, horticulture and fisheries sub-sectors are enormous.
“The agricultural sector leads in diversifying the economy, and the oil sector is no longer dominant sector of the economy.
“Government is determined to fill the gap and consolidate on the achievements recorded and focus productivity enhancement, institutional realignment and private sector investment.
“Expectations are to deploy improved varieties and association said technology is and support agribusiness undertakings in the country.
“The expectations we have in agriculture to take Nigeria to the promise land could only be achieved when our researches are adaptive, focused to solving our challenges and needs and the entrepreneurs take deliberate actions to invest in the different agricultural value chains.
“The ministry, therefore, requires your contribution and support towards delivering in the above priorities areas, only then we will be able to address the impact of the global health emergency and the high expectation of present administration in agriculture.”
However, the minister pointed that there are challenges negatively impacting the sector.
“We understand the key challenges bedevilling our agricultural sector include slow transition to modern farming and value addition, limited access to farming inputs, finance, extension services and markets, and lack of synergy among different actors along the value chains.
“Why is sorghum not given the kind of priority like cassava and other crops are given? The time is now to do that, so I want the ministry to take note that sorghum is equally, in fact, a very important crop that should be given the same kind of attention too.
“The bottom-line in agriculture is research, development, collaboration, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation”, he added.
Also, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, in his speech said, “It is gratifying to note the potentials in crops, livestock and fisheries subsectors that are very enormous the prospects are to be deploying food varieties, associated technologies and support agribusiness undertakings in the country.
“The expectation we have in agriculture to take Nigeria to the Promised Land would only be achieved when our researches are adoptive, focused to solving our challenges, and the entrepreneurs take deliberately to different agricultural value chain.”
The Country Representative, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Nigeria, Dr Hakeem Ajeigbe, expressed hope that with the research findings along the sorghum, groundnut and pearl millet value chains it will go a long way to boost the sector when included in policy formulation.
“The objectives of today’s are to share seed socio-economic studies, end of year project that was implemented by ICRISAT which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to provide evidence to be used in policy actions in the agricultural and related sectors”, he said.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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