Asiwaju Tinubu: Agric my top priority

Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu has pledged to revamp the agricultural sector to ensure optimal performance should he emerge as the winner of the 2023 Presidential election.

Tinubu stated this at a town hall meeting with farmers and northern agro-commodity groups in Minna, Niger State.

He explained that it would be achieved through the provision of modern farm implements at subsidized rates for farmers across the country.

Noting the need to prioritise the sector for easy access to agric facilities and improve the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the APC presidential candidate stated that agriculture is the hope and prosperity of farmers and the Nigerian economy.

According to him: “The National Agricultural Commodity Directorate to be established will ensure the success of our agric policy to enhance food security and export.”

Sympathizing with the flood victims across the country, Tinubu added: “It is a natural calamity which requires proactive steps to reduce its impact on the citizens.”

The host, Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello in his address said over the years, his government has continued to support the development of agriculture in crop, livestock and fisheries production.

According to him, his administration has reactivated some out of the 19 moribund irrigation schemes and rehabilitated over 300 km of rural access roads through the implementation of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II) programme in the state.

The governor further explained that the state government has attracted five international investors for the production of dairy and other associated livestock products and over 1,300 hectares of pasture plots have been fully developed and basic facilities provided.

Bello urged participants to exhaustively discuss issues that will put farmers on the centre stage for the economic revival of Northern Nigeria. He then called on all stakeholders present to put Niger State at the forefront of all plans and strategies emanating from the town hall meeting considering its comparative advantages.

The programme had in attendance APC National Chairman Alh. Abdullahi Adamu, Director General, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Simon Lalong and Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu among other leaders of the party.