Nigeria can feed Africa, creates jobs through agriculture, Kabir tells Tinubu - Blueprint Newspapers Limited
Spread the wordA former presidential candidate, Shitu Mohammed Kabir, has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise agriculture as a national security issue, saying Nigeria has the capacity to feed Africa,. . .
Spread the wordA former presidential candidate, Shitu Mohammed Kabir, has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise agriculture as a national security issue, saying Nigeria has the capacity to feed Africa, create millions of jobs and drive industrial growth if the sector is properly revitalised. In an open letter to the President, Shitu said although Nigeria is endowed with vast fertile land, abundant water resources and a large population of hardworking citizens, poor investment in agriculture has left millions grappling with rising food prices and food insecurity. He described agriculture as the backbone of food security, employment generation, industrial development and economic stability, stressing that the sector remains central to Nigeria’s economic recovery. According to him, insecurity, inadequate financing, poor infrastructure, weak agricultural extension services and post-harvest losses have continued to undermine farmers’ productivity, fuel inflation and increase dependence on food imports. Shitu called on the Federal Government to seize what he described as a historic opportunity to reposition Nigeria as Africa’s agricultural powerhouse. He urged the Tinubu administration to declare agriculture a national security priority and establish Special Agricultural Security Zones to safeguard farming communities from criminal activities. The former presidential candidate also advocated the launch of a National Commercial Agriculture Programme centred on mechanisation, irrigation, affordable financing, tax incentives and stronger private sector participation. He further recommended organising smallholder farmers into production clusters with shared irrigation facilities, storage centres, processing hubs, mechanised equipment and access roads to improve productivity and reduce production costs. Shitu also called for greater transparency in agricultural financing through digital monitoring, independent audits and regular field inspections, while urging the government to expand access to affordable agricultural insurance and modern extension services. He said establishing Commodity Processing and Agro-Industrial Zones would reduce post-harvest losses, create employment opportunities, increase exports and stimulate rural industrialisation. “Agriculture is far more than farming. It is the foundation of food security, national security, youth employment and economic prosperity,” he said. Expressing confidence in the Tinubu administration, Shitu said the government has a unique opportunity to transform the agricultural sector, reduce hunger, stabilise food prices and restore Nigeria’s position as Africa’s leading agricultural nation. “The decisions taken today will shape the future of generations yet unborn,” he said. “The government must act boldly and decisively by making agriculture the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic transformation. ”Spread the word