By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi
The former Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, says that the problems of insecurity, poverty, inflation and food insufficiency will be permanently eradicated with an improvement in agricultural production in the country.
Mr. Obi stated this during a visit to Kebbi Government House in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.
He said that it was necessary on the Federal Government to invest heavily in agriculture in its capacity as the backbone of the economy more than oil.
” Nigeria has the largest uncultivated land of any nation in the world, most of which is located in the northern part of the country.
” With effective agricultural production, the sector has the capability to take millions of Nigerians out poverty and address the problems of insecurity in the country.
” In addition, agriculture is the basic foundation for attaining food security, eliminating hunger and also serves as foreign exchange earner to stabilise the economy.
” We have no other country but Nigeria; we mist bequeath a better place for our children,” he said.
He acknowledged Kebbi state as an agricultural hub, saying it has the capacity to feed the nation through increased production.
” I am on a private visit to Kebbi state as I have already visited Nasarawa, Niger and Sokoto States to be part of Ramadan breakfast of our fellow Muslims and identify areas of need where I can assist.
“In the course of my visit to Kebbi, I have provided Ramadan breakfast to 100 Muslim faithfuls and also commissioned a solar- powered borehole at Hutawa Fulani settlement behind 1Battalion Nigeria Army Dukku Barracks in Birnin Kebbi,” Obi said.
In his response, Gov. Nasir Idris, appreciated mr. Peter Obi for his visit and his remarkable comments on empowerment and food security he had seen in the state.
Gov. Nasir represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Yakubu Bala-Tafida, said that his administration would continue to invest in human capacity development, especially agriculture as the backbone of economic development.
“Recently, the state government procured fertiliser worth N2.9 billion and distributed free to farmers in respective of party inclination as well as solar- powered water pumps and other agricultural inputs to farmers aimed at reducing the cost of production, increased in yields and stabilising prices of farm produce,” he said.
