Developing agriculture, ensuring food security remain our priority – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday reassured the nation that developing the agriculture sector and ensuring food security in the country remained a priority to his administration.
Buhari, who said this at the 8th Bola Tinubu Colloquium in Abuja, disclosed that the Federal Government’s efforts at diversifying the nation’s economy would begin in the agricultural sector.
The theme of the colloquium was: “Agriculture: Action, work, revolution.”
According to Buhari, the development of the sector will help check insecurity, create more jobs, address the country’s balance of payment as well as stimulate and sustain national economic recovery.
He said: “Diversifying the economy can no longer be a slogan, it has become a necessity.
“Economic growth cannot just be for the lucky few at the top; it has to be broad-based for every Nigerian citizen and a good place to start is the agricultural sector.
“We face urgent challenges – tackling insecurity, creating jobs, addressing the country’s balance of payments and stimulating and sustaining national economic recovery.
“But even as we deal with these issues, I know it is also important and indeed critical to focus on some current challenges that confront millions of our men, women, and children around the country, the injustice of hunger and the need for long term food security.
“We can unleash the change that makes agriculture work for our people and our nation.
“We will trigger the kind of economic growth that will lift millions out of poverty.
“This is the renewed commitment that we are making.
“I want to pledge to you today that our commitment to agriculture will remain a priority for this government.”
Buhari commended the organisers of the Colloquium for the choice of the theme.
The President stated that Federal Government will organise an efficient market infrastructure that will make agriculture viable for investors.
He added that an environment will be created to ensure stability and predictability for the private sector.
“We intend to also ensure that the market is fair and worthy of transforming small holder farmers from beggars to businessmen,” he said.
President Buhari also assured Nigerians that his administration would speed up actions aimed at improving food production techniques as technology would play a huge role in the production of better seeds, ensuring better harvest, ensuring reliable weather forecast and predictable market prices.
According to him, government will continue to focus efforts towards improving nutrition for children.
The President, who was the Chairman of the event, said his administration would take more pragmatic steps in the next few months to improve the nation’s economy and uplift the quality of life of the people.
He said his administration’s desire was to invest heavily in human capital development as a way of reducing high level poverty in the country.
He said: “In the coming months, Nigerians will see much more actions. Government will continue to invest substantially in human capital development and this is just the beginning.”
Buhari said his administration would welcome more companies ready to invest in the country.
The President eulogised Tinubu, whom he noted “possesses some unique qualities that have contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria”.
He added: “There are very few patriots alive or departed today that can match the commitment, zealousness, creativity that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has over the few decades demonstrated in organizing Nigeria’s public life for good.
“As he adds another year today, my best wishes and prayer go out to a man, who deserves a lot of commendations.”
In his remarks at the event, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, who spoke on Rice and Wheat production in Nigeria, advocated for the provision of agricultural funds for farmers across the 33 rice producing states to boost food security in the country.
Among those who graced the occasion were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo; wife of the celebrant, Senator Remi Tinubu; Governors of Zamfara – Abdulaziz Yari; Osun – Rauf Aregbesola; and Ogun – Ibikunle Amosun.
Others were the governors of Adamawa, Jibrilla Bindow; Cross River, Ben Ayade; Bauchi, Muhammed Abubakar; Lagos, Ambode Akinwunmi; Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufai; and Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi.
Also at the event were the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun; former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu; Senator Smart Adeyemi and other top government officials.
NAN.