Abubakar assumes office as Agric Minister

We have to invest in technology driven Agriculture — Gov Zulum

…Says we will feed the country

Olaseinde Gbenga, Abuja

Abubakar Kyari has assumed office as the new  Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to revive the Nation’s Agricultural sector.

Abubakar who was accompanied to the ministry’s reception by the Governor of Borno state, Prof. Babagana Zulum, the Speaker of the state, members of state executive council, friends and associates, disclosed his readiness and willingness to the service of the nation.

According to him, “We all know the challenges that we face now, hunger is a big problem we have in the country, we have challenges in food production, but for me and my colleagues here, the biggest hope we have is the political will, and we are going to work with Mr. President to achieve his ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.”

The Minister said, “We see that commitment in President Bola Tinubu when he declared food emergency in the country the first day he was sworn in, and he has made huge commitment to revive our Agriculture and secure the nation’s food.

“We have a big challenge, but it is not insurmountable. Our target is not only to secure and feed the country but also to export food,” he said.

In his remark, the Borno state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, said, “I’m Happy that the Federal Government has declared food security emergency. What we are doing now by providing palliatives to Nigerians are short-term solution, we must look for a longer-term solution that will address the problems of food insecurity in Nigeria, and the only alternative measure that we have is to invest in commercial, modern and irrigated Agriculture, using technologies, and this is the only long-term solution.

“Our population is growing in quick geometrical ratio while our Food supply is dwindling. Until we take the necessary measures, we can never get adequate results.

“I suggest that the two Ministers should take advantage of the technocrats In the Ministry, put heads together to position the nation’s food industry.

“We have vast arable lands in the country. Nigeria has a total land mass of about 72,000 square kilometers. Over sixty per cent of the land mass in Nigeria are arable. In northern borno, the ground water there is not taken as a factor. And therefore, I wish to see the ministry to ensure that Nigeria’s food is secured not only in terms of quantity but also in quality. People thought food security is only availability of food, but it is the availability of food in quantity and quality,” he said.