By Jeleel Olawale

Senator Shuaib Afolabi, the Senator Representing Ogun Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has charged the Federal Government to prioritise agriculture to increase food security across the country.

Salisu gave the charge while speaking at the 2024 National Reunion Conference, at the Oduduwa Hall OAU, on Sunday, in Ile-Ife, by Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA).

The Senator who spoke on the topic: “Changing Nigeria’s Consumption Based to a Service and Production Based Economy,”  said, worldwide, the economy of any country goes up and down, what needs to be done is how to go about it.

He said that there’s a need to review economic policy with a view to increase our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through agriculture.

“If the federal Government invests heavily in agriculture, there will be food sufficiency in the nation.

“Agriculture as the economic bedrock of a serious nation, would solve the present economic challenge facing the country,” he stated.

“We will attain our food potential as a country and the journey has commenced with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the lawmakers are going to provide legislative support to make things better,” he declared.

According to him, Nigeria has the resources to navigate the current economic issues facing the nation.

He said the inability of the previous government to evolve a policy that will take us out of the wound, is one of the reasons why we are where we are today but gradually we are coming out stronger as the country is a work in progress.

The Senator stated further that the palliative given to people recently can only solve the economic challenge temporarily, but there’s a need to dig deep into long term solutions in order to have a prosperous nation.

He emphasised that Nigerians have a government that is presently taking proactive decisions and policies that will solve the long term challenges facing the nation.

He listed underutilisation of resources, structural bottleneck as the bane of the economy, with micro economic instability, fiscal deficit as the consequences of the menace.

Senator Shuaib noted that in order to opt out of consumption based economy and be more focused on production based economy, he said national values and ethos must be revisited, new measure of performance, activation of dormant national assets which are lying fallow should be resuscitated.

“There must be a marriage between the town and the gown, our universities must not only fulfill the mandate of teaching and research but engage the community.

“The outcome of their research works must be felt by the communities. Our universities must be seen as truly citadel of generating ideas that will solve our economic challenges in the country.”

The Chairman, senate committee on ICT and Cyber Security said, critical assets of governments, ease of doing business, infrastructural development must be put in place. There must be a positive attitude and having a plan on where to be in years to come.

He said, he has no doubt as a nation, that one day everything will be normalised.  He urged the youth to go into agriculture as an alternative enterprise they can engage in to provide employment and increase food security across the country.

Senator Shuaib urged UNIFEMGA not to rest on its oars in campaigning and contributing to discourse for a just and better society in providing social services for the society through education.

Speaking, President, UNIFEMGA, Engr. Abdul-Fattah Olanlege said, “It has been a rough year for all, as Nigeria’s economy is more sustainable but is clouded with the selfish activities of saboteurs and lavish insensitivity of some of our leaders.

“The effects of removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira on the prices of foodstuff, goods and services almost paralysed the nation to the extent that religion worshipers cried out.

“The discourse of this year’s reunion is our contribution to educate the populace on the need to define what really matters to us as a people, look inwards for solutions to our needs and significantly reduce dependency on importation to really strengthen our economy.”

The Oyo state Government has opened the completed section of the Olodo to vehicular movement.

Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, represented by the Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Dahud Shangodoyin, opened the completed right side of the bridge, which serves as a link to Osun State, on Saturday.

Recall that the completed half had been opened to pedestrians about two weeks ago, with the state government promising that the facility would be opened for vehicles in 14 days.

Declaring the bridge open for vehicular movement, Prof. Shangodoyin said the completion of the first half of the bridge is a further demonstration of Governor Makinde’s commitment to the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state, regardless of political inclination, religious affiliation or socio-economic status.

He said that though the 35.6km Iwo Road-Olodo Bank-Elesingodogbo-Odo Oba to Oyo/Osun State boundary is a federal road, its construction is being carried out and funded by the state government.

He added that the Governor Makinde administration considers it a necessity to concentrate energy on projects with potentials for the expansion of the economy of the state and engineering a modern Oyo State.

He said, “It is with fulfillment and joy that I welcome you to the event of today, which is a further demonstration of this administration’s commitment to the delivery of dividends of democracy to all the nooks and crannies of the state without regard to the political inclination, religious affiliation or socio-economic group of our people.

“The need for construction of 35.6km Iwo Road-Olodo Bank-Elesingodogbo-Odo Oba (Oyo/Osun State boundary) was borne out of the passion of the current administration in Oyo State to concentrate energy on projects with potentials for the expansion of the economy of the state and engineering a modern Oyo State.”

Speaking on the features and components of the bridge, Shangodoyin explained that, “The major features of the bridge being opened today, among other works, are piling works, construction of central piers, precast beams and slab, return/retaining wall, deck, parapet wall, approach slab and median.

“The pavement at the approaches of the bridge is made up of 200mm thick lateritic sub-base, 200mm thick stone base, 50mm asphaltic binder course and 40mm asphaltic concrete wearing course, the surfacing is completed with road lane marking.”

The Commissioner also commended the governor for his vision and unflinching support in the execution of the project, which he noted would lessen the burden of the people and also boost the economy of the state.

By Omobolaji Adekunle, Abeokuta

Ogun State Government has stated that it would not hesitate to demolish any illegal structure encroaching government land with particular reference to illegal structures springing up at the Agro-Cargo Airport corridor in the state.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPl Olatunji Odunlami, who stated this in a chat with journalists in Abeokuta, lamented the activities of encroachers, who he said have taken over most land acquired by the government in the interest of the public.

He expressed concern with the way illegal structures were springing up in the Agro-Cargo Airport corridor, adding that all structures in the area that contravened government regulation would be pulled down.

According to him, several contravention notices served the encroachers in the area were ignored, and the government has no other option than to demolish such structures.

“The Agro-Cargo Airport, which is set to commence scheduled flights soon, is a legacy project of this administration that is already attracting foreign partners to invest in the State. Such investment will generate employment opportunities that will impact positively on the development of the area, and bring visibility to the State,” Odunlami noted.

The Commissioner further stated that the government would not stand by and allow the activities of some people to negate international standards on situating airports and other public facilities, as the closeness of such structures to the airport posed a threat to the quality of lives of the inhabitants of such buildings.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, advised the public to approach relevant government agencies before committing their resources into lands and projects that might not align with the overall goal of government, affirming that government is a continuum and acquired lands would be developed in the course of time.

“When the Airport becomes fully operational, the noise from the aeroplanes alone can lead to health hazards for those living near it, and this is only one of the several challenges poised from living in such an area. Ogun State will continue to follow international aviation standards for citing of airports, even as it works to protect the welfare of its people,” the Special Adviser noted.