From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Nigerian Governors’Forum has requested the relocation of agro intervention schemes domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Its Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman Abdulrasaq, made the appeal yesterday in he, alongside with his colleagues in Taraba, Kogi and Ondo States; Agbu Kefas, Usman Ododo and Luck Aiyedatiwa, paid a courtesy call on the Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari and Abdullahi Sabi.
Abdulrasaq combined that for over years, most governors had it difficult accessing interventions scheme from the CBN.
He, also, used to visit to claimed that Nigeria boast of the cheapest food in West Africa in terms of affordability.
He stressed that neighbouring countries were trading with foodstuffs produced in Nigeria, adding that citizens, especially farmers should double their efforts in food production.
“One thing that has come to our realisation is that there is a new Ministry of Agriculture.
“Over the last 4 years, the engagement was not productive. CBN had taken over most of the what the ministry of agriculture used to do.
“Our trips to the ministry of agriculture were not fruitful. That is why you now see serious engagement with the governors and we want to move on quickly. What we have also noticed is that in West Africa food in Nigeria is the cheapest in West Africa.
“Our neighbours are using our food to trade and make so much foreign exchange for themselves. That is not a bad thing. What we need to do to mitigate it is to ramp up food production.
“On this note I would like the federal government to support this ministry. Things are changing, claw back whatever was given to Central Bank back into this ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister said the government was committed to increasing food production, reduce food inflation and create employment.
He said: “The bigger picture we seek to create now is to vastly increase agricultural production all-year round with the cardinal objective of driving down food inflation, creating employment, reducing poverty, engendering economic growth and development, as well promoting inclusivity. We are confident that we can partner in the realization of these objectives.”
He added: “There is no question that if we get things right now, and without an iota of doubt with all hands on the plough, future programmes and projects will enable us more seamlessly achieve all-year-round agricultural production with beneficial consequences for Economic Empowerment, Inclusivity and ultimately wider opportunities for Value Addition, Food and Nutrition Security as well as Industrialization.
“Your Excellencies, we are putting behind us the challenges encountered during the First Phase of the Dry Season Farming with Wheat in 15 participating States. After detailed and careful evaluation of some of the glitches that characterized that phase, and with collective stakeholders’ proposals, there will be additional implementation guidelines for the Second Phase commencing soon.
“These guidelines include among others;There shall be established, a NAGS-AP State working Committee chaired by the Executive Governor or his representative and the Committee should consist of the following members:Honourable Commissioner of Agriculture – Vice Chairman Honourable Commissioner for LGA and Chieftaincy Affairs or his representative.”