2023: Tinubu Pledges To Make Agriculture Bedrock of Nigeria’s New Economy

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has promised to make agriculture the bedrock of the nation’s new economy.

According to him, if elected as president next year, he will undertake reforms in the farming, fishing and livestock sector that will make the industry competitive.

Naija News reports that the former Lagos state governor, who made the promise at a town hall meeting in Minna the Niger state capital yesterday said he believes all states in the federation have the ability to offer one or two things to ensure food security in the nation.

Tinubu in a statement issued in Abuja by his Media Officer, Tunde Rahman, noted that Northern Nigeria has great agricultural potential due to its abundant arable land, and if properly developed, the region’s assets will not only satisfy domestic needs but make Nigeria a global force within a short time.

During the town hall interactions yesterday, Tinubu appointed the Kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu, to head a committee to fashion a blueprint that will help position the agric sector to occupy its deserved pride of place.

The APC presidential hopeful said “Northern Nigeria has great agricultural potential due to its abundant arable land. It must continue to march at the forefront of the sector is to significantly advance at all.

“Every state and the FCT have some degree of competitive advantage in agriculture; whether horticulture or crop production, fisheries, poultry or animal husbandry. Properly developed, these assets will not only satisfy our domestic needs but make Nigeria a global force within a short time.

“If Nigeria fully harnesses its agricultural potential, our exports will rise to the level such that we shall feed much of sub-Saharan Africa, allowing us to better balance our economy while fostering social tranquillity, stronger consumer bases and political goodwill between us and other nations in the region and on the continent.”

Several farmers’ groups including the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Miyetti Allah Keutal Hore, Maize Association of Nigeria, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria endorsed Tinubu at the gathering.