Senator Saliu Mustapha Calls for Focus on Agriculture in Local Government Councils

Date: 2024-09-07

As reported by Voice of Nigeria, Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has advocated for prioritising agriculture within local government councils across Nigeria.

Speaking at the dinner and award night hosted by the Correspondence Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin, Senator Mustapha emphasized the need for constitutional amendments to reassign the core responsibilities of Local Government Areas (LGAs) to agriculture. He highlighted the critical role the agricultural sector can play in revolutionising the nation's economic development.

Represented by his aide and senior lawyer, Abdulkareem Alabi, Senator Mustapha, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that agriculture should no longer be treated as secondary or left exclusively to private enterprise.

Focus on Agriculture

Instead, the Lawmaker urged for a nationwide strategy where local governments are constitutionally mandated to focus on agriculture as their primary function.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and it holds the key to addressing unemployment, food insecurity, and rural developments” Senator Mustapha stated.

“For too long, our local governments have been distracted by peripheral responsibilities. It is time we refocus their energies on what really matters – agriculture and rural developments.”

He argued that local government areas is closer to the grassroots, are in a prime position to facilitate agricultural development and rural transformation, both of which are crucial for food security and economic growth.

According to Senator Mustapha, Nigeria's reliance on oil revenues has not only left the country vulnerable to global market fluctuations but also stunted the growth of its agricultural sector, which remains the largest employer of labor in the country.

By institutionalising agriculture as the central focus of LGAs, the senator believes Nigeria can unlock vast economic potentials, improve livelihoods, and ensure sustainable development.

“In India as in Brazil, the local government plays a crucial role in agriculture. Brazilian municipalities are deeply involved in managing rural extension services, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring that smallholder farmers have access to resources. This model has contributed to Brazil becoming one of the world's largest agricultural producers, particularly in soybeans, sugar, and beef.”

Senator Mustapha noted that these international models demonstrate how empowering local governments to prioritize agriculture can yield significant dividends.

He said countries like India and Brazil have transformed their economies through localised agricultural development, meaning that Nigeria could replicate these successes if it realigns its focus.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

NSCIA     Amos Sayo     Atunwa     Amuda Musbau     Olokoba Sulyman     Abdulmumini Jawondo     Simeon Ajibola     Alanamu     Bolakale Saka     Tunji Folami     Jelili Yusuf     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     General Hospital, Ilorin     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Moses Rahman Popoola     Salaudeen Oyewale     Kwara Poly     Shettima Of Ilorin     Ola Falade     Yahya Mohammed     Maigida Soludero Transit     Yunus Lawal     Salary     Ahmed Alhasssan     Yakub Lai Gobir     Musbau A. Akanji     Ghali Alaaya     Oyelere Oyinloye     Kawu Baraje     Abubakar Lah     Olaoye B. Felix     Oba-Solagberu     Ahmed     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Tunji Olawuyi     Aliyu Muyideen     VADA     UTME     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Jimoh Akani     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Galadima     Tope Daramola     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Toyin Saraki     Hassan Saliu     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Musa Abdullahi     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     Akeem Lawal     Arinola Lawal     Ibrahim Mohammed     Rachael Obisesan     Ilorin     Convocation Ceremonies     Shola Odetundun     Sam Onile     Metro Park     Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez     Kwara State Sports Commission     TESCOM 2025     Oluwole Dupe     Inside Kwara     Rafiu Ibrahim     Babatunde Idiagbon     Ubandoma     Saliu Alamoyo     Nigeria Computer Society     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Ishaq Oloyede     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     KWASIEC     Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs     Muhammed Abdullahi     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

KWASSIP     Ademola Kiyesola     Law School Scholarship     Oniyangi     Abubakar Usman Jos     Edret Sabi Abel     Ilorin South     Mahee Abdulkadir     Twitter     Shade Omoniyi     New Naira Notes     Kwara Consultative Forum     Ibrahim Akaje     Bibire Ajape     Minimum Wage     Borgu     Issa Baba     Emmanuel Bello     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Owode Market     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Sardauna     Kwha.gov.ng     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Ahmad Uthman     Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Quran     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Olatunji Ayeni     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Labaeka     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Aliyu Alhassan     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Press Release     Aminu Ado Bayero     Muhammed Danjuma     Okeose Christian Cementary     KWATMA     Sa\'adu Salahu     Saka Saadu     Arandun     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Abubakar Lah     Ajibike Katibi     Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria     Yusuf Ali     Baruten     07039448763     Hassanat Bello     Lafiagi     Taofik Abdulkareem     Oko     Muyideen Ajani Bello     LAK Jimoh     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Prince Bola Ajibola     Fatimat Saliu     Sambo Murtala     CLAY POT     Eruku     Bareke     Folashade Omoniyi     Idi-Ape     The Herald     Playing Host     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     Nigerian Correctional Service     General Hospital, Ilorin