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.

Makama Of Kaiama     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Micheal Imoudu     Oko     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Frootify     Temitope Ogunbanke     Saeedat Aliyu     Galadiman Ngeri     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Saka Abimbola Isau     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Saheed Akinwumi     MalHub     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Sidikat Alaya     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Share-Tsaragi     Aiyedun     Shonga     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Saadu Yusuf     Kwara State Pension Board     SSA Youth Engagement     Jamiu Oyawoye     Kwara Poly     Ahmed Bayero     AGF Abdulrazaq     Na\'Allah     FOMWAN     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Arik     Garment Factory     Tsaragi/Share     MAI Akande     Lukman Adeloyin     Twitter     Kwara North     Illyasu Abdullahi     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Naira Redesign     Oba Abdulrahim     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Kola Olota     Olomu     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Ndakene     Atiku Abubakar     Ahman Pategi University     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Kayode Ibrahim     HYPPADEC     Bashirat Bola Bello     Moses Salami     Abubakar Atiku     Gobir     Lola Ashiru     Funmi Salau     Kannike     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Binta Abubakar Mora     Leke Ogungbe     Curfew     Bayo Ojo     Kolade Solagberu     Yekeen Alabi     Idofin     Col. Taiwo     CUTI     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Simon Sayomi     Bamidele Adegoke     Ahmed Saidu Rufai    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Al-Hikmah Radio     Radio Kwara     AGF Abdulrazaq     Valsolar Consultoria     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Malete     Sango-UITH Road     Abiodun Oyedepo     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Radio SBS     Elerinjare     Adisa Logun     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Shehu Salau     Javed Khan     Amos Justus Sayo     Alabe     Alikinla     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Marufat Oladosu     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Jumoke Gafar     Unicontinental Construction Company     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Ahman Pategi     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Buari Edun     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Aliyu Kora Sabi     Kawu     Michael Nzekwe     Amos Sayo     Code Of Conduct Bureau     IDPU     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Oloje     Lanre Issa Onilu     COEASU     Valsolar Consortium     Bio Ibrahim     Naira Redesign     Shonga Farm Project     Omoniyi     Bureau Of Lands     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Ebola     Isiaka Danmeromu     Government High School Adeta     Saba Jibril     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     EndSARS     Gambari     Durbar     Olaosebikan     Gabriel Fashanu     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Susan Modupe Oluwole     Tunji Moronfoye     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Bashir Badawi     SSUCOEN     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     Aiyedun     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Bankole Omishore     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Ijakadi     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Samari     Gobir     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools