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.

Solomon Edoja     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Oladimeji Thompson     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Folashade Omoniyi     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Lai Gobir     Fola Consultant     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Ben Duntoye     Ekiti     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Demola Banu     Hussein Olokooba     Amuda Musbau     Isiaka Alikinla     SARS     Alliance For Democracy     SSUCOEN     Oloyede     Agboola Abdulraheem     Afonja Descendants Union     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Labour Party     Baba-Isale     Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf     Adama Isa     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     Offorjama     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Ayo Adeyemi     Monkey Pox     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Ibrahim Oniye     Roseline Oni Aremu     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Titus Ashaolu     AbdulRahman Saad     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Awoye     Oloje     NFAI     Toyin Sanusi     Kwara Poly     Minister     Ayobami Seriki     Kawu     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Bankole Omishore     Innocent Okoye     Alanamu     Muhammadu Buhari     Kunbi Titiloye     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Lawal Jimoh     Ibrahim Mohammed     Dan-Kazeem     Bank Of Industry     Ajayi Okasanmi     Funmi Salau     IDPU     Naira Redesign     Abdulrazaq Adebayo     Oba Sulaiman Asude     Rex Olawoye     Ahmed Dankaya     Yahaya Oloriegbe     KWATMA     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Simon Sayomi     Erubu     Durbar     Maryam A. Garuba     Bola Olukoju     Assayomo     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Jimoh Akani     Odo-Owa     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Bahago     Ijakadi     Ogbondoroko     Oya State     Kwara Apc     Elesie Of Esie     Doyin Awoyale     Laduba     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Bola Magaji     Jumoke Gafar     Omotoso     Kwara-SAPZ Project     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Omoniyi     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Ashiru     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Osi     Moshood Bakare     Rashidi Yekini     Yaman     Al-Ilory     Offorjama     Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo     IEDPU     Tunji Ajanaku     Belgore     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Manzuma     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     GAMA     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     Christopher Odetunde     Muhammed Danjuma     Shuaibu Yaman     Kwara State University Of Education     Kale Bayero     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Mohammed Yisa     Ilesha-Gwanara     Olosi Of Osi     Saka Adeyemo     Zubair Folorunsho Erubu     Bola Tinubu     Fatima Abolore Jimoh     Maigidasanma     Saba Mamman Daniel     Olatunji Bamgbola     Lola Ashiru     Akeem Lawal     Agbarigidoma     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Kola Shittu     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Abatemi Usman     Oke-Ero     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Jumoke Monsura Gafar     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Olabode Towoju     YAKOOYO     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Bashir Badawi     Oladimeji Thompson     New Naira Notes     Ronke Adeyemi     Razaq Atunwa     Emir Of Shonga     John Olobayo     Abubakar Atiku     UTME     Dogara