The National Assembly may go the extra mile to find solution to the security challenges in Nigeria even if it means tinkering with the constitution in the next amendment, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon Philip Agbese, said on Monday.
While lamenting the current spate of insecurity in the country, he said national insecurity has caused serious disruptions in the agricultural activities, thereby resulting in food shortage and threatening food security.
Agbese, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated these in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of a one-day training on agro-business in Abuja organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), under its Youth in Agribusiness (YAS) project.
The project is being implemented with the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while Golden Finger Farms and Ranches (GFFR), which is the agrihub for YAS in Abuja, and Bopinc are IITA’s partners in training the beneficiaries.
The highlight of the event was the visit by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Geoffrey van Leeuwen, to the agrihub (GFFR) to tour the farm where the youths were being trained and inauguration of a new training hall.
The minister also attended the exhibition by persons trained under the YAS project in 2023.
The chairman of GFFR, Major General Ezra Jakko (retd), said it is quite gratifying about the confidence which the international community has in Nigeria.
“We are glad that this farm has been chosen as a hub for training and development. A highly integrated farm set up, we also have an educational system behind it”, he said.
The YAS which aims to train youths between 18 and 35 in agribusiness, targets 10,000 youths within three years, while offering them support to either start an agribusiness or grow their existing business.
Agbese raised the alarm that the agricultural sector is now constrained by insecurity, leading to low output and inefficient production tools and infrastructure.
While calling for urgent action to end the spate of killings and attacks, Agbese said the National Assembly is ready to go the extra mile to bring lasting peace even if it means tinkering with the constitution.
He said, “When we resumed from the last recess, the Speaker mentioned the issue of security that it must be tackled as long as the country is concerned.
It is quite unfortunate that at this time in the nation, farmers are unable to go to farms. We are all playing our part to end this crisis.
“However, we can’t take it away that we all need to eat to live. It is terrible that our farmers can’t go to the farm because of insurgents. This government can do better than this. If there is any need to rejig the security architecture, we are ready to do so.
“In fact in the National Assembly, we are ready to tinker with the constitution if that is what will guarantee the safety of lives and property in this country. We are ready to do that. We have commenced the constitution review committee meetings, we have received like 40 proposals from Nigerians. These are all better ways to enhance the security of this country.”
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Geoffrey van Leeuwen, said Netherlands would help Nigeria in the area of food security.
He said, “We are helping with education, with scientific operation and company support. You set up a high tech farming industry, you supply food to Nigeria and in the future to the world. Our companies are working together and making money on both sides. It is a win situation.
“Food security is the whole goal of this farm, and I think with the educational system behind it, Nigeria can be self sufficient in agriculture, and I think in food, it can be a big exporter in the world as well in the future.
“The youths are the future of Nigeria. In the Netherlands, agriculture is one of the major driving force of our economy. It is not just agriculture, it is technology, it is science and it is business to mitigate the challenges of agriculture production in the future.
“For us, it is not just the traditional farming that you are thinking about. The farming means business, it means making money, it means technology, it means export. It is wonderful for us in the Netherlands to be able to participate in this project because we are not just reaching you but through you we are reaching companies and companies grow, develop and grow their contents.”
The Country Convener of CGIAR and YAS Team Lead, Ms Aline Mugisho, said the institution, which is a long term partner of the Netherlands government and the IITA has been able to build a sustainable partnership over the last 25 in developing technologies and innovations.
She said, “It was borne out of the consciousness that our technology and research alone cannot change the future and attain the zero hunger goal that is highly required. We need to use research to produce sustainable jobs and eventually make sure that our agriculture and food production systems are not only responding to daily needs but are involving the young force that is required to take this country and this continent further.
“We are very grateful to the Dutch Government for taking a leap of faith on us and for giving us a chance to prove that youth truly works and that young people are the driving private sector. Youths are the suppliers to move Nigeria into a food secured country. It is with you that we intend to challenge the state of emergency on food security declared by the President of this country and we believe you do it. With you, zero hunger will be possible.”
Friday Olokor, Abuja
Follow us on:
