All Progressives Congress Presidential (APC) Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has promised to undertake drastic reforms in the agricultural sector to enabled it play its rightful role as the bedrock of Nigeria’s new economy when he becomes president next year.
Tinubu, at a meeting with stakeholders in the agro-allied sector in Minna, Niger State today, November 7, vowed to make the reforms specifically in farming, Fishing and livestock of the economy to make it more competitive and attractive.
The Presidential candidate, who was unanimously endorsed by the the crop and livestock farmers as well as fishing communities at the event, stressed that farming and agro-allied businesses would receive a pride of place in his government.
Asiwaju Tinubu emphasised the important role agriculture played in the country’s economy before the discovery of oil, acknowledging that all the states in the country have the ability to offer one or two things to ensure that the nation fully produces what it eats.
“Northern Nigeria has great agricultural potential due to its abundant arable land. It must continue to march at the forefront if 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 tranquility, stronger consumer bases and political goodwill between us and other nations in the region and on the continent.”
The APC Presidential candidate was endorsed at the townhall meeting by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Maize Association of Nigeria, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria.
At the event were the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu; the party’s Presidential running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima; Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council, Simon Lalong, Governor Abdullahi Sani-Bello of Niger State; Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru; Niger State APC Governorship candidate, Hon. Umar Bago and other party chieftains.
