Agriculture key to addressing insecurity in northern states, says Niger Gov, Bago

By Aaron Ossai

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has advocated that the only way to address insecurity and ensuring sustainable development in the Northern Region is a return to Agriculture.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim and made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

The Farmer Governor stated this at the 10th edition of the Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture held in Borno State and organised by the Sir Ahmad Bello Memorial Foundation in collaboration with the Borno State Government.

Farmer Governor Umaru Bago who acknowledged the doggedness of Late Sir Ahmad Bello who was instrumental in making the Northern Region focus on Agriculture describing it as phenomenal.

He said, prior to the discovery of oil in Nigeria, the Northern Region was globally recognised as a giant in Agriculture saying, “there is the need to change the narrative by reverting back to the old days and reduce the dependence on the Federal Government monthly allocation.”

The Farmer Governor also revealed Niger State Government’s plan in the Agricultural sector as it intends to use all ungoverned spaces which is responsible for banditry activities, with huge resources already in place for clearing of land, preparatory for agricultural production.

Farmer Governor Bago also suggested the need to deploy technology and mechanisation to be in tune with modernisation and reiterated that Government must create enabling environment for agriculture to thrive.

Speaking on education, Farmer Governor Umaru Bago said the North needs to sit down and chart a new course on what measures to take to improve on the sector.

He advised that school curriculum must be in tandem with what is obtainable globally to enable the teeming youth have skills as they cannot be productive without skills.

The 10th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lectures has the theme, ” Creating Pathways for Peace: Tackling Banditry and Insurgency through Good Governance for Sustainable Development.”