Nigeria’s Parliament Moves to Boost Funding for Farmers
Nigeria’s parliament plans to enact laws that would boost funding for agricultural activities to achieve the national goal of food security as a backdrop to the uncertainty of crude oil as mainstay of the nation’s economy, the speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas has said.
Speaker Abbas made these remarks on Monday at “The ‘Second Interactive Session and Workshop on Developing Bankable Business/Proposal Business Plans for Youth and Women in Agriculture,” organised by the African Development Bank Group, in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Commission.
Abbas urged the AfDB to continue its collaboration with the Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, noting that the partnership is vital for advancing initiatives capable of driving significant progress across the continent.
He said it is crucial to acknowledge that Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil as primary export product has become neither sustainable nor prudent.
Abbas also highlighted the importance of agriculture and information technology as they offer vast potentials for economic growth and sustainability.
The 10th House, he noted, is committed to supporting youth development, stressing that working closely with the executive branch, the National Assembly aims to launch public work programs targeting young people, particularly in infrastructure development and agriculture.