Food security: ARDS harps on involving more private investors

By Stanley Onyekwere

FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has identified the role of the private sector as crucial in the pursuit of sustainable food and nutrition security in the Territory, hence the need reinforce their involvement in the process.
Making this assertion, ARDS Secretary, Lawan Kolo Geidam, revealed that the FCT Administration has adopted the Ease of Doing Business Initiative as a strategy to enhance the possibilities of private-public partnerships in driving sustainable development in the FCT.
Geidam, who added that the Secretariat is currently in talks with several other organizations, all with the objective of repositioning the agricultural landscape of the territory, assured that under the leadership of the Honorable Minister FCT Barrister Nyesom Wike and Honourable Minister of State FCT Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the agriculture sector will receive the required attention that will help to unlock its abundant potentials not only to investors but opportunities for the teeming population of FCT to earn sustainable means of livelihood.
Speaking during a recent courtesy visit by officials of the Agribusiness Innovation International Limited (AGRICON), in Abuja, the ARDS boss recognized the contributions of AGRICON, which according to him has shown a commitment to adding value to agriculture in the FCT.
“At this point, we express our appreciation to your organization for your faith in us through the 2021 and 2022 AGRICON EXPO, which attracted investors from all over the world. And we are optimistic that these dialogues will reinforce FCT’s standing as a foremost center for agricultural innovation and investment,” he stressed.
Earlier in his remark, the CEO of AGRICON, Chief Maurice Ebo , thanked the Administration for the opportunity to contribute to the development of Abuja, the nation’s capital city.