Speaker Abbas: Nigeria must invest in agriculture to achieve food security

By Christiana Ekpa

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday, said the parliament was committed to enacting laws that would enable agricultural banks and other financial institutions to give low interest loans to farmers in order to achieve food security.
He said that, the future of oil is uncertain and therefore makes it imperative for the country to invest in alternative sectors of the economy.
Speaker Abbas’ submissions were contained in his remarks at the ‘Second Interactive Session and Workshop on Developing Bankable Business/Proposal Business Plans for Youth and Women in Agriculture’, organized by the African Development Bank Group, in partnership with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA); Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Commission (NAIC), in Abuja.
Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Speaker Abbas urged the African Development Bank to continue its collaboration with the Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa, stressing that the partnership is vital for advancing initiatives that can drive significant progress across the continent.
He said: “As we gather here, it is crucial to acknowledge that our over-reliance on oil as our primary export has become neither sustainable nor prudent.
“The future of oil is increasingly uncertain, especially as the global community shifts towards greener, more sustainable energy sources. This reality makes it not just necessary but urgent for us to explore and invest in alternative sectors, with agriculture standing out as a critical area for development.
“Agriculture and Information Technology offer a vast potential for economic growth and sustainability. By focusing on developing and implementation of bankable business proposals, we can empower our youth and women—two of the most vital demographics in our society—to become key players in these sectors.
“In line with our legislative agenda, we are committed to supporting youth development. By working closely with the executive branch, we aim to launch public work programs targeting young people, particularly in infrastructure development and agriculture.
“Furthermore, we are dedicated to establishing a robust legislative framework that supports agricultural banks or financial institutions, enabling them to provide low-interest loans to farmers. This framework is essential for fostering a thriving agricultural economy.”