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A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, stressed the need for mechanised agriculture. Photo: Radio Nigeria Archive
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, has urged Nigerians of all strata to return to farming to ensure food security in the country.
Ndarani told journalists in Abuja that he was worried over reports that no fewer than 26.5 million Nigerians suffered from food insecurity in 2024 due to an unpredictable farming season, frequent flash floods, and long months of drought.
“While growing up, every family had farms; we were all farmers, going to the farm after coming back from school, and there was sufficient food in the country. I had part of my education abroad but still went to the farm with my parents whenever I was in the country.”
Ndarani stressed the need for the rich to get involved in mechanized agriculture, just like Governor Bago is doing in Niger State, while smallholder farmers can farm even in their backyards.
“We must fight food insecurity from all angles. If every household has vegetables in their backyards, prices of vegetables will come down, and the same thing goes for other crops,” he said.
The Legal Luminary commended President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umaru Bago of Niger for the establishment of the Abdulsalami Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Action in Mokwa.
The learned silk said the establishment of the university was a significant step towards achieving food security and speaks to the vibrant vision of the farmer-governor, Bago, for education.
He noted that it will serve the additional purpose of considerably reducing the rate of unemployment in the state by creating diverse opportunities.
“Apart from the direct employment opportunities found in administration, teaching, and support services, there are also indirect employment opportunities.”
He urged the management to ensure that the university contributed immensely to combating food insecurity, not only in Niger State but in Nigeria as a whole.
Ndarani stated that Nigerians were expecting the nation’s universities to produce research outcomes on climate-resilient crops, improve water management systems, and promote sustainable farming practices.
He urged food security and agricultural institutions across the country to come up with innovations that will address the effects of climate change.
In February this year, the Federal and State Governments agreed to invest massively in agriculture, including livestock development and management, to ensure lasting food security in the country.
Reporting by Stanley Nwosu; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade