If We Can Spend 2trn on Oil Yearly, Agriculture Deserves More Spending – Yari
Former Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari has explained why Nigeria needs to spend more on the agriculture sector.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the National Economic Council (NEC), at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, Yari, who is the outgoing governor of Zamfara State, advised the council on the need to work hard, block leakages in the system and take proactive measures to expand the size of the economy.
Yari, who commended the federal government which he said had done well in the agricultural sector, with N200 billion spent since 2015 also lauded vice-president Yemi Osinbajo for his sterling leadership in the last four years.
According to him, if N2 trillion can be spent on oil development every year, much more needed to be spent to shore up growth in agriculture.
While warning that if Nigeria failed to plan for the future, the country would be sitting on a time bomb and that the aftermath would be catastrophic in the next few years, he noted that agriculture over 80 percent of the employment.
“I will say, yes government has done tremendously well in terms of expanding the economy through agriculture by spending over N200 billion through the anchor borrowers programme, but we need to do more because we all agree that agriculture is the mainstay of this economy.
“It provides over 80 percent of the employment. So, if N2 trillion can be spent yearly on oil development we need to increase our spending on agriculture too. With what we are seeing as governors, especially from the zone where I come from, the rate of population growth, if nothing is done to address it, I am afraid Mr. Chairman, we are sitting on a time bomb. And that’s the truth.’’
