Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi emphasized the shared responsibility for ensuring food security across Nigeria. He highlighted that despite having 80 million hectares of arable land, 50 million remain unused, urging citizens to participate in cultivation efforts.
During a discussion with the Senate Press Corps at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Abuja, the Minister stressed the pivotal role of food security within President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s 8-point agenda. He underscored its significance due to the multifaceted advantages it offers.
Abdullahi elaborated on these advantages, citing the fight against corruption as a crucial outcome. He pointed out that hunger often drives individuals towards corrupt practices, emphasizing how addressing poverty through food security could significantly curb such tendencies.
“When you secure their stomachs, the tendency for average Nigerians to resort to corruption or outright crime and criminalities would be reduced.
“Nigerians need to key into the policy by planting something wherever they live.
“Government is also determined to get a substantial part of the uncultivated hectares of land in the country cultivated.
“As it is presently, out of 70-80 million hectares of arable land in the country, only 34 million hectares are cultivated, meaning that there is more than enough uncultivated arable land for government and Nigerians to explore for farming and, by extension,, ensuring food security in the country,” he said.