The Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has said that Nigeria’ rich agricultural resources are capable of taking its citizens out of economic hardship.
Bago stated this on Wednesday at the Taraba International Investment Summit held at the Taraba State Banquet Hall, TY Danjuma House in Jalingo, the state capital.
He said Nigeria, with its fertile lands, had significant untapped potential.
He, therefore, called on the Federal Government and private sector individuals to harness the agricultural potential to eradicate poverty, declaring that with the year-round farming capacity, the country had no excuse for economic hardship.
All the factors of production are inherent here in Taraba State, and it was enumerated in Aliko Dangote’s speech. We have land, water, sun, and people.
People in Europe can barely farm for three months in a year, but we can farm 24/7, 365 days a year. It means we have no business in poverty.
Bago, who described himself as the Chief Farmer of Nigeria, emphasised that all necessary factors for agricultural production—land, water, sunlight, and manpower—are abundantly present in Taraba State.
Bago reaffirmed the commitment of sub-national governments to support development in Taraba and across the federation.
The chairman of the NGF, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, is sending his felicitations to the government and people of Taraba State. He has asked me to reassure you of the cooperation of sub-nationals in whatever we decide to bring development to the people of Taraba State, he added.
Governor Bago further urged the state government to partner with major construction firms to deploy their equipment for land cultivation, thereby enabling mass agricultural production.
He stressed that the government should play the role of an enabler by providing an environment where businesses can thrive and investing in assets and capital procurement.
As a farmer governor, I want to see the state government partner with big companies that are doing construction. Let them use those bulldozers and heavy machinery to cultivate land and let people come and farm.
Addressing potential fears about land exploitation, Bago reassured the local population that agricultural investments—whether local or foreign—will not displace them.
To the people of Taraba State, nobody is coming to invest in agriculture to take your land. Any investment brought in is meant for your people.
