By Stephen Ojo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, for his transformative approach to the development if the agriculture sector of to he economy.
Obasanjo gave the commendation at the weekend during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Niger state Commissioners and Special Advisers.
The Special Adviser on Print Media to the Governor, Aisha Wakaso, in a statement issued in Minna over the weekend, explained that the visit included a tour of a cutting-edge soilless farm, adding that, ” young Nigerlites are undergoing training in innovative agricultural techniques for eventual replication in Niger State”.
According to the Special Adviser, the former President expressed his admiration for Bago’s initiative, likening it to his own “Operation Feed the Nation” policy of 1976, addingthat, ” he emphasized that with modern equipment now available, the impact of such initiatives can be even greater than before”.
“Obasanjo highlighted the critical importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, stating that until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist”,the statement added.
He urged other state governors to follow Niger State’s lead in agricultural development to ensure that Nigeria can produce the majority of its own food.
She said, ” the former President encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and to explore modern methods to enhance existing practices”.
Obasanjo also advised Nigerians to consider investing in soilless farming, warning that with the current rate of land use, Nigeria could soon face a shortage of arable land