A WAKE UP CALL TO MINISTER FOR AGRIC, AUDU OGBEH, & STATE COMMISSIONERS FOR AGRIC ACROSS NIGERIA
The Nigerian State governments have to be treated like primary school pupils.
If they don't know their contributions to take the nation out of this current mess.
Here is my suggestions in the area of rice production for example.
I take Rice because it is one of the biggest items on importation list.
There is no point having a commissioner of Agriculture that have no idea of "soil pH" just for him to sit down there collecting salary.
Minister for Agric, Audu Ogbe and CBN governor should get into a stakeholders meeting with all the State Government with their Agriculture Commissioners seated.
They should come up with what they can do to motivate their jobless youths in their respective States to go into Rice farming in Commercial Capacities. During such meetings, CBN should educate and enlighten each of the state governor and each state commissioner of Agric what and what criteria their farmers must meet to qualify for the single digit loan CBN Archor Loans.
Each state should be given a target of number of metric tonnes they have to deliver to "national grid" given the gestation period of the planting period.
FG should help with seedlings fertilizers and whatever logistics needed.
Each commissioner for agriculture will be made to commit to their pledge metric tonnes of rice.
Audu Ogbe should ensure his ministry tracks rice delivery per state and ensure follow up directly.
His ministry should publish quarterly report in National Newspapers and on social media for Nigerians to know what each state is doing.
I bet if the youths can be sure of monthly paycheck from this exercise, you will see their commitment.
What I call national grid is Rice Processing Mills where the rice are going to be refined.
These could be cited in 6 geopolitical zones so that delivery will not be too far from source.
Once it is refined the state get their Rice bag to be sold to their people and for possible export if they can satisfy local demand with excess.
Both states and FG share the proceed base on whatever they agree on abnitio.
This is one way of carrying the state to participate in FG vision. At last it is win win. Youth gets job. FG safe foreign reserve. No need for rice importation. State Government generate IGR.
Written By Mayowa Michael Adeleye
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