Atiku optimistic about Nigeria’s agric sector’s growth

Establishes multi-purpose animal feed plant in Abuja

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday expressed optimism that Nigeria’s economy would attain an enviable height in no distant time from now, from proceeds in the agricultural sector.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of   his multi-purpose animal feed factory in Idu, the federal capital territory (FCT),  he remarked that the initiative was in line with the quest to diversify the country’s economy.

Atiku who is a leader of the ruling All progressive congress (APC) justified the initiative, saying it would contribute to job creation, technology transfer and progressive change in farming culture in the country.

Asserting that the country’s future lies in the development of the agricultural sector,  he lamented the country’s over-dependence on proceeds from oil revenues over the years.

The former vice president noted that his resolve to set up the Rico Gado multi-purpose animal feed mill in Yola, Adamawa State and in Abuja were in line with achieving the goal.

Listing the benefits of the mill,  he said: “Let me be clear: A profitable feedstock mill is no magic fix that solves all of our problems. It is a small piece in a big puzzle that will make our agricultural sector more attractive and more productive. And it is a small piece in the even bigger puzzle that will get us over our addiction to fossil fuels, and over our reliance on rent-seeking enterprises. Put simply it will help us get over our dangerous addiction to oil revenues.

“Despite the doubts about our economy because of current challenges, we are confident about Nigeria’s future and about our future. I think I speak for my partners in this joint venture when I say: We know what we are getting into, and we’re doing it because we believe in Nigeria, because we believe that Nigeria will overcome its current difficulties, because we believe our nation will change for the better.”

“We’re ready to tackle the challenges that will come our way. This is because we know we have a business that will increase agricultural productivity; a business that will help farmers adapt to a changing world; a business that will inspire others to follow in our footsteps and join our efforts to build a modern agricultural sector; a sector that can feed our population, our neighbours, and – at some point in the not so distant future – others around the world.

“When we set up Rico Gado Nutrition Nigeria, we decided to invest in advanced state-of-the-art facilities because we wanted to be in a position to meet farmers’ needs and also have the capacity and flexibility to quickly respond to the needs of the market.”