BOA chief warns against continued dependence on oil revenue

IF Nigeria must meet the challenges of nation building and development, government must discontinue its dependence on oil revenue to fund development programmes, the Managing Director, Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Prof. Danbala Danju, has said.

Daju, speaking during a courtesy visit to Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Kaduna State Government House over the weekend, urged a shift of focus to other areas of revenue generation instead.

Responding, Governor El-Rufai, represented by the Chief of Staff, Hadiza Baba Usman, said the government would continue to work with BOA in areas of effective collaboration in order to move the state on a path of development and growth.

Daju had earlier stated: “It is heart-warming that our visit today is coming at a time in the history of our country when agriculture is poised to receive the attention it deserves in the scheme of government’s overall economic and social reform programmes,” he said.

We believe that the time has now come for government to shift emphasis from oil and embrace commercial agriculture to diversify the nation’s ailing economy.

According to him, “it was largely on this premise that we to seek the governor’s approval for more partnerships that will be of mutual benefit to both parties and to the generality of the people of Kaduna State.

We are happy to inform you that the bank has had cordial relationship with past governments in the state in which the bank provided funding assistance for the implementation of a number of projects.” At some instances, the state partnered the bank to pool resources for the purpose of lending to deserving indigenes.”