LGAs should focus more on agric, says Mustapha
The Senator representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has advocated for a refocus of the priority of local councils in Nigeria to agricultural development.
While speaking in Ilorin at the weekend at the dinner and award night of the Correspondence Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State chapter, Mustapha called for constitutional amendments to reassign the core responsibilities of the local councils to agriculture, underscoring the vital role this sector could play in revolutionising the country’s economic development.
Represented by his aide and a senior lawyer, Abdulkareem Alabi, Mustapha, who also serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, stressed that agriculture should no longer be viewed as a secondary issue or left solely to private enterprise. Instead, he urged for a nationwide strategy where local governments are constitutionally mandated to focus on agriculture as their primary function.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and it holds the key to addressing unemployment, food insecurity, and rural developments” the Senator stated. “For too long, our local governments have been distracted by peripheral responsibilities. It is time we refocus their energies on what really matters – agriculture and rural developments.”
He argued that local councils, being closer to the grassroots, are in a prime position to facilitate agricultural development and rural transformation, both of which are crucial for food security and economic growth.
According to Mustapha, Nigeria’s reliance on oil revenues has not only left the country vulnerable to global market fluctuations but also stunted the growth of its agricultural sector, which remains the largest employer of labor in the country. By institutionalising agriculture as the central focus of local councils, the senator believes Nigeria can unlock vast economic potentials, improve livelihoods, and ensure sustainable development.
He said: “In India and Brazil, local councils play a crucial role in agriculture. Brazilian municipalities are deeply involved in managing rural extension services, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring that smallholder farmers have access to resources. This model has contributed to Brazil becoming one of the world’s largest agricultural producers, particularly in soybeans, sugar, and beef. There is no reason Nigeria cannot replicate these successes if we realign our focus.”
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