Obasanjo lauds Bago’s agric policy 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has praised Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State for his transformative approach to agriculture aimed at providing sufficient foods to citizens across the country.

Obasanjo made the commendation when the delegation of Commissioners and Special Advisers from Niger State visited him in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, the visit included a tour of a cutting-edge soilless farm, where young Nigerlites are undergoing training in innovative agricultural techniques for eventual replication in Niger State.

The former President expressed his admiration for Bago’s initiative, likening it to his own “Operation Feed the Nation” policy of 1976.

The former Nigeria leader emphasised 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, saying “Until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist. A nation that cannot feed itself is sitting on a time bomb.”

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.

The former President encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and to explore modern methods to enhance existing practices. He expressed his intention to visit Niger State with his team to learn from their progress and exchange ideas to improve and add value to his own agricultural endeavors.

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. He stressed that innovative farming techniques are essential to sustaining the nation’s agricultural productivity.