Gov Bello seeks NIRSAL collaborations to boost commercial Agriculture

Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has sought for the collaboration of the the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) to actualize the desire to make Agriculture private sector driven in the state aimed at feeding the nation.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Sunday in Minna said that the Governor sought for the collaboration when he visited NIRSAL in Abuja with some government officials.

“We have what it takes to feed the nation, that is why we are here to solicit for your collaboration. We need your technical and financial support. We need NIRSAL in concert with our team to put up a robust and measurable plan our agricultural sector. We have the land that is capable of growing many things,” the statement quoted the governor to have told his host.

Governor Bello reiterated that Agricultural development remained the cardinal focus of his administration hence the state was capitalizing on its agrarian potentials based on its vast arable land to change the sector and improve its economy along business line instead of social service.

Consequently he sought for the collaboration of NIRSAL in perfecting the state’s agricultural development plan for the state as his government was committed to drive and actualize the shift in the sector to a full fledge venture .
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He stressed the need to sustain the paradigm shift in the agricultural sector from social service to a business oriented venture in order to re-position and rejuvenate the economy amidst the need to diversify the nation’s economy.

According to the governor, “having identified agriculture as a veritable alternative to oil, we have to shift the sector from being a social service to a full business concern for our economy to improve. For this shift to be actualised, government will have to be at the fore-front to develop the sector in view of the initial risk involved which the private sector may not be too willing to take”.

Managing Director of NIRSAL, Alhaji Aliyu Abdulhameed said the Central Bank of Nigeria floated company was ready to offer it’s expertise to farmers and government of Niger State in repositioning the agricultural sector in the state.