President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Lands Development Authority (NALDA) to acquire five additional spraying aircraft as soon as possible in order to improve food security.
When the agency showcased its achievements in Abuja on Thursday, Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, gave the directive.
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“In addition to the one spraying aircraft, I am directing the Executive Secretary of NALDA to procure additional five aircraft in order to have each geopolitical zone covered,” Buhari said.
He stated that the Federal Government had purchased agricultural mechanisation equipment such as tractors, combine harvesters, pumping machines, and surveillance and spraying drones, among other things.
He stated that the Federal Government would continue to acquire land preparation equipment until it had enough. The President also tasked NALDA with working hard to achieve food security while also creating jobs in the sector.
He acknowledged NALDA’s significance, noting that the agency was saddled with these responsibilities as an additional source of foreign revenue in addition to oil.
“Again, I charge the Executive Secretary of NALDA and his team to pursue this mandate vigorously without any discrimination, fear or favour, being an agency under the Presidency,” said Buhari.
In terms of human capital, the president stated that several professionals in various fields of agriculture had been trained and equipped to provide services in the needed areas. He also stated that many Nigerians, primarily youths and women, had been trained and empowered in fields such as mechanized agriculture, poultry farming, and fisheries.
“Within these two years of my bringing NALDA back, I am pleased that NALDA under my watch is achieving results that are directly and positively affecting the people, especially from the rural areas.
“In line with my vision of seeing Nigeria lead in agricultural development, I believe that after having resuscitated NALDA, my successors will build on its legacies, so that this country can achieve food sufficiency in no distant time,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Mr Paul Ikonne, Executive Secretary of NALDA, praised the President for resurrecting the dormant organization for the purpose of encouraging young Nigerians to pursue careers in agriculture.
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“When we came on board, this administration did not inherit anything in terms of equipment or infrastructure from the old NALDA. But as we speak, NALDA has offices in almost all the 36 states, including the FCT, and has acquired tractors, farm implements,” Ikonne said.
Ikonne also added that NALDA had empowered over 50,000 young Nigerians, excluding women, and that the agency now had farms across the six geopolitical zones.
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