Lions task govt to be sincere with agric-sector’s development

By Seye Adeniyi - Updated: Tuesday 19-05-2009

Abba Ruma, Agriculture MinisterTHERE is need for the Nigerian government to de-emphasise the sole dependence on the down-stream sector of the economy and develop other important sector like the agriculture sector in order to banish hunger, malnutrition and poverty confronting the citizenry so that the production capacity of Nigerians can improve.

This was one of the submissions of Chief Olaitan Alabi, the chairman, local organising committee of the Lion International Club, Multiple District 404B, during a press conference organised by the humanitarian club to usher in this year’s national convention of the club tagged: “Oluyole 2009” which was held last week.

According to Lion Alabi, the country has the enough potential to feed its people and not complain of hunger and poverty, but the problem is that we have neglected the agricultural sector of the economy and concentrated solely on the oil sector which is now failing us.

“In the course of the Lion Club’s humanitarian services and implementation of poverty-reducing, health-boosting programmes and projects in many parts of the country, we discovered that this country has what it takes to be food secured and sufficient and not only that, food items ought to be cheap. But this cannot happen due to some man-made problems. However, if the government can pay a particular attention to the development of the agricultural sector, then, greater percentage of our problems would have been tackled/solved”, he stated.

Speaking further, the spokesperson for the philanthropic organisation said the club is engaging in selfless services not only to the less privileged in the society, but also to the entire citizenry since the club motto is “we serve”.

“Therefore everything is being done to alleviate the suffering and tackle the health problems of our people but we are also encouraging Nigerians to embrace farming,” he added.

The national convention, Chief Alabi further added, took place in Ibadan and this was the third time the ancient city would be hosting all the international and national members of the club.

Chief Olaitan further told Tribune Agriculture that the club is determined to reduce hunger, sickness, poverty, deprivation and crime in Nigeria and that was why the theme for this year’s convention was: “Drumming for love and service”, adding that if we love all and serve all, then, there will definitely be a remarkable reduction in hunger, starvation, malnutrition, as well as sickness and other social vices.

Also speaking with Tribune Agriculture, Lion (Dr.) Abiola Job, explained that if we all engaged in humanitarian services and everybody decided to embrace farming, then this country would not complain or lament about the ongoing food crisis and the effects of the financial melt-down curently ravaging the whole world will not be felt much. He added that as long as we continue to focus all our attention on the oil sector as the major source of income generation for the country at the detriment of the agricultural sector, prices of food would continue to hit the roof. Not only that, poverty would persist, hunger would continue to confront us in and certain infections and diseases, especially malnutrition would always be with us.