Osinbajo restates FG’s commitment to boost agricultural production, collaboration with private sector

The Federal Government has restated its readiness for increased support for agricultural production in the country using the 12 dams nationwide under its Transforming Irrigation Management Project.

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) gave the assurance on Tuesday when he received in his office at the Presidential Villa a delegation of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (KACCIMA) led by its President, Alhaji Dalhatu Abubakar.

Osinbajo said he was encouraged by the report he received from the delegation on the progress made by rice millers in Kano State and promised continued collaboration with other partners to consolidate the gains in agricultural value-chain particularly in local rice production.

On government’s effective collaboration with the business community, Osinbajo said: “We must do everything possible to support the business community in Kano.

“We must make sure that we continually engage with the private sector and it is very important. I have continued to emphasize that the private sector is the engine of the economy and will continue to see in what ways we can support the private sector.

“So, we need to be able to get private sector interest along with government to bring power to Kano, for instance. If we can bring substantial amount of investment in power to Kano, we can really make a difference. So, I am looking forward to working with you on power.’’

On the need for a synergy between KACCIMA and the Federal Government, the Vice President said: “Anyone who understands the history of business in Nigeria cannot in any way diminish the importance of the Kano business community.

“As a matter of fact when we started the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), in engaging the partnership that will help us, Lagos and Kano had to be the two focal points for the implementation of our reform plans.

“We must establish a way of collaborating, where we look at specific measures on how to advance solutions to the numerous problems that are facing us.”

Beside boosting opportunities to grow businesses in Kano, Osinbajo tasked the business community in the state to support the free education initiative of the state government as a way of building future workforce for the industries that would be established.

“Everywhere businesses have thrived and succeeded, it has been accompanied by the drive of young people who have the requisite skills to do the necessary jobs.

“There is, therefore, the need for the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture to support the free education initiative in Kano, even just the advocacy is important,’’ he said in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and  Publicity,
Office of the Vice-President.

Earlier, the President of KACCIMA, Alhaji Dalhatu Abubakar, who led other members of the delegation to sing a birthday song for the Vice-President, commended him for his commitment to the successes recorded under the ease of doing business initiative and described the VP as a “reliable partner” of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Your excellent leadership qualities and commitment in making Nigeria a better country has been responsible for all the achievements that have been recorded under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).”