In an effort to enhance food security and job creation in Nigeria, the Federal Government has commenced the distribution of farm inputs to members of National Agricultural Cooperative Apexes in the country.
Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State, Federal Ministry Agriculture and Food Security, flagging-off the exercise in Abuja at the Cooperative Intervention in support of the Federal Government declaration of state of emergency on food security in Nigeria, assured that the Cooperative Sector would be reformed, rebranded and revived, pointing out that the Cooperative laws are obsolete.
According to him, members must be tolerant, accommodating and be ready to allow “someone to get food out of the plate”.
He highlighted that trust deficit was one of the reasons why cooperatives have not grown in Nigeria compared to other countries.
He, therefore, appealed to the leaders of Cooperatives to change the narrative to suit the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that he would be the number one promoter of the Cooperative.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, represented by Federal Director of Cooperatives, Alhaji Idris Sanni, stated that the Minister was in support of the Cooperative’s intervention in the distribution of farm inputs to members of National Agricultural Cooperative Apexes to enhance food security.
He noted that the initiative was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to ensure food security, poverty eradication, and economic growth.
In his remarks, the President, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, International Cooperative Alliance-Africa and the Vice President, International Cooperative Alliance-Global,Tajudeen Oriyomi Ayeola, pointed out that he assumed duty as the President, seven years ago, having worked with the former Minister, Audu Ogbe and now the present Minister.
He therefore, conferred on the minister, the Cooperative Champion and recalled that at the meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, the challenges of Cooperatives were identified to include lack of attention, trust deficit, sharp practices, amongst others.
Speaking further, he pointed out that the Cooperative contribution in Nigeria is not captioned in the Gross Domestic Product and emphasised that the issue of gross deficit and sharp practices by some members, is something that is overestimated.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of the improved seeds and fish feeds to the cooperative leaders.