The federal government has expressed support for the establishment of nine federal agricultural universities, colleges and research institutions initiated by the House of Representatives.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari conveyed the present administration’s consent during yesterday’s public hearing of nine bills for the new institutions in Abuja.
These are Federal University of Agriculture Fiditi – Oyo, Oyo State (Establishment) Bill, sponsored by Hon. Akeem Adeyemi; and Federal College of Agriculture Agila, Benue State (Establishment) Bill, sponsored by Deputy Deputy Spokesperson, Hon. Phillip Agbese as well as a bill to establish the National Institute for Oil Palm Research, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, sponsored by Hon. Joseph Adegbesan.
Three of the bills seek to amend Federal Universities of Agriculture Act 2010 to establish Federal University of Agriculture in Oyo, Delta and Enugu States, while the remaining six Bills seek to amendment of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, 2004 to pave way for the establishment of Agricultural Colleges and Institutes in Benue, Ekiti, Bauchi, Delta, Nasarawa and Ogun States, respectively.
The minister who was represented by Director Planning & Policy Coordination and Executive Secretary of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Shambutu, however decried the unabated crisis trailing the land donated by various host communities several years after the establishment of various Agricultural Institutions.
However, he threatened that plans are underway to relocate most of the affected institutions to more peaceful locations, just as he warned against undue resistance to the appointment of people from various states of the federation.
In his keynote address, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas who was represented by his Deputy, Hon. Benjamin Kalu reiterated the present administration’s commitment towards diversification of the economy and food security.