‘I have retired to my farm,’ Nanono says, hands over to new minister

Erstwhile Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono, has said that he has retired to his farm following his sack by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nanono while handing over to the new Minister, Dr Mohammad Abubakar, said the ministry has huge responsibilities and needs to always speak with one voice.

Nanono who served for two years as minister was appointed by President Buhari after he won his second term election in 2019. He was sacked on September 1, 2020 during the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting.

While commending the staff of the ministry for their support, Nanono said: “I wish to thank all of you for helping me to do my work, I have already retired to the farm, and I will become the client of this ministry.”

On his part, the new minister, Dr Abubakar, said the priority of the ministry under his leadership will be to ensure to provide all the necessary policy direction and drive that will position agriculture as the mainstay of the economy.

“In this regard, the NLTP will be a priority not just on food security and nutrition but its overall impact in having food security in the country.

“In addition, research and extension services will be strengthened to ensure that these practices are translated into concrete deliverables in the agriculture and livestock value chain. We will try to promote synergies among the agencies and departments of the ministry, our agencies must collaborate and work with relevant stakeholders in achieving our mandate.”

The minister said the only way to support Nigerian farmers is to buy their products, which he said will make them continue to produce.

“So there is no reason why we cannot patronize our own farmers. Food security is everything, it can make a difference and there is no reason why we cannot do this.

“We have the talent, resources and everything it takes to make Nigeria the number one producer and exporter of food, not just in African countries but also outside this continent. I hope to do more than he has done so that my successor will do more than me.”

While speaking briefly on some agricultural activities under him, the former minister, Nanono said the sector has enormous challenges.

“We have to change the farming pattern that’s why we embarked on mechanization, we have to solve this problem of Fulani herders, and that’s why we launched the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), we have to work for the small scale farmers, that’s why the president gave the approval of N600 billion to support small scale farmers.

“We have managed to resolve the problem of fertilizer, finally you can go and buy fertilizer from any corner you want, there is a sufficient quantity of fertilizer in this country, the only issue is cost, the president has approved N3,000 per bag of fertilizer for small scale farmers.

“We managed to virtually stop the importation of rice, with several rice milling plants across the country, employing people, I hope we will do that for wheat, milk, fish and other crops,” Nanono added.

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